Patents by Inventor Motohiro Komatsu
Motohiro Komatsu 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: 20230311744Abstract: A vehicle light fixture system includes: a low-beam unit adapted to form a low-beam light distribution pattern having a cutoff line and to independently adjust illuminance in a plurality of subareas in the low-beam light distribution pattern arranged below and along the cutoff line; and a light distribution control device that controls the low-beam unit to form a first reduced illuminance portion in, of the plurality of subareas, the subarea having a position in a vehicle width direction overlapping a position of a vehicle in front in the vehicle width direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2023Publication date: October 5, 2023Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Hiroki YAMAMOTO, Motohiro KOMATSU
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Patent number: 9862301Abstract: A vehicular rear panel with a new configuration is provided. The vehicular rear panel according to an aspect of the present disclosure is made of a resin material and disposed on a rear vehicle body part. The vehicular rear panel includes a light guiding unit configured to guide light from the light source along an extending direction of the vehicular rear panel and a light emitting unit configured to emit light in the light guiding unit to a rear side of a vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2015Date of Patent: January 9, 2018Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kenji Yamada, Masaaki Nakabayashi, Koji Uchino, Manabu Maeda, Noriaki Ito, Norimasa Yamamoto, Asami Nakada, Yuji Sakurai, Hiroya Koizumi, Tsukasa Tokida, Takao Muramatsu, Tomoaki Otani, Motohiro Komatsu, Akihiro Matsumoto, Takashi Terayama, Hiroki Ishibashi
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Patent number: 9550448Abstract: The invention relates to a light distribution control method and a light distribution control device in which plural illumination regions are arranged in the left-right direction and illuminated by a headlamp in an ADB light distribution pattern, and vehicle positions of a vehicle ahead are detected and selected ones of the plural illumination regions are reduced in light quantity according to the detected vehicle positions. In this method and device, corrected vehicle positions are set that are obtained by adding margins to the detected vehicle positions in the left and right directions, respectively, and compared with the plural illumination regions. Illumination regions where the vehicle ahead exists are reduced in light quantity.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2014Date of Patent: January 24, 2017Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Hidetada Tanaka, Takeshi Masuda, Motohiro Komatsu, Takao Muramatsu
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Patent number: 9517717Abstract: A light emitting lamp according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a laser light source, a scanning unit, which scans the laser light emitted from the laser light source so as to form a visible light distribution pattern, an obstacle detector, which detects an obstacle, if any, in front of a driver's vehicle, and a control unit, which adjusts the intensity of the laser light irradiated to an obstacle existent region, according to the distance from the driver's vehicle to the obstacle, based on the detection result of the obstacle detector.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2015Date of Patent: December 13, 2016Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Motohiro Komatsu, Naoki Uchida, Takeshi Masuda, Yuji Yasuda, Mitsuyuki Mochizuki, Hidetada Tanaka
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Publication number: 20160167566Abstract: The invention relates to a light distribution control method and a light distribution control device in which plural illumination regions are arranged in the left-right direction and illuminated by a headlamp in an ADB light distribution pattern, and vehicle positions of a vehicle ahead are detected and selected ones of the plural illumination regions are reduced in light quantity according to the detected vehicle positions. In this method and device, corrected vehicle positions are set that are obtained by adding margins to the detected vehicle positions in the left and right directions, respectively, and compared with the plural illumination regions. Illumination regions where the vehicle ahead exists are reduced in light quantity.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 9, 2014Publication date: June 16, 2016Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Hidetada TANAKA, Takeshi MASUDA, Motohiro KOMATSU, Takao MURAMATSU
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Publication number: 20160069527Abstract: Disclosed is a vehicle lamp including a projection lens and a plurality of light emitting devices arrangedtransversely in parallel to each other behind the projection lens. An additional high-beam light distribution pattern is additionally formed with respect to a low-beam light distribution pattern. The additional light distribution pattern is formed by projecting light emitted from each of the light emitting devices forward through the projection lens. At least one of the projection lens and the plurality of light emittingdevices is moved in a horizontal plane such that a formation position of the additional light distribution pattern is movable transversely.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 25, 2015Publication date: March 10, 2016Inventor: Motohiro Komatsu
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Publication number: 20150321599Abstract: A vehicular rear panel with a new configuration is provided. The vehicular rear panel according to an aspect of the present disclosure is made of a resin material and disposed on a rear vehicle body part. The vehicular rear panel includes a light guiding unit configured to guide light from the light source along an extending direction of the vehicular rear panel and a light emitting unit configured to emit light in the light guiding unit to a rear side of a vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2015Publication date: November 12, 2015Inventors: Kenji YAMADA, Masaaki NAKABAYASHI, Koji UCHINO, Manabu MAEDA, Noriaki ITO, Norimasa YAMAMOTO, Asami NAKADA, Yuji SAKURAI, Hiroya KOIZUMI, Tsukasa TOKIDA, Takao MURAMATSU, Tomoaki OTANI, Motohiro KOMATSU, Akihiro MATSUMOTO, Takashi TERAYAMA, Hiroki ISHIBASHI
