Patents Examined by Clayton E. LaBalle
  • Patent number: 11822209
    Abstract: A cover opening and closing device is a cover opening and closing device for shielding an object, the cover opening and closing device including a cover attractable to or repellable by a magnet, a guide accommodating the cover, and a housing covering the guide. The cover is accommodated in a space between the guide and the housing. The guide allows the cover to be moved, by the magnet outside the space, between a first position where the cover shields the object and a second position where the cover does not shield the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kazuki Shibasaki
  • Patent number: 11815920
    Abstract: A gas flow control system for delivering a plurality of gas flows. The gas flow control system has a gas flow path extending from a gas inlet to first and second gas outlets. First and second flow restrictors are operably coupled to the gas flow path. First and second valves are operably coupled to the gas flow path such that when both first and second valves are in a fully open state, flows of gas from the first and second gas outlets are split according to the impedances of the first and second flow restrictors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Inventors: Daniel T. Mudd, Sean Joseph Penley, Michael Maeder, Patti J. Mudd
  • Patent number: 11815790
    Abstract: Folded cameras comprising a movable lens having a lens optical axis and positioned in an optical path between an optical path folding element (OPFE) and an image sensor, wherein the OPFE folds light from a first direction to a second direction, the second direction being substantially along the lens optical axis, and an actuator for controlled lens movement, the actuator including or being attached to a shield partially surrounding the lens, the shield having an opening positioned and dimensioned to enable installation of the lens into the shield from an insertion direction substantially parallel to the first direction. A folded camera disclosed herein may be included together with an upright camera in a dual-camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Corephotonics Ltd.
    Inventors: Itay Jerby, Itay Yedid, Gal Avivi, Ephraim Goldenberg, Gil Bachar, Gal Shabtay
  • Patent number: 11815787
    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: August 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Logitech Europe S.A.
    Inventors: Drew Putterman, Kyle Chung
  • Patent number: 11815791
    Abstract: An imaging lens assembly module has an optical axis, and includes a lens barrel and an optical element set. The lens barrel includes an object-side portion, a tubular portion and a tip-end minimal aperture. The object-side portion includes a first assembling surface. The tubular portion includes a plurality of second assembling surfaces. The optical element set includes at least one light blocking sheet and at least one optical lens element. The light blocking sheet includes an object-side surface, an image-side surface and an inner opening surface. The optical lens element includes an optical effective portion and a peripheral portion. The object-side portion of the lens barrel includes a first reversing inclined surface gradually enlarged from the tip-end minimal aperture to the image side of the lens barrel, and the first reversing inclined surface is not contacted with the optical element set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: LARGAN PRECISION CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kuan-Ming Chen, Hsiang-Chi Tang, Lin-An Chang, Cheng-Chen Lin, Ming-Ta Chou
  • Patent number: 11809063
    Abstract: An audio and video streaming device includes a device main body and a lens cover. The device main body includes a power source, a lens element, an audio and video output unit and a sensing and controlling module. When the power source is in an on state and a relationship between the lens cover and the lens element is in an opened state, the sensing and controlling module issues an audio and video streaming signal to the audio and video output unit. When the power source is in the on state and the relationship between the lens cover and the lens element is in a closed state, the sensing and controlling module stops issuing the audio and video streaming signal, and the power source is maintained in the on state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: PRIMAX ELECTRONICS LTD.
    Inventors: Yung-Tai Pan, Yu-Cheng Ma
  • Patent number: 11809074
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a shutter to expose or shut a camera, which comprises a base, a winding component, a shutting part, a first magnet, a buckling member, and a second magnet. Wherein, when the winding component forms a first magnetic field or the second magnetic field through a first current or a second current, the second magnet is driven to move the buckling member to be close to or away from the shutting part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: LANTO ELECTRONIC LIMITED
    Inventors: Fu-Yuan Wu, Shang-Yu Hsu, Yu-Huai Liao, Meng-Ting Lin
  • Patent number: 11808400
    Abstract: A compact first-person-view (FPV) pan and tilt camera mount is installed in a remote-controlled vehicle, and the vehicle is configured to accommodate a video processing module/air unit, a camera module, and a horizontal and vertical rotatable (pan and tilt) camera mount module. A realistic scale remote-controlled scale vehicle typically comes with interior cabin or cockpit space to accommodate driver/pilot that can be utilized to install the pan & tilt camera module. The video processing module is configured to process images shot by the camera module. The camera is mounted on the pan and tilt module. The pan and tilt module includes a first servo, a base, a movable seat, a rotation module, a clamp portion, and an accommodation portion. The first servo has a first shaft, the movable seat has a fitting seat, and the fitting seat has a connection orifice. The rotation module has a first semi-circular gear and a second semi-circular gear meshing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Inventor: Robert Pofeng Liao
  • Patent number: 11809073
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a control unit configured to control an aperture diameter of a diaphragm based on a result of photometry, a determination unit that, in a case where t light flux enters the imaging unit via a predetermined optical member which has light transmitted in quantities varying stepwise in a radial direction with respect to and optical axis, determine whether there exists a plurality of F numbers that indicates the aperture diameter of the diaphragm at which approximately identical quantities of light enter the imaging unit. In a case where the determination unit determines that there exists a plurality of F numbers at which approximately identical quantities of light enter the imaging unit, the control unit controls the F number to be differently set in accordance with information regarding an image capturing condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tatsuo Takatori
  • Patent number: 11809065
    Abstract: Folded cameras comprising a movable lens having a lens optical axis and positioned in an optical path between an optical path folding element (OPFE) and an image sensor, wherein the OPFE folds light from a first direction to a second direction, the second direction being substantially along the lens optical axis, and an actuator for controlled lens movement, the actuator including or being attached to a shield partially surrounding the lens, the shield having an opening positioned and dimensioned to enable installation of the lens into the shield from an insertion direction substantially parallel to the first direction. A folded camera disclosed herein may be included together with an upright camera in a dual-camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Corephotonics Ltd.
