Patents Examined by W. B. Perkey
  • Patent number: 9565340
    Abstract: Automatic focusing system is provided which comprises a mirror or a plurality of mirrors with a translation device. Automatic focusing can be made by the translation of mirror because focal plane can be changed by the translation of mirror. The translation device makes its motion by the electrostatic, electromagnetic and/or electrothermal forces. The mirror is controlled by the electrical signal from the image processor to get an in-focus image. Also the mirror can be controlled discretely. The image shift by translation is compensated by tilt of mirror and/or image processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignees: Angstrom, Inc., Stereo Display, Inc.
    Inventors: Cheong Soo Seo, Gyoung Il Cho
  • Patent number: 8526804
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus detects a subject based on an image signal output from an image sensing unit and acquires a size of the detected subject. The image pickup apparatus performs an automatic zooming operation such that a zoom lens is driven so as to increase or decrease the size of the subject so that the size of the subject becomes equal to a reference size of the subject. In a case where the difference between the size of the subject and the reference size has increased beyond a predetermined threshold value and the position of the zoom lens has reached a wide angle end or a telephoto end, the image pickup apparatus resets the reference size to be equal to the current size of the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yosuke Morimoto
  • Patent number: 8488956
    Abstract: High-accuracy focus adjustment is achieved even when vignetting is caused by a taking lens. A first pixel group receives a light beam that passes through a first pupil area of an optical system that forms an object image, and a second pixel group receives a light beam that passes through a second pupil area. A first signal based on an output signal from the first pixel group and a second signal based on an output signal from the second pixel group are corrected using correction information with a sampling pitch that is changed in accordance with an amount of defocus. A focal state of the optical system is adjusted based on an amount of relative displacement between the corrected first signal and the corrected second signal after the image-signal correction process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshihito Tamaki
  • Patent number: 8442395
    Abstract: A lens barrel which is capable of increasing the total length of the lens barrel in a shooting state even in a case where the collapsed lens barrel length is short, with a simple construction. A shooting optical system is disposed movably in an optical axis direction. A lens barrel driving member moves the shooting optical system in the optical axis direction while rotating around the optical axis. A lens barrel driving member moving unit moves the lens barrel driving member in the optical axis direction in a transition region during which the lens barrel moves between a shooting state and a non-shooting state while the driving member rotating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shuichi Terada
  • Patent number: 8442397
    Abstract: A technology of acquiring and processing light field data for images is provided. A light field data acquisition apparatus includes a modulator with an attenuation pattern to spatially modulate a 4D light field for an image, and a sensor to acquire 2D signals of the spatially modulated 4D light field. By utilizing the attenuation pattern of the modulator, more spatial data may be acquired in a low angular frequency region than that acquired in a high angular frequency region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Joo-Young Kang, Byung-Kwan Park, Sang-Wook Han, Seong-Deok Lee, Won-Hee Choe, Jae-Guyn Lim
  • Patent number: 8435171
    Abstract: An interface between a surgeon and an automated assistant, including: at least one array comprising N RF transmitters, where N is a positive integer; at least one RF receiver provided with at least two directional antenna; means for attaching said RF transmitter array to at least one surgical tool; and a computerized operating system adapted to record the received signal strength (RSS) received by each antenna of the one RF receiver and to calculate therefrom the position of each of the N RF transmitters, and further adapted to provide automatically the results of the calculation to the surgeon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: M.S.T. Medical Surgery Technologies Ltd.
