Patents Examined by Clayton E. LaBalle
  • Patent number: 12228841
    Abstract: A camera module includes a plastic carrier, an imaging lens assembly, a reflective element and a plurality of auto-focusing elements. The plastic carrier includes an inner portion and an outer portion, wherein an inner space is defined by the inner portion, and the outer portion includes at least one mounting structure. The imaging lens assembly is disposed in the inner space of the plastic carrier. The reflective element is for folding an image light by a reflective surface of the reflective element into the imaging lens assembly. The auto-focusing elements include at least two magnets and at least one wiring element, wherein the auto-focusing elements are for moving the plastic carrier along a second optical axis of the imaging lens assembly, and the magnets or the wiring element can be disposed on the mounting structure of the outer portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: LARGAN DIGITAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Te-Sheng Tseng, Ming-Ta Chou, Wen-Hung Hsu
  • Patent number: 12228746
    Abstract: Provided are a magnetic driving assembly and a stabilization driving device. The magnetic driving assembly includes a frame body, a magnetic piece, a coil carrier plate and multiple coils. The magnetic piece is disposed on the frame body, the coil carrier plate is disposed to be separated from the frame body, and the multiple coils are disposed to correspond to the magnetic piece, and an end of the coil carrier plate in a first direction is provided with at least one of the multiple coils configured to drive the coil carrier plate to linearly move in the first direction; an end of the coil carrier plate in a second direction is provided with at least two of the multiple coils configured to drive the coil carrier plate selectively to move linearly in the second direction or rotate around a third direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: LANTO ELECTRONIC LIMITED
    Inventors: Mengting Lin, Fuyuan Wu, Shangyu Hsu, Yucheng Lin, Wenyen Huang
  • Patent number: 12216386
    Abstract: Provided are a camera lens assembly capable of communicating with a camera body and having a controller and a memory therein. The camera lens assembly includes a user interface through which functions represented by a plurality of modes are designated by a user, a switch for selecting one of the modes to which the functions have been designated, a switch detection unit for detecting the current mode of the switch, a manual ring detection unit for detecting the operation of a manual ring provided on the outside of the camera lens assembly so that the user can operate the manual ring by a rotating method; and a lens controller for, when the operation of the manual ring is detected, carrying out a designated function according to the detected current mode of the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: SAMYANG OPTICS CO., LTD
    Inventors: Hyun Hee Lee, Ji Hoon Lee
  • Patent number: 12219232
    Abstract: An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a housing and a camera module, at least part of which is disposed inside the housing. The camera module includes a fixed part including a camera housing fixedly disposed in the electronic device, a moving part including a lens and an image sensor, at least part of the moving part being received inside the camera housing such that the moving part moves relative to the fixed part, a drive member that moves the moving part and that includes a first drive member disposed on the camera housing and a second drive member that is disposed on the moving part and that electromagnetically interacts with the first drive member, and a support structure that supports a movement of the moving part and that includes a ball coupled to one of the moving part or the camera housing so as to be rotatable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2024
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyungjin Rho, Byungkwon Kang, Hyunho Yu
  • Patent number: 12216394
    Abstract: The present embodiment relates to a lens driving device comprising: a housing comprising a first hole and a second hole; a first bobbin disposed in the first hole of the housing; a second bobbin disposed in the second hole of the housing; a first coil disposed on the first bobbin; a second coil disposed on the second bobbin; a first magnet disposed in the housing to face the first coil; a second magnet facing the second coil; and a third magnet disposed between the first coil and the second coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Sang Jun Min
  • Patent number: 12215818
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a handheld gimbal control method and a handheld gimbal. The method includes: acquiring an input signal (S301); and performing a first control operation triggered by a first trigger signal in response to the input signal being a predetermined first trigger signal, where the first control operation is used to control the yaw axis motor disposed on the handheld gimbal to start and continue to work so as to enable the imaging device carried by the handheld gimbal to start and continue a rolling rotation (S302). The control method relieves a user from pressing the control button on the handle at all times, thereby improving the flexibility of user operation and user experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: SZ DJI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tie Su, Wenlin Xie
  • Patent number: 12216092
