Patents Examined by Ricky D. Shafer
  • Patent number: 11927748
    Abstract: An imaging device includes an imaging unit, a lens unit including a plurality of lenses stacked on each other to guide light to the imaging unit, a heater member used for a heater configured to heat a top lens closest to an object among the lenses included in the lens unit, and a reflection suppressor disposed between a region outside of an effective region of the top lens and the heater member, the reflection suppressor being configured to suppress light reflection. The reflection suppressor includes a first reflection suppressor disposed on the top lens side and having an uneven surface, and a second reflection suppressor disposed on the heater member side, the first reflection suppressor being layered on the second reflection suppressor. A surface of the second reflection suppressor facing the heater member is smoother than a surface of the second reflection suppressor facing the first reflection suppressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinya Okada, Katsumi Umeda
  • Patent number: 11914169
    Abstract: An optical member driving mechanism is provided. The optical member driving mechanism is configured to hold an optical member and drive the optical member to move. The optical member driving mechanism includes a first movable portion, a fixed portion, and a driving assembly. The first movable portion is movable relative to the fixed portion. The driving assembly is configured to drive the first movable portion to move relative to the fixed portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: TDK TAIWAN CORP.
    Inventors: Chen-Hsien Fan, Sung-Mao Tsai, Chia-Che Wu, Yueh-Lin Lee
  • Patent number: 11897393
    Abstract: A cross-view mirror for a vehicle includes a mirror assembly having a convex mirror lens providing a field of view for a driver of the vehicle and a support affixed to said mirror lens. The mirror lens includes a reflective portion reflecting light from outside of the mirror lens and a transparent portion configured to allow light to pass through the mirror lens to an area outside of the mirror lens. A light source is mounted to the mirror assembly to emit light through the transparent portion of the mirror lens. The light source is configured to illuminate the field of view provided by said mirror lens. In some embodiments, a sensor or camera detects/captures movement/images in front of the vehicle or to a side/rear of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Rosco, Inc.
    Inventor: Benjamin Englander
  • Patent number: 11892661
    Abstract: A doubly curved reflector for compact storage in a folded state includes a plurality of gores, each gore having on either long side a gore side curve. At least one hinge is mechanically coupled between each adjacent gore, the at least one hinge including a fold roll hinge or a living hinge. In a stowed doubly curved reflector state each gore folds about the at least one hinge when folded closed such that a face surface of each gore folds against an adjacent face surface of another gore into a substantially cylindrical structure. In a deployed doubly curved reflector state, each hinge. A doubly curved reflector for compact storage in a folded state and a locked open state, a method of manufacture, and a method for designing a substantially wrinkle free doubly curved foldable reflector having gores of a composite material are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Opterus Research and Development, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas W. Murphey, Patrick Alexander Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 11892705
    Abstract: An optical unit includes an optical element, a holder, a support portion, a swing mechanism, and an elastic portion. The optical element changes the traveling direction of light. The holder holds the optical element. The support portion supports the holder swingably about a swing axis. The swing mechanism swings the holder with respect to the support portion about the swing axis. The elastic portion connects the holder and the support portion. The support portion has a pair of side surface portions on both sides of the holder along the swing axis, and a connection portion connecting the side surface portions with the elastic portion between the holder and the side surface portions. The elastic portion has a convex or concave portion that comes into contact with a concave or convex portion of at least one of the holder and the support portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takayuki Iwase, Tomohiro Egawa
  • Patent number: 11884211
    Abstract: A vehicle side mirror includes a base member and a mirror housing movably connected to the base member. The mirror housing includes a mirror and a mounting bracket connected to the base member and configured to mount the vehicle side mirror to a door panel of a vehicle. The mounting bracket includes a pivot surface on which the mounting bracket is configured to pivot with respect to a door panel of the vehicle. A flexible attachment member is configured to secure the mounting bracket to the door panel after being pivoted on the pivot surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Sergio Carlos Mucino Hernandez
  • Patent number: 11884212
    Abstract: A rearview device for a vehicle includes a moveable head assembly; a base assembly to be fixed to the vehicle; an actuator assembly; and a cradle configured to attach the actuator assembly to the moveable head assembly and/or the base assembly and a vehicle with such a rearview device. The cradle has at least one tool protrusion on each side that enables attachment to a tool and facilities rotation of the cradle during assembly of the rearview device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: SMR Patents S.à.r.l.
