Patents Examined by David N. Spector
  • Patent number: 8687290
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a lens or objective for a camera, more particularly for a digital camera, comprising a housing, an actuating element arranged on the housing, and a lens element system that can be set into a plurality of settings, wherein the lens element system is embodied in such a way that in at least one setting an f-number is F?3. The lens element system is furthermore embodied in such a way that an actuation of the actuating element brings about a movement of two optical elements relative to one another, such that an intersection length difference of the lens element system can be set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss AG
    Inventors: Dirk Jahn, Vladan Blahnik
  • Patent number: 8687283
    Abstract: A zoom lens includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a front lens group including a first lens unit having positive refractive power and a second lens unit having refractive power, and a rear lens group including a plurality of lens units. The second lens unit includes a reflective member configured to bend an optical path. At least the first lens unit and at least two lens units of the rear lens group move during zooming. The second lens unit does not move for zooming. A reflection unit including the reflective member moves perpendicularly to an optical axis of the front lens group during retraction. At least part of the front lens group is retractable into a space caused by movement of the reflection unit. A focal length f2 of the second lens unit and a focal length ft of the entire zoom lens at a telephoto end are appropriately set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ken Wada
  • Patent number: 8675288
    Abstract: There is provided a lens module, including: a first lens having positive refractive power, an object-sided surface thereof being convex; a second lens having negative refractive power, an image-sided surface thereof being concave; a third lens having positive refractive power; a fourth lens having negative refractive power, an image-sided surface thereof being convex; and a fifth lens having negative refractive power, an image-sided surface thereof being concave, wherein the fourth lens satisfies Conditional Expression 1, [Conditional Expression 1] f ? ? 4 f < - 3.0 where f is an overall focal distance of an optical system and f4 is a focal distance of the fourth lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Phil Ho Jung, Young Gi Kim
  • Patent number: 8670174
    Abstract: This invention relates to an electrophoretic display fluid comprising a non-mobile or semi-mobile phase and two types of charged pigment particles dispersed in a solvent or solvent mixture, and an electrophoretic display device utilizing such an electrophoretic display fluid. The electrophoretic fluid of the present invention provides improved image qualities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: SiPix Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Sprague, Xiaojia Wang
  • Patent number: 8670184
    Abstract: A zoom lens system includes a negative first lens group, positive second and third lens groups, wherein upon zooming from the short to long focal length extremities, the distance between the first and second lens groups decreases and the distance between the second and third lens groups changes. The second lens group includes a biconvex positive lens element with an aspherical surface on each side, and a negative meniscus lens element with an aspherical surface, and a concave surface on the image side. Conditions (1) and (2) are satisfied: ?d>80??(1), and Pg—F>0.53??(2), wherein ?d designates the Abbe number at the d-line of the biconvex positive lens element within the second lens group, and Pg_F designates the partial dispersion ratio of the biconvex positive lens element within the second lens group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventor: Masaru Eguchi
  • Patent number: 8670187
    Abstract: A zoom lens includes sequentially from an object side, a first lens group having a positive refractive power, a second lens group having a negative refractive power, an aperture stop, and a third lens group having a positive refractive power. The first lens group includes a negative lens and a positive lens. The second lens group includes sequentially from the object side, a negative lens, a negative lens, and a positive lens. The third lens group includes sequentially from the object side a front group having a positive refractive power, a middle group having a negative refractive power, and a rear group having a positive refractive power. The front group is formed by a positive aspheric lens. The middle group is includes a cemented lens formed by a positive lens and a negative lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Tamron Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takahiro Mitsuhashi
  • Patent number: 8665537
    Abstract: What is described is a modified retrofocus-type wide-angle lens, with, as seen from the object, a front group (G1) with negative refractive power, a first rear group (Gh1) with positive refractive power displaceable along the optical axis for focusing purposes and a second rear group (Gh2) with positive refractive power facing an image plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Leica Camera AG
    Inventors: Stefan Roth, Peter Karbe
  • Patent number: 8665530
