Patents by Inventor Toshinori Sugiyama

Toshinori Sugiyama 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: 20200201043
    Abstract: The light source apparatus has: a light source unit including a plurality of semiconductor light source elements; a collimator including a plurality of collimator elements, each of the plural collimator elements being disposed on a light emission axis of each of the plural semiconductor light source elements; a polarization conversion element disposed on an emission side of the collimator; and a light guide disposed on an emission side of the polarization conversion element, the plural semiconductor light source elements and the plural collimator elements are arranged in a first direction orthogonal to the light emission axis, and the polarization conversion element extends in the first direction, and includes a polarizing beam splitter and a phase plate, which are arranged at symmetrical positions with respect to a plane formed by the first direction and a second direction corresponding to the light emission axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Inventors: Toshinori SUGIYAMA, Koji HIRATA, Masahiko YATSU, Yasuhiko KUNII, Kazuomi KANEKO
  • Publication number: 20200201037
    Abstract: The information display apparatus has a housing with an opening and a transparent cover formed on the opening, the housing includes image-light generating means configured to generate image light that displays the image information and an optical system configured to allow a driver of the vehicle to recognize image information based on the image light from the image-light generating means as a virtual image in front of the windshield. When S-polarized light on the windshield is assumed to be a first polarized wave while polarized light that orthogonally crosses the S-polarized light in a polarizing direction is assumed to be a second polarized wave, the image-light generating means is configured to generate the image light made of the first polarized wave, and a transmittance/reflectance control means blocks a part of the first polarized wave and the second polarized wave of incident external light entering the housing from the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2018
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Inventors: Tomoki YAMAMOTO, Toshinori SUGIYAMA, Koji HIRATA, Masahiko YATSU
  • Patent number: 10690311
    Abstract: A vehicle headlight device attached to a part of a vehicle and configured to apply illumination light to a road surface on which the vehicle runs comprises: a light source device configured to Generate the illumination light; an optical unit disposed on a light axis of the light source device and configured to project the illumination light from the light source device so as to form a desired light distribution; and a polarization direction conversion device disposed in a part of a light path between the light source device and the optical unit and being able to control the illumination light from the light source device with inclusion of conversion of a polarization direction thereof for each irradiation region in accordance with a state of a position irradiated with the illumination light on the road surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Maxell, Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Hirata, Toshinori Sugiyama, Yasuhiko Kunii
  • Publication number: 20200189448
    Abstract: An image projection apparatus that can be attached to a vehicle and can be effectively utilized for acquisition of road surface condition information, detection of a hidden vehicle, and the like is provided. The image projection apparatus that projects an image includes: an acquisition unit that acquires information related to a vehicle; an image projection unit that projects an image based on the information acquired by the acquisition unit; and imaging means that acquires an image outside the vehicle, the image projection unit projects light in a wavelength band centered on a wavelength of 1.4 ?m and the imaging means provides the information related to the vehicle by imaging an image projected based on the light in the wavelength band centered on the wavelength of 1.4 ?m.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Yasuhiko KUNII, Toshinori SUGIYAMA, Takuya SHIMIZU
  • Publication number: 20200189363
    Abstract: A HUD device and an image display apparatus for solving a problem that a HUD image cannot be seen in a HUD device that displays a virtual image when wearing the sunglasses having polarization function are provided. A head up display device for a vehicle is provided with an image display apparatus configured to project an image onto a windshield or a combiner by polarized light and means of converting polarization of polarized light of the image projected from the image display apparatus, the means being provided on a part of a light path from the image display apparatus to the windshield or the combiner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Toshinori SUGIYAMA, Koji HIRATA, Yasuhiko KUNII, Masahiko YATSU, Kazuomi KANEKO
  • Patent number: 10670864
    Abstract: Provided is a small-sized information display device displaying video image information as a virtual image by use of an eyepiece optical system including a concave mirror having desired reflection characteristics in a specific polarization direction, where a liquid crystal display panel is used as a video image light source. The information display device has a liquid crystal display panel as a flat display forming video image information disposed therein, and includes a virtual image optical system including a member to be projected for displaying virtual images in front of a vehicle by making a video image displayed on the liquid crystal display panel reflect on the member to be projected. The virtual image optical system includes a concave mirror, and a reflective film of the concave mirror has desired reflection characteristics in a specific polarization direction, so that virtual images having uniform brightness and chromaticity can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignees: MAXELL, LTD., HITACHI INDUSTRY & CONTROL SOLUTIONS, LTD.