    Inventors: Andrew Lettis, Graham Rehill, Callum Scott-Collins, Steve Rawding, Matthew Smit
  • Patent number: 11880046
    Abstract: An automatic polarization control device and a method thereof are proposed. More particularly, the automatic polarization control device and the method thereof is provided to control a penetrated polarization direction of light incident on a camera by using electricity and generate a polarization image desired by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignees: SAI TECHNOLOGIES CORP.
    Inventors: Jun Sik Kim, Seung Seo Park
  • Patent number: 11880052
    Abstract: Processing methods may be performed to form a grounded mirror structure on a semiconductor substrate. The methods may include revealing a metal layer. The metal layer may underlie a spacer layer. The metal layer may be revealed by a dry etch process. The method may include forming a mirror layer overlying the spacer layer and the metal layer. The mirror layer may contact the metal layer. The method may also include forming an oxide inclusion overlying a portion of the mirror layer. The portion of the mirror layer may be external to the spacer layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Lan Yu, Benjamin D. Briggs, Tyler Sherwood, Raghav Sreenivasan
  • Patent number: 11878628
    Abstract: The present disclosure refers to a retainer assembly adapted to be installed between a base assembly of an exterior rear view device and a vehicle to which the exterior rear view device is mounted, the retainer assembly, comprising a retainer means adapted to be mounted on one side to a door attachment portion of a base frame of the base assembly and on the opposite side to a door panel of the vehicle, wherein the retainer means is provided with at least one opening for allowing at least one datum structural element of the door attachment portion of the base frame to pass thereto, and at least one guiding projection and/or at least one guiding channel portion for providing at least part of a guiding channel for routing and/or guiding at least one harness from the vehicle to an electric component of the rear view device, and/or at least one sealing portion for covering at least a portion of the at least one harness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Motherson Innovations Company Limited
    Inventors: Callum Scott-Collins, Jakub Spychala, Kane Connor, Graham Rehill
  • Patent number: 11865973
    Abstract: A housing for a rear view element of a rear view device for a vehicle includes a scalp portion including a first circumferential edge being c-shaped extending at least partially around an opening of the scalp portion, a lower casing portion including a second circumferential edge being c-shaped extending at least partially around an opening of the lower casing portion, and a bezel including a third circumferential edge having a lip portion extending at least partially around the bezel section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: SMR Patents S.à.r.l.
    Inventors: Thomas Baggi, Francis Charlet, David Gaskin, Andrew Lettis, Benjamin Bruhin, Wilfried Bonny
  • Patent number: 11867558
    Abstract: Optical systems have uses, such as in spectrometers, for directing a beam. A spectrometer, for example, utilizes an optical system for directing an incident beam toward a sample and receiving a spectroscopy signal from the sample. In various implementations, for example, an optical system may be further configured to move a beam with respect to a target, such as a sample, and still provide a home position where the beam is directed in a stationary configuration. A self-homing (e.g., self-centering) optical system may provide a “home” position in which the beam is directed in a first stationary mode while still allowing a focused beam to be moved with respect to a target in a second dynamic mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Inventors: Danial Clark Barkhurst, Sean Patrick Woodward, Keith Thompson Carron, Shane Alan Buller
  • Patent number: 11859063
    Abstract: A polyvinyl alcohol film comprises a vinyl alcohol-based polymer, wherein, when the polyvinyl alcohol film being measured by a solid echo method using pulse NMR at 60° C. for waveform separation of a free induction decay curve of 1H spin-spin relaxation into three curves derived from three components a component A, a component B, and a component C in order of short relaxation time, the component A has a resulting relaxation time of 0.0070 milliseconds or more and 0.0092 milliseconds or less, and a resulting component ratio of 20% or more and 50% or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: SEKISUI CHEMICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yohei Nishimura, Yasunari Kusaka, Nami Nakajima
  • Patent number: 11858579
    Abstract: A bicycle mirror device is provided for rear viewing of traffic when a bicycle rider is in different riding positions. The bicycle mirror device includes a mounting bracket, attached to a bicycle helmet or eye glasses, and mirrors pivotally mounted to the mounting arms. The mounting arms may be attached to the helmet or eye glasses through an extension arm connected to the helmet or eye glasses through a quick-connect system. A method for using the bicycle mirror device includes mounting the mirror device on a helmet or eye glasses, rotating a first mirror to view a first rear-view angle for a cyclist in a low riding position, rotating a second mirror to view a second rear-view angle for the cyclist in an upright riding position, and viewing a plurality of rear view angles without readjusting the first or second mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Inventor: Michael John Kelly
  • Patent number: 11860445