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Patent number: 9080738Abstract: A vehicular lamp comprising includes a light-emitting diode that is used as a light source and that emits light; and a light transmitting member that is arranged in a path of the emitted light and through which the light is passed. The light transmitting member shields the light-emitting diode from infrared rays that travel in an opposite direction to a traveling direction of the light.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2010Date of Patent: July 14, 2015Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Motohiro Komatsu, Hiroyuki Serizawa, Hiroyuki Ishida, Shigeyuki Watanabe, Kiyoshi Sazuka
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Publication number: 20150137680Abstract: A light emitting lamp according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a laser light source, a scanning unit, which scans the laser light emitted from the laser light source so as to form a visible light distribution pattern, an obstacle detector, which detects an obstacle, if any, in front of a driver's vehicle, and a control unit, which adjusts the intensity of the laser light irradiated to an obstacle existent region, according to the distance from the driver's vehicle to the obstacle, based on the detection result of the obstacle detector.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2015Publication date: May 21, 2015Applicant: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Motohiro KOMATSU, Naoki Uchida, Takeshi Masuda, Yuji Yasuda, Mitsuyuki Mochizuki, Hidetada Tanaka
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Patent number: 8662706Abstract: A lamp unit includes: a light source array including a plurality of light sources aligned into an array; a mount portion on which the light source array is to be mounted; a first reflecting mirror configured to reflect light from the light sources, wherein the first reflecting mirror is parabolic cylindrical or hyperbolic cylindrical and is provided at least either above and below the light source array; and an optical member configured to project direct light from the light sources and reflected light from the first reflecting mirror to the front.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2011Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventor: Motohiro Komatsu
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Publication number: 20140003075Abstract: A vehicular rear panel with a new configuration is provided. The vehicular rear panel according to an aspect of the present disclosure is made of a resin material and disposed on a rear vehicle body part. The vehicular rear panel includes a light guiding unit configured to guide light from the light source along an extending direction of the vehicular rear panel and a light emitting unit configured to emit light in the light guiding unit to a rear side of a vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2013Publication date: January 2, 2014Inventors: Kenji YAMADA, Masaaki NAKABAYASHI, Koji UCHINO, Manabu MAEDA, Noriaki ITO, Norimasa YAMAMOTO, Asami NAKADA, Yuji SAKURAI, Hiroya KOIZUMI, Tsukasa TOKIDA, Takao MURAMATSU, Tomoaki OTANI, Motohiro KOMATSU, Akihiro MATSUMOTO, Takashi TERAYAMA, Hiroki ISHIBASHI
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Publication number: 20130329440Abstract: A light-emitting module 50 is provided with a substrate 54, a plurality of semiconductor light-emitting elements 52a through 52d mounted on the substrate 54 and arranged in a matrix, a fluorescent substance layer 58 provided such that the fluorescent substance layer 58 faces respective light-emitting surfaces 56a through 56d of the semiconductor light-emitting elements, and light-shielding portions 60a through 60d provided such that the light-shielding portions surround the perimeter of respective light-emitting surfaces of at least some light-emitting elements among the plurality of semiconductor light-emitting elements.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 14, 2013Publication date: December 12, 2013Applicant: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yasuaki TSUTSUMI, Masanobu MIZUNO, Motohiro KOMATSU
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Patent number: 8596841Abstract: A vehicle lamp is provided. The vehicle lamp includes a lens disposed on an optical axis of the vehicle lamp, the optical axis extending in a front-and-rear direction of the vehicle lamp, the lens comprising a first concave lens portion; a plurality of light emitting elements disposed to a rear side of the lens and around the optical axis at regular intervals in a circumferential direction, the plurality of light emitting elements comprising at least one first light emitting element disposed to a rear side of the first concave lens portion; at least one first reflector corresponding to the at least one first light emitting element and disposed between the corresponding first light emitting element and the optical axis, wherein the first reflector comprises a first reflecting surface which reflects light from the corresponding first light emitting element toward the first concave lens portion.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2007Date of Patent: December 3, 2013Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takayuki Yagi, Motohiro Komatsu
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Patent number: 8487535Abstract: An automotive headlamp apparatus comprises: a lamp unit configured to be capable of forming an additional light distribution pattern that includes an upper area above the cut-off line of a light distribution pattern for low beam and that is divided into a plurality of individual patterns; and a controller configured to control formation of each of the individual patterns in accordance with presence of a forward vehicle. The controller reduces the illuminance of an individual pattern overlapping an area where a forward vehicle is present and increases the illuminance of at least one of other individual patterns.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2010Date of Patent: July 16, 2013Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kentaro Tani, Noriko Sato, Motohiro Komatsu, Hidetada Tanaka, Hiroyuki Ishida, Naoki Uchida, Takuya Kotajima
