Patents by Inventor Marko Eromäki
Marko Eromäki has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20230080199Abstract: The imaging apparatus comprises a retractable structure with active and inactive positions. An outermost lens group and a lens group actuator are movable along an optical axis. In the inactive position the lens group and the lens group actuator reside close to an image sensor. The lens group actuator is positioned to the same level as the image sensor. In the active position the outermost lens group and the lens group actuator are further from the image sensor along the optical axis. The retractable structure may protrude from the device, covering the imaging apparatus. In one example the structure is reversed, the image sensor protrudes from the device while the outermost lens group is fixed to the device body.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2022Publication date: March 16, 2023Inventors: Marko EROMÄKI, Mikko JUHOLA, Eero SALMELIN
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Patent number: 11536930Abstract: An imaging apparatus comprises two actuators, such as an autofocus actuator and optical image stabilizer. The actuators are nested, wherein the outer actuator is suspended from the device body and the inner actuator is suspended from the outer actuator. A suspension element may be a flexure bearing, allowing a flat actuator design.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2016Date of Patent: December 27, 2022Assignee: Microsoft Licensing Technology, LLC.Inventor: Marko Eromäki
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Patent number: 11523034Abstract: The imaging apparatus comprises a retractable structure with active and inactive positions. An outermost lens group and a lens group actuator are movable along an optical axis. In the inactive position the lens group and the lens group actuator reside close to an image sensor. The lens group actuator is positioned to the same level as the image sensor. In the active position the outermost lens group and the lens group actuator are further from the image sensor along the optical axis. The retractable structure may protrude from the device, covering the imaging apparatus. In one example the structure is reversed, the image sensor protrudes from the device while the outermost lens group is fixed to the device body.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2016Date of Patent: December 6, 2022Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Marko Eromäki, Mikko Juhola, Eero Salmelin
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Patent number: 11079606Abstract: The lens arrangement has at least two lenses, wherein a first lens may be used for autofocus and optical image stabilization. The first lens is tilted to compensate for the shaking movement of the hand-held device and to stabilize the image to be captured on the image plane. The tilt action may occur in two degrees of freedom, wherein an actuator causes the first lens to tilt around a pivot. A second lens is a field flattener lens that compensates for the error caused by the difference between the image plane and the focus plane. The field flattener lens causes the focal plane of the first lens to lie in the image plane when the first lens is in a tilted position.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2019Date of Patent: August 3, 2021Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Mikko Juhola, Marko Eromäki
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Publication number: 20200089019Abstract: The lens arrangement has at least two lenses, wherein a first lens may be used for autofocus and optical image stabilization. The first lens is tilted to compensate for the shaking movement of the hand-held device and to stabilize the image to be captured on the image plane. The tilt action may occur in two degrees of freedom, wherein an actuator causes the first lens to tilt around a pivot. A second lens is a field flattener lens that compensates for the error caused by the difference between the image plane and the focus plane. The field flattener lens causes the focal plane of the first lens to lie in the image plane when the first lens is in a tilted position.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 21, 2019Publication date: March 19, 2020Inventors: Mikko JUHOLA, Marko EROMÄKI
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Patent number: 10469721Abstract: A multi-part electronic device has a mode with at least two overlapped device parts comprising a first camera part mounted on a first device part and a second camera part mounted on a second device part. At least one of the first and second camera parts is resiliently mounted such that contact between the first and second camera parts when the first device part and the second device part are overlapped with each other aligns the first camera part and the second camera part within a selected angular deviation between the camera parts' respective optical axes. A camera part having a body and a flexible mount and a method of reducing tilt error are also described.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2018Date of Patent: November 5, 2019Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Marko Eromäki, Urho Konttori, Eero Tuulos
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Patent number: 10412281Abstract: A device comprising at least two body sections is disclosed. The first body section comprises a movable imaging unit and a magnet rigidly fixed to the imaging unit, and the second body section comprising an optical unit with a magnet rigidly fixed to the optical unit. The body sections are in a movable connection with each other, and the device is operable in at least two modes. In the first mode, the imaging unit and the optical unit are fixed in a set relative position due to magnetic interaction between the magnets. In the second mode, the imaging unit is positioned away from the optical unit.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2016Date of Patent: September 10, 2019Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Urho Konttori, Marko Eromäki, Eero Tuulos
