With Support Patents (Class 359/811)
  • Patent number: 8848501
    Abstract: The present application discloses detection lens provided with lens portion and flange portion including first surface connected to lens portion and second surface opposite to first surface. Flange portion includes base along optical axis of lens portion, and first to fourth projections projecting from base. First and second projections are point-symmetric around optical axis. Third and fourth projections are point-symmetric around optical axis. Flange portion excludes projection extending beyond second surface. First projection includes first intersecting surface which intersects with first axis. Second projection includes second intersecting surface which intersects with first axis. Third projection includes third intersecting surface which intersects with second axis. Fourth projection includes fourth intersecting surface which intersects with second axis. First distance between first and second intersecting surfaces is longer than second distance between third and fourth intersecting surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiyasu Tanaka, Noriaki Terahara, Takeshi Ohta, Shinsuke Hatanaka, Fumitomo Yamasaki
  • Publication number: 20140267882
    Abstract: In some embodiments, an auxiliary optical system for a mobile electronic device has a mounting component that is configured to be selectively attachable and detachable from the mobile electronic device. The mounting component is configured to be coupled to and decoupled from a multi-lens component with a plurality of lenses. When the multi-lens component is coupled to the mounting component, the multi-lens component can be prevented from moving, such as sliding or rotating. In some embodiments, an auxiliary optical system for a mobile electronic device comprises a removable onboard camera lens or onboard camera of a mobile electronic device. The onboard lens or onboard camera can be removed and/or replaced with another onboard lens or onboard camera with different optical qualities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Premier Systems USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick D. O'Neill, Chong Pak, Ryan Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20140267823
    Abstract: A position detection apparatus (100) including a scale (20) including a pattern periodically formed, a detector (10) configured to be movable relative to the scale, and a signal processor (30), the signal processor (30) includes first to seventh periodic signal generating units (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, and 39) which generate first to seventh periodic signals respectively, the first periodic signal generating unit synthesizes the fourth periodic signal and the fifth periodic signal to generate the first periodic signal, and the second periodic signal generating unit synthesizes the sixth periodic signal and the seventh periodic signal to generate the second periodic signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Chihiro Nagura
  • Patent number: 8830600
    Abstract: A lens module with an optical axis passing therethrough from an object side to an image side includes a lens housing and two lenses disposed in the lens housing. The first lens has a first refactive portion and a first positioning portion encircling the first refractive portion. A first mating structure is formed on the image side surface of the first positioning portion and molded with the first refractive portion as a single integral. The second lens has a second refractive portion and a second positioning portion encircling the second refractive portion. A second mating structure is formed on the object side surface of the second positioning portion and molded with the second refractive portion as a single integral. The mating structures are engaged to align the lenses along the optical axis, and the refractive portions are coaxial with each other and have the axis as the optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Glory Science Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Liang Yu Chang, Shih Ying Ke, Chih Kang Huang, Cheng Feng Yen
  • Patent number: 8824068
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for fabricating optical instrumentation. The techniques can be used, for instance, to populate an optical bench with several optics that can be simultaneously bonded and simultaneously verified to precise assembly, and without the use of adjustable mounts or active alignment. The techniques may be embodied, for instance, in a jig designed for operatively coupling to a given optical bench. The jig includes cut-outs that identify placement locations for the various optical components on the underlying optical bench. Thus, once the jig is secured to the optical bench, precise placement of the optical components is simplified. In some such embodiments, the jig further includes a clamping assembly for each cut-out, so that once an optical component is placed on the optical bench via that cutout, the clamping assembly can be engaged to hold that optical component in place while a deposited bonding agent is cured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventors: Chris L. Willis, John C. McCarthy, Katherine J. Snell
  • Publication number: 20140240856
    Abstract: A method of making a device housing involves providing a transparent lens with a front surface and a rear surface, and a stepped flange along at least a portion of the lens perimeter. The method includes injecting plastic onto the transparent lens perimeter, including the stepped flange, the plastic forming a plastic feature that has a front surface that is tangent to the front surface of the transparent lens, a rear surface that is tangent to the rear surface of the transparent lens, and that extends outward from the sides of the transparent lens away from a device width center line. The plastic feature is molded to the rear surface of the transparent lens at at least one of two ends of the device housing, and the plastic encapsulates a stepped middle surface of the transparent lens flange. A device housing that is made by this method is also included.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: Motorola Mobility LLC
