Patents by Inventor Shoma Mizutani

Shoma Mizutani 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: 11938739
    Abstract: An ink refill container includes a container main body including an ink storage chamber, an ink outlet-forming portion provided on an end portion of the container main body forming an ink outlet that allows the ink to flow out from the ink storage chamber, and a valve provided in the ink outlet-forming portion configured to openably seal the ink outlet, in which the ink outlet-forming portion includes a positioning portion on an outer side of the ink outlet-forming portion. in which the positioning portion is closer to the container main body than the valve is to the container main body in a central axis direction of the ink outlet, and in which the positioning portion partially abuts against an ink tank when the valve is opened for refilling the ink to the ink tank, to thereby position the valve relative to the ink tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tadahiro Mizutani, Ryoichi Tanaka, Manabu Akahane, Makoto Kobayashi, Naomi Kimura, Hideki Okumura, Shoma Kudo, Tetsuya Takamoto, Hiroaki Sakai
  • Patent number: 11926162
    Abstract: An ink refill container configured to refill an ink tank with ink and an ink refill system. An ink refill container includes a container main body having an ink chamber; an ink outlet forming portion provided at an edge of the container main body including an ink outlet configured to allow ink to flow out from the ink chamber; a valve provided in ink outlet forming portion and configured to seal the ink outlet in an openable and closable manner; and a positioning structure configured to abut on part of the ink tank and position the valve relative to ink tank when valve is opened. The positioning structure has a positioning surface located on an opposite side to a container main body side where the container main body is located, across the valve and extends in a direction intersecting with a center axis of the ink outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tadahiro Mizutani, Taku Ishizawa, Noriyuki Fukasawa, Naomi Kimura, Shoma Kudo, Manabu Akahane
  • Patent number: 11921925
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus capable of performing an operation of quickly moving a display object in a screen to a separated position and an operation of finely adjusting a position without moving a location where a finger for operation is placed. A camera 1000 displays a ranging point frame movable by a user operation in a screen of a finder visual field display 41 that displays a shot image. The camera 1000 has a complex selector 1 consisting of an OTP 60 that moves a position of the ranging point frame based on a movement amount and a movement direction of sliding movement of a finger of a user, a button base 61 that holds the OTP 60 and detects swing by the user, and an AF-ON button 80 that moves, on a unit basis, the position of the ranging point frame based on a direction of the swing. When autofocus is performed in a shooting scene of a moving subject, the position of the ranging point frame is moved by the OTP 60 or the AF-ON button 80 of the complex selector 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shoma Mizutani
  • Patent number: 11910075
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: an imaging unit configured to capture an image of a subject; a main body having a grip region provided on a first surface on which the imaging unit is disposed so that a user is able to grip the grip region; and a stand portion provided at a first end portion of the main body and disposed with the grip region separated from the imaging unit. The grip region faces a long side of an imaging surface of the imaging unit. The stand portion is located on a first axis orthogonal to an optical axis of the imaging unit and is rotatable within a plane along the optical axis and the first axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shoma Mizutani
  • Publication number: 20230328370
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an image sensor configured to receive light and accumulate charges, a vibration generator configured to generate vibration, an image sensor control unit configured to cause the image sensor to perform an electronic front curtain operation to start accumulating the charges, and an electronic rear curtain operation to finish accumulating the charges, and a vibration control unit configured to control the vibration generator. The vibration control unit causes the vibration generator to generate first vibration before accumulating the charges is started and second vibration after the accumulating the charges are finished.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2023
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Inventor: Shoma MIZUTANI
  • Publication number: 20230280638
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an image sensor, an optical filter, a holding member configured to hold the optical filter, a driving unit configured to move the holding member, a grip portion to be gripped by a user, and a control board. The optical filter is movable by the driving unit between a first position inserted into an imaging range and a second position retracted from the imaging range in a direction from the first position toward the grip portion. The second position is located between the grip portion and the control board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2023
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Inventors: Nagisa INOUE, Kazuaki Yamana, Shoma Mizutani, Yuki Totori, Yoshikazu Asai, Keisuke Adachi, Sho Nagatsu
