Patents Issued in December 15, 2020
  • Patent number: 10863859
    Abstract: A milk beverage feeding device includes an undiluted-solution storage storing a milk-beverage undiluted solution; an undiluted-solution feeder feeding the milk-beverage undiluted solution; a vapor feeder feeding a pressurized vapor in a pressurized state; an air feeder feeding compressed air in a compressed state; and a mixer mixing the milk-beverage undiluted solution fed from the undiluted-solution storage through the undiluted-solution feeder, the pressurized vapor fed from the vapor feeder, and the compressed air fed from the air feeder to form a mixture and feed the mixture as a milk beverage to a beverage container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yukihide Mochida
  • Patent number: 10863860
    Abstract: Provided are a beverage brewing apparatus and a beverage machine having the beverage brewing apparatus. The beverage brewing apparatus comprises a barrel body for containing a beverage capsule and a cover body fitted with the barrel body. An inner bottom end of the barrel body and the cover body are respectively provided with a piercing needle for piercing the beverage capsule. When the cover body is closed, the piercing needle at the inner bottom end of the barrel body and the piercing needle on the cover body are disposed along different lines and the beverage capsule is pierced. The central part of the piercing needle on the cover body is hollow and forms a water inlet. The piercing needle on the cover body is sealed to the beverage capsule by virtue of a sealing unit. A beverage outlet is provided at a bottom end of the barrel body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignees: GUANGDONG MIDEA CONSUMER ELECTRICS MANUFACTURING CO. LTD., MIDEA GROUP CO. LTD.
    Inventor: Jian Kuang
  • Patent number: 10863861
    Abstract: A waffle sandwich maker includes first and second waffle plates which contact a food product during preparation of the food product. The first waffle plate includes a plurality of protrusions defining a plurality of channels, a female connector having a hole, a male connector having a protrusion and a first spacer extending inward relative to the plurality of protrusions. The pluralities of protrusions and channels create depressions and ridges in the food product. The protrusion of the male connector and the hole of the female connector of the first waffle plate mate with a hole of a female connector and a protrusion of a male connector of the second waffle plate. The first spacer contacts the second waffle plate during preparation of the food product, which includes an outer dough encapsulating a filling, to maintain the first waffle plate spaced at least approximately 0.5 inches from the second waffle plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Roberta M Langenfeld, Ralph A Stenvik, Lisa Swanson, Karla M Fuentes, Michele K. Wolf, Zachary Harder, Todd A Rasmussen, Bruce D Larson, Shannyn Stuart
  • Patent number: 10863862
    Abstract: A gas cooking appliance is disclosed that according to one embodiment includes at least one gas burner and a gas tap. The gas tap includes a gas inlet conduit and at least one gas outlet conduit suitable for conducting gas to the gas burner. An injector arranged fixed to the outlet conduit, the outlet conduit being in fluid communication with the injector with the injector providing an outlet for the gas flow to the burner. The injector includes at least two outlet holes for the exit of gas to the burner, with each outlet hole having a respective outlet mouth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: COPRECI, S. COOP.
