Detachably Attached (e.g., Plate, Barrel, Etc.) Patents (Class 359/827)
  • Patent number: 8454250
    Abstract: A camera-attached lens device includes a lens barrel, a mount ring, pins, through holes, a positioning ring, and a fixing member. The lens barrel holds a lens system. The mount ring, attached to the lens barrel, has a tubular fitted portion coupling with the camera and a flange portion around the fitted portion. The pins are on the lens barrel and position a central axis of the mount ring with respect to an optical axis. The through holes are on the flange portion. The positioning ring outer diameter is smaller than a hole diameter of the through holes and has an opening where the pins are fitted. The fixing member fixes the positioning ring inside the through holes. The pins are restricted by the opening of the positioning ring fixed by the fixing member when the mount ring is positioned, positioning the lens barrel with respect to the mount ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Shigeru Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20130126717
    Abstract: The invention relates to a passive mechanical athermalization device, comprising: a barrel (1) that is made of a first material having a first thermal expansion coefficient (11) and that has a longitudinal axis (AA), said barrel comprising at least one first portion (11) and at least one second portion (12), the device being characterized in that it comprises: at least three beams (7) made of the first material, each of the beams (7) circumferentially connecting the first portion (11) and the second portion (12) relative to the longitudinal axis (AA); at least three bars (8) made of a second material having a second thermal expansion coefficient (12) that is different from the first thermal expansion coefficient, circumferentially distributed around the barrel (1) relative to the longitudinal axis (AA), each bar (8) axially connecting the first portion (11) and the second portion (12) relative to the longitudinal axis (AA) such that the thermal expansion of the barrel (1) results in a deformation of the beams
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2011
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: Sagem Defense Securite
    Inventor: Lucien Donce
  • Publication number: 20130120637
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a lens barrel in which operability for a user is increased and a reduction in parts is achieved while provided with a manual operating member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2012
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: PANASONIC CORPORATION
  • Publication number: 20130107109
    Abstract: An external lens device mounted in front of an internal camera of a portable electronic device includes an external lens and a positioning mechanism. The positioning mechanism includes a fixing element defining an opening and a sliding element fixing the external lens. The fixing element is slidably mounted on the portable electronic device to enable the opening to align with the internal camera. The sliding element is slidably mounted on the fixing element to enable the external lens to align with the opening and the internal camera. A portable electronic device using the external lens device is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicants: FIH (HONG KONG) LIMITED, SHENZHEN FUTAIHONG PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: GANG YANG
  • Publication number: 20130088791
    Abstract: A lens barrel includes a plurality of lens groups including a retractable lens group, a plurality of lens retaining frames to respectively retain the plurality of lens groups, a movable lens barrel to retain the plurality of lens retaining frames therein, and a lens retaining frame driving device to drive the lens retaining frames via the movable lens barrel. The lens retaining frames, the movable lens barrel and the lens retaining frame driving device move the plurality of lens groups between a collapsed state and a photographing state. The plurality of lens retaining frames includes a retractable lens retaining frame to movably retain the retractable lens group so as to position the plurality of lens groups on a photographing axis in the photographing state and to retract the retractable lens group to a housing located outside an inside diameter position of the movable lens barrel in the collapsed state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Inventors: Tetsuya Iwasaki, Terunori Koyama
  • Patent number: 8416517
    Abstract: A survival apparatus operable to ignite a combustible material wherein the survival apparatus additionally functions as a zipper pull-tab for an article of clothing. The survival apparatus further includes a body that is substantially rigid and generally rectangular in shape. The body includes a first aperture that is oval in shape and has a convex lens mounted therein. A coating is disposed over the body operable to substantially inhibit damage to the lens mounted within the first aperture during use as a zipper pull. A release strip is intermediate the body and the coating wherein the release strip further includes a tab providing an interface to engage the release strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Inventor: Gordan Peterson
  • Patent number: 8414204
    Abstract: A lens adaptor includes a first mount formed at one side of the lens adaptor and coupled to a body mount of a lens changeable photographing apparatus, a second mount formed at the other side of the lens adaptor, to which a lens mount of a lens is coupled, an aperture lever arranged to contact an aperture pin of the lens when the lens mount of the lens is coupled to the second mount, and an aperture ring capable of moving the aperture pin of the lens via the aperture lever, due to rotation, when the lens mount of the lens is coupled to the second mount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Myung-gyu Kim