    Abstract: A zoom lens includes, in order from the object side, a positive first lens group, a negative second lens group, a positive third lens group, a positive fourth lens group, a negative fifth lens group, and a positive sixth lens group. The first lens group, the third lens group, and the sixth lens group are fixed. The second lens group, fourth lens group, and the fifth lens group are movable. The first lens group includes a reflecting optical element that bends the optical path. The second lens group includes a negative lens and a cemented lens made up of a negative lens and a positive lens. The third lens group includes an aperture stop. The fourth lens group includes a positive lens and a negative lens. The fifth lens group includes a negative lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Fujikura
  • Patent number: 8659841
    Abstract: A superwide-angle lens system includes a negative first lens group, an aperture diaphragm, and a positive second lens group. The first lens group includes two negative meniscus lens elements, and a positive lens element. The second lens group includes a cemented lens having negative and positive lens elements; and a positive lens element. The following conditions (1) and (2) are satisfied: ?1.45<f12/f<?1.15??(1) 1.4<SF2<2.4??(2) f12: the combined focal length of the two the negative meniscus lens elements in the first lens group, f: the focal length of the lens system, SF2: the shaping factor of the negative meniscus lens element on the image side in the first lens group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Pentax Ricoh Imaging Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Enomoto
  • Patent number: 8654433
    Abstract: A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes an electrochromic reflective element having a specularly reflective perimeter layer established at least partially around a perimeter border region of a second surface of a front substrate. The perimeter layer is, at least in part, visible through the front substrate to a viewer when viewing the first surface of the front substrate of the reflective element. The perimeter layer conceals at least a portion of the seal from direct view by the driver of the vehicle. At least one of (a) at least one light source is disposed behind the perimeter layer and emits light that is visible to a viewer viewing the first surface of the front substrate of the reflective element at the perimeter layer, and (b) a light sensor is disposed behind the perimeter layer and senses light that passes through the front substrate at the perimeter layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Baur, Ian A. McCabe, Hamid Habibi, Niall R. Lynam
  • Patent number: 8654233
    Abstract: A The CMOS image sensor includes a pixel array including pixels arranged in a matrix of rows and columns and a row selection unit configured to generate selection signals for simultaneously or concurrently selecting at least two rows from the rows of the pixel array in response to a received row address. An analog-to-digital conversion unit is configured to convert pixel data output from the at least two rows selected from the pixel array into a digital video signal and output the digital video signal. The pixel array outputs the pixel data in response to the selection signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Dong Hun Lee
  • Patent number: 8649109
    Abstract: A lens holder includes: a first barrel with a plurality of helicoidal grooves that extend from a base portion to an end portion and at positions with rotational symmetry; and a second barrel with a plurality of protrusions that respectively enter the plurality of helicoidal grooves. The helicoidal grooves are respectively divided into helicoidal groove sections in multiple stages with a helicoidal groove section on a base portion side and a helicoidal groove section on an end portion side being disposed at angles that do not overlap. The first barrel includes circumferential grooves on the middle portion and circumferential grooves on the end portion. The middle circumferential grooves connect the end on the end side of the helicoidal groove sections on the base side to the end on the base side of the helicoidal groove sections on the end side and guide the protrusions in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Nittoh Kogaku KK
    Inventor: Hirokazu Ohno
  • Patent number: 8643937
    Abstract: A DND device is disclosed. In one aspect, the device includes a nano-mirror (21), and an actuating module configured to move the nano-mirror in an upward and/or downward position. The actuating module has a cantilever mounted to a fixed structure, and at least one first electrode for moving the cantilever in an upward and/or downward position. Such DND devices may be arranged in a 2D array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: IMEC
    Inventors: Luc Haspeslagh, Xavier Rottenberg, Veronique Rochus
  • Patent number: 8643954
    Abstract: A zoom lens and a photographing apparatus including the same. The zoom lens includes a first lens group having a positive refractive power, a second lens group having a negative refractive power, and an additional lens grouping having a positive refractive power, which are sequentially arranged from an object side, wherein the additional lens grouping comprises a third lens group having a positive refractive power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Makoto Misaka
  • Patent number: 8638487
    Abstract: Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to electrochromic (EC) devices, assemblies incorporating electrochromic devices, and/or methods of making the same. More particularly, certain example embodiments of this invention relate to improved EC materials, EC device stacks, high-volume manufacturing (HVM) compatible process integration schemes, and/or high-throughput low cost deposition sources, equipment, and factories.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Guardian Industries Corp.