    Inventors: Felix Querejeta Andueza, Jose Ignacio Mugica Odriozola, Iñigo Albizuri Landazabal
  • Patent number: 10863863
    Abstract: A grill height adjustment and height indication apparatus for indicating the height setting of a grill, the grill height indication apparatus including a height indicator driving portion operatively connected to a grill height adjustment crank. The apparatus further includes an indication portion, having a plurality of incremental markings, for indicating a grill height. The indicator driving portion drives the indication portion to display a first incremental marking for a first grill height and the height indicator driving portion drives the indication portion to display a second incremental marking for at least a second grill height different from the first grill height. The indication apparatus may further include an audible indication portion that produces an audible tone at set increments as the grill height adjustment crank is rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: GRILLWORKS LLC
    Inventor: Benjamin Eisendrath
  • Patent number: 10863864
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a water and oil type fryer minimizing the transfer of heat from a layer of oil for frying to a water layer, the water and oil type fryer comprising: an oil cask for frying having a connection pipe having a predetermined cross-sectional area ratio; a gas burner supplying heat to a heating flow path, or an electric heater directly supplying heat to oil for frying; a container for cleaning having a drain pipe, and simultaneously accommodating oil which is connected with oil in the oil cask through the connection pipe, and water which forms a boundary with the oil; and a sediment layer discharge pipe positioned below a boundary surface of oil and water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Inventor: Sang Hoon Cho
  • Patent number: 10863865
    Abstract: A blender jar assembly comprises a container portion having an open end for receiving the foodstuff to be blended and for dispensing the foodstuff after blending and a base portion selectively coupled to the container portion. The base portion comprises a floor and a sidewall connected to and extending from the floor to form a chamber for receiving at least a portion of the foodstuff during a blending operation. The chamber has an open end in fluid communication with the open end of the container portion when the container portion and the base portion are selectively coupled. The base further comprises one or more rotatable blades that are fully contained within the chamber formed by the floor and the sidewall and do not extend beyond a rim of the sidewall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Hamilton Beach Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Bock, David Matthew Schandel, Paul Diaz, Benjamin H Branson, III
  • Patent number: 10863866
    Abstract: A detachable juicer comprises a base having a driving device and a circuit board mounted therein and a cup. An inductive switch mounted on the upper end surface of the base and a power line is connected with the circuit board. A driving device is connected with a lower connector. A lower magnet is embedded in the upper end surface of the base, and an anti-lip suction cup covers the lower magnet. The cup is provided with a cup cover having a lower end surface embedded with an upper magnet. A tapered portion in the cup cover is provided with a central through hole and is mounted with a paddle cutter having a shaft passing through the central through hole. The bottom of the upper connector and the top of the lower connector are provided with engaging teeth or blocks for engaging with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: SHENZHEN NINGRUI ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hong-Sheng Yang, Shi-Hai Zou
  • Patent number: 10863867
    Abstract: A vending machine system for loading and dispensing pre-baked unpackaged food including a fixed cartridge disposed in a refrigerator of a vending machine, and a transport cartridge adapted to removably attach to the fixed cartridge, the transport cartridge operable for holding trays of unpackaged food and loading the trays of unpackaged food from the transport cartridge into the fixed cartridge, wherein, when the transport cartridge is removably attached to the fixed cartridge, a front opening of the transport cartridge aligns with a front opening of the fixed cartridge, and wherein the rack of the transport cartridge aligns with the conveyor system of the fixed cartridge such that trays of unpackaged food within the transport cartridge can simultaneously be transitioned from the rack to the conveyor system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: 24/7 Pizza Box, LLC
    Inventors: Eduardo Lopez, Shawn Marquardt, Allan L. Cube, Sun Shue, Juarencio P. Baculi, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10863868
    Abstract: A modular container holder comprising a backing panel and a basket portion, the backing panel has a magnetic mounting means adapted to detachably secure the modular container holder to a vertical mounting surface, the basket portion projects forwardly from the backing panel and is adapted to receive and retain a container. A contiguous modular arrangement of multiple modular containers positioned in column or row configurations allows multiple containers to be stored, while the basket portion is tilted forwardly to prevent the obstruction of basket openings when the modular container holders are vertically stacked in the column configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Inventor: Carrick J. Pierce
  • Patent number: 10863869
    Abstract: Disclosed is a disposable for use with a surface that defines a basin for receiving liquid. The disposable has a pair of surfaces spaced apart from one another by a tubular sidewall. One of the pair of surfaces is positioned, in use, against the basin-defining surface. In use, gas issues through the sidewall in the form of bubbles. The disposable is useful in association with foot spas and the like. A mechanism for puncturing a liner is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: GULFSTREAM INC.
