Patents by Inventor Shinya Kawanishi

Shinya Kawanishi 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: 20080018878
    Abstract: An optical device according to an embodiment of the present invention is an optical device including a lens structure in which a lens portion is injection molded integrally with a skirt portion extending from the edge of the lens portion, and a housing that supports this lens structure. The skirt portion has a molding gate receiving portion corresponding to a molding gate for injection molding, and the thickness of the edge<the thickness of the molding gate receiving portion<the thickness of the lens portion is satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2007
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Mizuo, Shinya Kawanishi
  • Publication number: 20070284549
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an optical reflective information reading sensor has a single casing that accommodates a light-emitting element portion for emitting light for reading information, an emission-side lens portion for irradiating a target information face of a target with irradiation light, which is the light emitted by the light-emitting element portion, the target being disposed outside the optical reflective information reading sensor, a reception-side lens portion for forming an image of diffusely reflected light, which is reflected light of the light irradiated on the target information face, and a light-receiving element portion for receiving the diffusely reflected light whose image has been formed. The optical reflective information reading sensor detects a target information pattern, which is target information such as a barcode on the target information face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2007
    Publication date: December 13, 2007
    Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Mizuo, Shinya Kawanishi
  • Patent number: 7119887
    Abstract: An optical distance measuring sensor has a plurality of light-emitting elements, a light-emitting lens, a photodetector having a light-receiving surface, a light emission driving part to sequentially drive the light-emitting elements, and a distance signal outputting part. Light emitted from each light-emitting element passes through the light-emitting lens, then is reflected by an object to be detected, and then gets incident on the light-receiving surface of the photodetector, which outputs a signal corresponding to a position of the incident light in the light-receiving surface. Upon receipt of the signal, the distance signal outputting part outputs a distance signal representing a distance to the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Mizuo, Akifumi Yamaguchi, Shinya Kawanishi, Atsuo Fujikawa
  • Publication number: 20060050263
    Abstract: An optical distance measuring sensor has a plurality of light-emitting elements (51-55), a light-emitting lens (1), a photodetector (4) having a light-receiving surface, a light emission driving part (31) to sequentially drive the light-emitting elements, and a distance signal outputting part (31). Light emitted from each light-emitting element passes through the light-emitting lens, then is reflected by an object (32) to be detected, and then gets incident on the light-receiving surface of the photodetector, which outputs a signal corresponding to a position of the incident light in the light-receiving surface. Upon receipt of the signal, the distance signal outputting part outputs a distance signal representing a distance to the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2005
    Publication date: March 9, 2006
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Mizuo, Akifumi Yamaguchi, Shinya Kawanishi, Atsuo Fujikawa
  • Patent number: 6844562
    Abstract: A distance measuring sensor includes a case subassembly having inside a light emitting element and a light receiving element, and a lens case subassembly having a projection lens projecting a light output from the light emitting element and a condenser lens condensing the light reflected from the object, and attached to a front side of the case subassembly. The condenser lens is movably attached to the lens case subassembly, and after an output is adjusted, this condenser lens is fixed thereto. Thus, the distance measuring sensor enabling easier adjustment of an output can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Sharp Kabuskiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Takaoka, Shinya Kawanishi
  • Publication number: 20040257555
    Abstract: A distance measuring sensor includes an LED emitting light, a projection lens receiving the light from the LED to direct the light to illuminate an object, a light receiving lens collecting light reflected by the object, and a PSD receiving at a location light collected by the light receiving lens to output a signal corresponding to the location. The light receiving lens and the PSD are configured to have an adjustable distance therebetween, as seen along an optical axis from the light receiving lens to the PSD. A distance measuring device and electronics equipped therewith can thus be obtained that can rapidly provide information on a distance of an object over a wide range and be configured of a reduced number of components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2004
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Inventors: Takashi Takaoka, Shinya Kawanishi
  • Patent number: 6674988
    Abstract: Infrared light emitted from an infrared light-emitting diode and reflected by a toner that is an object to be detected. Then, the reflection light is received by a photodiode. A signal detection circuit is composed of an amplifier for converting an output current into a voltage, an amplifier in which a circuit constant is optimized for detection of color toner density, an amplifier in which a circuit constant is optimized for detection of black toner density and an amplifier in a circuit constant is optimized for detection of toner misregistration. These amplifiers are connected to each other in two steps. The first step amplifier's output is further amplified by the second step amplifiers to output as a color toner detection output voltage Vo1, a black toner detection output voltage Vo2, and a toner misregistration detection output voltage Vo3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinya Kawanishi
  • Publication number: 20030184725
    Abstract: A distance measuring sensor includes a case subassembly having inside a light emitting element and a light receiving element, and a lens case subassembly having a projection lens projecting a light output from the light emitting element and a condenser lens condensing the light reflected from the object, and attached to a front side of the case subassembly. The condenser lens is movably attached to the lens case subassembly, and after an output is adjusted, this condenser lens is fixed thereto. Thus, the distance measuring sensor enabling easier adjustment of an output can be provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2003
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Inventors: Takashi Takaoka, Shinya Kawanishi
