Patents Examined by Christopher Mahoney
  • Patent number: 8886030
    Abstract: A digital camera is provided with a vertically long camera body having an approximately rectangular solid shape. An LCD panel provided in a rear surface of the camera body is arranged such that longitudinal directions of the display screen and the camera body correspond to each other. The digital camera is operated through a touch panel provided in a lower portion of the display screen. In a taking mode, an image is displayed in a small size on an upper portion of the display screen. In reproducing, the camera body is rotated sideways by 90 degree. In a reproducing mode, display posture of the image is also rotated by 90 degree, and the image is displayed in a large size on the entire display screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Atsushi Misawa
  • Patent number: 8879149
    Abstract: An arrangement for mounting a projection screen for a head-up-display, which can be attached in a removable fashion to a windscreen of a vehicle in the driver's field of vision, contains a mount for the projection screen, which mount forms a detachable connection with a base frame. The mount has a carrier on which the projection screen is mounted and which can be connected to the base frame by at least two magnetic coupling points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Johnson Controls GmbH
    Inventors: Norbert Kunze, Horst Rumpf
  • Patent number: 8873146
    Abstract: Attachment methods for daylighting sheets and a resulting optical construction enable daylighting microstructures to be secured to a light incident surface, such as a glazing. Applying an adhesive to selected portions of the daylighting microstructures creates a transparent, optical adhesive surface that enables the daylighting microstructures to be oriented outward, facing the incident light, and effectively seals the microstructures against the glazing to prevent ingress of dust and contaminants that would degrade optical efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: SerraLux Inc.
    Inventor: Mark E. Gardiner
  • Patent number: 8861951
    Abstract: Described herein is a two part camera module. A first part includes a lens assembly, a lens assembly holder, a printed circuit board (PCB) with an image capture device and a terminal block. The second part includes mounting elements, a connector shroud, an endcap, and an o-ring. The first part and the second part are configured to interconnect using a snap assembly. The first part is universal for all device applications and the second part is adaptable/interchangeable for each device application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Flextronics AP, LLC
    Inventors: Gary Warren, Darren Van Roon, Steve Steane, Reginald C. Grills
  • Patent number: 8858101
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus which can provide a rotational operation member around a lens barrel formed with a bayonet coupling section without increasing the apparatus size. Three female pawl grooves and three open grooves are formed in a mount base. A first ring member is formed with three male pawl portions for being engaged with the female pawl grooves and open grooves. An operation ring member is rotationally operated, and a second ring member rotates in unison therewith. Photo reflectors detect rotation of the second ring member. A restriction unit restricts rotation of the first ring member when the mount base and the operation ring member are bayonet-coupled. A rotation locking member restricts rotation of the operation ring member and the second ring member with respect to the first ring member in accordance with an operation for releasing rotation restriction of the first ring member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shuichi Idera
  • Patent number: 8861079
    Abstract: A rear projection display screen, including a film having a surface facing the back of the screen including ridges having a triangular cross-section defining prisms, wherein at least a wall of each of said ridges has an inclination such that the angle of incidence, on said wall, of a light ray normal to the display is equal, to within 5 degrees, to the Brewster angle of the surface of separation formed by said wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives
    Inventor: Umberto Rossini
  • Patent number: 8855482
    Abstract: A control unit controls a driving unit to drive an optical system in a first driving mode and controls a sound processing unit to process a sound signal in a first noise reduction processing mode in the case where a level of the sound signal obtained by a sound obtaining unit is lower than a predetermined level. The control unit controls the driving unit to drive the optical system in a second driving mode with a longer driving time than the first driving mode and controls the sound processing unit not to process the sound signal in the first noise reduction processing mode in the case where the level of the sound signal obtained by the sound obtaining unit is equal to or higher than the predetermined level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masafumi Kimura
  • Patent number: 8837048