    Inventors: Minh Sang Tran, Chris Alexander
  • Patent number: 10863870
    Abstract: A portable shower device is provided having a housing comprised of an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion of the housing is preferably pivotally attached to the lower portion of the housing by a hinge or the like so that the upper portion may be selectively pivotable from either an open position or a closed position. The upper portion includes a channel and a spout to receive and expel liquid, respectively. The lower portion of the housing has a generally hollow interior and an outlet adapted to direct liquid to outside the housing. The housing can include a wheel assembly to facilitate movement of the portable shower. The portable shower can further include a base portion that is formed on or fixedly secured to the housing adjacent to the lower portion. The base portion may be generally hollow and may have an inlet, a conduit, a pump, a nozzle, and one or more electrical connections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Inventor: Echcho Maria Hart
  • Patent number: 10863871
    Abstract: A diagonal strap attached to a towel in embodiments of the disclosed technology allows one to lift a towel upwards to dry their legs without bending down. Handles on the sides of the towel allow one to further dry themselves while leaving their torso substantially in place. These methods of drying allow one with limited mobility to dry his/her body with limited help from others, while being less limited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Inventor: Sima Coe
  • Patent number: 10863872
    Abstract: A flowable material dispenser for dispensing flowable material from a container having a pump may include a housing, an actuator, a motor, and a drive assembly. The actuator may be disposed within the housing and configured to translate relative to the housing between a first position and a second position during a dispense cycle. The actuator may be configured to move the pump between an extended configuration and a compressed configuration to dispense the flowable material as the actuator translates between the first position and the second position during the dispense cycle. The drive assembly may be coupled to the actuator and the motor and configured to translate the actuator between the first position and the second position at a varying rate of translation during the dispense cycle. The varying rate of translation may vary relative to a rate of rotation of the motor and follow a non-sinusoidal waveform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: GPCP Holdings LLC
    Inventor: Brian S. Borke
  • Patent number: 10863873
    Abstract: A dispensing system has a dispenser for sections of a material web wound onto a roll. A support bar is provided, on each end, a bearing journal protruding out from the roll. At least one of the two bearing journals has a mating surface which is not designed as a rotational surface. The dispenser has a guide for each bearing journal that extends to a dispensing position. A counter surface for the mating surface is provided at the beginning of the guide for each bearing journal that has the mating surface. The insertion of the roller into the dispenser is only possible if the mating surface coincides with the counter surface, which extends to in the dispensing position. The roller is rotatably arranged about the central area of the supporting rod, which does not rotate in the dispensing position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Inventor: Hans Georg Hagleitner
  • Patent number: 10863874
    Abstract: A wall-mountable toilet wipes dispenser with integrated air freshener is disclosed providing a convenient dispenser of pre-moistened toilet wipes, while also providing an air freshener that is conveniently replenished, without taking up space on the toilet, sink, or other bathroom surface. The dispenser includes a toilet wipe dispensing compartment to contain a package of toilet wipes; an air freshener compartment to contain an air freshener cartridge; and a wall fastener adapted to attach the toilet wipe dispensing compartment to a wall. The toilet wipe dispensing compartment has a top that can be opened to permit a package of toilet wipes to be inserted, with an opening for allowing a toilet wipe to be pulled out when the top is closed. The air freshener compartment can have an opening into the toilet wipe dispensing compartment so as to accommodate a package of toilet wipes having an air freshener cartridge attached thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Inventor: Jason R. Adams
  • Patent number: 10863875
    Abstract: A sheet product dispenser for dispensing sheet product from a roll of sheet product having a sealed tail is provided. The sheet product dispenser includes a roll interface configured to engage and at least partially support the roll of sheet product, the roll interface including a separating member configured to engage and unseal the sealed tail; a feed roller assembly configured to dispense sheet product from the roll of sheet product, the feed roller assembly including a feed roller configured to engage and at least partially support the roll of sheet product; and a controller operable to initiate driving of the feed roller and rotation of the roll of sheet product such that the sealed tail is unsealed by engaging the separating member. A related method of automatically loading a roll of sheet product having a sealed tail in a sheet product dispenser also is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: GPCP IP Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Ryan Anthony Goltz, Mark Edwin Peters, Alan Joseph Johnson, Justin Matthew Oliphant, Paul James Ruthven
  • Patent number: 10863876
    Abstract: A system for collecting urine from a source, neutralizing the urine in the container with a neutralizing composition to remove or alter odor-generating compounds in the urine that might be perceived as threatening to prey, and then disposing of the neutralized urine in a convenient location proximate to the hunting area without repelling or alarming potential prey that might encounter the neutralized liquid. The neutralizing composition comprises a compound including a weak acidic or oxidizing component and a weak alkaline or base component, the combination reacting with and neutralizing odor-generating compounds and leaving the resulting neutralized urine with a relatively neutral pH value. The system further includes compounds to impart a scent or odor to the neutralized urine, including a cover scent, such as pine essence, or an attractant scent, such as doe estrous, or a repellant scent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: INVENTIVE OUTDOORS, LLC
    Inventors: Deane Owen Elliott, Louis B Johnson, Donald G. Bell
  • Patent number: 10863877
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a toilet lid device includes a casing, a toilet seat and a toilet lid rotatably supported with respect to the casing, and a first support portion and a second support portion rotatably supporting the toilet lid with respect to the casing. The casing is provided between left and right side surfaces of the casing. The casing includes first and second grooves. The first and second grooves are not exposed on the left and right side surfaces. The toilet lid includes first and second hinge portions. The first hinge portion is connected to the first support portion in the first groove, and the second hinge portion is connected to the second support portion in the second groove. Each of the left and right side surfaces of the casing does not include a step backward a rear end of the toilet seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: TOTO LTD.
