Patents by Inventor Tomokazu Kihara

Tomokazu Kihara 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: 8118503
    Abstract: A base plate is elongate and an opening for a photographing optical path is configured close to one end in its longitudinal direction. A shutter blade is rotatably mounted to the blade-mounting shank of the base plate so that when the opening is fully opened, a part covering the opening is stored in the region of the base plate in the longitudinal direction. Another shutter blade is slidably mounted to the blade-mounting shank of the base plate so that when the opening is fully opened, a part covering the opening is stored in the region of the base plate in its lateral direction. Each of the shutter blades is constructed so that the reciprocating operation is performed by the driving pin of an electromagnetic actuator to open and to close the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Nidec Copal Corporation
    Inventors: Tomokazu Kihara, Nobuaki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7922403
    Abstract: A blade driving apparatus for cameras includes a base plate having an aperture section for a photographing optical path; a partition plate having an aperture section for the photographing optical path so that a blade chamber is interposed between the base plate and the partition plate; a cover frame having an actuator chamber between the partition plate and the cover frame; a permanent magnet rotor rotatably mounted on the cover frame so that an output pin is introduced into the blade chamber; a yoke in which tops of two legs constructed as magnetic pole sections are opposite to the peripheral surface of the rotor in the actuator chamber and one of the two legs is fitted into a bobbin around which a coil is wound; and at least one blade rotatably mounted to a shank for at least one blade which is set upright on the cover frame and is introduced into the blade chamber, and introduced into, and removed from, the exposure aperture by the output pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Nidec Copal Corporation
    Inventor: Tomokazu Kihara
  • Publication number: 20100202770
    Abstract: A base plate is elongate and an opening for a photographing optical path is configured close to one end in its longitudinal direction. A shutter blade is rotatably mounted to the blade-mounting shank of the base plate so that when the opening is fully opened, a part covering the opening is stored in the region of the base plate in the longitudinal direction. Another shutter blade is slidably mounted to the blade-mounting shank of the base plate so that when the opening is fully opened, a part covering the opening is stored in the region of the base plate in its lateral direction. Each of the shutter blades is constructed so that the reciprocating operation is performed by the driving pin of an electromagnetic actuator to open and to close the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Inventors: Tomokazu Kihara, Nobuaki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7410310
    Abstract: A blade driving apparatus for cameras includes a base plate having an aperture for a photographing optical path; a cover plate having the aperture for the photographing optical path, provided with a blade chamber between the base plate and the cover plate; at least one blade rotatably mounted to the base plate in the blade chamber; and at least one electromagnetic driving source driving the blade. The electromagnetic driving source includes a rotor magnetized to have a plurality of magnetic poles at preset angles on its peripheral surface and having a driving pin for driving pin for driving the blade by its rotation, a yoke having a plurality of magnetic pole sections opposite to the peripheral surface of the rotor, and a coil wound through the yoke. At least, the rotor and the yoke are interposed between the base plate and the cover plate so that, at least, the rotor is rotatably mounted to the base plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Nidec Copal Corporation
    Inventor: Tomokazu Kihara
  • Publication number: 20070201866
    Abstract: A blade driving apparatus for cameras includes a base plate having an aperture section for a photographing optical path; a partition plate having an aperture section for the photographing optical path so that a blade chamber is interposed between the base plate and the partition plate; a cover frame having an actuator chamber between the partition plate and the cover frame; a permanent magnet rotor rotatably mounted on the cover frame so that an output pin is introduced into the blade chamber; a yoke in which tops of two legs constructed as magnetic pole sections are opposite to the peripheral surface of the rotor in the actuator chamber and one of the two legs is fitted into a bobbin around which a coil is wound; and at least one blade rotatably mounted to a shank for at least one blade which is set upright on the cover frame and is introduced into the blade chamber, and introduced into, and removed from, the exposure aperture by the output pin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2007
    Publication date: August 30, 2007
    Inventor: Tomokazu Kihara
  • Publication number: 20050286889
