Patents Examined by William Perkey
  • Patent number: 10108072
    Abstract: To make it possible to control an image capturing position and its direction in water easily and flexibly through the use of a miniature unmanned aerial vehicle equipped with a plurality of rotors. This is solved by an underwater image capturing apparatus including a miniature unmanned aerial vehicle equipped with a plurality of rotors, a winding machine capable of delivering and winding a string-like member, and an underwater camera capable of capturing images in water, wherein the winding machine is fixed to the miniature unmanned aerial vehicle and the string-like member is connected to the underwater camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: PRODRONE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kiyokazu Sugaki, Kazuo Ichihara
  • Patent number: 10025161
    Abstract: A light amount adjusting device includes: a first linear movement wing and a second linear movement wing respectively connected to a first side of a rotation center of the link and a second side opposite to the first side of the rotation center of the link, each of the first and second linear movement wings provided on the case and configured to linearly move in linear directions between a first position of the first linear movement wing; and a first rotation wing and a second rotation wing respectively connected to the link and rotatably coupled to the case so as to be rotated between a first position of the first and second rotation wings at which at least a portion of the aperture of the case is closed and a second position of the first and the second rotation wing at which the aperture of the case is opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Hanwha Techwin Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Miyakawa Masae, Nam Il Kim
  • Patent number: 9930235
    Abstract: Electronic device cases and lighting and power devices and modules are described. A case for a portable electronic device may include a rim portion defining an opening for a display of the portable electronic device and one or more light sources adjacent to the rim portion. A lighting device may include one or more light sources for illuminating a user's face during use of a camera of a portable electronic device, and a power member for providing power to the one or more light sources. A lighting module may include a plurality of lighting devices. A power module having a battery may be configured to provide power to a portable electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: WINDY PLACE, INC.
    Inventors: Cindy Gantz, Jackie Wallace, Jean Tripier
  • Patent number: 9729779
    Abstract: Certain aspects relate to systems and techniques for using imaging pixels (that is, non-phase detection pixels) for performing noise reduction on phase detection autofocus. Advantageously, this can provide for more accurate phase detection autofocus and also to optimized processor usage for performing phase detection. The phase difference detection pixels are provided to obtain a phase difference detection signal indicating a shift direction (defocus direction) and a shift amount (defocus amount) of image focus, and analysis of imaging pixel values can be used to estimate a level of focus of an in-focus region of interest and to limit the identified phase difference accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Micha Galor Gluskin, Ruben Manuel Velarde, Jisoo Lee
  • Patent number: 9625632
    Abstract: An optical system (110) includes a lens unit (112) with a plurality of lenses. An out-of-focus point spread function of the lens unit (112) includes an annular intensity distribution with at least one ring-shaped side peak at a radial distance to a center point. A birefringent device (115) in an optical path of the optical system (110) is adapted to selectively attenuate the ring-shaped side peak in the out-of-focus point spread function of the lens unit (112).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Christin Weichelt, Markus Kamm
  • Patent number: 9625793
    Abstract: A mounting apparatus, able to maintain the relative position of a camera during rotations between portrait and landscape presentations of an electronic device, includes a camera. The mounting apparatus is mounted to an electronic device, which has a display screen. When the electronic device is rotated from a first presentation state to a second presentation state, the camera remains in position above the display screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignees: HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD., HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Cheng-Yi Lai, Tzu-Hsiu Hung
  • Patent number: 9507128
    Abstract: A lens assembly includes lenses and a lens barrel accommodating lenses. At least one of the lenses is a non-contact lens coupled to the lens barrel, in non-contact with the lens barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Duck Hun Kim
  • Patent number: 9447912
    Abstract: A support tripod (1) for video-photographic equipment, comprising a spider (2), a column (8) provided with hooking means (9) for a piece of video-photographic equipment slidable along a sliding axis (Z) inside an aperture (7) defined by said spider (2), a plurality of legs (4) hinged at a hinging end (4a) to said spider (2) to open/close the tripod (1), each leg (4) having a body extending mainly along a longitudinal axis (Y) and being rotatable about a hinging axis (X) substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis (Y) and extending through the spider (2) to be moved between a closed configuration (W, W?) in which the legs (4) are arranged almost parallel with the sliding axis (Z) and at least one operating configuration (K, J) in which the legs are inclined relative to the sliding axis (Z) at a desired opening angle (?1, ?2), each leg (4) being provided with an adjusting device (30) in order to adjust the angular position of the leg (4) up to a maximum opening angle (?1, ?2) relative to said sliding
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: LINOMANFROTTO+CO, SPA
    Inventor: Massimo De Faveri
  • Patent number: 9442345
    Abstract: A camera comprises a display member arranged in a finder optical system. The display member is provided in a finder of the camera and is provided with a reflective prism group including a plurality of reflective prisms and a frame line formed to surround the reflective prism group. A shape forming the frame line is constituted by a convex portion, and a ridge line of the convex portion is in a twisted position with respect to a direction of a ridge line of the reflective prism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yukinobu Okura, Kosuke Saito
  • Patent number: 9440750
    Abstract: A system for capturing aerial images, the system comprising at least one camera unit, the camera unit comprising a plurality of steerable detail camera modules, each steerable detail camera module comprising a detail camera and a beam-steering mechanism in the optical path of the camera whereby the pointing direction of the camera is time-multiplexed to provide a wider effective field of view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: nearmap Australia Pty Ltd.