    Inventors: Masayuki Mochita, Yukari Kawazu, Megumi Hirayama, Minoru Matsui
  • Patent number: 10863878
    Abstract: The improved vacuum cleaner is a recirculating type vacuum cleaner with a suction mechanism, air retrieving passageway, and dirt collecting member, that has an detachable nozzle formed as an elongated hollow hose that is attached between the exhaust port on the surface of the vacuum body and an inlet on the vacuum head. The nozzle is adapted to push air downward onto the surface to be vacuumed to dislodge dirt and particles in the surface where the air and dirt into air retrieving opening on the vacuum head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Inventor: Luke R. Royce
  • Patent number: 10863879
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for illuminating a broom or mop, the method includes providing a mount. The mount has a first adjustable rod clamp, the adjustable rod clamp having an opening sufficiently large to hold a broom or mop handle, the first adjustable rod clamp attached to a second rod clamp by an articulating joint. The articulating joint allowing at least rotation between the first rod clamp and the second rod clamp. The second rod clamp has an opening sufficiently large to hold a flashlight. The method further includes mounting the first adjustable rod clamp on a broom or mop and mounting a flashlight on the second rod clamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Inventor: Jamiel C. Cullins
  • Patent number: 10863880
    Abstract: A method for reducing auto-dosing fluctuation of a washing machine equipped with an automatic dosing device, by using a liquid detergent with a relatively low high-shear viscosity. A cleaning system including a washing machine equipped with an auto-dosing device, in combination with a liquid detergent characterized by a relative low high-shear viscosity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Ming Tang, Xiaolin Yang
  • Patent number: 10863881
    Abstract: A stand-alone dishwasher for non-plumbed, environmentally friendly dishwashing includes a washer body. A front side has a drain aperture extending through to an inner compartment of the washer body. A lid is coupled to the washer body to cover and alternatively uncover a principal aperture. A plurality of rails is coupled within the inner compartment to support a plurality of racks that is removable through the principal aperture. A floor panel is coupled to the washer body and creates a lower compartment between a bottom side of washer body and the floor panel. A heater is coupled within the lower compartment. The heater is configured to turn water within the inner compartment into steam. A plurality of controls is coupled to the lid. The plurality of controls is in operational communication with the heating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Inventor: John Young
  • Patent number: 10863882
    Abstract: An apparatus for removing moisture as liquid from moisture-laden air in an appliance is provided. The apparatus includes a body that defines a channel extending from a first position to a second position and a serpentine flow path between the first position and the second position that operates to redirect the moisture-laden air to remove the liquid from the moisture-laden air. The body includes an opening at the serpentine flow path that is closed when the apparatus is secured to the wall of the appliance. In operation, the body cooperates with the wall to cause the moisture-laden air entering the channel at the first position through an inlet opening in the wall to pass into the serpentine flow path to remove the liquid from the moisture-laden air before the liquid exits the channel at the second position through an outlet opening in the wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerry Lee Olesen, Janusz Sendor, Veronica Hope Davenport, Michael Anthony Phillips, Christopher Shaw Burch
  • Patent number: 10863883
    Abstract: A medical system includes a treatment tool including a treatment portion, a joint portion, a flexible tube portion, and a drive unit; an endoscope device including an outer sheath that holds the treatment tool and an imaging unit that is capable of acquiring an image including at least the joint portion; and a control unit that controls an operation of the treatment tool. The control unit includes a table that has a parameter for causing the joint portion to move, a controller that issues a command for controlling the drive unit based on the parameter to the drive unit, an image processing unit that calculates at least one of a position and an orientation of the joint portion based on the image, and a compensation value calculating unit that detects displacement of the joint portion, generates a compensation value, and incorporates the compensation value into the parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masatoshi Iida, Naoya Hatakeyama, Hiroshi Wakai
  • Patent number: 10863884
