Patents by Inventor Satoru Hirose
Satoru Hirose 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: 20120038927Abstract: Provided is an inexpensive, high performance, compact, and energy saving light reflection mechanism comprising a first moving portion having a reflecting surface on the front surface, a supporting portion which supports the first moving portion, a first beam and a translating beam which couple the first moving portion and the supporting portion in the form of cantilever beam above and below the supporting portion, and a drive portion which moves the first moving portion, wherein a large amplitude can be obtained by small energy when the first moving portion is forced into resonance vibration in the direction perpendicular to the first reflecting surface. Also provided is an optical interferometer and a spectral analyzer.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2010Publication date: February 16, 2012Inventors: Shinya Matsuda, Satoru Hirose
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Publication number: 20110198968Abstract: An array-type ultrasonic vibrator according to the present invention has an acoustic matching layer that has a plate-like body made of a material having a lower acoustic impedance than a plurality of piezoelectric elements. Signal wiring is formed on the plate-like body of the acoustic matching layer. Accordingly, for this array-type ultrasonic vibrator, the signal wiring can be easily formed without using additional components.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 21, 2009Publication date: August 18, 2011Applicant: Konica Minolta Medical & Graphic, Inc.Inventors: Kazuchika Sato, Satoru Hirose, Masaki Asano
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Patent number: 7787063Abstract: On one side of a liquid crystal layer, a first electrode is provided, and, on the other side of the liquid crystal layer, a second electrode, composed of a plurality of individual electrodes, and a third electrode are provided. The second and third electrodes have holes that are increasingly small away from the liquid crystal layer. When the potential at the third electrode is set equal to or lower than the potential at the second electrode, the liquid crystal layer acts as a convex lens; when the potential at the third electrode is set higher than the potential at the second electrode, the liquid crystal layer acts as a concave lens. The range in which the focal length can be varied depends on the diameters of the holes, and giving the holes of the different electrodes varying diameters helps widen the range. Moreover, conductors can be laid to reach the electrodes at the outer edges thereof so as not to directly face the liquid crystal layer.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2006Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: Konica Minolta Holdings, Inc.Inventor: Satoru Hirose
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Patent number: 7598478Abstract: An image pickup device wherein the range in the amount of incident light (dynamic range) for obtaining an appropriate image can be expanded, and shutter and aperture functions are provided. A light shielding element for light shielding a photoelectric conversion section and an actuator for driving the light shielding element are provided on the pixel of the image pickup device using the MEMS technology, and the amount of light shielding is controlled for each pixel, whereby the dynamic range is expanded, and shutter and aperture functions are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2006Date of Patent: October 6, 2009Assignee: Konica Minolta Holdings, Inc.Inventors: Takashi Morimoto, Naoki Kubo, Kouichi Ishida, Satoru Hirose, Takeshi Endo
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Publication number: 20060273284Abstract: On one side of a liquid crystal layer, a first electrode is provided, and, on the other side of the liquid crystal layer, a second electrode, composed of a plurality of individual electrodes, and a third electrode are provided. The second and third electrodes have holes that are increasingly small away from the liquid crystal layer. When the potential at the third electrode is set equal to or lower than the potential at the second electrode, the liquid crystal layer acts as a convex lens; when the potential at the third electrode is set higher than the potential at the second electrode, the liquid crystal layer acts as a concave lens. The range in which the focal length can be varied depends on the diameters of the holes, and giving the holes of the different electrodes varying diameters helps widen the range. Moreover, conductors can be laid to reach the electrodes at the outer edges thereof so as not to directly face the liquid crystal layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2006Publication date: December 7, 2006Inventor: Satoru Hirose
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Publication number: 20060237751Abstract: An image pickup device wherein the range in the amount of incident light (dynamic range) for obtaining an appropriate image can be expanded, and shutter and aperture functions are provided. A light shielding element for light shielding a photoelectric conversion section and an actuator for driving the light shielding element are provided on the pixel of the image pickup device using the MEMS technology, and the amount of light shielding is controlled for each pixel, whereby the dynamic range is expanded, and shutter and aperture functions are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2006Publication date: October 26, 2006Inventors: Takashi Morimoto, Naoki Kubo, Kouichi Ishida, Satoru Hirose, Takeshi Endo
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Patent number: 6809771Abstract: A data input apparatus having a multiple lens unit comprising an image input device for inputting two-dimensional images of a photographic subject from a plurality of mutually different viewpoint positions, a display device, and a display controller for displaying on the display device an overlay image formed by mutually superimposing a plurality of input two-dimensional images.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2000Date of Patent: October 26, 2004Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takayuki Hamaguchi, Takuto Joko, Satoru Hirose
