Patents Examined by Warren K Fenwick
  • Cardan joint for inertially stabilizing a payload
    Patent number: 11243082
    Abstract: A cardan joint includes a cross-elevation assembly comprising a cross-elevation housing, a roll-elevation assembly comprising a roll-elevation housing, a payload interface assembly comprising a payload interface housing, and a suspension interface yoke comprising a suspension interface that couples the suspension interface yoke to one or more suspension bars. The roll-elevation assembly is rotatably connected to the cross-elevation assembly along a first rotation axis via a radial roller bearing and a thrust roller bearing. The payload interface assembly is rotatably connected to the roll-elevation assembly along a second rotation axis via a radial roller bearing and a thrust roller bearing. The suspension interface yoke is rotatably connected to the cross-elevation assembly along a third rotation axis via one or more radial roller bearings and one or more thrust roller bearings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Kirk A. Miller, Jason R. Lavine
  • Optical collection module
    Patent number: 11196928
    Abstract: The present invention provides an optical collection module, including a bracket, a rotating assembly, a driving assembly for driving the rotating assembly to rotate, and a restoring module. The rotating assembly includes a main body and a prism installed to the main body. The driving assembly includes a magnet and several coils. The main body is rotatably mounted on the bracket. The magnet is installed to one of the bracket and the main body; the coils are installed to the other of the bracket and the main body. The magnet includes two polar faces along the polarization direction; the coils are opposite to one of the polar faces of the magnet. The invention cooperates with the coils through the magnet to make the rotating assembly rotate in multiple directions relative to the mounting plate, thereby the moving range of prism increases accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: AAC Optics Solutions Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Linzhen Li, Zhuming Chu, Jin Zhang
  • Bidirectional pycnometer
    Patent number: 11169014
    Abstract: An arrangement for measuring a volume of sample is disclosed. The arrangement includes a first chamber for accommodating the sample; at least one second chamber connectable to the first chamber; a first gas path including a first valve connected to the first chamber and on the other end connected to a gas entry path; a second gas path including a second valve, connected to the second chamber and on the other end connected to the gas entry path; a pressure sensor; a third gas path including a third valve, the third gas path connected to the first chamber and on the other end connected, via the third valve, to the pressure sensor; a fourth gas path including a fourth valve, the fourth path being connected to the second chamber and on the other end connected, via the fourth valve, to the pressure sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Anton Paar QuantaTec, Inc.
    Inventors: Enrique Gadea Ramos, Martin Thomas, Stefan Thaler
  • Unmanned aerial vehicle
    Patent number: 11167863
    Abstract: The invention relates to an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The UAV comprises a body housing control and wireless communication circuitry for the UAV and a rechargeable power source. The UAV has a plurality of propellers surrounding the body and supported so as to be spaced outwardly from and preferably above the body. A gimbal is mounted under a forward portion of the body for supporting a camera. The gimbal may be arranged under the forward portion of the body such that an angle of a forward vertical field of view of the camera is less than an angle of a forward vertical clearance field of view defined with respect to a forward tip of at least one of the propellers. The gimbal may be arranged under the forward portion of the body such that a lens of a camera supported thereon is substantially in line with a front edge of the UAV body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: XDynamics Limited
    Inventors: Sai Hung Ho, Man Wah Chan
  • Swivel ball head mount
    Patent number: 11168735
    Abstract: A swivel ball head mount embodying the invention includes a swivel ball and a housing and a push button operated clamping mechanism coupled between the ball and the housing to control their relative movement. The clamping mechanism may include a gearing arrangement or a spring arrangement producing a mechanical advantage enabling the push button mechanism to operate the clamping mechanism using a single finger. Swivel ball head mount embodying the invention are adapted to have a camera mounted on the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Inventors: Larry J Tiefenbrunn, Merin Swasey
  • Control method for gimbal, controller, and gimbal
    Patent number: 11156905
    Abstract: A control method for a gimbal is provided. The control method includes determining an acceleration of a base of the gimbal and controlling a movement response speed of the gimbal according to the acceleration of the base to allow an attitude adjustment of a camera of the gimbal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: SZ DJI OSMO TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tie Su, Paul Pan
  • Imaging lens assembly module, camera module and electronic device
    Patent number: 11156903