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a flexible tube insertion apparatus including a flexible insertion section to be inserted into a subject. The flexible tube insertion apparatus includes an insertion section state detecting device that detects a state of the insertion section necessary for insertion prediction as detection information when the insertion section is inserted into a subject, and at least one circuit that predicts, using the detection information detected by the insertion section state detecting device, a propulsion state of a distal end of the insertion section and a state of the subject when the insertion section is further inserted from the state of the insertion section, and produces an output based on the prediction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shuji Nakamura
  • Patent number: 10863885
    Abstract: An endoscope system of the present invention is provided with: a long, thin inserted portion that includes an illuminating portion that emits an illumination light beam toward an imaging subject, an image-acquisition portion that acquires an image of the imaging subject, and a channel; and an illumination device that is disposed in the channel, wherein the illumination device includes an illuminating portion that emits, toward the imaging subject, an illumination light beam that has a divergence angle that is smaller than that of the illumination light beam and for which the image-acquisition portion has sensitivity, and a pulling member that extends to outside the channel from a base end of the illuminating portion, and wherein the illuminating portion can be removed from the channel by pulling the pulling member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kosei Tamiya
  • Patent number: 10863886
    Abstract: Various rotatable shafts and linkage mechanisms configured to allow imaging and access to tissue within a body are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, an introducer system has a rotatable sheath and a linkage that can rotatably engage each other. The rotatable sheath has a distal portion extending at a non-zero angle relative to a proximal portion thereof. The linkage has an exit lumen on its distal end and a plurality of entry lumens on its proximal end. The linkage merges the plurality of entry lumens into the exit lumen, and the exit lumen is aligned with the rotatable sheath upon engagement. Fluid and/or surgical instruments can thus be passed from the plurality of entry lumens of the linkage, through the exit lumen of the linkage, and into the rotatable sheath. The linkage and the rotatable sheath can both receive an imaging device therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: UVision360, Inc.
    Inventors: Erich Dreyer, David Robinson, Allison London Brown
  • Patent number: 10863887
    Abstract: An endoscope includes a flexible tube section including coiled tubes, a motor disposed on a proximal side of the flexible tube section, a driving force transmission unit disposed on a distal side of the flexible tube section, and a drive shaft provided inside the flexible tube section along a long axis, the drive shaft being caused to perform rotation around the long axis by a driving force of the motor and to transmit the rotation of the motor to the driving force transmission unit, where torsional resistance of the flexible tube section around the long axis is set higher than torsional resistance between a relay gear of the motor and a drive gear of the driving force transmission unit through the drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Okamoto
  • Patent number: 10863888
    Abstract: An endoscope has a pannable camera at the distal end of its insertion shaft, the pannable camera assembly being pivotable to provide a range of a field of view that can be equal to or greater than 180 degrees. A terminal light emitting element may be mounted to the camera assembly in order to illuminate the immediate field of view of the camera sensor regardless of the rotational position of the camera assembly. A fluid-carrying conduit of the insertion section may also be used to house functional components, including the camera assembly, actuation cables, a communications cable connected to the camera sensor, and/or a fiberoptic cable providing light to the light emitting element. A distal section of the endoscope handle may be rotatable relative to a proximal hand-held section of the endo scope handle, a rotary encoder being provided to convert the rotational position of the insertion shaft relative to the handle into a signal for the purpose of image orientation correction by an electronic processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Kevin L. Grant, Jason A. Demers, Peter K. Vondras, Stephen L. Fichera, Timothy D. Moreau
  • Patent number: 10863889
    Abstract: Disclosed is a modular endoscope system in which a plurality of connecting pieces, tools, and cannulas which are selected according to the use thereof are assigned to a single optics. The connecting pieces and the cannulas are preferably designed for single use, so that merely the optics has to be decontaminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Polydiagnost Entwicklungs—, Produktions—, Vertriebs—, Und Service GmbH
