Patents by Inventor Yoshikazu Asai

Yoshikazu Asai 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: 20230280634
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an image sensor, an optical filter, a holding member configured to hold the optical filter, a driving unit configured to move the holding member, a grip portion configured to be gripped by a user, and a light blocking member configured to control blocking or opening of an image pickup range. The driving unit moves the optical filter between (i) a first position at which the optical filter is inserted into the image pickup range and (ii) a second position at which the optical filter is retracted from the image pickup range in a direction from the first position toward the grip portion. The optical filter is located on a side closer to the image sensor than the light blocking member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2023
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Inventors: Yuki TOTORI, Kazuaki YAMANA, Yoshikazu ASAI, Shoma MIZUTANI, Keisuke ADACHI, Sho NAGATSU, Nagisa INOUE
  • Publication number: 20230280638
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an image sensor, an optical filter, a holding member configured to hold the optical filter, a driving unit configured to move the holding member, a grip portion to be gripped by a user, and a control board. The optical filter is movable by the driving unit between a first position inserted into an imaging range and a second position retracted from the imaging range in a direction from the first position toward the grip portion. The second position is located between the grip portion and the control board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2023
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Inventors: Nagisa INOUE, Kazuaki Yamana, Shoma Mizutani, Yuki Totori, Yoshikazu Asai, Keisuke Adachi, Sho Nagatsu
  • Publication number: 20230283907
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an image sensor, an optical filter movable between a first position at which the optical filter is inserted into an imaging range of the image sensor and a second position at which the optical filter is retracted from the imaging range, and a control unit configured to perform exposure control for the image sensor in a case where the optical filter is located at the first position and an in-focus state cannot be obtained by moving a focus lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2023
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Inventors: Sho NAGATSU, Kazuaki YAMANA, Yoshikazu ASAI, Yuki TOTORI, Keisuke ADACHI, Shoma MIZUTANI, Nagisa INOUE
  • Patent number: 11682511
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes a rotatable operation member that can be rotationally operated, a base member, a magnet having alternately magnetized N and S poles and rotatable integrally with the rotatable operation member, and first and second magnetic members disposed so that the magnet is disposed between them in an axial direction of a rotational center axis of the rotatable operation member and having a plurality of comb tooth portions. In the axial direction, the first magnetic member, the magnet, and the second magnetic member are disposed on an opposite side of the base member from the rotatable operation member. A part of an outer circumferential portion of the rotatable operation member is exposed to an outside from an opening provided on an exterior member of the electronic apparatus. The magnet, the first magnetic member, and the second magnetic member are covered with the exterior member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shogo Satomura, Yoshikazu Asai, Takahiro Akimoto, Sho Nagatsu, Jun Kamiya
  • Publication number: 20220392680
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes a rotatable operation member that can be rotationally operated, a base member, a magnet having alternately magnetized N and S poles and rotatable integrally with the rotatable operation member, and first and second magnetic members disposed so that the magnet is disposed between them in an axial direction of a rotational center axis of the rotatable operation member and having a plurality of comb tooth portions. In the axial direction, the first magnetic member, the magnet, and the second magnetic member are disposed on an opposite side of the base member from the rotatable operation member. A part of an outer circumferential portion of the rotatable operation member is exposed to an outside from an opening provided on an exterior member of the electronic apparatus. The magnet, the first magnetic member, and the second magnetic member are covered with the exterior member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2022
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Inventors: Shogo Satomura, Yoshikazu Asai, Takahiro Akimoto, Sho Nagatsu, Jun Kamiya
  • Publication number: 20220373859
    Abstract: A rotatable operation apparatus includes a rotatable operation member, a magnet having alternately magnetized magnetic poles, first and second magnetic members respectively including first and second teeth, a body frame, and a detector. A magnetized direction of each magnetic pole is parallel to a predetermined axis about which the rotatable operation member rotates. The magnet has a ring shape and is configured to rotate about the predetermined axis as the rotatable operation member rotates. The rotatable operation apparatus generates an operation force according to a change in positions of the magnetic poles, caused by the rotation of the magnet, relative to positions of the first tooth and the second tooth. The magnet, the first magnetic member, and the second magnetic member are housed inside the body frame. When viewed from a thrust direction of the magnet, the detector is disposed at a position that does not overlap with the magnet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2022
