Patents by Inventor Masamichi Yamada

Masamichi Yamada 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).

  • Patent number: 8992030
    Abstract: An image projection apparatus includes a light source, light from which is used to form an image to be projected, a first flow path, a control unit configured to control a light emission from the light source, an electrical power stabilizing unit configured to stabilize an electrical power to be supplied to the light source, and an electrical power source unit configured to supply the electrical power to at least one of the control unit and the electrical power stabilizing unit. One or both of the electrical power source unit and the electrical power stabilizing unit is/are divided into a plurality of boards. The light source is arranged on a normal line of a surface of any of the plurality of boards. The plurality of boards configure surfaces of the first flow path except a surface nearest to the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Masamichi Yamada, Tetsuya Fujioka, Yasutada Tsukioka, Naoyuki Ishikawa, Hideo Kanai
  • Patent number: 8985786
    Abstract: Provided is an image projection apparatus, such as a projector, including a light source; an image generating element such as a DMD that receives light from the light source and forms an image; an image generating unit that irradiates the image generating element with the light from the light source; a first optical system including multiple transmission refractive optical elements; a second optical system arranged on an optical path of outgoing light of the first optical system and including a reflection optical element; and a projection optical system that enlarges and projects an image conjugate to the image generated by the image generating element as a projected image. The light source, the image generating unit, and the first optical system are arranged side by side in series in a direction parallel with the projected image plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Tetsuya Fujioka, Masamichi Yamada, Yasutada Tsukioka, Naoyuki Ishikawa, Hideo Kanai
  • Publication number: 20150049311
    Abstract: An image projection apparatus includes: a grid portion provided on a housing of the apparatus and having a plurality of grids through which air flows in or out of the apparatus. The grid portion includes an edge portion of the grid portion, and a central portion of the grid portion, having a thickness thicker than a thickness of the edge portion of the grid portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Naoyuki ISHIKAWA, Tetsuya FUJIOKA, Hideo KANAI, Akihisa MIKAWA, Masamichi YAMADA, Yasunari MIKUTSU, Satoshi TSUCHIYA, Yukimi NISHI
  • Publication number: 20150029471
    Abstract: An image projection device includes: a centrifugal fan that sends air circulating through a casing to a light source; a heat generator that generates heat with supply of power and that is provided in the vicinity of an ejection port of the centrifugal fan; a temperature sensor that is provided to be adjacent to the heat generator; and a controller that monitors lowering of the velocity of the air, which is sent from the centrifugal fan, on the basis of the value of a temperature measured by the temperature sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Hideo KANAI, Tetsuya FUJIOKA, Masamichi YAMADA, Satoshi TSUCHIYA, Naoyuki ISHIKAWA, Akihisa MIKAWA, Yasunari MIKUTSU
  • Publication number: 20150029470
    Abstract: An image projection apparatus according to the present invention, includes: an air-intake port that takes in outside air for cooling the inside of a housing; a heater that is provided near the air-intake port and generates heat with supply of electric power; a temperature sensor that is provided next to the heater; and a controller that monitors a decrease in the flow velocity of outside air taken in through the air-intake port based on temperature values measured by the temperature sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Hideo KANAI, Tetsuya FUJIOKA, Akihisa MIKAWA, Naoyuki ISHIKAWA, Masamichi YAMADA, Yasunari MIKUTSU, Satoshi TSUCHIYA
  • Publication number: 20150015851
    Abstract: In a projector that includes a light source, an image forming unit, a projection optical unit, and a case to contain the light source, the image forming unit, the projection optical unit, and the power supply, takes outside air in through a first intake duct provided on the case, cools the power supply by circulating the taken outside air to the power supply circumventing the projection optical unit, and exhausts the air after cooling through an exhaust vent provided on the case. A second intake duct is provided nearby the power supply compared to the first intake duct, and the amount of outside air drawn into the case through the second intake duct is larger than the amount of outside air drawn into the case through the first intake duct.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: Masamichi YAMADA, Tetsuya Fujioka, Naoyuki Ishikawa, Akihisa Mikawa, Hideo Kanai, Yasunari Mikutsu, Satoshi Tsuchiya
  • Publication number: 20150002828
    Abstract: According to an embodiment of the invention, an image projection apparatus includes: a light source device; a first circuit board including an image display device configured to form an image using light, a connector, and an electrically conductive portion near the connector; a retaining member made of metal; an optical illuminating unit held by the retaining member and configured to guide the light to the image display device; an optical projecting unit configured to project the image onto a projection surface; a second circuit board configured to be electrically connected to the connector; a metal plate fixed and electrically connected to the retaining member; and an elastic metal member arranged on the metal plate. The first circuit board is fixed to the retaining member. The elastic metal member is in contact with the electrically conductive portion. The second circuit board is fixed and electrically connected to the metal plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Masamichi YAMADA, Tetsuya FUJIOKA, Naoyuki ISHIKAWA, Akihisa MIKAWA, Hideo KANAI, Yasunari MIKUTSU, Satoshi TSUCHIYA