    Inventor: Mordehai Sholev
  • Patent number: 8433187
    Abstract: An electronic device including a camera adapted to capture images is provided. The camera includes a lens having a first focusing state and a second focusing state; an image sensor adapted to capture a first image of an object in the first focusing state and a second image of the object in the second focusing state. The electronic device further includes a memory configured to store instructions; and a processor coupled to the memory and the camera, wherein the processor is adapted to determine a distance to the object based on the first image and the second image. A lens system including an actuator to modify a configuration of the lens system is also provided, having a first and second focusing state; a memory; and a lookup table to estimate a distance from the lens system to an object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: DigitalOptics Corporation MEMS
    Inventors: Noy Cohen, Gal Shabtay
  • Patent number: 8427571
    Abstract: An optical unit includes: a first lens group; and a second lens group, which are arranged in order from an object side toward an image surface side, wherein the first lens group includes a first lens element, a first transparent body, and a second lens element, which are arranged in order from the object side toward the image surface side, and the second lens group includes a third lens element, a second transparent body and a fourth lens element, which are arranged in order from the object side toward the image surface side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Anteryon BV
    Inventors: Tomohiko Baba, Louis Sander
  • Patent number: 8428677
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to determining a likelihood of possible retinopathy of prematurity and alerting a caregiver of such likelihood. According to certain embodiments, an apparatus for displaying an indication of a risk of retinopathy of prematurity in a patient may include a processing unit. The processing unit is configured to determine whether an oxygen saturation history of the patient places the patient at risk of developing retinopathy of prematurity. The apparatus may also include a display unit configured to present an indication of a risk of prematurity in the patient when the processing unit determines that the oxygen saturation history of the patient places the patient at risk of developing retinopathy of prematurity, the indication comprising at least one of a number associated with the risk, an audible alarm, or a visual alarm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Peter Doyle, Daniel G. Graboi
  • Patent number: 8428453
    Abstract: An electronic device includes digital image sensors to capture visual media, a display to present the visual media from the digital image sensors and a touch controller to identify haptic contact engagement, haptic contact persistence and haptic contact release on the display. A visual media capture controller alternately records the visual media as a photograph or a video based upon an evaluation of the time period between the haptic contact engagement and the haptic contact release.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Snapchat, Inc.
    Inventors: Evan Thomas Spiegel, Robert Cornelius Murphy
  • Patent number: 8428676
    Abstract: A system and method for generating power from temperature differences across a thermoelectric energy harvester. The system may include one or more sensing components which, acting alone or in combination, are capable of generating data related to one or more physiological parameters. The system may also include wireless communication circuitry capable of wirelessly transmitting the data related to the one or more physiological parameters. Furthermore, at least one of the one or more sensing components or the wireless communication circuitry may be at least partially powered, directly or indirectly, by energy generated via the thermoelectric energy harvester.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Edward McKenna, Youzhi Li
  • Patent number: 8428454
    Abstract: A method and associated system for imaging high density biochemical arrays comprises one or more imaging channels that share a common objective lens and a corresponding one or more time delay integration-type imaging cameras with optical alignment mechanisms that permit independent inter-channel and intra-channel adjustment of each of four degrees: X, Y, rotation and scale. The imaging channels are configured to independently examine different spectra of the image of the biochemical arrays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Complete Genomics, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan P. Staker, Craig E. Uhrich
  • Patent number: 8422876
    Abstract: An interchangeable lens includes a focus lens for changing a focus state of an object image, a driving unit for driving the focus lens, a lens controller for controlling the driving unit so as to move the focus lens forward and backward along the optical axis at a predetermined drive frequency, and a storage unit for storing therein drive frequency information representing a drive frequency at which the driving unit can control. A camera body obtains the drive frequency information from the interchangeable lens and performs control while referring to the drive frequency information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Haruo Isaka, Mitsuyoshi Okamoto, Kenji Kawazoe, Naotake Kitahira, Koji Shibuno
  • Patent number: 8422873
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus whose posture is easily adjustable is provided. The imaging apparatus is configured to include an inclination detector detecting a degree of inclination of one of the imaging apparatus and an image captured by the imaging apparatus relative to a horizontal direction orthogonal to a direction of gravity; a display unit; a first inclination indicator unit allowing the display unit to display an indicator to indicate the degree of inclination according to a detection result from the inclination detector; a second inclination indicator unit notifying via sound according to a detection result from the inclination detector that the degree of inclination is over a predetermined value; and a selector unit allowing at least one of the first and second inclination indicator units to operate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Corporation, Ltd.
