Patents Examined by Noam Reisner
  • Patent number: 11346766
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for estimating deterioration of a steel support structure (180) supporting an offshore wind turbine (181). The steel support structure (180) being made of a first type of steel, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a first sensor (111) having one or more sensor elements, wherein a first sensor element of the one or more sensor elements is made of a type of steel corresponding to the first type of steel; (b) arranging the first sensor (111) in connection with said steel support structure (180); (c) inducing an electrical current through at least one of the one or more sensor elements; (d) monitoring the deterioration of a part of the first sensor (111) by in a first time interval measuring electrical properties of the first sensor (111) and storing the measurements as first data; (e) estimating the deterioration of the steel support structure (180) from the first data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Inventor: Birit Buhr Jensen
  • Patent number: 11346873
    Abstract: A capacitance detection device includes: a capacitor array having parallel-connected capacitors having different capacitances, and whose combined capacitance is changed by selectively switching the capacitors; a detection capacitor connected in series to the capacitor array; a switching control unit selectively switching the capacitors; a detection unit detecting an intermediate potential that is a potential of a capacitive voltage division of a power supply; an acquisition unit acquiring, as a reference combined capacitance, any of the combined capacitances in a vicinity where a magnitude relationship between the intermediate potential and a predetermined reference potential is inverted; a determination unit determining whether or not a detection target is present; a capacitance change unit controlling the switching control unit to change the reference combined capacitance; and a setting unit setting the determination threshold based on a difference between the intermediate potentials in the reference combin
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: AISIN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hideya Kurachi
  • Patent number: 11338741
    Abstract: A vehicle camera mounting system includes, among other things, a first bracket portion that has a first attachment feature that is configured to be secured to an exterior of a vehicle. The first bracket portion extends laterally from the first attachment feature to a second attachment feature. The first attachment feature is provided by a plate that has apertures that are configured to receive fasteners that secure the first bracket portion to the vehicle. The second attachment feature is configured to mount to the vehicle at a location remote from the plate. The system further includes a camera assembly that is secured to the second attachment feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: ORLACO PRODUCTS B.V.
    Inventor: Alfred van den Brink
  • Patent number: 11320401
    Abstract: The present invention provides an eddy current flaw detection device that sufficiently removes noise from a detection signal. A magnetic field is applied to a test object by a magnetic-field forming magnet. The magnetic flux density of a magnetic field generated by the magnetic-field forming magnet is set at a value in a predetermined range according to a distance between the magnetic-field forming magnet and a detection surface and the thickness of the test object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignees: Hitachi Zosen Corporation, Nihon Densokuki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Arai, Akihiro Shin, Takaaki Yamada, Hiroshi Azuma
  • Patent number: 11323597
    Abstract: A display apparatus includes a display unit, a display unit cover configured to hold the display unit, a first plate configured to move integrally with the display unit cover, a second plate, a first shaft provided on the second plate and rotatably supporting the first plate, a third plate, a second shaft provided on the third plate, parallel to the first shaft, and rotatably supporting the second plate, a third shaft orthogonal to the second shaft and rotatably supporting the third plate, and a first guide member provided on the third plate and configured to restrict operation areas of the first plate and the second plate. Where the first shaft is closest to the third plate within the operation area of the second plate around the second shaft, the first guide member is closer to the display unit cover than the third plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hitoshi Kawahara
  • Patent number: 11313952
    Abstract: This technology relates to a system for preventing particle buildup on a sensor housing. The system may include a sensor housing including a first surface, a motor, and a spoiler edge. The motor may be configured to rotate the sensor housing around an axis. The spoiler edge may be positioned adjacent to the first surface and extended away from the first surface perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the sensor housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Simon Ellgas, Justin Matthew Andrade, Bryce Remesch
  • Patent number: 11307053
