Patents by Inventor Yusuke Nakada

Yusuke Nakada 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: 20170160542
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp is provided including a road surface pattern-rendering unit and a dust removal device. The road surface pattern-rendering unit is installed to a headlamp unit provided to a front end section of a vehicle, and forms a specific light distribution pattern by causing light shone from a light source to be reflected by a MEMS mirror toward a vehicle front side. The dust removal device is provided to the headlamp unit and removes dust adhering to the MEMS mirror.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Fumihiko MOURI, Yusuke NAKADA, Yoshiyuki NAKANISHI
  • Publication number: 20170136939
    Abstract: A vehicular headlamp includes: a first light distribution portion including a first light source; a second light distribution portion including a second light source and an micro electro mechanical system mirror; a holding member configured to hold the first light source, the second light source, and the micro electro mechanical system mirror; a single lens including a first lens portion and a second lens portion; and a separating wall formed in the holding member so as to protrude toward the vehicle front side relative to the holding member, the separating wall being configured to separate a region between the first lens portion and the holding member from a region between the second lens portion and the holding member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Fumihiko MOURI, Yusuke Nakada, Yoshiyuki Nakanishi
  • Patent number: 9574732
    Abstract: A vehicular lamp includes a plurality of light-emitting elements arranged such that light-emitting surfaces of the light-emitting elements face toward a front of the vehicular lamp; and a projection lens having a plurality of projection regions that face the respective light-emitting elements, and project light source images of the respective light-emitting elements facing the projection regions, to the front of the vehicular lamp. A lamp rear surface of the projection lens has protruding portions provided in the respective projection regions, the protruding portions protruding toward the respective light-emitting elements facing the protruding portions. A lamp front surface of the projection lens is flatter than the lamp rear surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yusuke Nakada
  • Patent number: 9528673
    Abstract: Disclosed is a projector-type vehicle lamp. The vehicle lamp includes a mirror member which has an upward reflecting surface that upwardly reflects a part of the light reflected from a reflector. A front edge of the upward reflecting surface passes through a rear focus F of a projection lens. A central portion of a front edge of the upward reflecting surface is formed to extend along a meridional image surface of the projection lens, and left and right end portions of the front edge are formed to be displaced forward from the meridional image surface. Accordingly, a central portion of a cut-off line of a low-beam light distribution pattern is formed to be clear and left and right end portions of the cut-off line become blurred such that light may be irradiated to a space in the upper vicinity of the left end portion and/or the right end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yusuke Nakada
  • Patent number: 9222638
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicular headlamp which is capable of enhancing visibility while suppressing glare by forming a dark portion in a portion of a light distribution pattern and suppressing the vicinity of the formed dark portion from becoming a blue series color. The vehicular headlamp includes a light-emitting element, a projection lens, a reflector, a beam shaper, a first shaper disposed between the light-emitting element and a cut-off line forming portion and configured to shield a part of the light reflected from the reflector to form a dark portion in a portion of a low beam light distribution pattern, and a second shaper portion disposed between the cut-off line forming portion and the projection lens and configured to shield a part of the light incident to the lower side of an optical axis of the projection lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yusuke Nakada, Yuta Ugajin
  • Publication number: 20150252975
    Abstract: A vehicular lamp includes a plurality of light-emitting elements arranged such that light-emitting surfaces of the light-emitting elements face toward a front of the vehicular lamp; and a projection lens having a plurality of projection regions that face the respective light-emitting elements, and project light source images of the respective light-emitting elements facing the projection regions, to the front of the vehicular lamp. A lamp rear surface of the projection lens has protruding portions provided in the respective projection regions, the protruding portions protruding toward the respective light-emitting elements facing the protruding portions. A lamp front surface of the projection lens is flatter than the lamp rear surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yusuke NAKADA
  • Publication number: 20140293634
    Abstract: Disclosed is a projector-type vehicle lamp. The vehicle lamp includes a mirror member which has an upward reflecting surface that upwardly reflects a part of the light reflected from a reflector. A front edge of the upward reflecting surface passes through a rear focus F of a projection lens. A central portion of a front edge of the upward reflecting surface is formed to extend along a meridional image surface of the projection lens, and left and right end portions of the front edge are formed to be displaced forward from the meridional image surface. Accordingly, a central portion of a cut-off line of a low-beam light distribution pattern is formed to be clear and left and right end portions of the cut-off line become blurred such that light may be irradiated to a space in the upper vicinity of the left end portion and/or the right end portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yusuke NAKADA