    Inventors: Joseph L. Allore, Michael J. Formenti, Michael J. Lombardi, Michael L. Neau
  • Patent number: 8817398
    Abstract: Adjustable mount assembly having two mount parts which are adjustable relative to one another and which themselves form adjustable mounts respectively comprising an outer mount frame and an inner mount frame. The mount assembly permits a highly precise adjustment of two optical components relative to one another in a plane perpendicular to an axis and an adjustment of the two mutually adjusted optical components relative to a reference base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Jenoptik Optical Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Lutz Reichmann, Matthias Bening
  • Patent number: 8817375
    Abstract: A voice coil motor for moving a correction lens including a magnet unit having a pair of yokes and at least one permanent magnet for defining a magnetic gap, and a coil disposed in the magnetic gap. The permanent magnet having different magnetic poles adjacent to each other along the movement direction on a surface opposing the magnetic gap; the width of the permanent magnet in the movement direction being two times the width Wm of the magnetic poles; the width Wa of the coil in the movement direction being smaller than the width 2Wm of the permanent magnet; and the effective conductor width Wb of the coil, the magnetic pole width Wm of the permanent magnet and the longest movement distance St of the correction lens meeting the conditions of Wm=(Wb+St)×K, wherein K is a constant meeting 1<K?1.5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Kenko Tokina Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Motoike, Hiroyuki Ooara, Yoshihiko Kuriyama
  • Patent number: 8810933
    Abstract: Disclosed are a lens unit and a method of manufacturing the same. The lens unit includes a lens part including a curved region having a predetermined curvature; and a support part including a hole, in which the lens part is installed, and attached to the lens part at a lateral side of the hole. The lens part having the curvature and the support part of the lens unit are formed in separate processes such that the hole is formed in the support part having the strength, and the lens part is formed by filling the hole with the lens part, so that the movement of resin caused by shrinkage of the lens part when the lens part is cured is inhibited, and the support part and the lens part does not form the layered structure, thereby allowing the lens unit to be formed with a thin thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: LG Innotek Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seung Man Jeong, Kee Tae Um, Sung Phil Kim
  • Publication number: 20140226223
    Abstract: An optical element includes a monolithic body portion, the monolithic body portion having an inner body portion, an outer body portion extending at least partially around the inner body portion, and exactly three flexural hinges connecting the inner body portion to the outer body portion. One of the inner body portion and the outer body portion defines an optical active portion configured to reflect, refract, or diffract light, and the other of the inner body portion and outer body portion defines a mount portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Inventor: Mark Bremer
  • Patent number: 8797660
    Abstract: A mechanism and method for precisely arranging two or more optical elements, such as those incorporated into photoelastic modulators (PEMs), at a specific angular orientation. The method includes supporting one optical element in an annular mounting member that has an optic axis, and supporting other optical elements in other annular mounting members that have optic axes, and concentrically stacking together the two or more mounting members about a central axis in a manner such that one mounting member may be rotated relative to the others about the central axis and such that the optic axes of the mounting members define an optics angle, and rotating one mounting member relative to the others to define the specific angular orientation of the optical elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Hinds Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: James C. Mansfield, Hugh S. Runyan, Jacob A. Wolf
  • Patent number: 8792190
    Abstract: In a method for manufacturing a lens, a substrate which has a recess in a first surface thereof is provided. A sacrificial material is provided in the recess which has shape in accordance with a first desired lens surface. A lens material is applied to the substrate and to the sacrificial material and cured so that the lens material has a shape in accordance with the first desired lens surface, and then the sacrificial material is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Jacques Duparré, Steven Oliver
  • Patent number: 8780467
    Abstract: A lens assembly is provided. The lens assembly comprises a lens and a bearing seat. The bearing seat has a bearing surface for bearing the lens, while the bearing surface is adapted to adhere to the lens so that the lens is fixed on the bearing seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignees: Preoptix (Jiangsu) Co. Ltd., Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Tu-Fa Lai, Yung-Hsuan Hsu
  • Publication number: 20140192404