    Abstract: Lighting devices and methods for illuminating the interior of a building with natural daylight are disclosed. In some embodiments, a daylighting apparatus includes a tube having a sidewall with a reflective interior surface, an at least partially transparent light collector with one or more light turning elements, and a light reflector positioned to reflect daylight into the light collector. The one or more light turning elements can turn direct and indirect daylight into the tube so that it is available to illuminate the building. In some embodiments, the tube is disposed between the light collector and a diffuser positioned inside a target area of a building. In certain embodiments, the tube is configured to direct at least a portion of the daylight transmitted through the light collector towards the diffuser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Solatube International, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul August Jaster
  • Patent number: 8837046
    Abstract: A projection screen includes a substrate having a projection area for a projection device to project an image onto the projection area. The projection area includes a plurality of arrayed optical regions, and each pixel of the image corresponding to the at least one optical region. Each of the optical regions includes a first optical sub-region and a second optical sub-region with different optical characteristics, such as reflective scattering, transmissive scattering, simple transmission or specular reflection. The above-mentioned projection screen with the optical characteristics of two or more, for example, can be at the same time as the front projection screen and the rear projection screen, or allows the user to watch background image behind the projection screen. A projection system including the above-mentioned projection screen is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: National Tsing Hua University
    Inventor: Cheng-Huan Chen
  • Patent number: 8837049
    Abstract: Disclosed is a window blind solar energy management system for capturing solar energy to manage illumination and temperature within a defined space. Blinds comprising curved louvers are hung from the internal frame of a window, each louver having a concave, highly reflecting specular mirrored surface that focuses incoming solar beam radiation onto a thin area on the back of the adjacent louver. The angle of the louvers is adjusted by an integral automatic controller so that the thin strip of light can be focused on one or two of three regions on the back of the adjacent louver which are designed to either reflect, absorb, or reject the incoming light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: MBC Ventures, Inc.
    Inventor: John Joseph Tandler
  • Patent number: 8837933
    Abstract: A shutter control device that uses an imaging device provided in a camera body to operate a shutter housed in a lens barrel to perform photography. The shutter control device comprises a communication port and a shutter control unit. The communication port is provided for transmitting and receiving signals between the camera body and the lens barrel. The shutter control unit is provided in the camera body, and outputs a shutter control signal to operate the shutter. The shutter control signal is transmitted to the lens barrel through the communication port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Pentax Ricoh Imaging Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masayuki Kamimura
  • Patent number: 8830577
    Abstract: A rollable display screen for use in electronic display systems includes a rollable screen that is mechanically coupled to a roller mechanism and has a plurality of pixel elements disposed thereon. The roller mechanism is configured as a stowing mechanism for the rollable screen, and may be further configured to deploy the rollable screen as a substantially planar viewing surface. The rollable display screen can be advantageously used for a durable and easily transported electronic display device since the rollable display screen is light-weight, durable, and compact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Prysm, Inc.
    Inventor: Roger A. Hajjar
  • Patent number: 8824050
    Abstract: A flexible sheet-form optical system, referenced to as a daylighting fabric, which has a fabric-like behavior and light redirecting properties. The daylighting fabric comprises a soft and flexible sheet of optically transmissive material, such as plasticized polyvinyl chloride. A surface of the flexible sheet includes a plurality of parallel slits having spaced-apart walls configured to reflect light by means of a total internal reflection. At least a portion of daylight incident onto the sheet is internally redirected at angles other than the angle of incidence which is exploited to enhance daylight harvesting and illumination of a building interior. Disclosed also are a method and apparatus for making the daylighting fabric. The method includes steps of mechanical slitting of the flexible sheet with a blade, elastic stretch-elongation of the sheet along a direction perpendicular to the slits, and making at least a portion of the sheet elongation irreversible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: SVV Technology Innovations, Inc.
