Patents by Inventor Nobuaki Aoki

Nobuaki Aoki 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: 20050185296
    Abstract: This prevents biting and miniaturizes an entire mechanism. There is provided a lens driver including: a driver having a frame that holds a lens and a bearing for receiving a guiding axis to move the lens in an optical axis direction, a lead screw in which a screw to which a nut is screwed is formed, and a stepping motor for rotating the lead screw; an arm extended from the frame, in such a way a tip being next to the nut, and moving the frame by movement of the nut; a spring for pushing an arm tip towards the nut; and an idle rotation section placed on only side where the arm is placed for the nut at a lead screw end of the driver, and has an axis diameter disabling the nut to be screwed. Also there is provided an image capture apparatus having the lens driver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2005
    Publication date: August 25, 2005
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuo Makii, Nobuaki Aoki, Hiroto Ogiyama
  • Publication number: 20050185295
    Abstract: This prevents biting and miniaturizes an entire mechanism. There is provided a lens driver including: a driver having a frame that holds a lens and a bearing for receiving a guiding axis to move the lens in an optical axis direction, a lead screw in which a screw to which a nut is screwed is formed, and a stepping motor for rotating the lead screw; an arm extended from the frame, in such a way a tip being next to the nut, and moving the frame by movement of the nut; a spring for pushing an arm tip towards the nut; and an idle rotation section placed on only side where the arm is placed for the nut at a lead screw end of the driver, and has an axis diameter disabling the nut to be screwed. Also there is provided an image capture apparatus having the lens driver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2005
    Publication date: August 25, 2005
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuo Makii, Nobuaki Aoki, Hiroto Ogiyama
  • Patent number: 6909464
    Abstract: A zoom lens includes a plurality of lens groups, and a cam barrel having a cam groove formed on an inner peripheral surface thereof. The cam barrel includes a first barrel having the cam groove on an inner peripheral surface thereof, and a second barrel which is fitted on a front part of an outer peripheral surface of the first barrel, the first barrel and second barrel being movable in the optical axis direction with a predetermined clearance provided therebetween in the optical axis direction while being rotatable together about the optical axis, so that an external force applied to the zoom lens from the outside of the zoom lens is transmitted to the first barrel via the second barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: PENTAX Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nomura, Nobuaki Aoki, Yoshihiro Yamazaki, Satoru Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20050100481
    Abstract: In a micro chemical apparatus, guide walls as physical barriers are provided at a region where fluid A and fluid B as unmixed raw materials and a product are discharged so that, when the fluid A and the fluid B as raw materials are charged, only the portion in which the fluid A and the fluid B are mixed and allowed to react with each other by molecular diffusion of the raw materials is discharged. As a result, only the product is in the range between the two guide walls, and the product can be selectively taken out of the outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2004
    Publication date: May 12, 2005
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Mae, Shinji Hasebe, Nobuaki Aoki, Hideo Wakami, Hideharu Nagasawa
  • Publication number: 20050007679
    Abstract: This prevents biting and miniaturizes an entire mechanism. There is provided a lens driver including: a driver having a frame that holds a lens and a bearing for receiving a guiding axis to move the lens in an optical axis direction, a lead screw in which a screw to which a nut is screwed is formed, and a stepping motor for rotating the lead screw; an arm extended from the frame, in such a way a tip being next to the nut, and moving the frame by movement of the nut; a spring for pushing an arm tip towards the nut; and an idle rotation section placed on only side where the arm is placed for the nut at a lead screw end of the driver, and has an axis diameter disabling the nut to be screwed. Also there is provided an image capture apparatus having the lens driver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2004
    Publication date: January 13, 2005
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuo Makii, Nobuaki Aoki, Hiroto Ogiyama
  • Patent number: 6723797
    Abstract: A crosslinking agent for water-absorbing resins which comprises (A) at least one halohydrin compound selected between (A1) a first halohydrin compound having per molecule at least two halohydrin groups (D) represented by the general formula (I), wherein R1 represents hydrogen or alkyl and X represents chlorine or bromine and (A2) a second halohydrin compound having per molecule at least two halohydrin groups (D) represented by the formula (I) and having per molecule at least one ammonium group (M) represented by the general formula (II), wherein R2's each independently represents a C1-4 hydrocarbon group or benzyl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Nagase Chemtex Corporation
    Inventors: Satoru Fujii, Yoshiyuki Morita, Tetsuya Hosomi, Nobuaki Aoki
  • Patent number: 6657794
    Abstract: A movable lens hood mechanism of a zoom lens includes a plurality of lens groups guided linearly in a direction of an optical axis to change a focal length of the zoom lens; a first cam barrel rotatably driven to move the plurality of lens groups in the optical axis direction; a movable hood barrel having a photographic aperture positioned in front of the frontmost lens group and guided linearly in the optical axis direction; and a feed mechanism which drives the movable hood barrel forward/rearward in the optical axis direction relative to the frontmost lens group by rotation of the first cam barrel so that a space between the photographic aperture of the movable lens hood and the frontmost lens group in the optical axis direction varies in accordance with a variation of a focal length of the zoom lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Pentax Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nomura, Nobuaki Aoki, Yoshihiro Yamazaki, Satoru Nakamura
