Patents by Inventor Nobuyuki Kimura

Nobuyuki Kimura 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).

  • Patent number: 8827458
    Abstract: A projection type image display apparatus using a light source where excitatory light makes fluorescent material to emit fluorescent light is provided with improved lifetime of a fluorescent material light source without increasing in the apparatus size, The apparatus comprises an excitatory light source cluster, a substrate on which fluorescent material is arranged, light intensity detectors measuring the intensities of the excitatory light and the fluorescent light, a control device which judges based on the measured values of the light intensity detectors whether or not to move the substrate, and a motion device which moves the substrate. The control device may issue an instruction to move the substrate when the ratio of the decrease in the fluorescent light intensity to that in the excitatory light intensity exceeds a prescribed value. Also, the substrate may be moved in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the excitatory light optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Consumer Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Nobuyuki Kimura
  • Patent number: 8804172
    Abstract: The printer driver updating program according to the invention causes a computer to execute a process comprising steps of confirming printer drivers for various different operating systems existing in the computer, acquiring versions of the printer drivers whose existences are confirmed, selecting an appropriate updating method corresponding to the acquired versions, and updating the printer driver according to the selected updating method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Chie Ichikawa, Nobuyuki Kimura, Junya Murashita
  • Publication number: 20140218623
    Abstract: There is provided a light source device which, when a light source which excites a phosphor with excitation light and emits fluorescent light is used, reduces incidence of the excitation light to an excitation light source to increase an output of the excitation light and extend the life. The light source device is provided with a plurality of excitation light sources emitting excitation light and a phosphor changing excitation light to fluorescent light, and the excitation light sources are arranged so that each excitation light emitted from each of the excitation light sources asymmetrically enters an excitation light irradiation region on a phosphor. A mirror is installed on an optical path of unconverted excitation light reflected from the phosphor and returns the unconverted excitation light to the phosphor side, whereby the unconverted excitation light can be utilized as excitation light again.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Kimura, Kohei Miyoshi
  • Patent number: 8783877
    Abstract: The present invention provides a projection type display apparatus for displaying an image by which reduction of contrast is suppressed, including: a light source; a first lens array and a second lens array having a plurality of lens cell areas; a collecting lens; a display element; a projection lens; and a light shielding unit which light-shields the light fluxes from the first lens array to the second lens array, wherein the light shielding unit light-shields at least parts of all the lens cell areas except for the lens cell area in contact with an optical axis among a plurality of rectangular lens cell areas of the second lens array, and a light shielding area in the lens cell area in contact with the optical axis is smaller than that in any of the lens cell areas except for the lens cell area in contact with the optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Consumer Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Nobuyuki Kimura
  • Publication number: 20140152962
    Abstract: A projection type display apparatus including a light source, a display element, an illumination optical system and a projection lens to project a magnified image of the optical image. The illumination optical system includes a first array lens and a second array lens, each includes a plurality of lens elements arranged in a matrix, each of the lens elements having a rectangular opening, and a polarization conversion element having polarization conversion function by use of a plurality of polarized beam splitters and a plurality of half-wave phase plates, arranged in an array and opposing to the lens elements of the second array lens, to emit predetermined polarized light. The light source includes a light emitting plane of a rectangle or an ellipse shape, a longitudinal direction of the light emitting plane being parallel to a longitudinal direction of each opening of the polarization conversion element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2014
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: HITACHI CONSUMER ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koji HIRATA, Nobuyuki KIMURA
  • Publication number: 20140146293
    Abstract: A solid-state light source device, enabling to build up with using solid-state elements, and having the structure suitable to be applied as a light source for a projection-type display apparatus, comprises a solid-state light source unit 10 for emitting excitation light therefrom, a reflection mirror (or reflector) 130 made of a parabolic surface, for condensing the excitation light from the solid-state light source to be point-like, and a disc-like (or wheel) member 140, repeating reflection/scattering or transmission/scattering of the excitation light and conversion of the excitation light, alternately, in vicinity of a focus point of the excitation light, which is condensed to be point-like by the reflection mirror (or reflector), wherein the excitation light (B-color) reflected/or scattered by that disc-like (or wheel) member and fluorescence light (Y-color), wavelength of which is converted, is taken on a same optical path, by means of the reflection mirror (or reflector) 130 or a second reflection mirro
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: Hitachi Consumer Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji HIRATA, Hidehiro IKEDA, Nobuyuki KIMURA
  • Patent number: 8678595
    Abstract: A projection type display apparatus including a light source, a display element, an illumination optical system and a projection lens to project a magnified image of the optical image. The illumination optical system includes a first array lens and a second array lens, each includes a plurality of lens elements arranged in a matrix, each of the lens elements having a rectangular opening, and a polarization conversion element having polarization conversion function by use of a plurality of polarized beam splitters and a plurality of half-wave phase plates, arranged in an array and opposing to the lens elements of the second array lens, to emit predetermined polarized light. The light source includes a light emitting plane of a rectangle or an ellipse shape, a longitudinal direction of the light emitting plane being parallel to a longitudinal direction of each opening of the polarization conversion element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Consumer Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Hirata, Nobuyuki Kimura
