Patents by Inventor Tomokazu Suzuki

Tomokazu Suzuki 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: 20160306228
    Abstract: A display device includes a display portion, a light source, and a reflector. The reflector reflects light from the light source. The reflector has a rectangular bottom part, first and second peripheral parts that partially extend from first opposing sides of the bottom part, and third and fourth peripheral parts that extend from second opposing sides of the bottom part that are adjacent to the first opposing sides. The first and second peripheral parts and the third and fourth peripheral parts have overlapping regions that overlap each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Inventors: Tomokazu SUZUKI, Makoto NAMEDA
  • Patent number: 9423095
    Abstract: A vehicular lamp includes a light source, a cooling fan configured to cool the light source, a light source power supply module configured to drive the light source for emission of light, and a control module configured to execute an abnormal rotation detection of the cooling fan and to control the light source power supply module so that the quantity of light emitted from the light source is reduced in response to a detection of abnormal rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazushi Yoshikawa, Tomokazu Suzuki, Takanori Namba, Toshiyuki Tsuchiya, Masato Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9389459
    Abstract: A display device includes a display panel, a light source, and a reflective sheet. The reflective sheet includes a four-sided bottom face part with two pairs of mutually opposing sides, a first peripheral portion extending from one of the sides, and a second peripheral portion with a first section extending from adjacent one of the sides and a second section extending from the first section. The first peripheral portion and the second section of the second peripheral portion partially overlap with each other at a location between ends of the one of the sides to form one of side face parts of the reflective sheet. The second peripheral portion forms adjacent one of the side face parts of the reflective sheet that is adjacent to the one of the side face parts of the reflective sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: FUNAI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomokazu Suzuki, Makoto Nameda
  • Patent number: 9345075
    Abstract: An object of the present disclosure is to reduce a failure rate due to a prolonged life span of a cooling fan while maintaining a satisfactory heat dissipating performance. When a signal indicating a first light-up state is input, a control unit sets a current value of an output current to a predetermined value such that a cooling fan is rotated at a predetermined rotation speed, and when a signal indicating a second light-up state is input, the control unit lowers the current value of the output current to a value lower than the predetermined value such that the rotation speed of the cooling fan is lower than the predetermined rotation speed. Therefore, the life span of the cooling fan may be prolonged while maintaining the satisfactory heat dissipating performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuhiko Yamamichi, Tomokazu Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9221389
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp includes a light source (LED) 2, a solenoid-type actuator 6, and a lamp control device LC. The light source 2 lights up when a current flows therethrough. The actuator 6 controls a light distribution of light that is illuminated from the light source 2. The lamp control device LC controls lighting-up of the light source 2 and driving of the actuator 6. The lamp control device LC includes a current control device 10 and an actuator control device 20. The current control device 10 outputs a constant current. The actuator control device 20 connects the actuator 6 to the light source 2 in series based on a predetermined signal so that the constant current, which is output from the current control device 10, flows through the light source 2 and the actuator 6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroki Shibata, Shoichiro Yokoi, Tomokazu Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20150138759
    Abstract: This display device includes a display portion, a light-emitting element emitting light to the display portion, a light-emitting element substrate (62) mounted with the light-emitting element, a supporting member (63) supporting the light-emitting element substrate (62), and a diffusing lens (64) provided to cover the light-emitting element, diffusing the light from the light-emitting element. The diffusing lens (64) integrally includes a first engaging portion (64a) configured to mount the diffusing lens (64) on the light-emitting element substrate (62) or the supporting member (63) and a first positioning portion (64b) provided separately from the first engaging portion (64a), configured to position the diffusing lens (64).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Makoto Nameda, Tomokazu Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20150055350
    Abstract: An illumination device that includes a substrate; a light-emitting diode (LED) disposed on the substrate; and a lens that faces the LED and widens a light-distribution angle of light emitted from the LED. The lens includes a plurality of legs adhered to the substrate by an adhesive, and each of the plurality of legs includes a contact surface that is curved in a convex shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventors: Tomokazu Suzuki, Noritaka Tanabe, Makoto Nameda
  • Publication number: 20150055059