  • Patent number: 8400722
    Abstract: An interchangeable lens to be detachably attached to a camera body, that includes a holding unit at which a plurality of contacts is arranged, the interchangeable lens includes: a first communication contact system arranged at the holding unit; and a second communication contact system different from the first communication contact system, arranged at the holding unit at a position different from a position at which the first communication contact system is arranged. The fourth contact is arranged at a position closer to the second communication contact system than the first contact, the second contact, and the third contact are, and the seventh contact and the eighth contact are arranged at positions closer to the first communication contact system than the fifth contact and the sixth contact are.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuharu Imafuji, Masafumi Oikawa
  • Publication number: 20130021687
    Abstract: A lens barrel is provided that includes an optical system, an actuator, a plurality of interface units, and a controller. The lens barrel supports the optical system that includes an optical axis and a zooming lens group. The optical system is configured to adjust the focal distance of the lens barrel. The actuator is configured to drive the zooming lens group so as to adjust the focal distance. The plurality of interface units includes a first interface unit and a second interface unit. Each of the first interface unit and the second interface unit accepts an adjustment operation from a user. The controller is configured to instruct the actuator to change the focal distance when the first interface unit and the second interface unit each accept an adjustment operation. The first interface unit and the second interface unit are circumferentially disposed around the periphery of the lens barrel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Takeo Santo, Akira Koga
  • Publication number: 20130021686
    Abstract: A lens unit includes an operating member to be operated by a user, an area configured to switch the operating member between an operable state and an inoperable state, and an urging member configured to urge the operation locking member toward the position at which the operating member is brought into the inoperable state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Uehara
  • Publication number: 20130002937
    Abstract: Provided is a lens barrel comprising a lens holding member that holds a lens; a guide axle that extends in a direction parallel to an optical axis of the lens; and an oil-retaining bearing that is fixed to the lens holding member, and into which the guide axle is slidably inserted. In the lens barrel, the guide axle and the oil-retaining bearing may be made of metal, and at least a portion of the lens holding member to which the oil-retaining bearing is fixed may be made of resin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hidefumi OTA
  • Patent number: 8342760
    Abstract: A camera accessory is detachably mounted at a camera body that includes a first body contact point, a second body contact point, a third body contact point, a fourth body contact point and a fifth body contact point and detects disengagement of the camera accessory when the fifth body contact point sustains a signal level corresponding to a first truth value continuously over a length of time equal to or greater than a predetermined time length. In the camera accessory, the accessory-side communication control device executes control so as to ensure that the signal assuming a level corresponding to the first truth value is not continuously output from the fifth accessory contact point any longer than the predetermined time length while the operating voltage supply from the camera body is provided via the first accessory contact point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuharu Imafuji, Masafumi Oikawa
  • Patent number: 8334923
    Abstract: A digital camera has an optical system, an image capturing unit, an aperture adjuster, a focal point adjuster, and a body microcomputer. The aperture adjuster has an aperture included in the optical system and is capable of adjusting the state of the aperture. The focal point adjuster has a focus lens included in the optical system and is capable adjusting the focal state of the optical system by using the focus lens by contrast detection method. The body microcomputer controls the operation of the aperture adjuster so that the aperture value of the optical system will be at or below a set aperture value before the focal state is adjusted by the focal point adjuster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Naoto Yumiki
  • Patent number: 8287197
    Abstract: An interchangeable lens which is removably mounted on a camera body including an image sensor includes a tilt unit configured to move a lens unit in a tilt direction with respect to the image sensor, a shift unit configured to move the lens unit in a shift direction with respect to the image sensor, a changing unit configured to change a relative angle between the shift unit and the tilt unit by relatively rotating the shift unit and the tilt unit, a detection unit configured to detect the relative angle, and a control unit configured to transmit to the camera body a detection result of the relative angle detected by the detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kunihiko Sasaki, Takeya Nakayama, Hiromu Yasuda, Yuki Nagao
  • Publication number: 20120257294
