Patents Examined by Fang-Chi Chang
  • Patent number: 9507244
    Abstract: A lightweight camera crane has an outer arm pivotally attached to a base. A trim weight tray is rigidly attached to a back end of the outer arm. A moving counterweight carriage is supported on carriage rollers on top of the outer arm. An inner arm is supported on arm rollers within the outer arm. A camera platform is pivotally attached to a front end of the inner arm for tilt axis movement. An electric leveling motor connected to the camera platform via a mechanical linkage keeps the camera platform level regardless of the tilt angle of the camera crane. An electric extension motor drives telescoping extension and retraction movement of the inner arm via chains, belts or cables connected to the counterweight carriage and the inner arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment, Inc.
    Inventor: Leonard T. Chapman
  • Patent number: 9436062
    Abstract: A camera body includes a flare cutter, a front case, and a control board. The flare cutter includes a first opening. The front case is disposed facing a first face of the flare cutter, and includes a second opening at a position facing the first opening. The control board is disposed on a second face of the flare cutter that is opposite the first face. When the flare cutter is viewed from outside of the front case, a part of the control board does not overlap with the flare cutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koji Yasuda
  • Patent number: 9429822
    Abstract: A camera and accessory mounting adapter is a device that allows the user to mount a camera as well as various accessories to the end of a boom, pole, or similar device. The device features a prism body with an adapter mounting cavity and female threading for attaching the device to the boom, pole, or similar device. A threaded fastener may be inserted into a hex head bolt receiving hole within the prism body, allowing a camera to be mounted to the prism body. At least one cold shoe mount is present for attaching a cold/hot shoe-compatible accessory to the prism body. A secondary camera mount allows the user to mount an additional camera to the device. Various other accessories may be mounted to the device via an accessory mounting port traversing through the prism body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Inventor: Michael Shiffler
  • Patent number: 9420199
    Abstract: An imaging device of the present invention comprises an imaging section, including an image sensor for imaging a subject, for generating image data based on output signals of the image sensor; a control section for casing repeated operation of the imaging section in accordance with a single release operation; an adding processing section for sequentially adding image data repeatedly output from the imaging section and generating added mage data; an image display section for displaying the added image data; and a setting section for setting a repeat period for the imaging section and instructing to the control section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Yoji Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9417428
    Abstract: A method for calibrating a focus point for a camera lens may include capturing a reflection of a focus point measuring device that is affixed to the camera. The method may include evaluating a captured image of the reflection to measure a calibration amount for a focus point, and adjusting a focus point of a lens of the camera by the calibration amount. The focus point measuring device may include a substantially planar target surface defining a plane, and a ruled target surface inclined at substantially 45° to the substantially planar target and extending through the plane thereof, marked to indicate respective distances in front of and behind the plane. The device may further include a fixture for holding the substantially planar target surface and the ruled target surface in a defined orientation to the camera, enabling performance of the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Inventor: Gary Stephen Shuster
  • Patent number: 9383718
    Abstract: Provided is a frame body structure including a first member that includes a side end bent in a direction separated from a floor when the frame body structure is placed on the floor and is provided along the floor, and a second member that includes a lower end contacting the side end, is raised over the side end, connects between the lower end and the side end, and includes a protrusion protruding immediately above an upper end edge of the side end, wherein the first member and the second member are combined with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takehiro Kozushi
  • Patent number: 9366944
    Abstract: An installation for the acquisition of photographic portraits formed of a booth delimiting an inner space, including: a first wall delimiting a portion of the inner space of the booth, at least a portion of the first wall being transparent; a photographic apparatus or camera arranged behind a transparent or semi-transparent portion of the first wall, said device comprising a field of view directed towards the inside of the booth and having its focal plane located inside of the booth; at least one light-emitting device arranged behind a transparent portion of the first wall, capable of illuminating the inside of the booth. It comprises an additional light-emitting device, comprising at least two light-emitting surfaces, illuminating the inside of the booth and respectively arranged on a second and a third walls facing each other and delimiting the inner space of the booth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Photo-Me International PLC