    Abstract: A blade driving apparatus for cameras includes a base plate having an aperture for a photographing optical path; a cover plate having the aperture for the photographing optical path, provided with a blade chamber between the base plate and the cover plate; at least one blade rotatably mounted to the base plate in the blade chamber; and at least one electromagnetic driving source driving the blade. The electromagnetic driving source includes a rotor magnetized to have a plurality of magnetic poles at preset angles on its peripheral surface and having a driving pin for driving pin for driving the blade by its rotation, a yoke having a plurality of magnetic pole sections opposite to the peripheral surface of the rotor, and a coil wound through the yoke. At least, the rotor and the yoke are interposed between the base plate and the cover plate so that, at least, the rotor is rotatably mounted to the base plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2005
    Publication date: December 29, 2005
    Inventor: Tomokazu Kihara
  • Patent number: 6585429
    Abstract: The camera shutter unit of the present invention is provided with a diaphragm blade arranged to be capable of moving between a stopping-down position wherein an aperture is stopped down, and an evacuating position wherein the aperture is opened. A shutter blade is arranged to be capable of moving between an opening position, wherein the aperture is opened, and a closing position, wherein the aperture is closed. A drive-control mechanism is provided for drive-controlling the shutter blade and the diaphragm blade. The drive-control mechanism has a single electromagnetic drive source, and a spring for restricting movement of the shutter blade toward the closing position when the diaphragm blade is positioned in the stopping-down position, and for releasing its restriction by a predetermined or more drive force generated by the electromagnetic drive source. Therefore, the unit can be of a small size and low in cost, and its reliability of function can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Nidec Copal Corporation
    Inventors: Daisuke Yaginuma, Nabuaki Watanabe, Tomokazu Kihara
  • Patent number: 6547457
    Abstract: The camera shutter unit of the present invention comprises a diaphragm blade arranged to be capable of moving between a stopping-down position wherein an aperture is stopped down, and an evacuating position wherein the aperture is opened. A shutter blade is arranged to be capable of moving between an opening position, wherein the aperture is opened, and a closing position, wherein the aperture is closed. A dive-control mechanism is provided for drive-controlling the shutter blade and the diaphragm blade. The drive-control mechanism has a single electromagnetic drive source, a spring for restricting movement of the shutter blade toward the closing position when the diaphragm blade is positioned in the stopping-down position, and for releasing its restriction by a predetermined or more drive force generated by the electromagnetic drive source, and a control means for controlling the electromagnetic drive source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Nidec Copal Corporation
    Inventors: Daisuke Yaginuma, Nobuaki Watanabe, Norihumi Ikeda, Tomokazu Kihara
  • Publication number: 20020037169
    Abstract: The camera shutter unit of the present invention comprises a diaphragm blade arranged to be capable of moving between a stopping-down position wherein an aperture is stopped down, and an evacuating position wherein the aperture is opened. A shutter blade is arranged to be capable of moving between an opening position, wherein the aperture is opened, and a closing position, wherein the aperture is closed. A drive-control mechanism is provided for drive-controlling the shutter blade and the diaphragm blade. The drive-control mechanism has a single electromagnetic (drive source, a spring for restricting movement of the shutter blade toward the closing position when the diaphragm blade is positioned in the stopping-down position, and for releasing its restriction by a predetermined or more drive force generated by the electromagnetic drive source, and a control means for controlling the electromagnetic drive source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2001
    Publication date: March 28, 2002
    Inventors: Daisuke Yaginuma, Nobuaki Watanabe, Norihumi Ikeda, Tomokazu Kihara
  • Publication number: 20010041074
    Abstract: The camera shutter unit of the present invention is provided with a diaphragm blade arranged to be capable of moving between a stopping-down position wherein an aperture is stopped down and an evacuating position wherein the aperture is opened, a shutter blade arranged to be capable of moving between an opening position wherein the aperture is opened and a dosing position wherein the aperture is closed, and a drive-control mechanism for drive-controlling the shutter blade and the diaphragm blade. The drive-control mechanism has a single electromagnetic drive source, and a spring for restricting movement of the shutter blade toward the closing position when the diaphragm blade is positioned in the stopping-down position and for releasing its restriction by a predetermined or more drive force generated by the electromagnetic drive source. Therefore, the unit can become small size and low in cost, and its reliability of function can be improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2001
    Publication date: November 15, 2001
    Applicant: Nidec Copal Corporation
    Inventors: Daisuke Yaginuma, Nabuaki Watanabe, Tomokazu Kihara