Camera Detail Patents (Class 396/439)
  • Patent number: 11899354
    Abstract: Disclosed is ultrafast photographing apparatus based on polarization-time mapping, which can obtain spatiotemporal (x, y, t) information of a dynamic scene by means of single exposure. The apparatus includes an active illumination system, a synchronous control system, a data acquisition system, and a data reconstruction system. Firstly, illumination light is generated by the active illumination system to irradiate on a dynamic scene; the synchronous control system is configured to control the single exposure of a camera; the data acquisition system is configured to acquire a two-dimensional image containing sixteen frames of spatiotemporal aliasing by means of polarization modulation and polarization filtering; and the data reconstruction system is configured to reconstruct the acquired image by using an iterative Tikhonov regularization algorithm, and finally to restore sixteen frames of original dynamic scenes with time series information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: EAST CHINA NORMAL UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Shi'an Zhang, Dalong Qi, Pengpeng Ding, Yunhua Yao, Yilin He, Jiali Yao, Chengzhi Jin, Zihan Guo, Zhenrong Sun
  • Patent number: 11125619
    Abstract: A compact hyperspectral imager adapted to operate in harsh environments and to conduct post acquisition signal processing to provide automated and improved hyperspectral processing results is disclosed. The processing includes luminance and brightness processing of captured hyperspectral images, hyperspectral image classification and inverse rendering to produce luminance invariance image processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Technological Resourses Pty. Limited
    Inventors: Richard J. Murphy, Arman Melkumyan, Anna Chlingaryan, Dai Bang Nguyen, Stuart Wishart, Alex Lowe, Steven Scheding
  • Patent number: 11119388
    Abstract: A lens screening device includes a housing and plate body, the housing has through holes, and the inside of the housing is configured with the plate body, which is acted by coils and magnetic elements to swing, thereby exposing or closing the through holes. The present invention is characterized in that a plurality of guide rails is configured inside the housing, the bottom surface of the plate body is in contact with the guide rails, and the bottom surface of the plate body is configured with at least one shallow groove, thereby reducing the weight, achieving a thin, lightweight structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: FUNDER ELECTRONIC GLOBAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Wai-How Weng
  • Patent number: 10996422
    Abstract: A method for assembling a camera module includes arranging a first sub-lens assembly and a photosensitive assembly on an optical axis of a second sub-lens assembly to form an optical system capable of imaging. The method includes increasing an actual measured resolution of imaging of the optical system to a first threshold by adjusting a relative position of the first sub-lens assembly with respect to the second sub-lens assembly. The method includes decreasing an actual measured image plane inclination of imaging of the optical system, obtained by using the photosensitive element, to a second threshold by adjusting an angle of an axis of the photosensitive assembly with respect to a central axis of the second sub-lens assembly. The method includes connecting the first sub-lens assembly, the second sub-lens assembly, and the photosensitive assembly. A corresponding camera module is also included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: NINGBO SUNNY OPOTECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mingzhu Wang, Hailong Liao, Yiqi Wang, Chunmei Liu, Shuijia Chu
  • Patent number: 10882496
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an optical member, a housing, and a light source. The optical member contains a photocatalyst film on an object-side surface. The housing contains an accommodation section in which the optical member is accommodated. The light source is located in an internal space of the housing and emits light to activate the photocatalyst film. The light from the light source passes through the optical member and irradiates the photocatalyst film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: KYOCERA Corporation
    Inventor: Mitsuru Ito
  • Patent number: 10848651
    Abstract: An image capturing device is provided. The image capturing device includes a housing, an image capturing module, a cover, and a clip member. The housing includes an open end. The image capturing module is disposed in the housing. The cover detachably covers the open end. The clip member clips the housing and the cover to prevent the cover from being separated from the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: WISTRON NEWEB CORP.
