Patents by Inventor Ryuho Sato

Ryuho Sato 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: 11708954
    Abstract: A lamp unit includes a light source including a plurality of light emitting elements provided in a common substrate; a projection lens that projects light emitted from the light source toward a front of the lamp unit to form a required light distribution pattern; and a light-transmitting body disposed between the light source and the projection lens and that forms a projection image by controlling transmission of light emitted from the light source. The light transmitting body includes a plurality of incident portions that causes light emitted from each of the plurality of light emitting elements to be incident, and the light transmitting body and the substrate are supported by a lens holder that supports the projection lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryuho Sato, Teppei Muramatsu
  • Publication number: 20230097767
    Abstract: This lamp unit is configured to radiate light, frontward of the unit via a projection lens (72), that comes from a light source (52) and that has been reflected by a spatial light modulator (30). In this case, of three lenses, a first lens (72A) to a third lens (72C), constituting the projection lens (72), the third lens (72C) located on a rearmost side of the unit is configured by a glass lens, and the other lenses are configured by resin lenses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Inventors: Ryuho SATO, Takahiko HONDA
  • Patent number: 11543095
    Abstract: A lens holder which supports a projection lens is screwed and fixed to a bracket which supports a spatial light modulator. A positioning pin configured to position the lens holder in a left-right direction with respect to the bracket is inserted into a long hole which is formed in the bracket and extends in a lamp front-rear direction. The screwing and fixing is performed in a state where the positioning pin is inserted into the long hole and is appropriately moved in the lamp front-rear direction, so that the lens holder is restricted from being displaced in a left-right direction with respect to the bracket, and it is possible to finely adjust a positional relationship between the projection lens and the spatial light modulator in the lamp front-rear direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryuho Sato, Yukinobu Hiranaka, Takahiko Honda, Yosuke Ohashi, Takashi Ito
  • Publication number: 20220107066
    Abstract: A lamp unit includes a light source including a plurality of light emitting elements provided in a common substrate; a projection lens that projects light emitted from the light source toward a front of the lamp unit to form a required light distribution pattern; and a light-transmitting body disposed between the light source and the projection lens and that forms a projection image by controlling transmission of light emitted from the light source. The light transmitting body includes a plurality of incident portions that causes light emitted from each of the plurality of light emitting elements to be incident, and the light transmitting body and the substrate are supported by a lens holder that supports the projection lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Inventors: Ryuho SATO, Teppei MURAMATSU
  • Patent number: 11092744
    Abstract: A three-dimensional surface display device that includes a plurality of light-emitting elements that are mounted on a mounting member is disclosed. The three-dimensional surface display device includes a plurality of light guide portions, each of which includes a light incidence surface on one end side and a light extraction surface on the other end side. The light incidence surface is arranged to face the corresponding light emitting element. The plurality of light guide portions are different in at least one length, and the light extraction surfaces are arranged three-dimensionally adjacent to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryuho Sato, Akinori Matsumoto, Haruhiko Iyoda, Hiroya Koizumi
  • Publication number: 20210025562
    Abstract: A lens holder which supports a projection lens is screwed and fixed to a bracket which supports a spatial light modulator. A positioning pin configured to position the lens holder in a left-right direction with respect to the bracket is inserted into a long hole which is formed in the bracket and extends in a lamp front-rear direction. The screwing and fixing is performed in a state where the positioning pin is inserted into the long hole and is appropriately moved in the lamp front-rear direction, so that the lens holder is restricted from being displaced in a left-right direction with respect to the bracket, and it is possible to finely adjust a positional relationship between the projection lens and the spatial light modulator in the lamp front-rear direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryuho Sato, Yukinobu Hiranaka, Takahiko Honda, Yosuke Ohashi, Takashi Ito
  • Patent number: 10654406
    Abstract: A vehicle illumination system provided to a vehicle capable of traveling in an autonomous driving mode includes: an illumination unit configured to emit a light pattern toward an outside of the vehicle; and an illumination controller configured to control the illumination unit to irradiate the light pattern to a predetermined position. When the vehicle changes a traffic lane from a first traffic lane to a second traffic lane, the illumination controller: controls the illumination unit to irradiate the light pattern on a road surface between a first other vehicle traveling on the second traffic lane and a second other vehicle which is a following vehicle of the first other vehicle; and changes a length of the light pattern, depending on an interval between the first other vehicle and the second other vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Norihisa Sutou, Masaaki Nakabayashi, Yoshinori Shibata, Ryuho Sato, Naoki Tatara, Akinori Matsumoto, Kiyomi Akachi
