Patents Examined by Minh Q Phan
  • Patent number: 11215901
    Abstract: A video system includes a camera, at least one magnet providing a magnetic field, a magnetometer, and a processing system. The magnetometer is configured to measure the magnetic field to generate a magnetometer readout. The magnetic field is altered when a lens cap blocks a view of the camera. The processing system is configured to detect, based on the magnetometer readout of the magnetic field, whether the lens cap is blocking the view of the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Alvin I. Okunami, Denis Sychev
  • Patent number: 11215785
    Abstract: Example implementations relate the selective defocus of cameras. For instance, in an example an electronic device including a camera including a lens having a field of view and a focal distance, a defocus switch, and an actuator to adjust the focal distance of the lens to selectively defocus a portion of the field of view of the lens in response to actuation of the defocus switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Alan Man Pan Tam, Tony Moon
  • Patent number: 11204261
    Abstract: To provide a rotational position detecting device in which a rotational position detection error caused by variation in distance between a sensor magnet and a magnetic sensor is reduced, the rotational position detecting device includes a sensor magnet (30) configured to generate a magnetic flux; a holder (34), which is configured to hold the sensor magnet, and has a pressure-contact portion (340) to be fixed to a shaft (40) of a motor (1); and a magnetic sensor (32) configured to detect the magnetic flux generated by the sensor magnet, the magnetic sensor being directly or indirectly fixed to the motor, and being arranged away from the sensor magnet in an axial direction of the shaft, the shaft having an abutment portion (403, 405) configured to receive a distal end portion (341) of the pressure-contact portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Shusuke Hori, Yosuke Yui, Yu Kawano, Masahiro Kanamaru
  • Patent number: 11199425
    Abstract: Magnetic sensing technology can be used to detect changes, or disturbances (e.g., changes in magnetic field strength), in magnetic fields and can be used to measure the precise location/positioning of an electronic device in proximity to a magnetic source. In order to avoid interference by earth's static magnetic field, a modulated magnetic field can be used for magnetic based proximity sensing. Received modulated magnetic field signals can be demodulated to determine a received magnetic field strength. A drive current of a magnetic transmitter coil can be varied to maintain the detected magnetic field strength at a target value or within a desirable range. The drive current can also be varied to remain below a burnout current level that can cause damage to the transmitter coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Savas Gider, Jian Guo, John Greer Elias
  • Patent number: 11194228
    Abstract: An evidence capturing device, which includes an elongate tubular body having a first object end and a second, camera mounting, end, with an optical path defined between the object end and the camera mounting end, a bracket at the camera mounting end of the body for mounting a camera to the body, so that a mounted camera is directed towards the object end of the body at which an object plane is defined perpendicular to the body, a filter holder disposed in the optical path between the object end and the camera end, a light source housing protruding from the body between the object end and the camera end for mounting a light source so that a mounted light source is directed at the object plane from an angle and a rotatable ring for rotating the camera and light source housing relative to each other about an elongate axis of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: SOLVE FORENSICS (PTY) LTD
    Inventor: Sietze Sibo Albertse
  • Patent number: 11181807
    Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to ranging of objects in a scene based on difference images indicative of only objects in the scene that have ranges within a subrange. The difference images are calculated by taking differences of two images, each of which captures light reflected by objects in the scene that have ranges within range domains that are different from one another. Thus, each of the difference images includes light reflected by only those objects located at ranges that are included in one of the range domains but not the other. These range domains are controlled by the timing of operation of a fast shutter. In some embodiments, the fast shutter includes an electro-optical modulator between two polarizing filters. The electro-optical modulator can rapidly change the polarization of the light transmitted therethrough such that the second polarizing filter either transmits or blocks the light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: ROSEMOUNT AEROSPACE INC.