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Inventors: Sho Nagatsu, Jun Kamiya, Shogo Satomura, Yoshikazu Asai, Takahiro Akimoto
  • Patent number: 10012889
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus which is capable of reducing the number of parts and assembling man-hours of a seal construction of an matching section of external covers, and making seal performance stable while realizing downsizing of the apparatus. The electronic apparatus has a first external cover, a second external cover abutting to the first external cover through a matching section, a seal member disposed at the matching section, a gap disposed at the matching section on an external side of the electronic apparatus with respect to the seal member, and a third external cover fitted to the first external cover and the second external cover so as to partially cover the seal member. The seal member has, at a part of the gap partially covered by the third external cover, a protruding portion abutting to the third external cover to seal the part of the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshikazu Asai
  • Publication number: 20170351165
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus which is capable of reducing the number of parts and assembling man-hours of a seal construction of an matching section of external covers, and making seal performance stable while realizing downsizing of the apparatus. The electronic apparatus has a first external cover, a second external cover abutting to the first external cover through a matching section, a seal member disposed at the matching section, a gap disposed at the matching section on an external side of the electronic apparatus with respect to the seal member, and a third external cover fitted to the first external cover and the second external cover so as to partially cover the seal member. The seal member has, at a part of the gap partially covered by the third external cover, a protruding portion abutting to the third external cover to seal the part of the gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventor: Yoshikazu Asai
  • Patent number: 9291881
    Abstract: An image sensor is positioned at a fixing member and adheres to and is fixed to the fixing member by pouring an adhesive into the opening. The opening is formed in a shape that extends in a short-side direction of the image sensor at a position corresponding to a substantially central portion of the image sensor in a long-side direction. The opening is formed such that an opening width on a side not facing the image sensor is larger than an opening width on a side facing the image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshikazu Asai
  • Patent number: 9253378
    Abstract: A rotary operation unit capable of reducing operation sounds without lowering operability and operation feeling. A rotary operation member of the rotary operation unit is supported for rotary operation by a dial base and is formed with a receiving recess. In the receiving recess, a click ball is received in a state being in contact with concave-convex portions formed in the dial base at intervals of a predetermined angle in order to provide a click feeling, and a click spring for urging the click ball is also received. A dial cap is attached to the rotary operation member such as to close an opening face of the receiving recess of the rotary operation member, whereby the receiving recess is tightly closed by the dial base and the dial cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshikazu Asai
  • Publication number: 20140071301
    Abstract: A rotary operation unit capable of reducing operation sounds without lowering operability and operation feeling. A rotary operation member of the rotary operation unit is supported for rotary operation by a dial base and is formed with a receiving recess. In the receiving recess, a click ball is received in a state being in contact with concave-convex portions formed in the dial base at intervals of a predetermined angle in order to provide a click feeling, and a click spring for urging the click ball is also received. A dial cap is attached to the rotary operation member such as to close an opening face of the receiving recess of the rotary operation member, whereby the receiving recess is tightly closed by the dial base and the dial cap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshikazu Asai
  • Patent number: 8428455
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an image sensor unit, a retaining member configured to retain the image sensor unit on a photographer side and to retain an optical member on an object side, a first sealing member configured, when the image sensor unit is mounted on the retaining member, to form a closely sealed space by sealing between the image sensor unit and the retaining member, the first sealing member being provided on the photographer side of the retaining member, and a second sealing member configured, when the optical member is mounted on the retaining member, to form a closely sealed space by sealing between the optical member and the retaining member, the second sealing member being provided on the object side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Asai, Masanori Sakai
  • Publication number: 20120273656
    Abstract: An image sensor is positioned at a fixing member and adheres to and is fixed to the fixing member by pouring an adhesive into the opening. The opening is formed in a shape that extends in a short-side direction of the image sensor at a position corresponding to a substantially central portion of the image sensor in a long-side direction. The opening is formed such that an opening width on a side not facing the image sensor is larger than an opening width on a side facing the image sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshikazu Asai
  • Patent number: 8004937