    Abstract: A filter wheel assembly includes a filter wheel and an optical assembly. The filter wheel includes a plurality of viewing openings. The optical assembly includes an optical element secured within an aperture of a housing. The optical assembly is securable to the filter wheel at a viewing opening by a magnetic force. An optical apparatus includes an optical assembly receiver and first and second optical assemblies. The first optical assembly is securable to the optical assembly receiver and the second optical assembly is securable to the first optical assembly by a magnetic force to align the optical assembly receiver and the optical assemblies. Methods of aligning apertures of optical assemblies with viewing openings of a filter wheel or an optical assembly receiver and securing the optical assemblies to the filter wheel or the optical assembly receiver using a magnetic force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: CELLOMICS, INC.
    Inventors: Dirk John Vandenberg, III, Keith R. Heffley
  • Patent number: 8773785
    Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator includes: a first piezoelectric device between a base member and a moving member, and that is capable of being expanded and contracted in a direction in which the first piezoelectric device intersects with a first face that opposes the moving member of the base member; a second piezoelectric device between the first piezoelectric device and the moving member, and that is capable of being expanded and contracted in a direction different from the intersecting direction; a transfer member between the first piezoelectric device and the moving member that includes a through hole piercing through in the intersecting direction, receiving amounts of expansion and contraction of the first piezoelectric device and the second piezoelectric device to transfer a driving force to the moving member; and a supporting member that pierces through the through hole, and that can support the moving member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Kunihiro Kuwano
  • Patent number: 8767199
    Abstract: An inspection system including a lens. In one instance, the lens is a solid immersion lens. The inspection system includes a component or components for providing a self aligning solid immersion lens arrangement in order to allow at most a small distance between the solid immersion lens and a device under test and components or components for constraining a force exerted on the device under test. The inspection system may include a “purge” port, or a thermal isolation configuration or an anti-contamination component. The inspection system may include software and hardware to prevent crashing of the lens. The inspection system may also include a method for ensuring that various objective lenses can be replaced while maintaining the intended spacing between lenses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Infrared Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Dozor, Yullin Kim, Kris Tumidajski, Gary Fancher, Ken Salvestrini, Douglas Holt, Ron DeWitt, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8760777
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a positioning unit for an optical element in a microlithographic projection exposure installation having a first connecting area for connection to the optical element, and having a second connecting area for connection to an object in the vicinity of the optical element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss SMT GmbH
    Inventors: Ulrich Weber, Jens Kugler
  • Patent number: 8755133
    Abstract: Adjustable mounts for optical elements or the like that may include absolute position information feedback. For some embodiments, position data may be generated independent of displacement measurement. Position data feedback may be provided to driver embodiments, such as piezoelectric inertia drivers, by a controller and used to achieve a desired position setting for an adjustable mount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Newport Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick J. Thomas, Daniel Gvero, Roger Desailly
  • Patent number: 8749900
    Abstract: An electronic device using a lens module is disclosed. The lens module for a housing, comprises a barrel comprising a containing portion; and at least one lens insert molded mounted in the containing portion; wherein the containing portion comprises an inner sidewall, and a first latching portion in the inner sidewall; the at least one lens comprises a main body, and a second latching portion extends outward from a side surface of the main body; the second latching portion is received in the first latching portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignees: Fu Tai Hua Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ju-Ping Duan, Ming-Fu Luo, Fa-Guang Shi
  • Publication number: 20140153087
    Abstract: An optical device with a first sub-assembly and a second sub-assembly. The first sub-assembly has: an input lens for collimating illuminating light, the input lens having an optical axis, an output lens for focusing collimated light received from a sample, the output lens having an optical axis which is offset and substantially parallel with the optical axis of the input lens, and a first support piece which houses and supports the input lens and the output lens. The second sub-assembly has: an input filter for filtering the collimated illuminating light, an output filter for filtering the collimated light received from the sample, and a second support piece which houses and supports the input filter and the output filter. The first and second support pieces are joined together by a liquid-tight joint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicants: GLOUCESTERSHIRE HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST, THE UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOL
    Inventors: Joanne Hutchings, John Charles Clifford Day
  • Patent number: 8736990