    Inventor: Hansgeorg Schaaf
  • Patent number: 10863890
    Abstract: A combination aspiration/irrigation and illumination device using optical fibers circumferentially disposed around the aspiration conduit for transmitting illuminating light to a cavity to be aspirated. The aspiration conduit having a tip that is detachably affixed to and end of the aspiration conduit. The optical fibers terminated at a distance (d) from a distal end of the tip. Also provided is an image fiber(s) for transmitting image data from the distal end of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Inventor: Jonas V. Lieponis
  • Patent number: 10863891
    Abstract: A signal processing device includes: a connection detector that detects whether an endoscope including one or more operation members is connected; an input unit to which an operation state signal is input from an external input device including one or more buttons that correspond to the one or more operation members included in the endoscope when the endoscope is not connected; and an operation execution unit that executes an operation according to the operation state signal that is input to the input unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yugo Koizumi, Mai Ojima
  • Patent number: 10863892
    Abstract: An imaging device includes: an optical device; a movable frame configured to support and move the optical device in a predetermined direction; a supporting frame configured to support the movable frame; a voice coil motor configured to move the movable frame relative to the supporting frame in the predetermined direction; a position detecting unit configured to detect a position of the movable frame relative to the supporting frame and generate a position signal; a signal processing unit configured to generate a drive signal and determine whether the position signal is normal; an imaging device; an image processing unit; a first drive controller configured to drive the movable frame; a second drive controller configured to drive the movable frame; and a selector configured to select a drive controller that controls driving of the movable frame from the first drive controller and the second drive controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kanako Saito
  • Patent number: 10863893
    Abstract: An endoscope apparatus includes a detecting section to which an observation image of a subject is sequentially inputted, the detecting section being configured to detect a characteristic region in the observation image based on a predetermined feature value concerning the observation image, and an emphasis processing section configured to apply, when the characteristic region is continuously detected in the detecting section, emphasis processing of a position corresponding to the characteristic region to the observation image of the subject inputted after elapse of a first predetermined time period from a time when the characteristic region is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Katsuichi Imaizumi, Susumu Hashimoto, Suguru Okaniwa, Tomoya Sato, Hidekazu Iwaki
  • Patent number: 10863894
    Abstract: Embodiments of a hybrid imaging sensor and methods for pixel sub-column data read from the within a pixel array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: DePuy Synthes Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Laurent Blanquart
  • Patent number: 10863895
    Abstract: Terahertz imaging systems for endoscopy are provided. Terahertz imaging systems can be utilized in scanning tissue. Terahertz imaging systems in accordance with embodiments of the invention can include terahertz sources, terahertz detectors, and/or rotating elements. The terahertz sources can generate terahertz radiation and have plasmonic contact electrodes that can be illuminated by optical pump beams. The terahertz detectors can receive terahertz field data. The terahertz source and detector can be arranged in an array. The rotating elements can be mirror mounted at a particular angle on a micromotor. The terahertz source, rotating element, and terahertz detector can be arranged in an catheter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventor: Mona Jarrahi
  • Patent number: 10863896
    Abstract: An endoscope system includes a non-visible light source configured to emit first excitation light and second excitation light onto a target, an image sensor configured to generate an image including the target excited by at least one of the first excitation light and the second excitation light to emit fluorescence, and an output device configured to output the image. The first excitation light has a half width of not more than 10 nm and a first wavelength of a non-visible light band. The second excitation light has a half width of not more than 10 nm and a second wavelength of the non-visible light band being different from the first wavelength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC I-PRO SENSING SOLUTIONS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Naoto Matsuo, Haruhiko Kohno, Nobuhiro Tsuchihashi
