Patents Examined by Kevin Butler
  • Patent number: 10203469
    Abstract: Provided are an auto focus (AF) locking unit and a photo-graphing apparatus including the AF locking unit. In particular, the AF locking unit supports a lens group barrel holder that is descended by a movement of a front barrel in an optical axis direction by using a locking lever provided with an elastic force, and the photographing apparatus includes the AF locking unit. According to an embodiment, the AF locking unit supports the lens group barrel holder including lenses in the optical axis direction by using a driving force transmitted from a motor in correspondence to movements of a cam barrel and a front barrel, and the photographing apparatus includes the AF locking unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kwang-seok Byon, Jung-soo Kim, Chi-young Park, Young-jae Hwang
  • Patent number: 10197890
    Abstract: An array imaging module includes at least two optical lenses and a molded photosensitive assembly, wherein the molded photosensitive assembly includes at least two photosensitive units, a circuit board that electrically couples to the photosensitive units, and a molded base having at least two optical windows. The molded base is integrally coupled at the circuit board at a peripheral portion thereof, wherein the photosensitive units are aligned with the optical windows respectively. The optical lenses are located along two photosensitive paths of the photosensitive units respectively, such that each of the optical windows forms a light channel through the corresponding photosensitive unit and the corresponding optical lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Ningbo Sunny Opotech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mingzhu Wang, Bojie Zhao, Zhenyu Chen, Takehiko Tanaka, Nan Guo, Zhen Huang, Duanliang Cheng, Liang Ding, Feifan Chen, Heng Jiang
  • Patent number: 10197891
    Abstract: An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes an image sensor for capturing an image; a barrel including a lens group arranged about a first axis perpendicular to the image sensor, a first housing fixed to the barrel; a second housing disposed under the first housing and coupled to the first housing; at least one magnetic substance disposed at one side of the first housing; and at least one coil disposed at one side of the second housing. When power is supplied to the at least one coil, electromagnetic force is generated between the at least one coil and the at least one magnetic substance. And if the electromagnetic force is generated, the first housing rotates clockwise or counterclockwise, and the barrel moves along the first axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyung Jin Rho, Byung Kwon Kang, Young Bok Yu, Sung Wook Choi, Dong Hun Yu, Ki Huk Lee
  • Patent number: 10189580
    Abstract: An imaging device can be mounted on a vehicle and used to capture images. The imaging device can include a camera assembly rotatable relative to a platform of the vehicle and about two or three camera axes. The camera assembly can include a camera and a mirror attached to the camera. The mirror can be rotatable relative to the camera and about one or two mirror axes, different from the camera axes. Users can provide input to controllers that operate the vehicle, the camera, and the mirror to control both flight and the line-of-sight of the camera. The controllers combine separate inputs as well as measured conditions, such as inertial angles, to coordinate control of vehicle, camera, and mirror parameters, such as yaw adjustments to both the camera and the mirror to achieve a desired line-of-sight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Aerobo
    Inventors: Kenneth R. Lorell, Jean-Noël Aubrun, Brian Streem
  • Patent number: 10184795
    Abstract: Improved sensing devices are provided for determining the spatial disposition of a movable object. In one aspect, an apparatus for determining a spatial disposition of a movable object comprises: a support base configured to be carried by a movable object; one or more accelerometers coupled to the support base via a first damping element configured to damp motion of the one or more accelerometers; and one or more gyroscopes coupled to the support base via a second damping element configured to damp motion of the one or more gyroscopes, wherein an amount of motion damping provided by the first damping element is greater than an amount of motion damping provided by the second damping element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: SZ DJI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jian Yu Song, Ren Li Shi, Tao Wang
  • Patent number: 10178285
    Abstract: A double-camera imaging device includes a base bracket and two camera units. The base bracket comprises a base plate, each camera unit comprises a printed circuit board, and the two camera units are fixed on the base plate and spaced apart each other via the printed circuit boards fixed on the base plate. The base bracket is configured to protect the two camera units from external force attack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignees: TRIPLE WIN TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) CO. LTD., HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shin-Wen Chen, Ye-Quang Chen
  • Patent number: 10167992
