Patents by Inventor Masanao Wakikawa
Masanao Wakikawa 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).
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Patent number: 9088706Abstract: An imaging unit comprises a mount unit, an imaging element unit, a plurality of elastic members and adjustment screws, and a filler member. The imaging element unit is disposed so that a gap is present with respect to the mount unit. The elastic members are disposed in a compressed state between the mount unit and the imaging element unit. The adjustment screws are disposed so as to be coaxial with respect to each of the elastic members and are mounted to at least one of the mount unit and the imaging element unit. The filler member is disposed so as to be coaxial with respect to at least one set comprising an elastic member and an adjustment screw, and, as the adjustment screw is tightened, the filler member is sandwiched and compressed between the mount unit and the imaging element unit.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2014Date of Patent: July 21, 2015Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.Inventor: Masanao Wakikawa
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Publication number: 20140211083Abstract: An imaging unit comprises a mount unit, an imaging element unit, a plurality of elastic members and adjustment screws, and a filler member. The imaging element unit is disposed so that a gap is present with respect to the mount unit. The elastic members are disposed in a compressed state between the mount unit and the imaging element unit. The adjustment screws are disposed so as to be coaxial with respect to each of the elastic members and are mounted to at least one of the mount unit and the imaging element unit. The filler member is disposed so as to be coaxial with respect to at least one set comprising an elastic member and an adjustment screw, and, as the adjustment screw is tightened, the filler member is sandwiched and compressed between the mount unit and the imaging element unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 22, 2014Publication date: July 31, 2014Applicant: Panasonic CorporationInventor: Masanao WAKIKAWA
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Patent number: 8730386Abstract: The imaging apparatus includes a lens mount to which a lens unit is mountable, an imaging unit operable to generate an image signal, and a shutter unit that is arranged between the lens mount and the imaging unit, and is capable of limiting the light incident on the imaging unit, opening and closing at least at recording and being kept in an opened state during a recording preparation operation, and a main frame to which the lens mount, the shutter unit and the imaging unit are fixed.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2009Date of Patent: May 20, 2014Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Koji Yasuda, Masanao Wakikawa, Tsuneyo Metabi
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Patent number: 8475062Abstract: A shutter drive device includes a base member, an actuator, a first drive member, and a second drive member. The actuator is fixed to the base member and produces a driving force to drive the shutter mechanism. The first drive member is rotatably supported by the base member and configured to be rotated by the driving force. The second drive member is supported by the base member so as to be linearly movable in a first direction and configured to transmit the driving force of the actuator to the shutter mechanism. The first drive member has a gear component to drive the second drive member in the first direction, and a cam component configured to hold the second drive member in a specific position. The second drive member has a rack gear configured to mesh with the gear component, and a cam follower configured to contact the cam component.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2012Date of Patent: July 2, 2013Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Masanao Wakikawa, Takashi Morimoto, Kunihiko Hara, Yasuhiro Nakagai, Tetsuro Tanaka
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Patent number: 8432486Abstract: A heat dissipating structure for an imaging unit includes an imaging element configured to convert light into an electrical signal, a first heat dissipating plate, a second heat dissipating plate, and a heat dissipating portion. The first heat dissipating plate has a first end and a second end disposed opposite to the first end, and is positioned on the rear face side of the imaging element. The second heat dissipating plate is positioned on the rear face side of the first heat dissipating plate. The heat dissipating portion is fixedly coupled to the first end of the second heat dissipating plate.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2011Date of Patent: April 30, 2013Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Koji Yasuda, Masanao Wakikawa
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Patent number: 8294816Abstract: The imaging apparatus includes a lens mount to which a lens unit is mountable, an imaging unit operable to generate an image signal, and a shutter unit that is arranged between the lens mount and the imaging unit, and is capable of limiting the light incident on the imaging unit, opening and closing at least at recording and being kept in an opened state during a recording preparation operation, and a main frame to which the lens mount, the shutter unit and the imaging unit are fixed.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2011Date of Patent: October 23, 2012Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Koji Yasuda, Masanao Wakikawa, Tsuneyo Metabi
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Publication number: 20120251094Abstract: A shutter drive device includes a base member, an actuator, a first drive member, and a second drive member. The actuator is fixed to the base member and produces a driving force to drive the shutter mechanism. The first drive member is rotatably supported by the base member and configured to be rotated by the driving force. The second drive member is supported by the base member so as to be linearly movable in a first direction and configured to transmit the driving force of the actuator to the shutter mechanism. The first drive member has a gear component to drive the second drive member in the first direction, and a cam component configured to hold the second drive member in a specific position. The second drive member has a rack gear configured to mesh with the gear component, and a cam follower configured to contact the cam component.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2012Publication date: October 4, 2012Applicant: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Masanao WAKIKAWA, Takashi Morimoto, Kunihiko Hara, Yasuhiro Nakagai, Tetsuro Tanaka
