Patents by Inventor Satoshi Kuzuhara

Satoshi Kuzuhara 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: 12196959
    Abstract: A head-up display is configured to project an image on a transparent reflection member to cause an observer to visually recognize a virtual image, and includes a display device configured to display the image, and a projection optical system configured to project the image displayed by the display device as the virtual image for the observer. The projection optical system is configured to form an image as an intermediate image, and includes a first lens configured to condense light, and a first optical element configured to diffuse light. The first lens and the first optical element are disposed in this order along an optical path from the display device. The first lens is inclined with respect to a reference beam which is defined as a beam reaching a center of a viewpoint region of the observer and corresponding to a center of the virtual image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: PANASONIC AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Satoshi Kuzuhara, Hiroaki Okayama
  • Publication number: 20250013052
    Abstract: The optical system includes: a light guide for guiding an image light ray to a field of view region of a user as a virtual image. The light guide includes a diffraction structure region constituting a surface-relief diffraction grating dividing the image light ray propagating in a first propagation direction intersecting a thickness direction of a body into a plurality of image light rays propagating in a second propagation direction intersecting the first propagation direction, in the first propagation direction. The diffraction structure region includes a first diffraction structure, and a second diffraction structure on an opposite side of the first diffraction structure from an in-coupling region in the first propagation direction. A grating height of the first diffraction structure is greater than a grating height of the second diffraction structure. A grating width of the first diffraction structure is greater than a grating width of the second diffraction structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2024
    Publication date: January 9, 2025
    Inventors: Satoshi KUZUHARA, Akira HASHIYA, Kazuhiro MINAMI
  • Publication number: 20250013046
    Abstract: A display device displays a virtual image by projecting an image onto a windshield provided on a vehicle and having a curved shape. The display device includes: an image generation device that generates light (image light) representing an image; and a light guide that includes an emission hologram element having a non-rectangular quadrilateral shape. The emission hologram element emits, toward the windshield, the light representing the image and propagating through the light guide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2024
    Publication date: January 9, 2025
    Applicant: Panasonic Automotive Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiji SUGIYAMA, Ken'ichi KASAZUMI, Satoshi KUZUHARA, Kazuhiro MINAMI
  • Patent number: 12189103
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an optical system that includes a prism having an incident surface, an exit surface, and one or more reflecting surfaces. The optical system includes a first scanning element configured to scan in a first direction a light that enters and reflect the light in a direction of the incident surface of the prism, and a second scanning element configured to scan in a second direction the light that exits from the exit surface of the prism, the second direction being orthogonal to the first direction. The incident surface of the prism has a convex shape with respect to the first scanning element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Satoshi Kuzuhara, Tsuneo Uchida
  • Publication number: 20240402492
    Abstract: A head-up display is configured to project an image on a transparent reflection member to cause an observer to visually recognize a virtual image, and includes a display device configured to display the image, and a projection optical system configured to project the image displayed by the display device as the virtual image for the observer. The projection optical system is configured to form the image as an intermediate image, and includes a first optical element configured to condense light, a first lens configured to condense light, and a second optical element configured to diffuse light. The first optical element, the first lens, and the second optical element are disposed in this order along an optical path from the display device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2024
    Publication date: December 5, 2024
    Inventors: Satoshi KUZUHARA, Hiroaki OKAYAMA
  • Publication number: 20240329413
    Abstract: In a display device, an opening portion includes a first edge portion on a forward side and a second edge portion on a backward side of the opening portion in a traveling direction of a mobile object. When the display device is mounted on the mobile object, a line connecting an upper end of the first edge portion and a lower end of the second edge portion is taken as a reference line, and outside light that passes along the reference line and enters a light-transmissive member is taken as reference outside light, the reference outside light for the case where the opening portion is in a first position arrives at a lower position, at least partially in an optical path after the reference outside light is reflected at the light-transmissive member, than the reference outside light for the case where the opening portion is in the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2024
    Publication date: October 3, 2024
    Applicant: Panasonic Automotive Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiji SUGIYAMA, Hiroaki OKAYAMA, Satoshi KUZUHARA
  • Publication number: 20240319485
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an optical system having a reduction conjugate point on a reduction side and a magnification conjugate point on a magnification side, and internally having an intermediate imaging position having a conjugate relationship with each of the reduction conjugate point and the magnification conjugate point, the optical system including: a prism provided on the magnification side, the prism formed of a transparent medium; and a sub-optical system provided between the reduction conjugate point and the prism, the sub-optical system, wherein the prism includes a first transmission surface positioned on the reduction side, a second transmission surface positioned on the magnification side, and at least one reflection surface positioned therebetween, wherein the following Expression is satisfied: 0.40<(TN?((NI?1)/8))/PN2<0.64.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2024
