Patents by Inventor Yasuhisa INADA

Yasuhisa INADA 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: 11977314
    Abstract: An optical device includes a first substrate having a first surface, a second substrate having a second surface, at least one optical waveguide, and a plurality of spacers, disposed on at least either the first surface or the second surface, that include a first portion and a second portion. The first portion of the plurality of elastic spacers is at least one elastic spacer located in a region between the first substrate and the second substrate in which the first substrate and the second substrate overlap each other as seen from an angle parallel with a direction perpendicular to the first surface. The second portion of the plurality of elastic spacers is at least one elastic spacer located in a region in which the first substrate and the second substrate do not overlap each other as seen from an angle parallel with the direction perpendicular to the first surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takaiki Nomura, Masahiko Tsukuda, Yasuhisa Inada
  • Publication number: 20240134220
    Abstract: An optical scan device includes an optical waveguide array, including a plurality of optical waveguides each of which propagates light along a first direction, that emits a light beam, the plurality of optical waveguides being arranged in a second direction that intersects the first direction, a phase shifter array including a plurality of phase shifters connected separately to each of the plurality of optical waveguides, a control circuit that controls a phase shift amount of each of the plurality of phase shifters and/or inputting of light to each of the plurality of phase shifters and thereby controls a direction and shape of the light beam that is emitted from the optical waveguide array, a photodetector that detects the light beam reflected by a physical object, and a signal processing circuit that generates distance distribution data on the basis of output from the photodetector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2023
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Inventors: Yasuhisa INADA, Atsushi Ishikawa, Yumiko Kato
  • Patent number: 11953726
    Abstract: An optical device includes a first waveguide extending in a first direction and a second waveguide connected to the first waveguide. The second waveguide includes a first mirror, a second mirror, and an optical waveguide layer. At least either the first waveguide or the second waveguide has one or more gratings in a part of a connection region in which the first mirror, the second mirror, and the first waveguide overlap one another when seen from an angle parallel with a direction perpendicular to a first reflecting surface of the first mirror. The one or more gratings is at a distance that is longer than at least either a thickness of the first mirror or a thickness of the second mirror in the first direction from an end of the first mirror or the second mirror that is in the connection region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuki Nakamura, Yasuhisa Inada
  • Publication number: 20240077359
    Abstract: An optical filter includes a filter array including filters two-dimensionally arrayed and a band-pass filter. The filters includes first and second filters. A transmission spectrum of each of the first and second filters has local maximum values of transmittance at three or more wavelengths included in a first wavelength region. The band-pass filter passes light in a second wavelength region including two or more wavelengths of the three or more wavelengths and not including one or more wavelengths of the three or more wavelengths. The filter array and the band-pass filter are disposed so that (a) the band-pass filter is located on an optical path of light that passes through the first and second filters or (b) the first and second filters are located on an optical path of light that passes through the band-pass filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2023
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Inventors: YASUHISA INADA, ATSUSHI ISHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20240061117
    Abstract: A measurement device includes: a light source which emits laser light to irradiate a moving body and which can vary the frequency of the laser light; an interference optical system that separates the laser light into reference light and output light, and generates interference light by interfering the reference light with at least one reflected light beam generated when at least one light beam obtained from the output light is reflected by the moving body; a light detector that detects the interference light; and a processing circuit that processes a signal outputted from the light detector. The processing circuit generates and outputs a plurality of attribute data pertaining to the moving body on the basis of measurement data on the moving body obtained by processing the signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2023
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Inventors: YASUHISA INADA, KAZUYA HISADA, KAZUKI NAKAMURA, YUMIKO KATO, AKIRA HASHIYA
  • Patent number: 11867991
    Abstract: An optical scan device includes an optical waveguide array, including a plurality of optical waveguides each of which propagates light along a first direction, that emits a light beam, the plurality of optical waveguides being arranged in a second direction that intersects the first direction, a phase shifter array including a plurality of phase shifters connected separately to each of the plurality of optical waveguides, a control circuit that controls a phase shift amount of each of the plurality of phase shifters and/or inputting of light to each of the plurality of phase shifters and thereby controls a direction and shape of the light beam that is emitted from the optical waveguide array, a photodetector that detects the light beam reflected by a physical object, and a signal processing circuit that generates distance distribution data on the basis of output from the photodetector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuhisa Inada, Atsushi Ishikawa, Yumiko Kato
  • Publication number: 20240004044