    Abstract: An attachment structure is configured to attach a first member to a second member. The attachment structure includes a first engagement portion which is provided at one of the first member or the second member, and a second engagement portion which is provided at the other one of the first member or the second member and which engages with the first engagement portion at a predetermined attachment position to restrict a relative movement. One of the first member or the second member at which the second engagement portion is provided, is provided with spaces at both sides of the second engagement portion in the circumferential direction. The first member and the second member include a torque change portion which changes a torque such that the torque is larger at a preceding side and a succeeding side of the attachment position in the circumferential direction, than at the attachment position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Keiji Araie, Akio Konishi
  • Patent number: 8736989
    Abstract: A lens module includes a lens barrel, a first lens, a second lens, a first opaque adhesive member, and a second opaque adhesive member. The first lens is received in the lens barrel and includes a first image-side surface and a first object-side surface. The second lens is received in the lens barrel and includes a second image-side surface and a second object-side surface. The first opaque adhesive member is coated on the first image-side surface and bonds the first and second lenses together. The first opaque adhesive member absorbs stray light rays passing through a periphery of the first lens. The second opaque adhesive member is coated on the second image-side surface. The second opaque adhesive member absorbs stray light rays passing through a periphery of the second lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Cheng-Shiun Wu
  • Publication number: 20140139937
    Abstract: A micro-electro-mechanical system based focusing device and manufacturing method thereof are disclosed. The system includes: a deformable lens, multiple groups of conductive deformable crossbeams and conductive structs; and one or more fixed parts. In each group, each conductive deformable crossbeam corresponds to a conductive struct. The conductive deformable crossbeams and the conductive structs are arranged around the deformable lens and spaced from each other. The conductive deformable crossbeams are suspended in the air, their inner edges are connected with an external edge of the deformable lens and their external edges are connected with the fixed parts. The conductive structs are fixedly connected with the fixed parts and remain stationary. Electrostatic force between the conductive deformable crossbeam and the conductive struct causes the deformable lens to be stretched and rotate, thus, surface curvature and focal length are changed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: Lexvu Opto Microelectronics Technology (Shanghai) Ltd
    Inventors: Jianhong Mao, Fengqin Han, Deming Tang, Lei Zhang
  • Patent number: 8724240
    Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator for driving a lens unit along an optical axis is disclosed. The piezoelectric actuator includes a fixed member, a movable member movably received in the fixed member, a magnetic plate fixed on the fixed member, a magnet fixed on the movable member, a piezoelectric member and a circuit board. The movable member includes a contacting portion. The magnet is aligned with the magnetic plate along a direction substantially perpendicular to the optical axis. The piezoelectric member is fixed on the fixed member and contacts on the contacting portion of the movable member for driving the movable member to move along the optical axis. The circuit board provides voltages to the piezoelectric member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chien-Wei Huang
  • Patent number: 8717691
    Abstract: A lens barrel includes a lens group including a fixed lens including one or more lenses and an adjustment lens including one or more lenses, and a lens frame to hold the lens group, including an adjustment lens frame to hold the adjustment lens and an aligning mechanism to hold the adjustment lens frame movably in a direction orthogonal to an optical axis of the lens group relative to the lens frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Daisuke Terahara, Takehide Ohno
  • Patent number: 8717534
    Abstract: The invention relates to a lens comprising several optical elements that are disposed in a lens housing. At least one sensor array encompassing at least one capacitive sensor unit and/or at least one inductive sensor unit is provided for determining the relative position between a first optical element and a second optical element or between a load-bearing structural element of the lens and a second optical element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss SMT GmbH
    Inventor: Yim-Bun Patrick Kwan
  • Patent number: 8710461
    Abstract: The invention relates to an assembly, preferably for use in a lithography system or a microscopy system, for providing an accurately aligned stack of two or more modules in a stacking direction. Each of the two or more modules comprises three support members. The assembly comprises a frame comprising three planar alignment surfaces which extend in the stacking direction and which are angularly off-set with respect to each other. In addition each of the three support members of each one of the two or more modules, when arranged in said frame, abuts against a corresponding one of the three alignment surfaces. The frame is provided with an opening between two of the three planar alignment surfaces for inserting a module in the assembly, said two planar alignment surfaces on either side of the opening are arranged at least partially facing said opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Mapper Lithography IP B.V.
