Patents Examined by William B. Perkey
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Patent number: 11209661Abstract: This lens driving device comprises an autofocus (AF) driving unit and a shake correction driving unit, wherein a shake correction support member has a pair of power supply suspension wires and a pair of signal suspension wires. While an AF movable unit includes a position detecting magnet, an AF fixation unit includes an AF power source line, a signal line, a coil power source line, and an AF control unit. The AF control unit includes a hole element, and a coil control unit which controls current passing through an AF coil part, and an AF circuit board on which the hole element and the coil control unit are mounted. As a result of contact between a lens holder and a base which has rigidity higher than that of a coil substrate, movement of the AF movable unit toward a formed image in the optical axis is restricted.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2016Date of Patent: December 28, 2021Assignee: MITSUMI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.Inventors: Tomoyuki Murakami, Keiichi Sato
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Patent number: 11209726Abstract: An image acquisition device includes a main body and a camera. A rotating portion is provided on the main body. The camera is arranged on the rotating portion. A knob portion is provided on the rotating portion at a lateral side of the camera in the axial direction. The knob portion can drive the rotating portion to rotate.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2018Date of Patent: December 28, 2021Assignee: SHENZHEN SENSETIME TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.Inventors: Xubo Xiang, Zhonghua She, Miaoran Xu, Conghong Zhong, Zhili Hu, Jian Li, Li Cao, Zhongfu Zhang, Shaoming Qin, Kun Ma
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Patent number: 11199758Abstract: A vehicular camera includes a lens barrel, a lens holder and an imager PCB. The lens barrel accommodates a lens and has a threaded inner end. The lens holder has a threaded passageway for threadedly receiving the threaded inner end of the lens barrel. The lens barrel is threadedly attached to the lens holder with a biasing element applying a biasing force at the lens barrel to urge the lens barrel in a direction outward away from the lens holder. The imager PCB is attached to the lens holder with an imager of the imager PCB facing the lens, and the imager PCB is adjusted relative to the lens holder and lens barrel construction to optically align the lens at the imager. After the imager PCB is secured relative to the lens holder, the lens barrel is rotated to adjust focus of the lens at the imager.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2020Date of Patent: December 14, 2021Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.Inventors: Matthew C. Sesti, Robert A. Devota, Donald W. Mersino
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Patent number: 11202007Abstract: Various embodiments include camera movement control for reduced power consumption. Some embodiments, for example, may include operating a camera module in a power saving mode, in which focus movement control may be synchronized with frame capture. According to some examples, such synchronization may include holding a position (e.g., a focus position) of a lens group and/or an image sensor of the camera module during some integration time periods. Furthermore, such synchronization may include enabling power saving movement (e.g., between a focus position and a neutral position) of the lens group and/or the image sensor during some other time periods, such as during intervals (e.g., blanking intervals) between integration time periods, and/or during integration time periods for image frames that are expendable.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2020Date of Patent: December 14, 2021Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Abhishek Dhanda, Santiago Alban
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Patent number: 11190687Abstract: There is provided an image blur correction control apparatus for correcting image blur of an image capturing apparatus through sharing with a second image blur correction control apparatus in accordance with a predetermined sharing rule. In a case where a first characteristic of the first detector is better than a second characteristic of a second detector included in the second image blur correction unit, a first deciding unit decides a first cutoff frequency based on shake information detected by the first detector, a transmitting unit transmits the first cutoff frequency to the second image blur correction control apparatus as a cutoff frequency to be used by the second image blur correction control apparatus, and a filtering unit performs filter processing on the shake information detected by the first detector. The first cutoff frequency is applied in the filter processing.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2020Date of Patent: November 30, 2021Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Nobuhiro Shibata
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Patent number: 11181817Abstract: A pylon-mounted camera assembly, comprising a pylon, the pylon comprising a first face, a second face, a third face and a fourth face, the first fact adjacent to the second face such that the first and second faces form a first corner, the third face adjacent to the fourth face such that the third and fourth faces form a second corner, wherein a diagonal axis intersects the first and second corners; a first aperture at least partially embedded within the first corner of the pylon; and, a first camera adjustably positioned within the first aperture, the first camera facing upwardly, the first camera comprising an optical axis wherein the optical axis is adjustably arranged to intersect the diagonal axis of the pylon.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2020Date of Patent: November 23, 2021Assignee: Admiral Video, LLCInventor: Paul M. Halsey