    Inventor: Vijayen S. Veerasamy
  • Patent number: 8638507
    Abstract: A fisheye lens system and a photographing apparatus including the fisheye lens system. The fisheye lens system includes, in an order from an object to an image, a first lens group including at least three lenses and having negative refractive power; and a second lens group having positive refractive power, wherein the at least three lenses included in the first lens group include a first lens, a second lens, and a third lens, in the order from the object to the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Techwin Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Si-nae Lee
  • Patent number: 8634146
    Abstract: A method of making a nanostructure is provided that includes applying a thin, random discontinuous masking layer (105) to a major surface (103) of a substrate (101) by plasma chemical vapor deposition. The substrate (101) can be a polymer, an inorganic material, an alloy, or a solid solution. The masking layer (105) can include the reaction product of plasma chemical vapor deposition using a reactant gas comprising a compound selected from the group consisting of organosilicon compounds, metal alkyls, metal isopropoxides, metal acetylacetonates, and metal halides. Portions (107) of the substrate (101) not protected by the masking layer (105) are then etched away by reactive ion etching to make the nanostructures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Moses M. David, Ta-Hua Yu, Andrew K. Hartzell
  • Patent number: 8630034
    Abstract: A display medium of the present invention includes first and second substrates, a spacing member and a particle dispersion liquid. The first substrate is transparent to light. The second substrate is opposite to the first substrate and has plural electrodes placed at an interval. The second substrate has a difference between reflectivity of the electrode portions and reflectivity of plural boundary portions between the electrodes with respect to light incident from the first substrate side. The difference is 12 percentage points or less. The spacing member is placed between the first and second substrates at another interval, is transparent to light, and keeps a gap between the first and second substrates. The particle dispersion liquid is filled between the first and second substrates, and includes particles moving in a direction of an electric field formed between the first and second substrates and a dispersion medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihide Kawamura, Hideo Kobayashi, Masaaki Araki, Takehito Hikichi, Mamoru Fujita, Motohiko Sakamaki
  • Patent number: 8630047
    Abstract: An imaging lens includes a first lens; a second lens; and a third lens. A curvature radius of an object-side surface and an image plane-side surface of the first lens is positive. The second lens is formed such that a curvature radius of an object-side surface is negative and a curvature radius of an image plane-side surface is positive. A curvature radius of an object-side surface and an image plane-side surface of the third lens is positive. When the first lens has a focal length f1, the second lens has a focal length f2, the third lens has a focal length f3, a composite focal length of the first lens and the second lens is f12, and a composite focal length of the second lens and the third lens is f23, the imaging lens satisfies the following expressions: f1<|f2| f1<f3 ?1.0<f12/f23<?0.1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignees: Optical Logic Inc., Kantatsu Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoji Kubota, Kenichi Kubota, Hitoshi Hirano, Ichiro Kurihara, Yoshio Ise
  • Patent number: 8619353
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electronic paper display apparatus, which comprises: plural pairs of rotating balls each pair having a first rotating ball and a second rotating ball of a size smaller than that of the first rotating ball; a partition wall member having a plurality of cavities each in which a respective rotating ball is positioned and configured to transversely separate the plurality of rotating balls from each other; an electrode structure formed on the partition wall member and configured to provide a drive voltage to each of the plurality of rotating balls; and a plurality of distance adjusting members disposed inside the plurality of cavities, with being faced the plurality of rotating balls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hwan-Soo Lee, Hye Yeon Cha, Yongsoo Oh