    Abstract: An ultrasonic testing probe operable to perform an ultrasonic inspection on a workpiece, the workpiece having an interior region. The testing probe comprises a support; an ultrasonic testing element that is structured to generate an ultrasonic output that is directed toward the workpiece and to receive an ultrasonic input from the workpiece that is responsive to the ultrasonic output, the ultrasonic testing element being movably situated on the support; a motor apparatus structured to be electrically connected with a control apparatus, the motor apparatus comprising a motor that is connected with the ultrasonic testing element and is structured to rotate the ultrasonic testing element with respect to the support; and a bladder that is structured to be movable between an initial state and an expanded state, the expanded bladder structured to be engaged with the workpiece within the interior region and to center the support in the interior region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC
    Inventors: Jacques L. Brignac, George R. Rowland, Glenn G. Hart, Jr., Bruce A.P. Farver
  • Patent number: 12210209
    Abstract: An embodiment relates to a camera actuator and a camera module comprising same. A camera actuator according to an embodiment may comprise: a housing; a base which is coupled to the housing and on which a lens assembly is disposed; a shaper unit disposed in the housing; a first driving part coupled to the shaper unit; and a prism unit coupled to the housing. The housing may comprise a housing body having an opening formed therethrough and a housing side part extending from the housing body. The first driving part may be disposed to overlap with the prism unit in the direction vertical to an optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Dae Sik Jang
  • Patent number: 12210269
    Abstract: A camera body, to which an accessory is mountable, includes a first communicator that transmits a first clock signal to the accessory to communicate with the accessory in synchronization with the first clock signal, and a second communicator that receives a second clock signal output from the accessory to communicate with the accessory in synchronization with the second clock signal. A value specifying a communication specification of the second communicator is transmitted between the first communicator and the accessory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akihiko Kawai
  • Patent number: 12210273
    Abstract: An apparatus for use with an electronic communication device having a camera to take a selfie picture or video. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a mirror comprising a mirror surface. The apparatus further comprises a fastener directly connected to the mirror surface. The fastener is adapted to receive the electronic communication device to position the camera in front of the mirror surface. The apparatus may further comprise a plurality of light sources and a control circuit adapted to activate the plurality of light sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Inventor: Erik A. Kaiser
  • Patent number: 12210271
    Abstract: Disclosed is a driving mechanism combined member, comprising a first actuator and a camera module. The first actuator comprises a housing, a stator, and a rotor, wherein the stator is arranged inside the housing, the rotor is of a hollow structure, and the rotor is rotatably arranged inside the stator. The camera module is arranged inside the rotor and is fixedly connected to the rotor, and an incident surface of the camera module faces an outer side of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: HOHEM TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Min Chen
  • Patent number: 12210268
    Abstract: A lens barrel 10 comprises fourth lenses L4a and L4b, a substantially cylindrical fourth lens group unit 20, and a substantially cylindrical cam frame 14. The fourth lens group unit 20 holds the fourth lenses L4a and L4b and has a plurality of cam pins 22a to 22c and 23 protruding in the radial direction. The cam frame 14 is disposed substantially coaxially with the fourth lens group unit 20, and has a plurality of cam grooves 14c that are formed in a direction intersecting the optical axis direction and engage with the cam pins 22a to 22c and 23; assembly grooves 14d and 14f that are provided contiguously with the cam groove 14c, engage with the cam pins 22a to 22c and 23 in the mounting and assembly of the fourth lens group unit 20, and guide these cam pins from the end portion to the cam groove 14c in the optical axis direction; and a concave portion 14g that holds the cam pin 23 in the assembly groove 14f in the assembly of the fourth lens group unit 20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masayuki Shodai
  • Patent number: 12206989
    Abstract: A camera including a camera enclosure; an optomechanical assembly fixedly coupled to the camera enclosure; a sensor assembly having an image sensor and an electronic component mounted to a substrate that is movably coupled to the camera enclosure; a voice coil motor having a base coupled to the optomechanical assembly and a carrier coupled to the sensor assembly that is operable to cause a displacement of the sensor assembly relative to the optomechanical assembly; and a displacement limiter coupled to the base or the carrier to limit an unintended displacement of the sensor assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Nitin Kumar Chennupati, Nicholas D. Smyth, Hiran R. Rathnasinghe
  • Patent number: 12204230
    Abstract: Webcams may include a camera housing having a front cover. The front cover may define a lens aperture and a mounting aperture. A rear surface of the front cover may include a living hinge having a protruding nub. The webcams may include a privacy shutter having a cover member and a generally cylindrical post extending from a rear surface of the cover member at a location offset from a center of the cover member. The post may be disposed within the mounting aperture. A peripheral surface of the post may define a first notch and a second notch positioned opposite one another. The protruding nub may be seated within the first notch when the privacy shutter is in a closed position and seated within the second notch when in an open position. The cover member may cover the lens aperture when the privacy shutter is in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: Logitech Europe S.A.