  • Patent number: 10641451
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp configured to selectively perform a low-beam irradiation and a high-beam irradiation includes a projector lens, a light emitting element disposed behind the projector lens and configured to emit light for forming a low-beam light distribution pattern, a light emitting element disposed behind the projector lens and configured to emit light for forming an additional high-beam light distribution pattern, a upward reflecting surface (shade) disposed behind the projector lens and configured to form a cutoff line of the low-beam light distribution pattern, and an optical path change portion configured to change an optical path of a part of light emitted from the light emitting element so as to travel toward a portion between the low-beam light distribution pattern and the additional high-beam light distribution pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroki Kawai, Takahiko Honda, Shinji Kagiyama, Naoki Uchida, Ryuho Sato, Akinori Matsumoto, Hiroyuki Ishida, Takashi Inoue
  • Publication number: 20200088944
    Abstract: A three-dimensional surface display device that includes a plurality of light-emitting elements that are mounted on a mounting member is disclosed. The three-dimensional surface display device includes a plurality of light guide portions, each of which includes a light incidence surface on one end side and a light extraction surface on the other end side. The light incidence surface is arranged to face the corresponding light emitting element. The plurality of light guide portions are different in at least one length, and the light extraction surfaces are arranged three-dimensionally adjacent to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2018
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryuho Sato, Akinori Matsumoto, Haruhiko Iyoda, Hiroya Koizumi
  • Publication number: 20190248276
    Abstract: A vehicle illumination system provided to a vehicle capable of traveling in an autonomous driving mode includes: an illumination unit configured to emit a light pattern toward an outside of the vehicle; and an illumination controller configured to control the illumination unit to irradiate the light pattern to a predetermined position. When the vehicle changes a traffic lane from a first traffic lane to a second traffic lane, the illumination controller: controls the illumination unit to irradiate the light pattern on a road surface between a first other vehicle traveling on the second traffic lane and a second other vehicle which is a following vehicle of the first other vehicle; and changes a length of the light pattern, depending on an interval between the first other vehicle and the second other vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Norihisa Sutou, Masaaki Nakabayashi, Yoshinori Shibata, Ryuho Sato, Naoki Tatara, Akinori Matsumoto, Kiyomi Akachi
  • Patent number: 10359169
    Abstract: A lamp unit includes a light-emitting element array composed by a plurality of light-emitting elements, having respective individual irradiation regions constituting a high-beam light-distribution pattern and configured to be capable of being turned on individually, mounted in array on a substrate, a projection lens disposed in front of the light-emitting element array, and a reflector disposed below the light-emitting element array. Inter-light-emitting-element spacing within the light-emitting element array widens the more separated the elements are from the projection lens' optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroki Kawai, Kenta Oishi, Naoki Uchida, Hiroyuki Ishida, Hidetada Tanaka, Noriko Sato, Ryuho Sato, Takatomo Fujiyoshi
  • Publication number: 20190157843
    Abstract: A laser light source unit configured to be able to irradiate, as combined light, laser light emitted from plural laser diodes toward front of the laser light source unit. The laser light source unit includes: plural first condensing lenses configured to condense the laser light emitted from each of the plural laser diodes; a microlens array disposed on a front side of the laser light source unit with respect to the plural first condensing lenses; and a second condensing lens disposed on the front side of the laser light source unit with respect to the microlens array. The microlens array and the second condensing lens are supported on a common lens holder. The microlens array is supported on the lens holder via an array holder. Plural through-holes through which light emitted from the plural first condensing lenses passes is formed in the array holder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ryuho Sato
  • Patent number: 10228118
    Abstract: A vehicular lamp includes a projection lens made of resin; a light source that is disposed behind the projection lens, the vehicular lamp being configured such that light from the light source is emitted forward through the projection lens; a wind generator configured to generate wind; and a wind guide path configured to guide wind generated by the wind generator to a position where the wind hits a surface of the projection lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takayuki Yagi, Ryuho Sato