    Inventors: Yung-Ping Tsai, Ting-Hsuan Chen
  • Patent number: 10599015
    Abstract: The present invention provides as an aspect thereof an accessory apparatus detachably attachable to an image-capturing apparatus. The accessory apparatus includes an accessory communicator configured to enable communication with the image-capturing apparatus, and an accessory controller configured to perform the communication with the image-capturing apparatus through the accessory communicator. The accessory controller is configured, in response to detecting an error in the communication, to transmit an error notice that notifies the image-capturing apparatus of the error, and to perform a communication restoration process for restoring the communication, without waiting for a response to the error notice from the image-capturing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shunichiro Ikeda
  • Patent number: 10520652
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a lens module. The lens module includes a lens barrel with an accommodation space; a lens group accommodated in the accommodation space; a filter, a bracket and a sensor set by an image side of the lens group and outside the accommodation space. The bracket includes a top wall forming an optical aperture and a side wall extending from the top wall to the image side. The top wall has a first surface facing towards an object side, a second surface arranged opposite to the first surface and a third surface connecting the first surface to the second surface and enclosing the optical aperture. The bracket further includes a first hollow cavity arranged near the third surface, and the first hollow cavity is filled with a black light absorption substance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: AAC Technologies Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: Jia Wan
  • Patent number: 10403232
    Abstract: In a method of controlling display screen states and an apparatus, the method includes following actions. A signal emitter emits a detection signal outward. A second signal receiver receives a reflection signal of the detection signal formed by an external object. Based on intensity of the reflection signal received by the second signal receiver, distance states between terminals and the object are determined. The method controls the display screen states based on the distance states. Since the signal receiver away from the signal emitter precisely detects the distance states between terminals and the object, the method controls the display screen states of the terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Guangdong Oppo Mobile Telecommunications Corp., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yibao Zhou
  • Patent number: 10317698
    Abstract: A lens moving device is provided. The lens moving device includes: a bobbin; a first driving unit coupled to the bobbin; a second driving unit configured to move the first driving unit through an electromagnetic interaction with the first driving unit; a sensing magnet disposed on one side of the bobbin; a location detection sensor configured to sense a location of the sensing magnet; and a correction magnet disposed on an opposite side of the bobbin. According to the present disclosure, static tilt and dynamic tilt of the bobbin, to which a lens module is to be coupled, may be enhanced by a sensing magnet and a correction magnet which establish magnetic force equilibrium with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jin Suk Han, In Jae Yeo, Jae Hong Cho
  • Patent number: 9696470
    Abstract: The description relates to capturing or sensing color images of scenes and information about the type of light (e.g., light source) that illuminated the scene. One example can include an image sensor manifest as an array of pixels. This example can also include a lens configured to focus an image from a scene on the array of pixels. The array of pixels can entail first pixels that are configured to sense the image and second pixels that are configured to capture information about lighting of the scene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventor: Chengwu Cui
  • Patent number: 9300879
    Abstract: In a first operation mode, signals are read from pixels including ranging pixels in a pixel array and ranging and image generation are performed based on the read signals. In a second operation mode, signals are read from the pixels excluding the ranging pixels and exposure is controlled based on the read signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shoji Kono
  • Patent number: 9258473
    Abstract: A camera module includes an actuator coupled to one or more movable lenses of an optical train and configured to move the one or more lenses relative to the image sensor to provide zoom or autofocus or both to the camera module. The actuator is configured to bias one or more pairs of actuator components, and to measure one or more capacitances of the one or more pairs of actuator components, and to determine an orientation of the camera module based on the one or more measured capacitances, and to provide information accordingly for the actuator to step through an auto-focus process that is specifically tailored to one of multiple sub-ranges of camera pointing angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: DigitalOptics Corporation
    Inventor: Eddie Azuma
  • Patent number: 9104018
    Abstract: Provided is an imaging apparatus, including: an imaging optical system including a plurality of lenses; and an image plane which is disposed on an image side of the imaging optical system and is curved so that a concave surface thereof faces an object side of the imaging optical system. The imaging optical system includes an aperture stop. In the imaging optical system, a lens closer to the object side than the aperture stop and a lens closer to the image side than the aperture stop have different positive powers. A focal length of the imaging optical system is substantially equal to a distance from an exit pupil of the imaging optical system to the image plane. A radius of curvature of the image plane is substantially equal to the focal length of the imaging optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Keiichiro Ishihara
  • Patent number: 9055207
    Abstract: A MEMS actuator for an auto-focus camera module is coupled with a capacitance measurement component configured to determine MEMS actuator capacitance values to be used to determine motion and displacement of the camera module, the optical module and/or one or more movable lenses thereof, and to adapt a position and alignment of the one or more movable lenses to account for a specific focus distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: DigitalOptics Corporation
    Inventor: David McKinley
  • Patent number: 8858099
