Patents Examined by Fang-Chi Chang
  • Patent number: 11003058
    Abstract: A device for mounting an action camera to a protrusion includes a fastener and a mounting arm configured to be secured to the action camera. The mounting arm has a first opening configured to accommodate a fastener. An upper bracket has a second opening positioned to be aligned with the first opening and configured to accommodate the fastener. A lower bracket is configured to be selectively secured to the upper bracket. The upper bracket and the lower bracket are configured to surround and frictionally engage the protrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: IWON, Inc.
    Inventor: Tim Folkerts
  • Patent number: 10996547
    Abstract: A directionally adjustable magnetic mounting system is disclosed for use with a small electronic device such as a wireless camera. The mounting system includes a camera mount having a mounting surface configured to selectively and alternatively magnetically engage any one of a plurality of mount engaging locations on the electronic device in an angular orientation that is variable relative to a longitudinal centerline of the camera mount. Also disclosed is a method of using the mounting system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Arlo Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John Kui Yan Ramones, Christopher Vincent Fonzo, Beau Oyler, Dayne Nathaniel Tanner
  • Patent number: 10986274
    Abstract: An actuator of a camera module includes a position detector configured to generate a feedback signal based on a detected position of a lens barrel; and a driver configured to drive the lens barrel based on a difference between an input signal indicating a target position of the lens barrel and the feedback signal, wherein the driver includes a signal adjuster configured to calculate an offset between the target position of the lens barrel and an actual position of the lens barrel, and apply the input signal to a calibration function based on the offset to generate a calibrated input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jong Woo Lee
  • Patent number: 10976567
    Abstract: Actuators for actuating a lens in a folded camera, folded cameras including such actuators and dual-cameras including such folded cameras. The actuators actuate a lens having a lens optical axis for auto-focus (AF) and optical image stabilization (OIS) and comprise a stationary sub-assembly that includes an OIS coil having an OIS coil plane and an AF coil having an AF coil plane, and a lens actuating sub-assembly movable relative to the stationary sub-assembly with a lens holder holding the lens, wherein the OIS coil plane is perpendicular to the AF coil plane and wherein the lens optical axis lies between the OIS coil plane and the AF coil plane. Some actuators have a design using VCM actuation and a reduced height due to top and/or bottom openings in actuator envelopes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Corephotonics Ltd.
    Inventors: Gal Barak, Itay Yedid, Ephraim Goldenberg
  • Patent number: 10976002
    Abstract: A gimbal for supporting a load includes at least three rotatably coupled driving axis assemblies. Each driving axis assembly includes a driving device and a joint arm configured to rotate when driven by the driving device. The gimbal also includes a controller configured to control the gimbal to limit a rotation of at least one of the three driving axis assemblies during a rotation of the gimbal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: SZ DJI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tie Su, Paul Pan
  • Patent number: 10921691
    Abstract: The camera accessory is attachable to a camera by relatively rotating from a first state to a second state. Camera side contact pins include a first camera side contact pin making contact with an accessory side contact holding portion in the first state and second camera side contact pins not making contact with the accessory side contact holding portion in the first state. Accessory side contact surfaces include a first accessory side contact surface making contact with the first camera side contact pin in the second state and second accessory side contact surfaces not making contact with the first camera side contact pin in the second state. A pitch between the first and second accessory side contact surfaces adjacent thereto is larger than a pitch between the second accessory side contact surfaces adjacent to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tetsuya Nishio, Azusa Sugawara, Hiroshi Kikuchi, Yoshihiko Konno, Tatsuyuki Tokunaga, Takashi Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 10915005
    Abstract: A vibrating device includes a tubular vibrating body and a lens cover coupled to a first surface of the tubular vibrating body. The tubular vibrating body includes a tubular member and piezoelectric vibrators. The lens cover includes a mode changing coupler and a light transmitting body unit disposed in front of a lens of a camera. The mode changing coupler includes a thin portion having a thickness smaller than a thickness of the tubular member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinsuke Ikeuchi, Katsumi Fujimoto, Masanobu Nomura, Kenji Nishiyama