    Abstract: A rotation of a first eccentric member adjusts a parallel eccentricity of an optical element held by a holding member, rotation of a second eccentric member adjusts a tilt eccentricity of the optical element held by a holding member, and change of a position of an engaging member and a position where the second eccentric member is engaged with a second groove portion adjusts a position of the optical element in the direction of an optical axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Seiichi Kashiwaba
  • Patent number: 8279544
    Abstract: Some embodiments disclosed herein relate to a lens component having one or more lenses attached to a retainer portion configured to removably attach to communication devices such as mobile phones, tablet computers, media players, and the like. The retainer portion may be configured so as not to interfere with a user's view of a display panel of the communication device. In some embodiments, a plurality of lenses may be provided, and the lenses may be removably attached to the retainer portion and may be interchangeable. A structure for providing a flash may also be provided. In some embodiments, additional features may be provided, such as attachment components to facilitate attachment to stability devices, such as tripods, and to user-wearable accessories.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Premier Systems USA, Inc
    Inventor: Patrick D O'Neill
  • Publication number: 20120236425
    Abstract: Some embodiments disclosed herein relate to a lens component having one or more lenses attached to a retainer portion configured to removably attach to communication devices such as mobile phones, tablet computers, media players, and the like. The retainer portion may be configured so as not to interfere with a user's view of a display panel of the communication device. In some embodiments, a plurality of lenses may be provided, and the lenses may be removably attached to the retainer portion and may be interchangeable. A structure for providing a flash may also be provided. In some embodiments, additional features may be provided, such as attachment components to facilitate attachment to stability devices, such as tripods, and to user-wearable accessories.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Inventor: Patrick D. O'Neill
  • Patent number: 8259401
    Abstract: An optical assembly has a lens element having a plurality of radially extending tabs and a mounting structure having a plurality of retaining members. The retaining members extend in a direction substantially parallel to an optical axis defined by the mounting structure and are positioned complementary to the radially extending tabs of the lens element. A portion of the mounting structure is in an interference fit with the a portion of the lens element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: James A. Schmieder, Paul D. Ludington
  • Patent number: 8248722
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a lens barrel including a lens having a reference portion, a barrel body having a supporting portion adapted to come into contact with the reference portion of the lens, and a lens holding member for holding the lens so that the lens is sandwiched between the lens holding member and the barrel body in the condition where the reference portion of the lens is biased against the supporting portion of the barrel body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Hattori
  • Patent number: 8248717
    Abstract: An exemplary camera module includes a lens holder and a lens barrel. The lens holder includes a cylindrical receiving cavity defined therein and an inner smooth surface in the cylindrical receiving cavity. The lens barrel is received in the cylindrical receiving cavity. The lens barrel includes a hollow cylinder and a plurality of spaced protrusions arranged on the outer cylindrical surface of the hollow cylinder. The outer cylindrical surface is spaced from the inner smooth surface. The protrusions abut against the inner smooth surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuan-Hsu Chou
  • Patent number: 8238045
    Abstract: An adapter for night vision goggles includes a body including a first arm and a second arm each configured to receive a night vision goggle mount. A first night vision goggle mount is removably attached to the first arm or the second arm and a base extends from the body for attaching the adapter to night vision goggles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Norotos, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathon R. Prendergast, Ronald R. Soto
  • Patent number: 8228625
    Abstract: An optical apparatus includes a lens barrel, an optical apparatus body, a body-side mounting unit, a lens-side mounting unit and a position determination mechanism. A plurality of projection pins protrude from an outer circumferential surface of a cylindrical part of the body-side mounting unit. A groove is formed in an inner circumferential surface of the lens-side mounting unit. Cutout regions that are in communication with the groove are formed in a surface of the lens-side mounting unit that faces toward a flange part of the body-side mounting unit at positions that respectively correspond to positions of the projection pins. The position determination mechanism determines a position of the lens-side mounting unit around the optical axis of the optical apparatus body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
    Inventor: Hidekazu Sano
  • Publication number: 20120183286
    Abstract: A lens barrel includes a lens tube configured to hold a lens, a barrier driving member configured to move between an opened state and a closed state by switching of the lens tube between a shooting-ready state and a retracted state, a pair of first barrier blades, each of which includes a blade portion, configured to open and close in conjunction with the barrier driving member, and a pair of second barrier blades, each of which includes a blade portion and a coupling portion, the coupling portion positioned outside the lens as viewed from an object side and located closer to the first barrier blade than the blade portion, the pair of second barrier blades being configured to be moved by contact between the coupling portion and the first barrier blade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Toru Ishimasa
