Patents by Inventor Tetsuya Uno

Tetsuya Uno 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: 20140211318
    Abstract: A lens barrel includes a rectilinear unit, a lens unit, and a light shielding member. The lens unit is arranged inside the rectilinear unit and is movable relative to the rectilinear unit in an optical axis direction. The light shielding member functions for light shielding between the rectilinear unit and the lens unit. The light shielding unit has a light shielding layer and a support layer. The shielding layer is fitted on a decoration frame of the lens unit and closes a gap defined between the rectilinear unit and the lens unit and extending in the optical axis direction. The support layer has a body bonded to the light shielding area. The body has at least one low rigidity portion. The low rigidity portion has rigidity lower than that of the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsuya UNO
  • Publication number: 20140204471
    Abstract: A lens barrel has a rotary frame, lens group frame, and shutter frame. The rotary frame has first and second cam grooves respectively on inner and outer peripheries as viewed in a radial direction. A first cam follower of the lens group frame and a second cam follower of the shutter frame are respectively engaged with the first and second grooves. A radial direction size the rotary frame is smaller than a sum of depths of the first and second grooves. The rotary frame includes a first region W1 only with the first groove, a region W0 with first and second grooves, and a region W2 only with the second groove. Positions of the first and second followers differ in a circumferential direction. At least one of the first and second followers has a non-contact portion not contacting with a groove wall of the corresponding groove in the region W0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsuya UNO
  • Patent number: 8780468
    Abstract: A lens barrel is provided that includes an optical system, a housing, a cover member, an electronic part, a flexible substrate. The optical system is configured to form an optical image of a subject. The housing supports the optical system in an interior. The cover member supports the housing in a state of covering an opening of the housing. The electronic part is provided in the interior of the housing. The flexible substrate is electrically connected to the electronic part. The flexible substrate has a connection terminal. The cover member has a through-hole formed in a specific direction. The connection terminal is positioned on inside of the through-hole when viewed in the specific direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Nakada, Tetsuya Uno
  • Patent number: 8780456
    Abstract: A lens barrel of the present invention includes: a fixing frame having a plurality of cam grooves that are formed an inner circumferential surface of the fixing frame and also having a protrusion provided between any adjacent two of the cam grooves among a plurality of the cam grooves; and a drive frame having cam followers that are provided to an outer circumferential surface of drive frame, are engaged with the cam grooves, and are movable along the cam grooves. With this configuration, when an external force is applied to the drive frame, an end portion of the drive frame comes into contact with the protrusion to prevent the cam followers from coming out of the cam grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Fumio Shinano, Tetsuya Uno, Norihiko Saka, Kazuaki Matsui
  • Publication number: 20140185149
    Abstract: A lend barrel includes a first frame having a cam follower and a second frame having a cam engaged with the cam follower. The cam includes a first section extending in a rotational direction of the second frame, a second section continued with the first section and inclined to the rotational direction of the second frame, and a third section continued with the first section on a side opposite of the second section to the first section and inclined to the rotational direction. The cam follower includes a first surface arranged to face the first section of the cam, a second surface continuously formed with the first surface and inclined to the rotational direction, and a third surface continuously formed with the first surface on a side opposite of the second surface to the first surface and inclined to the rotational direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsuya UNO
  • Publication number: 20140168795
    Abstract: A lens barrel includes an optical system including a first lens group having at least one lens; a cam frame including a first cam groove; and a first movable frame including a first cam follower engaged with the first cam groove. When the first movable frame relatively rotates with respect to the cam frame, the first movable frame relatively moves with respect to the cam frame in an optical axis direction together with the first lens group. A region of the first cam groove, through which the first cam follower passes when a focal distance of the optical system is changed from a wide-angle end to a tele end includes first and second regions adjacent to each other. The first region has a groove width narrower than that of the second region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Takumi KUWAHARA, Tetsuya UNO
  • Patent number: 8699148
    Abstract: A lens barrel includes an optical system including a first lens group having at least one lens; a cam frame including a first cam groove; and a first movable frame including a first cam follower engaged with the first cam groove. When the first movable frame relatively rotates with respect to the cam frame, the first movable frame relatively moves with respect to the cam frame in an optical axis direction together with the first lens group. A region of the first cam groove, through which the first cam follower passes when a focal distance of the optical system is changed from a wide-angle end to a tele end includes first and second regions adjacent to each other. The first region has a groove width narrower than that of the second region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Takumi Kuwahara, Tetsuya Uno
  • Patent number: 8665535
    Abstract: A lens barrel includes a first support frame and a second support frame. The first support frame has a cam groove. The second support frame has an annular main body with a cam follower that extends outwardly in a radial direction. The cam follower is slidably disposed in the cam groove and has a first cam portion, a second cam portion and a connecting portion. The second cam portion is aligned with the first cam portion along the circumferential direction of the main body. The connecting portion connects the first cam portion and the second cam portion to create a space between the connecting portion and the cam groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Fumio Shinano, Tetsuya Uno, Koichiro Hirabayashi, Akio Konishi
  • Patent number: 8622785
    Abstract: A method of turning the surface of a die, which is used to make a product, into an antireflective roughened one includes the steps of: a) producing a first roughness on the surface of the die; and b) producing a second roughness, which is smaller than the first roughness, on the surface of the die on which the first roughness has already been produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Koichiro Hirabayashi, Tetsuya Uno, Kazutake Boku, Takayuki Kawamura
  • Publication number: 20130342917