    Abstract: There is provided a optical pickup in which a movable part is support by a fixed part through an elastic supporting member, one end of the elastic supporting member being fixed to a support base and the other end of the elastic supporting member being fixed to an terminal protrusion of a lens supporting member, and moreover, the winding wire of a driving coil entwined with the terminal protrusion is electrically connected to the elastic supporting member. At this time, the terminal protrusions adjacent in the height direction of the lens supporting member are formed so as to protrude in different directions from the surface of the lens supporting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshikazu Asai
  • Publication number: 20110058805
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an image sensor unit, a retaining member configured to retain the image sensor unit on a photographer side and to retain an optical member on an object side, a first sealing member configured, when the image sensor unit is mounted on the retaining member, to form a closely sealed space by sealing between the image sensor unit and the retaining member, the first sealing member being provided on the photographer side of the retaining member, and a second sealing member configured, when the optical member is mounted on the retaining member, to form a closely sealed space by sealing between the optical member and the retaining member, the second sealing member being provided on the object side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Asai, Masanori Sakai
  • Patent number: 7804745
    Abstract: An optical disk device for driving an optical disk having a rotation center and a recording track around the rotation center. The device includes a light source which emits a light beam, an objective lens which irradiates a position on the recording track of the optical disk with the light beam from the light source, and a lens holding member which holds the objective lens. The lens holding member has a plurality of fitting sections. A plurality of elastic supporting members each has a longitudinal length and is fitted at one end thereof to one of the fitting sections of the lens holding member, and a supporting unit base has a plurality of anchor sections supporting the other end of each of the elastic supporting members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Ishii, Yoshikazu Asai
  • Patent number: 7764576
    Abstract: An optical information recording and reproducing apparatus includes a light source for emitting a light beam, a head unit, including an objective lens and a solid immersion lens, that allows a light beam from the light source to reach an optical recording medium as evanescent light, and a photodetector that detects returning light that returns from a bottom surface of the solid immersion lens for detecting a gap and a tilt between the optical recording medium and the solid immersion lens. The photodetector has a first section and a second section, along a direction in which the returning light is moved in the photodetector, when the solid immersion lens is driven in a tracking direction with respect to the optical recording medium. An area of the returning light in the first section and an area of the returning light in the second section is constant, even when the solid immersion lens is driven in the tracking direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshikazu Asai
  • Publication number: 20080239890
    Abstract: A photodetector detects returning light that returns from a bottom surface of a solid immersion lens (SIL) for detecting a gap and a tilt between an optical recording medium and the SIL. The photodetector has a first section and a second section along a direction in which the returning light is moved in the photodetector, when the SIL is driven in a tracking direction with respect to the optical recording medium. An area of the returning light in the first section and an area of the returning light in the second section are constant, even when the SIL is driven in the tracking direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshikazu Asai
  • Publication number: 20080013413
    Abstract: In an optical disk device, a plurality of elastic supporting members movably support a lens holding member which holds an objective lens constituting an optical pick up. The elastic supporting members are arranged in parallel to each other such that the elastic supporting members 20b1, 20b2 arranged at the outer peripheral side of the optical disk are fitted at a forward position of the lens holding member 18 and the elastic supporting members 20a1, 20a2 arranged at the inner peripheral side of the optical disk are fitted at a rearward position of the lens holding member 18. With this arrangement, the extent to which the optical pickup projects outward from the outer edge of the optical disk is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2007
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Ishii, Yoshikazu Asai
  • Publication number: 20070067787
    Abstract: There is provided a optical pickup in which a movable part is support by a fixed part through an elastic supporting member, one end of the elastic supporting member being fixed to a support base and the other end of the elastic supporting member being fixed to an terminal protrusion of a lens supporting member, and moreover, the winding wire of a driving coil entwined with the terminal protrusion is electrically connected to the elastic supporting member. At this time, the terminal protrusions adjacent in the height direction of the lens supporting member are formed so as to protrude in different directions from the surface of the lens supporting member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Publication date: March 22, 2007
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: YOSHIKAZU ASAI