Patents by Inventor Minoru Kuwana
Minoru Kuwana 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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Publication number: 20150378133Abstract: Imaging device includes a compound eye optical system equipped with an array lens formed by arranging multiple lenses as an array in which the lenses have mutually different light axes; a lens frame having a top surface part that covers the portion of a first surface on the object side of the compound eye optical system which excludes the lenses, and a side surface part that supports the top surface part; and a solid-state imaging element that converts a photographic subject imaged by the compound eye optical system into electrical signals. The side surface part of the lens frame is adhered to the solid-state imaging element or to a member that is affixed to the solid-state imaging element, and the portion of the first surface of the compound eye optical system which excludes the lenses is adhered to the top surface part of the lens frame.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 12, 2014Publication date: December 31, 2015Inventors: Minoru KUWANA, Keiji ARAI
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Patent number: 6856072Abstract: An ultrasonic drive apparatus for preventing a slip between an object to be driven and a driving part of the apparatus to drive the object. The driving part includes an elastic member through which vibrations from electrical-mechanical converters are transmitted to the object. The elastic member can deform in a direction in which the object is driven. The driving part makes a predetermined locus to drive the object while the elastic member deforms in the direction so as to absorb the slip between the object and the driving part. The elastic member and the converters are mounted symmetrically relative to an axis which is generally perpendicular to the direction in which the object is driven, so that the object can be driven forward and backward.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2001Date of Patent: February 15, 2005Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.Inventors: Akira Kosaka, Minoru Kuwana, Yoshiharu Tanaka, Junichi Tanii, Kenji Mizumoto
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Publication number: 20040165075Abstract: An electronic camera is provided with an image pickup unit in a casing at a position opposite to an opening of the casing. The image pickup unit includes an image pickup device and an optical system. The electronic camera is further provided with a rotating mechanism for rotating the image pickup unit, a changer for changing over a photographing possible state and a photographing impossible state, and a controller for controlling the rotating mechanism to rotate the image pickup unit into a target position in response to the changer.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2004Publication date: August 26, 2004Applicant: MINOLTA CO., LTDInventors: Hiroyuki Okada, Masayuki Ueyama, Minoru Kuwana, Shinya Matsuda, Tetsuro Kanbara, Takashi Matsuo, Takashi Kondo
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Patent number: 6727954Abstract: An electronic camera is provided with an image pickup unit in a casing at a position opposite to an opening of the casing. The image pickup unit includes an image pickup device and an optical system. The electronic camera is further provided with a rotating mechanism for rotating the image pickup unit, a changer for changing over a photographing possible state and a photographing impossible state, and a controller for controlling the rotating mechanism to rotate the image pickup unit into a target position in response to the changer.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 1999Date of Patent: April 27, 2004Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hiroyuki Okada, Masayuki Ueyama, Minoru Kuwana, Shinya Matsuda, Tetsuro Kanbara, Takashi Matsuo, Takashi Kondo
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Patent number: 6628320Abstract: A communication device having an image transmission function such as a video phone or a camera-equipped cellular phone. The image transmission function is capable of capturing an object image using an optimal size.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2001Date of Patent: September 30, 2003Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hiromu Mukai, Hitoshi Hagimori, Minoru Kuwana, Tsutomu Honda, Kazuhiko Ishimaru, Hideki Nagata
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Patent number: 6618212Abstract: A lens driving apparatus which drives a first and a second lens group arranged in the optical axis by a first drive means and a second drive means, wherein the apparatus has a first and a second cam followers extending mutually parallel in a right angle direction to the optical axis from the first and second lens groups and cam member having first and second cams arranged along the optical axis and respectively engaging the first and second cam followers.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2001Date of Patent: September 9, 2003Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.Inventors: Mototaka Chikami, Minoru Kuwana, Akira Kosaka
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Patent number: 6539174Abstract: A light image shift correcting device is provided with a planar member having a reference surface perpendicular to an optical axis of a focusing optical system, a shift correcting optical member having a flange portion at its periphery, an urger for movably pressing the shift correcting optical member against the reference surface of the planar member at a plurality of parts of the flange portion, a torus type piezoelectric actuator pressed against the flange portion by a part of the urger, and a controller for controlling the torus type piezoelectric actuator. The device can highly precisely control a light image shift correcting optical member despite its simple construction and can be made smaller.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2000Date of Patent: March 25, 2003Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.Inventors: Junichi Tanii, Minoru Kuwana
