Patents Examined by Bret Adams
  • Patent number: 7853138
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomokazu Yoshida
  • Patent number: 7853140
    Abstract: The image of a subject is sensed, the image of the subject is displayed on the display screen of a digital still camera and the image of a face is detected in the image of the subject. The image of the subject is shifted in such a manner that the center of the detected face image becomes the center of the display screen, and the image is enlarged and displayed on the display screen. Since the image of the face is displayed in enlarged form, it becomes easier to check the face even if the display screen is small in size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Masahiko Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 7841787
    Abstract: The present invention provides a rinsing method capable of satisfactorily rinsing the surface of a resist film regardless of the condition of the surface of the resist film so that development defects caused by residuals produced by development may be reduced. A rinsing method of rinsing a substrate processed by a developing process for developing an exposed pattern comprises the steps of discharging a rinsing liquid onto a central part of the substrate processed by the developing process and coated with a developer puddle while the substrate is stopped or rotated (step 5), stopping discharging the rinsing liquid in a state where the developer puddle remains at least in a peripheral part of the substrate (step 6), and rotating the substrate at a high rotating speed to shake the developer remaining on the substrate off the substrate together with the rinsing liquid (step 7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Hirofumi Takeguchi, Junji Nakamura, Kousuke Yoshihara
  • Patent number: 7841782
    Abstract: A dome type camera (1) comprises a camera (2), a lower case (3) having a first serration (9), an upper case (4), a dome cover (6), and an inner cover (7) having a second serration (20), where the upper case (4) can be attached to the lower case (3) at two steps of attachment positions which are an adjustment position and a locking position. When the attachment position of the upper case (4) is set at the adjustment position, the first serration (9) and the second serration (20) are incompletely engaged with each other, allowing the inner cover (7) to be rotatable with respect to the lower case (3), and when the attachment position of the upper case (4) is set at the locking position, the first serration (9) and the second serration (20) are completely engaged with each other, allowing the inner cover (7) to be fixed to the lower case (3). The orientation of the cover can be easily adjusted after the cover has been attached, and the work efficiency is improved in installation and adjustment works.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Toshikazu Tatewaki
  • Patent number: 7835639
    Abstract: When the mode is set to a strobe consecutive shooting mode, an imaging apparatus sets the mode to a pixel addition drive mode for reading out image data using pixel addition drive (S7), performs metering operation using preliminary flashing (S8) and calculates an appropriate amount of flashing on the basis of the metering operation (S9). Next, the imaging apparatus judges whether or not it is possible to flash three times consecutively with the calculated amount of flashing (S10). If it is judged that it is not possible to flash three times consecutively with the calculated amount of flashing (NO in S10), the imaging apparatus limits the amount of flashing to the largest amount of flashing within the range of amounts of flashing with which flashing of strobe light three times consecutively is possible (S11), and performs strobe consecutive shooting with the limited amount of flashing (S13 to S17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomohiko Murakami, Yoshiyuki Kato, Takeshi Sato
  • Patent number: 7831139
    Abstract: A camera module includes a barrel for receiving at least a first lens, an actuator, and a holder. The actuator includes an annular stator and a carrying member. The stator is connected to the barrel and defines a plurality of spaced parallel inner branches in an inner side thereof. The carrying member is received in the stator and defines a through hole therein for receiving at least a second lens. The carry member defines a plurality of spaced parallel outer branches in the outer sidewall thereof. The outer branches are alternately interleaved between the inner branches and have a voltage thereacross for driving the carrying member to move forward and backward. The holder is connected to the barrel and configured for receiving the barrel and the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Pei-Ching Kuo
  • Patent number: 7811009
    Abstract: A camera that has an acquisition unit which acquires an identifier via a cradle apparatus connected to the camera, a comparison unit which compares the identifier acquired by the acquisition unit with an identifier stored in a memory, and a camera controller which controls access of the apparatus connected via the cradle apparatus based on comparison results by the comparison unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ichiko Mayuzumi
  • Patent number: 7809261