  • Patent number: 6597518
    Abstract: A selectable assembling device of a zoom lens barrel includes a stationary barrel having a female helicoid, and linear guide grooves spaced at 120 degree intervals; a cam ring including bottomed cam grooves; a linear guide barrel provided with linear guide projections and linear guide slots spaced at 120 degree intervals; and a plurality of lens frames provided with sliding projections spaced at 120 degree intervals, which are engaged in the linear guide slots of the linear guide barrel, each of the sliding projections including a cam follower which is fitted in a corresponding bottomed cam groove of the cam ring. Upon assembly, a relative angular position of assembly for the cam ring and the linear guide barrel can be selected from among three circumferential positions spaced at 120 degree intervals. A device for guiding a flexible circuit board is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Pentax Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nomura, Nobuaki Aoki, Yoshihiro Yamazaki, Satoru Nakamura
  • Patent number: 6570718
    Abstract: A zoom lens includes a cam barrel having bottomed cam grooves formed on an inner peripheral surface thereof, a lens frame guided in an optical axis direction, cam followers, and resilient supports which are resiliently deformable radially. Each bottomed cam groove includes a zoom section, and an accommodation section. Each bottomed cam groove is formed so that a depth of the accommodation section is greater than the zoom section. The resilient bias of each resilient support causes the cam followers to be biased against the bottomed cam grooves wherein the follower pins are fitted in the bottomed cam grooves so that no play occurs when the bottomed cam grooves are in the zoom section. Each resilient support is free from being elastically deformed so that the cam followers are inserted in the bottomed cam grooves with a predetermined amount of play when the bottomed cam grooves are positioned in the accommodation section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Pentax Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nomura, Nobuaki Aoki, Yoshihiro Yamazaki, Satoru Nakamura
  • Patent number: 6549341
    Abstract: A cam barrel rotating mechanism of a zoom lens includes a plurality of lens groups guided in a direction of an optical axis without rotating about the optical axis to change a focal length of the zoom lens; a cam barrel rotatably supported to move the plurality of lens groups in the optical axis direction; a rotational barrel positioned around the cam barrel, the rotational barrel being rotatably driven; a plurality of rotation transmission grooves formed on an outer peripheral surface of the cam barrel, at an equi-angular intervals, extending parallel to the optical axis; and a plurality of inward projections formed on an inner peripheral surface of the rotational barrel to be engaged in the plurality of rotation transmission grooves, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Pentax Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nomura, Nobuaki Aoki, Yoshihiro Yamazaki, Satoru Nakamura
  • Patent number: 6520691
    Abstract: A lens barrier opening/closing device of a movable lens barrel includes a barrier blade which is driven to open and close a photographic aperture; a barrier drive ring driven to rotate about an optical axis; a first biasing device which biases the barrier drive ring in a rotational direction; a rotational barrel which rotates about the optical axis; a receiving surface formed on the barrier drive ring to extend parallel to the optical axis; and a transmission surface, formed on the rotational barrel, extending parallel to the optical axis. The receiving surface and the transmission surface are engaged with each other to rotate the barrier drive ring together with the rotational barrel about the optical axis in a direction against a biasing force of the first biasing device when the movable lens barrel moves from either the photographing position to the accommodation position or vise versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Pentax Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nomura, Nobuaki Aoki, Yoshihiro Yamazaki, Satoru Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20020185629
    Abstract: A crosslinking agent for use in the crosslinking of water absorbing resin particles which comprises at least one halohydrin compound (A) selected from the group consisting of:
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2002
    Publication date: December 12, 2002
    Inventors: Satoru Fujii, Yoshiyuki Morita, Tetsuya Hosomi, Nobuaki Aoki
  • Patent number: 6469840
    Abstract: A cam mechanism includes a linear guide barrel provided with a linear guide projection at one end thereof, extending radially outwards; a cam barrel fitted on the linear guide barrel, rotatable relative to the linear guide barrel and movable along the optical axis with the linear guide barrel, the cam barrel being provided with a cam groove on an inner surface thereof; a linear guide slot formed on the linear guide barrel extending parallel to the optical axis; at least one lens frame positioned inside the linear guide barrel; a projection formed on the lens frame to be slidably engaged in the linear guide slot; and a cam follower formed on the projection to be engaged in the cam groove. The linear guide projection and the linear guide slot are formed on the linear guide barrel at the same circumferential position of the linear guide barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nomura, Nobuaki Aoki, Yoshihiro Yamazaki, Satoru Nakamura
  • Patent number: 6469841