    Inventors: Junichi Shinohara, Koji Yokoyama, Mayu Takano, Hiroshi Morohoshi
  • Patent number: 8417110
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus which is capable of shooting a still image and a moving image and displaying an exposure parameter interlocking range. A light metering unit meters an object brightness. A camera microcomputer performs exposure control such that an exposure becomes equal to a target exposure determined based on a result of metering by the light metering unit. The camera microcomputer causes the image display section to display a first image representing the object brightness metered by the light metering unit and a second image representing an object brightness that can be set as the target exposure by the exposure control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kei Tohyama
  • Patent number: 8417109
    Abstract: A photographing device, which includes a photographing section; a display section that displays a photography image taken by the photographing section; a person indicator setting section that sets a person indicator prepared beforehand on the display screen; an operation section that operates a target position and/or a target size of the person indicator; a person detection section that detects a position and/or a size of a person in the photography image; a comparison section that compares the detected position and/or size of the person in the photography image with the target position and/or size; a guiding instruction section that generates an instruction for the person to be photographed to guide toward a direction coinciding with the compared result; and a control section that controls the photographing section such that, when a predetermined condition is satisfied after the compared result falls within a predetermined allowable error, a shutter is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Mobile Communications Inc.
    Inventors: Susumu Takatsuka, Noribumi Shibayama, Hisatoshi Suto
  • Patent number: 8414471
    Abstract: An endoscope storage cabinet for use with at least one endoscope having at least one signal emitting member associated therewith and configured to emit a signal indicative of at least one attribute of the at least one endoscope to which it is associated, the cabinet including: an enclosed structure formed by a plurality of walls defining an inner area which is accessible by at least one door; at least one hanger arrangement configured to support at least a portion of at least one endoscope positioned thereon; at least one signal receiving device associated with the enclosed structure and configured to receive the signal emitted by the at least one signal emitting member; and a local control device in communication with the at least one signal receiving device and configured to receive and process the signal emitted by the at least one signal emitting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Mobile Aspects, Inc.
    Inventors: Suneil Mandava, Timur P. Sriharto, Gino N. Iasella, Khang Nguyen Le, Pribadi Kardono, Hansen Brenkus, Muhammad R. Rahim, Jared Kiah Frye, Prasad Venkata Lakshmi Mandava, Balaji Rengaswamy
  • Patent number: 8412036
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus (1000) includes: an imaging device (110), a lens (120), an initial focal point detecting unit (130) detecting a positional relationship between the imaging device (110) and the lens (120) to specify an initial focal point which is a focal point found when an exposure start instruction is received from a user; a shift pattern determining unit (140) determining a shift pattern of the focal point, such that the focal point in an exposure time moves from the initial focal Point, passes through both of a nearest end and a farthest end of a predetermined range of focus at least once, and returns to the initial focal point, the initial focal point being specified by the positional relationship between the imaging device (110) and the lens (120); and a shift control unit (150) moving one of the imaging device (110) and the lens (120) based on the shift pattern, such that the focal point moves from the initial focal point as soon as exposure starts, and arrives at the initial focal point again as
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Kawamura
  • Patent number: 8412295
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for monitoring pain management using measurements of physiological parameters based on a PPG signal. A reference physiological parameter may be compared against a later measurement to identify a change in condition that may indicate a pain management problem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Rakesh Sethi, Paul Stanley Addison, James N. Watson, Paul A. Edney
  • Patent number: 8403826
    Abstract: A video endoscope for diagnostic and therapeutic usage including a rigid or flexible tube defining an axis and a compact video module arranged at a distal end of the tube along the axis, the video unit being configured to pivot off the axis for providing improved access of medical instruments through the distal end of the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Integrated Medical Systems International, Inc
    Inventor: Jurgen Zobel