    Inventors: Serge Crasnianski, Christian Croll
  • Patent number: 9360737
    Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods are disclosed for a collapsible light box. An apparatus includes a substantially cube-shaped structure comprising a top side, a bottom side, a rear side, a left side, and a right side. An inside of the structure is accessible through a front side of the structure, which is open. An apparatus includes one or more lighting elements disposed within the structure that illuminate the inside of the structure. An apparatus includes one or more joints located on each of the right side and the left side of the structure. The one or more joints allow the structure to collapse into a substantially flat shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Inventors: Aaron Johnson, Kelly Beffrey, Philip Beffrey, Daniel B. Lyke, Shane McKenna
  • Patent number: 9304438
    Abstract: A developer container includes a container housing for storing developer, a cylinder section projecting from the container housing and including a developer discharge port, and a rotary member for conveying the developer to the discharge port. The rotary member includes a rotary shaft rotatably supported and having a first part located in the container housing and a second part located in the cylinder section, and a resilient member projecting from the second part of the rotary shaft in a radial direction of rotation of the rotary member and facing the developer discharge port. The resilient member includes a tip end operable to protrude radially outward out of the developer discharge port after rubbing an inner surface of the cylinder section as the rotary shaft of the rotary member makes rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Tamotsu Shimizu, Shizuka Ikazaki
  • Patent number: 9304202
    Abstract: One or more electromagnetic radiation sources, such as a light emitting diode, may emit electromagnetic waves into a volume of space. When an object enters the volume of space, the electromagnetic waves may reflect off the object and strike one or more position sensitive detectors after passing through an imaging optical system such as glass, plastic lens, or a pinhole located at known distances from the sources. Mixed signal electronics may process detected signals at the position sensitive detectors to calculate position information as well as total reflected light intensity, which may be used in medical and other applications. A transparent barrier may separate the sources and detectors from the objects entering the volume of space and reflecting emitted waves. Methods and devices are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: ANALOG DEVICES, INC.
    Inventor: Shrenik Deliwala
  • Patent number: 9298061
    Abstract: A shutter device includes a leading drive lever configured to move leading blades to a closed position at which the leading blades cover an opening and to move the leading blades to an open position at which the leading blades open the opening; a leading charge mechanism configured to rotate a leading charge lever in a charge direction to generate biasing force and to rotate, using the biasing force of the leading drive spring, the leading charge lever in a drive direction to rotate the leading drive lever in an opening direction; a leading lock lever configured to lock the leading charge lever having rotated in the charge direction; a leading attractive unit configured to hold, using electromagnetic force, the leading lock lever locking the leading charge lever; and a leading biasing mechanism configured to bias the leading lock lever in a release direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Dai Shintani
  • Patent number: 9285658
    Abstract: Provided herein are devices and systems for engaging and transporting a camera. The device generally comprises means for securely attaching a camera to the device, e.g., a camera connecting component, and means for slidably receiving a strap connectable to the camera attaching means, e.g., a strap receiving component. The camera connecting component may comprise a ball connector configured to threadably engage a camera attachment point on the camera and a second ball end and the strap receiving component may comprise a strap receiving means configured to slidably receive a strap therethrough and a socket to receive the ball end of the ball connector. The ball and socket connection may be secured by a sleeve threadably engaging the socket in a covering relationship. Also provided is a system for engaging a camera for transport which comprises the devices provided herein, a strap and a camera which are assembled as described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Inventor: Ye Xu
  • Patent number: 9288477
