Patents by Inventor Yasuhiko Kunii

Yasuhiko Kunii 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: 20230391254
    Abstract: A vehicle comprising a state detection device the detects a behavior and peripheral environmental information of the vehicle, an optical device that displays at least a plurality of condensing marks which are a pattern indicating at least a travelling direction of the vehicle on a road surface, and a lamp controller that controls lighting or blinking of the optical device. The lamp controller acquires a detection signal, lights or blinks the optical device based on the detection signal, and combines a plurality of linear partial irradiation images into the plurality of condensing marks. The optical device arranges and displays the plurality of condensing marks side by side on a road where the vehicle enters in the traveling direction, and displays the plurality of condensing marks in at least two different colors that appear to overlap each other to a viewer when the viewer is a first distance from the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2023
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Applicant: Maxell, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro KISHIGAMI, Toshinori Sugiyama, Yasuhiko Kunii, Yuji Tsuchiya, Go Shimizu, Masayoshi Takori, Ryuya Kawaji
  • Publication number: 20230384590
    Abstract: A HUD system and light source apparatus can be manufactured with miniaturization at low cost. A head-up display apparatus includes: an image display apparatus generating image light to be projected; an optical system performing predetermined correction to the image light emitted from the image display apparatus; and a concave mirror reflecting the image light corrected by the optical system to project it onto a windshield or combiner. The image display apparatus includes: a solid light source; a collimating optical system converting, into parallel light, the light from the solid light source; a lighting optical system configured by an optical member that polarizes a direction of a light beam generated by the collimating optical system and simultaneously expands a width of the light beam; and a display apparatus, the image display apparatus being configured to be arranged across and opposite the optical system on an optical axis of the concave mirror.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventors: Toshinori SUGIYAMA, Koji HIRATA, Yasuhiko KUNII, Masahiko YATSU
  • Publication number: 20230331087
    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: June 23, 2023
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Inventors: Yasuhiko KUNII, Nobuyuki KAKU, Toshinori SUGIYAMA, Hiroyuki NAKAMURA, Hiroshi CHIBA, Masahiro KISHIGAMI, Hiroyuki KAJIKAWA, Chohei ONO, Megumi KURACHI, Noriaki HARADA
  • Patent number: 11780365
    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. A lamp controller acquires a detection signal from a state detection device mounted on the vehicle and configured to detect a behavior of and peripheral environmental information of the vehicle, and light or blink the optical device. The optical device displays a plurality of condensing marks by arranging each of them side by side in at least the travelling direction of the vehicle on a lane orthogonal to a lane on which the vehicle exists, and one of the plurality of condensing marks to be displayed on a display region farthest from the vehicle is different in color from another one of the plurality of condensing marks to be displayed on a display region closest to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Maxell, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Kishigami, Toshinori Sugiyama, Yasuhiko Kunii, Yuji Tsuchiya, Go Shimizu, Masayoshi Takori, Ryuya Kawaji
  • Publication number: 20230311740
    Abstract: Based on information about a vehicle, the information can be projected and displayed onto a road surface or the like. An image projection apparatus, which projects an image, includes an acquisition unit that acquires the information about the vehicle, and an image projection unit that projects the image based on the information acquired by the acquisition unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2023
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Inventors: Yasuhiko KUNII, Nobuyuki KAKU, Masahiro KISHIGAMI, Hiroyuki NAKAMURA, Megumi KURACHI, Takuya SHIMIZU
  • Publication number: 20230294592
    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: May 22, 2023
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Inventors: Yasuhiko KUNII, Toshinori SUGIYAMA, Takuya SHIMIZU
  • Patent number: 11752870
    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: January 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    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: 11738646
    Abstract: In an information display apparatus displaying information onto a vehicle, an information display apparatus capable of acquiring a lot of pieces of image information while reducing point-of-view motion of a viewer is provided. An information display apparatus displaying information onto a vehicle includes a first information display apparatus displaying image information of a virtual image by allowing a windshield glass of a vehicle to reflect light, a second information display apparatus acquiring a practical image by scanning the windshield glass with laser light using a MEMS element and a third information display apparatus using an instrument panel of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: MAXELL, LTD.