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Publication number: 20040095489Abstract: A image pickup system has an image pickup apparatus including a spectral prism and two image pickup devices. The spectral prism has a spectral face formed from a dichroic film. The spectral face has spectral transmission characteristics of color filters disposed for each pixel in the image pickup devices, that is, a wavelength characteristic which divides a wavelength band of each of RGB colors. Incident light from a subject is split into two optical paths by the spectral face, and spectral images of the subject traveling in the optical paths are obtained by the image pickup devices. Thus, a plurality of spectral images can be obtained in one shot with excellent efficiency regarding the quantity of light.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2003Publication date: May 20, 2004Applicant: Minolta Co., Ltd.Inventor: Satoru Hirose
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Patent number: 6715885Abstract: Light from a light source 23 is processed on the image display element 30 by an image signal outputted from an image control section 19 to be projected on the screen of a predetermined curved surface shape. When the light from the light source is processed by the image signal, the image control section 19 processes an aberration shape of a projected image so as to coincide with the shape of a projection curved surface of the screen. Thus, a desired image can be clearly projected on the screen having the curved surface shape.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2001Date of Patent: April 6, 2004Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Satoru Hirose, Hiroshi Watanabe, Masao Sakata
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Patent number: 6697201Abstract: In display apparatus and method applicable to an automotive vehicle, a display image is projected over a screen section, the screen section having a first screen enabled to switch its state between a light transmission state in which the projected display image is transmitted therethrough and a light diffusion state in which the projected display image is projected thereon and a second screen enabled to switch its state between the light transmission state and the light diffusion state, a field of view limiting section (louver filter) is interposed between the first screen and second screen for limiting a field of view of a predetermined direction, and a controlling section controllably switches the respective states of the first and second screens.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2002Date of Patent: February 24, 2004Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hiroshi Watanabe, Masao Sakata, Satoru Hirose
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Publication number: 20030067432Abstract: In display apparatus and method applicable to an automotive vehicle, a display image is projected over a screen section, the screen section having a first screen enabled to switch its state between a light transmission state in which the projected display image is transmitted therethrough and a light diffusion state in which the projected display image is projected thereon and a second screen enabled to switch its state between the light transmission state and the light diffusion state, a field of view limiting section (louver filter) is interposed between the first screen and second screen for limiting a field of view of a predetermined direction, and a controlling section controllably switches the respective states of the first and second screens.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 2, 2002Publication date: April 10, 2003Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Hiroshi Watanabe, Masao Sakata, Satoru Hirose
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Patent number: 6529280Abstract: This invention is related to a three-dimensional measuring device for measuring three-dimensional positions of an objects. The three-dimensional measuring device comprises an optical projection system and an optical reception system. In a preliminary measurement prior to an actual measurement, the optical projection system projects slit light beam on the object with varying projection angle with in a narrow range, and the optical reception system receives the slit light beam reflected by the object and generates image signals corresponding to an amount of the received light synchronously with variation of the projection angle. Measurement conditions including intensity of the light beam and the projection angle for the actual measurement are set in accordance with the image signals of the actual measurement. Under the measurement conditions, the actual measurement is executed by projection the light beam on the object with varying the projection angle within a wide range.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2000Date of Patent: March 4, 2003Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.Inventors: Akira Yahashi, Toshio Norita, Eiro Fujii, Fumiya Yagi, Satoru Hirose, Takuto Joko, Makoto Miyazaki, Tadashi Fukumoto, Hideki Tanabe, Yoshiko Sakagawa
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Patent number: 6522412Abstract: When a scanning start position set signal is input in an area image sensor, the content is transferred to a vertical scanning circuit, and the scan start position is set. Image of a desired row is read by horizontal scanning. Then, one shift signal for vertical scanning is input, the position of scanning is shifted by one row, and horizontal scanning is performed. Thus image of the next row is read. By repeating this operation, a desired strip-shaped image is read. The shape of the object is determined and when a portion is determined to have complicated shape, the image data is input by means of a lens having long focal length, and image data of other portions are input by means of a lens having short focal length. By putting together a plurality of input image data, image data as a whole is generated.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2001Date of Patent: February 18, 2003Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toshio Norita, Makoto Miyazaki, Eiro Fujii, Shigeaki Imai, Fumiya Yagi, Satoru Hirose