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Publication number: 20120008043Abstract: The imaging apparatus includes a lens mount to which a lens unit is mountable, an imaging unit operable to generate an image signal, and a shutter unit that is arranged between the lens mount and the imaging unit, and is capable of limiting the light incident on the imaging unit, opening and closing at least at recording and being kept in an opened state during a recording preparation operation, and a main frame to which the lens mount, the shutter unit and the imaging unit are fixed.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2011Publication date: January 12, 2012Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATIONInventors: KOJI YASUDA, MASANAO WAKIKAWA, TSUNEYO METABI
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Publication number: 20110234892Abstract: A heat dissipating structure for an imaging unit includes an imaging element configured to convert light into an electrical signal, a first heat dissipating plate, a second heat dissipating plate, and a heat dissipating portion. The first heat dissipating plate has a first end and a second end disposed opposite to the first end, and is positioned on the rear face side of the imaging element. The second heat dissipating plate is positioned on the rear face side of the first heat dissipating plate. The heat dissipating portion is fixedly coupled to the first end of the second heat dissipating plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2011Publication date: September 29, 2011Applicant: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Koji YASUDA, Masanao Wakikawa
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Publication number: 20110164171Abstract: The imaging apparatus includes a lens mount 4 to which a lens unit is mountable, an imaging unit 30 operable to generate an image signal, and a shutter unit 20 that is arranged between the lens mount 4 and the imaging unit 30, and is capable of limiting the light incident on the imaging unit 30, opening and closing at least at recording and being kept in an opened state during a recording preparation operation, and a main frame 11 to which the lens mount 4, the shutter unit 20 and the imaging unit 30 are fixed.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2009Publication date: July 7, 2011Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATIONInventors: Koji Yasuda, Masanao Wakikawa, Tsuneyo Metabi
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Patent number: 7920201Abstract: An image pickup apparatus of the present invention includes a mechanical lock mechanism capable of holding a first curtain and a second curtain in an open state mechanically and a controller that controls the mechanical lock mechanism so as to hold the second curtain in the open state and controls a display so as to display image data generated based on a subject image incident upon an image pickup element as a moving image while the first curtain is in the open state.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2007Date of Patent: April 5, 2011Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Masanao Wakikawa, Yoshiyuki Inoue
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Publication number: 20080151093Abstract: An image pickup apparatus of the present invention includes a mechanical lock mechanism capable of holding a first curtain and a second curtain in an open state mechanically and a controller that controls the mechanical lock mechanism so as to hold the second curtain in the open state and controls a display so as to display image data generated based on a subject image incident upon an image pickup element as a moving image while the first curtain is in the open state. According to this configuration, the power consumption can be reduced, and the period from a time when a release button is operated to a time when exposure is performed actually can be shortened, whereby a photographing response can be enhanced.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2007Publication date: June 26, 2008Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.Inventors: Masanao WAKIKAWA, Yoshiyuki INOUE
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Patent number: 6938265Abstract: A turntable for a disk storage medium includes disk mounting section, shaft center boss and ribs. The disk mounting section includes disk mount surface, center boss and inner side surface. The disk mount surface is used to mount the disk medium thereon. The center boss has an outer side face that engages with a center hole of the disk medium. The inner side face defines a space that has a center axis aligned with that of the center boss. The shaft center boss includes an outer side face and a hole into which a rotating shaft is inserted so as to transmit a driving force to, and rotate, the disk medium. The ribs join the outer side face of the shaft center boss and the inner side face of the disk mounting section together so that through holes are formed between these side faces.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2002Date of Patent: August 30, 2005Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kozo Ezawa, Masanao Wakikawa, Kazuo Teramae, Terumi Tatsumi
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Patent number: 6886176Abstract: An optical disk drive includes a turntable, a first motor for turntable drive, an optical pickup and a drive mechanism arranged on a drive base and a separate traverse base that floats on the drive base. A loading drive mechanism drives a disk loading mechanism. A second motor can be driven in forward and reverse directions to supply drive power to the loading drive mechanism and a pickup drive mechanism. A drive power transfer path switching mechanism is used to switch the path through which drive power from the second motor is transferred to supply power to the loading drive mechanism and pickup drive mechanism. By continuously driving the second motor in one direction, then moving the optical pickup, raising or lowering the turntable, and transporting a disk can be accomplished in this sequence substantially continuously. By reversing the direction of motor drive, these operations can be accomplished substantially continuously in reverse direction in reverse sequence.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2003Date of Patent: April 26, 2005Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industries Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yuji Ariyoshi, Toru Tanaka, Masanao Wakikawa, Kiyoshi Ishioka