    Inventors: Koji Hirata, Masahiko Yatsu, Toshinori Sugiyama, Hiroyuki Kajikawa, Kazuomi Kaneko
  • Patent number: 10661706
    Abstract: An optical device for displaying a condensing mark includes a light source, and an optical element for condensing light emitted from the light source onto an irradiated surface. The deflection surface of the optical element is divided into a plurality of regions. The light emitted through the respective regions on the deflection surface of the optical element forms partial irradiation images corresponding to the respective regions on the deflection surface of the irradiated surface. The respective partial irradiation images are combined into at least one condensing mark on the irradiated surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: MAXELL, LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiro Kishigami, Toshinori Sugiyama, Yasuhiko Kunii, Yuji Tsuchiya, Go Shimizu, Masayoshi Takori, Ryuya Kawaji
  • Publication number: 20200159013
    Abstract: A head up display apparatus configured to display a virtual image corresponding to video to a driver by projecting the video onto a windshield of a vehicle, includes: a video display apparatus including an LED light source and a display element, the video display apparatus being configured to form the video on the display element; and a virtual image optical system configured to cause light emitted from the video display apparatus to be reflected by the windshield to display the virtual image in front of the vehicle. The virtual image optical system includes a concave mirror and an optical element, and a freeform surface of the concave mirror is set so that an optical axis of video light traveling from the concave mirror toward the windshield is inclined in a horizontal direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventors: Koji HIRATA, Masahiko YATSU, Toshinori SUGIYAMA, Kazuomi KANEKO
  • Patent number: 10647248
    Abstract: Information related to a vehicle can be displayed by projecting an image based on the information on a road surface or the like. An image projection apparatus that projects an image includes: an acquisition unit that acquires information to be displayed; and an image projection unit that projects the image based on the information to be displayed acquired by the acquisition unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: MAXELL, LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Kunii, Nobuyuki Kaku, Toshinori Sugiyama, Hiroyuki Nakamura, Hiroshi Chiba, Masahiro Kishigami, Hiroyuki Kajikawa, Chohei Ono, Megumi Kurachi, Noriaki Harada
  • Patent number: 10611296
    Abstract: An image projection apparatus that can be attached to a vehicle and can be effectively utilized for acquisition of road surface condition information, detection of a hidden vehicle, and the like is provided. The image projection apparatus that projects an image includes: an acquisition unit that acquires information related to a vehicle; an image projection unit that projects an image based on the information acquired by the acquisition unit; and imaging means that acquires an image outside the vehicle, the image projection unit projects light in a wavelength band centered on a wavelength of 1.4 ?m, and the imaging means provides the information related to the vehicle by imaging an image projected based on the light in the wavelength band centered on the wavelength of 1.4 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: MAXELL, LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Kunii, Toshinori Sugiyama, Takuya Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20200011501
    Abstract: A vehicle headlight apparatus, on a vehicle applies illumination light to a road surface, comprises: a light source device to generate the illumination light; and a lens on a light axis of the light source device and projects the illumination light from the light source device to form a desired light distribution, wherein the light source device includes: one or more semiconductor light source elements to emit light; a collimator unit having one or more collimators disposed on a light emission axis of each of the semiconductor light source elements and converts light emitted from a solid light source into substantially parallel light; and a polarization conversion element provided on an emission surface side of the collimator unit and converts incident light into predetermined polarized light, and the illumination light emitted from the polarization conversion element of the light source device is applied in a predetermined direction through the lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2018
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Applicant: Maxell, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiko KUNII, Toshinori SUGIYAMA, Koji HIRATA
  • Publication number: 20190390836
    Abstract: A vehicle headlight device attached to a part of a vehicle and configured to apply illumination light to a road surface on which the vehicle runs comprises: a light source device configured to Generate the illumination light; an optical unit disposed on a light axis of the light source device and configured to project the illumination light from the light source device so as to form a desired light distribution; and a polarization direction conversion device disposed in a part of a light path between the light source device and the optical unit and being able to control the illumination light from the light source device with inclusion of conversion of a polarization direction thereof for each irradiation region in accordance with a state of a position irradiated with the illumination light on the road surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Applicant: MAXELL, LTD.