    Abstract: A dome camera mechanism for an improved gimbal pan assembly which stops further rotation of an optical module of the dome camera in a pan direction using a cam latch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Avigilon Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew Joseph Stark, Christopher James Cullington Okrainetz, Nigel Geoffrey Taylor
  • Patent number: 10156775
    Abstract: There is disclosed a substantially integrated, concealed, and discreet device for extending and holding a mobile recording device. A user of this holder device can unlock the mechanism, pull an extension arm segment which will pull past the body of the recording device so as to form a handle and extension and thereby allow the user to capture audio, video, and other images at a distance greater than if holding the mobile recording device directly in his or her hand. Thus an extensible mobile recording device holder is provided that allows for a compact and concealable mechanism and efficient deployment so that users can quickly and adequately capture images from more varied and greater perspectives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Inventor: Eric Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 10156772
    Abstract: There is provided a blade drive device including a substrate that has an opening, a front curtain and a rear curtain that are movable along an opening surface of the opening so as to open and close the opening, a front curtain electromagnetic actuator that actuates the front curtain, a rear curtain electromagnetic actuator that actuates the rear curtain, and that is capable of holding the rear curtain at an open position in a state having no power supply, a front curtain locking portion that interlocks with opening and closing operations of the front curtain, a rear curtain locking portion that interlocks with opening and closing operations of the rear curtain, and a blade position holding mechanism that is capable of entry and escape between an entry position which enters each operation trajectory of the front curtain locking portion and the rear curtain locking portion in response to the opening and closing operations of the front curtain and the rear curtain and an escape position escaped from the operatio
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: SEIKO PRECISION INC.
    Inventor: Yoichi Nakano
  • Patent number: 10146102
    Abstract: The invention relates to an iris device (1) for optical imaging systems (71), comprising an aperture arrangement (5) and to a medical imaging system (72) comprising a sensor (15), in particular a camera (15a). Conventional iris devices (1) known from the art unavoidably suffer a necessary trade-off between the depth of field and the amount of light transmitted through the optical system (71), i.e. in particular the amount of light incident on the sensor (15). This disadvantage results from the fact that iris devices (Wo one) of the art transmit or reject light in the same way for all wavelengths (43), i.e. show a spectrally flat transmission property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Leica Instruments (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: George Themelis
  • Patent number: 10139042
    Abstract: A crane apparatus for shooting is provided that achieves good operability and does not catch the hand. According to the crane apparatus for shooting of the present invention, the sub jibs are configured to be built in the main jib or a gap between the main jib and the sub jib is configured not to expose to the outside, and the hand of a cameraman is not caught between the main jib and the sub jib.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Nihon Video System Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kentaro Hashiguchi
  • Patent number: 10126634
    Abstract: A camera array mount made with a series of links is provided that is easy to set up, dynamically reconfigurable, compact, and convenient to store and transport. The links are dynamically configurable into camera array mounts with adjustable radius of curvatures. The links are made of plastic, composites, metals, aluminum, or alloys that can be molded or cast for mass production. The links can be broken down for storage and transport. The links can be adapted for various camera sizes and camera mounts. The links provide improved indexing with angled slots that reduce pin slop. The links provide an optimized weight to support ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Inventor: Davo Scheich
  • Patent number: 10110816
    Abstract: An optical unit with a shake correction function may include a unit with a swing mechanism having an optical module and a swing drive mechanism structured to swing the optical module, a rolling drive mechanism including a magnetic drive mechanism structured to turn the unit with the swing mechanism in a direction different from a swing direction by the swing drive mechanism, a connection member which connects the unit with the swing mechanism with a turning shaft of the rolling drive mechanism, and a support member which supports the rolling drive mechanism. The connection member includes an abutting part integrally turned with the unit with the swing mechanism and the support member includes a position restriction part which restricts a movable range of the abutting part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shinroku Asakawa
  • Patent number: 10100968