  • Patent number: 10863897
    Abstract: The present technology relates to an image processing apparatus and an image processing method capable of suppressing an increase in a load on a subject and obtaining a captured image of the subject with higher image quality. An imaging unit reduces a light amount and performs imaging of the fundus of the eye so as to generate a plurality of fundus images. A biological information alignment processing unit aligns fundus images by using biological information of a subject. A super-resolution processing unit superimposes an aligned input image on a previous super-resolution result image so as to generate a new super-resolution result image. The super-resolution processing unit stores or outputs the super-resolution result image in a storage unit or from an output unit, and supplies the super-resolution result image to a super-resolution result image buffer so as to be stored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuki Aisaka, Seiji Kobayashi, Takuya Kishimoto, Tomoyuki Ootsuki
  • Patent number: 10863898
    Abstract: A process for assessing at least one characteristic of a user's vision includes determining a characteristic of at least one camera of a mobile device; using the at least one camera, capturing at least one image of an object; determining, with reference to a portion of the at least one image composed of the object, a distance from the mobile device to the object at a time of capture of the at least one image; and receiving input from the user in response to material presented on the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: JAND, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Carrafa, Molly Rhodes
  • Patent number: 10863899
    Abstract: Systems and methods for locating the center of a lens in the eye are provided. These systems and methods can be used to improve the effectiveness of a wide variety of different ophthalmic procedures. In one embodiment, a system and method is provided for determining the center of eye lens by illuminating the eye with a set of light sources, and measuring the resulting first image of the light sources reflected from an anterior surface of the lens and the resulting second image of the light sources reflected from a posterior surface of the lens. The location of the center of the lens of the eye is then determined using the measurements. In one embodiment, the center of the lens is determined by interpolating between the measures of the images. Such a determination provides an accurate location of the geometric center of the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: AMO Development, LLC
    Inventors: Zsolt Bor, Anthony Dennison, Michael Campos, Peter Patrick De Guzman
  • Patent number: 10863900
    Abstract: There are included an acquiring unit configured to acquire a parameter regarding capturing of a first tomographic image of an eye to be examined, an acquiring unit configured to acquire a parameter regarding capturing of a second tomographic image of the eye to be examined, wherein capturing of the second tomographic image is being performed after capturing of the first tomographic image, and a warning unit configured to issue a warning against capturing of the second tomographic image in accordance with a comparison between the parameter regarding capturing of the first tomographic image and the parameter regarding capturing of the second tomographic image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Nobuyoshi Kishida
  • Patent number: 10863901
    Abstract: A method, a system and a computer program for determining an eyeglass prescription for an eye are disclosed. Initially, information about a measurement indicative of the refractive properties of the eye is received. Subsequently, a mathematical representation of wavefront aberrations of the eye is determined from the measurement. The mathematical representation includes a multitude of polynomials, each polynomial having an azimuthal order and a radial order. Further, the mathematical representation includes at least a first polynomial group having a common radial order, wherein the common radial order is higher than two. The eyeglass prescription is determined based on a merit function, wherein each polynomial of the first polynomial group that is used in the merit function has an azimuthal order of ?2, 0, or 2, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Vision International GmbH
    Inventor: Ray Steven Spratt
  • Patent number: 10863902
    Abstract: A method for assessing glaucoma in a patient may involve measuring an intraocular pressure of the patient and measuring an intracranial pressure in the patient, using a noninvasive eye tracking system. The method may then involve comparing the intraocular pressure to the intracranial pressure and assessing glaucoma in the patient, based on the comparing of the intraocular pressure to the intracranial pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: OCULOGICA INC.