  • Patent number: 8662678
    Abstract: A solid-state light source device, enabling to build up with using solid-state elements, and having the structure suitable to be applied as a light source for a projection-type display apparatus, comprises a solid-state light source unit 10 for emitting excitation light therefrom, a reflection mirror (or reflector) 130 made of a parabolic surface, for condensing the excitation light from the solid-state light source to be point-like, and a disc-like (or wheel) member 140, repeating reflection/scattering or transmission/scattering of the excitation light and conversion of the excitation light, alternately, in vicinity of a focus point of the excitation light, which is condensed to be point-like by the reflection mirror (or reflector), wherein the excitation light (B-color) reflected/or scattered by that disc-like (or wheel) member and fluorescence light (Y-color), wavelength of which is converted, is taken on a same optical path, by means of the reflection mirror (or reflector) 130 or a second reflection mirro
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Consumer Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Hirata, Hidehiro Ikeda, Nobuyuki Kimura
  • Patent number: 8657449
    Abstract: A projection type display apparatus includes: an illumination optical system which has a first array lens and a second array lens each of which has a plurality of lens elements having a plurality of rectangular shape openings and arranged in a matrix form; an illumination light source device which has one or more light sources having a polarization degree not smaller than 50% and one or more polarizers for transmitting one type polarized light and reflecting other type polarized light. At least one set of the light sources are arranged so that the polarization directions of light fluxes having high polarization degrees may be perpendicular to each other, the light fluxes are combined by the polarizer, condensed to a single region by a light-flux condensing element, and then directed toward another illumination optical system located in a subsequent stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Consumer Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Kimura, Koji Hirata
  • Publication number: 20140049698
    Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a projection image display device in which all of the multiple light sources to be used are positioned optimally, regardless of the mode of installation of the device. This projection image display device has two illumination optical systems (1, 2) that are each provided with a light source (111, 211), a color separator for separating into three colors of light, a liquid crystal panel (150, 250) for forming an optical image, and a color synthesis prism (160, 260) for color-synthesizing. A polarization beam splitter (3) for synthesis synthesizes an optical image formed by the illumination optical system (1, 2), and projects the same from a projection lens (4). The optical axis (101, 201) of each light source (111, 211) is positioned within the same plane as the optical axis (401) of the projection lens (4), and so as to orthogonally intersect the optical axis (401) of the projection lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Inventors: Koji Hirata, Takashi Kakuda, Nobuyuki Kimura
  • Publication number: 20130293848
    Abstract: A projection type display apparatus includes: an illumination optical system which has a first array lens and a second array lens each of which has a plurality of lens elements having a plurality of rectangular shape openings and arranged in a matrix form; an illumination light source device which has one or more light sources having a polarization degree not smaller than 50% and one or more polarizers for transmitting one type polarized light and reflecting other type polarized light. At least one set of the light sources are arranged so that the polarization directions of light fluxes having high polarization degrees may be perpendicular to each other, the light fluxes are combined by the polarizer, condensed to a single region by a light-flux condensing element, and then directed toward another illumination optical system located in a subsequent stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventors: Nobuyuki KIMURA, Koji HIRATA
  • Publication number: 20130242232
    Abstract: A projection-type display apparatus, being suitable to be applied as a light source of a solid-state light source, in the place of a conventional lamp, comprises : a light source unit, which is configured to emit a white-color light therefrom; a light separation optic system, which is configured to separate the white color light from the light source unit into three primary color lights, red-color (R), green-color (G) and blue-color (B); R, G and B light modulating portions, each of which modulates each of R, G and B polarized lights separated, depending on a video signal, respectively; a light composing unit, which is configured to compose optical images, which are formed by the R, G and B light modulating portions; and a projecting portion, which is configure to project the optical image composed, enlargedly, wherein the light source unit emits a white color light emitting from a nearly point-like light source, including an excitation light from a solid-state light emitting element therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: HITACHI CONSUMER ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Kimura, Koji Hirata, Hidehiro Ikeda
  • Patent number: 8500285
    Abstract: A projection type display apparatus includes: an illumination optical system which has a first array lens and a second array lens each of which has a plurality of lens elements having a plurality of rectangular shape openings and arranged in a matrix form; an illumination light source device which has one or more light sources having a polarization degree not smaller than 50% and one or more polarizers for transmitting one type polarized light and reflecting other type polarized light. At least one set of the light sources are arranged so that the polarization directions of light fluxes having high polarization degrees may be perpendicular to each other, the light fluxes are combined by the polarizer, condensed to a single region by a light-flux condensing element, and then directed toward another illumination optical system located in a subsequent stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi Consumer Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Kimura, Koji Hirata
  • Patent number: 8462296