  • Patent number: 8189268
    Abstract: A lens unit is equipped with a lens, through which light from an object enters, and a lens barrel for holding the lens. An optical extending member is employed when observing a focal image of the lens with a microscope. A receiving portion having a receiving surface, for receiving a front end facet of the optical path extending member within the lens barrel that faces toward the lens, is formed at a portion of the lens barrel. A mounting portion positioned further rearward from a rear end facet of the optical path extending member, having a guide insertion aperture that extends in a direction perpendicular to the receiving surface and a mounting surface that extends in a direction parallel to the receiving surface is formed at the periphery of the guide insertion aperture is formed at a portion of the lens barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Aoki, Yoichi Iwasaki, Kenji Hoshino, Takayuki Matsuura
  • Patent number: 8190020
    Abstract: An interchangeable lens which can communicate with an associated camera body when the interchangeable lens is detachably attached to the camera body to exchange data of the interchangeable lens, the interchangeable lens includes a logic IC via which the interchangeable lens communicates with the camera body; and a memory which is provided independent of the logic IC, connected to the logic IC, and stores the data of the interchangeable lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: PENTAX Ricoh Imaging Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Norio Numako, Kazuhiro Kagami
  • Patent number: 8169724
    Abstract: High-precision observation is made possible while allowing contact between a distal end of an objective lens and an optical element without damaging the distal end of the objective lens and the optical element even when attaching to and detaching from the distal end of the objective lens. Provided is an objective lens adapter including a fixed member that is fixed to a lens tube of an objective lens, a distal-end member including an optical element that is made to be placed in contact with the distal-end surface of the objective lens, and an elastic member that is disposed between the distal-end member and the fixed member and that urges the optical element in a direction that causes the optical element to contact the distal-end surface of the objective lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Tadashi Hirata, Hiroya Fukuyama
  • Patent number: 8162550
    Abstract: A camera apparatus and a camera system of the present invention are configured so that a lens unit is attachable/detachable. The lens unit contains at least a lens and an iris, and contains a memory storing setting information required for operating the lens and the iris. When a camera microcomputer checks detection information stored in a memory in a sub-microcomputer at a time of start-up of the camera apparatus, and first detection information is stored in the memory, the setting information is acquired from the lens unit. When second detection information is stored in the memory, the setting information is acquired from another memory in the camera apparatus. Due to this configuration, the time for shifting the switch-on to a photographable state is shortened, and the ease of convenience can be enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Akihiro Tamura
  • Patent number: 8141110
    Abstract: A light-source holder used to hold a light source disposed in an optical pickup comprises: a holder main body portion; a through hole which penetrates the holder main body portion and in which a light source is fitted; a first hold potion that holds a first light source if the first light source is fitted in the through hole from a first side, one of first and second sides of the holder main body portion which are opposite to each other with respect to the holder main body portion; and a second hold portion that holds a second light source if the second light source is fitted in the through hole from a second side, one of the first and second sides of the holder main body portion which are opposite to each other with respect to the holder main body portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiromasa Sasaoka, Teruaki Sogawa, Fumiaki Mori
  • Publication number: 20120063016
    Abstract: An interchangeable lens to be detachably attached to a camera body, that includes a holding unit at which a plurality of contacts is arranged, the interchangeable lens includes: a first communication contact system arranged at the holding unit; and a second communication contact system different from the first communication contact system, arranged at the holding unit at a position different from a position at which the first communication contact system is arranged. The fourth contact is arranged at a position closer to the second communication contact system than the first contact, the second contact, and the third contact are, and the seventh contact and the eighth contact are arranged at positions closer to the first communication contact system than the fifth contact and the sixth contact are.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuharu IMAFUJI, Masafumi OIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20120063020
