Patents by Inventor Masahiko Yatsu
Masahiko Yatsu has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
-
Publication number: 20170227182Abstract: A vehicular lighting apparatus is relatively small, low cost, superior in mountability, and offers a superior design. The vehicular lighting apparatus attachable to a front end of a vehicle includes: a composite lens element that is a light guide element constructed by molding a translucent resin substantially into a plate-like shape; a planar light-emitting unit that emits illumination light; an optical system that transforms planar light from the light-emitting unit into linear light and that causes the linear transformed light to be incident on a rear side face of the light guide element; and a diffraction lens formed on the rear side face of the light guide element on which the linear transformed light is incident, and condensing the linear transformed light. The light condensed by the lens means is emitted from a front side face of the light guide element onto a road surface in front of the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2014Publication date: August 10, 2017Applicant: HITACHI MAXELL, LTD.Inventors: Koji HIRATA, Masahiko YATSU, Hiroyuki KAJIKAWA, Hiroyuki NAKAMURA
-
Publication number: 20170219179Abstract: Provided is a vehicular lighting apparatus which is relatively small, can be manufactured at low cost, is superior in mountability to an automobile, and is superior in recognizeability of an object illuminated by a head lamp. The vehicular lighting apparatus attachable to a front end part of a vehicle includes: a composite lens element that is a light guide element constructed by molding a translucent resin substantially into a plate-like shape; a planar light-emitting unit that emits illumination light; an optical system that transforms planar light from the light-emitting unit into linear light and that causes the linear transformed light to be incident on a rear side face of the light guide element; and a diffraction lens formed on the rear side face of the light guide element on which the linear transformed light is incident, and condensing the linear transformed light.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2014Publication date: August 3, 2017Applicant: HITACHI MAXELL, LTD.Inventors: Koji HIRATA, Masahiko YATSU, Hiroyuki KAJIKAWA, Hiroyuki NAKAMURA
-
Publication number: 20170199308Abstract: A free-form surface lens is made of a transparent resin forming an oblique projection optical system including a free-form surface mirror in a projection type video display apparatus, this lens includes a lens effective region having a surface on which a predetermined free-form surface is formed, and an edge surface formed to surround the lens effective region, the lens effective region and the edge surface in a part of a circumference surrounding the lens effective region where the edge surface is not formed are joined to each other by at least either one of a curved surface and a flat surface set so as not to change a direction of a tilt of the lens effective region in vicinity of the lens effective region, and an end surface including at least either one of the curved surface and the flat surface is set as a tapered surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2014Publication date: July 13, 2017Applicant: HITACHI MAXELL, LTD.Inventors: Koji HIRATA, Masahiko YATSU, Yuki MATSUMIYA, Shuji KATO, Kayono KIMURA
-
Publication number: 20170144591Abstract: A headlight device (1) having a projection function includes a light source device (2), a lighting optical system (3), an image display element (4), an image signal controller (6), and a projection optical system (5). The projection optical system (5) includes a coaxial lens system (11) having a refractive action, a free-form surface lens (12), and a free-form surface mirror (13) from the image display element (4) side. In this way, an image that can be readily visually recognized by a driver or a pedestrian may be projected onto a road.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2014Publication date: May 25, 2017Applicant: HITACHI MAXELL, LTD.Inventor: Masahiko YATSU
-
Patent number: 9581795Abstract: Provided is a projection-type video display device implementing further reduction of a projection distance and further miniaturization of a projection optical system. The projection-type video display device includes a lens group which includes a plurality of lenses, a free-form-surface lens, and a free-form-surface mirror which projects light from the free-form-surface lens on a screen, wherein the lens group includes a third lens which has a bi-convex shape, a fourth lens which has a bi-concave shape, a fifth lens which has a bi-convex shape, the third to fifth lenses constitute a triplet lens, and wherein the free-form-surface lens has a meniscus lens shape of which a convex surface is oriented toward the magnification side.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2013Date of Patent: February 28, 2017Assignee: HITACHI MAXELL, LTD.Inventor: Masahiko Yatsu
-
Publication number: 20170045740Abstract: A head-up display device that displays information including a video in a part of a field of view of an operator (407) includes a video display device (420) that is arranged at a position deviated from the field of view of the operator and generates and projects video light for projecting the information and a transparent screen (410) that is arranged in a part of the field of view of the operator, and transmit light from the field of view and reflects projection light from the video display device in a direction of the operator. A solid-state light source device (421) that reflects and mixes light emitted from a plurality of light-emitting cells (40) and emits the light obtained by the mixing in a predetermined direction is used as a light source constituting the video display device.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 9, 2014Publication date: February 16, 2017Inventors: Koji HIRATA, Masahiko YATSU, Akio MISAWA
-
Patent number: 9429832Abstract: A projection type display apparatus including an oblique projection optical system having a plurality of lenses is disclosed. A lens nearest to a projection screen has a vertical effective image area through which a light flux passes. The lens is arranged at a position not including an optical axis shared by the largest number of lenses among the plurality of lenses. A flat mirror for returning the optical path is arranged between the particular lens and the projection screen at a predetermined angle to the optical axis. An enlarged image obtained by the light flux returned by the flat mirror is formed toward a display screen.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2014Date of Patent: August 30, 2016Assignee: HITACHI MAXELL, LTD.Inventors: Koji Hirata, Masahiko Yatsu, Naoyuki Ogura