    Abstract: A projection-type display apparatus, being suitable to be applied as a light source of a solid-state light source, in the place of a conventional lamp, comprises: a light source unit, which is configured to emit a white-color light therefrom; a light separation optic system, which is configured to separate the white color light from the light source unit into three primary color lights, R (red-color), G (green-color) and B (blue-color); R, G and B light modulating portions, each of which modulates each of R, G and B polarized lights separated, depending on a video signal, respectively; a light composing unit, which is configured to compose optical images, which are formed by the R, G and B light modulating portions; and a projecting portion, which is configure to project the optical image composed, enlargedly, wherein the light source unit emits a white color light emitting from a nearly point-like light source, including an excitation light from a solid-state light emitting element therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi Consumer Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Kimura, Koji Hirata, Hidehiro Ikeda
  • Patent number: 8337021
    Abstract: A projection type image display device using, in a projection optical system thereof, a flat mirror, which is easy to design and manufacture, as a projection mirror is provided. The projection optical system is a diagonal projection optical system and includes plural lenses. Among the plural lenses, the one disposed closest to the flat mirror has an effective area, along the vertical direction of an image, through which a light beam passes and which is off an optical axis of the other plurality of lenses, shared by the most lenses so as not to allow light reflected from the projection mirror to return to the projector body. A polarization converter using, for example, a quarter wavelength plate is provided at an output surface of a crossed prism to decrease reflectance differences between differently colored light and to thereby prevent the occurrence of color unevenness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi Consumer Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Kimura, Koji Hirata, Masahiko Yatsu
  • Patent number: 8259238
    Abstract: An optical unit is provided which includes inorganic polarizing plates used as output polarizing plates. Even if a defect such as a flaw or a pinhole is present in the polarizing plate, the defect is not projected on the display screen. Instead of output polarizing plates for liquid crystal panels for R, G, and B, a common polarizing plate for R, G, and B is disposed on the output side of a photosynthesis prism. A color selective polarization rotator which rotates the polarization of light of a selected wavelength band is disposed between the photosynthesis prism and the common polarizing plate. Or, alternatively, instead of output polarizing plates for R and G to be individually disposed along with an output polarizing plate for B, a common output polarizing plate for R and G is disposed on the output side of the photosynthesis prism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi Consumer Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Nobuyuki Kimura
  • Publication number: 20120212708
    Abstract: The present invention provides a projection type display apparatus for displaying an image by which reduction of contrast is suppressed, including: a light source; a first lens array and a second lens array having a plurality of lens cell areas; a collecting lens; a display element; a projection lens; and a light shielding unit which light-shields the light fluxes from the first lens array to the second lens array, wherein the light shielding unit light-shields at least parts of all the lens cell areas except for the lens cell area in contact with an optical axis among a plurality of rectangular lens cell areas of the second lens array, and a light shielding area in the lens cell area in contact with the optical axis is smaller than that in any of the lens cell areas except for the lens cell area in contact with the optical axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Inventor: Nobuyuki KIMURA
  • Publication number: 20120175996
    Abstract: A stator includes a hollow cylindrical stator core comprised of a plurality of stator core segments, a stator coil mounted on the stator core, and an outer cylinder that is fitted on die radially outer surfaces of the stator core segments so as to fasten the stator core segments together. The stator core has a recess formed in the radially outer surface of one of the stator core segments. The outer cylinder has a slit that radially penetrates the outer cylinder to connect the radially outer and inner surfaces of the outer cylinder and an engaging portion that adjoins the slit. The engaging portion of the outer cylinder is plastically deformed radially inward into the recess of the stator core so as to abut and thereby engage with side walls of the recess which face the engaging portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki IKUTA, Yuusuke Hara, Nobuyuki Kimura, Kuniharu Teshima
  • Publication number: 20120154767
    Abstract: A light source apparatus which emits light from phosphor by exciting light and in which an efficiency of brightness is improved is provided. The light source apparatus has a light source which emits exciting light; and a metal member to which the exciting light is input, wherein the metal member has a concave portion in a portion to which the exciting light is input, and phosphor to generate phosphor light from the exciting light is coated in the concave portion. The concave portion may have a taper shape. The phosphor may be coated on at least two surfaces of the concave portion. The phosphor may be coated on an area which is equal to or less than the half of a depth of the concave portion. A glass member having a taper shape may be formed at an opening portion of the concave portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Inventors: Nobuyuki KIMURA, Koji HIRATA, Hidehiro IKEDA
  • Patent number: 8192031
    Abstract: The present invention provides a projection type display apparatus for displaying an image by which reduction of contrast is suppressed, including: a light source; a first lens array and a second lens array having a plurality of lens cell areas; a collecting lens; a display element; a projection lens; and a light shielding unit which light-shields the light fluxes from the first lens array to the second lens array, wherein the light shielding unit light-shields at least parts of all the lens cell areas except for the lens cell area in contact with an optical axis among a plurality of rectangular lens cell areas of the second lens array, and a light shielding area in the lens cell area in contact with the optical axis is smaller than that in any of the lens cell areas except for the lens cell area in contact with the optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Nobuyuki Kimura