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Patent number: 10353218Abstract: The lens arrangement has at least two lenses, wherein a first lens may be used for autofocus and optical image stabilization. The first lens is tilted to compensate for the shaking movement of the hand-held device and to stabilize the image to be captured on the image plane. The tilt action may occur in two degrees of freedom, wherein an actuator causes the first lens to tilt around a pivot. A second lens is a field flattener lens that compensates for the error caused by the difference between the image plane and the focus plane. The field flattener lens causes the focal plane of the first lens to lie in the image plane when the first lens is in a tilted position.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2017Date of Patent: July 16, 2019Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Mikko Juhola, Marko Eromäki
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Patent number: 10317779Abstract: The imaging apparatus comprises a retractable structure with active and inactive positions. In the inactive position the lens group resides in proximity to an image sensor, and in the active position the lens group resides at a predetermined distance from the image sensor. The lens group is moved between active and inactive positions by at least one actuator. The imaging apparatus also includes a field flattening lens with a concave shape on the side opposite to the image sensor and facing the moving lens group.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2016Date of Patent: June 11, 2019Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Mikko Juhola, Marko Eromäki, Eero Salmelin
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Patent number: 10257433Abstract: The imaging system has two lenses coupled together, wherein both lenses face different sides of the device body. Each lens has a separate image sensor; for example, the first lens is for the front side camera and the second lens is for the back side camera. A single actuator moves both lenses simultaneously. Depending on the imaging direction, either the front side image sensor or the back side image sensor is activated and an image is received through the corresponding lens system. The actuator generates autofocus or image stabilization functions for both cameras.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2015Date of Patent: April 9, 2019Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventor: Marko Eromäki
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Publication number: 20190082086Abstract: A multi-part electronic device has a mode with at least two overlapped device parts comprising a first camera part mounted on a first device part and a second camera part mounted on a second device part. At least one of the first and second camera parts is resiliently mounted such that contact between the first and second camera parts when the first device part and the second device part are overlapped with each other aligns the first camera part and the second camera part within a selected angular deviation between the camera parts' respective optical axes. A camera part having a body and a flexible mount and a method of reducing tilt error are also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2018Publication date: March 14, 2019Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Marko Eromäki, Urho Konttori, Eero Tuulos
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Patent number: 10142526Abstract: A multi-part electronic device has a mode with at least two overlapped device parts comprising a first camera part mounted on a first device part and a second camera part mounted on a second device part. At least one of the first and second camera parts is resiliently mounted such that contact between the first and second camera parts when the first device part and the second device part are overlapped with each other aligns the first camera part and the second camera part within a selected angular deviation between the camera parts' respective optical axes. A camera part having a body and a flexible mount and a method of reducing tilt error are also described.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2016Date of Patent: November 27, 2018Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Marko Eromäki, Urho Konttori, Eero Tuulos
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Patent number: 10082640Abstract: An electromagnetic actuator comprises a dual stage action, wherein the actuator comprises an electromagnetic element between two ferromagnetic elements. An electric current driven through the electromagnetic element causes a magnetic field of the electromagnetic element to interact with the magnetic fields of the two ferromagnetic elements.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2016Date of Patent: September 25, 2018Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventor: Marko Eromäki
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Patent number: 9986144Abstract: A portable device comprises a first portion and a second portion, the first portion having a first front surface and a first back surface. The first portion comprises an image sensor and a first imaging optical arrangement lying in imaging connection with the image sensor and defining a first field of view with a wide angle of view. The second portion comprises a second imaging optical arrangement. The first and the second portions are movably coupled to allow adjustment of the device to a closed position with the second portion lying against the first back surface, with the second imaging optical arrangement aligned with the first imaging optical arrangement, whereby the first and the second imaging optical arrangements define a second field of view, and to open positions with the second portion lying outside the first field of view.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2016Date of Patent: May 29, 2018Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Eero Tuulos, Urho Konttori, Mikko Juhola, Marko Eromäki, Eero Salmelin