    Abstract: A protractible and retractable mast system for an autonomous mobile robot includes an elongate flexible member including a first lateral end and a second lateral end, and a fastener having a first portion extending along a length of the first lateral end and a second portion extending along a length of the second lateral end. The flexible member is configured to be at least partially coiled within a body of the robot, and a portion of the flexible member is vertically movable away from the body when the flexible member is being uncoiled. The fastener is configured to connect the first lateral end to the second lateral end when the flexible member is being uncoiled, and disconnect the first lateral end from the second lateral end when the flexible member is being coiled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick Chow, Nikolai Romanov
  • Patent number: 10101638
    Abstract: A watertight structure can improve the ease of assembly of electronic devices, facilitate manufacturing, and reduce parts counts and man-hours for assembly. The watertight structure of a touch panel device includes: a display panel constituting a display screen; a touch panel which is disposed outside the display panel and on which input operations are performed; and an enclosure which holds the display panel and the touch panel and has an opening in which the touch panel is exposed. In the structure, a thermoplastic decorative film is brought into close contact with the surface of the touch panel device along the entire periphery so that there exists no excessive portion of the decorative film that is protruded from the surface of the touch panel device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: SMK Corporation
    Inventors: Koichiro Ejiri, Kazunobu Yoneyama, Haruhiko Kondo
  • Patent number: 10100702
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a particulate matter (PM) sensor assembly positioned downstream of a diesel particulate filter in an exhaust system. In one example, a PM sensor assembly may include a bent tube having a first, upstream end coupled to an exhaust passage, and a second outwardly flared end at a downstream end of the assembly. In this way, the second end of the bent tube may form a venturi that serves to block larger particulates from entering the assembly, and additionally serves to increase exhaust flow into the sensor assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Xiaogang Zhang
  • Patent number: 10095088
    Abstract: An optical apparatus includes a housing including an opening for letting a light flux pass through a first window member configured to let the light flux pass through, and to cover the opening, a second window member, overlapped with and fixed to the first window member, configured to let the light flux pass through, and a sealing member that is made of a stretchable material, and that is provided along an outer edge of the first window member or the second window member so as to form a sealed space portion between the first window member and the second window member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki Matsumura, Yukari Takahashi, Kei Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 10079458
    Abstract: The invention relates to a camera (2) for a motor vehicle (1) including a housing (5) configured to shield electromagnetic radiation at least in certain areas, including a circuit board (16) disposed in the housing (5), and including an interface device (11) for connecting the camera (2) to the motor vehicle (1), wherein the interface device (11) is electrically connected to the circuit board (16), wherein the interface device (11) includes a coaxial plug (12) with an inner conductor (13) and an outer conductor (14) and the camera (2) has a connecting device (17) for electrically connecting the outer conductor (14) to the housing (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: Connaught Electronics Ltd.
    Inventors: Colin Patrick Hehir, Carol Grimes
  • Patent number: 10073326
    Abstract: A gimbal comprises a first support frame, a second support frame, a third support frame, and a support assembly. The first support frame comprises two first-frame pillars, two guiding posts, and two clamping devices. The two guiding posts are movable along a longitudinal direction of the first-frame pillars through the clamping devices. The support assembly comprises two adaptors slidably arranged on the guiding posts. The third support frame comprises a third-frame pillar and a connecting plate. The gimbal further comprises at least one center of gravity adjusting unit which is arranged at least on the first-frame pillar, between the two clamping devices, or in the connecting plate. The at least one center of gravity adjusting unit is configured to at least adjust positions of the guiding posts on the first-frame pillars, positions of the adaptors on the guiding posts, or a position of the third-frame pillar on the connecting plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: SZ DJI OSMO TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Li Zhou, Yanchong Zhao
  • Patent number: 10066786
    Abstract: A camera mount (1) for a camera, comprising: a base mounting means configured to securely connect to a base; a camera platform (3) configured for mounting a camera securely thereon, and; an extension element (4) configured to extend between the base mounting means (2) and the camera platform (3) so that in use a camera mounted on the camera platform (3) is held a distance away from the base mounting means (2). The camera mount includes a sacrificial point to permit detachment of the camera platform (3) from the base mounting means when a force is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Inventor: Adrian Cox