    Publication date: September 26, 2024
    Inventors: Tsuneo Uchida, Satoshi Kuzuhara
  • Patent number: 12085713
    Abstract: A head-up display is configured to project an image on a transparent reflection member to cause an observer to visually recognize a virtual image, and includes a display device configured to display the image, and a projection optical system configured to project the image displayed by the display device as the virtual image for the observer. The projection optical system is configured to form the image as an intermediate image, and includes a first optical element configured to condense light, a first lens configured to condense light, and a second optical element configured to diffuse light. The first optical element, the first lens, and the second optical element are disposed in this order along an optical path from the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Satoshi Kuzuhara, Hiroaki Okayama
  • Publication number: 20240231109
    Abstract: The optical system includes a light guide guiding an image light ray including a first light ray with a first wavelength range and a second light ray with a second wavelength range having wavelengths shorter than wavelengths in the first wavelength range, to a field of view region as a virtual image. The light guide includes a first dividing region including first dividing points dividing the incident first light ray and a second dividing region including second dividing points dividing the incident second light ray. The first dividing points include first and second points respectively corresponding to first and second peripheral regions of the field of view region. The second dividing points include third and fourth points respectively corresponding to the first and second peripheral regions. Dividing efficiencies E1 to E4 at the first to fourth points satisfy the following formula (1). ( E ? 2 E ? 1 ) ÷ ( E ? 4 E ? 3 ) × ( E ? 3 E ? 1 ) 2 < 0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2024
    Publication date: July 11, 2024
    Inventors: Satoshi KUZUHARA, Kazuhiro MINAMI, Hiroaki OKAYAMA
  • Patent number: 12007557
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an optical system that includes a prism having an incident surface, an exit surface, and one or more reflecting surfaces. The optical system includes a first scanning element configured to scan a light that enters and has a plurality of wavelengths in a first direction, and reflect the light in a direction of the incident surface of the prism. The optical system includes a second scanning element configured to scan in a second direction the light that exits from the exit surface of the prism, the second direction being orthogonal to the first direction. The incident surface of the prism has a concave shape with respect to the first scanning element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Satoshi Kuzuhara, Tsuneo Uchida
  • Publication number: 20240160016
    Abstract: An optical system includes a display that emits a light flux visually recognized by an observer as an image, and a light guide body that replicates the light flux. The light flux is emitted from the emission surface after being expanded by being replicated in a first direction corresponding to a horizontal direction of the image visually recognized by the observer due to diffraction by a diffraction structure of an expansion region in the light guide body, a second direction corresponding to a vertical direction of the image, or both the directions. A coherence length of the light flux diffracted and emitted in the expansion region in the light guide body is smaller than twice a shorter interval between the diffraction structure and each of a front surface and a back surface of the light guide body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2024
    Publication date: May 16, 2024
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Minami, Satoshi KUZUHARA, Hiroyuki SHOBAYASHI
  • Publication number: 20240160015
    Abstract: A light flux incident on the light guide body is replicated in a first direction or a second direction by a diffraction structure of an expansion region. When a normal direction with respect to the light guide body of the expansion region is defined as a Z-axis direction, and a tangential plane is defined as an XY plane, the diffraction structure of the expansion region is configured such that a light flux duplicated when the light flux incident on the expansion region is transmitted through the XY plane of the expansion region from a positive direction of the Z axis and a light flux duplicated when the light flux is transmitted through the XY plane of the expansion region from a negative direction of the Z axis are accommodated within a viewing angle at which the image is visually recognizable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2024
    Publication date: May 16, 2024
    Inventors: Kazuhiro MINAMI, Hiroyuki SHOBAYASHI, Satoshi KUZUHARA
  • Publication number: 20240111152
    Abstract: An image display device includes a display, a light guide body, a controller, and a sensor. The light guide body includes an incident surface on which the light flux from the display is incident and an emission surface from which the light flux is emitted from the light guide body. The light flux incident on the incident surface of the light guide body is changed in a traveling direction in the light guide body, and is emitted from the emission surface so as to expand a visual field area by being replicated in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction of the virtual image visually recognized by the observer. The sensor that detects a physical quantity used to obtain a wavelength of the light flux. The controller controls a position and a shape of the image displayed by the display based on the physical quantity detected by the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Kazuhiro MINAMI, Satoshi KUZUHARA
  • Publication number: 20240111161