    Abstract: An actuator for driving a reflector includes a movement frame, a first support frame, a first drive coil, a first rotation guide and a first ball. The movement frame includes a reflector configured to reflect or refract light to a lens and a first magnet. The first support frame is configured to provide a space of the movement frame to move. The first drive coil is configured to generate an electromagnetic force in the first magnet to rotationally move the movement frame in a first direction based on the first support frame. The first rotation guide is arranged between the movement frame and the first support frame and has an arc shape so that the movement frame rotates in the first direction. The first ball is arranged inside the first rotation guide, wherein a center of curvature of the first rotation guide corresponds to a center of rotation of the reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: JAHWA ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chul Soon Park, In Soo Kang, Je Seung Yeon, Soo Young Yoon, Jaeseon Lee, Hyeonik Cho
  • Patent number: 11846791
    Abstract: A compound prism module is provided, including a first prism and a second prism. The first prism includes a first light-incident surface, a first reflecting surface, and a first light-emergent surface connected to each other, where the first light-incident surface and the first light-emergent surface are connected to each other on a first side edge. The second prism includes a second light-incident surface, a second reflecting surface, and a second light-emergent surface connected to each other, where the second light-incident surface and the second light-emergent surface are connected on a second side edge. The first light-incident surface and the second light-incident surface are connected to each other and are coplanar, the first reflecting surface and the second reflecting surface are connected on a third side edge, there is a spacing between the third side edge and a connection between the first light-incident surface and the second light-incident surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: GUANGZHOU LUXVISIONS INNOVATION TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventors: Cheng-Te Tseng, Yu-Yan Su
  • Patent number: 11846829
    Abstract: The invention comprises a hands-free, adjustable telescoping magnifying mirror. The mirror may have a first reflective surface and a second reflective surface and can be secured to a horizontal or vertical surface using a suction cup base or can be hung over a door or ledge using a retractable hanger bracket. A telescoping rod is attached to the suction cup base. The mirror may be extended from the base by extending the telescoping rod and the mirror assembly can stand freely without falling over, whether the suction cup base is engaged or not. Additionally, one or more light sources may be disposed at a periphery of the first reflective surface or second reflective surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Inventor: Glen Robert Boehm
  • Patent number: 11835732
    Abstract: An optical sensing device adopted to use structured light to detect an object is provided. The optical sensing device includes a structured light projector and a sensor. The structured light projector includes a light source and at least one beam multiplication film. The light source is configured to emit a light beam. The at least one beam multiplication film is disposed on a transmission path of the light beam and is made of anisotropic refractive index material, wherein a plurality of separated light beams are produced after the light beam from the light source passes through the at least one beam multiplication film, so as to form the structured light. The sensor is configured to sense the structured light reflected from the object. Besides, a structured light projector is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: LIQXTAL TECHNOLOGY INC.
    Inventors: Hung-Shan Chen, Yen-Chen Chen
  • Patent number: 11835789
    Abstract: An improved mirror-based assembly is provided. The mirror-based assembly has at least one mirror panel, at least one support member, and at least three connection regions between the at least one support member and the at least one mirror panel, comprising at least a first connection region comprising a miter joint connection region, at least a second connection region comprising a non-miter joint connection region, and at least a third connection region, wherein the at least one mirror panel is connected to the at least one support member to minimize thermal expansion or contraction of the at least one mirror panel and a method for assembling the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: PLX, Inc.
    Inventor: Itai Vishnia
  • Patent number: 11828315
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a vision adjustment mechanism, comprising a first part and a second part pivotably arranged thereto. The first part has a trough, into which a head part at least partially complementary to said trough can be inserted, forming at least one clamping gap between the trough and the head part. The second part has at least one clamping part, which is formed to be complementary to the clamping gap and can be arranged in the latter such that the second part is fixed to the first part to be pivotable thereto. The fixing means is formed in such a way that it biases the head part in the direction towards the first part for fixing the two parts, and it fixes the second part against rotation relative to the first part. The invention also relates to a mirror unit having such a vision adjustment mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: MCi (Mirror Controls International) Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Paulus Gerardus Maria Van Stiphout, Anne Catharina Martha Bekker, Alex Lorier, Tom Adriaan Jansen