    Inventor: Pieter Kappelhof
  • Patent number: 8705185
    Abstract: An optical element has at least one additional element fitted thereon which dissipates the vibrational energy of the optical element by friction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss SMT GmbH
    Inventors: Johannes Rau, Armin Schoeppach, Bernhard Geuppert
  • Patent number: 8705187
    Abstract: A lens apparatus includes a first lens barrel member and a second lens barrel member coupled with the first lens barrel member via a cam mechanism. The first lens barrel member includes a stopper portion and a gear portion. The stopper portion comes into contact with a first contact surface formed in the second lens barrel member, when the first lens barrel member protruding from the second lens barrel member in the optical axis direction receives the external force from a front end side of the first lens barrel member in its protruding direction, to restrict a displacement of the first lens barrel member with respect to the second lens barrel member due to the external force. The gear portion comes into contact with a second contact surface formed in the second lens barrel member to restrict the displacement due to the external force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Kudoh
  • Publication number: 20140104453
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus that notifies a user of completion of preparation when the image capturing preparation including strobe charging and so on is finished has been known. However, a user of such apparatus has to take an image while checking whether a specific object is within a desired region. Thus, an image capturing apparatus includes an image capturing section that captures an image of an object and generates a captured image, an object recognition section that recognizes a specific object in the captured image generated by the image capturing section, and a tactile notification section that notifies a user in a tactile manner concerning whether the specific objet is in a predetermined region of the captured image or not based on recognition by the object recognition section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Fujinawa, Masaki Otsuki
  • Patent number: 8693114
    Abstract: The instant disclosure relates to a lens structure, which includes a mounting seat, a sliding carriage, a lens cover, and at least one elastic member, wherein the mounting seat has a first through-hole formed thereon and defines two operating positions, the sliding carriage slidably coupled to the mounting seat and having a second through-hole formed thereon, wherein the second through-hole corresponds to the first through-hole in one operating position, the lens cover arranged on the sliding carriage and having a plurality of heat-dissipating holes formed thereon in correspondence with the second through-hole, one end of the elastic member fixed to the mounting seat, and the other end of the elastic member fixed to the sliding carriage, wherein the sliding carriage is urged to move a predetermined distance form one operating position, the elastic member provides resilient force to drive the sliding carriage to another operating position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Azurewave Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Ching-Wei Liu
  • Publication number: 20140093228
    Abstract: A method, performed by a monitoring device, may include detecting a temperature change, greater than a temperature change threshold, from a previous temperature to a current temperature; retrieving a trend-based motor position setting for a focus motor from a trend statistics memory based on the current temperature; and selecting a starting motor position setting for the focus motor based on the retrieved trend-based motor position setting or a current motor position setting. The method may further include performing a just noticeable difference modification on the focus motor using the selected starting motor position setting, wherein the just noticeable difference corresponds to a change in a motor position setting that results in a perceivable change in a focus level of the monitoring device, and selecting a temperature adjusted motor position setting for the focus motor based on a result of the just noticeable difference modification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: AXIS AB
    Inventors: Henning Gredegård, Björn Östby
  • Publication number: 20140085617