    Abstract: A display device includes a display panel, a light source, and a reflective sheet. The reflective sheet includes a four-sided bottom face part with two pairs of mutually opposing sides, a first peripheral portion extending from one of the sides, and a second peripheral portion with a first section extending from adjacent one of the sides and a second section extending from the first section. The first peripheral portion and the second section of the second peripheral portion partially overlap with each other at a location between ends of the one of the sides to form one of side face parts of the reflective sheet. The second peripheral portion forms adjacent one of the side face parts of the reflective sheet that is adjacent to the one of the side face parts of the reflective sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventors: Tomokazu SUZUKI, Makoto NAMEDA
  • Publication number: 20150049508
    Abstract: A display device includes a display unit, a light source disposed on a back surface side of the display unit and that irradiates light to the display unit, an optical member disposed between the display unit and the light source, and a support member disposed so that the light irradiated from the light source is incident to a side surface of the support member and so that the light incident to the side surface is transmitted through the support member. The support member supports the optical member from a back surface side of the optical member, and the support member includes an entrance portion comprising an inclined surface that refracts the light incident to the side surface and a light guide portion that guides the light refracted at the inclined surface to an optical member side of the support member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2014
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventors: Tomokazu Suzuki, Makoto Nameda
  • Publication number: 20150049280
    Abstract: A display device includes a display unit, a light source disposed on a back surface side of the display unit and that irradiate light to the display unit, an optical member disposed between the display unit and the light source, and a support member that transmits light irradiated from the light source and supports the optical member. The support member includes a first surface and a second surface and is disposed so that the first surface faces the light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventors: Tomokazu Suzuki, Makoto Nameda
  • Publication number: 20150022084
    Abstract: A vehicular headlamp has a light source portion that provides a low beam lighting mode, a high beam lighting mode, and a dimming lighting mode, a light source power supply portion that supplies to the light source portion a lighting current having a current value according to lighting mode, a light distribution mechanism portion that switches light distribution of illumination light by the light source portion according to the lighting mode, and a control portion that, at least in the dimming lighting mode, causes the light source power supply portion to supply lighting current having a second current value lower than a first current value for the low beam lighting mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventor: Tomokazu Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20140361685
    Abstract: An object of the present disclosure is to reduce a failure rate due to a prolonged life span of a cooling fan while maintaining a satisfactory heat dissipating performance When a signal indicating a first light-up state is input, a control unit sets a current value of an output current to a predetermined value such that a cooling fan is rotated at a predetermined rotation speed, and when a signal indicating a second light-up state is input, the control unit lowers the current value of the output current to a value lower than the predetermined value such that the rotation speed of the cooling fan is lower than the predetermined rotation speed. Therefore, the life span of the cooling fan may be prolonged while maintaining the satisfactory heat dissipating performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventors: Tatsuhiko YAMAMICHI, Tomokazu SUZUKI
  • Publication number: 20140241001
    Abstract: A vehicular lamp includes a light source, a cooling fan configured to cool the light source, a light source power supply module configured to drive the light source for emission of light, and a control module configured to execute an abnormal rotation detection of the cooling fan and to control the light source power supply module so that the quantity of light emitted from the light source is reduced in response to a detection of abnormal rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazushi YOSHIKAWA, Tomokazu SUZUKI, Takanori NAMBA, Toshiyuki TSUCHIYA, Masato WATANABE
  • Publication number: 20140015410
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp includes a light source (LED) 2, a solenoid-type actuator 6, and a lamp control device LC. The light source 2 lights up when a current flows therethrough. The actuator 6 controls a light distribution of light that is illuminated from the light source 2. The lamp control device LC controls lighting-up of the light source 2 and driving of the actuator 6. The lamp control device LC includes a current control device 10 and an actuator control device 20. The current control device 10 outputs a constant current. The actuator control device 20 connects the actuator 6 to the light source 2 in series based on a predetermined signal so that the constant current, which is output from the current control device 10, flows through the light source 2 and the actuator 6.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Inventors: Hiroki SHIBATA, Shoichiro YOKOI, Tomokazu SUZUKI
  • Patent number: 8164270