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Publication number: 20020113884Abstract: A warp corrector 201, which corrects warp in which the perspective is exaggerated when an image is captured with the user's face at close range, is included in a cellular phone 1 having an imaging portion 2. The warp corrector 201 performs processing to enlarge the peripheral areas of the image relative to the center, and generates corrected image data 232. As a result, a natural image of the user's face can be displayed on the display 11 of the cellular phone or sent.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 15, 2002Publication date: August 22, 2002Applicant: Minolta Co., Ltd.Inventors: Junichi Tanii, Minoru Kuwana
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Publication number: 20020075571Abstract: A lens driving apparatus which drives a first and a second lens group arranged in the optical axis by a first drive means and a second drive means, wherein the apparatus has a first and a second cam followers extending mutually parallel in a right angle direction to the optical axis from the first and second lens groups and cam member having first and second cams arranged along the optical axis and respectively engaging the first and second cam followers.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2001Publication date: June 20, 2002Applicant: Minolta Co., Ltd.Inventors: Mototaka Chikami, Minoru Kuwana, Akira Kosaka
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Publication number: 20020067105Abstract: An ultrasonic drive apparatus for preventing a slip between an object to be driven and a driving part of the apparatus to drive the object. The driving part includes an elastic member through which vibrations from electrical-mechanical converters are transmitted to the object. The elastic member can deform in a direction in which the object is driven. The driving part makes a predetermined locus to drive the object while the elastic member deforms in the direction so as to absorb the slip between the object and the driving part. The elastic member and the converters are mounted symmetrically relative to an axis which is generally perpendicular to the direction in which the object is driven, so that the object can be driven forward and backward.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 7, 2001Publication date: June 6, 2002Inventors: Akira Kosaka, Minoru Kuwana, Yoshiharu Tanaka, Junichi Tanii, Kenji Mizumoto
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Patent number: 6397008Abstract: A driving mechanism for holding and shifting a part to be driven. The mechanism has at least three carrying elements for carrying the part elastically by exerting force upon the part in directions generally perpendicular to an axis of the part, at least one of the carrying elements being of a actuating type including a frictional actuator, the frictional actuator having a contact face for contacting the part under the pressure, the contact face oscillating at high frequency so as to make the part move in a direction almost rectangular to that of exerting the force upon the part.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2000Date of Patent: May 28, 2002Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.Inventors: Minoru Kuwana, Junichi Tanii, Yukio Maekawa
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Patent number: 6392827Abstract: A lens driving device which does not make larger an apparatus in which the device is installed, which ensures a longer span for preventing a tilt of a lens therein, and which allows an easy access to the lens after assemblage is disclosed. The lens driving device includes a stationary board; a lens frame holding a lens group; a moving body like a flat plate one end of which is fixed to the lens frame in which the moving body is slid over the stationary board; and a rod, extending in an optical direction of the lens, which guides the moving body in the optical direction and is driven by a piezoelectric element. In the arrangement, the other end of the flat plate is frictionally held by the rod over a predetermined distance in the optical direction. When the piezoelectric element is supplied with a voltage with a predetermined waveform, the lens frame is driven in the direction of the optical axis by the moving body frictionally engaging the rod.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2000Date of Patent: May 21, 2002Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.Inventors: Masayuki Ueyama, Minoru Kuwana, Kenji Mizumoto
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Publication number: 20020057334Abstract: A communication device having an image transmission function such as a video phone or a camera-equipped cellular phone. The image transmission function is capable of capturing an object image using an optimal size.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 12, 2001Publication date: May 16, 2002Inventors: Hiromu Mukai, Hitoshi Hagimori, Minoru Kuwana, Tsutomu Honda, Kazuhiko Ishimaru, Hideki Nagata
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Publication number: 20020026641Abstract: Communication apparatuses (100) and (200) are provided with image-pickup cameras (110) and (210) respectively. When connected to the communication apparatus (200), the communication apparatus (100) detects whether or not the communication apparatus (200) has an image-pickup camera (210), and, upon detection of the image-pickup camera (210), requests the communication apparatus (200) to transmit control information for controlling the image-pickup camera (210). Based upon the resulting control information, it transmits a control signal for controlling the image-pickup camera (210) to the communication apparatus (200), and also displays an image transmitted and obtained from the communication apparatus (200). In other words, the communication apparatus (100) transmits the control signal for controlling the image-pickup camera (210) on the other side to the receiving end so that the image-pickup camera (210) on the other side is controlled by the control signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2001Publication date: February 28, 2002Inventors: Hiromu Mukai, Hitoshi Hagimori, Minoru Kuwana, Tsutomu Honda, Kazuhiko Ishimaru, Hideki Nagata