    Inventors: Koji HIRATA, Toshinori SUGIYAMA, Yasuhiko KUNII
  • Publication number: 20190351820
    Abstract: An image projection apparatus that can be attached to a vehicle and can be effectively utilized for acquisition of road surface condition information, detection of a hidden vehicle, and the like is provided. The image projection apparatus that projects an image includes: an acquisition unit that acquires information related to a vehicle; an image projection unit that projects an image based on the information acquired by the acquisition unit; and imaging means that acquires an image outside the vehicle, the image projection unit projects light in a wavelength band centered on a wavelength of 1.4 ?m, and the imaging means provides the information related to the vehicle by imaging an image projected based on the light in the wavelength band centered on the wavelength of 1.4 ?m.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2019
    Publication date: November 21, 2019
    Applicant: MAXELL, LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuhiko KUNII, Toshinori SUGIYAMA, Takuya SHIMIZU
  • Publication number: 20190346676
    Abstract: Provided is an information display apparatus that significantly improves light resistance with respect to sunlight. The information display apparatus, which displays video-image information on a projection surface by a virtual image, includes in a housing partly having an opening: a video-image-light generator that generates video-image light for displaying the video-image information; a video-image-light processor that performs a predetermined optical processing to a video image generated by the video-image-light generator; and a projector that projects, onto the projection surface through the opening of the housing, the video-image light optically processed by the video-image-light processor so that a viewer is capable of virtually recognizing the video-image information as a virtual image in front of the projection surface, wherein a light path in the housing is provided with a suppressor selectively suppressing a P-polarizing component of light in a visible light region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Publication date: November 14, 2019
    Inventors: Koji HIRATA, Masahiko YATSU, Toshinori SUGIYAMA, Akio MISAWA, Shigeki HOSHINO, Kazuomi KANEKO, Tatsuya NAKAZAWA, Takumi NAKADA, Yuki NAGANO, Tomoki YAMAMOTO
  • Patent number: 10457199
    Abstract: Information related to a vehicle can be displayed by projecting an image based on the information on a road surface or the like. An image projection apparatus that projects an image includes: an acquisition unit that acquires information to be displayed; and an image projection unit that projects the image based on the information to be displayed acquired by the acquisition unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: MAXELL, LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Kunii, Nobuyuki Kaku, Toshinori Sugiyama, Hiroyuki Nakamura, Hiroshi Chiba, Masahiro Kishigami, Hiroyuki Kajikawa, Chohei Ono, Megumi Kurachi, Noriaki Harada
  • Publication number: 20190322209
    Abstract: Each of a road sign projector and a vehicle lamp operates in an assumed usage temperature of a car, and has reduced power consumption and reduced device cost. A road sign projector displays images onto a plurality of regions of a road surface. The road sign projector includes: shades each configured to shape image projection light into a predetermined shape corresponding to the image for each of the regions; and projection lenses corresponding to the regions. The projection lenses are different from one another in at least a focal length and axial inclination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2019
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Applicants: MAXELL, LTD., HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshinori SUGIYAMA, Yasuhiko KUNII, Koji HIRATA, Masahiro KISHIGAMI, Yuji TSUCHIYA, Go SHIMIZU, Masayoshi TAKORI, Ryuya KAWAJI
  • Publication number: 20190315269
    Abstract: An optical device for displaying a condensing mark includes a light source, and an optical element for condensing light emitted from the light source onto an irradiated surface. The deflection surface of the optical element is divided into a plurality of regions. The light emitted through the respective regions on the deflection surface of the optical element forms partial irradiation images corresponding to the respective regions on the deflection surface of the irradiated surface. The respective partial irradiation images are combined into at least one condensing mark on the irradiated surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Publication date: October 17, 2019
    Applicants: MAXELL, LTD., HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiro KISHIGAMI, Toshinori SUGIYAMA, Yasuhiko KUNII, Yuji TSUCHIYA, Go SHIMIZU, Masayoshi TAKORI, Ryuya KAWAJI
  • Patent number: 10434933
    Abstract: An image projection apparatus that can be attached to a vehicle and can be effectively utilized for acquisition of road surface condition information, detection of a hidden vehicle, and the like is provided. The image projection apparatus that projects an image includes: an acquisition unit that acquires information related to a vehicle; an image projection unit that projects an image based on the information acquired by the acquisition unit; and imaging means that acquires an image outside the vehicle, the image projection unit projects light in a wavelength band centered on a wavelength of 1.4 ?m, and the imaging means provides the information related to the vehicle by imaging an image projected based on the light in the wavelength band centered on the wavelength of 1.4 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: MAXELL, LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Kunii, Toshinori Sugiyama, Takuya Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20190265472
    Abstract: Provided is a light source apparatus that is small and lightweight, has high light utilization efficiency, and is easily utilizable as a modularized, planar light source. The light source apparatus 10 has a light source unit including a plurality of LED elements 14, a LED collimator 15 including a plurality of collimator elements each arranged on a light-emitting axis of each of the plural LED elements 14, and a light guide 17 disposed on an emission side of the LED collimator 15. The light guide 17 includes an incidence portion 171 having an incidence surface on which light on the light-emitting axis from the LED elements 14 is incident, and an emission portion 173c having an emission surface emitting light, and has a free-form surface shape for realizing predetermined light distribution control on at least one of the incidence surface and the emission surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Inventors: Toshinori SUGIYAMA, Koji HIRATA, Masahiko YATSU, Yasuhiko KUNII, Kazuomi KANEKO
  • Publication number: 20190248277
    Abstract: Information related to a vehicle can be displayed by projecting an image based on the information on a road surface or the like. An image projection apparatus that projects an image includes: an acquisition unit that acquires information to be displayed; and an image projection unit that projects the image based on the information to be displayed acquired by the acquisition unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2019
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Applicant: MAXELL, LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuhiko KUNII, Nobuyuki KAKU, Toshinori SUGIYAMA, Hiroyuki NAKAMURA, Hiroshi CHIBA, Masahiro KISHIGAMI, Hiroyuki KAJIKAWA, Chohei ONO, Megumi KURACHI, Noriaki HARADA