    Abstract: A driving device includes: a driving state detection unit which detects a driving state of a driving unit which drives a driving target; and a control unit which performs a first control for driving the driving unit for an amount based on the driving state of the driving unit detected by the driving state detection unit and a second control for driving the driving unit for a predetermined amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shinichi TSUKAGOSHI
  • Publication number: 20140078877
    Abstract: The present application discloses detection lens provided with lens portion and flange portion including first surface connected to lens portion and second surface opposite to first surface. Flange portion includes base along optical axis of lens portion, and first to fourth projections projecting from base. First and second projections are point-symmetric around optical axis. Third and fourth projections are point-symmetric around optical axis. Flange portion excludes projection extending beyond second surface. First projection includes first intersecting surface which intersects with first axis. Second projection includes second intersecting surface which intersects with first axis. Third projection includes third intersecting surface which intersects with second axis. Fourth projection includes fourth intersecting surface which intersects with second axis. First distance between first and second intersecting surfaces is longer than second distance between third and fourth intersecting surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshiyasu Tanaka, Noriaki Terahara, Takeshi Ohta, Shinsuke Hatanaka, Fumitomo Yamasaki
  • Patent number: 8675293
    Abstract: An optical probe for emitting and/or receiving light within a body comprises an optical fiber that transmits and/or receives an optical signal, a silicon optical bench including a fiber groove running longitudinally that holds an optical fiber termination of the optical fiber and a reflecting surface that optically couples an endface of the optical fiber termination to a lateral side of the optical bench. The fiber groove is fabricated using silicon anisotropic etching techniques. Some examples use a housing around the optical bench that is fabricated using LIGA or other electroforming technology. A method for a forming lens structure is also described that comprises forming a refractive lens in a first layer of a composite wafer material, such as SOI (silicon on insulator) wafers and forming an optical port through a backside of the composite wafer material along an optical axis of the refractive lens. The refractive lens is preferably formed using grey-scale lithography and dry etching the first layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Axsun Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Dale C. Flanders, James W. Getz, Peter S. Whitney, Mark E. Kuznetsov, Christopher C. Cook
  • Publication number: 20140064791
    Abstract: An optical element unit is provided comprising an optical element group for projecting light along an optical axis of the optical element group and a housing having an inner housing part partly defining a first space and a light passageway between the inner housing part and a second space. The inner housing part receives the optical element group. The optical element group comprises an ultimate optical element located in the region of the light passageway. A load-relieving device is provided adjacent to the ultimate optical element, the load relieving device partly defining the first space and the second space and at least partly relieving the ultimate optical element from loads resulting from pressure differences between the first space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: Carl Zeiss SMT GmbH
    Inventor: Johannes Lippert
  • Patent number: 8665539
    Abstract: A driving control device according to the present invention includes: a fixed member; an operation member arranged to be manually rotatable with respect to the fixed member; a transducer arranged in one of the fixed member and the operation member and arranged to come into contact with an opposed surface of the other of the fixed member and the operation member; a position detecting section for detecting a position of the operation member with respect to the fixed member; and an operation force amount control section for controlling driving of the transducer to change contact friction force generated when the transducer contacts with the fixed member or the operation member. The operation force amount control section controls the transducer such that the contact friction force applied to the operation member when the operation member is manually rotated with respect to the fixed member changes to a sense of click.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Olympus Imaging Corp.