  • Publication number: 20140374229
    Abstract: There are provided a button section; a contact-type switch that is provided in each of a plurality of directions; a button contact area that is provided on the back surface of the button section and that is brought into contact with the switch; a cover section that covers the periphery of the button section; and a flange section that is provided on the outer periphery of the button section and that is in contact with the cover section so as to restrict the button section from being ejected from inside a chassis, wherein the flange section includes cutouts at positions that are opposed to each other with the switch and the center position of the button section interposed therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Naoyuki ISHIKAWA, Tetsuya FUJIOKA, Hideo KANAI, Akihisa MIKAWA, Masamichi YAMADA, Yasunari MIKUTSU, Satoshi TSUCHIYA
  • Publication number: 20140375966
    Abstract: A cooling device includes a heat dissipating unit that is in contact with an object to be cooled and dissipates heat, and an air blowing unit that takes therein air and blows the air to the heat dissipating unit. The heat dissipating unit includes a first stage portion and a second stage portion that have a difference in level therebetween. The air blowing unit includes a first inlet port that takes therein air from outside, and an outlet port that exhausts the taken-in air. The first inlet port faces the first stage portion, and the outlet port faces the second stage portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Akihisa MIKAWA, Tetsuya FUJIOKA, Hideo KANAI, Masamichi YAMADA, Yasunari MIKUTSU, Satoshi TSUCHIYA, Naoyuki ISHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20140375964
    Abstract: A lighting unit and an image projector that cool a drive source that drives a color wheel favorably and prevents dust from collecting on the color wheel are provided. The lighting unit includes a color wheel that divides light from a light source into colors different from each other time-divisionally, a drive source that drives the color wheel such as a color motor, and an optical device that illuminates light that passes through the color wheel on an image generating device such as a DMD that generates a projection image. The lighting unit includes a cooling device that draws heat from the drive source to cool the drive source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Satoshi TSUCHIYA, Tetsuya FUJIOKA, Hideo KANAI, Masamichi YAMADA, Yasunari MIKUTSU, Naoyuki ISHIKAWA, Akihisa MIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20140375967
    Abstract: A cooling structure includes: a heat releasing unit configured to include a plurality of fins and to release heat by contacting a first cooling target; and an air blowing unit configured to blow air to the heat releasing unit, wherein the heat releasing unit includes a first region and a second region in which intervals of the fins are smaller than those of the first region, and a second cooling target that is different from the first cooling target is positioned downstream relative to the first region in a flow path of the air, and the air that has passed through the first region blows on the second cooling target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Akihisa MIKAWA, Tetsuya FUJIOKA, Hideo KANAI, Masamichi YAMADA, Yasunari MIKUTSU, Satoshi TSUCHIYA, Naoyuki ISHIKAWA
  • Patent number: 8909074
    Abstract: A fixing device for fixing a toner image on a recording medium includes a fixing roller, a pressing roller, and at least one of a sheet guide, a sheet separation plate, and an electric component module. The fixing roller rotates in a predetermined direction of rotation. The pressing roller rotates and contacts an outer circumferential surface of the fixing roller to form a nip between the pressing roller and the fixing roller through which the recording medium bearing the toner image passes to fix the toner image by heat and pressure. The position of the pressing roller is changeable relative to the fixing roller. At least one of the sheet guide, the separation plate, and the electric component module moves in conjunction with movement of the pressing roller as a single integrated unit without changing relative positions with respect to the pressing roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventor: Masamichi Yamada
  • Publication number: 20140347637
    Abstract: An image projection apparatus for projecting an image using light includes a light source configured to emit the light; and an operating unit configured to allow a user to operate the image projection apparatus, the operating unit being disposed above the light source when viewed from a placement surface on which a main body of the image projection apparatus is placed. The image projection apparatus also includes a first flow path in which air flows through the light source; and a second flow path different from the first flow path, the second flow path being formed between the light source and the operating unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventors: Tetsuya FUJIOKA, Masamichi Yamada, Yasutada Tsukioka, Naoyuki Ishikawa, Hideo Kanai
  • Publication number: 20140347635
