Patents by Inventor Robert Gainer

Robert Gainer 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).

  • Patent number: 9550280
    Abstract: This invention provides a tool for tightening and loosening lenses with respect to camera bodies. The tool includes a body that defines a cavity that is slightly larger in diameter than the sidewalls of the lens adjacent the lens face. Within the cavity is a thin, high-friction, elastomeric material that resides between the edges of the lens when the cavity is pressurably engaged over the lens face. The material frictionally couples the tool body to the lens face and adjacent side walls, thereby allowing a predetermined level of torque to be applied to tighten or loosen the lens. The tool can be adapted for attachment to a handle, such as a torque wrench or can include a handle specifically adapted/contoured for grasping by a user's hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Cognex Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Mishler, Robert Gainer, Laurens Nunnink
  • Patent number: 8731389
    Abstract: This invention provides an electro-mechanical auto-focus function for a smaller-diameter lens type that nests, and is removably mounted, within the mounting space and thread arrangement of a larger-diameter lens base of a vision camera assembly housing. In an illustrative embodiment, the camera assembly includes a threaded base having a first diameter, which illustratively defines a C-mount base. A motor-driven gear-reduction drive assembly is mounted internally, and includes teeth that engage corresponding teeth on the outer diameter of a cylindrical focus gear, which has an internal lead screw. The focus gear is freely rotatable, and removably captured, within the threaded C-mount base in a nested, coaxial relationship. The internal lead screw of the focus gear threadingly engages the external threads of a coaxial lens holder. This converts the drive gear rotation into linear/axial lens holder motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Cognex Corporation
    Inventor: Robert Gainer
  • Publication number: 20130129335
    Abstract: This invention provides an electro-mechanical auto-focus function for a smaller-diameter lens type that nests, and is removably mounted, within the mounting space and thread arrangement of a larger-diameter lens base of a vision camera assembly housing. In an illustrative embodiment, the camera assembly includes a threaded base having a first diameter, which illustratively defines a C-mount base. A motor-driven gear-reduction drive assembly is mounted internally, and includes teeth that engage corresponding teeth on the outer diameter of a cylindrical focus gear, which has an internal lead screw. The focus gear is freely rotatable, and removably captured, within the threaded C-mount base in a nested, coaxial relationship. The internal lead screw of the focus gear threadingly engages the external threads of a coaxial lens holder. This converts the drive gear rotation into linear/axial lens holder motion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: COGNEX CORPORATION
    Inventor: Robert Gainer
  • Patent number: 7594846
    Abstract: A vent screen for an electronic device is provided. The vent screen may include a framework formed from an integral substrate, and a plurality of voids formed in the framework. Typically, the voids are formed by etching away portions of the substrate, and are separated from each another by a plurality of separators formed in the framework. The separators may have a width of less than 1 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: InFocus Corporation
    Inventors: Greg Sample, Robert Gainer, Brian Russell
  • Patent number: 7442161
    Abstract: A position adjuster for a projection device is provided. The position adjuster may include both a coarse adjustment mechanism and a fine adjustment mechanism for positioning the projection device relative a reference surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: InFocus Corporation
    Inventor: Robert Gainer
  • Patent number: 7246908
    Abstract: A projection device is provided. In one embodiment, the projection device may include an optical system mounted within the projection device and having an optical system axis substantially parallel to the optical system. The projection device further may include a combination control operatively coupled to the optical system and having a control axis that is non-parallel to the optical system axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Infocus Corporation
    Inventors: Phillip H. Salvatori, Danny Han, Robert Gainer
  • Publication number: 20060066822
    Abstract: A projection device is provided. In one embodiment, the projection device may include an optical system mounted within the projection device and having an optical system axis substantially parallel to the optical system. The projection device further may include a combination control operatively coupled to the optical system and having a control axis that is non-parallel to the optical system axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2005
    Publication date: March 30, 2006
    Inventors: Phillip Salvatori, Danny Han, Robert Gainer
  • Publication number: 20060006295
    Abstract: A position adjuster for a projection device is provided. The position adjuster may include both a coarse adjustment mechanism and a fine adjustment mechanism for positioning the projection device relative a reference surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2004
    Publication date: January 12, 2006
    Inventor: Robert Gainer
  • Publication number: 20050003753
    Abstract: A vent screen for an electronic device is provided. The vent screen may include a framework formed from an integral substrate, and a plurality of voids formed in the framework. Typically, the voids are formed by etching away portions of the substrate, and are separated from each another by a plurality of separators formed in the framework. The separators may have a width of less than 1 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2004
    Publication date: January 6, 2005
    Inventors: Greg Sample, Robert Gainer, Brian Russell