  • Publication number: 20190041020
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp includes a light-emitting unit. The light-emitting unit includes a light source, a light source base that supports the light source, a heat-dissipating member to which the light source base is attached, and an optical member. The light source includes a semiconductor light-emitting element. The light source base includes a positioning structure that positions the optical member relative to the light source. The positioning structure may define a positioning surface centered at an optical axis of the light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ryuho SATO
  • Publication number: 20180363874
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp configured to selectively perform a low-beam irradiation and a high-beam irradiation includes a projector lens, a light emitting element disposed behind the projector lens and configured to emit light for forming a low-beam light distribution pattern, a light emitting element disposed behind the projector lens and configured to emit light for forming an additional high-beam light distribution pattern, a upward reflecting surface (shade) disposed behind the projector lens and configured to form a cutoff line of the low-beam light distribution pattern, and an optical path change portion configured to change an optical path of a part of light emitted from the light emitting element so as to travel toward a portion between the low-beam light distribution pattern and the additional high-beam light distribution pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroki KAWAI, Takahiko HONDA, Shinji KAGIYAMA, Naoki UCHIDA, Ryuho SATO, Akinori MATSUMOTO, Hiroyuki ISHIDA, Takashi INOUE
  • Publication number: 20170328535
    Abstract: A vehicular lamp includes a projection lens made of resin; a light source that is disposed behind the projection lens, the vehicular lamp being configured such that light from the light source is emitted forward through the projection lens; a wind generator configured to generate wind; and a wind guide path configured to guide wind generated by the wind generator to a position where the wind hits a surface of the projection lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takayuki YAGI, Ryuho SATO
  • Publication number: 20170130924
    Abstract: A lamp unit includes a light-emitting element array composed by a plurality of light-emitting elements, having respective individual irradiation regions constituting a high-beam light-distribution pattern and configured to be capable of being turned on individually, mounted in array on a substrate, a projection lens disposed in front of the light-emitting element array, and a reflector disposed below the light-emitting element array. Inter-light-emitting-element spacing within the light-emitting element array widens the more separated the elements are from the projection lens' optical axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Applicant: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroki KAWAI, Kenta OISHI, Naoki UCHIDA, Hiroyuki ISHIDA, Hidetada TANAKA, Noriko SATO, Ryuho SATO, Takatomo FUJIYOSHI
  • Patent number: 9395073
    Abstract: Disclosed are a cooling unit including a blowing device and a heat sink, and an illuminating apparatus including the cooling unit, in which the assembling workability is improved. The blowing device has a frame configured to rotatably support a blower. The heat sink has an accommodating portion. The blowing device is displaceable between a first position at which the blower is disposed outside the accommodating portion, and a second position at which the blower is accommodated in the accommodating portion by the frame pivotably supported outside the accommodating portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ryuho Sato
  • Patent number: 9353925
    Abstract: An optical member formed of resin includes a fixation portion, via which the optical member is fixed to a supporting member on which a light emitting element is supported, a reflective surface having a reflective region configured to reflect light from the light emitting element, and a thermal deformation absorbing portion configured to absorb thermal deformation of the optical member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masao Okawa, Ryuho Sato
  • Patent number: 9035346
    Abstract: The light source module includes a circuit board adapted to be placed on a mounting base of a light source holding member, and a power feeding attachment to supply power to a semiconductor light emitting device, the circuit board including a board part on which the semiconductor light emitting device is mounted, and a conductive circuit formed on a surface of the board part and having a pair of terminal parts and a light source connection part to connect the pair of terminal parts and the semiconductor light emitting device, the power feeding attachment including an electrically-insulating portion and an conductive portion partially embedded in the electrically-insulating portion, the power feeding attachment being adapted to be attached to the light source holding member such that the electrically-insulating portion presses at least a portion of the circuit board against the mounting base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Matsunaga, Shigeyuki Watanabe, Hironori Tsukamoto, Ryuho Sato