-
Patent number: 9372387Abstract: A laser projector includes a laser light source to emit laser light modulated in accordance with image information, a scanner to drive the laser light along two axes in horizontal and vertical directions and make scanning two-dimensionally with the laser light, a scanning mirror drive part to produce a drive signal of the scanner, a light source data conversion part to change arrangement in a horizontal direction of data applied to the laser light source and a timing generation part to synchronize the scanning mirror drive part with the light source data conversion part, and a start direction of laser scanning in the horizontal direction is changed every frame of the image information.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2013Date of Patent: June 21, 2016Assignee: Hitachi Consumer Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoshiho Seo, Tomoki Kobori, Satoshi Ouchi, Koji Hirata, Junichi Yokoyama, Hidehiro Ikeda, Masayuki Fukui, Masahiko Yatsu, Tatsuya Ishikawa
-
Patent number: 9348210Abstract: There is provided a projection apparatus using an oblique projection optical system, which generates little reflection loss by providing a linear Fresnel lens at an incident surface in the case where the apparatus is used as a linear system, wherein said linear Fresnel lens makes total reflection of image light, and is capable of obtaining total surface property with good brightness in a region with small incident angle onto a screen, by using a total reflection Fresnel lens and a refraction Fresnel lens in combination. In addition, total surface property with further good brightness can be obtained by using a plurality of projection image display apparatuses in the same projection apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2013Date of Patent: May 24, 2016Assignee: HITACHI MAXELL, LTD.Inventors: Koji Hirata, Masahiko Yatsu, Hidehiro Ikeda
-
Publication number: 20160077319Abstract: Provided is a projection-type video display device implementing further reduction of a projection distance and further miniaturization of a projection optical system. The projection-type video display device includes a lens group which includes a plurality of lenses, a free-form-surface lens, and a free-form-surface mirror which projects light from the free-form-surface lens on a screen, wherein the lens group includes a third lens which has a bi-convex shape, a fourth lens which has a bi-concave shape, a fifth lens which has a bi-convex shape, the third to fifth lenses constitute a triplet lens, and wherein the free-form-surface lens has a meniscus lens shape of which a convex surface is oriented toward the magnification side.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2013Publication date: March 17, 2016Applicant: Hitachi Maxell, Ltd.Inventor: Masahiko YATSU
-
Patent number: 9116349Abstract: An image display device having a scanning characteristic excellent in the linearity without being upsized is provided. The image display device includes: an optical scanning unit that scans a light emitted from a light source in a first direction and a second direction of an image plane due to a rotational movement of reciprocation of a reflecting surface of the light; and an optical system enlarges a scanning angle of the scanned light, in which the optical system has a free curved surface lens on an optical scanning unit side, and has a free curved surface mirror on an image plane side. The free curved surface mirror may be arranged so that the first direction is substantially parallel to a first plane defined by an incident optical beam and a reflected light in the free curved surface mirror when the optical scanning unit remains static in the center of the scanning range.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2011Date of Patent: August 25, 2015Assignee: HITACHI MAXELL, LTD.Inventors: Koji Hirata, Masahiko Yatsu
-
Patent number: 9022581Abstract: A projection display system includes a projection display unit and a member in a form of one of a windable screen, a white board and a notice board. The projection display unit projects an image light onto a projection plane of the member to display an image thereon. The projection display unit includes a light source, an image display element, a lighting optical system irradiating a beam of light from the light source on the image display element, and a projection optical system projecting the image light from the image display element toward the member. The projection optical system includes, in order toward the member from the image display element, a front lens group, and a reflecting mirror shaped to be axial-asymmetrical with respect to the optical axis.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2012Date of Patent: May 5, 2015Assignee: Hitachi Maxell, Ltd.Inventors: Koji Hirata, Masahiko Yatsu, Takanori Hisada, Masayuki Ohki
-
Publication number: 20140146294Abstract: A projection type display apparatus including an oblique projection optical system having a plurality of lenses is disclosed. A lens nearest to a projection screen has a vertical effective image area through which a light flux passes. The lens is arranged at a position not including an optical axis shared by the largest number of lenses among the plurality of lenses. A flat mirror for returning the optical path is arranged between the particular lens and the projection screen at a predetermined angle to the optical axis. An enlarged image obtained by the light flux returned by the flat mirror is formed toward a display screen.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2014Publication date: May 29, 2014Applicant: HITACHI CONSUMER ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Koji HIRATA, Masahiko YATSU, Naoyuki OGURA
-
Patent number: 8733953Abstract: A display apparatus includes a light source which is configured to emit a light, a first light modulation unit which is configured modulate the light emitted from said light source, a first drive unit which is configured to drive said first light modulation unit, a projection unit, which is configured to project the light from said first light modulation unit enlargedly, a second light modulation unit, which is configured to modulate the light emitted from said projection unit so as to be emitted to an observer side, a second drive unit which is configured to drive said second light modulation unit, and an optical direction conversion unit, which is configured to convert the light from said projection unit so that the light is incident upon an incident surface of said second light modulation unit in a direction approximately perpendicular thereto.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2011Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Hitachi Consumer Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Koji Hirata, Masahiko Yatsu, Takanori Hisada, Hidehiro Ikeda