  • Patent number: 10915009
    Abstract: The present technology relates to a compound-eye camera module and an electronic device in which a plurality of monocular camera modules can be fixed together by a connecting member more effectively. In the compound-eye camera module, a camera-side positioning portion for positioning formed on a camera-side reference surface of each of the monocular camera modules and a member-side positioning portion for positioning formed on a member-side reference surface of the connecting member are fitted together, to connect the plurality of monocular camera modules together, whereby the plurality of monocular camera modules can be fixed together by the connecting member more effectively. The present technology can be applied to, for example, a compound-eye camera module in which a plurality of CMOS image sensors is connected together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Junichi Tokunaga, Seiya Tsuzaki, Yuuji Kishigami
  • Patent number: 10881279
    Abstract: An instrument for use with an endoscope may include an elongate section configured to move exterior to the endoscope. The elongate section may include a distal end and a proximal end. The instrument may also include an end effector attached to the distal end of the elongate section, and an actuation device attached to the proximal end of the elongate section. The actuation device may be configured to operate the end effector. The instrument may also include a guiding member coupled to the elongate section. The guiding member may be configured to be coupled to an external surface of the endoscope to permit the guiding member to move longitudinally relative to the endoscope. The guiding member may be coupled to the elongate section such that the end effector may extend past a distal end of the endoscope and move in a transverse direction independent of the movement of the distal end of the endoscope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventor: Barry Weitzner
  • Patent number: 10845612
    Abstract: Provided is a camera module capable of selectively capturing an image in a first photographing direction or in a second photographing direction opposite to the first photographing direction. The camera module includes: a reflection part that is movable between a first location, at which light incident from a side located in the first photographing direction is reflected in a direction perpendicular to the first photographing direction, and a second location, at which light incident from a side located in the second photographing direction is reflected in a direction perpendicular to the first photographing direction; and a light reception part configured to capture an image by converting the light, which has been reflected by the reflection part, into an electrical signal, wherein, during the movement of the reflection part, the thickness of the reflection part can be constantly maintained in the first photographing direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shirono Masahiro
  • Patent number: 10795242
    Abstract: A power consuming electronics device that dissipates internal device heat via a heat sink is disclosed. The power consuming electronics device includes first and second complementary housing parts. The first housing part includes a first surface ending at a first peripheral edge, and the second housing part including a second surface ending at a second peripheral edge. The power consuming electronics device also includes a heat sink having an air exposed surface that is interposed between the first and second peripheral edges. Surface edges of the air exposed surface abut the first and second peripheral edges of the housing parts and are respectively matched therewith in shape and dimension so that an overall composite surface formed by the first and second surfaces of the housing parts and the air exposed surface of the heat sink is substantially continuous and uniform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: AVIGILON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Winson Chan, Thomas W. Holbrook, Colin Paul Janssen
  • Patent number: 10770992
    Abstract: The present invention provides a stabilizer and a stabilizer auto-rotating control method, wherein the stabilizer comprises: a hand-held component; a first motor, a second motor and a third motor provided on top of the hand-held component and separated from each other by preset angles in space; a bracket connected with the first motor and configured to fix a target object; a stator of the third motor being connected to the hand-held component; a rotor of the third motor being connected to a stator of the second motor; a rotor of the second motor being connected to a stator of the first motor; a rotor of the first motor being connected to the bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Guilin Feiyu Technology Corporation Ltd.