    Inventors: Sumio Kawai, Manabu Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 8659842
    Abstract: An image capturing device and an assembling method thereof are provided. The assembling method includes the following steps. Firstly, a lens holder, a lens module and a casing are provided, wherein the lens holder includes a containing cavity. Next, the lens module is disposed in the containing cavity of the lens holder. Then, the casing is disposed on the lens holder and the lens module, wherein the casing covers a part of the lens module. Finally, an Ultrasonic Welding is applied on the lens holder and the casing for forming a melting interface between the lens holder and the casing so as to fix the casing to the lens holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Himax Technologies Limited
    Inventor: Yin-Dong Lu
  • Patent number: 8654459
    Abstract: In a resin molded lens 20 of an interior illumination lamp which includes inserting openings inserting seesaw type switch knobs, gates G and G1 for a resin molding are formed so as to be installed at inner side surfaces of the inserting openings when the resin molding is performed by molds D1 and D2, and protrusions 20T having heights higher than heights of gate traces G2 generated by the gates G and G1 are formed in the vicinity of gate traces G2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Takahiro Hori
  • Publication number: 20140043464
    Abstract: A coordinate measuring machine has a workpiece support for holding a measurement object, and a measuring head displaceable relative to the workpiece support. An evaluation and control unit determines geometric properties on the measurement object depending on the position of the measuring head relative to the workpiece support and on sensor data from an optical sensor carried on the measuring head. The optical sensor includes a camera and a lens assembly having a lens body, which forms a light-entry opening and a light-exit opening with an interface for connecting the camera. The lens assembly comprises a number of lens elements arranged in the lens body. A separate cover glass is arranged in the region of the light-entry opening, and sits in front of the lens elements as a first transparent component. Preferably, the lens elements are corrected depending on optical characteristics of the cover glass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: Carl Zeiss Industrielle Messtechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas ENGEL, Johannes WINTEROT
  • Publication number: 20140043701
    Abstract: Provided is a technique capable of correcting not only a variation due to a moving speed and a temperature change of a lens but also a variation due to a focal distance and a temperature change of the lens, with a high degree of accuracy. An optical device (100) includes a control unit (1), a lens (2), an image sensor (3), a temperature sensor (4), a storage unit (5) that stores a driving pulse number, lens information, and speed information of the lens (2), an image signal processing unit (6) that acquires the lens information and the speed information from the storage unit (5) under the control of the control unit (1), a piezoelectric element (7) that moves the lens (2), and a driver (8) that controls the piezoelectric element (7).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: NEC CASIO MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS, LTD.
    Inventor: Masatoshi Motomura
  • Patent number: 8648920
    Abstract: This invention provides an electromagnetically driven device applicable to a lens driving device with an anti-shake function by a simple structure that enables the movable member to swing around an axis thereof. A flat spring for swinging connects to a stationary frame body provided with a permanent magnet set and a coil set for swinging is mounted on an outer circumference of a movable frame body. When an axial direction of the movable frame body is designated as the Z axis, the coil set for swinging including a first through fourth coils arranged around the Z axis and spaced at uniform intervals with each winding around an axis perpendicular to the Z axis and opposite to the permanent magnet set respectively. The permanent magnet set includes a first through fourth magnets, wherein each magnet is arranged between two adjacent coils among the first through fourth coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignees: Micro Win Tech Inc., Largan Precision Co., Ltd., Xinhongzhou Precision Technology Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Kokichi Terajima
  • Patent number: 8634149
    Abstract: A system tube of an endoscope optical system, designed to contain cylindrical elements of an image guide provided with lenses and to support the elements by tongues cut out of the wall of the system tube and deformed nonelastically. Wherein the tongues are deformed toward the outside and are bent elastically by a holder toward the inside to below the level of the outer surface of the system tube. In a system tube of an endoscope optical system, designed to contain cylindrical elements of an image guide provided with lenses and to support the elements by means of nonelastically deformed tongues cut out of the wall of the system tube, the tongues are deformed toward the outside and are elastically bent by a holder toward the inside to below the level of the outer surface of the system tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Olympus Winter & IBE GmbH
    Inventor: Gregor Kiedrowski
  • Patent number: 8634147
    Abstract: An apparatus that transfers an optical element includes: a driving unit that generates a driving force in response to an external signal, a rotating plate that rotates due to the driving unit, a first deceleration unit that is rotatably in frictional contact with the rotating plate, a rotating shaft that has an outer screw surface and that rotates by being mated to the first deceleration unit, an intermediate plate that is rotatably in frictional contact with the first deceleration unit, a second deceleration unit that is rotatably in frictional contact with the intermediate plate, a transmission unit that transmits an external rotational force to the second deceleration unit, and a moving unit that supports the optical element and that is engaged with the outer screw surface of the rotating shaft and moves with the rotating shaft as the rotating shaft rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hidemasa Ozawa
  • Publication number: 20140015953
    Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus for magnifying and capturing images of one or more samples, as well as an apparatus for changing objective lenses. Methods of using the apparatuses, and other embodiments, are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: IDEA MACHINE DEVELOPMENT DESIGN & PRODUCTION LTD.