    Abstract: An imaging lens assembly module has an optical axis, and includes a lens barrel and an optical element set. The lens barrel includes an object-side portion, a tubular portion and a tip-end minimal aperture. The object-side portion includes a first assembling surface. The tubular portion includes a plurality of second assembling surfaces. The optical element set includes at least one light blocking sheet and at least one optical lens element. The light blocking sheet includes an object-side surface, an image-side surface and an inner opening surface. The optical lens element includes an optical effective portion and a peripheral portion. The object-side portion of the lens barrel includes a first reversing inclined surface gradually enlarged from the tip-end minimal aperture to the image side of the lens barrel, and the first reversing inclined surface is not contacted with the optical element set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: LARGAN PRECISION CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kuan-Ming Chen, Hsiang-Chi Tang, Lin-An Chang, Cheng-Chen Lin, Ming-Ta Chou
  • Accessory, image pickup apparatus on which same is mountable, and camera system
    Patent number: 11143939
    Abstract: An accessory configured to be detachably mountable to an image pickup apparatus including a first mount portion including first bayonet claw portions, and first terminals, the accessory including a second mount portion including second bayonet claw portions configured to enable engagement with the first bayonet claw portions, and second terminals configured to enable contact with the first terminals, in which the second terminals are provided at positions that are different from positions of the second bayonet claw portions, and wherein, a half line that extends from a central axis of the second mount portion and passes through a second terminal that determines whether an optical apparatus is mounted on the image pickup apparatus or not, passes through a predetermined second bayonet claw portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahisa Tamura, Kunihiko Sasaki, Toshinori Yamazaki, Masayasu Shigematsu
  • Flow control system, method, and apparatus
    Patent number: 11144075
    Abstract: A mass flow control apparatus having a monolithic base. The monolithic base has a gas inlet, a gas outlet, a first flow component mounting region, a second flow component mounting region, and a third flow component mounting region. The first flow component mounting region has a first inlet port and a first outlet port, the first inlet port being fluidly coupled to the gas inlet of the monolithic base. The third flow component mounting region has a first sensing port fluidly coupled to the gas outlet of the monolithic base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Inventors: Daniel T. Mudd, Marshall B. Grill, Norman L. Batchelor, II, Sean Penley, Michael Maeder, Patti J. Mudd
  • Quick connect/release camera mount apparatus and method
    Patent number: 11137104
    Abstract: A quick connect/release camera mount apparatus and method includes an attachment device with a central body where the central body includes a first end and a second end. A quick connect/release coupler is provided on the first end and an attachment arm on the second end of the central body where the attachment arm includes a retainer device and a camera connection device is configured to connect with and be retained by the retainer device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Inventor: Jeffrey Scott Roddenberry
  • Accessory, image pickup apparatus on which same is mountable, and camera system
    Patent number: 11126067
    Abstract: An accessory configured to be detachably mountable to an image pickup apparatus including a first mount portion including first bayonet claw portions and first terminals, the accessory including a second mount portion including second bayonet claw portions configured to enable engagement with the first bayonet claw portions, and second terminals configured to enable contact with the first terminals, in which the second terminals are provided at positions that are different from positions of the second bayonet claw portions, and wherein half lines that extends from a central axis of the second mount portion and passes through second terminals that are used in communication between the image pickup apparatus and the accessory, all pass through a predetermined second bayonet claw portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahisa Tamura, Kunihiko Sasaki, Toshinori Yamazaki, Masayasu Shigematsu
  • Compact stand for a television camera
    Patent number: 11112682
    Abstract: A stand in which professional television cameras are placed includes a compact and easily storable and transportable stand for professional television cameras comprising a plurality of supporting legs pivotable upon the fixed base, and between a folded position, in which the stand is positioned coupled to a corresponding slot, and an open position, in which the stand is positioned substantially in parallel to the fixed base and thereby able to be placed on a surface. When the stand is in storage or transport, the stand may be brought into a folded position, in which each supporting leg is coupled to a corresponding slot, reducing the form factor of the stand while folded and having higher easiness in transportation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: OmniCam4Sky, Lda.
    Inventors: Jorge Manuel Quinta Gaspar, Paulo José Nunes Guerreiro
  • Foldable camera stand
    Patent number: 11106117
    Abstract: A foldable camera stand is disclosed which includes an elongated base plate, an imaging device, and an elongated first arm plate with a first end movably coupled to the base plate and a second end pivotally connected to the imaging device, the first end being opposite to the second end, wherein the imaging device and the first arm plate are approximately in the same plane which is substantially parallel to the base plate when the camera stand is in a folded state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: IPEVO, INC.
