Patents by Inventor Shoichi Tokura

Shoichi Tokura 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: 10101635
    Abstract: To provide a blade drive device capable of suppressing variations in movement speed of blades at the time of continuous operation and shortening the operation interval of blades. A blade drive device 10 includes a bed plate 11 having an opening 12, a blade receiving plate 15 arranged so as to face the bed plate 11, a plurality of blades 31b to 34b provided between the bed plate 11 and the blade receiving plate 15, which are expanded in a state where the opening 12 is closed and are housed while overlapping one another in a state where the opening 12 is opened and a regulating member 80 having an abutting surface 82 on which side edge portions 31b1 to 34b1 of the blades 31b to 34b abut when the blades are housed. The abutting surface 82 is an inclined surface 83 inclined to the bed plate 11 side as it goes from the bed plate 11 side to the blade receiving plate 15 side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: SEIKO PRECISION INC.
    Inventors: Seiichi Oishi, Shoichi Tokura
  • Patent number: 9733547
    Abstract: A blade driving device includes: a board including an opening; first and second blades opening and closing the opening; first and second actuators arranged adjacent to each other and respectively driving the first and second blades, and respectively including first and second stators, first and second rotors, and first and second coils; a printed circuit board; and solder portions electrically connecting the first and second coils with the printed circuit board; wherein the solder portions includes: first and second solder portions respectively connecting one end and another end of the first coil with the printed circuit board; and third and fourth solder portions respectively connecting one end and another end of the second coil with the printed circuit board; and the first, second, third, and fourth solder portions face one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: SEIKO PRECISION INC.
    Inventors: Shoichi Tokura, Hiroshi Takahashi, Seiichi Oishi, Minori Murata
  • Patent number: 9671678
    Abstract: A focal-plane shutter capable of suppressing production of foreign matter is provided. The focal-plane shutter includes a base plate, rear curtain drive arms, a blade that is driven by the rear curtain drive arms, and an elastically deformable cushioning member that comes into contact with the blade that moves from a retracted position to an unfolded position. The blade extends in a first direction. The rear curtain drive arms are swingable around the centers of swing motion provided on one side of the blade in the first direction. The cushioning member has a contact section that comes into contact with a side edge of the blade, a holding section that is arranged on the side opposite the blade with the contact section therebetween, and a connecting section that connects the contact section and the holding section to each other. The connecting section inclines with respect to a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and extends toward the centers of swing motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: SEIKO PRECISION INC.
    Inventors: Shoichi Tokura, Seiichi Oishi
  • Patent number: 9671677
    Abstract: A focal-plane shutter capable of stabilizing a curtain in continuous photographing action for suppression of variation in light exposure period is provided. The focal-plane shutter includes a base plate having a first opening, a blade receiving plate so arranged as to face the base plate and having a second opening formed in a position corresponding to the first opening, and a rear curtain that is arranged between the base plate and the blade receiving plate and moves between an open position where the first opening and the second opening are open and a closed position where the first opening and the second opening are closed to open and close the first opening and the second opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: SEIKO PRECISION INC.
    Inventor: Shoichi Tokura
  • Patent number: 9658516
    Abstract: To provide a blade drive device capable of suppressing the increase in number of components while suppressing the bounding of blades, and an optical apparatus including the blade drive device. A blade drive device 10 includes a partition plate 21 having an opening 22, blades 31a to 34a, 31b to 34b which are expanded in a state where the opening 22 is closed and which overlap one another in a state where the opening 22 is opened, and a first regulating portion 23A and a second regulating portion 24A integrally formed with the partition plate 21, on which the blades 31a, 31b abut when being expanded. An optical apparatus includes the blade drive device 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: SEIKO PRECISION INC.
    Inventors: Seiichi Oishi, Shoichi Tokura
  • Publication number: 20170131619
    Abstract: A focal-plane shutter capable of stabilizing a curtain in continuous photographing action for suppression of variation in light exposure period is provided. The focal-plane shutter includes a base plate having a first opening, a blade receiving plate so arranged as to face the base plate and having a second opening formed in a position corresponding to the first opening, and a rear curtain that is arranged between the base plate and the blade receiving plate and moves between an open position where the first opening and the second opening are open and a closed position where the first opening and the second opening are closed to open and close the first opening and the second opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Inventor: Shoichi TOKURA
  • Patent number: 9632394
    Abstract: An image pickup device includes: a focal plane shutter including: a board including an opening; a shutter moving to open and close the opening; an actuator moving the shutter; and a detection portion detecting that the shutter passes through a predetermined position, an image pickup element which light enters through the opening; and a drive control portion that controls the actuator to move the shutter, wherein the drive control portion performs movement control to move the shutter at least until the shutter passes through the predetermined position, and performs brake control to decelerate the shutter while the shutter is moving after the shutter passes through the predetermined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: SEIKO PRECISION INC.
