Patents Examined by Linda B Smith
  • Patent number: 9851623
    Abstract: A camera mounting assembly is disclosed for a plurality of cameras. In an example embodiment, the camera mounting assembly has a substantially cubic configuration. The camera mounting assembly includes a cubic configuration that includes one or more detachable frames. Each frame is attached to one or more other detachable frames via a securing mechanism to form the cube structure. Each frame includes one or more arms connected to a lens opening, the lens opening configured to allow a lens of the camera to have an unobstructed view for capturing images. A camera is secured to each frame by a standoff. A first end of the standoff attaches to a corner of the frame and the second end is attached to the camera. A box structure that houses electronics is located at the center of the cubic configuration and the box structure is secured to one or more frames via standoffs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Macmillan, Ihab A. Ali
  • Patent number: 9853258
    Abstract: A general-purpose battery compartment, comprising a compartment body that can receive either lithium batteries or AA batteries therein and separate the AA batteries received therein to prevent contact therebetween; wherein spring leafs used to connect with the lithium batteries or the AA batteries are provided within the compartment body, and contact points of anode and cathode of the lithium batteries are respectively connected to the two spring leafs that are connected to output terminals of anode and cathode of the battery compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Yueqing Chuangyi Photography Equipment Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Qingyuan Chen
  • Patent number: 9852494
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an overhead image generation apparatus includes: a plurality of cameras mounted to a vehicle; an image processor that takes in images of respective cameras, generates, for respective cameras, overhead images that have been subjected to viewpoint conversion processing based on calibration data of the cameras and virtual viewpoint/line-of-sight information, and generates a synthesized overhead view by connecting the overhead images at their boundaries; and a display device that displays the synthesized overhead view generated by the image processor, wherein a proportion of a shape of the overhead image in a height direction is changed in proportion to an arrangement height of each camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Toshiba Alpine Automotive Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Masanori Kosaki
  • Patent number: 9841659
    Abstract: A stabilizing assembly for an optical device includes a base plate having a blade curved to fit against a person's torso, a strap extending outwardly from the base plate; a socket defined in the base plate and a mounting screw spaced from the socket. The blade extends below the base plate and an adjustment member is located on the underside of the base plate a distance from a lower end of the blade. The optical device is engageable with the stabilizing assembly in two ways. Firstly, the blade is inserted between the person's torso and a waistband or belt. The strap is passed around the person's neck and an end of a monopod engaged with the optical device is inserted into the socket. Secondly, the optical device is directly engaged with the mounting screw and the assembly is placed on the ground supported by the blade and adjustment member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Inventor: Kevin Tipson
  • Patent number: 9841576
    Abstract: A system for parallax correction includes a rotatable focus adjuster having a longitudinal axis. A lens retainer is engaged with the focus adjuster. A first lens is housed within the lens retainer aligned with the longitudinal axis. A second lens is positioned parallel to the first lens within the lens retainer. The second lens is configured to move laterally with respect to the first lens to correct for parallax between the first and second lenses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Sensors Unlimited, Inc.
    Inventors: Dmitry Zhilinsky, Laszlo Kovacs
  • Patent number: 9835935
    Abstract: A telescoping extension device for camera phones utilizes an extendable, telescoping pole, a control handle located at the first end of the pole, and a camera phone holder designed to support a camera phone attached at the upper or second end of the pole. A propeller blade assembly, consisting of propeller blades and an electric motor, is attached to the second end of the pole. A propeller blade control switch located on the control handle provides a remote signal to the motor to control the off and on rotation and speed of the blades. By actuating the motor and rotating the blades, a “helicopter” effect is created, resulting in the second end of the pole to be lifted, thereby increasing the photographic field of vision of the camera phone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Inventor: Robert Wilgosz
  • Patent number: 9838622
    Abstract: Devices and methods for adjusting an exposure window of a rolling shutter based on a frequency determined from ambient light gathered by a bimodal component are disclosed. Flickering light sources may cause artifacts in captured images, due to interplay between a period of a frequency of ambient light and the exposure window. An image capture device includes a semiconductor component configured to operate in two modes and an exposure window control component configured to compensate for the flickering based on a signal from the light source. In a sensor mode, the semiconductor component may operate to detect the frequency of ambient light. To avoid image artifacts, the frequency of the ambient light is analyzed and an exposure time is adjusted to an integer multiple of the period of the frequency such that exposure is matched to the periodic illumination of the flickering light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas K Tao, Anup K Sharma
  • Patent number: 9829769
    Abstract: A control unit driving a motor in a first direction based on output of a first signal, whereby a cam member charges a biasing member, and thereafter the control unit controls driving of the motor so as to stop the cam member in the state where the biasing member is charged, and the control unit drives the motor in a second direction that is the opposite direction to the first direction, whereby the cam member is driven by biasing force of the biasing member and driving force of the motor, an engaging portion follows through a first zone, and thereafter the cam member is driven by the driving force of the motor without using the biasing force of the biasing member, and the engaging portion follows through the second zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tetsuya Nishio
  • Patent number: 9829772
    Abstract: A camera helmet mount can removably secure a camera to a helmet via three attachment points, each of which may be a vent hole, a portion of a face mask, or an edge of the helmet. The camera helmet mount may include a main base that couples with a portion of a camera mount, a rear strap, two main arms, and two optional extension arms. The rear strap and two main arms may have hooks at their distal ends opposite the main base that are secured to the three attachment points. The rear strap can be looped through a rear strap fastener of the main base and secured to itself via a strap clip. The main arms may be removably secured to the main base and can be lengthened by installing extension arms and attaching the hooks of the main arms to the other end of the extension arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Harrison, Joshua Todd Druker
  • Patent number: 9823546