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Patent number: 11181809Abstract: A focusing method includes determining a present position of a lens, determining an initial search direction based on a relationship between the present position of the lens and a reference position, and controlling the lens to perform a focusing process in the initial search direction.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2020Date of Patent: November 23, 2021Assignee: SZ DJI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.Inventors: Lifu Yu, Wenmeng Teng, Zisheng Cao
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Patent number: 11175567Abstract: An objective lens main body and an objective lens system formed by the objective lens are provided. The objective lens main body includes a main frame for retaining optical functional elements and at least one adjustable, optical functional element that is retained adjustably thereon. The objective lens main body furthermore includes at least one adjustment drive arranged on the main frame for adjusting the adjustable functional element or at least one of the adjustable functional elements. In addition, the objective lens main body includes an electronics board attached indirectly or directly to the main frame that has at least one plug-in location for reversibly receiving a plug-in card, and a first controller that is configured as a plug-in card and inserted into the plug-in location or one of the plug-in locations and is set up for exchanging signals with an electrical module of the objective lens or an external unit.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2019Date of Patent: November 16, 2021Assignee: Carl Zeiss AGInventors: Jochen Franke, Joachim Welker
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Patent number: 11175564Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes an electronic viewfinder unit configured to move between a stored state stored in a main body and a projecting state projecting from the main body, wherein the electronic viewfinder unit is held to be able to turn in the projecting state and is held not to be able to turn in the stored state.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2020Date of Patent: November 16, 2021Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Keita Iwai, Ryoji Okuno, Hidetoshi Kei, Jiro Yamamoto
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Patent number: 11178316Abstract: A monitoring camera having a compound window arranged in a frame of a camera housing, and a camera head arranged inside the housing, is disclosed. The compound window has an inner transparent plate, closest to the camera head, and an outer protective window, arranged in a plane parallel to the transparent plate, on an outside thereof, and the compound window further comprises a heating arrangement arranged and configured to supply thermal energy to peripheral areas of the transparent plate. The transparent plate has a greater heat conductivity than the protective window and is arranged in close proximity to the protective window, so thermal energy will be transferred from the heating arrangement to the transparent plate and then efficiently transferred to the protective window.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2020Date of Patent: November 16, 2021Assignee: AXIS ABInventor: Akira Tagaya
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Patent number: 11175566Abstract: An imaging device, having a substrate on which an imaging portion is mounted, a lens barrel for holding a lens, and a case disposed so as to cover the lens barrel and the substrate, wherein: the lens barrel and the case are fitted radially, and the lens barrel and the case comprise a rotation constraining portion for constraining mutual rotation thereof, in respect to the optical axial direction.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2018Date of Patent: November 16, 2021Assignee: NIDEC COPAL CORPORATIONInventor: Yuta Nakamura
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Patent number: 11175565Abstract: A camera housing includes four walls configured to enclose and secure a camera: a top wall, a bottom wall, a right wall, and a left wall. The bottom wall includes a first segment and a segment coupled by a latching mechanism. The latching mechanism comprises a tongue component coupled to the second segment and a groove component coupled to the first segment. The tongue and groove components are configured such that the tongue component securely couples the second segment to the first segment when the camera frame is in the closed configuration. In the open configuration, the first and second segment can decouple and the left wall and second segment rotates upwards relative to the top wall such that a camera can be inserted or removed from the camera system. The camera housing also includes a button interface, an input/output interface, and a mounting mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2020Date of Patent: November 16, 2021Assignee: GoPro, Inc.Inventors: Alexander Wroblewski, Kielan Crow, Himay Rashmikant Shukla, Ryan Harrison
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Patent number: 11175569Abstract: A method for controlling a gimbal includes obtaining a current angle of view of a photographing device provided on the gimbal, determining, according to the current angle of view, an adjustment strategy for adjusting the gimbal that allows the photographing device to output stable images, and adjusting at least one of an acceleration or a sensitivity of the gimbal according to the adjustment strategy.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2020Date of Patent: November 16, 2021Assignee: SZ DJI OSMO TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.Inventors: Zisheng Cao, Bingzhen Yang, Lifu Yu, Yan Wang
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Patent number: 11172131Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to optical devices and related methods that facilitate tilt in camera systems, such as tilt of a lens. In one example, an optical device includes a lens, an image sensor disposed below the lens, a plurality of magnets disposed about the lens, and a plurality of: (1) vertical coil structures coiled in one or more vertical planes and (2) horizontal coil structures coiled in one or more horizontal planes. When power is applied, the coil structures can generate magnetic fields that, in the presence of the magnets, cause relative movement of the coil structures and associated structures. The plurality of vertical coil structures are configured to horizontally move the lens. The plurality of horizontal coil structures are configured to tilt the lens when differing electrical power is applied to at least two of the plurality of horizontal coil structures.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2020Date of Patent: November 9, 2021Assignee: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Quang Le, Rajeev Nagabhirava, Kuok San Ho, Zhigang Bai, Zhanjie Li, Xiaoyong Liu, Daniele Mauri
