Patents Examined by Bret Adams
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Patent number: 8412034Abstract: A camera system includes a camera body, an interchangeable lens, and an accessory to be mounted between the camera body and the interchangeable lens, wherein the accessory includes a signal processing unit configured to process a signal input into the accessory, a storage unit configured to store information used for performing the signal processing, and a blocking unit configured to prevent direct communication from the camera body to the interchangeable lens when the information stored in the storage unit is rewritten via the camera body.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2011Date of Patent: April 2, 2013Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Koji Okada
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Patent number: 8403574Abstract: A camera system including a camera body, an interchangeable lens, and an accessory mounted between the camera body and the interchangeable lens, wherein the accessory has a signal processing unit configured to process a signal input into the accessory and a storage unit configured to store information to be used when performing the signal processing, the camera system further including a pseudo interchangeable lens which can be mounted on the accessory instead of the interchangeable lens and which is configured to supply power from the camera body to the accessory when mounted on the camera body via the accessory, and a control unit configured to, while the camera body, the accessory, and the pseudo interchangeable lens are connected, when the accessory receives within a predetermined duration predetermined information, enable communication between the camera body and the accessory even after the predetermined duration has elapsed, and rewrite the information stored in the storage unit.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2011Date of Patent: March 26, 2013Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Kouji Okada
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Patent number: 8398319Abstract: A developing apparatus including a substrate holder that holds a substrate horizontally; means for atomizing a surface treatment liquid used to improve wettability of the substrate with a developer; a first spray nozzle that sprays the atomized surface treatment liquid onto the substrate; and a developer supply nozzle that supplies a developer onto the substrate to which the substrate treatment liquid has been sprayed. The surface tension of the atomized surface treatment liquid with respect to the substrate is lower than the surface tension of the surface treatment liquid with respect to the substrate. The atomization suppresses the fact that the surface treatment liquid gathers on a certain portion of the surface of the substrate. The surface treatment liquid can be easily supplied onto the entire surface of the substrate, and improve wettability of the substrate with the developer.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2010Date of Patent: March 19, 2013Assignee: Tokyo Electron LimitedInventors: Hiroshi Arima, Yuichi Yoshida, Taro Yamamoto, Kousuke Yoshihara
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Patent number: 8385735Abstract: An illumination device for a camera includes a light source, in which LED chips are supplied with a drive current, for emitting light of a first color at intensity according to the drive current. An encapsulant is disposed in front of each LED chip, for changing an illuminating color of the light. An EEPROM stores a data table for representing a correlation between the illuminating color and the drive current. An illumination control unit obtains first drive current associated with a target color of light for use by referring to the data table, to drive the LED chips with the first drive current. Phosphor in the encapsulant sets color temperature of the light lower upon passage through the encapsulant than upon emission from the LED chips.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2008Date of Patent: February 26, 2013Assignee: FUJIFILM CorporationInventor: Kouhei Awazu
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Patent number: 8358927Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an input unit configured to receive an instruction for starting a continuous shooting operation, a sound output unit configured to output a predetermined sound according to a shooting operation, and a controller configured to control output/non-output of the predetermined sound from the sound output unit according to a setting of sound output, and to control the continuous shooting operation. The setting of sound output includes an ON setting for outputting the predetermined sound from the sound output unit according to a start of the shooting operation and an OFF setting for non-outputting the predetermined sound from the sound output unit according to the start of the shooting operation.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2011Date of Patent: January 22, 2013Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventor: Ken Ishida
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Patent number: 8358928Abstract: A lens guard for protecting a camera includes a lens-guard housing, a pressurized gas system, and a gas supply. The housing defines an opening and has a transparent protective lens disposed in the opening and having an outer surface exposed to the environment, an upper portion, and a portion defining apertures shaped to respectively receive therein camera support rods operable to mount the lens-guard housing to the camera in front of a lens. The pressurized gas system is operable to remove fluids and debris from the outer surface of the protective lens. The pressurized gas system includes a blow tube mounted to the upper portion of the housing and having a plurality of outlets directed towards the outer surface of the protective lens. The gas supply fluidically connects to the blow tube and is operable to supply pressurized gas to the blow tube and through the outlets thereof.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2011Date of Patent: January 22, 2013Assignee: Aadyn Technology, LLCInventors: Michael Wayne Appel, Terry Lee Schmoeger, Marc B. Kaye, Walter Lefler