    Inventors: Paul Lapstun, Todd William Lupton, Mark Harold Tarlinton, David Arnold Bleads, Zoltan Toth, Andrew Millin
  • Patent number: 9417509
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a multi-functional device for mounting a camera or video camera and methods of using the same. The device comprises a base unit and one or more accessories. In preferred embodiments, the base unit may comprise mounting channels and an attachment accessory may be secured to the base unit using a quick-release attachment. In preferred embodiments, the accessories may comprise one or more accessories from the group consisting of a main handle assembly, adjustable feet, a tripod mount, a gimbal stabilization assembly, a dolly assembly, interlocking articulating feet, and a shoulder support assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: CAM CADDIE
    Inventor: Daniel McElderry
  • Patent number: 9420164
    Abstract: Certain aspects relate to systems and techniques for using imaging pixels (that is, non-phase detection pixels) for performing noise reduction on phase detection autofocus. Advantageously, this can provide for more accurate phase detection autofocus and also to optimized processor usage for performing phase detection. The phase difference detection pixels are provided to obtain a phase difference detection signal indicating a shift direction (defocus direction) and a shift amount (defocus amount) of image focus, and analysis of imaging pixel values can be used to estimate a level of focus of an in-focus region of interest and to limit the identified phase difference accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Micha Galor Gluskin, Ruben Manuel Velarde, Jisoo Lee
  • Patent number: 9412190
    Abstract: An image display system includes a display unit, a shooting unit configured to shoot an image of a subject, a specifying unit configured to specify a position of the subject in the image shot by the shooting unit, and a display control unit configured to have the display unit display the shot image and a predetermined comparison image. The display control unit is configured to have the comparison image displayed at a position where the comparison image is superimposed on the subject in the shot image, based on the specified position of the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 9217974
    Abstract: A controller controls a voltage to be applied to the transfer member when there is a recording material having a predetermined largest width at a secondary-transfer position, so that a constant-voltage element maintains a predetermined voltage, whereby it is possible to prevent transfer defect due to short of a primary-transfer electric field at a primary-transfer portion when a toner image is secondary-transferred onto the recording material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masanori Shida
  • Patent number: 9094613
    Abstract: A photographic apparatus with supplemental light adjusting function and the supplemental light adjusting method used in the same are provided. The photographic apparatus comprises a light source and a photographic element. The method comprises steps of: photographing by the photographic element; illuminating by the light source once the operating condition of a default photographing mode is conformed, and reaching a first supplemental light intensity by the light source within a first length of time; completing photographing by the photographic element once the light source reaches a second supplemental light intensity which is greater than the first supplemental light intensity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: BenQ Corporation
    Inventors: Ho-Shih Wu, Chen-Hung Lin, Li-Wei Cheng, Ming-Chih Yuan
  • Patent number: 8897633
    Abstract: An in-vehicle camera unit has a body to which a lens is attached and prevention members that prevent water drops from falling on the lens. Specifically the body has a top surface where the lens is arranged, a front surface of the lens being exposed to an outside of the body. The prevention member is provided in or on the top surface across the front-back direction of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Syo Okuda
  • Patent number: 8718459
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a multi-lens device and method having improved autofocus. The method comprises: determining from a first focus value and second focus value whether a focus distance of a first lens or a focus distance of a second lens corresponds to a peak focus position; and adjusting the focus distance of the first lens and second lens when neither the focus distance of the first lens nor the focus distance of the second lens corresponds to the peak focus position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventor: Cheng-Sheng Hsu
  • Patent number: 8646994
    Abstract: A thermoplastic composition for use in a compact camera module is provided. The thermoplastic composition contains a liquid crystalline polymer and a plurality of fibers. The volume average length of the fibers in the thermoplastic composition is selectively controlled according to the present invention so that it is within a certain range, such as from about 80 to about 250 micrometers. The fibers also have a narrow length distribution. That is, at least about 70% by volume of the fibers have a length within a certain range. Through the use of a liquid crystalline polymer and fibers of a certain weight average length and narrow length distribution, the present inventors have discovered that the resulting thermoplastic composition is able to achieve a desirable combination of strength and surface smoothness, which enables it to be uniquely suited for a compact camera module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Ticona LLC
    Inventors: Young Shin Kim, Xinyu Zhao
  • Patent number: 8280238
    Abstract: System and method for modifying an optical assembly with another image modifying device by using an adapter assembly to connect or couple three image modifying devices together. The adapter assembly includes two adapters that have collars to hold a night vision monocular between them, and to each connect with a camera and lens, respectively, modifying a camera-lens assembly for use in night time photo surveillance. Attachment members on each adapter may include mechanical and/or electrical connectors to couple or connect the adapters to each other, and/or to electrically connect the camera with the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Nocturnal Devices, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Laganas, Charles Ronald Musgrove, William Ray Blessing, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8229292
    Abstract: An auto focus (AF) adjusting apparatus and a camera system of a lens replaceable camera are disclosed. AF is performed by correcting a location error of a focus lens due to a difference between a frequency band for performing AF detection and a frequency band for determining an improved location of an image surface of an imaging lens, and/or a target region for detecting a focal point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masataka Hamada, Kazuhiko Sugimoto, Toshihiro Hamamura, Shuji Yoneyama