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Patent number: 11172106Abstract: A removably attachable optical device includes a clamp comprising an upper clamp member and a lower clamp member. When the clamp is mounted on a mobile device, the upper member extends over a device side to enable an orifice formed by the upper clamp member to be positioned over an aperture of the mobile device. An optical element housing has a portion configured to engage the an upper clamp member. A non-uniform optical element is rotatably mounted to the optical element housing. Rotation of the non-uniform optical element causes light passing through the non-uniform optical element as the non-uniform optical element is rotated to be correspondingly altered to create optical effects.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2020Date of Patent: November 9, 2021Inventors: Christopher Jordan Kraemer, Charles McClelland Marshall, Charles Thomas Marshall
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Patent number: 11163219Abstract: A support for an imaging device includes a first rotatable assembly supportable by a support that rotates in a generally horizontal plane and a horizontal locking member. The imaging device includes a second rotatable assembly that rotates in a generally vertical plane. imaging device includes an interconnection structure that interconnects the first rotatable assembly to the second rotatable assembly such that the second rotatable assembly is rotatable around the first rotatable assembly at an elevation higher than the first rotatable assembly and offset laterally from the first rotatable assembly. imaging device includes the first rotatable assembly including a panning structure that rotates the support in the generally horizontal plane and a leveling base that is rotatable in a non-coplanar manner relative to the panning structure.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2020Date of Patent: November 2, 2021Assignee: Really Right Stuff, LLCInventors: Joseph M. Johnson, Sr., Verent Chan
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Patent number: 11163212Abstract: An actuator is disclosed that includes a lens driving device, a movable portion, a holder, a supporting plate spring, and a plurality of suspension wires. The lens driving device has a driving mechanism for driving a lens body forward and backward in an optical axis direction and is fixed to a case. The movable portion is arranged on a rear side of the lens driving device together with an image sensor. The holder is fixed to the case and surrounding the lens driving device from outside. The supporting plate spring is fixed to a front surface of the holder. The plurality of suspension wires couple the supporting plate spring and the movable portion.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2020Date of Patent: November 2, 2021Assignee: NEW SHICOH MOTOR CO., LTDInventors: Xuepeng Fu, Tatsuki Wade
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Patent number: 11163213Abstract: A lighting device is provided in which a head part is allowed to be driven relative to a main unit in a horizontal circular direction and in a vertical circular direction separately without the need for increasing a space for the layout of the main unit and the like. The lighting device of the present invention includes a driving unit (7) connecting a main unit (3) and a head part (6). The driving unit (7) includes first and second motors, a first power transmission mechanism that rotates the driving unit (7) in a horizontal circular direction (the direction of an arrow F) with the driving force of the first motor, and a second power transmission mechanism that rotates the driving unit (7) in a vertical circular direction (the direction of an arrow B) with the driving force of the second motor.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2018Date of Patent: November 2, 2021Assignees: PANASONIC PHOTO & LIGHTING CO., LTD., CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Minenori Kaimoto, Yutaka Yamamoto
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Patent number: 11156367Abstract: An adjustable camera assembly mounted within a door of an oven appliance includes a vertical guide rail and a camera movably mounted to the guide rail. A drive mechanism, such as a lead screw driven by a stepper motor, is mechanically coupled to the camera for moving the camera along the guide rail. A controller is coupled to a user interface for obtaining a rack position where food is located. Based on the rack position, the controller determines a viewing position where the camera is placed to achieve a desired view of the food and operates the drive mechanism to position the camera in the viewing position.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2020Date of Patent: October 26, 2021Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Charles Andrew Bierbaum, Marcelo Torrentes, Daniel Ian Moore
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Patent number: 11150539Abstract: The invention relates to a camera module (100) for a vehicle. The camera module (100) has a housing section (105) with a camera lens (110) and is characterized in that the camera module (100) contains a cylindrical front cover receiver (115) surrounding the housing section (105) that extends beyond the camera lens (110). A transparent front cover (120) for the camera lens (110) is received in the front cover receiver (115). The front cover (120) has an outer surface (125) that can be exposed to environmental effects.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2019Date of Patent: October 19, 2021Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventors: Johannes Kirchhoff, Alex Hessel