Patents Examined by Christopher E Mahoney
  • Recording apparatus
    Patent number: 11633954
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a conveyance unit that conveys a recording medium in a first direction toward a recording head for ejecting a liquid, a tank including a containing chamber containing the liquid to be supplied to the recording head, and an injection port through which the liquid is injected into the containing chamber, the tank being disposed downstream of the conveyance unit in the first direction, a rotatable lever that holds a tank cap for closing the injection port, and a cover that rotates about a rotation shaft between an open position for exposing the lever and a closed position for covering the lever, the rotation shaft being disposed upstream of the conveyance unit in the first direction. The cover includes a sliding portion that is provided on a surface facing the lever and comes into contact with the lever while the cover is rotating toward the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Taiji Maruyama, Koya Iwakura, Hideaki Matsumura, Tetsu Hamano, Nobuhiro Toki, Daiju Takeda, Fumie Kameyama, Koki Shimada, Shota Asada, Ken Takenaga, Yusuke Tanaka, Yuta Araki, Atsushi Matsuyama, Yusuke Naratani, Kousuke Tanaka
  • Print head and image forming apparatus
    Patent number: 11633960
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a print head includes one or more light emitting element arrays, a light emission control circuit, and one or more drive circuit arrays. The light emitting element arrays include a plurality of light emitting elements arrayed continuously along a main scanning direction. The light emission control circuit outputs drive signals of different phases in units of a light emitting element group configured by a predetermined number of continuous light emitting elements included in the light emitting elements. The drive circuit arrays include a plurality of drive circuits, the drive circuits cause the light emitting elements to emit light individually based on the drive signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignees: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha, FUTABA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Koji Tanimoto
  • Inkless printing method, inkless printer, and printed substrate
    Patent number: 11628675
    Abstract: The invention relates to an inkless printing method. The invention also relates to an inkless printing device, in particular configured to perform at least a part of the method according to the invention. The invention furthermore relates to a substrate provided with at least one printed marking realised by applying the method according to the invention and/or the device according to the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: MACSA ID, S.A.
    Inventor: Venkatesh Seshaiya Doriaswamy Chandrasekar
  • Liquid ejecting apparatus and maintenance method of liquid ejecting apparatus
    Patent number: 11623441
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus including a liquid ejecting portion that ejects a liquid in a pressure chamber from a nozzle that communicates with the pressure chamber, a liquid supply flow path that supplies the liquid stored in a liquid storing portion to the liquid ejecting portion, a degas module provided in the liquid supply flow path, a vacuum degree adjustment mechanism configured to adjust a vacuum degree of the degas module, a state detecting mechanism configured to detect a state inside the pressure chamber, and a control portion that drives and controls the vacuum degree adjustment mechanism based on a detecting result of the state detecting mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shinya Komatsu, Hitotoshi Kimura
  • Screen printer
    Patent number: 11627665
    Abstract: A screen printer comprising: a conveyance device configured to convey a board; a board holding device configured to position a conveyed board at a printing position; a stencil holding device configured to attach a stencil above the held board; a squeegee device configured to fill pattern holes of the stencil with solder paste; a board raising and lowering device configured to raise and lower the board positioned by the board holding device; and a control device configured to perform drive control of each the above devices, the control device including a standby printing processing section configured to raise the board from below with respect to the stencil such that the board contacts the stencil, stand by in a state with solder paste filled in the pattern holes, and lower the board to separate the board from the stencil in accordance with a board conveyance signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: FUJI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Atsushi Torii, Akira Furuichi
  • Printing system assemblies and methods
    Patent number: 11626311
    Abstract: The present teachings disclose various embodiments of a printing system for printing substrate, in which the printing system can be housed in a gas enclosure, where the environment within the enclosure can be maintained as a controlled printing environment. A controlled environment of the present teachings can include control of the type of gas environment within the gas enclosure, the size and level particulate matter within the enclosure, control of the temperature within the enclosure and control of lighting. Various embodiments of a printing system of the present teachings can include a Y-axis motion system and a Z-axis moving plate that are configured to substantially decrease excess thermal load within the enclosure by, for example, eliminating or substantially minimizing the use of conventional electric motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Kateeva, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert B. Lowrance, Alexander Sou-Kang Ko, Justin Mauck, Eliyahu Vronsky, Aleksey Khrustalev, Karl Mathia, Shandon Alderson
  • Systems and methods for solder paste printing on components
    Patent number: 11622451
    Abstract: Systems and methods in which dot-like portions of a material (e.g., a viscous material such as a solder paste) are printed or otherwise transferred onto an electronic component at a first printing unit, and the electronic component is subsequently placed onto a substrate with the portions of viscous material between the electronic component and the substrate. Optionally, a printing unit which prints the dots of material onto the electronic component includes a coating system that creates a uniform layer of the material on a donor substrate, and the material is transferred in the individual dot-like portions from the donor substrate onto the electronic component by the printing unit. The system may also include imaging units to aid in the overall process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: IO Tech Group Ltd.