  • Patent number: 6510297
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a toner density sensor capable of detecting toner density with high accuracy without being affected by the temperature change. A light-emitting diode emits infrared light toward the toner attached to the surface of a photosensitive drum, and the infrared light reflected from the toner is received by a photodiode. An amplifier circuit for detecting color toner density and an amplifier circuit for detecting black toner density, of which both amplify outputs from the photodiode, each employ a thermister for the feedback resistance of the amplifier. An input resistance in the amplifier circuit and the thermister adjust the gain of the amplifier circuit so as to obtain optimal outputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2003
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Noboru Kawai, Shinya Kawanishi
  • Publication number: 20020102114
    Abstract: Infrared light emitted from an infrared light-emitting diode and reflected by a toner that is an object to be detected. Then, the reflection light is received by a photodiode. A signal detection circuit is composed of an amplifier for converting an output current into a voltage, an amplifier in which a circuit constant is optimized for detection of color toner density, an amplifier in which a circuit constant is optimized for detection of black toner density and an amplifier in a circuit constant is optimized for detection of toner misregistration. These amplifiers are connected to each other in two steps. The first step amplifier's output is further amplified by the second step amplifiers to output as a color toner detection output voltage Vo1, a black toner detection output voltage Vo2, and a toner misregistration detection output voltage Vo3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Publication date: August 1, 2002
    Inventor: Shinya Kawanishi
  • Publication number: 20020001479
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a toner density sensor capable of detecting toner density with high accuracy without being affected by the temperature change. A light-emitting diode emits infrared light toward the toner attached to the surface of a photosensitive drum, and the infrared light reflected from the toner is received by a photodiode. An amplifier circuit for detecting color toner density and an amplifier circuit for detecting black toner density, of which both amplify outputs from the photodiode, each employ a thermister for the feedback resistance of the amplifier. An input resistance in the amplifier circuit and the thermister adjust the gain of the amplifier circuit so as to obtain optimal outputs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2001
    Publication date: January 3, 2002
    Inventors: Noboru Kawai, Shinya Kawanishi
  • Patent number: 6300940
    Abstract: The input device which includes a reflection type optical sensor having light emitting means and light receiving means; an operation section disposed facing the optical sensor, the operation section being tilted when a load is applied thereto; and output means for detecting a tilt status of the operation section based on signals from the light receiving means and outputting detected results to a computer body as positional information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Ebina, Takatoshi Mizoguchi, Shinya Kawanishi, Mitsuo Kobachi, Nobumasa Ono, Akihiro Fujita
  • Patent number: 5943233
    Abstract: The input device which includes a reflection type optical sensor having light emitting means and light receiving means; an operation section disposed facing the optical sensor, the operation section being tilted when a load is applied thereto; and output means for detecting a tilt status of the operation section based on signals from the light receiving means and outputting detected results to a computer body as positional information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Ebina, Takatoshi Mizoguchi, Shinya Kawanishi, Mitsuo Kobachi, Nobumasa Ono, Akihiro Fujita
  • Patent number: 5693933
    Abstract: A document reading device comprises a plurality of distance sensors, an original document size detection board, and a main unit control board. The plurality of distance sensors measure distance as for each certain position of an original document table. The original document size detection board comprises an EEPROM for storing a threshold value and an original document size detection CPU 1 for implementing a program for original document size detection. The original document size detection board judges the presence or the absence of an original document at each preset position of an original document table by comparing each threshold value from the plurality of distance sensors with the threshold value, detects the size of an original document according to the judging result from the original document size detection board, and outputs data indicative of the detected original document size. The main unit control CPU 2 implements a program for original document reading control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1997
    Assignees: Minolta Co., Ltd., Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Takasu, Tatsuya Eguchi, Shinya Kawanishi, Keiichi Okada, Kouichi Furuta
  • Patent number: 5519483
    Abstract: A light-emitting elements emits a light beam onto a predetermined sensing position, and a reflected beam from an original is received by a light-receiving element. The light-receiving element, which is a position sensitive detector for detecting a spot position of the reflected beam, releases a pair of currents that vary according to the spot position. A signal processing circuit detects the presence or absence of the original based on the ratio of the currents. The pair of currents released by the light-receiving element fluctuate in response to changes in reflection factor due to the individual color of the original, while the ratio of the pair of currents does not fluctuate even if the reflection factor changes. Thus, detection accuracy is improved, and erroneous detection can be prevented in comparison with an arrangement wherein the presence or absence of the original is detected by detecting and comparing the amount of light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1996
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinya Kawanishi, Kouichi Furuta, Keiichi Okada
  • Patent number: 5488468
    Abstract: A light emitting element and a light receiving element are installed on a wiring board mounted in a housing case. Light emitted from the light emitting element is irradiated on an object to be detected through a first lens installed in the housing case. Light reflected by the object to be detected is received by the light receiving element through a second lens installed in the housing case. The housing case is formed of a grounded conductive material, and the wiring board is formed of a material having a coefficient of linear expansion equivalent to that of the housing case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1996
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinya Kawanishi, Kouichi Furuta, Keiichi Okada