    Inventors: Rosina Samadani, Thomas A. Castillo
  • Patent number: 10863903
    Abstract: A system and method for remotely monitoring Inter Ocular Pressure (IOP) is disclosed. The system and method verify proper operation of glaucoma drainage, measure and potentially affect Intra-Ocular Pressure (IOP), and facilitate remote disease management of e.g. glaucoma, among other ocular diseases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: ADVANCED OPHTHALMICS LLC
    Inventors: John Naber, Doug Jackson, Rich Eiferman
  • Patent number: 10863904
    Abstract: The invention relates to a recording device (10) comprising a scan head carrier (18) for moving the scan head (20) across a scan area (42) of a cavity, the scan area (42) extending around the scan head (20). A flat or film-like, elastically stretchable material extends between the scan head (20) and the scan area (42), which material can be pressed against the scan area (42) in a balloon (12)-type manner using overpressure. The scan head guide (18) passes through the balloon outlet (16) of the balloon (12) towards the scan head (20). In particular, a control device (44) determines the shape of the cavity (40) against which the material is pressed, from deformation of the material when applying said overpressure. A second extraoral scanning head (43) scans deformations during pressurization of the film-like material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Ivoclar Vivadent AG
    Inventors: Gottfried Rohner, Ronny Watzke, Theresa Senti, Antonio Ferilli
  • Patent number: 10863905
    Abstract: The invention relates to an OCT system comprising an OCT light source, an OCT evaluation unit, a first OCT light guide, a second OCT light guide and a changeover module. The light from the OCT light source passes through the changeover module. In a first state of the changeover module, the OCT light is passed to an entry end of the first OCT light guide. In a second state of the changeover module, the OCT light is passed to an entry end of the second OCT light guide. A scanning device assigned to the first OCT light guide is arranged between the changeover module and the object plane. The OCT system according to the invention can be used in a flexible manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: OptoMedical Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Marc Krug, Eva Lankenau
  • Patent number: 10863906
    Abstract: A sensor for physiology sensing may be configured to generate oscillation signals for emitting radio frequency pulses for range gated sensing. The sensor may include a radio frequency transmitter configured to emit the pulses and a receiver configured to receive reflected ones of the emitted radio frequency pulses. The received pulses may be processed to detect physiology characteristics such as motion, sleep, respiration and/or heartbeat. In some embodiments, the sensor may employ a circuit including a pulse generator configured to generate signal pulses. The circuit may also include a dielectric resonator oscillator configured to generate a radio frequency oscillating signal. A switched oscillation circuit may be coupled to the pulse generator and the dielectric resonator oscillator. The switched circuit may be configured to generate a pulsed radio frequency oscillating signal for emitting the radio frequency pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Inventors: Stephen McMahon, Michael Wren, Spencer Terry Wood, Kieran Conway, Conor Heneghan
  • Patent number: 10863907
    Abstract: A method for estimating blood pressure (BP) values comprises: measuring at a first PTT value, a second PTT value, and further PTTref values using a method comprising measuring a first arterial pressure pulse arrival time (PAT) and measuring a second PAT value; calculating a PTT value from the difference between the first PAT value and the second PAT value; processing a sequence of electrical impedance tomography (EIT) images to identify at least one region of interest (ROI); and estimating at least one of the first and second PAT value from the variation of impedance value determined from the at least one ROI. The method allows for the non-invasive and continuous determination of the PB values by using a calibration factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: CSEM CENTRE SUISSE D'ELECTRONIQUE ET DE MICROTECHNIQUE SA—RECHERCHE ET DÉVELOPPEMENT
    Inventors: Josep Sola i Caros, Josef X. Brunner, Damien Ferrario, Andrew Adler, Martin Proenca
  • Patent number: 10863908
    Abstract: A sensor includes a structure body including a deforming portion, and a first sensing element provided at the deforming portion. The first sensing element includes first to fourth magnetic layers and a first intermediate layer. The first magnetic layer is provided between the second and third magnetic layers. The fourth magnetic layer is provided between the first and third magnetic layers. The first intermediate layer is provided between the second and first magnetic layers. The third magnetic layer includes at least one of a first material or a second material. The first material includes at least one selected from the group consisting of Ir—Mn, Pt—Mn, Pd—Pt—Mn, and Ru—Rh—Mn. The second material includes at least one of CoPt, (CoxPt100-x)100-yCry, or FePt. A crystallinity of at least a portion of the fourth magnetic layer is higher than a crystallinity of the first magnetic layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kazuaki Okamoto, Yoshihiko Fuji, Yoshihiro Higashi, Shotaro Baba, Michiko Hara