    Inventors: Drew Putterman, Kyle Chung
  • Patent number: 12204238
    Abstract: A camera lens assembly includes a plurality of optical lenses accommodated in the camera lens assembly, a first lens mount for detachably mounting the camera lens assembly to the camera body, a first electric connector formed on a rear face of the camera lens assembly. The first electric connector is electrically coupled to the camera body when the camera lens assembly is mounted on the camera body, a lens communication unit connected to the first electric connector so as to transmit and receive an electrical signal between the camera lens assembly and the camera body, a lens driver for controlling a displacement of each of the plurality of optical lenses based on the electrical signal received from the camera body, and an indicator for visually presenting an imaging state of the camera body, based on the received electrical signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: SAMYANG OPTICS CO., LTD
    Inventors: Ji Hoon Lee, Han Jea Lee, Tae Sung Kim
  • Patent number: 12197108
    Abstract: A case for use in association with an electronic device having a camera system with a flash that can serve as a flashlight, including: (a) a case body, wherein the case body is adapted to releasably retain the electronic device; and (b) a cover member, wherein the cover member is adapted to enable a person to use the flash of the camera system as a flashlight while simultaneously preserving his/her night vision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Inventor: Mark Bos
  • Patent number: 12197111
    Abstract: Provided is a camera actuator including a fixing frame, a first moving frame movable in a first direction, a second moving frame movable in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, a lens unit movable in a third direction orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction, a first driver moving the first moving frame in the first direction, a second driver moving the second moving frame in the second direction, and a third driver moving the lens unit in a third direction. Further, the third driver includes a driving source portion formed by a first piezoelectric element and a second piezoelectric element lengthened and shortened by energization and attached to each other in a direction orthogonal to a lengthening-and-shortening direction, and an abutting portion abutting against the lens unit and moving in an elliptical trajectory according to deformation of the driving source portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: BEIJING XIAOMI MOBILE SOFTWARE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masaru Uno
  • Patent number: 12193418
    Abstract: A sensor positioning system, includes an actuation server for communicating with components of the sensor positioning system. The sensor positioning system additionally includes a first actuation system and a second actuation system, wherein each actuation system includes a pulley system for maneuvering an underwater sensor system. The sensor positioning system includes a dual point attachment bracket that connects through a first line to the first actuation system and connecting through a second line to the second actuation system. The underwater sensor system is affixed to the first pulley system, the second pulley system, and the dual attachment bracket through the first line and the second line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: TidalX AI Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Messana, Kyle James Cormany, Christopher Thornton, Barnaby John James, Neil Davé, Shane Washburn
  • Patent number: 12189274
    Abstract: Folded cameras and dual folded-upright cameras that reduce a mobile electronic device and specifically a smartphone bump footprint and height. In some examples, the bump footprint is reduced by reducing the height of a back focal plane section of the folded camera. In some examples, the bump footprint is reduced by reducing the height of a back focal plane section and a lens subsection of the folded camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2024
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: Corephotonics Ltd.
    Inventors: Gal Shabtay, Ephraim Goldenberg, Itay Yedid, Gil Bachar, Noy Cohen
  • Patent number: 12189272
    Abstract: Folded Tele cameras comprising an optical path folding element (OPFE) for folding a first optical path OP1 to a second optical path OP2, a lens including N=8 lens elements, the lens being divided into three lens groups numbered, in order from an object side of the lens, G1, G2 and G3, and an image sensor, wherein G1 and G3 are included in a single G13 carrier, wherein G2 is included in a G2 carrier, wherein both the G13 carrier and the G2 carrier include rails for defining the position of G2 relative to G13, wherein the Tele camera is configured to change a zoom factor continuously between a minimum zoom factor ZFMIN and a maximum zoom factor ZFMAX by moving the G2 carrier relative to the G13 carrier and by moving the G13 carrier relative to the image sensor, and wherein an effective focal length (EFL) is 7.5 mm<EFL<50 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2024
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: Corephotonics Ltd.
    Inventors: Rami Boltanski, Ephraim Goldenberg, Roy Rudnick