    Abstract: An image sensing apparatus to which a detachable lens unit (102) is attached, is provided with an image sensor (106) that converts light beams entering through the attached lens unit into electrical signals, and a display unit (107), including an electronic viewfinder mode to continuously display on the display unit images based on the electrical signals obtained by the image sensor. The image sensing apparatus has a control unit (135) that causes an aperture unit (104) included in the attached lens unit to stop down, when there is an instruction to display on the display unit an image other than the image based on the electrical signals obtained by the image sensor while in the electronic viewfinder mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 7801439
    Abstract: There is provided an image taking device with removable optical unit, with which it is possible to operate the power supply of the image taking device body without operating a power switch, and operation of the power supply of the image taking device body is made easy. The image taking device with removable optical element is provided with an image taking device body, a lens unit (optical unit) that is removable with respect to the image taking device body, an attachment detection unit for detecting attachment of the lens unit to the image taking device body, and a system controller (control unit) for turning a power supply of the image taking device body on upon detection of attachment of the lens unit to the image taking device body by the attachment detection unit. The system controller is configured to turn off the power supply of the image taking device body in a state where attachment of the lens unit to the image taking device body is not detected by the attachment detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Hideki Nagata, Minoru Omaki, Hirofumi Tsuchida, Toshiyuki Nagaoka
  • Patent number: 7796874
    Abstract: An imaging system, comprising a battery checker, an anti-shake controller, and an image processor, is provided. The imaging system is able to carry out mechanical and electronic anti-shake functions. The battery checker detects available charge of a battery. The anti-shake controller orders the mechanical anti-shake function to be carried out if the available charge is greater than a first threshold value. The anti-shake controller orders the electronic anti-shake function to be carried out if the available charge is less than the first threshold value. The image processor treats an image captured in a second area in the imaging area as a captured moving image while the mechanical anti-shake function is carried out. The size of the second area is second size, which is determined according to the available charge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7792424
    Abstract: A camera handle includes an underplate, a plastic layer and a protective film. The protective film enwraps the plastic layer and is fixed on the underplate. A method for manufacturing the camera handle includes the following steps: fixing a protective film on an underplate, the underplate defining a plurality of through holes uncovered on a glue side of the underplate by the protective film during the protective film draped over the side of the underplate; positioning the sub-assembly of the protective film and the underplate in a tool that defines a concave portion and at least one air channel thereof, wherein, the protective film is adjacent the air channel; pumping air via the air channel for forming a space between the protective film and the underplate; filling the space with the plastic layer via the through holes; sealing the through holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: I-Tzu Chen
  • Patent number: 7773872
    Abstract: A camera is provided which is configured to receive a photographic lens having a diaphragm. The camera includes a defocus amount detection unit configured to detect first information corresponding to a defocus amount, from light passing through the photographic lens mounted on the camera; an acquisition unit configured to acquire second information corresponding to an image-forming position from a lens position output unit provided on the photographic lens; and an image-forming position prediction unit configured to predict a change in image-forming position based on a change in the second information and a plurality of the past first information stored in a memory, wherein the image-forming position prediction unit predicts the image forming position in consideration of third information corresponding to time required for diaphragm driving that is acquired from a diaphragm driving time prediction unit provided on the photographic lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomokazu Yoshida
  • Patent number: 7766566
    Abstract: In the present invention, a substrate transfer unit into/from which a substrate is transferred from/to the outside of a treatment container and a developing treatment unit in which development of the substrate is performed are arranged side by side in the treatment container, and a carrier mechanism is provided which carries the substrate while grasping an outside surface of the substrate from both sides, between the substrate transfer unit and the developing treatment unit. A developing solution supply nozzle for supplying a developing solution onto the substrate and a gas blow nozzle for blowing a gas to the substrate, are provided between the substrate transfer unit and the developing treatment unit and above a carriage path along which the substrate is carried, and a cleaning solution supply nozzle is provided in the developing treatment unit for supplying a cleaning solution onto the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Takahiro Kitano, Masami Akimoto, Shuuichi Nishikido, Dai Kumagai
