Patents Examined by Fang-Chi Chang
  • Patent number: 10015296
    Abstract: A lens cover selectively covers and exposes a, camera lens on the back of mobile device, such as a cellular phone. The lens cover can be adhered to the back of the mobile device. The lens cover has a flap that pivots 180 degrees about an axis parallel with the back of the mobile device, and between an open/storage position and a closed position. The flap can be off-set with respect to the axle so that in the open/storage position, the flap is adjacent or abutting to the back of the mobile device, and so that in the closed position, the flap is spaced-apart from the back of the mobile device, creating a gap to receive a protruding camera or camera lens. The flap can also comprise a detent to maintain the flap in a selected position until selectively moved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Handstands Promo, LLC
    Inventor: Bryce Haymond
  • Patent number: 9995993
    Abstract: A photo shooting support device or selfie device, includes a telescopic stick and a clamping device for holding and clamping a camera device. The clamping device includes a carrier and a stretchable clamping mechanism arranged above the carrier. The clamping device is pivotally or rotatably connected to the top end of the telescopic stick. A notch is arranged on the carrier. The middle portion of the clamping mechanism is provided with a bending portion corresponding to the notch. The telescopic stick can be accommodated in the notch and the bending portion after folding. The clamping device is always rotatably connected to the top end of the telescopic stick; so it does not require temporary assembly for use, bringing great convenience to users; and after use, the telescopic stick can be directly received in the notch of the carrier and the bending portion of the clamping mechanism, so it saves space and is easy to carry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Winners' Sun Plastic Electronic (Shenzhen) CO. LTD.
    Inventor: Zhengliang Li
  • Patent number: 9906707
    Abstract: A method of adjusting a lens may include adjusting the lens at a first focus position, and acquiring a first image of a scene through the lens. The method may further include adjusting the lens at a second focus position, and acquiring a second image of the same scene through the lens. In addition, the method may include producing respective power spectra of the first and second images, and producing a criterion representing the ratio of the power spectra to estimate a focus error of the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (GRENOBLE 2) SAS
    Inventors: Jérémie Teyssier, Francesco Cascio
  • Patent number: 9904148
    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: August 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua Todd Druker, Christopher Aaron Clearman
  • Patent number: 9811023
    Abstract: A developing device includes: a toner detection unit that detects whether there is toner that is stored; a stirring unit that stirs toner in a toner container; a calculation unit that calculates an output duty by comparing an output voltage of the toner detection unit representing whether there is toner after the stirring, with a predetermined voltage value; and a remaining amount detection unit that detects an amount of remaining toner at the output duty from a correspondence relationship between the output duty and an amount of remaining toner that is previously set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Akinori Yamaguchi, Naoki Nakatake
  • Patent number: 9778601
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrying unit; a unit-to-be-moved; a pulse motor; a moving mechanism including a rotatable member provided with a member-to-be-detected; a detecting portion; an executing portion; and a controller for causing the executing portion to execute a first stop mode on the basis of detection of the detecting portion when the unit-to-be-moved is changed in position from the second or third position to the first position and to execute a second stop mode on the basis of a pulse number of a driving signal when the unit-to-be-moved is changed in position from the first or third position to the second position and when the unit-to-be-moved is changed in position from the first or second position to the third position, and for making the change at least between the second and third positions by only unidirectional rotation of the pulse motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Tajiri
  • Patent number: 9778547
    Abstract: The present invention provides a mobile phone stabilizer, comprising a fixing device for mobile phone, an angle adjusting device and a two-hand control device, wherein the angle adjusting device comprises an X-axis adjusting mechanism, a Y-axis adjusting mechanism and a Z-axis adjusting mechanism which are orthogonally arranged in three-dimensional space; wherein the Z-axis adjusting mechanism has a connecting end fixedly connected with the two-hand control device and has an output end rotatablely connected with a connecting end of the Y-axis adjusting mechanism, the Y-axis adjusting mechanism has an output end rotatablely connected with a connecting end of the X-axis adjusting mechanism, the X-axis adjusting mechanism has an output end rotatablely connected with the fixing device for mobile phone. The mobile phone stabilizer of the present invention has a simple structure and can effectively improve the shooting stability of the mobile phone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Guilin Feiyu Technology Corporation Ltd.