    Abstract: An anamorphic objective is provided for imaging an object onto an image acquisition unit. The anamorphic objective has at least one first plane of symmetry and at least one second plane of symmetry. The first plane of symmetry and the second plane of symmetry are oriented perpendicular to one another. The first plane of symmetry and the second plane of symmetry intersect and have a straight line of intersection (intersection line). A first objective section followed by a second objective section are arranged. A diaphragm is arranged between the first objective section and the second objective section. A first anamorphic optical element is arranged in the first objective section. A second anamorphic optical element is arranged in the second objective section. The anamorphic objective fulfills specified conditions and is suitable for generating a stigmatic imaging of the object on the image acquisition unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss AG
    Inventors: Aurelian Dodoc, Christian Bannert, Vladan Blahnik, Holger Sehr
  • Patent number: 8814448
    Abstract: Even if a plurality of CPU boards are installed, removal of the boards is facilitated. A plurality of CPU boards are disposed on the inner side of the left side face of a photographing lens device cover, which has an opening and the shape of a hollow rectangular parallelepiped. When a lens device body is accommodated inside the photographing lens device cover, connectors formed on the photographing lens device cover are connected to respective ones of connectors formed on the lens device body. Communication between the CPU boards and the lens device body becomes possible. Since the CPU boards are disposed on the cover and not on the lens device body, the boards can be removed without disassembling the lens device body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Kazunori Otani, Atsushi Misawa
  • Publication number: 20140212121
    Abstract: Disclosed are a camera module and a method for assembling the camera module, the camera module including a cover part having an opening formed therein and a lens guide formed in the opening to prevent removal of a lens to an outside, a lens mounted to the opening of the cover part, and a back cap coming into close contact with the lens and mounted to the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sangyeal Han, Sukwoo Son, Daeseung Kim, Heungsun Kim, Bumsig Cho
  • Patent number: 8774616
    Abstract: The present invention provides an interchangeable lens mounted on a camera body in an exchangeable manner, and the interchangeable lens includes: an optical system in which a state of a subject light flux incident to the mounted camera body is adjustable by changing an optical state; a contact position detecting unit with a detection plane, which detects a contact state including a contact and a contact position of a finger of a photographer, to detect a change in a contact position on the detection plane in an approximately same direction as an optical axis direction of the optical system; and a lens controller to control an optical state of the optical system according to a contact state of the finger including the contact position detected by the contact position detecting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Olympus Imaging Corp.
    Inventor: Koichi Nakata
  • Publication number: 20140112652
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for the customization of electronic equipment of which portable audio players, portable disc players, portable digital games and laptop computers are representative. The electronic equipment may be fitted with a substantially transparent faceplate that may cover removable inserts. These inserts may be customizable to provide unique decorative appearances to the electronic equipment upon which they may be fitted. Decorative designs may either be preprinted on the inserts or a user may produce a customized design.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Inventors: Antonio T. Latto, Isaac A. Simpson, Markus Diebel, Paul Bradley
  • Patent number: 8687112
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an adjustment device and method thereof which are applied for adjusting a photosensitive element. The adjustment device comprises a first platform, a second platform, a third platform and a cover. The first platform comprises a curved surface body and a positioning elastic element. The second platform, having a recess corresponding to each curved surface body and having a loading support portion, is arranged on a side of the first platform. The third platform is arranged on the other side of the first platform, and when the third platform, moves in an axial direction, the first and second platform moves together with the third platform. The cover compresses the photosensitive element against the second platform. When the inclination of photosensitive element is adjusted by the adjustment device, each curve surface body and each recess keep in contact due to the expansion of each positioning elastic element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Altek Corporation
    Inventors: Ming-Tsung Hsin, Ching-Chung Wang
  • Patent number: 8662765
    Abstract: Providing for a wafer level optical system employing composite lenses is disclosed herein. Conventional focus lens assemblies require three or more lenses. By way of example, two composite lenses can be used to reduce the cost of a wafer-level camera. In some aspects, the composite lenses can be aspheric and can employ a broader variety of wafer materials than earlier designs that only operated in narrow ranges of refractive indices and Abbe numbers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: DigitalOptics Corporation
    Inventors: Pavel Reshidko, Kai Engelhardt, Ephraim Goldenberg, Michael Dror
  • Patent number: 8642119
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a camera module that includes at least a semiconducting die, an image-sensing circuit, a lens, a lens aperture, and a coating that adheres to an exterior surface of the camera module. The coating is opaque to light and prevents light from accessing the camera other than through the lens aperture. The opaque coating is applied as a fluid and is cured. In one embodiment, a mask material is selectively applied to exterior surfaces of the semiconducting die, electrical interconnect layers, glass layers, the lens body, or the lens aperture. After applying the opaque coating, the selectively applied mask material is removed. Methods of selectively applying a mask material include applying a conformable and peelably releasable dope-like material, placing an array of joined, selectively shaped rigid masks over an array of assemblies, and applying a conformable mask material that is heat-expandable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics PTE Ltd.
