Patents by Inventor Tsutomu Yoshikawa

Tsutomu Yoshikawa 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: 6038361
    Abstract: A light guide support mechanism to minimize light transmission loss to the extent possible that houses a light guide in hollow cones such that each of the two end surfaces of the light guide protrudes from the windows of cover members fixed to either external end of the pair of hollow cones that are linked along their axis and that suspend the light guide in the empty spaces in the cones in a suspended state by means of relative rotation of the hollow cones such that the ridges of the light guide are in contact with the edges of the windows in the covers in a point-to-surface or edge-to-surface fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Yoshikawa, Hideki Nagata
  • Patent number: 5964515
    Abstract: A straight cold cathode fluorescent lamp is detachably held at the back of a dial plate by a plurality of fork-shaped holders to illuminate a plurality of scales formed on the front surface of the dial plate and accommodated in the reflector which is also detachably fixed to a casing of the indicator instrument. A circuit board is also detachably fixed to the reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Hirofumi Ikeuchi, Tsutomu Yoshikawa, Takao Yagami, Hirokazu Shibata
  • Patent number: 5839809
    Abstract: An indicator for use in a vehicle instrument panel has a light conductive pointer illuminated by a light emitting diode or LED. In order to provide an increased illuminating surface of the pointer, a slit is formed on a cap to extend from the outer periphery of the cap to a portion above a center of rotation of the pointer driven by a driving shaft. A fixture is connected to the driving shaft and holds a light receiving portion of the pointer at the portion above the center of rotation and the LED in the optical alignment with the pointer at a portion off an axis of the center of rotation. A balancing weight is disposed at a portion opposite the LED with respect to the driving shaft in order to keep balance of the indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadaaki Ishimaru, Teruaki Araki, Tsutomu Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 5678913
    Abstract: An indicator for use in a vehicle instrument panel has a light conductive pointer illuminated by a light emitting diode or LED. In order to provide an increased illuminating surface of the pointer, a slit is formed on a cap to extend from the outer periphery of the cap to a portion above a center of rotation of the pointer driven by a driving shaft. A fixture is connected to the driving shaft and holds a light receiving portion of the pointer at the portion above the center of rotation and the LED in the optical alignment with the pointer at a portion off an axis of the center of rotation. A balancing weight is disposed at a portion opposite the LED with respect to the driving shaft in order to keep balance of the indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadaaki Ishimaru, Teruaki Araki, Tsutomu Yoshikawa