    Abstract: A discharge lamp lighting circuit is capable of preventing the discharge lamp from going out unexpectedly. The discharge lamp lighting circuit includes a DC-AC inverter which receives a power source voltage, boosts and converts the power source voltage into AC and supplies AC electric power to the discharge lamp 21. A control circuit sends a long cycle signal when the discharge lamp 21 is started. The cycle of the long cycle signal is longer than a frequency at the time of steady lighting. The control circuit sends a steady drive signal, which is a frequency at the time of steady lighting, to the DC-AC inverter 25. A cycle of the long cycle signal is set according to at least one of the power source voltage, the temperature of the discharge lamp lighting circuit or the extinguishing time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomokazu Suzuki, Tomoyuki Ichikawa
  • Publication number: 20090195176
    Abstract: A discharge lamp lighting circuit is capable of preventing the discharge lamp from going out unexpectedly. The discharge lamp lighting circuit includes a DC-AC inverter which receives a power source voltage, boosts and converts the power source voltage into AC and supplies AC electric power to the discharge lamp 21. A control circuit sends a long cycle signal when the discharge lamp 21 is started. The cycle of the long cycle signal is longer than a frequency at the time of steady lighting. The control circuit sends a steady drive signal, which is a frequency at the time of steady lighting, to the DC-AC inverter 25. A cycle of the long cycle signal is set according to at least one of the power source voltage, the temperature of the discharge lamp lighting circuit or the extinguishing time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2009
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Applicant: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomokazu Suzuki, Tomoyuki Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 7425777
    Abstract: A lighting circuit includes a DC/DC converting circuit for boosting an input DC voltage so as to produce boosted DC power, a detecting circuit for producing a detection signal in response to the output voltage of the DC/DC converting circuit, a DC/AC converting circuit for producing AC power to be supplied to the discharge tube from the boosted DC power, a starting circuit for starting up the discharge tube, and a control circuit for receiving the detection signal from the detecting circuit. The control circuit contains a capacitor which is charged based upon the detection signal, a first discharging unit for discharging the capacitor, a second discharging unit for providing a discharging path for the capacitor in response to turning-OFF of the input DC voltage, and a signal producing unit for producing a control signal used to adjust the output of the DC/DC converting circuit in response to a terminal voltage of the capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomokazu Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7271544
    Abstract: In a lighting apparatus for an illumination light source (discharge lamp or the like), a fly-back type DC-DC converter circuit comprises a transformer and a switching element. A control circuit is provided for controlling power supplied to the illumination light source, such that operation is controlled in a current boundary mode by a control signal sent from the control circuit to the switching element. A fluctuation generator circuit is provided for giving fluctuations to a frequency at which the switching element is driven by changing the power supplied to the illumination light source with reference to a target power value associated with the power control for the illumination light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Ichikawa, Tomokazu Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20070164689
    Abstract: A lighting circuit includes a DC/DC converting circuit for boosting an input DC voltage so as to produce boosted DC power, a detecting circuit for producing a detection signal in response to the output voltage of the DC/DC converting circuit, a DC/AC converting circuit for producing AC power to be supplied to the discharge tube from the boosted DC power, a starting circuit for starting up the discharge tube, and a control circuit for receiving the detection signal from the detecting circuit. The control circuit contains a capacitor which is charged based upon the detection signal, a first discharging unit for discharging the capacitor, a second discharging unit for providing a discharging path for the capacitor in response to turning-OFF of the input DC voltage, and a signal producing unit for producing a control signal used to adjust the output of the DC/DC converting circuit in response to a terminal voltage of the capacitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2007
    Publication date: July 19, 2007
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tomokazu Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20060192648
    Abstract: A transformer is comprised of an inner peripheral bobbin, an outer peripheral bobbin which is arranged in a coaxial manner with respect to the inner peripheral bobbin, an outer case which covers both the inner peripheral bobbin and the outer peripheral bobbin, and a position holding spacer which is interposed between the inner peripheral bobbin and the outer peripheral bobbin, in which the position holding spacer supports both the outer peripheral bobbin and the inner peripheral bobbin, so that the outer peripheral bobbin is not contacted with respect to both the inner peripheral bobbin and the outer case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2006
    Publication date: August 31, 2006
    Inventor: Tomokazu Suzuki