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, an image projection apparatus includes a light source unit, an image forming unit that forms an image using light from the light source unit, and a heat releasing unit that is provided to the image forming unit and releases heat from the image forming unit, and projecting the image formed by the image forming unit. The image projection apparatus includes a facing member that faces an installation surface on which a main body of the apparatus is installed; and a foot that allows the facing member to support the image forming unit. The heat releasing unit is provided between the facing member and the image forming unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventors: Tetsuya FUJIOKA, Yasutada TSUKIOKA, Masamichi YAMADA, Naoyuki ISHIKAWA, Hideo KANAI
  • Publication number: 20140347636
    Abstract: An image projection apparatus includes a light source, light from which is used to form an image to be projected, a first flow path, a control unit configured to control a light emission from the light source, an electrical power stabilizing unit configured to stabilize an electrical power to be supplied to the light source, and an electrical power source unit configured to supply the electrical power to at least one of the control unit and the electrical power stabilizing unit. One or both of the electrical power source unit and the electrical power stabilizing unit is/are divided into a plurality of boards. The light source is arranged on a normal line of a surface of any of the plurality of boards. The plurality of boards configure surfaces of the first flow path except a surface nearest to the light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventors: Masamichi YAMADA, Tetsuya FUJIOKA, Yasutada TSUKIOKA, Naoyuki ISHIKAWA, Hideo KANAI
  • Patent number: 8882277
    Abstract: An image projection apparatus includes a light source, light from which is used to project an image, and a holding member configured to hold the light source. The holding member includes a handle portion, and the handle portion includes a first flow path for flowing air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Tetsuya Fujioka, Masamichi Yamada, Yasutada Tsukioka, Naoyuki Ishikawa, Hideo Kanai
  • Patent number: 8811838
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a protected object disposed opposite an outer circumferential surface of a pressing rotary body and upstream from a fixing nip formed between the pressing rotary body and a fixing rotary body in a direction of rotation of the pressing rotary body; a stationary duct disposed upstream from the protected object in the direction of rotation of the pressing rotary body, the stationary duct including a blowoff outlet disposed opposite the outer circumferential surface of the pressing rotary body through which airflow impinges on the outer circumferential surface of the pressing rotary body; and a shield interposed between the blowoff outlet of the stationary duct and the protected object in the direction of rotation of the pressing rotary body to protect the protected object against airflow from the blowoff outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masamichi Yamada
  • Patent number: 8779337
    Abstract: A thermal type flow sensor measures a flow rate of a fluid by means of a heat resistive element having a temperature dependency. The sensor is comprised of: plural heat resistive elements used for a flow rate measurement; and a driver circuit for controlling a current applied to these heat resistive elements to cause their heating. The driver circuit is configured to sense a resistance change of a lower-temperature side heat resistive element among the plural heat resistive elements and to control the current to be applied to the plural heat resistive elements in accordance with a sensed value of the lower-resistance's variation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nakano, Masamichi Yamada, Masahiro Matsumoto, Izumi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8744329
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotary body rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation; a pressing rotary body, rotatable in a direction counter to the direction of rotation of the fixing rotary body, pressed against the fixing rotary body to form a fixing nip therebetween through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed; a joint connected to a shaft of one of the fixing rotary body and the pressing rotary body and rotatable to rotate the one of the fixing rotary body and the pressing rotary body; and a fixing knob detachably attached to the joint and rotated manually by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masamichi Yamada
  • Publication number: 20140132938
    Abstract: An auto-focus device includes: a light projection lens unit that projects light emitted from a light source unit, on a projection target surface; a light receiving unit that receives a diffusely-reflected light from the projection target surface; a light receiving lens unit that guides the diffusely-reflected light to the light receiving unit; a calculating unit that calculates a focal distance to the projection target surface from the diffusely-reflected light; a first holding unit that holds the light source unit, the light projection lens unit, and the light receiving lens unit; a second holding unit that holds the light receiving unit, and is mounted on the first holding unit; and a pressing unit that presses the second holding unit against the first holding unit. The second holding unit is configured to be displaceable on a surface of the first holding unit along a groove portion formed thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Inventors: Satoshi TSUCHIYA, Masamichi Yamada, Yasunari Mikutsu, Hideo Namba, Hideo Kanai, Naoyuki Ishikawa, Motohisa Ikeda