    Abstract: A measurement apparatus includes a light source, a calibrating optical system, an interference optical system, a photosensitive device, a storage device, and a processing circuit. The interference optical system separates the light into reference light and output light and generates first interfering light and second interfering light. The photosensitive device outputs a first detection signal corresponding to an intensity of the first interfering light and a second detection signal corresponding to an intensity of the second interfering light. The processing circuit sends out, to the light source, a control signal that sweeps a frequency of the light that is emitted from the light source, updates, on the basis of the second detection signal, the correcting data stored in the storage device, and generates measurement data on the basis of the correcting data thus updated and the first detection signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2023
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Inventors: AKIRA HASHIYA, YUMIKO KATO, KAZUYA HISADA, YASUHISA INADA
  • Publication number: 20240004042
    Abstract: A measuring device includes: a light source; an interference optical system that separates light into reference light and irradiation light, generates interference light by causing interference between the reference light and reflected light generated by reflection of the irradiation light on an object; a photodetector that receives the interference light and outputs a signal corresponding to an intensity of the interference light; and a processing circuit that controls the light source and generates and outputs data on a distance and/or velocity of the object based on the signal outputted from the photodetector, in which the processing circuit causes the light source to emit light having a frequency that changes with time within a first frequency range in a first mode, and causes the light source to emit light having a frequency that changes with time within a second frequency range different from the first frequency range in the second mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2023
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Inventors: HIROYUKI TAKAGI, YASUHISA INADA, YASUHIRO KABETANI, YUMIKO KATO, KENJI NARUMI, KOHEI KIKUCHI
  • Patent number: 11852534
    Abstract: An optical filter includes a filter array including filters two-dimensionally arrayed and a band-pass filter. The filters includes first and second filters. A transmission spectrum of each of the first and second filters has local maximum values of transmittance at three or more wavelengths included in a first wavelength region. The band-pass filter passes light in a second wavelength region including two or more wavelengths of the three or more wavelengths and not including one or more wavelengths of the three or more wavelengths. The filter array and the band-pass filter are disposed so that (a) the band-pass filter is located on an optical path of light that passes through the first and second filters or (b) the first and second filters are located on an optical path of light that passes through the band-pass filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuhisa Inada, Atsushi Ishikawa
  • Publication number: 20230408653
    Abstract: A measurement apparatus includes a light source, an interference optical system, a photodetector, a processing circuit, and a storage apparatus. The interference optical system splits light emitted from the light source into reference light and output light and generates interfering light between reflected light resulting from reflection of the output light on an object and the reference light. The photodetector outputs a detection signal corresponding to strength of the interfering light. The processing circuit modulates the frequency of the light outputted from the light source with a period including an up-chirp duration in which the frequency increases and a down-chirp duration in which the frequency decreases. The storage apparatus stores first correction data for the up-chirp duration and second correction data for the down-chirp duration. The processing circuit determines distance or velocity based on a signal obtained by correcting the detection signal based on the first or second correction data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2023
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Inventors: YUMIKO KATO, KOHEI KIKUCHI, KENJI NARUMI, HIROYUKI TAKAGI, YASUHISA INADA
  • Patent number: 11843876
    Abstract: An optical filter array is used in a photodetection device that generates image data separately for each of N (where N is an integer greater than or equal to 4) wavelength bands. The optical filter array includes a plurality of optical filters. The plurality of optical filters include plural types of optical filters differing in transmittance from each other in each of the N wavelength bands. Assuming that pi is an average of transmittances of the plurality of optical filters for light in an ith wavelength band (where i is an integer greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to N) of the N wavelength bands, a standard deviation of the average ?i of the transmittances for the N wavelength bands is less than or equal to 0.13.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Ishikawa, Yasuhisa Inada, Kazuya Hisada
  • Patent number: 11835840
    Abstract: An optical scanning device includes: a first waveguide that propagates light by total reflection; and a second waveguide. The second waveguide includes: a first multilayer reflective film; a second multilayer reflective film that faces the first multilayer reflective film; and a first optical waveguide layer directly connected to the first waveguide and located between the first and second multilayer reflective films. The first optical waveguide layer has a variable thickness and/or a variable refractive index and propagates the light transmitted through the first waveguide. The first multilayer reflective film has a higher light transmittance than the second multilayer reflective film and allows part of the light propagating through the first optical waveguide layer to be emitted to the outside. By changing the thickness of the first optical waveguide layer and/or its refractive index, the direction of the part of the light emitted from the second waveguide is changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akira Hashiya, Yasuhisa Inada, Taku Hirasawa, Yoshikazu Yamaoka, Nobuaki Nagao
  • Publication number: 20230384100
    Abstract: A load transport system includes multiple transporters transporting a load. The transporters include a first transporter and a second transporter. The second transporter measures a size of the first transporter and outputs size information on the size of the first transporter to outside. The first transporter acquires the size information and makes a travel plan of the first transporter in accordance with the size information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventors: KOHEI KIKUCHI, YUMIKO KATO, YASUHISA INADA, KAZUYA HISADA