    Abstract: A device with position detection includes: a first hall element; a second hall element; a differential amplifier configured to generate a subtraction voltage by differentially amplifying a first hall voltage generated by the first hall element and a second hall voltage generated by the second hall element; a summing amplifier configured to generate a sum voltage by summatively amplifying the first and second hall voltages; a comparer configured to compare a reference voltage with the subtraction voltage to generate an error voltage; and a current converter configured to generate a bias current provided to the first and second hall elements, based on the error voltage, wherein the device is configured to detect a position of a detection object based on the sum voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sung Man Pang
  • Patent number: 11300856
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods are described which provide a camera mount system. A camera mount is in communication with a positioning device. The positioning device has a compass, gyroscope, and emits an infrared light beam. The camera mount has a sensor that receives reflected and/or scattered infrared light from a moving target. The camera mount changes its orientation based on information from its sensor, and gyroscope and compass information from the positioning device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: TACTACAM LLC
    Inventors: Jeff Peel, Benjamin Stern, Ben Thorud
  • Patent number: 11293961
    Abstract: A capacitance detection device includes: a variable capacitance capacitor; an electrode constituting a detection target whose capacitance is to be detected; and a control circuit, in which the control circuit executes: manipulation processing of manipulating a capacitance of the variable capacitance capacitor to control an intermediate potential, which is a potential at a connection point between the variable capacitance capacitor and the electrode, to a reference potential, when a voltage of a voltage application device is applied to the electrode via the variable capacitance capacitor; and detection processing of detecting the capacitance of the detection target, based on the capacitance of the variable capacitance capacitor when being controlled to the reference potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: AISIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideya Kurachi, Akira Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11294143
    Abstract: An optical element driving mechanism is provided. The optical element driving mechanism includes a fixed portion, a movable portion, and a driving assembly. The movable portion is movably disposed on the fixed portion. The driving assembly is disposed on the fixed portion and drives the movable portion to move relative to the fixed portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: TDK TAIWAN CORP.
    Inventors: Chao-Hsi Wang, Chao-Chang Hu, Kuen-Wang Tsai, Chih-Wei Weng, Sin-Jhong Song
  • Patent number: 11287615
    Abstract: A camera lens group including a first to a fifth lens arranged sequentially from the object side to image side is provided. The first lens has a positive refractive power, and object-side surface thereof is a convex surface; the second lens has a negative refractive power, and image-side surface thereof is a concave surface; the third and the fourth lens each has a refractive power, and an object-side surface of the third lens is a convex surface; the fifth lens has a negative refractive power, and an image-side surface thereof is a concave surface; an effective focal length f of the camera lens group and half of a diagonal length ImgH of an effective pixel area on an image plane of the camera lens group satisfy: 3.5<f/ImgH<4.5; and an effective focal length f1 of the first lens and an entrance pupil diameter EPD of the camera lens group satisfy: 3<f1/EPD<4.5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: ZHEJIANG SUNNY OPTICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Lingbo He, Fujian Dai, Jianke Wenren
  • Patent number: 11287604
    Abstract: A lens device includes: a movable lens capable of being moved in a direction of an optical axis; a target position information acquiring unit that acquires information of a target position of the movable lens; a target position information transmitting unit that transmits the information of the target position to a movable lens operation device including a movable operating member for moving the movable lens and an operating member driving unit that drives the operating member; and a movable lens driving unit that performs first driving for moving the movable lens based on a position of the operating member detected by an operating member position detection unit that detects the position of the operating member, and the operating member driving unit drives the operating member based on the information of the target position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsu Wada
  • Patent number: 11269239
    Abstract: A two-piece extendable L-plate provides clearance between a camera and a quick-release receiver securing the camera to a support permitting a camera having cables connected to the side of the camera's body to be secured in either a landscape or a portrait orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Really Right Stuff, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph M. Johnson, Sr., Matthew L. Burk
  • Patent number: 11272083
