Patents Examined by Rochelle Ann J Blackman
  • Patent number: 9213222
    Abstract: A tripod head suitable for holding an imaging device thereon being supported by a tripod includes the tripod head being movable to position the imaging device at a desired orientation. A control arm is affixed to and movable in a two-dimensional arc, without being movable in three-dimensions over the two-dimensional arc, with respect to the tripod head. The control arm has selectable resistance to movement along the two-dimensional arc as a result of selectively increasing or decreasing the resistance between at least three friction plates having surfaces in face-to-face engagement with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Really Right Stuff, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph M. Johnson, Verent Chan
  • Patent number: 9207613
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided that includes an image forming unit including a process unit, a frame configured to hold the process unit detachably attached thereto, the frame including a first communication portion communicating with an outside of the frame in a first direction to detach the image forming unit from the frame, and a second communication portion communicating with the outside of the image forming apparatus in a second direction different from the first direction, and a material holder configured to hold material for image formation by the image forming unit and detachably attached to a predetermined portion of the frame that is close to the second communication portion relative to the voltage output terminal, so as to close the second communication portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahito Hamaya, Tetsuya Okano
  • Patent number: 9207606
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, an image forming apparatus which has a function of performing an erasing process of erasing an image formed on a recording medium and an image forming process of forming an image on the recording medium is provided. The image forming apparatus automatically performs the erasing process when a state where an operation panel does not receive a process request from a user continues during a predetermined time or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Eiji Shinohara
  • Patent number: 9207429
    Abstract: A compact camera lens composed of the following five lenses in this sequence proceeding from the object side: a first positive meniscus lens, wherein the concave surface of the first positive meniscus lens faces away from the object side; a second negative lens, wherein the object-side surface of the second negative lens is concave; a third positive lens, wherein the image-side surface of the third positive lens is convex; a fourth biconvex lens; and a fifth negative lens. The fourth biconvex lens and the fifth negative lens are in each case cemented with one another. The object-side surface of the third positive lens and the image-side surface of the fifth negative lens are of aspherical form. The objective is particularly robust, compact, has a large aperture and very good imaging characteristics. It is suitable for example as an objective of an exterior mirror replacement camera in the automotive field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Inventors: Udo Schauss, Ralf Linn
  • Patent number: 9201295
    Abstract: An optical light engine (100) includes one or more light-emitting diode (LED) panels (101, 102, 103) that are combined into a common path and directly imaged onto panel device to provide a source of light to a microdisplay panel (109). Preferably, the LED panel (101, 102, 103) is shaped such that the aspect ratio of light propagating the LED panel is substantially equal to the light received at the microdisplay panel (109). An aspect ratio of 4:3 or 16:9 is typically selected in view of the sizes of the LED panels used in the light engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Jabil Circuit, Inc.
    Inventors: Israel J. Morejon, Jinhui Zhai, Haizhang Li
  • Patent number: 9195118
    Abstract: A camera apparatus includes a camera unit that is provided with a camera lens, a camera body that rotatably holds the camera unit, and a rotating mechanism that rotates the camera unit in response to an emergency signal so as to be switched from a first state where the camera lens is stored inside the camera body to a second state where the camera lens is exposed to an outside of the camera body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinichiro Okamura, Hiroki Yamanaka, Tamotsu Uchida, Masami Asanuma
  • Patent number: 9188915
    Abstract: A fuser control device that controls a fuser that heats and fuses developer on a medium for an image formation on the medium includes the fuser including a heating member that rotates while contacting and heating the medium, and a rotation member that rotates and sandwiches the medium with the heating member; a heat supply part that supplies heat to the heating member; a temperature detection part that detects a temperature of the heating member; a heating controller that controls the heat supply part based on a detection result by the temperature detection part; and a rotation controller that controls a rotational speed of the heating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Toshiki Sato
  • Patent number: 9179821
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system for use in surgical procedures. The system includes an endoscope; an imaging device coupled to the endoscope; an imaging processor coupled to the imaging device; and at least one management system coupled to the imaging processor, wherein a function of the management system is automatically adjusted upon receipt of a communication from the imaging processor. A method of adjusting an image of a surgical site during a surgical procedure is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
    Inventor: Cemal Shener
  • Patent number: 9170516
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit that forms a pattern image for image quality adjustment on an image carrier; a detection unit that detects the pattern image for the image quality adjustment; an image quality adjustment control unit that controls an image quality adjustment process in accordance with a result of detection of the detection unit; a reception unit that receives a color mode selected from among a plurality of kinds of color modes; and a calculation unit that calculates a total pattern length so that a total length of the pattern image for the image quality adjustment in a sub-scanning direction is equal in any of the color modes, wherein the image forming unit forms the pattern image for the image quality adjustment so that the total length of the pattern image for the image quality adjustment is equal to the calculated total pattern length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Yuichiro Shukuya, Katsuhiko Maeda
  • Patent number: 9164362
    Abstract: A swivel tether for attaching a camera via a cord to an object, the swivel tether including a side release buckle system having a ball joint connection that allows for 360 degree swivel functionality. This permits the camera to rotate freely without adding tension or twisting of the cord attached thereto and without causing a threaded connection between an end of the cord and the camera to become unthreaded due to rotation of the camera. The ball joint connection may be configured in the plug connection component of the side release buckle system. The side release buckle system also includes a slide lock switch operative to lock plug and socket portions of the buckle system together to prevent unintentional release of the buckle system when fastened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: BLACK RAPID, INC.