    Inventors: Ziv Gilan, Michael Zenou
  • Image pickup device
    Patent number: 11619865
    Abstract: An image pickup device, provided with a camera unit that is provided with a lens barrel, an autofocus unit disposed on the outside of the lens barrel, a lens barrel holding member that holds the lens barrel, and a camera case that engages the lens barrel holding member and covers the autofocus unit, the camera unit provided with a base member that supports the camera unit rotatably around a rotation axis, and a regulating member that restricts the rotation of the camera unit to a first rotation range. In the image pickup device, the camera case engages with the lens barrel holding member when the camera unit is in the first rotation range, the regulating member being detachable, and the camera case being detachable from the lens barrel holding member when the camera unit is in the second rotation range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yuta Yasutake
  • Method of manufacturing a conductive track on a board via stencil printing
    Patent number: 11622452
    Abstract: A method for printing conductive solder paste on a base substrate to establish an electrical connection is provided. The method includes applying conductive solder paste over a stencil, and within an opening of the stencil to contact the base substrate therebeneath. In embodiments, a squeegee can be used to scrape some of the conductive solder paste off of the stencil, leaving behind some of the conductive solder paste within the opening. Subsequently, the stencil can be removed at a speed of more than 200 millimeters per second to help reduce the end-of-track bump ultimately formed at the end of the conductive solder paste that remains after the stencil is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Inventors: Bo Cheng, Charles Tuffile
  • Image capturing unit, camera module and electronic device
    Patent number: 11614676
    Abstract: An image capturing unit includes an imaging element and a dual-shot injection-molded optical folding element that are adjacent to each other. The imaging element is configured for an imaging light to pass through. The dual-shot injection-molded optical folding element includes a first part and a second part. The first part is made of transparent material. The first part has a reflective surface configured to reflect the imaging light. The second part is made of opaque material, and the second part is fixed at periphery of the first part. The second part includes a supporting portion configured to support the dual-shot injection-molded optical folding element. The supporting portion maintains the dual-shot injection-molded optical folding element at a predetermined position corresponding to the imaging element through mechanism assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: LARGAN PRECISION CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Lin An Chang, Pei-Chi Chang, Ming-Ta Chou
  • Portable self-standing camera mounting system for mounting multiple cameras
    Patent number: 11599011
    Abstract: A camera mounting system may include first and second self-standing post assemblies. The first post assembly may include a first post including a first tube extending between bottom and top ends of the first post, and a first base attached to the bottom end of the first post. The second post assembly may include a second post including a second tube extending between bottom and top ends of the second post, a second base attached to the bottom end of the second post, a tension device attached to the second post, and a cable configured to extend between the first and second posts and including a first end portion configured to removably attach to the first post assembly and a second end portion attached to the tension device. The tension device may be configured to adjust tension of the cable between the second post and the first post.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Inventor: Gerardo Antonio Andrade Russian
  • Fluid coverage sensing system and method
    Patent number: 11592370
    Abstract: A system for applying a fluid to a substrate bearing a sample for analysis has an array of sensor plates positioned to sense the presence of fluid in contact with respective areas of the substrate. In a particular embodiment, fluid presence in different areas of the substrate is sensed by the effect of the fluid and its identity on the impedances of capacitors formed between sensor plates within the array. In a more particular embodiment, by polling the sensor array continually while fluid is applied to the substrate determine a coverage map, a fluid dispensing mechanism can be controlled to efficiently cover the entire substrate with fluid a minimal amount of fluid, thereby reducing waste.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond Kozikowski, III, Marian Mikaela Rygelski, Matthew Thurman
  • Camera module
    Patent number: 11592728
    Abstract: A camera module includes: a first driving unit including a rotating plate disposed in a housing so as to be rotatable about an optical axis, and a first shape memory alloy (SMA) wire configured to rotate the rotating plate in response to a first applied current; and an optical module disposed in the housing and coupled to the rotating plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jae Woo Jun
  • Driving unit, optical-element driving device, camera module, and camera-mounted device
    Patent number: 11582390