    Abstract: A lens frame guiding mechanism of a zoom lens includes lens frames having projections which extend radially outwards, wherein a cam follower is formed on each projection; a linear guide barrel; linear guide slots formed on the linear guide barrel parallel to the optical axis, wherein the projections of each lens frame are respectively engaged in the linear guide slots to be slidable therealong; a cam barrel fitted outside the linear guide barrel to be relatively rotatable about the optical axis thereto; and bottomed cam grooves formed on an inner peripheral surface of the cam barrel, in which the cam followers of a corresponding lens frame are respectively engaged. The lens frames are moved in the direction of the optical axis, without rotating about the optical axis, to change a focal length of said zoom lens via rotation of said cam barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nomura, Nobuaki Aoki, Yoshihiro Yamazaki, Satoru Nakamura
  • Patent number: 6456445
    Abstract: A zoom lens includes a cam barrel having first and second cam grooves formed on an inner peripheral surface thereof; and first and second lens frames having first and second cam followers, respectively engaged with the first and the second cam grooves. The cam dead end of the first cam groove and the second cam follower insertion opening of the second cam groove are formed at the same circumferential position. Upon assembly, the first cam follower is inserted into the first leading section via a first cam follower insertion opening, and the second cam follower is inserted into the second leading section via a second cam follower insertion opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nomura, Nobuaki Aoki, Yoshihiro Yamazaki, Satoru Nakamura
  • Patent number: 6424807
    Abstract: A zoom lens assembling mechanism includes a stationary barrel; a movable barrel; a linear guide barrel; a linear guide mechanism for linearly guiding the linear guide barrel; and at least one lens group which is linearly guided by the linear guide barrel. When the movable barrel is in an operating range, the linear guide barrel is linearly guided via the linear guide mechanism, while the movable barrel moves with the linear guide barrel while relatively rotating, to move the lens group. If the movable barrel is moved forward from a frontmost position of the operating range in order to disassemble an assembly including the movable barrel and the linear guide barrel from the stationary barrel, the linear guide barrel is no longer guided by the linear guide mechanism, and the linear guide barrel moves forward while rotating with the movable barrel to thereby remove the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nomura, Nobuaki Aoki, Yoshihiro Yamazaki, Satoru Nakamura
  • Patent number: 6421192
    Abstract: A bayonet fixing device includes a cylindrical member; an annular member attached to one end of the cylindrical member; and a retainer ring attached to the cylindrical member to fix the annular member to the cylindrical member. The cylindrical member includes engaging lugs and insertion areas which are alternately arranged along the circumference at one end of the cylindrical member; grooves formed behind the engaging lugs; and recesses formed behind the grooves. The annular member includes a plurality of projections which are respectively fitted into the recesses via the insertion areas and the grooves. The retainer ring includes engaging blades which are fitted into the grooves via the insertion areas to be positioned between the engaging lugs and the projections in an axial direction of the cylindrical member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nomura, Nobuaki Aoki, Yoshihiro Yamazaki, Satoru Nakamura
  • Patent number: 6392828
    Abstract: A zoom lens barrel includes a cylindrical member which is provided with a female helicoid; a split helicoid cylinder having a rear helicoid ring portion which is provided with a male helicoid which is screw-engaged with the female helicoid, and a front cylindrical portion which is detachably connected to the rear helicoid ring portion so as not to relatively rotate; a linear movement cylinder provided in the split helicoid cylinder so as to move in the optical axis direction; and a connecting structure for connecting the linear movement cylinder to the split helicoid cylinder so as to relatively rotate and so as not to relatively move in the optical axis direction, so that the rear helicoid ring portion and the front cylindrical portion of the split helicoid cylinder maintain connected by the connecting structure without being disconnected in the optical axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nomura, Nobuaki Aoki, Takamitsu Sasaki, Kazunori Ishizuka
  • Patent number: 6369956
    Abstract: A zoom lens barrel includes a rotary feed cylinder which is moved in an optical axis direction while being rotated; a linear movement cylinder which is provided within the rotary feed cylinder; and a connecting structure for connecting the linear movement cylinder to the rotary feed cylinder. The connecting structure includes at least two circumferential grooves centered about the optical axis, provided on the inner peripheral surface of the rotary feed cylinder or the outer peripheral surface of the linear movement cylinder, at different positions in the optical axis direction; and at least two radially extending engagement pawls which correspond to the at least two circumferential grooves, the engagement pawls being engaged in the circumferential grooves so as to slide in the circumferential direction and so as not to relatively move in the optical axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nomura, Nobuaki Aoki, Takamitsu Sasaki, Kazunori Ishizuka
  • Patent number: 6369962
    Abstract: A zoom lens barrel includes a first cylindrical member having first and second bottomed grooves, which intersect each other, on an inner peripheral surface thereof; a first moving member which is provided with a first radial projection which is fitted in the first bottomed groove, the first moving member being movable relative to the first cylindrical member; and a second moving member which is provided with a second radial projection which is fitted in the second bottomed groove, the second moving member being movable relative to the first cylindrical member. The shapes of the first bottomed groove and the first radial projection and the shapes of the second bottomed groove and the second radial projection are such that the second radial projection cannot be fitted in the first bottomed groove and that the first radial projection cannot be fitted in the second bottomed groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nomura, Nobuaki Aoki, Takamitsu Sasaki, Kazunori Ishizuka