    Abstract: An interchangeable lens to be detachably attached to a camera body, that includes a holding unit at which a plurality of contacts is arranged, in the interchangeable lens, the first contact is arranged on one end and the eleventh contact is arranged on another end of the arrangement of the twelve contacts; the second contact is arranged next to the first contact in the arrangement of the twelve contacts; and the twelfth contact is arranged next to the eleventh contact in the arrangement of the twelve contacts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuharu IMAFUJI, Masafumi OIKAWA
  • Patent number: 8116583
    Abstract: A light modulation panel is inserted into an optical path of an imaging lens composed of an image-forming optical system to make the imaging lens function as a depth-of-field-extended optical system. The light modulation panel has power that makes a peak position of defocus MTF when the imaging lens is used alone to function as the image-forming optical system and a peak position of defocus MTF when the imaging lens functions as the depth-of-field-extended optical system by insertion of the light modulation panel into the optical path of the imaging lens coincide with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Kenichi Sato
  • Patent number: 8102610
    Abstract: A lens assembly includes a first lens and a second lens. The first lens includes a first inner end surface, a first outer end surface and slots. The slots formed on the first inner end surface extends toward the first outer end surface, and each slot includes a trough and an inner engaging side portion. The second lens includes a second inner end surface, a second outer end surface and engaging blocks. The engaging blocks formed on the second inner end surface extends toward the first inner end surface of the first lens, and each engaging block includes a crest portion disposed next to the first inner end surface of the first lens and an inner engaging protrusion. A slit is defined by the inner engaging side portion and the trough portion of the slot and the inner engaging protrusion and the crest portion of the engaging block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Asia Optical Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Chien-Chou Chen
  • Patent number: 8085484
    Abstract: Attachments for adjusting optical properties of image forming optical systems. An example refocus flip optic adaptor for a night vision goggle may include an adaptor housing for detachably mounting to an objective lens assembly of the night vision goggle and an optical element holder pivotably mounted to the adaptor housing such that a refocus lens (or other optical element) mounted to the optical element holder is selectively positionable in an operative position in which the refocus lens is axially aligned with the objective lens of the night vision goggle and an inoperative position in which the refocus lens and the optical element holder do not affect an image viewable through the night vision goggle. In some example embodiments, the optical element viewing diameter may be substantially the same as objective lens viewing diameter. Example optical elements may affect optical properties such as objective lens focus, optical filtering, and magnification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Sensor Technology Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Joseph Heitkamp, Eugene Franklin Horn, Michael Jason Kratoska, Jonathan Schoen Willson
  • Patent number: 8085485
    Abstract: A lens barrel support structure is provided that includes a base frame and a lens barrel. The base frame includes a first support portion, a second support portion, a third support portion, and a stopper. The lens barrel includes a substantially cylindrical shape body frame configured to accommodate at least part of an optical system, a first attachment portion fixedly coupled to the body frame and to the first support portion, a second attachment portion fixedly coupled to the body frame and to the second support portion, a third attachment portion fixedly coupled to the body frame and to the third support portion, and a receiver fixedly coupled to the body frame. The receiver and the stopper are disposed spaced apart and define a gap that extends along a first direction parallel to an optical axis of the optical system to allow the receiver to contact the stopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Shusaku Yamamoto, Yukikazu Ujikane
  • Patent number: 8073324
    Abstract: Systems and methods are providing for aligning an accessory to an electronic device interface. In particular, some accessories such as optical filters and lens require specific alignment to operative properly. Using a first magnet array positioned around the periphery of the interface and a second magnet array positioned within the accessory, a user can position an accessory on the electronic device and rotate the accessory until the magnets of each array exert a force on an opposing magnet of the other array. By distributing the magnets in a manner that includes no repeating segments, only a single alignment of the accessory relative to the interface can allow the magnet arrays to be properly in opposition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Tsai
  • Publication number: 20110286120
    Abstract: An optical apparatus is provided that directs, diffuses, magnifies or otherwise alters light. The optical apparatus may include a lens that can be physically attached to a circuit board without glue, adhesive tape, or melting. The optical apparatus can be snapped onto the circuit board. The optical apparatus may then be glued or otherwise adhered to the circuit board after being snapped on.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Inventor: William F. Harris
  • Patent number: 8033987