    Inventor: Chengyun Wei
  • Patent number: 9751471
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for holding a camera (40) which serves in particular as a parking assistance device for a motor vehicle, comprising a housing (10) in which a slide (20) is movably accommodated to which slide the camera (40) can be secured. The slide (20) can be driven by a mechanism (30) having an arm (40) that is rotatably mounted in the housing (10) about a first axis (1) and that is mechanically functionally connected to a rocking element (50). Said rocking element is rotatably mounted in the housing (10) about a second axis (2) and the slide (20) is rotatably mounted on the rocking element (50) about a third axis (3), the movement of the slide (20) between a rest position (A) and an operating position (B) being at least to some extent defined by a housing guide (14) of the housing (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Huf Hülsbeck & Fürst GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Heiko Schütz
  • Patent number: 9746793
    Abstract: An image formation apparatus includes: a first image formation unit including a first image carrier and a first charging member that charges the first image carrier, the first image formation unit using a first developer and; a second image formation unit including a second image carrier and a second charging member that charges the second image carrier, the second image formation unit using a second developer; and a controller that determines a first charging voltage correction amount for correcting a charging voltage to be applied to the first charging member according to an amount of usage of the first image carrier, and determines a second charging voltage correction amount for correcting a charging voltage to be applied to the second charging member according to an amount of usage of the second image carrier. The second charging voltage correction amount is larger than the first charging voltage correction amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Hidetaka Mitsunobu
  • Patent number: 9737196
    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: April 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventor: Barry Weitzner
  • Patent number: 9720303
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a strobe mechanism which has a compact constitution thus avoiding vignetting of strobe light rays by a lens barrel. According to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a strobe mechanism which brings a strobe into a use state by making the strobe pop up from a stored state. The strobe mechanism includes: a base member; a slide member held in a movable manner in one direction with respect to the base member; a strobe part which is mounted on the slide member; and a capacitor which supplies electricity to the strobe part; and the capacitor is arranged in a region defined by walls of the slide member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takahiro Ikemizo
  • Patent number: 9703173
    Abstract: A camera module including a camera module carrier having a lens actuator attached thereto and at least two conductive carrier traces that are electrically connected to electrical contact points of the lens actuator. The camera module having a lens barrel connected to the camera module carrier, the lens barrel having a first conductive barrel trace and a second conductive barrel trace formed therein, the first conductive barrel trace and the second conductive barrel trace forming an alternating pattern of first contact regions and second contact regions along a top edge of the lens barrel and being electrically connected to respective ones of the at least two conductive carrier traces such that electrical signals can be routed between the camera module carrier and the lens barrel. The camera module further including an electronic device electrically connected to the lens actuator by the camera module carrier and the lens barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Stuart Brodie, Qiang Yang, Shaolong Sui, Takeshi Ichimiya, Yoshiyuki Takase
  • Patent number: 9684229
    Abstract: The camera accessory is attachable to a camera. The camera accessory includes an accessory mount to be detachably coupled with a camera mount). The accessory mount is provided with accessory bayonet claws and brought, by relative rotation with the camera mount, from a first state in which each of the accessory bayonet claws is inserted between camera bayonet claws provided in the camera mount into a second state in which the accessory bayonet claws engage with the camera bayonet claws to complete coupling of the accessory and camera mounts. The camera accessory is further provided with accessory contact surfaces arranged in a relative rotation direction of the mounts in the accessory mount. The accessory contact surfaces includes a first accessory contact surface used for indicating type of the camera accessory and is provided adjacent to the accessory bayonet claw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tetsuya Nishio, Yoshihiko Konno, Tatsuyuki Tokunaga, Takashi Hasegawa, Azusa Sugawara, Hiroshi Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 9664922
    Abstract: In one example, a camera is provided that includes: a plurality of MEMS electrostatic comb actuators, each actuator operable to exert a force on at least one lens; and an optical image stabilization (OIS) algorithm module operable to command the plurality of actuators to actuate the at least one lens responsive to motion of the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: DIGITALOPTICS CORPORATION MEMS