    Inventor: Mark Ray
  • Patent number: 11180089
    Abstract: A camera mounting structure includes: a camera that is provided on a vehicle upper side of an inner surface of a front windshield glass and detects information about the surroundings of a vehicle; an angle-of-view hood member that is disposed on the vehicle front lower side of the camera; a heating element that is provided on a lower surface of the angle-of-view hood member and is for defogging the front windshield glass; and a heat-insulating member that is provided on a lower surface of the heating element and has a two-layer structure having an upper-layer heat-insulating material and a lower-layer heat-insulating material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yutaka Tokunaga
  • Patent number: 11164648
    Abstract: A circuit includes a glitch measurement circuit and a glitch profile circuit. The glitch measurement circuit includes a first comparator to compare a glitch in a power supply voltage to a first threshold voltage, a first counter to generate a first count indicative of a time duration the first comparator indicates that the glitch trips the first threshold voltage, a second comparator to compare the glitch in the power supply voltage to a second threshold voltage different than the first threshold voltage, and a second counter to generate a second count indicative of a time duration the second comparator indicates that the glitch trips the second threshold voltage. The glitch profile circuitry utilizes the first count and the second count to generate a multi-voltage profile of the glitch, wherein the multi-voltage profile includes indications of the time durations indicated by the first count and the second count.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Nihaar N. Mahatme, Srikanth Jagannathan
  • Patent number: 11156679
    Abstract: An optimized extremely-large magnetic field measuring method includes: placing four orthogonally configured tunneling magnetoresistive resistors into an externally applied magnetic field, acquiring the resistances of the tunneling magnetoresistive resistors; calculating the angle between a magnetization direction of a free layer of each tunneling magnetoresistive resistor and that of a reference layer on the basis of the resistances of the four resistors; calculating magnetic field intensity H1 and direction ?1 of the externally applied magnetic field calculating magnetic field intensity H2 and direction ?2 of the externally applied magnetic field; and determining final magnetic field intensity H0 of the externally applied magnetic field on the basis of magnetic field intensity H1 and of magnetic field intensity H2; determining final direction ? of the externally applied magnetic field on the basis of direction ?2 and of direction ?1; and optimizing on the basis of direction ? and of magnetic field intensity
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignees: TSINGHUA UNIVERSITY, SICHUAN ENERGY INTERNET RESEARCH INSTITUTE, TSINGHUA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Jun Hu, Yong Ouyang, Jinliang He, Shanxiang Wang, Gen Zhao, Zhongxu Wang, Rong Zeng, Chijie Zhuang, Bo Zhang, Zhanqing Yu
  • Patent number: 11150540
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a detachable quick connection apparatus for photographic equipment and a photographic equipment assembly. The apparatus comprises a locking means and a connection assembly, the locking means comprising a fixed seat provided with at least one through hole and a driving means rotatable relative to the fixed seat, at least one latching member being provided between the fixed seat and the driving means, the connection assembly is provided with an engagement slot which is engaged by the locking member, the locking means comprises a locking member provided in the driving means and a locking spring, the locking member comprises a locating member and a first elastic member which are mounted in the driving means, the locating member is at least partially engaged between the fixed seat and the driving means at the releasing position so that the driving means is stopped at the releasing position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: ZHONGSHAN DASHAN PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Xihua Zhu
  • Patent number: 11137666
    Abstract: A control device, control method, and program, capable of executing a process suitable for a state of proximity of an eye with respect to a viewfinder, and an operating state with respect to an operation display portion. The control device includes a process control unit that executes a process related to shooting or playback of an image, on a basis of whether proximity of an eye with respect to a viewfinder is detected, and detection of an operation state with respect to an operation display portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ayako Iwase, Daisuke Hiro, Lyo Takaoka
  • Patent number: 11140322
    Abstract: A stabilizing device includes a frame assembly configured to hold an imaging device and a motor assembly configured to directly drive the frame assembly to allow the imaging device to rotate. The frame assembly includes a first, a second, and a third frame member. The imaging device is configured to be coupled to the first frame member. The first frame member is rotatably coupled to the second frame member about a first rotational axis. The second frame member is rotatably coupled to the third frame member about a second rotational axis not orthogonal to the first rotational axis. The motor assembly includes a first motor configured to directly drive the first frame member to rotate around the first rotational axis and a second motor configured to directly drive the second frame member to rotate around the second rotational axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: SZ DJI OSMO TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tao Wang
  • Patent number: 11130593
    Abstract: A system for adjusting an optical path length includes: a camera body; an image sensor coupled to the camera body; a first optical device coupled to the camera body; and a second optical device coupled to the camera body. At least one of the first and the second optical devices are movable relative to the camera body. The optical path length between the image sensor and the camera body opening is continuously adjusted by movement of the at least one of the first and the second optical devices relative to the image sensor. As the at least one of the first and the second optical devices move relative to the image sensor, the first optical device is in continuous contact with the second optical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: SZ DJI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Zisheng Cao