    Abstract: The invention relates to a medical instrument consisting of at least two instrument parts, which is provided with a coupling for releasably connecting the two instrument parts, wherein the coupling having a locking element which may be moved between a released and a locked position, as well as at least one magnet element which produces a magnetic restoring force which retains the locking element in the locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Richard Wolf GmbH
    Inventors: Helmut Lehmann, Markus Lienhart
  • Patent number: 8016498
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus which is capable of effectively removing dust attached to an optical member due to mounting/removing of a photographic lens in a power-off state, to thereby prevent degradation of image quality. In the image pickup apparatus, when position information of a contact brush that moves in a manner interlocked with mounting/removing of the photographic lens differs immediately after execution of power-on operation from position information obtained immediately after execution of power-off operation, it is determined that photographic lens mounting/removing operation was carried out during power-off, and a camera microcomputer outputs a warning advising cleaning of the optical member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Futoshi Hirai
  • Patent number: 8014086
    Abstract: A housing assembly is provided including a housing, a lens panel received in the housing, and a shell. The shell includes latching end portions and secured with the housing by a latching of the latching end portions with the housing. The lens panel is secured between the housing and the shell and partially exposed through the shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignees: Shenzhen Futaihong Precision Industry Co., Ltd., FIH (Hong Kong) Limited
    Inventor: Zhi-Bin Ouyang
  • Patent number: 8007117
    Abstract: An assembling mechanism for assembling a lens module of a projector to an optical engine base of the projector includes a supporting stage fixed to the optical engine base, a supporting flange fixed to the lens module, a first fastener fixed to the optical engine base, a second fastener selectively engaged with the first fastener and disposed on the lens module around an axis, a first electrical connector fixed to the optical engine base, and a second electrical connector selectively coupled with the first electrical connector and disposed on the lens module. When the supporting flange contacts against the supporting stage and then the second fastener is engaged with the first fastener, the displacement of the supporting flange along the axis and the rotation of the supporting flange about the axis relative to the supporting stage are limited, and the first electrical connector is coupled with the second electrical connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Coretronic Corporation
    Inventor: Sea-Huang Lee
  • Patent number: 8009974
    Abstract: A power transmission capable of regulating the disengagement of a nut part from a screw part, and the like are provided. The power transmission is constructed of a rotation shaft having a thread formed on a periphery thereof; a nut member capable of being opened and closed, the nut member having a thread engaged with the thread of the rotation shaft, and pinching the rotation shaft and moving as the rotation shaft is rotated; a regulating part enabling movement of the nut member by regulating opening of the nut member; and a regulation releasing part capable of releasing engagement between the nut member and the rotation shaft by opening the nut member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Yousuke Kouno
  • Publication number: 20110157713
    Abstract: Attachments for adjusting optical properties of image forming optical systems. An example refocus flip optic adaptor for a night vision goggle may include an adaptor housing for detachably mounting to an objective lens assembly of the night vision goggle and an optical element holder pivotably mounted to the adaptor housing such that a refocus lens (or other optical element) mounted to the optical element holder is selectively positionable in an operative position in which the refocus lens is axially aligned with the objective lens of the night vision goggle and an inoperative position in which the refocus lens and the optical element holder do not affect an image viewable through the night vision goggle. In some example embodiments, the optical element viewing diameter may be substantially the same as objective lens viewing diameter. Example optical elements may affect optical properties such as objective lens focus, optical filtering, and magnification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2009
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Inventors: Ryan Joseph Heitkamp, Eugene Franklin Horn, Michael Jason Kratoska, Jonathan Schoen Willson
  • Patent number: 7969668
    Abstract: A lens arrangement includes two lenses. Each lens includes an optical portion having an optical axis, a non-optical portion surrounding the optical portion, and an engagement portion extending along the optical axis from the non-optical portion. One of the engagement portions includes an outer wall and an inner wall parallel to the outer wall with an annular groove defined therebetween, while the other engagement portion defines a corresponding annular space for receiving the outer wall and the inner wall therein, therefore the engagement portions are interferentially engaged with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuan-Hsu Chou
  • Patent number: 7965458
