Patents by Inventor Mizuki SHINKAWA

Mizuki SHINKAWA 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: 20240241369
    Abstract: A movable device includes: a first movable part; a driver to rotate the first movable part; a second movable part facing the first movable part; and a coupler coupling the first movable part and the second movable part to each other. The coupler includes: a first pillar extending from the first movable part in a first direction; and a second pillar extending from the second movable part in a second direction opposite to the first direction and bonded to the first pillar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2024
    Publication date: July 18, 2024
    Inventors: Mizuki SHINKAWA, Daiki MINEGISHI
  • Publication number: 20240176132
    Abstract: A movable device includes a movable portion; a driver connected to the movable portion, the driver to drive the movable portion; a reflector having a reflecting surface to reflect light; a connector connecting the movable portion and the reflector in a connection direction intersecting the reflecting surface; and a reinforcement. The reinforcement has at least one of: an extension portion from the reflector toward the movable portion, or another extension portion from the movable portion toward the reflector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2023
    Publication date: May 30, 2024
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mizuki Shinkawa, Daiki Minegishi
  • Publication number: 20240027746
    Abstract: A movable device includes a supporting portion; a movable portion in the supporting portion, the movable portion movable about a first rotation axis and a second rotation axis intersecting with the first rotation axis; a member between the movable portion and the supporting portion and connected to the movable portion and the supporting portion in a connection direction. The member includes: a drive unit configured to move the movable portion; and an opening in a part of the drive unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2023
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mizuki Shinkawa, Yohsuke Abe
  • Patent number: 11796793
    Abstract: An optical deflector includes a mirror configured to reflect light; a pair of support portions each having an end connected to the mirror, and configured to support the mirror; first actuators connected to the respective support portions, and configured to deform the support portions so as to cause the mirror to oscillate about a first axis; a movable frame configured to support the first actuators; and second actuators connected to the movable frame and disposed opposite to the first actuators, with the support portions being interposed between the first actuators and the second actuators. The second actuators are not connected to the support portions. The first actuators and the second actuators bend and deform in the same direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Yoda, Yukito Sato, Mizuki Shinkawa, Goichi Akanuma, Shuichi Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20230324677
    Abstract: A movable device includes: a movable portion; a support body; a first member having one end coupled to the support body and another end coupled to the movable portion; the first member including a first driver; and a second member having one end coupled to the 5 support body and another end coupled to the movable portion, the second member including a second driver. The movable portion rotates about a first rotation axis by driving the first driver and without driving the second driver. The movable portion rotates about a second rotation axis by driving the second driver and without driving the first driver. The first rotation axis intersects the second rotation axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2023
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Inventor: Mizuki SHINKAWA
  • Patent number: 11644664
    Abstract: A light deflector includes a stationary part; a movable unit having a reflecting surface; a connecting part between the movable unit and the stationary part; a drive unit disposed on a first surface of the connecting part, the drive unit configured to deform the connecting part to oscillate the movable unit; and a rib disposed on a second surface of the connecting part, the second surface being an opposite surface of the first surface. The rib includes a portion whose longitudinal direction is orthogonal to a direction at which the connecting part is bent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Wataru Yokota, Goichi Akanuma, Mizuki Shinkawa
  • Patent number: 11640053
    Abstract: A movable device includes a first member and a second member. The first actuator includes a supporting unit having one end coupled to the movable unit to support the movable unit and a drive unit coupled to the other end of the supporting unit. The drive unit is configured to deform the supporting unit to cause the movable unit to oscillate. The movable device has a first region and a second region divided by a virtual line passing through the center of the movable unit and parallel to a rotation axis of the movable unit. The supporting unit is coupled to the movable unit within the second region. An edge of the drive unit, which is opposite to the fixed edge, faces the movable unit as viewed from the center of the movable unit in a plan view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Mizuki Shinkawa
  • Publication number: 20220326512
    Abstract: A movable apparatus includes a movable unit including a mirror configured to reflect light, a support portion including a first end and a second end, the first end being connected to the movable unit, the support portion configured to swingably support the movable unit, and a fixed unit connected to the second end of the support portion. The support portion includes a plurality of beam units and a connection unit connecting adjacent beam units of the plurality of beam units, wherein where the support portion is divided into two parts at a predetermined or given position, the two parts including a first part closer to the fixed unit and a second part closer to the movable unit. A beam unit of the plurality of beam units in the first part has a higher rigidity than a beam unit of the plurality of beam units in the second part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Inventor: Mizuki SHINKAWA