  • Publication number: 20130343076
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicular headlamp which is capable of enhancing visibility while suppressing glare by forming a dark portion in a portion of a light distribution pattern and suppressing the vicinity of the formed dark portion from becoming a blue series color. The vehicular headlamp includes a light-emitting element, a projection lens, a reflector, a beam shaper, a first shaper disposed between the light-emitting element and a cut-off line forming portion and configured to shield a part of the light reflected from the reflector to form a dark portion in a portion of a low beam light distribution pattern, and a second shaper portion disposed between the cut-off line forming portion and the projection lens and configured to shield a part of the light incident to the lower side of an optical axis of the projection lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Inventors: Yusuke NAKADA, Yuta UGAJIN
  • Patent number: 8511874
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp includes a first lamp unit and a second lamp unit. Light irradiated from the first lamp unit and light irradiated from the second lamp unit are superimposed to form a low light distribution pattern. The first lamp unit provides more than twice as much illuminance as the second lamp unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yusuke Nakada
  • Patent number: 8348486
    Abstract: A vehicular lamp unit includes a projection lens disposed on an optical axis extending in a vehicular longitudinal direction; a light source disposed rearward of a rear side focal point of the projection lens; a reflector reflecting direct light from the light source forward towards the optical axis; a shade disposed between the projection lens and the light source such that the shade blocks a part of reflected light from the reflector and a part of the direct light from the light source to form a cut-off line of a light distribution pattern; a first reflective surface formed on a tip portion of the reflector such that the first reflective surface reflects a part of the direct light from the light source downward to the front of the shade; and a second reflective surface formed on the front of the shade and below the rear side focal point of the projection lens such that the second reflective surface reflects reflected light from the first reflective surface towards the projection lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yusuke Nakada
  • Publication number: 20100202152
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp includes a first lamp unit and a second lamp unit. Light irradiated from the first lamp unit and light irradiated from the second lamp unit are superimposed to form a low light distribution pattern. The first lamp unit provides more than twice as much illuminance as the second lamp unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2010
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yusuke Nakada
  • Patent number: 7726857
    Abstract: A lamp unit for a headlamp of a vehicle includes a projection lens, a light emitting device disposed on a rear side of the projection lens, a reflector, and a mirror member having an upwardly reflecting surface. The reflector forwardly reflects light from the light emitting device toward an optical axis, and the upwardly reflecting surface upwardly reflects part of the light reflected by the reflector. The upwardly reflecting surface includes a first horizontal surface disposed on a self-lane side of the optical axis, a second horizontal surface disposed on an opposing-lane side of the optical axis, and an intermediate slope surface connecting the first and second horizontal surfaces. The intermediate slope surface includes a front slope surface and a rear slope surface on the rear side of the front slope surface, and the rear slope surface is curved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yusuke Nakada, Michio Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 7726855
    Abstract: A lamp unit of a vehicle lamp includes a projection lens arranged on an optical axis extending in the longitudinal direction of a vehicle, a light-emitting element arranged so as to face upward behind a rear focal point of the projection lens and in the vicinity of the optical axis, and a reflector arranged so as to cover the light-emitting element from above and to reflect the light from the light-emitting element forward toward the optical axis. The light-emitting element has a plurality of light-emitting chips arranged so as to be adjacent to each other in a vehicle width direction. A mirror member is provided between the reflector and the projection lens. The mirror member includes an upward reflecting surface that upward reflects a portion of the reflected light from the reflector. A diffusing and reflecting portion that diffuses and reflects the reflected light from the reflector is formed in the upward reflecting surface so as to bridge over the optical axis in the vehicle width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yusuke Nakada, Michio Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 7722232
    Abstract: A lamp unit of a vehicle lamp includes a projection lens arranged on an optical axis extending in the longitudinal direction of a vehicle, a light-emitting element arranged so as to face upward behind a rear focal point of the projection lens and in the vicinity of the optical axis, and a reflector arranged so as to cover the light-emitting element from above and to reflect the light from the light-emitting element forward toward the optical axis. A mirror member is provided between the reflector and the projection lens. The mirror member includes an upward reflecting surface that upward reflects a portion of the reflected light from the reflector, and a front end edge formed so as to pass through the rear focal point of the projection lens. A region of the upward reflecting surface located nearer a self-lane side than the optical axis is constituted with a horizontal plane including the optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yusuke Nakada, Michio Tsukamoto