    Inventors: Ronald Dean Henry, Nancy S. Riemer, Robert Gerald Carrasca, Tyler C. Swain
  • Patent number: 9152019
    Abstract: A camera holding assembly that is configured to hold a plurality of cameras in a predetermined orientation includes a support having a plurality of receptacles. Each of the receptacles include at least one feature enabling a camera to be releasably retained therein as well as at least one and preferably at least three attachment features configured for enabling the camera holding assembly to be secured to another object. The receptacles are oriented about the support so that each camera, when loaded into the defined receptacles, is aimed in a different angular orientation. Images obtained from each retained camera can be stitched to create either a composite 360 degree×180 degree full spherical image or a composite 360 degree composite image of a scene of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Inventor: Michael J. Kintner
  • Patent number: 9141055
    Abstract: A fixing unit includes a first heat source configured to heat a roller, and a second heat source configured to heat the roller. The maximum value of a total amount of heat generated in the second heat source is smaller than that of the first heat source. The second heat source has an amount of heat generated higher in ends of the second heat source than in a center thereof in a distribution of the amount of heat generated in the axial direction. The second heat source has a rate of the amount of heat generated in the ends of the second heat source to that in the center thereof higher than a rate of the amount of heat generated in the ends of the first heat source to that in the center thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Yutaka Otsuka
  • Patent number: 9122132
    Abstract: A motor for providing rotational movement along different directions simultaneously includes a stator, a rotor, a power shaft rotated together with the rotor, a first driving shaft, a first transmission gear located on the first driving shaft, a second driving shaft, and a second transmission gear located on the second driving shaft. The power shaft includes at least one driving gear located on an end portion of the power shaft. The first transmission gear and the second transmission gear engage with the driving gear to drive the first driving shaft and the second driving shaft to rotate, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Cheng-Yi Lai
  • Patent number: 9113836
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to devices and techniques associated with diagnostics, therapies, and other applications, including skin-associated applications, for example, devices for delivering and/or withdrawing fluid from subjects, e.g., through the skin. In some embodiments, the device includes a system for accessing an extractable medium from and/or through the skin of the subject at an access site, and a pressure regulator supported by a support structure, able to create a pressure differential across the skin at least a portion of the access site. The device may also include, in some cases, a sensor supported by the support structure for determining at least one condition of the extractable medium from the subject, and optionally a signal generator supported by the support structure for generating a signal relating to the condition of the medium determined by the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Seventh Sense Biosystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Howard Bernstein, Donald E. Chickering, III, Douglas A. Levinson, David R. Walt, Shawn Davis, Ramin Haghgooie
  • Patent number: 9113063
    Abstract: A camera unit includes a housing, a pan stage disposed inside the housing and rotatable relative to the housing about a pan axis, a camera lens assembly coupled to the pan stage, and a slip ring assembly having a slip ring stator fixedly coupled to the pan stage at a location offset from the pan axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Theodore L. Jones
  • Patent number: 9100566
    Abstract: In the present invention, in a state where a photographing parameter of an imaging section (for example, the focal length of a zoom lens) has been set within the range between a first value (for example, a wide angle end of 18 mm) and a second value (for example, a telephoto end of 140 mm), and a reference value (for example, 28 mm) for the photographing parameter has been set within the range between the first value and the second value, a control section changes the set parameter to the reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Toru Nakakusu
  • Patent number: 9097958
    Abstract: There is provided a camera module including: a housing including a lens barrel disposed therein; a first shield can coupled to the housing so that a lower end portion of an outer surface of the housing is exposed; a circuit board mounted at the lower end portion of the housing; and a second shield can covering the first shield can and the lower end portion of the housing, wherein the second shield can is provided with protrusion parts pressing an outer surface of the first shield can.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jang Hun Kim, Hwan Jun Kang, Sang Jin Lee
  • Patent number: 9094543
    Abstract: A system and method for effectively performing a streamlined photo distribution procedure is disclosed. A source device initially captures a photographic image of a target or subject using known techniques. The term “photographic image” as used herein is not limited to single photographs but includes moving pictures, video images and any other known or future means of capturing an image of an event. The source device is likewise broadly defined and includes, but is not limited to, digital cameras, video cameras, cell phones with digital photo capture means, computers, including PDAs or other devices or combination of devices with communication and photo capture means, and other image capture means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Alex Robert Woods
    Inventors: James Anthony Mullins, Alex Robert Woods
  • Patent number: 9086671
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a control unit, which is configured to, if a developing material image transferred to another member is formed on an image carrier, obtain a print ratio that is a ratio of the area of the formed developing material image with respect to the area of a developing material image capable of being formed on a recording material that is to be printed on, and a threshold value corresponding to a consumption amount of the developing material in a image forming unit and a number of sheets printed, and control an amount of developing material that is to be supplied to a cleaning unit in accordance with the print ratio and the threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kimitaka Ichinose, Kazuhiro Funatani, Tetsuichiro Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 9081257
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus that uses luminance information obtained through a test flash by a flash unit for illuminating a subject to determine a flash quantity of a flash unit for main photographing sets exposure conditions for the test flash based on exposure conditions for the main photographing. The imaging apparatus changes a predetermined test flash quantity for the test flash to compensate a difference between the set exposure conditions and predetermined initial values of exposure conditions for the test flash and performs the test flash based on the set exposure conditions and the changed test flash quantity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yasuyoshi Miyazaki