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Patent number: 6813236Abstract: An optical disk apparatus capable of stably moving an optical head is provided. The apparatus includes an optical head for recording data to or reproducing data from a disk, a first guide member having an axis substantially parallel to the disk for supporting the optical head in such a manner that the optical head is moved along the axis, a second guide member for limiting rotation of the optical head about the axis, a rack mounted on the optical head and having a reference pitch line substantially parallel to the axis, a pinion for moving the optical head by the pinion being engaged with the rack and being rotated, and a pressing member for pressing the rack toward tie pinion. The vector of a force exerted by the pinion on the rack in response to the pressing member pressing the rack toward the pinion substantially intersects the axis.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2001Date of Patent: November 2, 2004Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kozo Ezawa, Hironori Okazawa, Kazuo Teramae, Masanao Wakikawa, Terumi Tatsumi
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Patent number: 6741536Abstract: An optical disk drive which reduces the number of motors used for drive operation is thereby simplified while shock resistance, vibration resistance, and productivity are improved. A turntable, a first motor for turntable drive, an optical pickup and drive mechanism, are provided on a drive base and a separate traverse base that floats on the drive base. A loading drive mechanism drives a disk loading mechanism. A second motor can be driven in forward and reverse to supply drive power to the loading drive mechanism and a pickup drive mechanism. A drive power transfer path switching mechanism is used to switch the path through which drive power from the second motor is transferred to supply power to the loading drive mechanism and pickup drive mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2000Date of Patent: May 25, 2004Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yuji Ariyoshi, Toru Tanaka, Masanao Wakikawa, Kiyoshi Ishioka
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Publication number: 20030193874Abstract: An optical disk drive includes a turntable, a first motor for turntable drive, an optical pickup and a drive mechanism arranged on a drive base and a separate traverse base that floats on the drive base. A loading drive mechanism drives a disk loading mechanism. A second motor can be driven in forward and reverse directions to supply drive power to the loading drive mechanism and a pickup drive mechanism. A drive power transfer path switching mechanism is used to switch the path through which drive power from the second motor is transferred to supply power to the loading drive mechanism and pickup drive mechanism. By continuously driving the second motor in one direction, then moving the optical pickup, raising or lowering the turntable, and transporting a disk can be accomplished in this sequence substantially continuously. By reversing the direction of motor drive, these operations can be accomplished substantially continuously in reverse direction in reverse sequence.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 29, 2003Publication date: October 16, 2003Inventors: Yuji Ariyoshi, Toru Tanaka, Masanao Wakikawa, Kiyoshi Ishioka
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Publication number: 20020150029Abstract: A turntable for a disk storage medium includes disk mounting section, shaft center boss and ribs. The disk mounting section includes disk mount surface, center boss and inner side surface. The disk mount surface is used to mount the disk medium thereon. The center boss has an outer side face that engages with a center hole of the disk medium. The inner side face defines a space that has a center axis aligned with that of the center boss. The shaft center boss includes an outer side face and a hole into which a rotating shaft is inserted so as to transmit a driving force to, and rotate, the disk medium. The ribs join the outer side face of the shaft center boss and the inner side face of the disk mounting section together so that through holes are formed between these side faces.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2002Publication date: October 17, 2002Applicant: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kozo Ezawa, Masanao Wakikawa, Kazuo Teramae, Terumi Tatsumi
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Publication number: 20020034139Abstract: An optical disk apparatus capable of stably moving an optical head is provided. The apparatus includes an optical head for recording data to or reproducing data from a disk, a first guide member having an axis substantially parallel to the disk for supporting the optical head in such a manner that the optical head is moved along the axis, a second guide member for limiting rotation of the optical head about the axis, a rack mounted on the optical head and having a reference pitch line substantially parallel to the axis, a pinion for moving the optical head by the pinion being engaged with the rack and being rotated, and a pressing member for pressing the rack toward tie pinion. The vector of a force exerted by the pinion on the rack in response to the pressing member pressing the rack toward the pinion substantially intersects the axes.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2001Publication date: March 21, 2002Inventors: Kozo Ezawa, Hironori Okazawa, Kazuo Teramae, Masanao Wakikawa, Terumi Tatsumi
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Patent number: 6347069Abstract: An optical pickup device featuring reduced number of components and improved workability for achieving cost reduction and improved product quality. A base stand (4) is provided with a first guide section (8) and a second guide section (9) which stand upright from the base stand individually and can slidably engage with the first and second engagement portions (11, 12) provided on a mount base (3), respectively. This arrangement permits the base stand (4) having the guide sections (8,9) fixed thereon to be assembled directrly with the mount base (3) including an optical pickup thereon, resulting in simplified assembly operation and enhanced operation efficiency.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 1999Date of Patent: February 12, 2002Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co, LTDInventors: Masanao Wakikawa, Toru Tanaka, Kiyoshi Ishioka, Masanori Onishi