    Abstract: A lens barrel of the present invention includes: a fixing frame having a plurality of cam grooves that are formed an inner circumferential surface of the fixing frame and also having a protrusion provided between any adjacent two of the cam grooves among a plurality of the cam grooves; and a drive frame having cam followers that are provided to an outer circumferential surface of drive frame, are engaged with the cam grooves, and are movable along the cam grooves. With this configuration, when an external force is applied to the drive frame, an end portion of the drive frame comes into contact with the protrusion to prevent the cam followers from coming out of the cam grooves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Fumio SHINANO, Tetsuya UNO, Norihiko SAKA, Kazuaki MATSUI
  • Publication number: 20130314802
    Abstract: A lens barrel includes a first frame and a second frame. The first frame includes a plurality of cam grooves. The second frame includes a plurality of cam followers that engage with each of the plurality of cam grooves, and a gear portion. In this case, if rotational force is transmitted to the gear portion, the second frame moves in the optical axis direction while rotating with respect to the first frame. At least one of the plurality of cam followers is disposed on the image plane side of the gear portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuya UNO, Hiroyasu FUJINAKA
  • Publication number: 20130308214
    Abstract: A lens barrel comprises an outer frame and an inner frame. The lens barrel has a first state, a second state, and a third state during operation in which the outer frame and the inner frame rotate relatively. In the first state, a first cam follower is guided by a first cam. In the second state, the first cam follower is guided by the first cam, and a second cam follower is guided by a second cam. In the third state, the second cam follower is guided by the second cam. In the third state, at least part of the first cam follower enters a space formed by a recess portion or a hole portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuya UNO, Hiroyasu FUJINAKA
  • Publication number: 20130308205
    Abstract: This lens barrel includes a first frame, a second frame, a third frame, an annular portion, and a bayonet portion. The bayonet portion protrudes to both sides beyond the width of the rectilinear guide portion in the peripheral direction, and is divided by a plurality of slits. The bayonet portion is supported on the second frame at two or more places including both sides of the rectilinear guide portion in the peripheral direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: TETSUYA UNO
  • Publication number: 20130308202
    Abstract: A lens barrel comprises a first frame, a barrier mechanism, and a second frame. The barrier mechanism is fixed to the first frame and blocks an opening. The second frame uses a cam mechanism to guide the first frame in the optical axis direction. The second frame has a cylindrical cam mechanism part that constitutes a cam mechanism. The cam mechanism part is provided with a thin-wall part that is partially thinner in the radial direction. A fixing portion of the barrier mechanism goes into spaces between the thin-wall part and the first frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuya UNO, Hiroyasu Fujinaka, Wataru Yamazaki
  • Publication number: 20130308215
    Abstract: The lens barrel comprises a drive frame, a guide frame, and a moving frame. The moving frame includes a moving frame main body, a second cam mechanism portion, and a guide protrusion. The moving frame main body is configured to move between the drive frame and the guide frame. The second cam mechanism portion is configured to be accommodated in the first accommodation portion of the drive frame and engage to the first cam mechanism portion of the drive frame. The guide protrusion is configured to be accommodated in the second accommodation portion of the drive frame and engage to the guide groove of the guide frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuya Uno, Fumio Shinano
  • Publication number: 20130308203
    Abstract: The lens barrel includes a moving frame, a drive frame, and a rectilinear guide frame. The drive frame includes a cam mechanism and guides the moving frame in the optical axis direction with the cam mechanism. The rectilinear guide frame supports the moving frame so that the moving frame moves in the optical axis direction but doesn't rotate. The drive frame includes a rotary guide portion. The rotary guide portion supports the rectilinear guide frame so that the rectilinear guide frame rotates with relative to the cam mechanism and doesn't move relatively in the optical axis direction. The rotary guide portion is disposed on the outer peripheral side of the cam mechanism and on the outer peripheral side of the moving frame. A holding space is formed between the cam mechanism and the rotary guide portion. Part of the moving frame is inserted into the holding space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: TETSUYA UNO
  • Publication number: 20130258507
    Abstract: A lens barrel includes an optical system for forming an optical image of an object, a first tube for supporting at least one lens included in the optical system, and a second tube disposed inside or outside the first tube. The first tube includes first cam grooves in the side surface thereof on which the second tube is disposed. The second tube includes first cam followers that engage with the first cam grooves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: TETSUYA UNO, TAKUMI KUWAHARA
  • Patent number: 8547647
    Abstract: A lens barrel of the present invention includes: a fixing frame having a plurality of cam grooves that are formed an inner circumferential surface of the fixing frame and also having a protrusion provided between any adjacent two of the cam grooves among a plurality of the cam grooves; and a drive frame having cam followers that are provided to an outer circumferential surface of drive frame, are engaged with the cam grooves, and are movable along the cam grooves. With this configuration, when an external force is applied to the drive frame, an end portion of the drive frame comes into contact with the protrusion to prevent the cam followers from coming out of the cam grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Fumio Shinano, Tetsuya Uno, Norihiko Saka, Kazuaki Matsui
  • Patent number: 8526122
    Abstract: A lens barrel includes a zoom optical system in which a focal distance is changeable; a first group frame moving together with the first lens group; and first and second cam mechanisms transmitting drive force to the first group frame. In a zoom region, each of a first group cam groove and a cam slot includes a first section, a second section which adjoins the first section and has an absolute value of a gradient smaller than that of the first section, and the third section which adjoins the second section and has the absolute value of the gradient larger than that of the second section, and in which a sign of the gradient is the same as that of the first section. A distance from an imaging surface to the first group frame in the optical axis direction has a local minimum in the second section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyasu Fujinaka, Tetsuya Uno
  • Patent number: 8508867
    Abstract: A lens barrel includes an optical imaging system having an optical axis and forming an optical image of an object. The lens barrel further includes a frame including a wall extending in the optical axis direction; an electronic component provided in the frame; and a flexible cable electrically connected to the electronic component. An opening is formed in the wall. The flexible cable covers at least a part of the opening to block a light passage through the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Takumi Kuwahara, Tetsuya Uno