    Inventors: Wingshenq Wong, David Gani, Glenn De Los Reyes
  • Patent number: 8548318
    Abstract: A dust-screening member is shaped like a plate as a whole, and has at least one side that is symmetric with respect to a virtual axis on a surface of the member. A vibrating member is adjacent to one side of the dust-screening member, arranged on the surface along the one side, and configured to produce, at the surface, vibration having a vibrational amplitude perpendicular to the surface. A drive unit is configured to drive the vibrating member to produce the vibration on the surface, such that peak ridges of the vibration form a closed loop and an area including a center of the closed loop is surrounded by a node area having almost no vibrational amplitude. When a thickness of the dust-screening member is assumed to be tg and a thickness of the vibrating member is assumed to be tp, tg/tp has a dimension of 0.8.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignees: Olympus Imaging Corp., Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Sumio Kawai, Takashi Miyazawa, Yusuke Rimmi
  • Patent number: 8485741
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating an image. Light is passed though an opening of a housing. The light has an intensity. At least a portion of the light received through the opening is increased using an intensifier unit to form intensified light. The intensified light is converted into a number of signals for the image using an image detection system located inside of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Thomas L. Bunn, Lynne C. Eigler
  • Patent number: 8475061
    Abstract: Membrane suspended optical elements include a structured substrate including a plurality of apertures defined therein and an array of optical elements, each of the optical elements being suspended by membrane within one of the apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Linnen, Regis S. Fan
  • Publication number: 20130142501
    Abstract: To provide a camera that can perform a removal operation for particles adherent to a surface upon which light is incident, of a pickup device and a transmitting member disposed on an optical path of the pickup device in such a condition that the particles are properly removed. According to the present invention, a camera comprises a driving mechanism section to drop and remove particles on a cleaning target that is a surface of an image pickup device and/or a surface of a low-pass filter provided closer to a side of a subject in an optical path than the image pickup device, the subject light passing through the low-pass filter, which is provided with: a tilt sensor to detect an orientation of the camera; and a control section to judge whether a removal operation for the particles by the driving mechanism section should be carried out or not in accordance with the detected value from the tilt sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Narihiro YASUDA, Masaharu HARA
  • Patent number: 8444331
    Abstract: Certain embodiments provide a camera module comprising a sensor substrate, a lens holder, a lens, and an infrared light cut filter unit. The sensor substrate has a solid-state imaging device and a light receiving unit receiving infrared light. The lens holder is mounted on the sensor substrate so as to cover the solid-state imaging device and the light receiving unit. The lens is arranged in the lens holder. The infrared light cut filter unit is arranged in the lens holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Masaru Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8439580
    Abstract: A dust-screening member arranged in front of an image forming unit that holds an image forming element configured to generate an optical image, is formed into a box shape that includes a plate-shaped polygonal light transmitting part that passes light entering from or to the image forming element, and a plurality of foot portions that tilt by a predetermined angle and extend from all sides of the light transmitting part or portions near all sides in a direction in which the image forming unit is located. The light transmitting part and the plurality of foot portions are formed using the same material. A vibrating member is fixed to at least one of the plurality of foot portions. The dust-screening member is held by an elastic force of an elastic member arranged between the plurality of foot portions and a support member configured to support the plurality of foot portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Olympus Imaging Corp.