    Inventors: Chiaki Nemoto, Hiroshi Takahashi, Shoichi Tokura, Yoichi Nakano, Motoharu Sakurai
  • Patent number: 9612505
    Abstract: A focal-plane shutter capable of preventing deterioration of the quality of a captured image is provided. A focal-plane shutter includes a base plate having an opening, a rear curtain that moves between an open position where the opening is open and a closed position where the opening is closed to allow the opening to be open and closed, and a first cushioning member that comes into contact with the rear curtain, and the rear curtain has a first protrusion that is located outside the opening, protrudes in a first direction from the open position toward the closed position, and comes into contact with the first cushioning member when the rear curtain moves from the open position to the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: SEIKO PRECISION INC.
    Inventors: Seiichi Oishi, Shoichi Tokura
  • Patent number: 9606421
    Abstract: A focal-plane shutter includes: a board including an opening; a shutter opening and closing the opening; a drive lever provided with a drive pin and swinging; a drive arm provided with an engagement hole engaged with the drive pin, swinging about a center same as a swing center of the drive lever, driving the shutter, and made of a synthetic resin; and a restriction portion defining a swinging range of the drive lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: SEIKO PRECISION INC.
    Inventors: Seiichi Oishi, Hiroshi Takahashi, Shoichi Tokura
  • Publication number: 20170052428
    Abstract: A focal-plane shutter capable of suppressing production of foreign matter is provided. The focal-plane shutter includes a base plate, rear curtain drive arms, a blade that is driven by the rear curtain drive arms, and an elastically deformable cushioning member that comes into contact with the blade that moves from a retracted position to an unfolded position. The blade extends in a first direction. The rear curtain drive arms are swingable around the centers of swing motion provided on one side of the blade in the first direction. The cushioning member has a contact section that comes into contact with a side edge of the blade, a holding section that is arranged on the side opposite the blade with the contact section therebetween, and a connecting section that connects the contact section and the holding section to each other. The connecting section inclines with respect to a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and extends toward the centers of swing motion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Inventors: Shoichi TOKURA, Seiichi OISHI
  • Publication number: 20170045801
    Abstract: A focal-plane shutter capable of preventing deterioration of the quality of a captured image is provided. A focal-plane shutter includes a base plate having an opening, a rear curtain that moves between an open position where the opening is open and a closed position where the opening is closed to allow the opening to be open and closed, and a first cushioning member that comes into contact with the rear curtain, and the rear curtain has a first protrusion that is located outside the opening, protrudes in a first direction from the open position toward the closed position, and comes into contact with the first cushioning member when the rear curtain moves from the open position to the closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2016
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Inventors: Seiichi OISHI, Shoichi TOKURA
  • Patent number: 9513533
    Abstract: A focal plane shutter includes: a board including an opening; a leading blade and a trailing blade opening and closing the opening; a trailing blade actuator driving the trailing blade; a drive member driving the trailing blade by receiving driving force of the trailing blade actuator; and a buffering member abutting with the drive member in a state where the trailing blade recedes away from the opening, wherein the trailing blade actuator causes the drive member to move away from the buffering member from an abutting state therewith and to abut therewith again in a charging operation, and then starts an exposure operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: SEIKO PRECISION INC.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Takahashi, Minori Murata, Seiichi Oishi, Mitsuru Suzuki, Shoichi Tokura
  • Patent number: 9507240
    Abstract: A blade drive device includes: a board including an opening; first and second blades opening and closing the opening; and first and second actuators arranged adjacent to each other and respectively driving the first and second blades, wherein the first and second actuators respectively include first and second stators, first and second rotors, and first and second coils, and the first and second rotors is arranged to sandwich at least one of the first and second coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: SEIKO PRECISION INC.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Takahashi, Shoichi Tokura, Chiaki Nemoto, Yoichi Nakano
  • Patent number: 9465275