  • Patent number: 7769283
    Abstract: A lens apparatus includes an imaging optical system including a focus lens unit, a branching optical unit disposed at the image side of the focus lens unit, a focus-state detecting unit including a focus detecting element having a focus detection area that receives light beams from the branching optical unit, and detecting a focus state by using the focus detecting element, an actuator that drives the focus lens unit in an optical axis direction thereof, a controller that controls the actuator, in accordance with an output from the focus-state detecting unit, and a movable image-side optical unit disposed at the image side of the branching optical unit. The controller changes the size of the focus detection area of the focus detecting element within a range in accordance with the position of the image-side optical unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ryuji Nurishi
  • Patent number: 7766564
    Abstract: A shutter device of a camera includes an upper plate and a bottom plate. An oscillator, which is provided between the upper plate and the lower plate, includes a rotator having a spindle, and the spindle pivots its opposite ends on pivot portions of the upper plate and the lower plate respectively. A driving arm is provided to the spindle to swing two shutter blades for exposing or shading an aperture of an aperture plate. One of the shutter blade is fixed to the driving arm that the spindle is no longer to be a rotation center of the second shutter blade, so that a working space, in which the aperture plate, the shutter blades are received, is elevated to the same level as the pivot portion of the lower plate to reduce a thickness of the shutter device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Union Plus Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Ogura
  • Patent number: 7766562
    Abstract: A lens support system for stabilizing and securing a large camera lens when it is attached to a camera is disclosed. The lens support system consists of a lens cradle that is attached to the tripod mount of a large camera lens, and a neck strap attached to the lens cradle that will be worn around the photographer's neck. The lens support system can also be used to secure a lens when unattached to a camera, and can be used as a balanced hand-hold without the neck strap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Inventor: Michael Dowell
  • Patent number: 7764880
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus, for controlling actual flash amount at the time of exposure based on an amount of reflected light from a predetermined metering region of a screen, comprises a first screen dividing section for dividing the screen into a first region, constituting a candidate for the metering region, and a second region other than that by comparing first feature data of image data that has been acquired by performing pre-flash before actual flash and second feature data of image data taken without performing pre-flash, a second screen dividing section for dividing the screen into a third region, being a region of an image having a predetermined feature, and a fourth region other than that, an image evaluation section for evaluating whether to include in the metering region or remove from the metering region based on different evaluation criteria according to whether the image of the third region or the fourth region belongs to the first region, or belongs to the second region, and a flash amount con
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Olympus Imaging Corp.
    Inventor: Takashi Hamada
  • Patent number: 7753599
    Abstract: An accessory includes an apparatus-side portion and an accessory-side portion to be attached to the apparatus-side portion. The accessory-side portion includes a surface, an internally threaded portion open on the surface, and an externally threaded member to be rotatably engaged with the internally threaded portion. The externally threaded member is positioned either in a retraction position by rotation of the externally threaded member in one direction or in an extension position by rotation of the externally threaded member in an opposite direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshio Segawa, Fujio Nemoto
  • Patent number: 7744296
    Abstract: A camera module (200) includes a lens module and a base (210) with a sensor installed thereon. The base is provided with at least two supporting protrusions (222) extending therefrom. Each protrusion is oriented the lens module, and the lens module is fixedly to and contacts with the at least two supporting protrusions. A colloid layer surrounding the sensor is sandwiched between the second end of the holder and the base. Electronic components are disposed on the circuit board and covered by the colloid layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: He-Ming Wu, Fu-Chieh Chan, Shin-Wen Chen, Fu-Yen Tseng
  • Patent number: 7747159
    Abstract: A focusing device capable of setting (S402) a focusing area according to a detection result of a target subject, wherein even if the target subject is no longer detected, when the target subject is assumed to be present, the velocity of the movement of the focusing lens (104) is made slower. Thus, even if the target subject can no longer be detected, it is possible to suppress the in-focus position from changing significantly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masaaki Uenishi