Patents by Inventor Takamitsu Kouchi
Takamitsu Kouchi 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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Patent number: 7440693Abstract: In order to grasp an image capturing range, an image monitor is used for recognizing the range. A camera device of the present invention has a configuration that, depending on the shape and position of a shield unit that limits a range where a display lamp is visible, the range where the display lamp is visible is limited, and by making the range where the display lamp is visible and the angle of view of the camera coincident with each other, a subject can recognize to be within the image capturing angle of view during an image capturing process when the subject is in a range where the display lamp is visible and, also, can recognize to be out of the image capturing angle of view when the subject is located at a position where the display lamp is invisible.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2005Date of Patent: October 21, 2008Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takamitsu Kouchi, Kazumi Teratani, Hirofumi Takemasa
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Patent number: 7380996Abstract: A camera platform for installing a camera in the inside of an automobile is designed in such a manner that even when a camera is rotated to capture rearward images, the camera does not interfere with a room mirror. Since the shaft of a rotation portion is divided into a rotation shaft and a ball shaft, an arm part of the camera platform is rotated without the necessity of rotating the camera main body in the vicinity of the room mirror, so that it becomes possible to carry out rearward image capturing operations. Moreover, since the rotation shaft of the arm part is designed to be offset from the camera attaching center line by 20 mm, it becomes possible to prevent a cable extending from above the camera from contacting with an arm attachment part of a mount, even when the camera is rotated.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2005Date of Patent: June 3, 2008Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takamitsu Kouchi, Kazumi Teratani, Hisao Kobayashi, Keiichi Teranishi
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Publication number: 20070063124Abstract: The invention provides an attachment unit for installing a video camera in various vehicles. This attachment unit prevents a mount from rotating together with an arm. The attachment unit includes a mount secured to a hook member for a sun visor, an arm attached to the mount, and an attachment table attached to a tip end of the arm. Herein, the arm is rotatable about a first vertical axis with respect to the mount. An attachment hole is formed in a base end of the mount, and includes a square main hole and irregularities each formed around the main hole. The attachment hole is formed into a shape such that fitting parts of various hook members are fitted thereinto.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2006Publication date: March 22, 2007Applicant: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takamitsu Kouchi, Akito Harada, Kazumi Teratani
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Publication number: 20060110155Abstract: A camera platform for installing a camera in the inside of an automobile is designed in such a manner that even when a camera is rotated to capture rearward images, the camera does not interfere with a room mirror. Since the shaft of a rotation portion is divided into a rotation shaft and a ball shaft, an arm part of the camera platform is rotated without the necessity of rotating the camera main body in the vicinity of the room mirror, so that it becomes possible to carry out rearward image capturing operations. Moreover, since the rotation shaft of the arm part is designed to be offset from the camera attaching center line by 20 mm, it becomes possible to prevent a cable extending from above the camera from contacting with an arm attachment part of a mount, even when the camera is rotated.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2005Publication date: May 25, 2006Applicant: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takamitsu Kouchi, Kazumi Teratani, Hisao Kobayashi, Keiichi Teranishi
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Publication number: 20060098974Abstract: In order to grasp an image capturing range, an image monitor is used for recognizing the range. A camera device of the present invention has a configuration that, depending on the shape and position of a shield unit that limits a range where a display lamp is visible, the range where the display lamp is visible is limited, and by making the range where the display lamp is visible and the angle of view of the camera coincident with each other, a subject can recognize to be within the image capturing angle of view during an image capturing process when the subject is in a range where the display lamp is visible and, also, can recognize to be out of the image capturing angle of view when the subject is located at a position where the display lamp is invisible.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2005Publication date: May 11, 2006Applicant: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takamitsu Kouchi, Kazumi Teratani, Hirofumi Takemasa
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Patent number: 6878887Abstract: A variable output device is mounted on a mounting unit with the operating shaft displaceable. An operating unit for transmitting the operation of the user to the operating shaft is mounted on the operating shaft relatively movably along the direction of the axis of the operating shaft, on the one hand, and in an operatively interlocked fashion along the direction of displacement of the operating shaft, on the other hand. A holding member is arranged in opposed relation with the mounting unit with the variable output device interposed therebetween. An elasticity applier urges the operating unit away from the variable output device. The holding member is provided with an operating hole. The holding member is arranged at a position in opposed relation with the mounting unit with the variable output device and the operating unit interposed therebetween.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2003Date of Patent: April 12, 2005Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Futoshi Amano, Takamitsu Kouchi, Hisao Kobayashi
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Publication number: 20040022534Abstract: A variable output device is mounted on a mounting unit with the operating shaft displaceable. An operating unit for transmitting the operation of the user to the operating shaft is mounted on the operating shaft relatively movably along the direction of the axis of the operating shaft, on the one hand, and in an operatively interlocked fashion along the direction of displacement of the operating shaft, on the other hand. A holding member is arranged in opposed relation with the mounting unit with the variable output device interposed therebetween. An elasticity applier urges the operating unit away from the variable output device. The holding member is provided with an operating hole. The holding member is arranged at a position in opposed relation with the mounting unit with the variable output device and the operating unit interposed therebetween.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 4, 2003Publication date: February 5, 2004Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.Inventors: Futoshi Amano, Takamitsu Kouchi, Hisao Kobayashi