Patents Examined by Warren K Fenwick
  • Patent number: 10951824
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus may include a processor, a gyro, and an imaging module. The imaging module may be arranged separately from the gyro and the processor, and include a shell and a light reflection element, a mounting base, an image sensor and a driving device received in the shell. The light reflection element may be fixed on the mounting base and configured to reflect light incident from the light incident hole to reach the image sensor, so that the image sensor may sense the external light of the imaging module. Based on feedback data sent from the gyro, the processor may control the driving device to drive the mounting base carrying the light reflection element to rotate around a rotation axis, to achieve the optical image stabilization along an axial direction of the light incident hole. The rotation axis is perpendicular to the axial direction of the light incident hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.
    Inventor: Gong Zhang
  • Patent number: 10942054
    Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for calibrating the volume of storage containers using mechanical or acoustic wave-based inspection techniques. The exemplary calibration system comprises an array of measurement devices controllably deployed in respective positions on the outside surface of the container. The measurement devices include a transducer for sending signals along the surface of the container and sensors configured to detect the signals. The measurement devices are in communication with a diagnostic computing device that controls the positioning and the operation of the measurement devices and is further configured to determine the time time-of-flight of the signals that travel between the various devices. Moreover, according to the specific arrangement of the measurement devices and the measured signal information, the control computer is configured to calculate the dimensions of the container and its internal volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Brian Parrott, Fadl Abdellatif
  • Patent number: 10942422
    Abstract: A camera module includes a plastic carrier, an imaging lens assembly, a reflective element and a plurality of auto-focusing elements. The plastic carrier includes an inner portion and an outer portion, wherein an inner space is defined by the inner portion, and the outer portion includes at least one mounting structure. The imaging lens assembly is disposed in the inner space of the plastic carrier. The reflective element is for folding an image light by a reflective surface of the reflective element into the imaging lens assembly. The auto-focusing elements include at least two magnets and at least one wiring element, wherein the auto-focusing elements are for moving the plastic carrier along a second optical axis of the imaging lens assembly, and the magnets or the wiring element can be disposed on the mounting structure of the outer portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: LARGAN DIGITAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Te-Sheng Tseng, Ming-Ta Chou, Wen-Hung Hsu
  • Patent number: 10935408
    Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for calibrating the volume of storage containers using ultrasonic inspection techniques. The exemplary ultrasonic calibration system comprises a plurality of acoustic devices controllably deployed in respective positions on the outside surface of the container. The acoustic devices include a transducer for sending acoustic signals across the internal volume of the container and sensors configured to detect the acoustic signals. The acoustic devices are in communication with a diagnostic computing device that controls the positioning and the operation of the acoustic devices and is further configured to determine the time time-of-flight of acoustic signals that travel between the various acoustic devices. Moreover, according to the specific arrangement of acoustic devices and the measured acoustic signal information, the control computer is configured to calculate the dimensions of the container and its internal volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Vincent Cunningham, Ali Outa, Ihsan Al-Taie, Ayman Amer
  • Patent number: 10928712
    Abstract: A security device is configured to monitor a predetermined area of interest covertly. The security device is portable and capable of running under its own power via an integrated battery. By mounting to structures or infrastructure, the security device can be placed in areas typically reserved for lighting. To maximize storage and battery capacity, a base of the security device is configured to reside within the structure when secured thereto. The security device includes at least one camera and a lighting element. A user can wirelessly control the security device via a handheld monitoring or user interface device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: True North Services Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Bohning, Kimberley Conway
  • Patent number: 10928280
    Abstract: A sample encapsulation system includes a fixture, a base, a chamber having an inlet and a chamber housing. The housing has inner and outer housings. The chamber is mounted in the inner housing. The base, chamber and housing are affixed to one another and movable in the fixture. A cap has a first ram operably mounted thereto for engaging the chamber inlet. A second ram in the chamber opposite the inlet moves toward and away from the first ram. A heating assembly is positioned in the inner housing and a cooling assembly including a cooling jacket defined in part by the inner and outer housings includes a manifold. The chamber, housing and base are movable toward and away from the cap for engaging and disengaging the first ram with the chamber during and after the encapsulation cycle, respectively. The cooling system includes a vacuum breaker to self-drain following cooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas E. Sotomayor
  • Patent number: 10928709