    Inventors: Koji Hirata, Yasuhiko Kunii
  • Patent number: 11709359
    Abstract: A HUD system and light source apparatus can be manufactured with miniaturization at low cost. A head-up display apparatus includes: an image display apparatus generating image light to be projected; an optical system performing predetermined correction to the image light emitted from the image display apparatus; and a concave mirror reflecting the image light corrected by the optical system to project it onto a windshield or combiner. The image display apparatus includes: a solid light source; a collimating optical system converting, into parallel light, the light from the solid light source; a lighting optical system configured by an optical member that polarizes a direction of a light beam generated by the collimating optical system and simultaneously expands a width of the light beam; and a display apparatus, the image display apparatus being configured to be arranged across and opposite the optical system on an optical axis of the concave mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: MAXELL, LTD.
    Inventors: Toshinori Sugiyama, Koji Hirata, Yasuhiko Kunii, Masahiko Yatsu
  • Patent number: 11701994
    Abstract: Based on information about a vehicle, the information can be projected and displayed onto a road surface or the like. An image projection apparatus, which projects an image, includes an acquisition unit that acquires the information about the vehicle, and an image projection unit that projects the image based on the information acquired by the acquisition unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: MAXELL, LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Kunii, Nobuyuki Kaku, Masahiro Kishigami, Hiroyuki Nakamura, Megumi Kurachi, Takuya Shimizu
  • Patent number: 11691560
    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: June 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: MAXELL, LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Kunii, Toshinori Sugiyama, Takuya Shimizu
  • Patent number: 11571952
    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: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: MAXELL, LTD.
    Inventors: Toshinori Sugiyama, Koji Hirata, Yasuhiko Kunii, Masahiko Yatsu, Kazuomi Kaneko
  • Publication number: 20220396150
    Abstract: In an information display apparatus displaying information onto a vehicle, an information display apparatus capable of acquiring a lot of pieces of image information while reducing point-of-view motion of a viewer is provided. An information display apparatus displaying information onto a vehicle includes a first information display apparatus displaying image information of a virtual image by allowing a windshield glass of a vehicle to reflect light, a second information display apparatus acquiring a practical image by scanning the windshield glass with laser light using a MEMS element and a third information display apparatus using an instrument panel of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2022
    Publication date: December 15, 2022
    Inventors: Koji HIRATA, Yasuhiko KUNII
  • Publication number: 20220324377
    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: June 28, 2022
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Inventors: Yasuhiko KUNII, Toshinori SUGIYAMA, Takuya SHIMIZU
  • Patent number: 11447011
    Abstract: In an information display apparatus displaying information onto a vehicle, an information display apparatus capable of acquiring a lot of pieces of image information while reducing point-of-view motion of a viewer is provided. An information display apparatus displaying information onto a vehicle includes a first information display apparatus displaying image information of a virtual image by allowing a windshield glass of a vehicle to reflect light, a second information display apparatus acquiring a practical image by scanning the windshield glass with laser light using a MEMS element and a third information display apparatus using an instrument panel of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: MAXELL, LTD.
    Inventors: Koji Hirata, Yasuhiko Kunii
  • Patent number: 11422367
    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: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: MAXELL, LTD.
    Inventors: Toshinori Sugiyama, Koji Hirata, Masahiko Yatsu, Yasuhiko Kunii, Kazuomi Kaneko
  • Patent number: 11414009
    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: February 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: MAXELL, LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Kunii, Toshinori Sugiyama, Takuya Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20220244066
    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: a sensor unit that acquires information related to a vehicle; and an image projection unit that projects the image based on the information acquired by the sensor unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2022
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Inventors: Yasuhiko KUNII, Takuya SHIMIZU, Hiroyuki NAKAMURA, Nobuyuki KAKU
  • Patent number: 11378244
    Abstract: A headlight apparatus includes a high beam headlight and a low beam headlight, which includes: an LED; an LED collimator that is a light source condensing optical system configured to condense a light emitted from the LED; a light guide that is a light distribution controlling light guide, a light from the LED collimator entering the light guide; and a projector lens that a light from the light guide enters, the projector lens being configured to project a light. The light guide includes an incident surface, a plurality of total reflection surfaces, and an emission surface. A first light of an incident light from the incident surface is emitted from the emission surface without reaching the plurality of total reflection surfaces, and a second light of the incident light is emitted from the emission surface via multiple times of total reflection by the plurality of total reflection surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: MAXELL, LTD.
    Inventors: Toshinori Sugiyama, Yasuhiko Kunii, Masahiro Kishigami
  • Patent number: 11340089
    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: a sensor unit that acquires information related to a vehicle; and an image projection unit that projects the image based on the information acquired by the sensor unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: MAXELL, LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Kunii, Takuya Shimizu, Hiroyuki Nakamura, Nobuyuki Kaku