    Abstract: A photographing device, comprising a memory for storing relationships between movement of the focus adjustment lens and image plane movement amount, a controller for setting movement amount of the focus adjustment lens constituting a specified image plane movement amount with respect to unit rotation amount of the ring member, based on a relationship that is stored in the memory, and controlling movement of the focus adjustment lens in accordance with rotation amount and rotation direction of the ring member based on the movement amount, and a rotation velocity detector for detecting rotation velocity of the ring member, wherein the control section, when rotation velocity is smaller than a specified value, sets a movement amount of the focus adjustment lens constituting a specified image movement amount with respect to unit rotation amount of the ring member, based on a relationship that is stored in the storage section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Satoshi Okawa
  • Patent number: 9779506
    Abstract: A method for processing information and an electronic device are provided. The electronic device includes a camera device, an image is acquired by the camera device as a preview image, and a first distance between the camera device and a shooting object which is shot in the preview image is obtained; the preview image is detected, and at least one area meeting a predetermined condition is obtained, where the first distance corresponding to the at least one area falls within the first predetermined distance scope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Lenovo (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yonghua Liu
  • Patent number: 9772542
    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: June 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Aaron Clearman
  • Patent number: 9762785
    Abstract: A camera module includes: a driving part comprising a lens module; a fixed part spaced apart from the driving part; a suspension wire having a first end fixed to the fixed part and a second end fixed to the driving part; and a damper part enclosing at least a portion of the suspension wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chul Jin Kim, Soo Cheol Lim, Byung Woo Kang, Sung Ryung Park
  • Patent number: 9752001
    Abstract: An ion conductive film contains an ion conductive macromolecular material, a carbon material, and an electrically conductive material different from the carbon material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: DEXERIALS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takehisa Ishida, Kousuke Seki, Nobuyuki Nagai, Yusaku Kato
  • Patent number: 9746751
    Abstract: A camera mount system having two camera mounts connected to a main rail and moveable longitudinally with respect to each other, for differing lens lengths. One of the mounts includes two rollers to allow the camera to be rotated relative to the shooting plane. A rifle-like arrangement is used wherein a handle, with trigger connected to the camera with a cable, and stock/butt stock is provided. The stock and butt stock are vertically and laterally adjustable to accommodate right and left handed use as well as proper shoulder alignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Inventor: Yudah Amit
  • Patent number: 9733604
    Abstract: The image forming apparatus sequentially displays, based on the identification code stored in the storage unit, an image showing an operational procedure necessary to clear the maintenance event and then an image that prompts to close a cover corresponding to the maintenance event, on a display unit. The identification code stored in the storage unit is deleted in a case where the maintenance event is cleared. The image forming apparatus displays an image that prompts to close the cover, without displaying an image showing an operational procedure necessary to clear the maintenance event identified with the identification code, in a case where the identification code is stored in the storage unit at the time of start of the image forming apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masayuki Sato
  • Patent number: 9720372
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a cartridge supporting member configured to move with respect to a main body of the apparatus in a state in which a cartridge is mounted to take a mounting and demounting position where the cartridge supporting member is located at an exterior of the main body and allowing the cartridge to be mounted and demounted, and an image forming position where the cartridge supporting member is located within an interior of the main body to locate the cartridge at a position which allows formation of an image. A first unit of the cartridge includes a position-restricted portion, and the cartridge is located below a second unit in which the cartridge is mounted on the cartridge supporting member. The cartridge supporting member includes a position restricting portion configured to restrict movement of the cartridge with respect to the cartridge supporting member by engaging the position-restricted portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daisuke Hiramatsu, Tetsuya Numata, Takayuki Yada
  • Patent number: 9720349
    Abstract: A developer supply kit detachably mountable to a developer supplying apparatus comprising a developer supply container and a developer accommodated therein, wherein the developer supply container includes, a developer accommodating portion accommodating the developer, a discharge opening for discharging the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating portion, a drive receiving portion to which a driving force is inputted from the developer supplying apparatus, and a pump portion operable so that an internal pressure of the developer accommodating portion alternately and repetitively changes between a pressure lower than a ambient pressure and a pressure higher than the ambient pressure, by the driving force received by the drive receiving portion, wherein the developer accommodated in the developer supply container includes toner containing binder resin material and a coloring material, the developer satisfies, 10?E (mJ)?80, 0.4?Ea (mJ)?2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masato Yamaoka, Hiroyuki Fujikawa, Kunihiko Nakamura, Yusuke Yamada, Emi Watanabe, Nobuo Nakajima, Katsuya Murakami
  • Patent number: 9712722
    Abstract: A printing engine prints an electronic document in a first printing pass to produce a printed media sheet having first markings. Additionally, a processor determines the amount of the clear marking material to print on top of the previously printed media sheet (which already has those first markings). The processor determines different amounts of clear marking material to print on first and second areas of the printed media sheet, based on different darkness levels of first and second colors in the first and second areas of the sheet. After the first printing pass, the printing engine prints (on the previously printed media sheet which has the first markings) those different amounts of clear marking material on the first area and the second area in a second printing pass, and this produces a printed media sheet having gloss markings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Eliud Robles Flores
  • Patent number: 9703113
    Abstract: The subject disclosure is directed towards a curved image sensor that is rotated in one or more rotational directions to compensate for camera movement, e.g., camera shake. In one aspect, sensors such as gyroscopes output camera movement data, which a controller uses to rotate the curved (e.g., hemispherical) image sensor about its center of curvature, e.g., via signals to electrical and/or magnetic movement mechanisms. Image processing may be used by the controller to rotate the image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Brian K. Guenter, Neel S. Joshi