    Inventors: Shlomo TURGEMAN, Oded ANNER, Eitan SHEFER, Royi LEVAV, Yael PARAN, Mordechai BRESTEL, Alex EFROS, Yuvalal LIRON
  • Publication number: 20140016216
    Abstract: The present invention provides a manufacturing method for an image pickup lens unit, with which deformation of a lens occurring during molding of a holder can be suppressed. A resin holder member 40 that holds a lens 10 in position in an interior thereof can be formed. At this time, surfaces of first and second lens layers 12 and 13 of the lens 10 may be deformed by molds 51 and 52 such that a depression 12r or the like remains in the first and second lens layers 12 and 13. By subjecting the lens 10 and the holder member 40 to heating treatment, however, this distortion can be released, and as a result, an original optical precision of the first and second optical surfaces 12d and 13e of the lens 10 can be restored.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Inventors: Hajime Mori, Dai Akutsu, Takemi Miyazaki
  • Publication number: 20140016218
    Abstract: A camera lens assembly includes: a lens holder unit to which a lens module is mounted; a wire member fixed to the lens holder unit and the lens module, and resiliently supporting the lens module such that the lens module is driven in an optical axis direction; and a fixing member mounted to the lens holder unit to fix the wire member and dampen an impact generated in the wire member due to an impact generated in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction. Also, a camera lens assembly can include: a wire module resiliently supporting a lens module such that the lens module is movable in an optical axis direction on a lens holder unit, dampening an impact generated in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction, and transferring a current applied to drive the lens module to a circuit board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Inventors: Hyun-Ho Yu, Doo-Sik Shin
  • Publication number: 20140016215
    Abstract: A small, high-performance image pickup lens unit having an IR cut filter that can be incorporated reliably therein while avoiding an increase in processing complexity. A sealing portion 14 is disposed between a lens 11 and an IR cut filter 12 in order to seal an internal space IS sandwiched between the lens 11 and the IR cut filter 12, and therefore a holder 40 can be molded integrally with the lens 11 and the IR cut filter 12 incorporated therein while preventing liquid resin MP from flowing in between the lens 11 and the IR cut filter 12. By molding the holder 40 integrally with the lens 11 and the IR cut filter 12 incorporated therein in this manner, an image pickup lens unit 100 can be reduced in size, and reductions in the number of components and the number of assembly man-hours can be achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Inventors: Dai Akutsu, Hajime Mori, Takemi Miyazaki
  • Publication number: 20140009833
    Abstract: A lens including: a central refracting portion and a peripheral portion configured to support the lens in a lens mount wherein the peripheral portion has a surface including at least one out-coupling element configured to couple light out of the lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Mikko Juhola, Pasi Saarikko, Marko Parikka
  • Publication number: 20140012165
    Abstract: A system of a magnetic attachment handle and attachment devices includes an attachment handle and a plurality of devices. Each of plurality of devices includes a device magnet which attaches with a handle magnet of the attachment handle so that the attachment handle can be interchangeably attached with a chosen device from the plurality of devices. The chosen device that attaches with the attachment handle is selected by a user as the plurality of devices can be different from one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Inventor: Thomas D. COCKLEY