    Inventors: Royce Yu-Chun Hong, Mu Hao Kao
  • Imaging apparatus and monitoring system
    Patent number: 11106114
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an image sensor, an angle controller configured to change an angle between a plane orthogonal to an optical axis of an imaging optical system and an imaging plane of the image sensor, an illuminator; and an illumination controller configured to change an optical axis direction of the illuminator based on the angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Aihiko Numata
  • Universal tripod clamp system
    Patent number: 11106116
    Abstract: A universal tripod clamp system is provided having a base member having a top side and a bottom side. The top side includes a plate receiving area configured to accept a mounting plate in conjunction with camera equipment. The bottom side includes an adapter receiving port having a first shape. A clamp is provided, wherein the clamp is configured to alter the plate receiving area. A universal adapter is provided, wherein the universal adapter is removably positioned in the adapter receiving port. The adapter is configured to receive a portion of a tripod head, such as a ball head. The adapter includes an opening having a second shape (pattern) configured to conform to the portion of the tripod head having the same shape (pattern).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Inventors: David Graham Clark, Nathan Kanner, Robert Borgen, Gregory Lundeen
  • Combination of holder and selfie stick
    Patent number: 11099462
    Abstract: A combination of a holder and a selfie stick of the present invention includes a case main body; an attachable disk attached to a back surface of the case main body; a case main body supporter formed of an attachable disk coupling part rotatably coupled to the attachable disk, and an extending part configured to extend from the attachable disk coupling part; a folding part hinge-coupled to the case main body supporter to be folded to be spaced apart from the case main body supporter; a folding part supporter elongated in a longitudinal direction of the folding part to support the folding part and serve as a holder and a handle; and a first extendable stick and a second extendable stick configured to space the folding part supporter apart from the folding part to serve as selfie sticks with the folding part and the folding part supporter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: IMAGINE SEA
    Inventor: Sang Soon Lee
  • Electronic device
    Patent number: 11092878
    Abstract: The electronic device can be used with an accessory module that is a second device attached to a device main body that is a first device. The accessory module includes a locking member that is held so as to be able to be turned. The locking member includes a ring-shaped portion that has a plurality of claw portions and an operation portion for performing a turning operation. The device main body 1 includes a plurality of claw portions corresponding to the plurality of claw portions of the locking member. The claw portions and the claw portions engage with each other in a state in which the accessory module is attached to the device main body by the turning operation of the operation portion, and the claw portions and the claw portions are not engaged in a state in which the accessory module can be removed from the device main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuichi Matsuzawa, Hiroki Ota, Koji Ishikawa
  • Floatable mount for a hunting camera
    Patent number: 11086203
    Abstract: A floatable mount for a hunting camera provides an apparatus that enables protection of a camera for the duration of the camera's placement outside. The apparatus further protects the camera from damage due to rising water levels. The apparatus has a telescopic pole, allowing the user to extend a camera and place it in a higher, more advantageous position. The apparatus may be placed and secured onto the ground through the use of a foot pressure platform and a corkscrew or straight anchor. The apparatus also employs a flotation device that can keep the camera afloat safely above the water level when flooding occurs, or when the apparatus is placed into a body of water. The combination of these features allows the user to mount their camera safely, without having to worry about the camera falling into, or otherwise becoming damaged from, rising water levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Inventor: Jesse Pennington
  • System and method for capturing images
    Patent number: 11079661
    Abstract: A system and a method for the system, wherein the system includes a camera and a control unit for controlling the camera, which is formed by an associated image sensor for optically capturing a capturing region, wherein the control unit may switch between a first mode and a second mode as a function of a scene change in the recording space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Inventors: Ines Hilbert, Ralf Brachmann, Sven Seeger, Jan Henning Holm
  • Lens selector
    Patent number: 11073743
    Abstract: A lens selector for selectively exposing one camera lens and covering other camera lenses of a cell phone or the like is shown and described. The lens selector comprises a base which grips the cell phone and a lens cover movable between two or more positions. The lens cover may slide along the base when moving between positions. An arm resiliently biased into an engaged positions may lock the lens cover into a selected position on the base. The lens selector may substantially cover that side of the cell phone having lenses, and may grip edges of the cell phone. The lens selector may include a socket for centering an associated cell phone with respect to an optical device such as a spotting scope, so that the cell phone may capture images visible through the scope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Inventors: Cheston Deavis, Tracy Davis