Patents Examined by Clayton E. LaBalle
  • Patent number: 11714294
    Abstract: Provided is a camera module which includes a cover, a base connected with the cover, and a lens carrier provided between the cover and the base, the camera module including: an OIS body provided inside the cover; a first ball bearing interposed between the cover and the OIS body; an AF driver provided between the OIS body and the lens carrier; and an OIS driver for moving the OIS body in perpendicular to an optical axis of the lens carrier. Since the first ball bearing is supported while being in direct contact with an inner ceiling of the cover and an upper surface of the OIS body, the overall module thickness may be formed to be thinner than a structure in which the ball bearing is provided below the OIS body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: NAMUGA, CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jin Suk Han, Tae Hoon Jung, Seung Taek Shin
  • Patent number: 11712319
    Abstract: A surgical lighting system and a method of rotating a camera of a surgical lighting system includes a light head housing including a plurality of light emitting elements arranged to emit light downward to a region of interest, a handle mounted to and protruding downward from the light head housing, the handle including a handle housing having a sufficient size to be gripped by the human hand, and a camera assembly mounted within the handle housing and including a camera having a field of view that encompasses at least a portion of the region of interest. The camera assembly is mounted within the handle housing for rotation greater than 360 degrees about a rotation axis from a first stop to a second stop and vice versa. The first stop limits clockwise rotation of the camera and the second stop limits counterclockwise rotation of the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: American Sterilizer Company
    Inventors: Breese J. Watson, Gregory Turcovsky
  • Patent number: 11716455
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for a stereo endoscope includes receiving electromagnetic radiation through an inner protective window; focusing the electromagnetic radiation with a left optical component toward a left pixel array of a stereo image sensor along an optical axis of the left optical component parallel with but offset from a center axis of the left pixel array; and focusing the electromagnetic radiation with a right optical component toward a right pixel array of the stereo image sensor along an optical axis of the right optical component parallel with but offset from a center axis of the right pixel array. The left pixel array and the right pixel array are offset from the center optical axis of the stereo endoscope to provide stereo image convergence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: David D. Scott, David C. Shafer, Dominique Brichard, Peter M. Herzlinger
  • Patent number: 11714373
    Abstract: A toner cartridge according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for holding toner. A first electrical contact and a second electrical contact are positioned on a first longitudinal end of the housing. The first electrical contact is electrically connected to processing circuitry positioned on the housing. The second electrical contact is electrically connected to an imaging component positioned on the housing. The first electrical contact is positioned higher than the second electrical contact. A first drive coupler and a second drive coupler are positioned on a second longitudinal end of the housing. The first electrical contact and the second electrical contact are positioned higher than a first rotational axis of the first drive coupler. The first electrical contact is positioned higher than a second rotational axis of the second drive coupler and the second electrical contact is positioned lower than the second rotational axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark William Amann, Brian Lester Boettcher, James Anthany Carter, II, Benjamin Charles Devore, Darin Michael Gettelfinger
  • Patent number: 11709336
    Abstract: A lens driving mechanism is provided, including a bottom plate, a housing, connected to the bottom plate, a movable portion movably received between the housing and the bottom plate, and a biasing assembly connecting the bottom plate to the base of the movable portion. The movable portion includes a frame, a holder, and a base, wherein the holder is received in the frame and configured to sustain the optical lens, and the base is connected to the frame and the holder. The biasing assembly connects the bottom plate to the base of the movable portion, wherein when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis, the base and the biasing assembly partially overlap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: TDK TAIWAN CORP.