  • Publication number: 20230280634
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an image sensor, an optical filter, a holding member configured to hold the optical filter, a driving unit configured to move the holding member, a grip portion configured to be gripped by a user, and a light blocking member configured to control blocking or opening of an image pickup range. The driving unit moves the optical filter between (i) a first position at which the optical filter is inserted into the image pickup range and (ii) a second position at which the optical filter is retracted from the image pickup range in a direction from the first position toward the grip portion. The optical filter is located on a side closer to the image sensor than the light blocking member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2023
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Inventors: Yuki TOTORI, Kazuaki YAMANA, Yoshikazu ASAI, Shoma MIZUTANI, Keisuke ADACHI, Sho NAGATSU, Nagisa INOUE
  • Publication number: 20230283907
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an image sensor, an optical filter movable between a first position at which the optical filter is inserted into an imaging range of the image sensor and a second position at which the optical filter is retracted from the imaging range, and a control unit configured to perform exposure control for the image sensor in a case where the optical filter is located at the first position and an in-focus state cannot be obtained by moving a focus lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2023
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Inventors: Sho NAGATSU, Kazuaki YAMANA, Yoshikazu ASAI, Yuki TOTORI, Keisuke ADACHI, Shoma MIZUTANI, Nagisa INOUE
  • Publication number: 20230156306
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: an imaging unit configured to capture an image of a subject; a main body having a grip region provided on a first surface on which the imaging unit is disposed so that a user is able to grip the grip region; and a stand portion provided at a first end portion of the main body and disposed with the grip region separated from the imaging unit. The grip region faces a long side of an imaging surface of the imaging unit. The stand portion is located on a first axis orthogonal to an optical axis of the imaging unit and is rotatable within a plane along the optical axis and the first axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2021
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Inventor: Shoma Mizutani
  • Patent number: 11516371
    Abstract: A cleaning apparatus that cleans a detection surface of a detection element, comprises an attachment to which a detection apparatus including the detection element can be attached, a communication unit configured to communicate with the detection apparatus, a cleaning unit configured to clean the detection surface of the detection element, and a control unit configured to control a driving unit of the detection element included in the detection apparatus through the communication unit. When cleaning by the cleaning unit, the control unit controls the position of the detection element by driving the driving unit through the communication unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shoma Mizutani
  • Patent number: 11450462
    Abstract: An operation device that provides a clicking sensation, with a compact size and excellent durability. The operation device includes an operation member operated by a user. A magnet has a plurality of magnetic poles and is fixed to the operation member. A movable member includes a first magnetic pole portion and a second magnetic pole portion and is pivotally movably arranged on the magnet. When the operation member is operated in a state in which an attractive force is acting between a magnetic pole of the magnet and the first magnetic pole portion, the attractive force acting between them is reduced. Further, by the movement of the movable member, an attractive force comes to act between another magnetic pole of the magnet and the second magnetic pole portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shoma Mizutani, Taro Fuchigami
  • Patent number: 11443878
    Abstract: An operation unit includes an operation member, a gear portion provided on the operation member, a plurality of gears engaged with the gear portion and rotatable, and a plurality of magnets, each of which is provided to a corresponding one of the plurality of gears. The plurality of gears rotate so as to change an attractive force between the magnets, when a user operates the operation member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shoma Mizutani, Natsu Mikami
  • Publication number: 20220253143
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus capable of performing an operation of quickly moving a display object in a screen to a separated position and an operation of finely adjusting a position without moving a location where a finger for operation is placed. A camera 1000 displays a ranging point frame movable by a user operation in a screen of a finder visual field display 41 that displays a shot image. The camera 1000 has a complex selector 1 consisting of an OTP 60 that moves a position of the ranging point frame based on a movement amount and a movement direction of sliding movement of a finger of a user, a button base 61 that holds the OTP 60 and detects swing by the user, and an AF-ON button 80 that moves, on a unit basis, the position of the ranging point frame based on a direction of the swing. When autofocus is performed in a shooting scene of a moving subject, the position of the ranging point frame is moved by the OTP 60 or the AF-ON button 80 of the complex selector 1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2022