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Patent number: 8297814Abstract: A vehicle headlamp includes a first light source configured to emit first light that is projected to form a first irradiation region, a second light source configured to emit second light that is projected to form a second irradiation region joined to the first irradiation region to extend in a transverse direction with respect to an optical axis, a movable shade configured to move between a position at which light irradiation to a joined region of the first irradiation region and the second irradiation region is shielded, and a position at which the light irradiation to the joined region is permitted, and a controller configured to select one of light distribution patterns that are determined by combinations of turning on and off of the first light source, turning on and off of the second light source, and the positions of the movable shade.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2010Date of Patent: October 30, 2012Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hidetada Tanaka, Satoshi Yamamura, Motohiro Komatsu
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Publication number: 20120127712Abstract: A lamp unit includes: a light source array including a plurality of light sources aligned into an array; a mount portion on which the light source array is to be mounted; a first reflecting mirror configured to reflect light from the light sources, wherein the first reflecting mirror is parabolic cylindrical or hyperbolic cylindrical and is provided at least either above and below the light source array; and an optical member configured to project direct light from the light sources and reflected light from the first reflecting mirror to the front.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2011Publication date: May 24, 2012Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventor: Motohiro KOMATSU
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Publication number: 20110141753Abstract: A vehicle headlamp includes a first light source configured to emit first light that is projected to form a first irradiation region, a second light source configured to emit second light that is projected to form a second irradiation region joined to the first irradiation region to extend in a transverse direction with respect to an optical axis, a movable shade configured to move between a position at which light irradiation to a joined region of the first irradiation region and the second irradiation region is shielded, and a position at which the light irradiation to the joined region is permitted, and a controller configured to select one of light distribution patterns that are determined by combinations of turning on and off of the first light source, turning on and off of the second light source, and the positions of the movable shade.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2010Publication date: June 16, 2011Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Hidetada TANAKA, Satoshi YAMAMURA, Motohiro KOMATSU
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Publication number: 20110063865Abstract: A light emitting module includes: a circuit board having a shape in which an outer peripheral edge of the circuit board corresponds to an outer peripheral edge of the circuit board before rotating the circuit board about a center point by an angle of 90 degrees in a direction orthogonal to a thickness direction of the circuit board; a semiconductor light emitting element; and a first and second electrodes that are formed on the circuit board at positions symmetrical to each other with respect to the center point.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2010Publication date: March 17, 2011Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Motohiro KOMATSU, Hidetada TANAKA, Takayuki YAGI
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Patent number: 7901122Abstract: A lamp unit used in a vehicular lamp includes a reflector provided with a parabolic cylindrical reflective surface with a focal line in the horizontal direction; a planar light source having a light-emitting surface with a generally oblong shaped region; and a drive portion that rotatably supports the semiconductor light-emitting element portion. The generally oblong shaped region of the planar light source includes a long side in a direction parallel to the focal line and a short side of a predetermined width. The planar light source is disposed such that the light-emitting surface faces the parabolic cylindrical reflective surface of the reflector and such that a long side, on a lamp front side, generally coincides with the focal line and acts as a rotational axis.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2007Date of Patent: March 8, 2011Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventor: Motohiro Komatsu
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Publication number: 20110012510Abstract: An automotive headlamp apparatus comprises: a lamp unit configured to be capable of forming an additional light distribution pattern that includes an upper area above the cut-off line of a light distribution pattern for low beam and that is divided into a plurality of individual patterns; and a controller configured to control formation of each of the individual patterns in accordance with presence of a forward vehicle. The controller reduces the illuminance of an individual pattern overlapping an area where a forward vehicle is present and increases the illuminance of at least one of other individual patterns.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 14, 2010Publication date: January 20, 2011Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Kentaro TANI, Noriko SATO, Motohiro KOMATSU, Hidetada TANAKA, Hiroyuki ISHIDA, Naoki UCHIDA, Takuya KOTAJIMA