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Patent number: 8353820Abstract: A medical apparatus according to the present invention includes: an image pickup section including an observation window, the image pickup section being led into a body; a holding section that holds the image pickup section inside the body; a covering section that is connected to the holding section and covers the observation window to set the image pickup section in a non-photographable state; and a field-of-view control section that variably controls the covering of the observation window by the covering section and sets the image pickup section in a photographable state to allow the image pickup section to photograph a subject inside the body.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2009Date of Patent: January 15, 2013Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corp.Inventors: Hitoshi Karasawa, Sho Nakajima, Daisuke Asada, Nobuyoshi Yazawa
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Patent number: 8351667Abstract: A method of contrast enhancement for improved visualization of diagnostically important tissue structures, such as blood vessels. A texture analysis algorithm is applied to identify regions with a high likelihood of disease. Mathematical morphology operations are applied to identify areas of high and low brightness (intensity). The low intensity areas are then subtracted, and controllably variable amounts of the high intensity areas are added, controlled by a selectable tuning parameter, to produce an image with controllably variable visualization enhancement.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2008Date of Patent: January 8, 2013Assignee: STI Medical Systems, LLCInventors: Wenjing Li, Sankar Venkataraman, Ulf Gustafsson, John Taylor Hargrove
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Patent number: 8351780Abstract: An imaging system to collect image data relating to a conical liquid film and its hollow conical spray emanating from an injector with a central spray axis includes a light source for emitting light into the film and spray generated by the injector; and a detector array located downstream from the injector along the central spray axis for panoramically detecting instantaneously for the entire film and spray the emitted light which has interacted with the spray to produce the image data.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2011Date of Patent: January 8, 2013Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand CorporationInventor: Carsten Ralf Mehring
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Patent number: 8346073Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, once the mode setting device sets the person photographing mode, and the face zooming instruction device instructs zooming to the face of the person, the detection device detects the size of the face of the person captured by the image pickup device. The zooming device is then controlled so as to capture the face of the person in a certain size based on the detection result. Subsequently, the photographer instructs zooming in the telephoto direction or the wide direction using the zooming instruction device as necessary to thereby allow fine adjustment of the composition. This enables to easily and quickly photograph an image in a user's desired composition.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2010Date of Patent: January 1, 2013Assignee: FUJIFILM CorporationInventor: Syuji Nose
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Patent number: 8346071Abstract: A camera system includes a detection unit that detects fitting errors of a camera as displacement quantities in a first direction, a second direction and an optical axis rotating direction of an image picked up by the camera, a selection unit that selects a rotation correcting quantity corresponding to the displacement quantity in the optical axis rotating direction from plural rotation correction maps prepared in advance, a computation unit that computes the correcting quantities in the first direction and the second direction respectively based on the detected displacement quantities in the first direction and the second direction using linear equations; and a correction unit that corrects the displacements in the first direction, the second direction and the optical axis rotating direction of the picked up image based on the selected rotation correcting quantity and the computed correcting quantities in the first direction and the second direction.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2008Date of Patent: January 1, 2013Assignees: Sony Corporation, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kiyoshi Higashibara, Daisuke Sugawara, Kazuhiko Sakai, Akihiro Kanaoka
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Patent number: 8313257Abstract: A coating and developing apparatus is provided which requires a smaller occupation space even when it incorporates a substrate inspection unit, while eliminating a disadvantageous layout. A coating film forming part B3 including a plurality of process units and transfer mechanisms A3 and A4, and a developing part B1 including a plurality of process units 31 and a transfer mechanism A1 are vertically arranged in a process block S2. There are disposed in the process block S2 on a side of a carrier block S1, a plurality of vertically arranged transfer units TRS for transferring a substrate W between the same and transfer mechanisms for the respective parts, and a vertically movable transfer mechanism D1 for the transfer unit for transferring a substrate between these transfer units. At least one of the coating film forming part and the developing part includes a substrate inspection unit 43 for inspecting a substrate transferred by the transfer mechanism for the corresponding part.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2011Date of Patent: November 20, 2012Assignee: Tokyo Electron LimitedInventors: Nobuaki Matsuoka, Yasushi Hayashida, Shinichi Hayashi
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Patent number: 8270823Abstract: A shake correction module for a photographing apparatus, including a base plate, a first slider member capable of moving in a first axis direction with respect to the base plate and accommodating a photographing device, a first drive portion moving the first slider member in the first axis direction, a second slider member capable of moving in a second axis direction that is perpendicular to the first axis direction, a second drive portion moving the second slider member in the second axis direction, and a support member attached to the base plate and pressing one of the first and second slider members. The shake correction module can reduce the effect of shaking during photographing.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2007Date of Patent: September 18, 2012Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventor: Kyung-bae Lee