    Inventor: Masaaki Sunaga
  • Publication number: 20130108256
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a casing defining a first opening and a through hole, a first antenna, a first cover, and a camera module. The first antenna is mounted in the casing and whose position corresponds to the position of the first opening. The first cover is detachably fixed in the first opening and covering the first antenna. The camera module is mounted in the casing and includes a lens module received in the through hole for converging light incident thereon. The first antenna and the camera module are arranged in a first line, the first cover being fixed in the first opening is separated from the camera module by a first predetermined distance in a first direction parallel with the first line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicants: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD., HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD
    Inventors: CHO-CHUAN YANG, CHUN-HSI LIN, ZHANG-XIANG HU, NIEN-CHANG WANG, SHU-HAO LU
  • Patent number: 8408821
    Abstract: An imaging system includes an image sensor and an optical filter. The image sensor captures image data in response to incident light. The optical filter filters the light and includes a dual window transmission spectrum. The dual window transmission spectrum includes a first transmission window having a first pass band aligned to pass visible light and a second transmission window having a second pass band overlapping with an absorption band of infrared light in Earth's atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Fei Wu, Shunbo Mou, Jizhang Shan
  • Publication number: 20130077951
    Abstract: A cascaded electrostatic actuator can be formed from a substantially planar substrate. The cascaded electrostatic actuator can be formed in a plane of the substrate. Various embodiments are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: DigitalOptics Corporation MEMS
    Inventor: Roman C. Gutierrez
  • Patent number: 8405322
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are present for increasing an intensity of light. Light is sent into an input of a housing in which a vacuum is substantially provided in the housing. The light sent into the input of the housing is converted into initial electrons. Movement of the initial electrons is caused to diverge from an axis through the housing to form diverged electrons. Additional electrons are generated to form an increased number of electrons in response to receiving at least a portion of the diverged electrons. The increased number of electrons is converted into output light that exits an output of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Thomas L. Bunn
  • Patent number: 8385733
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an image sensor and a photographing optical system. An imaging surface of the image sensor includes an effective light-receiving area having a rectangular shape that is defined by short sides and long sides. An optical surface of a lens that is provided closest to the image plane within the photographing optical system and which possesses an imaging function has a non-circular shape in a front elevational view. A boundary of the non-circular optical surface of the lens that is provided closest to the image plane includes two pairs of mutually parallel sides so that, when the lens that is provided closest to the image plane is rotated about the optical axis relative to the imaging surface, an image area formed by the non-circular optical surface covers the rectangular effective light-receiving area of the imaging surface before and after rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Nomura
  • Patent number: 8366330
    Abstract: In an optical device including an optical system to form an optical image of an object to be photographed, an image capture unit to convert the optical image of the object to be photographed into an electrical signal, and an optical device arranged on the front surface of the image capture unit, a water repellent layer or a structure with a three-dimensional pattern to reduce the adhesive force of an alien substance is provided on a surface of the optical element on the opposite side of the optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Goro Noto
  • Publication number: 20130028587
    Abstract: A black curable composition for forming a light-shielding color filter of solid-state imaging device is provided, which is capable of forming a pattern at low exposure dose even when containing a high concentration of an inorganic pigment, and preventing pattern defects. Also, a black curable composition for a wafer level lens is provided, which is capable of forming a cured film having excellent light shieldability and excellent in co-formability of both a large pattern and a fine pattern. The composition includes: an inorganic pigment; a copolymer containing a monomer having at least one of an amino group and a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic group, a monomer having at least one group of a carboxyl group, a phosphate group and a sulfonate group, and a macromonomer having a weight average molecular weight from 1,000 to 50,000; a polymerization initiator; a polymerizable compound; and an alkali-soluble resin having an unsaturated double bond.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yushi Kaneko, Makoto Kubota, Kazuto Shimada
  • Publication number: 20130022345
    Abstract: An anamorphic objective is provided for imaging an object onto an image acquisition unit. The anamorphic objective has at least one first plane of symmetry and at least one second plane of symmetry. The first plane of symmetry and the second plane of symmetry are oriented perpendicular to one another. The first plane of symmetry and the second plane of symmetry intersect and have a straight line of intersection (intersection line). A first objective section followed by a second objective section are arranged. A diaphragm is arranged between the first objective section and the second objective section. A first anamorphic optical element is arranged in the first objective section. A second anamorphic optical element is arranged in the second objective section. The anamorphic objective fulfills specified conditions and is suitable for generating a stigmatic imaging of the object on the image acquisition unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Inventors: Aurelian DODOC, Christian Bannert, Vladan Blahnik, Holger Sehr