  • Patent number: 11118728
    Abstract: A method for controlling an attitude of a payload includes determining an input torque based on an input angle and one or more motion characteristics of the payload, determining an estimated disturbance torque based on one or more motion characteristics of a carrier to which the payload is coupled, and calculating an output torque based on the input torque and the estimated disturbance torque. The output torque is configured to effect movement of the carrier to achieve a desired attitude of the payload.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: SZ DJI OSMO TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zihan Chen, Dahu Pan, Jingyuan Wang
  • Patent number: 11119124
    Abstract: A non-contact voltage and ground detector allows a user to easily analyze the ground or neutral port of an electrical component. The detector includes a tubular body, a metal probe, a power source, a ground-and-neutral detector mechanism, and a non-contact voltage device. The metal probe is concentrically and terminally mounted to the tubular body and acts as the physical engaging element. The power source provides the electrical energy for the detector and is mounted within the tubular body. The ground-and-neutral detector mechanism in conjunction with the metal probe set up an open circuit. The ground-and-neutral detector registers the quality of a ground or neutral when the metal probe with an external electrical element. The non-contact voltage device measures changes in magnetic fields about an electrical component to identify the presence of voltage within the electrical component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Inventor: Rocky Lee Rawls
  • Patent number: 11112677
    Abstract: A focal-plane shutter for electronic front curtain scanning allows blades to move in two directions across the opening in a balanced manner, rather than in one direction. The focal-plane shutter for electronic front curtain scanning includes a base plate having an opening, a first blade movable in a first direction to close the opening, a second blade movable in a second direction to close the opening and opposite to the first direction in which the first blade is movable, a first urging member that urges the first blade in the first direction to close the opening, and a second urging member that urges the second blade in the second direction to close the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: NIDEC COPAL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yusuke Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11099244
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate 10 of a first conductivity type, a vertical Hall element 100 provided on the semiconductor substrate 10, and an excitation conductor 200 provided directly above the vertical Hall element 100 with an intermediation of an insulating film 30. The vertical Hall element 100 includes a semiconductor layer 101 of a second conductivity type provided on the semiconductor substrate 10, and a plurality of electrodes 111 through 115 each constituted from a high-concentration second conductivity type impurity region and provided on the surface of the semiconductor layer 101 along a straight line. A ratio WC/WH between a width WC of the excitation conductor 200 and a width WH of each of the plurality of electrodes 111 through 115 satisfies 0.3?WC/WH?1.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: ABLIC INC.
    Inventors: Takaaki Hioka, Hirotaka Uemura
  • Patent number: 11092881
    Abstract: A motorized tilt and swivel device that includes a motorized component and an alignment component. The motorized component is configured to receive a command signal from a camera mobile device, and place, in response to the command signal, the camera mobile device in multiple positions for capturing images. The positions include multiple rotation angles with respect to a rotating axis and multiple tilting angles with respect to a tilting axis. The alignment component is configured to substantially align, prior to receiving the command signal and based on a alignment marker, the rotating axis with a camera lens of the camera mobile device, substantially align, prior to receiving the command signal and based on the alignment marker, the tilting axis with the camera lens, and constrain the camera mobile device such that the camera lens substantially overlaps an intersection of the rotating axis and the tilting axis in each position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: HANGZHOU TARUO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
    Inventor: Hao Qian
  • Patent number: 11094446
    Abstract: A Rogowski coil includes a magnetic core and a winding. The magnetic core includes an encircling body. The winding includes a conductive wire. The winding is disposed in a generally helical coil about the core body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventor: Theodore James Miller
  • Patent number: 11092648
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer readable medium described herein relate to techniques for characterizing and/or anomaly detection in integrated circuits such as, but not limited to, field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) and application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs). In one example aspect of certain example embodiments, a fully digital technique relies on the pulse width of signals propagated through a path under test. In another example aspect, the re-configurability of the integrated circuit is leveraged to combine the pulse propagation technique with a delay characterization technique to yield better detection of certain type of Trojans and the like. Another example aspect provides for running the test through reconfigurable path segments in order to isolate and identify anomalous circuit elements. Yet another example aspect provides for performing the characterization and anomaly detection without requiring golden references and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: GRAMMATECH, INC.
    Inventor: Jason Alvin Dickens