    Abstract: A coupling releasably secures an item such as a body camera to a mount point. The coupling includes a connector and a receiver. The connector includes a crossbar and a post. The receiver includes an opening and a slot. The crossbar moves through the entry opening and the connector is rotated relative to the receiver. The post of the connector is moved through the slot to engage the receiver and hold the connector in a mounted position on the receiver, thereby securing the item to the mount point. Embodiments of the present disclosure also involve methods for securing the item to the mount point using a connector and receiver, as well as systems for mounting an item using a connector, receiver, and mount point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Axon Enterprise, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Wine, Andrew Ambach
  • Patent number: 10921690
    Abstract: A gimbal photographing device includes a machine body, a foldable mechanism connected with the machine body, and a gimbal camera connected with the foldable mechanism. The gimbal camera is configured to cling to the machine body through the foldable mechanism, and is configured to be positioned in an extended state or a folded state. The machine body includes a support wall configured to support the foldable mechanism and the gimbal camera. The foldable mechanism includes a base including a rotation member and a position limiting member connected with the rotation member. The position limiting member is connected with the gimbal camera. The position limiting member includes a first end and a second end that are opposingly disposed. The rotation member is rotatably connected with the support wall around a rotation axis direction to cause the gimbal camera to rotate relative to the machine body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: SZ DJI OSMO TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yifen Liu, Dengfeng Hu, Qiu Lan, Tianfei Zhao
  • Patent number: 10914865
    Abstract: A system and method for monitoring the intensification and weakening of tropical cyclones, including tropical storms and hurricanes. The method includes flying a UAV above the tropical cyclone for an extended period of time and detecting transitions in structure. Intensification to hurricane stage is indicated by core structure transition of the tropical cyclone to include the presence of an eye within an eyewall. The UAV can be a Global Hawk aircraft and include a number of sensors and detectors, such as a camera for providing images of the tropical cyclone, an infrared detector for detecting temperature changes in the eye structure, a radar detector for detecting wind magnitude and direction in the tropical cyclone, dropsonde sensors for measuring temperature, pressure, humidity, and wind speed/direction in the tropical cyclone, etc. The UAV can relay the vortex parameter data in real time to a satellite for subsequent downlinking to receiving stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Francis E. Fendell
  • Patent number: 10893213
    Abstract: Devices and methods for capturing vehicle undercarriage images are described. In some instances, a mirror assembly may be used to reflect images of portions of a vehicle undercarriage into a field of view of a camera to be captured, e.g., as a vehicle passes over the mirror assembly. Composite images may be reconstructed from the reflected portions of the vehicle undercarriage, and analysis may be performed on those reconstructed, composite images to identify features in the composite vehicle undercarriage images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: ACV Auctions Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Magnuszewski, Charlie Campanella, Keith Carolus, Darin Chambers, Reid Gershbein, Michael Pokora, Timothy Poulsen, Philip Schneider, Julian Baldwin
  • Patent number: 10884238
    Abstract: A scanner includes a lens assembly comprising a lens having a lens axis and a positioning system to adjust a focal plane of the lens assembly. The positioning system includes an outer element, an inner element that houses the lens assembly, and a linear-motion bearing that couples the inner element to the outer element. The linear-motion bearing includes a first element coupling and a second element coupling. The linear-motion bearing provides a single degree of translational movement of the inner element along the lens axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Rami Boltanski
  • Patent number: 10871703
    Abstract: The present application discloses a multi-lens camera, comprising a camera body and a light supplementing device; wherein, the camera body comprises a body shell assembly, lenses, an lens regulator and a transparent cover that is installed on the body shell assembly; the lens regulator is installed within a space formed by the body shell assembly and the transparent cover; the transparent cover comprises a flat portion and a curved portion surrounding the flat portion; the lenses are located within a space covered by the curved portion; the lens regulator comprises a fixing disc and at least two lens brackets; each of the lens brackets comprises a first bracket configured for mounting a lens; the first bracket is movably provided on the fixing disc, and is movable along the circumference of the fixing disc; the light supplementing device surrounds and is located outside of the camera body to provide fill light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: HANGZHOU HIKVISION DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yang Li, Caisheng Yan, Zhiqiang Rong, Zhan Ye, Peng Xu
  • Patent number: 10866489
    Abstract: The electronic device can be used with a power source module attached to a device main body. The device main body and the power source module are electrically connected to each other by the respective connector portions. The device main body includes a connection terminal portion with a concave shape, and the power source module has a connection terminal portion with a convex shape that is fit to the connection terminal portion of the device main body. A power source terminal group is provided in a first surface, and a ground terminal group and a communication terminal group for communication with the device main body are provided in a second surface on a side opposite to the first surface, from among connection surfaces of the connection terminal portion. The ground terminal group is arranged at a position closer to the power source terminal group than to the communication terminal group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroki Ota, Shuichi Matsuzawa, Koji Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 10859892