    Abstract: A light path adjustment apparatus includes: a support plate with a first through hole through which light passes; a plurality of optical units, including first and second optical units, that move between an open location where the first through hole is opened by the optical units moving toward an outside of the first through hole and a closing location where the first through hole is divided into a plurality of regions by the plurality of optical units moving toward the first through hole and blocking at least a part of the light; and a rotation plate that has a second through hole corresponding to the first through hole and is rotatably disposed with respect to the support plate. The first and second optical units correspond to first and second regions of the first through hole, respectively, and are coupled to the support plate and the rotation plate, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ki-oh Jung, Cheol-eun Jang, Sung-wook Choi, Woo-jong Cho
  • Patent number: 9268196
    Abstract: When information associated with an object distance cannot be acquired, an image capture apparatus sets a condition required to determine a reference area used to determine weighting coefficients for respective photometry areas from a plurality of photometry areas, based on photometric values of the plurality of photometry areas obtained by making preliminary light emission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshifumi Osawa
  • Patent number: 9151964
    Abstract: An optical unit with a shake correcting function may include a movable body configured to hold an optical element; a fixed body which covers at least a side face part of the movable body; a spring member which is connected with the movable body and the fixed body; a shake correction drive mechanism configured to generate a drive force for swinging the movable body with respect to the fixed body; and a stopper mechanism which is provided between the spring member and a swing center of the movable body in an optical axis direction, and configured to determine a movable range of the movable body in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuichi Takei, Yoshihiro Hamada, Katsushige Yanagisawa
  • Patent number: 9063396
    Abstract: Methods and structure are provided for integrating photography systems into passenger vehicles. The system includes an imaging device, a billing system, and a controller. The imaging device is able to generate a photograph of a passenger in a vehicle. The billing system is within the vehicle, and accepts payment from the passenger for a fare. The controller is able to access the billing system to accept payment for the generated photograph.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Inventor: Emily Choi
  • Patent number: 9056168
    Abstract: A system and method for automatically adjusting parameters for predicting blood glucose levels and/or controlling the dispensing of insulin. In one embodiment, the system is a stand-alone system. In one embodiment, the system is part of a system for controlling the dispensing of insulin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: Dose Safety
    Inventors: Robert C. Kircher, Jr., Richard S. Mauseth, Jason N. Bishop, Donald P. Matheson, Suray Bhatia, Jeff A. Bilmes
  • Patent number: 9031394
    Abstract: An image capture apparatus comprises an inclination detection unit which detects an inclination of the image capture apparatus, a display unit which displays the inclination of the image capture apparatus, and a predetermined reference orientation set for the image capture apparatus, a still state determination unit which determines that the image capture apparatus is in a still state, if a variation of the inclination falls within a predetermined range, and a reference orientation setting unit which sets the reference orientation of the image capture apparatus, wherein the reference orientation setting unit does not set the reference orientation if the still state determination unit determines that the image capture apparatus is not in the still state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Teruhiko Ueyama
  • Patent number: 9025073
    Abstract: Imaging apparatus includes an image sensor, which is adapted to generate an input image in response to optical radiation. A processing engine is configured to apply a digital filter, having a kernel width greater than five pixels, to the input image to generate a filtered image. An optical assembly is arranged to focus the optical radiation onto the image sensor with a point spread function such that no more than a first threshold percentage of energy emitted from a point object and focused by the optical assembly falls within a first region of the image sensor having a first width five times the pitch of the image sensor, while at least a second threshold percentage of the energy emitted from the point object and focused by the optical assembly falls within a second region, which contains the first region and has a second width corresponding to the kernel width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Nan Chang O-Film Optoelectronics Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Ziv Attar, Yoav Yadin, Alex Alon
  • Patent number: 9014549
    Abstract: A dome-type camera includes a camera lens capable of rotating in a tilt direction, a dome cover for covering the camera lens, and an aperture control unit for controlling the amount of aperture of the camera lens. The amount of aperture is set to become smaller from an open value toward a closed value in accordance with the tilt angle of the camera lens becoming smaller from a zenith direction of the dome cover toward a horizontal direction. According to this dome-type camera, a desirable low tilt angle image with a reduced blur may be obtained even with a megapixel dome camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yohei Aoki, Daisuke Hara, Yasuji Nakamura, Ryoko Kato