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Publication number: 20180052385Abstract: The imaging apparatus comprises a retractable structure with active and inactive positions. In the inactive position the lens group resides in proximity to an image sensor, and in the active position the lens group resides at a predetermined distance from the image sensor. The lens group is moved between active and inactive positions by at least one actuator. The imaging apparatus also includes a field flattening lens with a concave shape on the side opposite to the image sensor and facing the moving lens group.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2016Publication date: February 22, 2018Inventors: Mikko Juhola, Marko Eromäki, Eero Salmelin
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Publication number: 20180031861Abstract: The lens arrangement has at least two lenses, wherein a first lens may be used for autofocus and optical image stabilization. The first lens is tilted to compensate for the shaking movement of the hand-held device and to stabilize the image to be captured on the image plane. The tilt action may occur in two degrees of freedom, wherein an actuator causes the first lens to tilt around a pivot. A second lens is a field flattener lens that compensates for the error caused by the difference between the image plane and the focus plane. The field flattener lens causes the focal plane of the first lens to lie in the image plane when the first lens is in a tilted position.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 6, 2017Publication date: February 1, 2018Inventors: Mikko JUHOLA, Marko EROMÄKI
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Publication number: 20180035024Abstract: A multi-part electronic device has a mode with at least two overlapped device parts comprising a first camera part mounted on a first device part and a second camera part mounted on a second device part. At least one of the first and second camera parts is resiliently mounted such that contact between the first and second camera parts when the first device part and the second device part are overlapped with each other aligns the first camera part and the second camera part within a selected angular deviation between the camera parts' respective optical axes. A camera part having a body and a flexible mount and a method of reducing tilt error are also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2016Publication date: February 1, 2018Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Marko Eromäki, Urho Konttori, Eero Tuulos
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Patent number: 9871954Abstract: A device comprising at least two body sections is disclosed. The first body section comprises a first camera element having an optical axis, and the second body section comprises a second camera element and a mechanical flap adapted to expose and conceal the second camera element. The first body section is in a movable connection with the second body section, and the device is operable in at least two modes. In the first mode, the first and the second body sections are brought together, and the mechanical flap is adapted to expose the second camera element. In the second mode, the first and the second body sections are positioned such that the first and the second camera elements are positioned away from each other, and the mechanical flap is adapted to conceal the second camera element.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2016Date of Patent: January 16, 2018Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventor: Marko Eromäki
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Publication number: 20170353633Abstract: A device comprising at least two body sections is disclosed. The first body section comprises a first camera element having an optical axis, and the second body section comprises a second camera element and a mechanical flap adapted to expose and conceal the second camera element. The first body section is in a movable connection with the second body section, and the device is operable in at least two modes. In the first mode, the first and the second body sections are brought together, and the mechanical flap is adapted to expose the second camera element. In the second mode, the first and the second body sections are positioned such that the first and the second camera elements are positioned away from each other, and the mechanical flap is adapted to conceal the second camera element.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2016Publication date: December 7, 2017Inventor: Marko Eromäki
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Publication number: 20170353639Abstract: A device comprising at least two body sections is disclosed. The first body section comprises a movable imaging unit and a magnet rigidly fixed to the imaging unit, and the second body section comprising an optical unit with a magnet rigidly fixed to the optical unit. The body sections are in a movable connection with each other, and the device is operable in at least two modes. In the first mode, the imaging unit and the optical unit are fixed in a set relative position due to magnetic interaction between the magnets. In the second mode, the imaging unit is positioned away from the optical unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2016Publication date: December 7, 2017Inventors: Urho Konttori, Marko Eromäki, Eero Tuulos