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Patent number: 8262299Abstract: A panoramic device includes a base member and a clamp member rotatably interconnected within a single plane of rotation with the base that includes a first rotatable knob to selectively inhibit the rotation of the clamp member with respect to the base. The upper surface includes a central region that is at a different elevation than another portion of the upper surface. The clamp includes a pair of opposed surfaces suitable to detachably secure a camera thereto. The one of the opposed surfaces is maintained in a fixed relationship with respect to the clamp member. The other one of the opposed surfaces is in a movable relationship with respect to the clamp member using a second rotatable knob. The first knob and the second knob are rotatably connected with respect to one another.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2011Date of Patent: September 11, 2012Inventor: Joseph Johnson
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Patent number: 8262301Abstract: A developer spraying device for reducing usage quantity of developer includes a hollow inner tube unit and a hollow outer tube unit. The hollow inner tube unit includes a hollow inner tube and a plurality of nozzles communicating an inner portion of the hollow inner tube with external world. The hollow inner tube has at least one liquid receiving space formed therein, and the liquid receiving space is filled with the developer. The hollow outer tube unit includes a hollow outer tube disposed around the hollow inner tube and tightly mated with the hollow inner tube and an opening formed on the hollow outer tube and communicating with an inner portion of the hollow outer tube. The hollow outer tube is selectively rotated clockwise or anticlockwise relative to the hollow inner tube, thus the nozzles are selectively exposed from the opening or shaded by the hollow outer tube.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2010Date of Patent: September 11, 2012Assignee: Inotera Memories, Inc.Inventors: Jhin-Siang Jhong, Sheng Cheng
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Patent number: 8265473Abstract: A camera is provided which is adapted to receive a photographic lens having a diaphragm. The camera includes a detection unit configured to execute electric charge accumulation for detecting a defocus amount when the diaphragm is in a state having a first aperture value, and a controller configured to, when causing the diaphragm to perform an aperture reducing operation from the first aperture value to a second aperture value, cause the diaphragm to start the aperture reducing operation without waiting for completion of the electric charge accumulation for detecting the defocus amount by the detection unit.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2010Date of Patent: September 11, 2012Assignee: Canon Kabushiki kaishaInventor: Tomokazu Yoshida
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Patent number: 8254771Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, once the mode setting device sets the person photographing mode, and the face zooming instruction device instructs zooming to the face of the person, the detection device detects the size of the face of the person captured by the image pickup device. The zooming device is then controlled so as to capture the face of the person in a certain size based on the detection result. Subsequently, the photographer instructs zooming in the telephoto direction or the wide direction using the zooming instruction device as necessary to thereby allow fine adjustment of the composition. This enables to easily and quickly photograph an image in a user's desired composition.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2010Date of Patent: August 28, 2012Assignee: Fujifilm CorporationInventor: Syuji Nose
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Patent number: 8254773Abstract: An image apparatus includes a screen, a detecting unit, a determining unit, an acquiring unit and a control unit. The screen is configured to display an image formed by an optical system and at least one detection position superimposed onto the image. The detecting unit is configured to detect information regarding focus of the optical system at the detection position. The determining unit is connected to the detecting unit and configured to determine whether the information regarding the focus is within a predetermined range. The acquiring unit is connected to the determining unit and configured to acquire first image information at the detection position when the determining unit determines that the information regarding the focus is within the predetermined range. The control unit is connected to the acquiring unit and configured to evaluate arbitrary second image information in the screen using the first image information.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2010Date of Patent: August 28, 2012Assignee: Nikon CorporationInventor: Keiko Muramatsu
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Patent number: 8238739Abstract: A positioning system for a miniature electronic device. The positioning system has a first portion including a damper and a second portion connected to the first portion. The second portion positions a payload of the miniature electronic device. The miniature electronic device may be a miniature camera, or other device.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2010Date of Patent: August 7, 2012Assignee: Digital Optics Corporation MEMSInventor: Roman C. Gutierrez
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Patent number: 8231285Abstract: A resist pattern forming method using a coating and developing apparatus and an aligner being connected thereto which are controlled to form a resist film on a surface of a substrate with a base film and a base pattern formed thereon, followed by inspecting at least one of a plurality of measurement items selected from: reflection ratio and film thickness of the base film and the resist film, line width after a development, an accuracy that the base pattern matches with a resist pattern, a defect on the surface after the development, etc. A parameter subject to amendment is selected based on corresponding data of each measurement item, such as the film thickness of the resist and the line width after the development, and amendment of the parameter is performed. This results in a reduced workload of an operator, and the appropriate amendment can be performed.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2009Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: Tokyo Electron LimitedInventors: Kunie Ogata, Koki Nishimuko, Hiroshi Tomita, Yoshio Kimura, Ryouichi Uemura, Michio Tanaka