    Abstract: An optical system includes a light guide for guiding an image light ray output from a display element to a field of view region as a virtual image. The light guide includes a periodic structure formed in the body having a plate shape. The periodic structure has periodicity in three predetermined directions intersecting each other within a predetermined plane perpendicular to a thickness direction of the body. The periodic structure includes an in-coupling region dividing the image light ray into a plurality of image light rays and allowing the plurality of image light rays to propagate within the body in a plurality of branch directions including branch directions respectively parallel to the predetermined directions, and an exit region allowing the plurality of image light rays propagating in the plurality of branch directions within the body to emerge from the body toward the field of view region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Satoshi KUZUHARA, Kazuhiro MINAMI
  • Publication number: 20240103223
    Abstract: An optical system includes a light guide for guiding an image light ray which is output from a display element and forms an image, to a field of view region of a user as a virtual image. The light guide includes a body having a plate shape, and an in-coupling region and an exit region which are formed in the body. The in-coupling region allows the image light ray incident from the display element to propagate within the body. The exit region allows the image light ray propagating within the body to emerge from the body toward the field of view region. The in-coupling region includes a periodic structure constituted by recessed or protruded parts in relation to a thickness direction of the body which are arranged to have periodicity in three predetermined directions intersecting each other within a predetermined plane perpendicular to the thickness direction of the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Inventors: Satoshi Kuzuhara, Kazuhiro Minami
  • Publication number: 20240077721
    Abstract: A head-up display is configured to project an image on a transparent reflection member to cause an observer to visually recognize a virtual image, and includes a display device configured to display the image, and a projection optical system configured to project the image displayed by the display device as the virtual image for the observer. The projection optical system is configured to form an image as an intermediate image, and includes a first lens configured to condense light, and a first optical element configured to diffuse light. The first lens and the first optical element are disposed in this order along an optical path from the display device. The first lens is inclined with respect to a reference beam which is defined as a beam reaching a center of a viewpoint region of the observer and corresponding to a center of the virtual image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2023
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Inventors: Satoshi KUZUHARA, Hiroaki OKAYAMA
  • Publication number: 20240019621
    Abstract: A light guide plate includes a hologram element that is a first hologram element including two or more diffraction cells, and a hologram element that is a second hologram element including a single diffraction cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2023
    Publication date: January 18, 2024
    Applicant: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiji SUGIYAMA, Ken'ichi KASAZUMI, Yukihiro CHOKYU, Satoshi KUZUHARA, Kazuhiro MINAMI
  • Patent number: 11852809
    Abstract: A head-up display is configured to project an image on a transparent reflection member to cause an observer to visually recognize a virtual image, and includes a display device configured to display the image, and a projection optical system configured to project the image displayed by the display device as the virtual image for the observer. The projection optical system is configured to form an image as an intermediate image, and includes a first lens configured to condense light, and a first optical element configured to diffuse light. The first lens and the first optical element are disposed in this order along an optical path from the display device. The first lens is inclined with respect to a reference beam which is defined as a beam reaching a center of a viewpoint region of the observer and corresponding to a center of the virtual image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Kuzuhara, Hiroaki Okayama
  • Publication number: 20230408746
    Abstract: An optical system includes: a projection optical system for projecting an image light ray output from a display element and forming an image; and a light guide including an in-coupling region for guiding the ray to an inside of the guide and allowing it to travel in a first axis direction within the guide, and a propagation region for allowing the ray from the in-coupling region to propagate in the direction of the first axis, and allowing part of the ray to travel in a predetermined direction including a directional component of a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. In an optical path of the ray, a distance from the projection optical system to an entrance pupil of the projection optical system relative to the element in a plane perpendicular to the first axis is longer than a distance from the projection optical system to the in-coupling region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2023
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Inventors: Satoshi KUZUHARA, Kazuhiro MINAMI, Hiroaki OKAYAMA
  • Publication number: 20230393395
    Abstract: A head-up display system includes a display that emits a light flux visually recognized by an observer as the virtual image, and a light guide body that guides the light flux to the light-transmitting member. The light guide body includes an incident surface on which the light flux from the display is incident and an emission surface from which the light flux is emitted from the light guide body. The light flux incident on the incident surface of the light guide body is changed in a traveling direction in the light guide body, the light flux is replicated into a plurality of light fluxes in a direction perpendicular to a horizontal direction of the virtual image visually recognized by the observer to be emitted from the emission surface so as to expand a visual recognition region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2023
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventors: Kazuhiro MINAMI, Satoshi KUZUHARA