Patents Examined by Linda B Smith
  • Patent number: 10775682
    Abstract: An adapter device includes a first mount on one side and a second mount on another side. The first mount is detachably mounted to an imaging apparatus, and the second mount is detachably mounted to an accessory. The first mount has first through third mount recesses and first through third mount claws, disposed following a circumferential direction. The second mount has fourth through sixth mount recesses and fourth through sixth mount claws, disposed following the circumferential direction. The first through third mount claws are insertable to mount recesses on another imaging apparatus. The fourth through sixth mount claws are insertable to mount recesses on another accessory. A smallest angle range out of angle ranges in the circumferential direction of the first through third mount recesses is equal to or smaller than a smallest angle range out of angle ranges in the circumferential direction of the fourth through sixth mount claws.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masayasu Shigematsu
  • Patent number: 10670878
    Abstract: An assembly includes a support structure including attach structures. The suspension assembly includes a moving structure including attach structures and flexure arms configured to couple the moving structure to the support structure, the flexure arms are configured to enable movement of the moving structure with respect to the support structure. The suspension assembly includes optical-image stabilizer shape memory alloy wires, each coupled with and extending between one of the attach structures and one of the moving wire attach structures. The suspension assembly includes a lens holder mounted to the moving structure and a first pair of attach structures; and auto focus shape memory alloy wires, each wire coupled to the lens holder and coupled to and extending between attach structures of the first pair of attach structures configured to actuate the lens holder with respect to the moving structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Hutchinson Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Mark A. Miller, Donald M. Anderson, Ryan N. Ruzicka, Peter F. Ladwig
  • Patent number: 10663837
    Abstract: In an embodiment a method includes illuminating a scene in a first illumination by identically driving the emitters of a light source such that first exposures and/or first colour values of segments are ascertained by an image sensor, determining first illumination parameters for the segments of the scene, wherein the first illumination parameters are determined based on the first exposures and/or the first colour values, illuminating the scene in a second subsequent illumination by differently driving the emitters based on the first illumination parameters of the segments such that second exposures and/or second colour values of the segments are ascertained by the image sensor, determining second illumination parameters for the segments of the scene, wherein the second illumination parameters are determined based on the second exposures and/or the second colour values and illuminating the scene in a third subsequent illumination by differently driving the emitters based on the second illumination parameters
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: OSRAM OLED GmbH
    Inventors: Mikko Peraelae, Desiree Queren, Marco Antretter
  • Patent number: 10647391
    Abstract: Disclosed is a mount for attaching objects, like cameras and bindings to the surfaces of a surfboard. Further disclosed is related methods of fabricating or retrofitting a surfboard with said mount. The more specific details of the disclosed mount and related methods are described in connection with the figures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Inventor: Byron Rohrer
  • Patent number: 10620380
    Abstract: A camera module with non-mechanical blocking and non-blocking functions in relation to external light includes a lens, a light sensing element, and a housing. The lens includes interconnected first and second cavity regions, there being gas and/or colored liquid in the first cavity region or the second cavity region. The colored liquid exists in the first cavity region during a first state and, by the application of fingertip heat, in the second cavity region only during the second state, or the reverse. The light sensing element can receive or not receive external light representing images according to user choice. The housing receives the lens and the light sensing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: NANNING FUGUI PRECISION INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Chia-Shih Lin
  • Patent number: 10612663
    Abstract: There is described a multi-headed camera comprising a camera base, multiple camera heads coupled to the camera base, each camera head comprising a camera lens defining an observation angle, each camera head being configured to pivot such that the observation angle may vary between a minimum observation angle and a maximum observation angle, and a protective shield attached to the camera base, extending over the camera heads and shaped such that for each camera head a distance between the shield and the camera head varies as a function of the observation angle. Attached to each camera head is a resiliently deformable and flared gasket positioned around the camera lens and extending toward the shield. The gasket is configured such that, for any observation angle between the minimum and maximum observation angles, the gasket contacts the shield about a closed light seal path for preventing light from passing between the shield and the gasket, and reaching the camera lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Avigilon Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Little, Nigel Geoffrey Taylor, Yang Yang Wang, Andrew Luk Po Wu
  • Patent number: 10599003
    Abstract: Provided is an electrochromic device including: an electrochromic element including an electrochromic layer disposed between a pair of electrodes; a drive unit, which is connected to a power supply portion included in each of the pair of electrodes to drive the electrochromic element; a controller, which is configured to control the power supply portion; and an orientation detection unit, which is configured to detect an orientation of the electrochromic element. The controller is configured to control the power supply portion depending on output from the orientation detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Go Naito