    Inventors: Chen-Chi Kuo, Chao-Chang Hu, Sin-Jhong Song
  • Patent number: 11709446
    Abstract: A fixing unit includes a tubular film, a pressure roller, a heater including a first heating element and a second heating element, a detector configured to detect a temperature of the heater, a switcher configured to switch which of the first heating element and the second heating element is supplied power from a power supply, and a controller configured to control the switcher. The controller is configured to execute a first control of determining a first electric energy and a second electric energy based on the temperature of the heater detected by the detector and a target temperature of the heater, and a second control of causing the switcher to switch between a state in which power is supplied to the first heating element by the first electric energy and a state in which power is supplied to the second heating element by the second electric energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kohei Wakatsu, Kazuhiro Doda
  • Patent number: 11709418
    Abstract: The present invention provides a rear projection simulator system with a free-form fold mirror. The system includes a high definition projector and a curved screen. The free-form fold mirror is interposed between the projector and the screen. The free-form fold mirror includes one or more non-planar (e.g., curved) portions to eliminate or reduce loss of resolution of the projected image near the edges or boundaries of the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: FLIGHTSAFETY INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Adam Kristopher Spiegelman, Justin King Knaplund
  • Patent number: 11703412
    Abstract: Sewer line and lateral inspections are made in order to detect leaks and improper connections, using steam injected into a section of sewer line. Thermal imaging of the vicinity indicates leaks and illegal connections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Inventor: Benjamin Dillingham
  • Patent number: 11703741
    Abstract: A shutter device includes a base plate including an opening, a blade unit configured to switch a state of the opening, a driving member configured to drive the blade unit, a motor, a decelerator configured to decelerate power from the motor, a first connector engaged with the decelerator, a second connector having one end attached to the driving member and another attached to the first connector, a first position detector configured to detect passage through a predetermined position in a moving locus of the driving member or the first connector, and a second position detector configured to detect a relative difference from the first position detector. The blade unit switches the state of the opening from the closed state to the opened state by continuous rotation of the first connector. Driving of the motor is controlled based on results of the detection by the first and second position detectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ryusei Fukuoka
  • Patent number: 11703743
    Abstract: A surveillance camera assembly includes an upper portion providing a mounting feature for the surveillance camera assembly. A ball-shaped head portion of the camera assembly is coupled to the upper portion. A camera lens module is positioned within the head portion and movable relative to the upper portion to pan about a pan axis and tilt about a tilt axis. An illuminator module is movable to pan and tilt with the camera lens module, the illuminator module including laterally opposed arrays of lighting elements supported on distal ends of a bifurcated cooling duct having a central inlet opening coupled to the discharge outlet of a first blower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Theodore L. Jones, Devin F. Moore, Luke D. Grim
  • Patent number: 11698355
    Abstract: A method of operating a gas sensing device is described. The method includes receiving a signal indicative of a value of resistance of a gas sensing element, processing the signal received to compute a value of a gas concentration, performing a comparison of the value of gas concentration to a threshold, and, based on the outcome of a diagnosis procedure, setting the device to an alert signal issue state as a function of the outcome of the comparison. The diagnosis procedure includes computing a set of parameters indicative of the state of the gas sensor circuit, and classifying the gas sensor circuit in one of a first, a second and a third class based on the parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.
    Inventors: Fabio Passaniti, Enrico Rosario Alessi
  • Patent number: 11693297
    Abstract: Folded cameras comprising a movable lens having a lens optical axis and positioned in an optical path between an optical path folding element (OPFE) and an image sensor, wherein the OPFE folds light from a first direction to a second direction, the second direction being substantially along the lens optical axis, and an actuator for controlled lens movement, the actuator including or being attached to a shield partially surrounding the lens, the shield having an opening positioned and dimensioned to enable installation of the lens into the shield from an insertion direction substantially parallel to the first direction. A folded camera disclosed herein may be included together with an upright camera in a dual-camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Corephotonics Ltd.