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Inventor: Shoma Mizutani
  • Publication number: 20210319936
    Abstract: An operation unit includes an operation member, a gear portion provided on the operation member, a plurality of gears engaged with the gear portion and rotatable, and a plurality of magnets, each of which is provided to a corresponding one of the plurality of gears. The plurality of gears rotate so as to change an attractive force between the magnets, when a user operates the operation member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Publication date: October 14, 2021
    Inventors: Shoma Mizutani, Natsu Mikami
  • Patent number: 10969665
    Abstract: A driving apparatus includes a driving source supplied with a power and configured to generate a driving force, a first cam member configured to rotate in a first rotational direction in accordance with the driving force from the driving source, a driving member configured to drive a driven member as the first cam member rotates, and a second cam member configured to contact the driving member after an electrification to the driving source is stopped so as to rotate the first cam member in a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shoma Mizutani
  • Publication number: 20200265981
    Abstract: An operation device that provides a clicking sensation, with a compact size and excellent durability. The operation device includes an operation member operated by a user. A magnet has a plurality of magnetic poles and is fixed to the operation member. A movable member includes a first magnetic pole portion and a second magnetic pole portion and is pivotally movably arranged on the magnet. When the operation member is operated in a state in which an attractive force is acting between a magnetic pole of the magnet and the first magnetic pole portion, the attractive force acting between them is reduced. Further, by the movement of the movable member, an attractive force comes to act between another magnetic pole of the magnet and the second magnetic pole portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Inventors: Shoma Mizutani, Taro Fuchigami
  • Publication number: 20200096846
    Abstract: A driving apparatus includes a driving source supplied with a power and configured to generate a driving force, a first cam member configured to rotate in a first rotational direction in accordance with the driving force from the driving source, a driving member configured to drive a driven member as the first cam member rotates, and a second cam member configured to contact the driving member after an electrification to the driving source is stopped so as to rotate the first cam member in a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Inventor: Shoma Mizutani
  • Publication number: 20200092445
    Abstract: A cleaning apparatus that cleans a detection surface of a detection element, comprises an attachment to which a detection apparatus including the detection element can be attached, a communication unit configured to communicate with the detection apparatus, a cleaning unit configured to clean the detection surface of the detection element, and a control unit configured to control a driving unit of the detection element included in the detection apparatus through the communication unit. When cleaning by the cleaning unit, the control unit controls the position of the detection element by driving the driving unit through the communication unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventor: Shoma Mizutani
  • Publication number: 20200033593
    Abstract: A cleaning apparatus which cleans a detection element having a detection surface includes a wiping cleaner configured to perform wiping cleaning in a state of being in contact with the detection surface, and a conduction member configured to become conductive with the wiping cleaner to be made equal in electric potential to the wiping cleaner, wherein, when the wiping cleaner and the conduction member become conductive with each other, the detection surface and the wiping cleaner become equal in electric potential to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2019
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Inventors: Shoma Mizutani, Kentaro Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10379423
    Abstract: The image-capturing apparatus includes a light-emitting unit movable between a retracted position and a light-emitting position at which a light emitter faces a direction different from an image-capturing direction toward an object, and a moving mechanism to rotate the light-emitting unit about a rotation center axis not parallel to the image-capturing direction to move the light-emitting unit between the retracted and light-emitting positions. The moving mechanism is configured such that, at the retracted position, the light emitter is located on an object side further than the rotation center axis located at a first position, and such that, at the light-emitting position, the rotation center axis is located at a second position located on the object side further than the first position. The moving mechanism includes a stopper portion provided to stop the rotation center axis at the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shoma Mizutani