Patents by Inventor Naoki Tatara

Naoki Tatara 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: 20180222492
    Abstract: A vehicular illumination device provided to a vehicle capable of travelling in an automatic driving mode includes an illumination unit configured to display advance-notice information for giving advance-notice of automatic traveling control of the vehicle so that a passenger in the vehicle can visually recognize the advance-notice information, and an illumination controller configured to control the illumination unit so that the passenger in the vehicle can visually recognize the advance-notice information before the automatic traveling control of the vehicle is executed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Naoki Takii, Naoki Tatara, Toshihiro Okamura, Takeshi Masuda
  • Publication number: 20180105101
    Abstract: The present invention is provided with: an outer housing configured from a housing having an opening, and a translucent cover closing the opening; a substrate disposed inside of the outer hosing; a camera module, which has an image pickup element, and is disposed on the substrate; and a light emitting element, which is provided as a light source, and is disposed on the substrate. Consequently, since the camera module and the light emitting element are disposed on the substrate that is disposed inside of the outer housing, the number of configuration components is small, thereby achieving reduction of the number of components, and size reduction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Naoki TATARA, Toshihiro OKAMURA
  • Publication number: 20180072229
    Abstract: A camera monitor system includes: a capturing device; a displaying device; a detecting device detecting at least one of a state of an engine switch of a vehicle, a state of an engine, a state of a gear shift, an open/closed state of a door, and a seated state of a driver; and a control device controlling consumed power by the capturing device and the displaying device on the basis of at least one type of detection output of the detecting device. The control device controls at least one of the capturing device and the displaying device to a low power consumption state when a specified time elapses since the detection output of the detecting device is changed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsuharu MANO, Kosuke MITANI, Naoki TATARA
  • Publication number: 20180072228
    Abstract: A camera monitor system includes: left and right capturing devices; left and right displaying devices; and a control device detecting an abnormality of each of the left and right capturing devices and controlling a displaying state of each of the left and right displaying devices based on the detected abnormality. The control device individually controls each of the left and right displaying devices to be in a low power consumption state in accordance with a mode of the detected abnormality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsuharu MANO, Kosuke MITANI, Naoki TATARA
  • Publication number: 20180014395
    Abstract: A first light source illuminates a first region. A second light source is configured to provide lower luminance than that of the first light source. The second light source illuminates a second region that overlaps the first region, and that has a larger area than that of the first region. A lighting circuit drives the first light source and the second light source according to a common lighting instruction. The lighting circuit gradually turns on the first light source and the second light source with different gradual changing time periods in response to the lighting instruction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Applicant: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki ICHIKAWA, Masayasu ITO, Naoki TATARA, Satoshi YAMAMURA
  • Publication number: 20170217369
    Abstract: A vehicle exterior observation device is provided with imaging devices (1L, 1R) and an image control unit (2). The imaging devices (1L, 1R) are each provided with: an imaging element (13) having an imaging surface; a first image-producing optical system (14t) configured so as to form, on the imaging surface, a first image of a first imaging area (13t) of the vehicle exterior at a first imaging magnification; and a second image-producing optical system (14w) configured so as to form, on the imaging surface, a second image of a second imaging area (13w) of the vehicle exterior at a second imaging magnification different from the first imaging magnification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2015
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Osamu ENDO, Naoki TATARA
  • Patent number: 9669754
    Abstract: Provided is a turn signal lamp including a light source, a light guide, and a camera having an image capture device, which are installed within a lamp chamber formed by a lamp body and an outer cover. At least a portion of the light guide is formed in an area that extends from the camera in a direction following a vehicle surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Tatara, Toshihiro Okamura, Kenji Nobuhara, Hiroya Koizumi, Kazuyuki Ishikawa
  • Publication number: 20160305626
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp includes a semiconductor laser element configured to emit laser light, a condenser lens configured to condense the laser light, a phosphor configured to form white light by converting wavelength of at least a portion of the laser light condensed, and a reflector configured to reflect the white light. A light transmitting portion is formed in a portion, at which an extension path obtaining by extending an optical path of the laser light before contacting the phosphor is intersected with the reflector, of the reflector. A light confinement part is formed above the light transmitting portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Naoki Tatara, Satoshi Yamamura, Naoki Uchida, Toshiaki Tsuda
  • Patent number: 9473854
    Abstract: The configuration is provided with three flexible arms extending in the same circumferential direction, as a suspension for supporting the magnetic circuit unit in displaceable fashion in the vertical direction with respect to a coil support member. This assures sufficient length of each of the flexible arms, enhancing the vibration characteristics. Next, arm insertion slots having approximately the same vertical Width as the flexible arms are formed at three locations in the circumferential direction in the coil support member. The distal end of each flexible arm is then inserted into the arm insertion slot, doing so in the aforementioned same circumferential direction, causing a barb to engage an engaging part and detain the flexible arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto Yasuike, Yasunori Tsukuda, Atsushi Sugimoto, Osamu Endo, Naoki Tatara
  • Publication number: 20160207444
    Abstract: Provided is a turn signal lamp including a light source, a light guide, and a camera having an image capture device, which are installed within a lamp chamber formed by a lamp body and an outer cover. At least a portion of the light guide is formed in an area that extends from the camera in a direction following a vehicle surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Inventors: Naoki Tatara, Toshihiro Okamura, Kenji Nobuhara, Hiroya Koizumi, Kazuyuki Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 9302612
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a vehicular lamp system in which modification or addition of functions of a lamp may be performed even after a vehicle is purchased. The vehicular lamp system includes a lamp unit; a vehicle storage unit configured to store first identification information; a communication unit configured to communicate with an external storage unit which stores second identification information corresponding to the first identification information, and function information associated with the second identification information and related to a user's selected function of the lamp unit; and a control unit configured to control an operation of the lamp unit. The communication unit acquires the function information associated with the second identification information corresponding to the first identification information from the external storage unit, and the control unit operates the lamp unit based on the function information to execute a specific function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., ltd.