    Inventors: Itay Jerby, Itay Yedid, Gal Avivi, Ephraim Goldenberg, Gil Bachar, Gal Shabtay
  • Patent number: 11812144
    Abstract: A focus adjustment apparatus comprises a detection unit that detects one or more main subject candidates for a main subject from image signals based on a predetermined first condition, a selection unit that selects the main subject from the one or more main subject candidates, an acquisition unit that acquires operation information of an operation unit for moving a position of a focus lens, and a focus adjustment unit that controls the focus lens so as to focus on the selected main subject in a case where an autofocus mode is set and the operation unit is not operated. In a case where the operation unit is operated, the selection unit selects the main subject based on an in-focus position of the focus lens and fixes the selected main subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideyasu Hongu, Toshihiko Tomosada, Motoyuki Asano, Makoto Yokozeki
  • Patent number: 11809066
    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: March 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Corephotonics Ltd.
    Inventors: Gal Shabtay, Ephraim Goldenberg, Itay Yedid, Gil Bachar, Noy Cohen
  • Patent number: 11803106
    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: November 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Corephotonics Ltd.
    Inventors: Rami Boltanski, Ephraim Goldenberg, Roy Rudnick
  • Patent number: 11796898
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus detachably attached to an accessory via an accessory shoe includes contacts electrically connectable to the accessory via the accessory shoe and arranged in a row. The contacts include a first signal contact used to transmit a data signal in a communication between the electronic apparatus and accessory, a second signal contact used to transmit a clock signal in synchronization with the data signal in the communication, and a third signal contact used to receive a communication request signal from the accessory. The first and second signal contacts are arranged next to each other. The third signal contact is disposed on an opposite side of than the second signal contact with respect to the first signal contact. A transmission of the data signal via the first signal contact is executed in response to a reception of the communication request signal via the third signal contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuhei Hattori, Hiromichi Sakamoto, Kei Tohyama, Takayuki Shu, Hiromi Hayasaki, Kouji Ikeda, Kenji Ishii, Yoshinobu Okano
  • Patent number: 11788937
    Abstract: Methods and systems for collecting, transporting and extracting high quality fluid samples for laboratory analyses are disclosed. The systems and methods disclosed are especially important for collecting fluid samples in a manner that most closely resembles the fluids as captured and safely maintains the samples during transportation and extraction at the laboratory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Inventor: Todd Matthew Coleman
  • Patent number: 11782331
    Abstract: A fixing bracket for a photographing device includes a rod member, a sliding member, and a plurality of supporting feet. The sliding member is slidably sleeved on an outer surface of the rod member, top ends of the plurality of supporting feet are hinged to the sliding member, and the supporting feet are swingable with respect to the sliding member, at least one limiting protrusion is disposed on the outer surface of the rod member close to a bottom end of the rod member, the at least one limiting protrusion is configured to block the sliding member or the supporting feet from sliding towards the bottom end of the rod member, the at least one limiting protrusion is disposed between the sliding member and the bottom end of the rod member. When the sliding member slides towards the bottom end of the rod member, the supporting feet are gradually unfolded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: WELLPA PRECISION MOLD (SHENZHEN) CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Xing Wang
  • Patent number: 11782326
    Abstract: A lighting device with an annular rectangular light that connects to the camera assembly by mechanical linkages. The annular rectangular light can connect to different components of a camera. The annular rectangular light can connect to a matte box or rods of the camera in some embodiments. The mechanical linkages allow positioning of the annular rectangular light such that it surrounds the front of a lens of the camera but does not obstruct a field of view of the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: ONEOFF INDUSTRIES LTD.
    Inventors: David Mark Tenniswood, Dmytro Kolesnyk
  • Patent number: 11782233
    Abstract: An optical apparatus including: an optical element; a front fixed barrel; a front cover; a function operation ring, which is arranged between the front fixed barrel and the front cover, and is configured to be rotated to move the optical element; and a fixing screw configured to fix the front fixed barrel and the front cover to each other, in which at least one of the front fixed barrel or the front cover includes a deformation beam portion configured to absorb stress generated by the fixing screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yuichiro Kato
  • Patent number: 11778292
    Abstract: A sensor shield for a digital camera includes a casing and lens locking ring on a front thereof. The sensor shield includes a barrier member removably coupled to the lens locking ring of the camera body and has a ring-shaped configuration that defines an aperture. The sensor shield has a plurality of iris blades that is rotatably movable between a closed configuration in arranged in an overlapping spiral configuration that prevents ambient air from flowing through said aperture and an open configuration at which said plurality of iris blades are arranged in a rotatably displaced configuration that, when actuated, allows ambient air to flow through its aperture. The sensor shield may receive a camera lens and is actuated by rotation thereof such that a spring is compressed and the iris blades are urged from the closed configuration to the open configuration that allows ambient air to pass through.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Inventor: Terry Edward Zaperach
  • Patent number: 11778294
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for aligning a lens holder in a small-height scan engine are disclosed herein. An example method for aligning a lens holder in a small-height scan engine includes: mounting an image sensor to a circuit board; optically aligning, using one or more alignment fixtures, a lens holder holding one or more lenses or optical elements with the image sensor based upon one or more images captured by the image sensor through the lens holder; and after the lens holder and image sensor are optically aligned, physically aligning, using the one or more alignment fixtures, the lens holder with the circuit board based upon a misalignment between a surface of the lens holder and an edge of the circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Carl D. Wittenberg, Bryan E. Joles, Robert T. Roedig, William P. Hurley, IV, David A. Chiesa