  • Patent number: 8337101
    Abstract: An imaging device to which a support can be attached includes a support attachment unit and a support body unit. The support attachment unit includes a first threaded hole configured to be attached to the support, and an exposure face formed around the entrance of the first threaded hole. The support body unit includes a housing having an opening configured to expose the exposure face and an outer surface formed around the opening, and movably supports the support attachment unit. The support attachment unit is disposed at a first position when the support is not attached, and is disposed at a second position when the support is attached. The exposure face is disposed more to the inside of the housing than the outer surface when the support attachment unit is disposed at the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Tomonori Mizutani, Makoto Iyoda, Hisanori Sasaki, Ryuichi Nagaoka, Yasuhiro Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 8317416
    Abstract: A reliable barrier device for a camera, which is able to smoothly open and close blade members while suppressing a drive load applied when the blade members are opened and closed. Closing springs for primary and secondary blades are each interposed between corresponding ones of spring hooks on a barrier drive ring and on primary and secondary blade members. When the drive ring is rotated in a barrier opening direction, the distance between the spring hook on the ring and the spring hook for primary blade decreases and the urging force of the closing spring for primary blade decreases, which reduces a rotational torque produced by the closing springs for primary and secondary blades at barrier open state, making it possible to decrease a rotational torque produced by opening springs and acting on the drive ring at barrier open state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenichi Katano
  • Patent number: 8299418
    Abstract: Provided are an imaging device unit and a photographing apparatus. The imaging device unit includes an imaging device having an imaging plane on which an optical image of a subject is formed, wherein the imaging unit is configured to convert the optical image into an electrical signal; an optical unit disposed nearer to the subject than the imaging device; a plate that is mounted on a boundary portion of the optical unit, wherein at least an outer portion of the plate extends over an outer edge of the optical unit; a piezoelectric element that is mounted on the plate and configured to vibrate the plate and the optical unit; and a supporting frame that supports the at least outer portion of the plate extending over the outer edge of the optical unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiro Shirono
  • Publication number: 20120243862
    Abstract: In order to attain an optical module which can prevent a foreign object from intruding into the optical module, a camera module includes a top surface section having an opening for allowing light to pass through the opening into the optical module; and a glass substrate for sealing the opening, the glass substrate being adhered to the top surface section, the top surface section including a projection section which projects to abut on the glass substrate, the projection section being formed to surround the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuo Kinoshita
  • Publication number: 20120229661
    Abstract: Conventional apparatuses did not pay enough attention to assisting operations when the user is in a state differing from the normal, state. Therefore, provided is a photography lens that comprises a first biometric detection apparatus that is capable of detecting change in biometric information of a photographer, or a photographing apparatus that captures an image and comprises a holding section, an operating section for performing an image capturing operation, and a second biometric detection apparatus that is capable of detecting change in biometric information of a photographer and that is disposed in at least one of the holding section and the operating section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masakazu SEKIGUCHI, Toshiaki MAEDA, Toshikazu MORIKAWA, Hisashi SANO, Misa KAWAMURA
  • Publication number: 20120230669
    Abstract: Certain embodiments provide methods for manufacturing camera module including arranging a camera module body in a first shield and forming a resin having a light shielding effect. The camera module body has: a sensor board which has a sensor unit; and an optical element which has a lens unit and a spacer. The process of arranging this camera module body in the first shield is a process of arranging the camera module body in the first shield such that a gap is formed between the camera module body and the first shield. The process of forming the resin having the light shielding effect is a process of forming the resin having the light shielding effect in the gap between the first shield and camera module body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Junichi ABE
  • Publication number: 20120230664
    Abstract: A camera module includes a lens system, an image sensor, and an actuator. The actuator is fixed relative to the image sensor, and the actuator moves the lens system relative to the image sensor to achieve focus. Components that move relative to each other result in gaps or spaces between the components, an in particular there is a gap between the lens system and the actuator. Such a gap provides a traveling path for foreign material, or particulates, to enter the camera module and reach the image sensor, or other intermediate optical components between the lens system and the image sensor. A camera contamination reduction apparatus is implemented as a protective membrane that prevents foreign material from reaching the internal optical components through the traveling path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: FLEXTRONICS AP, LLC