    Inventor: Chengyun Wei
  • Patent number: 10732486
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an electronic device without the necessity of a separate member shielding a camera. The electronic device comprises a lens cover unit of a Laptop PC at least partially accommodated in a cover. The lens cover unit is movable between a first position, where a light transmitting cover which is a light transmitting portion faces a camera, and a second position, where a thick portion which is a camera shielding portion shields the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Kinoshita, Takehito Yamauchi, Shigehiro Horiuchi, Hiroki Hirano, Masaaki Neguchi
  • Patent number: 10721417
    Abstract: A camera module includes a first lens barrel including a first lens, a second lens barrel including a second lens that is aligned with the first lens in an optical axis direction, and a stop module disposed between the first lens barrel and the second lens barrel. The stop module includes blades configured to form one or more incidence holes having various sizes. The stop module includes a magnet portion including a driving magnet opposing a driving coil, and the magnet portion moves back and forth rectilinearly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Joo Young Ha, Jae Kyung Kim, Cheong Hee Lee, Sang Hyo Seo, Hee Sung Jun, Hwan Soo Park, Hyuk Joo Kim
  • Patent number: 10697583
    Abstract: An attachment mechanism for mounting an electronic device to a surface including a mounting plate configured to attach to the surface, the mounting plate having at least one projection, and a base configured to releasably couple to the mounting plate. The base may include a first biasing member, and a first arm pivotably coupled to the base and biased toward a first direction by the first biasing member, the first arm configured to interlock with the at least one projection when the base is coupled to the mounting plate. The base may further include a release mechanism coupled to the first arm such that actuation of the release mechanism when the base is coupled to the mounting plate in a secured engagement causes movement of the first arm in a second direction to disengage the first arm from the at least one projection to enable detachment of the base from the mounting plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Law, William Dong, Oliver Mueller, Kevin Booth, Tyler Wilson, Mark Kraz
  • Patent number: 10655776
    Abstract: A gimbal and a camera apparatus are provided. The gimbal includes an electric motor and a rotation bracket connected to the electric motor and driven by the electric motor to rotate. The electric motor includes a first body, a second body, a magnetic ring disposed in the first body, a position sensing assembly disposed in the second body, and a mechanical limit mechanism disposed between the first body and the second body to define a limiting position of the first body when rotating relative to the second body. A positioning structure is disposed at a pre-determined position of a magnetic field of the magnetic ring. When the first body rotates relative to the second body to the limiting position, the position sensing assembly is capable of sensing a pre-determined magnetic field signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: SZ DJI OSMO TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yongjie Huang, Zhongjie Zheng
  • Patent number: 10649311
    Abstract: Provides a focal-plane shutter comprising: a base plate that has an opening portion for exposure; a blade group for opening and closing the opening portion; an arm that is linked to a blade group; and a driving mechanism portion, linked to the arm, for driving the blade group through the arm, wherein: the blade group and the arm are linked through a coupling plated with a metal crystallized structure with crystallization degree of no less than 99%. This focal-plane shutter can improve the wear durability of a coupling for linking a blade group and an arm. This can prevent the production of wear debris, and prevent the coupling from becoming brittle through wear, even given repeated operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Nidec Copal Corporation
    Inventors: Kenta Kawakami, Ushio Uemura
  • Patent number: 10634828
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, the diaphragm apparatus includes: a plurality of diaphragm blades which define an aperture diameter; a driving member which includes a protrusion protruding in an optical axis direction, rotates around an optical axis, and drives the diaphragm blades to change the aperture diameter; and a base plate which includes a rail part with which the protrusion contacts to be movable in a direction of a rotation of the driving member. The plurality of diaphragm blades are disposed in a gap between the driving member and the base plate, the gap being defined when the protrusion and the rail part contact with each other. A size of the gap changes in accordance with the rotation of the driving member in the optical axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tadanori Okada
  • Patent number: 10627705
    Abstract: A camera device has a dome bubble member and an imaging unit housed within the camera chamber. A heat-emitting element, such as a film, may be arranged about the lens unit and is adapted to radiate heat for heating the dome bubble member. The camera device may include a sealing member adapted to sealingly engage a portion of the dome bubble member, whereby the heat radiated from the heat-emitting element is substantially contained within the sealed sub-chamber. The imaging unit may be rotatable about a first axis and a second axis in which the second axis is offset from the center of the dome bubble member and is displaceable in at least one direction transverse to itself. The camera device may have a shroud member that is pivotal about a third axis. The camera device may also have a shroud member that is transmissive to infra-red light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Avigilon Corporation
    Inventors: Luke William Bingleman, Sudeep Mohan, Christopher James Cullington Okrainetz, Sergio Parise, Nigel Geoffrey Taylor
  • Patent number: 10599020
    Abstract: A swivel mount locking apparatus is configured to mount a camera system onto a target user, an object, or a surface. The camera system is mounted on a swivel component which can be rotated to a variety of different positions relative to a base component. To fix the camera position, a locking protrusion of a release lever in the base component is compressibly inserted into a detent located on the swivel component. When a new orientation of the camera system is desired, a user may forcibly pivot the release lever away from the swivel component to decouple the locking protrusion from the detent. The user can then rotate the mounted camera system and the swivel component to the new orientation relative to the base component. At the new orientation, the user may recouple the locking protrusion of the release lever into a different detent of the swivel component, thereby fixing the camera system into the desired, new orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua Todd Druker, Christopher Aaron Clearman