Patents Examined by Clayton E. LaBalle
  • Patent number: 11906101
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the field of photography, video recording, and provides a photographic equipment assembly and a quick connection assembly thereof. The quick connection assembly for photographic equipment includes a connecting sleeve having a first locking member and at least one second locking member; and a connecting head capable of being detachably connected with the connecting sleeve. The first locking member being configured to prevent an axial movement of the connecting head relative to the connecting sleeve, and the at least one second locking member being configured to prevent a rotation of the connecting head relative to the connecting sleeve. The first locking member can be rotated relative to the connecting sleeve to axially lock the connecting head in the connecting sleeve in an axial direction of the connecting sleeve, and release an axial locking of the connecting head in the connecting sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: ZHONGSHAN DASHAN PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Xihua Zhu
  • Patent number: 11906879
    Abstract: Provided are a camera module, a molded photosensitive assembly and a manufacturing method thereof, and an electronic device. The molded photosensitive assembly is assembled with at least one optical lenses to form a camera module. The molded photosensitive assembly includes an imaging assembly, a molded base, and a filter member. The molded base includes a first molded portion and a second molded portion. The first molded portion embeds a part of the imaging assembly. The second molded portion is integrally formed on a first upper surface of the first molded portion, and the second molded portion has a second upper surface and a second outer side surface. A filter member is attached to the second upper surface of the second molded portion, and corresponds to a photosensitive path of the imaging assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: NINGBO SUNNY OPOTECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zhen Huang, Zhongyu Luan, Zongchun Yang, Fengsheng Xi, Chenxiang Xu
  • Patent number: 11910127
    Abstract: A camera positioning device for eye-to-eye alignment in video conference applications is provided. The device can include a camera, a cord going from the camera to a computer, and a positioning component (e.g., a bracket) that connects the camera to the computer. The bracket allows for manual adjustment of the cord attached to the camera to maintain vertical and horizontal positioning and rotational stability of a camera for improved eye-to-eye alignment in video conference applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: CAMBOX INC.
    Inventor: Stacy Nimmo
  • 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: 11899340
    Abstract: A camera blocks light outside a lens barrel entering an optical path in a lens barrel. A camera includes a frame and a lens barrel accommodating a lens. The lens barrel includes a stationary cylinder including a cylindrical wall having a through-cam groove extending with its circumferential position changing in X-direction, a drive cylinder rotatable relative to the stationary cylinder without moving in X-direction, a rotary cylinder rotatable relative to the stationary cylinder and movable in X-direction, a key cylinder movable in X-direction together with the rotary cylinder, a linearly movable cylinder rotatable relative to the rotary cylinder together with the key cylinder. The camera further includes a connecting frame attached to a rear end of the key cylinder in the lens barrel and a rear light shield including a bellows connecting the connecting frame and the frame in an expandable manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: NIDEC COPAL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Koichi Hirabayashi
  • Patent number: 11899355
    Abstract: An optical unit includes an optical element, a holder, a first support portion, a second support portion, a first swing mechanism, and a second swing mechanism. The holder holds the optical element. The first support portion supports the holder so as to be swingable about a first swing axis. The second support portion supports the first support portion so as to be swingable about the second swing axis. The second swing mechanism includes a second magnet and a second coil. The second magnet is arranged on the first support portion. The second coil is arranged on the second support portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takayuki Iwase, Tomohiro Egawa, Keishi Otsubo
  • Patent number: 11899004
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a first member having a housing that encloses a power source and a controller, a second member coupled to the first member that is seeded with a target product, and a sensing module coupled to the first member to allow power from the power source to be transmitted to the sensing module and sensor data from the sensing module to be transmitted to the controller. The sensing module including a sensor oriented toward at least a portion of the second member. The sensor configured to obtain sensor data associated with at least one characteristic of the target product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Running Tide Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Luca Mastrangelo, William Johnson, Josh Hill, Timothy J. Dyson, Jacob F. Hagler, Charles B. W. Halvorson, Philipp Max Werminghausen, Andrew Clyde Thompson