  • Publication number: 20230341558
    Abstract: A distance measurement system comprises distance measurement devices, including a LiDAR sensor and at least one other distance measurement device, and a storage device storing three-dimensional point cloud data based on distance measurement data acquired by each of the distance measurement devices. The LiDAR sensor comprises a light-emitting device that can change an emission direction of a light beam, a light-receiving device that detects reflected light from the light beam and outputs a signal indicating a detection result, and a processing circuit that controls the light-emitting device and the light-receiving device to generate the distance measurement data on a basis of the signal outputted from the light-receiving device. The processing circuit references the point cloud data to determine at least one empty area in the point cloud data, and measures distance in the empty area by causing the light-emitting device to emit the light beam toward the empty area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2023
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Inventors: YUMIKO KATO, TORU MATSUNOBU, YASUHISA INADA
  • Publication number: 20230273501
    Abstract: An optical device includes a plurality of optical waveguide units arranged in a first direction. Each of the optical waveguide units includes a first mirror having a first reflecting surface, a second mirror having a second reflecting surface facing the first reflecting surface, and at least one optical waveguide region located between the first mirror and the second mirror. The distance between the first reflecting surface and the second reflecting surface is different for each of the optical waveguide units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2023
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Inventors: MASAHIKO TSUKUDA, AKIRA HASHIYA, KAZUKI NAKAMURA, YASUHISA INADA
  • Publication number: 20230185118
    Abstract: An optical device includes a first structure body with a first surface, a second structure body with a second surface facing the first surface, one or more optical guide regions positioned between the first surface of the first structure body and the second surface of the second structure body, the one or more optical guide regions including a liquid crystal material, and a first alignment film disposed on the first surface and aligning the liquid crystal material, the first alignment film being a rubbing alignment film, wherein the optical device further includes a second alignment film that is an optical alignment film formed by irradiation with polarized light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2023
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Inventors: TAKAIKI NOMURA, KAZUKI NAKAMURA, YASUHISA INADA
  • Patent number: 11658457
    Abstract: A mounting structure for an optical module includes a light emitting element, a submount board on which the light emitting element is mounted, a main board on which the submount board is mounted, a light guide member provided on the main board, and a diffraction grating optical coupler provided on the main board and connected to the light guide member. The submount board and the main board are bonded to each other on a surface of the submount board different from a surface on which the light emitting element is mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takahiro Miyake, Yasuhisa Inada, Tosihiko Wada
  • Patent number: 11644540
    Abstract: An optical scanning device includes: first and second mirrors; an optical waveguide layer disposed between the first and second mirrors; a pair of electrodes sandwiching the optical waveguide layer; and a driving circuit that applies a voltage to the pair of electrodes. The first mirror emits part of light propagating through the optical waveguide layer to the outside. The optical waveguide layer contains a liquid crystal material or an electrooptical material. The alignment direction of the liquid crystal material or the direction of a polarization axis of the electrooptical material is parallel or perpendicular to the direction in which the optical waveguide layer extends. The driving circuit applies the voltage to the pair of electrodes to change the refractive index of the liquid crystal material or the electrooptical material to thereby change the light emission direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nobuaki Nagao, Yoshikazu Yamaoka, Yasuhisa Inada, Akira Hashiya, Taku Hirasawa
  • Publication number: 20230121678
    Abstract: An optical frequency comb device includes: an optical waveguide; a first mirror disposed at a first position in the optical waveguide; a second mirror disposed at a second position different from the first position, in the optical waveguide; a gain medium and a saturable absorber which are disposed between the first mirror and the second mirror; and a controller that fixes one of a repetition frequency and a carrier-envelope offset frequency of an optical frequency comb output from an end of the optical waveguide, and changes the other of the repetition frequency and the carrier-envelope offset frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Tasuku NAKAMURA, Yasuhisa INADA, Jon KJELLMAN, Bart KUYKEN, Kasper Van GASSE, Artur HERMANS
  • Patent number: 11619858
    Abstract: An optical device includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a plurality of separation walls, one or more optical waveguides, and one or more spacers. The first substrate has a surface which extends in a first direction and a second direction intersecting the first direction. The second substrate faces the first substrate. The plurality of separation walls are positioned between the first substrate and the second substrate and extend in the first direction. The one or more optical waveguides are positioned between the first substrate and the second substrate and include one or more dielectric members which are positioned between the plurality of separation walls and which extend in the first direction. The one or more spacers are directly or indirectly sandwiched between the first substrate and the second substrate and positioned around the one or more optical waveguides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takaiki Nomura, Hiroyuki Takagi, Masahiko Tsukuda, Yasuhisa Inada, Taku Hirasawa