  • Patent number: 10591806
    Abstract: A tripod head for supporting a camera includes an electronic leveling and display system to produce a continuously visible display of the leveling of the tripod head and the camera mounted thereon. That is, the tripod head may be rotated (a full 360 degrees) so the display system is visible regardless of the position of the camera. The display system attached to, or made part of, the tripod head includes light indicating elements (e.g., LEDs or LCDs) which may be easily seen, day or night and under physical constraints limiting access to the camera, regardless of the orientation of the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Inventor: Larry J Tiefenbrunn
  • Patent number: 10564525
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus comprising a sphere portion for performing image capturing and a support unit that supports the sphere portion, wherein the sphere portion comprises: an image capturing unit; and a power reception unit configured to wirelessly receive a supply of power, and the support unit comprises: support portions that support the sphere portion, each support portion having a driving motor, a power transmission unit configured to wirelessly supply power to the power reception unit, and a detection unit configured to detect a power supply efficiency; and a control unit configured to, based on power supply efficiencies, select the power transmission unit arranged in one support portion, and, based on a position of the selected power transmission unit, control the driving motor so that the sphere portion aligns to a predetermined reference position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Toshihide Kanayama
  • Patent number: 10558108
    Abstract: A camera module including a lens part; a lens holder supporting the lens part while surrounding the same; a PCB assembly processing light input through the lens part into an electrical signal; and a shield can having an internal space in which the PCB assembly is disposed, wherein the PCB assembly includes a plurality of PCBs having circuits mounted thereon; and a flexible connecting part electrically connecting the plurality of PCBs and including a conductive layer in which a conductive material is disposed, and the shield can has an avoidance part formed in a position corresponding to the connecting part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Young Sang Joo
  • Patent number: 10539857
    Abstract: A shutter apparatus includes a shutter base having an opening, a light shield configured to reciprocate between a closed state that closes the opening and an open state that opens the opening, a motor, a cam member configured to move the light shield when the cam member is rotated by the motor, and a restricting member configured to contact the cam member and to restrict the cam member from rotating in a first direction and in a second direction different from the first direction, the restricting member being rotatable and including a rotary damper engaged with the cam member. The restricting member is located at different positions in a rotating direction between when the restricting member restricts the cam member from rotating in the first direction and when the restricting member restricts the cam member from rotating in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Jumpei Ishibiki, Chikara Aoshima
  • Patent number: 10539858
    Abstract: A camera mount is configured to securely couple a camera to an object. The camera mount includes a rail mount component and a sliding mount component which can be securely coupled, resulting in a low profile, easy to use camera mount. The rail mount component includes a rail base and two rail wings. The sliding mount component is configured to be inserted into the rail mount component. The sliding amount component further includes two levers and a sliding base with a plurality of protrusions for coupling to a reciprocal mount component. Each lever of the sliding mount component includes a pin and wedge that abut the inside of the rail base to secure the sliding mount component to the rail mount component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Aaron Clearman
  • Patent number: 10527220
    Abstract: A monopod includes an elongated housing and a pneumatic actuator having a cylinder bounding a compartment in which a pressurized fluid and/or gas is contained, and an elongated piston having a piston head mounted in the compartment and a piston rod movable along a longitudinal axis through an upper open end of the housing when the pressurized fluid is released. A support for a portable device, such as a camera, is mounted on the piston rod exteriorly of the housing. A foot-operated control is mounted on the housing adjacent its base. The control is movable by pressure exerted by a user's foot to a control position in which the pressurized fluid and/or gas is released to jointly move the piston rod and the support to an adjustable elevation relative to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: The TIFFEN COMPANY LLC
    Inventors: Hans Robert Orf, Francis Kenny, Jarred Land
  • Patent number: 10523850
    Abstract: A camera device is packaged inside an external shell of an electronic apparatus. The external shell has an opening. The camera device has a transparent plate, a part of which is adjacent to the opening of the external shell. The transparent plate forms an accommodating space for accommodating other components of the camera device. Thus, the dust can be prevented from falling into a shutter blade room of the camera device. The camera device also includes a shutter blade, a driver, and a plate. The plate has an aperture, and the aperture of the camera device is defined thereby. The aperture of the plate is completely pervious to light when the shutter blade is at a first position, and the aperture of the plate is partially pervious to light when the shutter blade is at a second position, thereby changing the aperture of the camera device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignees: SINTAI OPTICAL (SHENZHEN) CO., LTD., ASIA OPTICAL CO., INC.