  • Patent number: 11898844
    Abstract: A rotation sensor, including: (i) a substrate having a top surface and an interior bottom surface; (ii) an electrode module positioned on the top surface of the substrate and including a first set of electrodes configured to generate a bulk acoustic wave directly into the substrate, wherein at least a portion of the bulk acoustic wave is transduced into a shear wave upon reflection on the interior bottom surface of the substrate without use of a reflector, and a second set of electrodes configured to detect the shear wave; and (iii) a controller in communication with the first set and second set of electrodes and configured to determine, based on the detected shear wave, an effect of Coriolis force on the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Cornell University
    Inventors: Amit Lal, Benyamin Davaji, Visarute Pinrod
  • Patent number: 11899345
    Abstract: A telescoping, anti-glare, weather-resistant, opaque, corrugated, compressible and retractable pipe shield blocks glare on smartphone or wearable action camera viewing screens. The pipe shield totally blocks glare on the display screen in real-time, moment to moment. To protect the camera from weather elements, the camera is inserted in a holding frame. The camera holding frame is mounted upon a handheld camera grip, adjacent to the distal end of the flexible pipe shield. The pipe shield may be extended or retracted via its corrugated folds. Optionally, a user-worn headband holds a cantilevered frame supporting a wearable action camera, adjacent to the distal end of the opaque, tubular, corrugated pipe shield, before the user's eyes. The user can record videos and stills during athletic or recreational activities, such as mountain climbing or skateboarding. The smartphone camera or the wearable action camera is activated by hand-controlled Bluetooth/Wi-Fi signals or via voice activation software.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Inventor: Robert Sabin
  • Patent number: 11892755
    Abstract: A lens unit includes a guided portion that includes a first bearing portion and a second bearing portion disposed to be spaced apart from each other in a direction X and is slidably supported by a guide shaft, and a lens holding member. The lens unit includes a first tilt-preventing member having a linear expansion coefficient lower than a linear expansion coefficient of the lens holding member. The first tilt-preventing member is fixed to a region of the guided portion positioned between the first bearing portion and second bearing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Takeya Abe, Keito Kamio, Ryosuke Nagami, Shinichiro Fujiki, Kazuaki Okamori, Yuya Sakai
  • Patent number: 11892748
    Abstract: A control method for an occlusion component and an electronic device are disclosed. The method includes: in a first status of the electronic device, controlling the occlusion component to be located at a first position on the electronic device to occlude a lens of the electronic device; in a second status of the electronic device, detecting a trigger signal and a target object in front of the lens, wherein the trigger signal is generated by triggering a physical button of the electronic device, and the first status is different from the second status; and in a situation where the trigger signal is detected and the target object exists, controlling the occlusion component to move to a second position on the electronic device to expose the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Acer Incorporated
    Inventors: Jia-Ling Jhang, Wei-Kuo Shih
  • Patent number: 11892758
    Abstract: A camera location apparatus, system, and method is disclosed which includes a camera housing configured to at least partially enclose a camera, the camera housing attached to an extension via a bracket, wherein the extension is configured to extend through a tire rim and secure to a tire carrier and the bracket is configured to allow the camera housing to rotate in relation to the extension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Camera Source, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher T. Triplett, Kevin Pitterle
  • Patent number: 11892752
    Abstract: A camera has a more integrated appearance and higher dustproof and light-shielding performance. A camera includes a frame accommodated in a housing having a front surface with an opening, and a lens barrel accommodating at least one lens. The lens barrel includes a stationary cylinder including a cylindrical wall extending in X-direction from a base, and a drive cylinder that causes an extendable unit located radially inward front the cylindrical wall of the stationary cylinder and extendable in X-direction through the opening to extend and retract. The drive cylinder includes a cylindrical portion rotatable between the cylindrical wall of the stationary cylinder and an inner circumferential edge of the opening in a front cover. The lens barrel further includes a cover cylinder covering the inner circumferential edge of the opening in the front cover and the cylindrical portion of the drive cylinder and rotatable relative to the stationary cylinder together with the drive cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: NIDEC COPAL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Koichi Hirabayashi