  • Publication number: 20220299757
    Abstract: A movable device includes a movable portion; a drive unit having one end connected to the movable portion to rotate the movable portion; a support supporting the drive unit; a connecting portion having one end connected to the support to support the support; and a stationary support to which the other end of the connecting portion is connected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2022
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mizuki Shinkawa, Goichi Akanuma
  • Publication number: 20210286167
    Abstract: A movable device includes a first member and a second member. The first actuator includes: a supporting unit having one end coupled to the movable unit to support the movable unit; and a drive unit coupled to the other end of the supporting unit, the drive unit configured to deform the supporting unit to cause the movable unit to oscillate. The movable device has a first region and a second region divided by a virtual line passing through the center of the movable unit and parallel to a rotation axis of the movable unit. The supporting unit is coupled to the movable unit within the second region. An edge of the drive unit, which is opposite to the fixed edge, faces the movable unit as viewed from the center of the movable unit in a plan view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2021
    Publication date: September 16, 2021
    Inventor: Mizuki SHINKAWA
  • Publication number: 20210157129
    Abstract: An optical deflector includes a mirror configured to reflect light; a pair of support portions each having an end connected to the mirror, and configured to support the mirror; first actuators connected to the respective support portions, and configured to deform the support portions so as to cause the mirror to oscillate about a first axis; a movable frame configured to support the first actuators; and second actuators connected to the movable frame and disposed opposite to the first actuators, with the support portions being interposed between the first actuators and the second actuators. The second actuators are not connected to the support portions. The first actuators and the second actuators bend and deform in the same direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro YODA, Yukito SATO, Mizuki SHINKAWA, Goichi AKANUMA, Shuichi SUZUKI
  • Publication number: 20210041687
    Abstract: A light deflector includes a stationary part; a movable unit having a reflecting surface; a connecting part between the movable unit and the stationary part; a drive unit disposed on a first surface of the connecting part, the drive unit configured to deform the connecting part to oscillate the movable unit; and a rib disposed on a second surface of the connecting part, the second surface being an opposite surface of the first surface. The rib includes a portion whose longitudinal direction is orthogonal to a direction at which the connecting part is bent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Inventors: Wataru YOKOTA, Goichi Akanuma, Mizuki Shinkawa
  • Patent number: 10901220
    Abstract: A movable device includes a reflector; a movable section including the reflector; a first drive section connected to the movable section, the first drive section configured to drive the movable section; a first support connected to the first drive section to support the first drive section; and two adjusters disposed symmetrically with respect to the reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mizuki Shinkawa, Tsuyoshi Hashiguchi, Goichi Akanuma
  • Patent number: 10793418
    Abstract: A rotating apparatus includes a folded back elastically deformable portion including a first piezoelectric element for deforming a first elastically deformable portion and a second piezoelectric element for deforming a second elastically deformable portion, and the rotating apparatus rotates a movable portion around a predetermined rotation axis, by respectively applying first and second driving voltage signals to the first and second piezoelectric elements, to deform the first and second elastically deformable portions. First and second connection positions have a relationship of being relatively the same or symmetrical across all folded back structures. The first connection position is where a signal line of the first driving voltage signal and the first piezoelectric element are connected, and the second connection position is where a signal line of the second driving voltage signal and the second piezoelectric element are connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mizuki Shinkawa, Tsuyoshi Hashiguchi
  • Publication number: 20190391394
    Abstract: A movable device includes a reflector; a movable section including the reflector; a first drive section connected to the movable section, the first drive section configured to drive the movable section; a first support connected to the first drive section to support the first drive section; and two adjusters disposed symmetrically with respect to the reflector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: MIZUKI SHINKAWA, TSUYOSHI HASHIGUCHI, GOICHI AKANUMA
  • Publication number: 20180282147
    Abstract: A rotating apparatus includes a folded back elastically deformable portion including a first piezoelectric element for deforming a first elastically deformable portion and a second piezoelectric element for deforming a second elastically deformable portion, and the rotating apparatus rotates a movable portion around a predetermined rotation axis, by respectively applying first and second driving voltage signals to the first and second piezoelectric elements, to deform the first and second elastically deformable portions. First and second connection positions have a relationship of being relatively the same or symmetrical across all folded back structures. The first connection position is where a signal line of the first driving voltage signal and the first piezoelectric element are connected, and the second connection position is where a signal line of the second driving voltage signal and the second piezoelectric element are connected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2018
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mizuki SHINKAWA, Tsuyoshi HASHIGUCHI