    Inventors: Itay Jerby, Itay Yedid, Gal Avivi, Ephraim Goldenberg, Gil Bachar, Gal Shabtay
  • Patent number: 11693334
    Abstract: In a cartridge, a housing has a developer accommodating portion and includes a first side wall and a second side wall. A coupling member is disposed at a position opposite to the developer accommodating portion with respect to the first side wall. A detection body is disposed at a position opposite to the developer accommodating portion with respect to the second side wall. A first driving force transmission member is positioned at the same side with the coupling member with respect to the first side wall, and transmits driving force from the coupling member to a rotating member. A second driving force transmission member is positioned at the same side with the detection body with respect to the second side wall, and transmits driving force from the rotating member to the detection body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nao Itabashi, Naoya Kamimura
  • Patent number: 11692950
    Abstract: A system for measuring moisture in soil below the ground surface comprises at least one passive microwave sensor device configured to measure natural thermal emissions from the soil and output a data signal and a processing circuit operably coupled to the at least one passive microwave sensor wherein the processing circuit is configured to receive the data signal and compile a soil moisture profile. The system further comprises a wide-band antenna wherein the at least one passive microwave sensor is located therein and an elongate horizontal mounting frame extending between first and second ends wherein the first end is securable to a mobile agricultural device and wherein the wide-band antenna is secured to the second end so as to position the wide-band antenna at a distance above the ground surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Inventors: Maik Wolleben, Heinz Wolleben
  • Patent number: 11693340
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a paper feeding part that houses a medium to be fed; a belt-shaped image holding part that holds an image on a surface of the image holding part and rotates; a transfer part disposed to face the image holding part and transfers an image onto a medium from the image holding part in a final transfer region; and a cleaning part that removes a deposit on the surface of the image holding part passed through the final transfer region, in which a downstream side of the paper feeding part in a transport direction of a medium is inclined to be closer than an upstream side of the paper feeding part to the final transfer region, and the image holding part is inclined upward on a downstream side of the final transfer region toward the downstream side in a rotation of the image holding part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Naoya Mitamura, Kanji Watanabe, So Endo
  • Patent number: 11686952
    Abstract: Actuators for actuating a lens in a folded camera, folded cameras including such actuators and dual-cameras including such folded cameras. The actuators actuate a lens having a lens optical axis for auto-focus (AF) and optical image stabilization (OIS) and comprise a stationary sub-assembly that includes an OIS coil having an OIS coil plane and an AF coil having an AF coil plane, and a lens actuating sub-assembly movable relative to the stationary sub-assembly with a lens holder holding the lens, wherein the OIS coil plane is perpendicular to the AF coil plane and wherein the lens optical axis lies between the OIS coil plane and the AF coil plane. Some actuators have a design using VCM actuation and a reduced height due to top and/or bottom openings in actuator envelopes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Corephotonics Ltd.
    Inventors: Gal Barak, Itay Yedid, Ephraim Goldenberg
  • Patent number: 11687016
    Abstract: In a cartridge, a housing has a developer accommodating portion and includes a first side wall and a second side wall. A coupling member is disposed at a position opposite to the developer accommodating portion with respect to the first side wall. A detection body is disposed at a position opposite to the developer accommodating portion with respect to the second side wall. A first driving force transmission member is positioned at the same side with the coupling member with respect to the first side wall, and transmits driving force from the coupling member to a rotating member. A second driving force transmission member is positioned at the same side with the detection body with respect to the second side wall, and transmits driving force from the rotating member to the detection body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nao Itabashi, Naoya Kamimura
  • Patent number: 11679454
    Abstract: A method of cavitation peening may include coupling a moveable water source to a portable nozzle, through a flexible conduit. The method may include positioning the nozzle adjacent a treatment surface and discharging a first and second stream of fluid through a first and second channel of the nozzle, with the second channel concentrically positioned around the first channel. The first stream may have a first pressure, and the second stream may have a second pressure, the first pressure being greater than the second pressure and the two streams combining to generate a cloud of cavitation bubbles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Daniel Gordon Sanders, Amanda Jean Thoreson, Hali The Diep
  • Patent number: 11681202
    Abstract: A camera module includes a lens holder accommodating a lens module therein, a housing accommodating the lens module and the lens holder therein, a shake correction unit including first and second magnets, disposed in the lens holder, and first and second coils disposed to face the first and second magnets, a focusing unit including a third magnet, disposed in the lens module, and a third coil disposed on a first substrate disposed on the lens holder, and a plurality of ball members configured to support movement of the lens module in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis. The lens module, the lens holder, the third magnet, and the third coil are moved together in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis, by driving force of the shake correction unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Bong Won Jeong, Bo Sung Seo, Jae Hyuk Lee, Young Bok Yoon, Sung Hoon Kim, Jung Seok Lee, Soo Cheol Lim
  • Patent number: 11675296
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photoconductive drum, a developing roller, a sheet supplier, a fixing unit, and a controller. The fixing unit includes a heating roller, a first heater, a second heater, a first temperature sensor, and a second temperature sensor. The controller is configured to control the first heater so that a first detected-temperature becomes a target temperature at a central area, and control the second heater so that a second detected-temperature becomes a target temperature at an end area, and in accordance with a heat storage amount of the fixing unit stored by the heating of the second heater, change (i) a timing when supply of the sheet is started or (ii) the target temperature at the end area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tokifumi Tanaka, Sadaharu Kato, Yusuke Mizuno, Shuya Ichikawa