    Inventors: Chien-hung Chen, Hsi-ling Chang, Chun-hung Huang
  • Patent number: 10511750
    Abstract: A four-sided frame for a camera is disclosed. The four-sided frame includes a first side including a hinge mechanism and a second side having a first segment, a second segment that is separable from the first segment, and a latch mechanism. The four-sided frame includes a third side between the first side and the second side and a fourth side between the first side and the second side. The four-sided frame includes a latch mechanism that couples the first segment to the second segment. In an open configuration of the latch mechanism, the first segment and the second segment are separated to allow insertion or removal of the camera. In a closed configuration of the latch mechanism, a distance between the first segment and the second segment is reduced as compared to the open configuration and the four-sided frame secures the outer perimeter of the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Aaron Clearman, Rudy Lucas Samuels, Richard Gioscia
  • Patent number: 10503052
    Abstract: A shutter apparatus includes a motor, a cam gear, a driving member, and a blade group. A cam part includes a blade maintaining section configured to maintain one of an open state and a closed state of the blade group when a cam follower slides, and a blade driving section. Where the cam follower slides in the blade maintaining section and the blade driving section in this order, the motor is driven in the micro step driving mode when the cam follower slides in the blade maintaining section, and the motor is driven in the full step driving mode when the cam follower slides in the blade driving section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuya Karibe, Chikara Aoshima, Masahiro Takayama
  • Patent number: 10491806
    Abstract: Various features for allowing a user to control a camera in an intuitive manner are described. Various features allow a user to control one or more camera settings via a touch screen. In some embodiments a rotating wheel is simulated on the display screen to show user selectable camera setting values with the values being displayed as if on the surface of the wheel with a currently selected value being closest to the user, e.g., in the center, and values above and below the currently selected value being shown using a smaller size as if further away from the user. A current setting for the feature being controlled is displayed near the center of the screen in some embodiments. A currently selected value is sometimes shown larger than other user selectable settings. The camera settings include an ISO setting, a focal length, e.g., zoom setting, and/or an exposure control setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: LIGHT LABS INC.
    Inventors: Jannie Lai, Joseph Engel, Jared Calinisan, Fan Sai Kuok
  • Patent number: 10465842
    Abstract: Tree mounted assemblies and methods of use are provided herein. An example assembly or device includes a camera mount; a tree mounting bracket that is configured to couple with a trunk or branch of a tree, the tree mounting bracket forming a socket; an articulating armature that is coupled to the tree mounting bracket using a ball that is received within the socket of the tree mounting bracket, the articulating armature further having: a first armature portion coupled to the ball; and a second armature portion coupled to camera mount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Inventor: Matthew A Garis
  • Patent number: 10459319
    Abstract: A sensor bracket includes a bracket on which a camera detecting a state around the vehicle is mounted, a planar portion that holds the camera to the bracket by engaging with an engagement protrusion of the camera, a flat spring that biases the camera in a direction that maintains an engaged state of the camera by abutting against the camera when the camera is mounted on the bracket, a projecting structure of the bracket that restricts a defamation range of the flat spring displaced in an engagement direction of the engagement protrusion within an elastic deformation range when the engagement protrusion is engaged with the planar portion while the camera is abutted against the flat spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Keita Kasai, Mitsuru Tokiwa, Tadahiro Matori, Takahiro Ohmoto
  • Patent number: 10422467
    Abstract: A quick detach connector for an imaging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Really Right Stuff, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph M. Johnson, Sr., Verent Chan