    Inventor: Naoki Tatara
  • Publication number: 20160059781
    Abstract: An in-vehicle video system includes cameras that capture rear and side areas of a vehicle body, monitors that display video images captured by the cameras on screens thereof, and an ECU that shapes the video images that are displayed on the monitors. The cameras are accommodated in housings that are provided on left and right sides of a vehicle body, and side turn signal lamps are provided individually on external surfaces of the housings. The ECU controls a video image processing circuit so that the video images of the rear and side areas of the vehicle body are displayed on two portions of the screen of the monitor at different compression ratios and that the compression ratios change according to vehicle information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Naoki Tatara
  • Patent number: 9120418
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp includes a light source, a front cover made of a transparent material to transmit light emitted by the light source, a lamp body forming a lamp housing together with the front cover, and a vibrator configured to vibrate the front cover to generate a vibration sound. The vibrator is supported by the lamp housing such that the vibrator contacts the front cover at a location where, when the vehicle lamp is mounted on a vehicle, the vibrator is not visible from an outside of the vehicle lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Naoki Tatara, Toru Takahashi, Yuji Sugiyama, Atsushi Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 9096164
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicular lamp that includes a lamp body, an exterior lens configured to define a lamp chamber between the lamp body and the exterior lens, and a vibration device fixed to a component of the vehicular lamp and configured to be vibrated by receiving an electric signal to cause the component to generate a sound. The vibration device includes a housing fixed to the component of the lamp, an electric circuit provided in the housing, a vibration body vibrated when the electric signal is input to the electric circuit, and a device connector to which an external connector is connected to input the electric signal to the electric circuit. In particular, the device connector is integrally provided in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventor: Naoki Tatara
  • Publication number: 20150158413
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a vehicular lamp system in which modification or addition of functions of a lamp may be performed even after a vehicle is purchased. The vehicular lamp system includes a lamp unit; a vehicle storage unit configured to store first identification information; a communication unit configured to communicate with an external storage unit which stores second identification information corresponding to the first identification information, and function information associated with the second identification information and related to a user's selected function of the lamp unit; and a control unit configured to control an operation of the lamp unit. The communication unit acquires the function information associated with the second identification information corresponding to the first identification information from the external storage unit, and the control unit operates the lamp unit based on the function information to execute a specific function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Inventor: Naoki TATARA
  • Patent number: 9022623
    Abstract: A vehicular lamp is provided with a vibrator and a shock-absorbing member. The vibrator is attached to a lamp body. The lamp body vibrates in response to the vibration of the vibrator and an alarm sound is generated. The shock-absorbing member is provided to an attachment part and the transfer of the vibration from the vibrator through the attachment part is suppressed by the shock-absorbing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Tatara, Toru Takahashi, Naoki Takii, Yuji Sugiyama
  • Publication number: 20150109449
    Abstract: A vehicular lamp includes a light source that illuminates a vehicle periphery; a camera that images the vehicle periphery; and a shield structure configured to protect an image from the camera from light of the light source. The shield structure may include a shield ring configured to shield a light receiving portion of the camera from light of the light source; a light guide member that guides the light of the light source in a direction away from the light receiving portion of the camera; a control circuit that operates the camera only at a timing when the light source, flashing in a short cycle, is off; and an image processing circuit that removes a colored light component of the light source from image data of the camera.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: Osamu Endo, Hiroya Koizumi, Naoki Tatara
  • Patent number: 8952614
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp includes: a light source; a lamp housing that accommodates the light source inside; and a power receiving section that is provided so as to be integral with the lamp housing and is configured to receive electric power wirelessly to supply the electric power to the light source. A power supply device that supplies electric power from a battery mounted on a vehicle to a lamp disposed in the vehicle includes a power transmission section that is provided in the vehicle and configured to transmit the electric power of the battery; and a power receiving section that is provided so as to be integral with the lamp and configured to receive the electric power from the power transmission section. The power transmission section and the power receiving section are disposed to be opposed to each other and electrically coupled by electromagnetic induction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naohisa Tatara, Naoki Tatara
  • Patent number: 8872425
    Abstract: Provided is a light distribution control system for vehicle in which each of left and right head lamp housings is provided with camera that picks up image of the forward area of vehicle, main lamp unit that forms basic light distribution pattern which is symmetric at the forward area of the vehicle, first sub lamp unit that forms first additional light distribution pattern at lateral side of the vehicle as compared to the basic light distribution pattern, second sub lamp unit that forms second additional light distribution pattern at lateral side of the vehicle, and control unit that controls the turning-ON/OFF of the first and second sub lamp units based on the image data of the camera. The control unit may form non-symmetric light distribution pattern as a whole at the forward area of the vehicle according to road environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Endo, Naoki Tatara
  • Patent number: 8866388
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp controller includes a lamp control unit that performs lamp control, in which light amount or light distribution of each of a plurality of lamps to be provided on a vehicle that runs on electric power from a battery, is controlled, according to a priority that is assigned to each of the plurality of lamps, wherein the priorities are determined based on degrees of necessity of the plurality of lamps in securing safety for the vehicle. The vehicle lamp controller may further include a remaining battery charge detecting device for detecting a remaining charge of a battery, and the lamp control unit may be configured to perform the lamp control according to the priorities when the remaining charge becomes lower than a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akitaka Kanamori, Kentaro Tani, Naoki Tatara