    Abstract: The driving unit includes: a first contact portion and a second contact portion that move relatively to each other while making contact with each other during driving; in which the second contact portion includes a coating layer at a contact face with the first contact portion, and the first contact portion and the second contact portion generate heat along with relative movement to vaporize a worn-away part of the coating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: MITSUMI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoichi Itagaki, Taro Watanabe
  • Revolving photography studio
    Patent number: 11573481
    Abstract: A revolving photography studio is disclosed. The revolving photography studio includes a stationary circular track surrounding a product setup location and an upright wall coupled to a frame defining a studio backdrop, being of a curved configuration, at least partially surrounding the product setup location, and following the stationary circular track for undergoing revolvable movement along the track using wheels. The wall comprises a defined opening for entrance into the product setup location. The revolving photography studio also includes a linear horizontal crossbar across a top of the opening and coupled to the frame. The revolving photography studio additionally comprises a plate coupled to the linear horizontal crossbar. The plate is configured to receive a camera mount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: DN IP Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Rebecca Bolin, Adam Bolin
  • Method and apparatus for portable lighting
    Patent number: 11567394
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide adjustable lighting devices for use in photography lighting systems. In one embodiment, an adjustable lighting device comprises at least two panel sections and a light element. The at least two panel sections are each configured to act as a light reflector or flag, and are rotatably coupled to each other such that each panel section is freely rotatable relative to its one or more adjacent panel sections. The light element is coupled to one side of a first panel section of the panel sections, and configured to direct light substantially in a direction away from the one side of the first panel section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Inventor: Paul Ernest
  • Imaging apparatus, imaging control method, interchangeable lens and diaphragm driving method
    Patent number: 11567392
    Abstract: Provided is an imaging apparatus including a mode setting unit that sets a diaphragm driving mode out of a plurality of diaphragm driving modes including a first diaphragm driving mode and a second diaphragm driving mode in which diaphragm driving is more limited than in the first diaphragm driving mode, and a diaphragm control unit that controls diaphragm driving in accordance with brightness of an imaging target in a case where the mode setting unit sets the second diaphragm driving mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Doi, Jun Aoyama, Kazunari Konishi, Shun Kikuchi
  • Electronic apparatus
    Patent number: 11556048
    Abstract: An electronic viewfinder unit includes a finder unit and a base member. The finder unit includes a display unit, an eyepiece portion, and a lens holding member holding a lens that guides a light flux emitted from the display unit to the eyepiece portion. The base member includes a guide member configured to guide the electronic viewfinder unit to a housed state and a protruding state. The base member includes a holding portion and a turning member. The holding portion is provided with a first holding member and a second holding member that face each other with an optical axis of the lens in between. The turning member has one end held by the first holding member and another end held by the second holding member, and is turnable about an axis orthogonal to the optical axis of the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takazumi Seo
  • Room
    Patent number: 11550212
    Abstract: The room includes: a ceiling; a floor; and a wall having a pair of wall surfaces opposite to each other, and another pair of wall surfaces opposite to each other in a direction intersecting the pair of wall surfaces. One of the pair of wall surfaces and the other pair of wall surfaces has a window. The wall surface opposite to the wall surface having the window has arranged thereon a first screen. An inner side of the window, and a projection-side surface of the first each has arranged thereon a polarizing plate. An absorption axis direction of a polarizer of the polarizing plate of the window, and an absorption axis direction of a polarizer of the polarizing plate of the first screen and/or an absorption axis direction of a polarizer of the polarizing plate of the second screen are substantially perpendicular or parallel to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: NITTO DENKO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masahiro Yaegashi
  • Observation apparatus and image pickup apparatus having the same
    Patent number: 11550203
    Abstract: An observation apparatus includes an observation optical system and a line of sight detection system. The observation optical system includes, in order from a display element side to an observation side, an optical path splitter configured to split an optical path, and a first lens unit having a positive refractive power. The line of sight detection system includes a second lens unit configured to image light incident on the first lens unit and split by the optical path splitter. A predetermined condition is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shuichi Mogi