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes a lens barrel unit including an imaging optical system, a first cylindrical member, a second cylindrical member movable relative to the first cylindrical member along a guide bar between a retracted position and a pop-up position, a diopter adjuster provided on the second cylindrical member, a first detector configured to detect that the second cylindrical member is located at the retracted position or the pop-up position, and a first display unit. The guide bar is formed inside a projection surface of the first display unit when viewed from an optical axis direction. The first detection unit is fixed onto the first cylindrical member, and the first detector is more distant from the lens barrel unit than a reference line that passes a center of the first cylindrical member when viewed from the optical axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Taro Murakami, Kiyoshi Nitto, Nobuyoshi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11268831
    Abstract: A position detecting device includes a detector circuit detecting a detection signal including information on a position of a magnet from a coil disposed in a housing and opposing the magnet, which is disposed in a lens barrel; and a control circuit converting the detection signal into a count value, determining a conversion formula based on the count value and a velocity of change in the count value, and detecting a position value using the determined conversion formula.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Je Hyeon Yu, Jung Eun Youm, Ji Hwan Kim, Ja Hwi Cho
  • Patent number: 11262325
    Abstract: A sensor semiconductor device comprises a transducer which comprises a capacitor with at least two electrodes. The transducer further comprises a polymer which is arranged between at least two electrodes of the capacitor, and a top surface of the transducer. The polymer is able to absorb water and the top surface is arranged such that it is exposed to the environment of the sensor semiconductor device. Furthermore, at least a part of the top surface is superhydrophobic and the sensor semiconductor device is capable of measuring the humidity of the environment of the sensor semiconductor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: SCIOSENSE B.V.
    Inventors: Micha In't Zandt, Frederik Willem Maurits Vanhelmont, Nebojsa Nenadovic, Dimitri Soccol
  • Patent number: 11262291
    Abstract: A method of detecting a locally generated corrosion of a first metal element when exposing the first metal element (2) to a corrosive environment. A first surface of the first metal element (2) is exposed to the corrosive environment. A sponge (3) is sandwiched between the first metal element (2) and a second metal element (4). The sponge (3) constituting in dry state an electrical insulator and constituting an electrical conductor when wetted in the corrosive environment. An electrical insulator together with the first metal element (2) encapsulates the second metal element (4) and the sponge (3) for preventing the second metal element (4) and the sponge (3) from being directly exposed to the corrosive environment. An impedance between the second metal element (4) and a ground electrode is measured, and a decrease in the impedance from an infinite impedance to a finite impedance caused by a pinhole being generated in the first metal element (2) is monitored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: METRICORR APS
    Inventor: Lars Vendelbo Nielsen
  • Patent number: 11258928
    Abstract: A wearable camera includes a capturing portion configured to capture a subject around a user, a control portion configured to control capturing processing of the capturing portion and charging processing of a battery, an upper housing that is mountable to the user and accommodates the capturing portion and the control portion, and a lower housing that accommodates the battery for supplying power to the upper housing, is detachably attached to the upper housing, and has a contact terminal which is exposed to an outside and is used for charging the battery, wherein the lower housing is configured to be connected to a charging stand via the contact terminal such that the battery is charged in a state where the lower housing is attached to the upper housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Panasonic I-PRO Sensing Solutions Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junichi Hamada, Shinichi Murata, Yu Jojima, Noboru Takada, Masashi Nakamura, Koji Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 11243269
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system for monitoring a solenoid operated valve including at least one coil and at least one spool. The system compares a normalized current signature and a normalized current signature comparator to determine a spool fault condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: DANFOSS POWER SOLUTIONS II TECHNOLOGY A/S
    Inventors: Mayura Arun Madane, Nilesh Surase, Prachi Zambare, Shruti Zapdekar, Samuel Lazarus, Anil Ghegade, Marco Bison, Ananda Pasala
  • Patent number: 11237458
    Abstract: There is provided a focus adjustment apparatus. A first obtainment unit obtains a focus degree in a predetermined region of a shooting range. A driving unit drives a focus lens in response to an operation unit being operated. A movement amount of the focus lens per unit of an operation amount of the operation unit during the driving is lower in a case where the focus degree is greater than a focus threshold than in a case where the focus degree is lower than the focus threshold. The focus threshold is higher in a case where the focus lens is moving in a direction that increases the focus degree than in a case where the focus lens is moving in a direction that reduces the focus degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoru Matsumoto, Yuichiro Ishitsuka