-
Publication number: 20140126033Abstract: An image display device having a scanning characteristic excellent in the linearity without being upsized is provided. The image display device includes: an optical scanning unit that scans a light emitted from a light source in a first direction and a second direction of an image plane due to a rotational movement of reciprocation of a reflecting surface of the light; and an optical system enlarges a scanning angle of the scanned light, in which the optical system has a free curved surface lens on an optical scanning unit side, and has a free curved surface mirror on an image plane side. The free curved surface mirror may be arranged so that the first direction is substantially parallel to a first plane defined by an incident optical beam and a reflected light in the free curved surface mirror when the optical scanning unit remains static in the center of the scanning range.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2011Publication date: May 8, 2014Inventors: Koji Hirata, Masahiko Yatsu
-
Publication number: 20140126032Abstract: An image display device having a scanning characteristic excellent in the linearity without being upsized is provided. The image display device includes: an optical scanning unit that scans a light emitted from a light source in a first direction and a second direction of an image plane due to a rotational movement of reciprocation of a reflecting surface of the light; and an optical system enlarges a scanning angle of the scanned light, in which the optical system has a free-form-surface lens on an optical scanning unit side, and has a free-form-surface mirror on an image plane side. The free-form-surface mirror may be arranged so that the first direction is substantially parallel to a first plane defined by an incident optical beam and a reflected light in the free-form-surface mirror when the optical scanning unit remains static in the center of the scanning area.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 10, 2011Publication date: May 8, 2014Inventors: Masahiko Yatsu, Koji Hirata
-
Patent number: 8690349Abstract: A projection type display apparatus including an oblique projection optical system having a plurality of lenses is disclosed. A lens nearest to a projection screen has a vertical effective image area through which a light flux passes. The lens is arranged at a position not including an optical axis shared by the largest number of lenses among the plurality of lenses. A flat mirror for returning the optical path is arranged between the particular lens and the projection screen at a predetermined angle to the optical axis. An enlarged image obtained by the light flux returned by the flat mirror is formed toward a display screen.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2013Date of Patent: April 8, 2014Assignee: Hitachi Consumer Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Koji Hirata, Masahiko Yatsu, Naoyuki Ogura
-
Patent number: 8690345Abstract: There is provided a projection image display apparatus which is excellent in quality of a display screen image even if a projection lens using a plastic lens having an asymmetrical shape with respect to an optical axis is used. The apparatus includes a projection lens which obliquely projects video light on a screen, an integrator which aligns a polarization direction of light from a light source, and an image display element (P, PL) which modulates light having the aligned polarization direction by an image signal. The projection lens includes multiple plastic lenses, and each of the multiple plastic lenses is arrayed, respectively, by shifting a gate direction to each other by 180 degrees. When the projection lens includes n sheets (n is a natural number) of plastic lenses, each of the multiple plastic lenses may be arrayed, respectively, by shifting a gate direction to each other by (360/n) degrees.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2011Date of Patent: April 8, 2014Assignee: Hitachi Consumer Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Koji Hirata, Masahiko Yatsu, Naoyuki Ogura, Hidehiro Ikeda
-
Publication number: 20140055757Abstract: There is provided a projection apparatus using an oblique projection optical system, which generates little reflection loss by providing a linear Fresnel lens at an incident surface in the case where the apparatus is used as a linear system, wherein said linear Fresnel lens makes total reflection of image light, and is capable of obtaining total surface property with good brightness in a region with small incident angle onto a screen, by using a total reflection Fresnel lens and a refraction Fresnel lens in combination. In addition, total surface property with further good brightness can be obtained by using a plurality of projection image display apparatuses in the same projection apparatus.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2013Publication date: February 27, 2014Applicant: Hitachi Consumer Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Koji Hirata, Masahiko Yatsu, Hidehiro Ikeda
-
Patent number: 8616711Abstract: A projection type image display apparatus in which shortening of the projection distance (widening of the angle of view) and miniaturization of the projection optic system are realized is provided. It comprises, in a traveling direction of the light, an image display element, a lens group including a plurality of lenses, a first lens, a second lens, and a mirror to reflect light emitted from the second lens to be projected obliquely on a screen in this order. The refractive power of the first lens is positive and the refractive power of the second lens is negative. The first and the second lenses are moved in an interlocked relationship with each other along an optical axis of the lens group and a movement amount of the first lens is made larger than a movement amount of the second lens.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2011Date of Patent: December 31, 2013Assignee: Hitachi Consumer Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventor: Masahiko Yatsu