    Abstract: The electronic device can be used with an accessory module that is a second device attached to a device main body that is a first device. The accessory module includes a locking member that is held so as to be able to be turned. The locking member includes a ring-shaped portion that has a plurality of claw portions and an operation portion for performing a turning operation. The device main body 1 includes a plurality of claw portions corresponding to the plurality of claw portions of the locking member. The claw portions and the claw portions engage with each other in a state in which the accessory module is attached to the device main body by the turning operation of the operation portion, and the claw portions and the claw portions are not engaged in a state in which the accessory module can be removed from the device main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuichi Matsuzawa, Hiroki Ota, Koji Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 10859847
    Abstract: A camera module includes a lens barrel; an actuator driving the lens barrel in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis; and an aperture module adjusting an amount of light incident in the lens barrel. The aperture module includes an aperture coupled to the lens barrel, a magnet provided on one side of the aperture, a coil disposed opposite to the magnet, a position detector detecting a position of the magnet to generate a feedback signal, and a driver comparing an input signal indicating a target position of the magnet with the feedback signal to calculate an error value and generating a driving signal according to the calculated error value. The driver compares a current position of the lens barrel with a neutral position of the lens barrel to generate a compensation signal and compensates for one of the input signal and the feedback signal based on the compensation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong Woo Rhee, Min Gyu Kim, Sang Hyuk Kim
  • Patent number: 10837935
    Abstract: We disclose herein a sensing device comprising a substrate, a dielectric layer located on the substrate, a heater located within the dielectric layer; a material for sensing a gas. The material comprises an alumina (Al2O3) doped conductive metal oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: SCIOSENSE B.V.
    Inventors: Sanjeeb Tripathy, Wolfram Simmendinger
  • Patent number: 10838437
    Abstract: Apparatuses for controlling gas flow are important components for delivering process gases for semiconductor fabrication. In one embodiment, an apparatus for controlling gas flow is disclosed, the apparatus delivering two gas flows at a known ratio. Specifically, the apparatus has first and second on/off valves and first and second flow restrictors. The first and second on/off valves may be altered between an open state and a closed state. When both the first and second on/off valves are in an open state, first and second gas flows are delivered to first and second outlets. The first and second gas flows are provided at a known ratio to one another, this ratio determined by the ratio of the resistance to flow of the first and second flow restrictors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: ICHOR SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Sean Penley, Marshall B Grill
  • Patent number: 10809104
    Abstract: A holder for a plurality of reference standards for calibrating a measurement system, having a first receptacle in which a first reference standard is arranged and a second receptacle in which a second reference standard is arranged, wherein the first receptacle is arranged on a first side of the holder, and the second receptacle is arranged on a second side of the holder facing away from the first side of the holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: CARL ZEISS INDUSTRIELLE MESSTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventors: Walter Jenisch, Kai Schäffauer, Philipp Mayinger, Michael Zimmermann, Markus Mahringer, Stefan Hitzler
  • Patent number: 10808884
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a field of a shooting support device, and in particular to a selfie device. The selfie device includes a telescopic rod, a tripod handle configured to store the telescopic rod, an upper clamping portion, a lower clamping portion opposite to the upper clamping portion, a clamping arm connected with the upper clamping portion and the lower clamping portion, and a wireless remote. The clamping arm is rotably connected a top end of the telescopic rod. The wireless remote is detachably disposed between the upper clamping portion and the lower clamping portion. The wireless remote is detachably disposed between the upper clamping portion and the lower clamping portion to instead of disposing on the side of a handle. It reduces the radial size of the selfie device, greatly improve the cleanliness of selfie device and convenience for use and carry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Inventors: Jinghua Shan, Yi Bing Peng
  • Patent number: 10795244
    Abstract: A hinge for an electronic device includes a base including a stem, a ball rigidly fixed to the stem, a first friction surface that contacts and is configured to move with respect to a first outer surface of the ball, a second friction surface that contacts and is configured to move with respect to a second outer surface of the ball, the second outer surface of the ball being on a side of the ball that is opposite the first outer surface of the ball, and a biasing member configured to bias the first and/or second friction surface against the ball to generate a frictional force sufficient to hold the first and second friction surfaces in a set position relative to the ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventors: Tyler Wilson, Kevin Booth, Jeffrey Law, Mark Kraz, Oliver Mueller