    Abstract: An imaging device includes: a focal plane shutter including: a board including an opening; a leading shutter and a trailing shutter opening and closing the opening; a leading shutter actuator and a trailing shutter actuator respectively driving the leading shutter and the trailing shutter; and a restrict portion that restricts reciprocating movement ranges of the leading shutter and the trailing shutter, an image pickup element which light enters through the opening; and a drive control portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: SEIKO PRECISION INC.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Takahashi, Minori Murata, Seiichi Oishi, Shoichi Tokura
  • Publication number: 20160282704
    Abstract: To provide a blade drive device capable of suppressing variations in movement speed of blades at the time of continuous operation and shortening the operation interval of blades. A blade drive device 10 includes a bed plate 11 having an opening 12, a blade receiving plate 15 arranged so as to face the bed plate 11, a plurality of blades 31b to 34b provided between the bed plate 11 and the blade receiving plate 15, which are expanded in a state where the opening 12 is closed and are housed while overlapping one another in a state where the opening 12 is opened and a regulating member 80 having an abutting surface 82 on which side edge portions 31b1 to 34b1 of the blades 31b to 34b abut when the blades are housed. The abutting surface 82 is an inclined surface 83 inclined to the bed plate 11 side as it goes from the bed plate 11 side to the blade receiving plate 15 side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Inventors: Seiichi OISHI, Shoichi TOKURA
  • Patent number: 9429815
    Abstract: A blade drive device includes: a board including an opening; first and second blades opening and closing the opening; and first and second actuators respectively driving the first and second blades, wherein the first and second actuators respectively include first and second stators, first and second rotors, and first and second coils, and respectively drive the first and second blades through first and second drive members, the first drive member is arranged to overlap the first stator and the first coil in an optical axis direction, and the second drive member is arranged to overlap the second stator and the second coil in the optical axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: SEIKO PRECISION INC.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Takahashi, Shoichi Tokura, Chiaki Nemoto, Yoichi Nakano
  • Publication number: 20160216593
    Abstract: A focal-plane shutter includes: a board including an opening; a shutter opening and closing the opening; a drive lever provided with a drive pin and swinging; a drive arm provided with an engagement hole engaged with the drive pin, swinging about a center same as a swing center of the drive lever, driving the shutter, and made of a synthetic resin; and a restriction portion defining a swinging range of the drive lever.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2016
    Publication date: July 28, 2016
    Applicant: SEIKO PRECISION INC.
    Inventors: Seiichi OISHI, Hiroshi TAKAHASHI, Shoichi TOKURA
  • Patent number: 9395599
    Abstract: A focal plane shutter includes: a first board including a first opening; a first shutter including plural first blades, and facing the first board and closing the first opening such that an overlapped state where the plural first blades overlap each other is shifted to an expanded state where the plural first blades expand; and a drive member connected to a root portion of the first shutter and causing the first shutter to move.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: SEIKO PRECISION INC.
    Inventors: Seiichi Oishii, Shoichi Tokura
  • Publication number: 20160195796
    Abstract: To provide a blade drive device capable of suppressing the increase in number of components while suppressing the bounding of blades, and an optical apparatus including the blade drive device. A blade drive device 10 includes a partition plate 21 having an opening 22, blades 31a to 34a, 31b to 34b which are expanded in a state where the opening 22 is closed and which overlap one another in a state where the opening 22 is opened, and a first regulating portion 23A and a second regulating portion 24A integrally formed with the partition plate 21, on which the blades 31a, 31b abut when being expanded. An optical apparatus includes the blade drive device 10.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Publication date: July 7, 2016
    Inventors: Seiichi OISHI, Shoichi TOKURA
  • Publication number: 20160195795
    Abstract: A blade driving device includes: a board including an opening; first and second blades opening and closing the opening; first and second actuators arranged adjacent to each other and respectively driving the first and second blades, and respectively including first and second stators, first and second rotors, and first and second coils; a printed circuit board; and solder portions electrically connecting the first and second coils with the printed circuit board; wherein the solder portions includes: first and second solder portions respectively connecting one end and another end of the first coil with the printed circuit board; and third and fourth solder portions respectively connecting one end and another end of the second coil with the printed circuit board; and the first, second, third, and fourth solder portions face one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Publication date: July 7, 2016
    Applicant: SEIKO PRECISION INC.
    Inventors: Shoichi TOKURA, Hiroshi TAKAHASHI, Seiichi OISHI, Minori MURATA