  • Publication number: 20100118559
    Abstract: A vehicular lamp unit includes a projection lens disposed on an optical axis extending in a vehicular longitudinal direction; a light source disposed rearward of a rear side focal point of the projection lens; a reflector for reflecting direct light from the light source forward towards the optical axis; an additional reflector disposed between the projection lens and the light source; and a shade portion disposed on the front end edge of the upper surface of the additional reflector. The additional reflector includes a flat upper surface extending rearward along the optical axis from a front end edge positioned in the vicinity of the rear side focal point of the projection lens that reflects a part of the reflected light from the reflector towards the projection lens. The shade portion forms a cut-off line of a light distribution pattern by blocking a part of the reflected light from the reflector and a part of the direct light from the light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yusuke Nakada
  • Patent number: 7712936
    Abstract: A vehicle lighting unit is provided with: a projection lens arranged on a lens center axis extending in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle; a light source arranged on a rear side of a rear focal point of the projection lens; a reflector for reflecting forward a light from the light source toward the lens center axis; and a shade. An upper end edge of the shade passes in a vicinity of the rear focal point of the projection lens to shield a part of a reflected light from the reflector. An optical axis of the reflector is shifted from the lens center axis that is set to pass through an upper end edge of the shade so that the optical axis of the reflector is apart from the upper end edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yusuke Nakada
  • Publication number: 20100110716
    Abstract: A vehicular lamp unit includes a projection lens disposed on an optical axis extending in a vehicular longitudinal direction; a light source disposed rearward of a rear side focal point of the projection lens; a reflector reflecting direct light from the light source forward towards the optical axis; a shade disposed between the projection lens and the light source such that the shade blocks a part of reflected light from the reflector and a part of the direct light from the light source to form a cut-off line of a light distribution pattern; a first reflective surface formed on a tip portion of the reflector such that the first reflective surface reflects a part of the direct light from the light source downward to the front of the shade; and a second reflective surface formed on the front of the shade and below the rear side focal point of the projection lens such that the second reflective surface reflects reflected light from the first reflective surface towards the projection lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yusuke Nakada
  • Publication number: 20100110715
    Abstract: A vehicular lamp unit includes a projection lens disposed on an optical axis extending in a vehicular longitudinal direction; a light source disposed rearward of a rear side focal point of the projection lens; a reflector reflecting direct light from the light source forward towards the optical axis; a shade disposed between the projection lens and the light source such that the shade blocks a part of reflected light from the reflector and a part of the direct light from the light source to form a cut-off line of a light distribution pattern; a first reflective surface formed on a tip portion of the reflector such that the first reflective surface reflects a part of the direct light from the light source downward to the front of the shade; and a second reflective surface formed on the front of the shade and below the rear side focal point of the projection lens such that the second reflective surface reflects reflected light from the first reflective surface towards the projection lens so that upward directed
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yusuke Nakada
  • Patent number: 7703959
    Abstract: A lamp unit of a vehicle lamp includes a projection lens arranged on an optical axis extending in the longitudinal direction of a vehicle, a light-emitting element arranged so as to face upward behind a rear focal point of the projection lens and in the vicinity of the optical axis, a reflector arranged so as to cover the light-emitting element from above and to reflect light from the light-emitting element forward toward the optical axis, and a mirror member disposed between the reflector and the projection lens. The mirror member includes an upward reflecting surface that upward reflects a portion of the reflected light from the reflector, and a front end edge formed so as to pass through the rear focal point of the projection lens. A region of the upward reflecting surface located nearer a self-lane side than the optical axis includes a first horizontal plane including the optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yusuke Nakada, Michio Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 7699513
    Abstract: A lamp unit includes a projection lens disposed on an optical axis, a light source disposed on a rear side of a rear focal point of the projection lens, a reflector configured to forwardly reflect light emitted from the light source toward the optical axis, and a shade configured to shield a part of the light reflected by the reflector. The lamp unit is configured to form a light distribution pattern having a cutoff line. An incidence plane of the projection lens includes a vertical diffusing portion which regulates the cutoff line. The vertical diffusing portion includes a plurality of lens elements extending substantially parallel to a horizontal portion of the upper edge of the shade. A vertical section of each of the lens elements is convex or concave with respect to a reference surface of the incidence plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yusuke Nakada, Michio Tsukamoto