  • Patent number: 11886100
    Abstract: A support apparatus for an electronic device includes a support portion that movably supports the electronic device between a first position where an object stored in the electronic device is incapable of being taken out, and a second position where the stored object is capable of being taken out. The electronic device is attachable to the support portion, and the electronic device is moved between the first position and the second position by movement of the support portion. In addition, the support apparatus o includes a base portion to which the support portion is movably attached, and the movement of the support portion causes the electronic device to move between the first position and the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jumpei Ishibashi
  • Patent number: 11886106
    Abstract: A photographing module includes a lens assembly, a reflection element, an image sensor, and lens element, reflection element and image sensor driving modules. An axial voice coil motor of the lens element driving module moves the lens assembly along a lens optical axis. A rotating connection part and a curved recess structure are disposed between a holder and a carrier movable relative to the holder. A lateral voice coil motor of the reflection element driving module drives the carrier carrying the reflection element to rotate around an axis passing through the rotating connection part. A plurality of rollable elements are located between and in contact with the fixed member and the movable plate. A lateral voice coil motor of the image sensor driving module drives the movable plate carrying the image sensor to move based on a dynamic axis orthogonal to the lens optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: LARGAN PRECISION CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chen Wei Fan, Ming-Ta Chou, Te-Sheng Tseng, Chen-Yi Huang
  • Patent number: 11880120
    Abstract: A gimbal control method includes configuring, while a gimbal is in a power-on state, turning-off motor control parameters according to a mass of a camera device carried by the gimbal. The gimbal includes an electric motor. The turning-off motor control parameters are configured to control the electric motor when the gimbal is powered off or enters a sleep state. The method further includes, in response to the gimbal being powered off or entering the sleep state, controlling a torque of the electric motor to decrease gradually from a starting moment at which the gimbal is powered off or enters the sleep state according to the turning-off motor control parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: SZ DJI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wenlin Xie, Zihan Chen, Yanchong Zhao
  • Patent number: 11879751
    Abstract: An inspection apparatus includes a portable housing and at least one handle structure integrally formed with the portable housing. The inspection apparatus further includes a vision data system, a lighting system, a user interface system, a wireless communication system, and a controller. The vision data system includes one or more cameras provided on the first face of the portable housing. The vision data system is operable to capture component data. The lighting system is arranged with the vision data system at the first face. The lighting system includes diffused light emitting diode (LED) ring arranged around at least one of the one or more cameras. The manufacturing inspection apparatus is a stand-alone and all-in-one computing device. The manufacturing inspection apparatus processes and stores inspection data locally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Raj Sohmshetty, Scott Mayberry, Vikas Rajendra, Sam Hoff
  • Patent number: 11880117
    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: August 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: LARGAN DIGITAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Te-Sheng Tseng, Ming-Ta Chou, Wen-Hung Hsu
  • Patent number: 11871099
    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: July 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyungjin Rho, Byungkwon Kang, Hyunho Yu
  • Patent number: 11867969
    Abstract: An optical element driving mechanism has an optical axis and includes a fixed portion, a movable portion, and a driving assembly. The movable portion is movable relative to the fixed portion. The driving assembly drives the movable portion to move relative to the fixed portion. The driving assembly moves in a first direction to move the movable portion in a second direction, wherein the first direction is different from the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: TDK TAIWAN CORP.
    Inventors: Jungsuck Ryoo, Chieh-An Chang, Min-Hsiu Tsai, Chao-Chang Hu, Shu-Shan Chen, Pai-Jui Cheng, Chao-Hsi Wang