    Inventor: Sergiy Vasylyev
  • Patent number: 8811814
    Abstract: Described herein is a system and method for camera module alignment. A camera module comprises a terminal block and an endcap with a connector shroud. The terminal block includes flexible terminal legs connected to a circuit board and terminal pins for connection with an external connector through the connector shroud. The terminal block includes alignment ribs and an endcap includes alignment pockets. Placement of the alignment ribs into the alignment pockets flexes the flexible terminal legs, moves the terminal block across the circuit board surface and aligns the terminal pins for connection with the external connector through the connector shroud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Flextronics AP, LLC
    Inventors: Gary Warren, Darren Van Roon, Steve Steane, Reginald C. Grills
  • Patent number: 8811836
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a control portion. The control portion determines a developer near end when the residual amount of a developer is in a range from a first predetermined amount to a second predetermined amount, and determines a developer end when the residual amount of the developer is equal to or lower than the second predetermined amount. Besides, in a case where the control portion determines the developer end after a predetermined number of printings are executed in a developer near end state, the control portion supplies the developer from a developer supply device to a development device via a first supply opening, and in a case where the control portion determines the developer end after more than the predetermined number of printings are executed, the control portion supplies the developer from the developer supply device to the development device via a second supply opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Kusumoto
  • Patent number: 8810909
    Abstract: A projection screen apparatus is disclosed for displaying an image projected by a projector. The projection screen apparatus includes a frame and a screen. The frame includes a plurality of frame members and corner members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Draper, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth M. Risher
  • Patent number: 8807851
    Abstract: An electronic device comprising a front cover which covers a front face excluding an aperture of an apparatus in a fixed state to the apparatus, a barrier cover configured to cover the aperture, an attachment unit which attaches the barrier cover to the front cover so that the barrier cover can move, and a locking unit that locks the front cover in a forward protruding state when the barrier cover is in an open state, attachment unit positions the barrier cover at a first position when the barrier cover is in a closed state, and guides the barrier cover to a second position protruding forward from the front cover, and then guides the barrier cover to a third position at which the barrier cover is locked by the locking unit, and moving the barrier cover from the third position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenya Nishiwaki, Yoichi Osada
  • Patent number: 8798452
    Abstract: A digital imaging apparatus and method by which an auto-focus (AF) operation may be effectively performed during capture of a moving image. The apparatus performs the AF operation during the capture of the moving image when it is determined that a lens is appropriate for capturing the moving image based on received lens information and stops the AF operation during the capture of the moving image when it is determined that the lens is inappropriate for capturing the moving image. When the lens inappropriate for capturing the moving image is mounted, the AF operation may be performed using an additional switch or a manual-focus (MF) operation may be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jong-hoon Won, Masataka Hamada
  • Patent number: 8780444
    Abstract: A screen in which observation distance may be adjusted while maintaining image brightness and a projection system using the screen. In a light control layer of a screen, a first angle region that determines a diffusion distribution of a reflected light is different according to the screen position in a control direction in which light diffusion control is performed. Accordingly, a diffusion distribution of image light emitted from a screen surface is adjusted to be tilted downward by an upper end and upward by a lower end according to the screen position. Thus, for example, a size of a diffused angle range is maintained to be 30°, and a direction in which the image light is diffusion-emitted corresponds to an assumed position of an observer. The projection image can be observed while maintaining brightness of an image and the observation distance L can be adjusted to be short.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation, Tohoku University
    Inventors: Osamu Arakawa, Hiroyuki Shindo, Toshiaki Hashizume, Tatsuo Uchida, Yoshito Suzuki, Baku Katagiri
  • Patent number: 8781340
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an imaging unit configured to form pattern images in areas corresponding to positions at which toners including a specific color toner of a specific color are provided; a reading unit configured to read the formed pattern images; a color information detection unit configured to analyze color information of the read pattern images and detect the color information of the specific color toner; a position determination unit configured to determine the position at which the specific color toner is provided from a position at which the pattern image of the specific color is formed in the read pattern images; and a recording unit configured to record the detected color information of the specific color toner and the position at which the specific color toner is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kohji Matsuda