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Patent number: 6407817Abstract: When a scanning start position set signal is input in an area image sensor, the content is transferred to a vertical scanning circuit, and the scan start position is set. Image of a desired row is read by horizontal scanning. Then, one shift signal for vertical scanning is input, the position of scanning is shifted by one row, and horizontal scanning is performed. Thus image of the next row is read. By repeating this operation, a desired strip-shaped image is read. The shape of the object is determined and when a portion is determined to have complicated shape, the image data is input by means of a lens having long focal length, and image data of other portions are input by means of a lens having short focal length. By putting together a plurality of input image data, image data as a whole is generated.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 1999Date of Patent: June 18, 2002Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toshio Norita, Fumiya Yagi, Satoru Hirose
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Publication number: 20020039229Abstract: Light from a light source 23 is processed on the image display element 30 by an image signal outputted from an image control section 19 to be projected on the screen of a predetermined curved surface shape. When the light from the light source is processed by the image signal, the image control section 19 processes an aberration shape of a projected image so as to coincide with the shape of a projection curved surface of the screen. Thus, a desired image can be clearly projected on the screen having the curved surface shape.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2001Publication date: April 4, 2002Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Satoru Hirose, Hiroshi Watanabe, Masao Sakata
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Publication number: 20010043335Abstract: When a scanning start position set signal is input in an area image sensor, the content is transferred to a vertical scanning circuit, and the scan start position is set. Image of a desired row is read by horizontal scanning. Then, one shift signal for vertical scanning is input, the position of scanning is shifted by one row, and horizontal scanning is performed. Thus image of the next row is read. By repeating this operation, a desired strip-shaped image is read. The shape of the object is determined and when a portion is determined to have complicated shape, the image data is input by means of a lens having long focal length, and image data of other portions are input by means of a lens having short focal length. By putting together a plurality of input image data, image data as a whole is generated.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2001Publication date: November 22, 2001Inventors: Toshio Norita, Makoto Miyazaki, Eiro Fujii, Shigeaki Imai, Fumiya Yagi, Satoru Hirose
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Patent number: 6243165Abstract: When a scanning start position set signal is input in an area image sensor, the content is transferred to a vertical scanning circuit, and the scan start position is set. Image of a desired row is read by horizontal scanning. Then, one shift signal for vertical scanning is input, the position of scanning is shifted by one row, and horizontal scanning is performed. Thus image of the next row is read. By repeating this operation, a desired strip-shaped image is read. The shape of the object is determined and when a portion is determined to have complicated shape, the image data is input by means of a lens having long focal length, and image data of other portions are input by means of a lens having short focal length. By putting together a plurality of input image data, image data as a whole is generated.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 1997Date of Patent: June 5, 2001Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toshio Norita, Fumiya Yagi, Satoru Hirose
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Patent number: 6169516Abstract: A navigation system stereoscopically displays an area based on altitude information data of the actual terrain of the area, and puts thereon map display components such as roads, place manes and the like to form a stereoscopic map on the screen, which fits the actual view of the area.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 1998Date of Patent: January 2, 2001Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Masaki Watanabe, Masayuki Takada, Toshiaki Takahashi, Ken Oizumi, Norimasa Kishi, Satoru Hirose
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Patent number: 6141105Abstract: This invention is related to a three-dimensional measuring device for measuring three-dimensional positions of an objects. The three-dimensional measuring device comprises an optical projection system and an optical reception system. In a preliminary measurement prior to an actual measurement, the optical projection system projects slit light beam on the object with varying projection angle with in a narrow range, and the optical reception system receives the slit light beam reflected by the object and generates image signals corresponding to an amount of the received light synchronously with variation of the projection angle. Measurement conditions including intensity of the light beam and the projection angle for the actual measurement are set in accordance with the image signals of the actual measurement. Under the measurement conditions, the actual measurement is executed by projecting the light beam on the object with varying the projection angle within a wide range.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 1996Date of Patent: October 31, 2000Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.Inventors: Akira Yahashi, Toshio Norita, Eiro Fujii, Fumiya Yagi, Satoru Hirose, Takuto Joko, Makoto Miyazaki, Tadashi Fukumoto, Hideki Tanabe, Yoshiko Sakagawa
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Patent number: 5668631Abstract: When a scanning start position set signal is input in an area image sensor, the content is transferred to a vertical scanning circuit, and the scan start position is set. Image of a desired row is read by horizontal scanning. Then, one shift signal for vertical scanning is input, the position of scanning is shifted by one row, and horizontal scanning is performed. Thus image of the next row is read. By repeating this operation, a desired strip-shaped image is read. The shape of the object is determined and when a portion is determined to have complicated shape, the image data is input by means of a lens having long focal length, and image data of other portions are input by means of a lens having short focal length. By putting together a plurality of input image data, image data as a whole is generated.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 1994Date of Patent: September 16, 1997Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toshio Norita, Fumiya Yagi, Satoru Hirose