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Publication number: 20020006804Abstract: A communication terminal is provided with a line establishing means which establishes lines to a plurality of different terminals on the other side in parallel with each other. Moreover, the communication terminal is provided with a microphone through which voice is inputted, and a communication control means for transmitting voice inputted through the microphone to a plurality of different terminals on the other side. Thus, it is possible to simultaneously transmit the voice to a plurality of partners. Furthermore, the communication control means can receive voices transmitted from a plurality of difference terminals on the other side, and since the voices received by the communication control means are outputted from a speaker, it is possible to carry out conversations among a plurality of users at the same time.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2001Publication date: January 17, 2002Inventors: Hiromu Mukai, Hitoshi Hagimori, Minoru Kuwana, Tsutomu Honda, Kazuhiko Ishimaru, Hideki Nagata
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Publication number: 20010051509Abstract: In a mobile telephone (1), an image pickup unit (20) that is allowed to freely pivot centered on axes that are directed in a lateral direction and a longitudinal direction. The image pickup unit (20) is allowed to pivot in accordance with the operation of a joystick placed on the rear face of a main body (10). Thus, it is possible to easily obtain a desired image without the need of changing the orientation of the main body (10). Moreover, the image pickup unit (20) is rotated by 90° centered on an axis extended from the front to rear direction so that it is possible to provide an image obtained by replacing the length in the longitudinal direction with the length in the lateral direction of the original image.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2001Publication date: December 13, 2001Applicant: Minolta Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hiromu Mukai, Hitoshi Hagimori, Minoru Kuwana, Tsutomu Honda, Kazuhiko Ishimaru, Hideki Nagata
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Publication number: 20010004420Abstract: A driving mechanism for holding and shifting a part to be driven. The mechanism has at least three carrying elements for carrying the part elastically by exerting force upon the part in directions generally perpendicular to an axis of the part, at least one of the carrying elements being of a actuating type including a frictional actuator, the frictional actuator having a contact face for contacting the part under the pressure, the contact face oscillating at high frequency so as to make the part move in a direction almost rectangular to that of exerting the force upon the part.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2000Publication date: June 21, 2001Applicant: MINOLTA CO., LTD.Inventors: Minoru Kuwana, Junichi Tanii, Yukio Maekawa
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Patent number: 6215605Abstract: A plurality of movable lenses included in a zoom lens system are driven individually by piezoelectric actuators provided one for each lens. Two driving rods are arranged at different positions along the same line in such a way that neither of the driving rods reaches into the driving stroke of the lens driven by the other. Each driving rod has a piezoelectric actuator provided at its end farther from the other. Alternatively, a plurality of piezoelectric actuators are fixed to a single base block having a groove or a surface level difference to restrict propagation of vibration between the piezoelectric actuators. A graduated member having N-pole and S-pole regions formed alternatively thereon with a predetermined pitch is fixed, parallel to the driving rods, to the driving device itself. A magnetic resistance sensor is attached to each lens frame so as to face the graduated member. Based on the outputs of the sensors, the positions of the individual lenses are detected.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 1999Date of Patent: April 10, 2001Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.Inventors: Minoru Kuwana, Yasuo Nishihara
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Patent number: 6111336Abstract: A driving apparatus using a transducer. The apparatus comprises an electromechanical transducer, a driving shaft, a moving member and a pushing member. The driving shaft is coupled with the electro-mechanical transducer; the moving member is pushed against the driving shaft for frictional coupling therewith, the pushing member being interposed between the driving shaft and the moving member. The moving member is connected with the target moving object such as a lens mechanism. In operation, the electromechanical transducer is fed with driving pulses of a frequency of at least 18 kHz so that the transducer and the driving shaft will be displaced slowly in one direction and rapidly in the opposite direction, whereby the moving member coupled frictionally with the driving shaft is driven axially in a reciprocating manner at two different velocities.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 1997Date of Patent: August 29, 2000Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.Inventors: Ryuichi Yoshida, Yasuhiro Okamoto, Minoru Kuwana
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Patent number: 5859733Abstract: A lens holding frame holding a lens in a lens barrel is arranged, and a contact member extending therebelow is in friction coupling with a driving axis. By applying driving pulses having such a waveform that includes a moderate rising portion followed by an abrupt falling portion to a piezoelectric element, the holding frame is moved along the direction of the optical axis. An index provided at the holding frame is exposed through a slit of lens barrel, and from the position of the lens on the holding frame, information with respect to the distance to the object is displayed. Detection of the position of the holding frame is performed by a position sensor of ferromagnetic thin film magneto-resistive element type (MR sensor) so as to obtain positional information of the lens on the holding frame based on the detection signal, and the obtained information may be displayed on a liquid crystal or other display portion provided on the lens unit or on a camera body.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 1996Date of Patent: January 12, 1999Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.Inventors: Masaaki Miyano, Toyotoshi Kawasaki, Minoru Kuwana, Masayuki Miyazawa, Masayuki Ueyama, Yoshihiro Tasaka