    Inventors: Prebesh Pavithran, Ooi Yeow Thiam, Cheng Haw Chyn, Wong Hung Khin
  • Publication number: 20120224088
    Abstract: A flashless image acquisition system that includes a tandem imaging device having a tandem field of view and comprising a velocity vector estimate imaging device coupled to an object imaging device; and a peripheral imaging device having a peripheral field of view wider than the tandem field of view and configured to acquire real-time information related to positions of a moving object, wherein the real-time information is provided to the tandem imaging device, further wherein the velocity vector estimate imaging device is configured to provide in-exposure velocity vector estimates to control the object imaging device is described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Jan Jelinek, Sharath Venkatesha
  • Publication number: 20120207465
    Abstract: A dustproof structure includes: at least one fixed member disposed in an immobile manner; and a rotating member rotatable relative to the fixed member, wherein a clearance is formed between the fixed member and the rotating member, the clearance communicating with an external space positioned outside the fixed member and the rotating member and with an internal space positioned between the fixed member and the rotating member and extending in the direction in which the rotating member is rotated, and a plurality of recesses are formed in the fixed member, the recesses positioned in the internal space, extending in the rotating direction, and arranged in a direction other than the rotating direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kazutaka OZAWA, Tsuyoshi Kanai
  • Patent number: 8233073
    Abstract: An image capturing device (1) is disclosed comprising an electronic image detector (17) having a detecting surface (15), an optical projection system (5) for projecting an object within a field of view onto the detecting surface (15), and, optionally, a computing unit (19) for manipulating electronic information obtained from the image detector (17), wherein, the projection system (5) is adapted to project the object in a distorted way such that, when compared with a standard lens system, the projected image is expanded in a center region of the field of view and is compressed in a border region of the field of view. Preferably, the projection system (5) is adapted such that its point spread function in the border region of the field of view has a full width at half maximum corresponding essentially to the size of corresponding pixels of the image detector (17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: DitigalOptics Corporation Europe Limited
    Inventors: Gal Shabtay, Ephraim Goldenberg
  • Publication number: 20120162483
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for combining a mobile communication device having a camera (150) that includes a curved sensor (160) are disclosed. The present invention offers higher quality pictures that conventional phones that incorporate a flat sensor. These higher quality pictures are obtained without the need for large, bulky and expensive lenses. Higher light gathering capacity is provided, which reduces or eliminates the need for a flash to enhance ambient illumination. Longer battery life is obtained, since the need for a flash is reduced or eliminated. The combination of a mobile communication device with a camera that utilizes a curved sensor renders dedicated pocket cameras obsolete. The present invention, which, for the first time, combines a mobile communication device with a high performance camera, will reduce or eliminate the need to carry a separate stand-alone camera.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Inventors: Gary Edwin Sutton, Douglas Gene Lockie
  • Patent number: 8199243
    Abstract: A digital camera comprises an interchangeable lens unit and a camera body. The interchangeable lens unit is provided to form an optical image of a subject. A flash memory is configured to hold a correction coefficient table used to electrically correct distortion produced by the optical system. The camera body has a CCD image sensor, a correction coefficient acquisition part, an operation part, and a correction processor. The correction coefficient acquisition part is configured to acquire the correction coefficient table held in the flash memory. The operation part is configured to produce correction data by performing an interpolation operation or an extrapolation operation on the information obtained from the correction coefficient table. The correction processor is configured to correct distortion in the image data on the basis of information produced by the operation part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kyoichi Miyazaki, Kenichi Honjo, Yuichi Kimura, Shogo Sasaki, Masato Murayama
  • Patent number: RE44117
    Abstract: A lens driving apparatus 1 of the present invention includes a substantially cylindrical yoke 3; a base 5 to which the yoke 3 is attached; a carrier 7 having a lens; a coil 10; and a magnet 13, wherein the carrier 7 is moved in a direction of an optical axis of a lens by electromagnetic force generated by passing current through the coil 10, the base 5 is substantially square-shaped as viewed from a plane, the yoke 3 is placed at an inner position of the base 5, the yoke 3 has an outer peripheral wall 3a and an annular inner peripheral wall 3b to be spaced to each other, each magnet is placed between the outer peripheral wall and the inner peripheral wall and at a position corresponding to a base corner portion of the base 5, and a space between the outer peripheral wall 3a and the inner peripheral wall 3b positioned at a base side portion 3e is made narrower than a space between the outer peripheral wall 3a and the inner peripheral wall 3b positioned at the base corner portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignees: Shicoh Co., Ltd., Shicoh Motor (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Manabu Shiraki, Naoki Sekiguchi