    Abstract: A clutching jig used to disengage a lens socket and a lens component which has a base glued on a printed circuit board (PCB) and is fixed in the lens socket by a plurality of buckling pieces of the lens socket abutting on the lens component. The clutching jig defines a base plate. The base plate has an inserting hole at a middle portion thereof. A side of the base plate has a portion surrounding the inserting hole extended perpendicular to the base plate to form a plurality of inserting slices, enclosing a chamber for receiving the lens component. The inserting slices are adapted to insert into a gap between the lens component and the lens socket for pressing the buckling pieces away from the lens component, with distal ends of the inserting slices extending inwards beyond a junction of the base and the PCB.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Cheng Uei Precision Industry Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Chin-Chou Wang, Yi-Chang Yang
  • Patent number: 7955010
    Abstract: A camera apparatus and a camera system of the present invention are configured so that a lens unit is attachable/detachable. The lens unit contains at least a lens and an iris, and contains a memory storing setting information required for operating the lens and the iris. When a camera microcomputer checks detection information stored in a memory in a sub-microcomputer at a time of start-up of the camera apparatus, and first detection information is stored in the memory, the setting information is acquired from the lens unit. When second detection information is stored in the memory, the setting information is acquired from another memory in the camera apparatus. Due to this configuration, the time for shifting the switch-on to a photographable state is shortened, and the ease of convenience can be enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Akihiro Tamura
  • Publication number: 20110109983
    Abstract: A lens connector is provided. The lens connector connects a document camera and a microscope. The lens connector comprises a lapping part and a cylindrical sleeve. The lapping part comprises a microscope eyepiece lapping end and a DC lens lapping end. A plurality of elastic pieces are formed on the microscope eyepiece lapping end, wherein an outer screw thread is formed on an outer sidewall of the elastic pieces. The DC lens lapping end connects the lens of the DC. The cylindrical sleeve comprises an axial through-hole, wherein an inner screw thread is formed along axial through-hole. The inner screw to thread of the cylindrical sleeve is adapted to the outer screw thread of the elastic pieces such that when the cylindrical sleeve rotates in a specific direction, the elastic pieces are simultaneously bent to fasten the eyepiece of the microscope.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2010
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: AVERMEDIA INFORMATION, INC.
    Inventors: Chun-Wei LU, Hao-Chuan CHAO
  • Patent number: 7936524
    Abstract: A barrier unit which can be easily assembled to a lens holding member in view of the above problems. The direction in which a barrier unit is rotated when the barrier unit is assembled with a lens holding member coincides with the direction in which a barrier blade driving member is rotated when the barrier blade is closed from the open state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akihiko Masuki
  • Patent number: 7933080
    Abstract: A mounting mechanism is provided for aligning and securing an optical instrument to a platform. The mechanism includes a housing, a trunnion and a base-plate. The housing receives the optical instrument along a longitudinal axis. The housing includes an attach support for the optical instrument, and an interface having vertically-facing cylindrical-fastener orifices. The trunnion supports the housing at the interface. The trunnion has pluralities of vertical slots and horizontal slots. Each vertical slot overlaps a corresponding vertical orifice. The vertical slots provide elevation displacement to vertically translate and pitch the housing. The horizontal slots provide lateral displacement to horizontally translate and yaw the housing. The base-plate supports the trunnion and is mountable onto the platform. The base-plate has a plurality of horizontally-facing cylindrical-fastener orifices. Each horizontal slot on the trunnion overlaps a corresponding horizontal orifice on the base-plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Joseph F. Sharrow, Christopher P. Behre, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7924515
    Abstract: The invention relates to an adapter for connecting the optical path of an optical recording device, in particular a camera, to the optical path of an observation device, with an attachment portion for attaching to one of the two devices, and the adapter has two centering mechanisms for centering the optical axis of a lens of the recording device on the optical axis of an eyepiece of the observation device, and a first centering mechanism cooperates with the eyepiece of the observation device and a second centering mechanism cooperates with the lens of the recording device, and one of the two mechanisms is designed to be attached to the eyepiece of the observation device or to the lens of the recording device by means of the attachment portion to provide a centered fit and hold and the second centering mechanism is designed to provide a centrally oriented fit or hold on the lens of the recording device or on the eyepiece of the observation device when necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Swarovski-Optik KG.
    Inventor: Urban Plangger
  • Patent number: 7898754
    Abstract: A resilient plate includes a body, a through hole defined in the center of the body, a plurality of slots defined in the body. A plurality of glue-holes is defined in the periphery portion of the body, and the glue-holes are configured for receiving an amount of an adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chia-Hung Liao