    Inventors: Xiaolei Liu, Roman C. Gutierrez, Pat K. Leang, Jose A. Mendez, Corneliu Zaharia, Alexandru F. Drimbarean, Petronel Gheorghe Bigioi
  • Patent number: 9658561
    Abstract: An image forming device scans and exposes a photoreceptor with a luminous flux by a light scanning device, which includes a polygon mirror that deflects the luminous flux and scans the photoreceptor in a main scanning direction, a correction unit that corrects a scanning position of the luminous flux in the main scanning direction such that the scanning position of the luminous flux coincides with each reference position, and a position deviation detection unit that detects the deviation amount of the scanning position of the luminous flux in a sub scanning direction. The correction unit corrects the scanning position of the luminous flux in the main scanning direction such that a screen line with an aimed screen angle is formed by scanning with the luminous flux whose scanning position in the sub scanning direction has deviated by the deviation amount detected by the position deviation detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Ryo Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 9638987
    Abstract: The camera side mount is brought, by relative rotation with the accessory side mount, from a first state where each accessory side bayonet claw is inserted between the camera side bayonet claws into a second state where the camera side and accessory side bayonet claws engage with each other. The leaf spring biasing the camera side contact pins in the protruding direction is disposed between the camera side mount and the camera body. When the camera being in the normal position is viewed from the direction facing the camera side mount, the leaf spring extends from both sides of the mount center line, which extends from the center of the camera side mount in the direction of gravity, toward the camera side contact pins. The camera side contact pins are arranged at positions other than a position on the mount center line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuya Nishio, Yoshihiko Konno, Tatsuyuki Tokunaga, Takashi Hasegawa, Hiroshi Kikuchi, Azusa Sugawara
  • Patent number: 9625672
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a first member including a holding member, the retaining member holding a lens; a second member surrounding the first member; an imaging device arranged opposite to the first member and the lens; and a driving member arranged in a region adjacent to the first member driving the first member in the vertical direction relative to the imaging device. The first member includes at least a first portion and a second portion, the first portion having a first outer diameter and the second portion having a second outer diameter smaller than the first outer diameter, the first and second portions respectively having a first corner and a second corner, the first and second corners respectively having a first cutout portion and a second cutout portion. At least a portion of the driving member is disposed at a region corresponding to the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiteru Kamatani, Kazuhiko Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9606422
    Abstract: The invention speeds up operation of an interchangeable lens. The interchangeable lens, which is removably mounted on a camera body, includes a communication control microcomputer, a lens driving circuit and a lens driving actuator. A body-side microcomputer and the communication control microcomputer of the interchangeable lens are connected and are capable of communicating with each other. Lines are provided in such a manner that the lens driving circuit and body-side microcomputer can communicate directly. A command from the body-side microcomputer is input to the lens driving circuit. This allows the lens driving circuit to be controlled directly and makes it possible to control the interchangeable lens at high speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Fuminori Irie
  • Patent number: 9529245
    Abstract: Provided is an image pickup apparatus including a lens apparatus and a focus operating apparatus. The lens apparatus includes a focus lens unit, a focus driving unit for driving the focus lens unit, and a drive control unit controlling to drive the focus driving unit and having a autofocus function. The focus operating apparatus includes a manual focus (MF) operating unit for manual focus adjustment and an MF command unit for outputting a command value based on an operation amount of the MF operating unit. When the MF operating unit is in operation, the drive control unit controls the focus driving unit based on the command value from the MF command unit. When the MF operating unit is not in operation, the drive control unit controls the focus driving unit to perform autofocus adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keisuke Hirai, Takayuki Kikuchi, Shingo Isobe
  • Patent number: 9521946
    Abstract: A catheter configured for imaging objects substantially in focus is described herein. An imaging device is disposed on the distal end of the catheter. The imaging device has an effective focal plane that is located in front of the imaging device. The catheter also includes a transparent focal instrument that has an outer periphery that is positioned at the effective focal plane of the imaging device, to enable objects in contact with the outer periphery of the transparent focal instrument to be imaged substantially in focus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Sarcos LC
    Inventors: Stephen C. Jacobsen, Fraser M. Smith