Optical Viewfinder Patents (Class 348/341)
  • Patent number: 11940612
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a viewing optic. In one embodiment, the disclosure relates to a viewing optic having an integrated display system. In one embodiment, the disclosure relates to a viewing optic having an integrated display system for generating images that are projected into the first focal plane of an optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: SHELTERED WINGS, INC.
    Inventors: Calen Havens, Will Lowry, Ian Klemm, Samuel Hamilton, Garrison Bollig, Craig Schultz, Andrew Carlson, Jason Lyle, David M. Hamilton
  • Patent number: 11619807
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a viewing optic. In one embodiment, the disclosure relates to a viewing optic having an integrated display system. In one embodiment, the disclosure relates to a viewing optic having an integrated display system for generating images that are projected into the first focal plane of an optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: SHELTERED WINGS, INC.
    Inventors: Calen Havens, Will Lowry, Ian Klemm, Samuel Hamilton, Garrison Bollig, Craig Schultz, Andrew Carlson, Jason Lyle, David M. Hamilton
  • Patent number: 11480781
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a viewing optic. In one embodiment, the disclosure relates to a viewing optic having an integrated display system. In one embodiment, the disclosure relates to a viewing optic having an integrated display system for generating images that are projected into the first focal plane of an optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: SHELTERED WINGS, INC.
    Inventors: Samuel Hamilton, Calen Havens, Ian Klemm, David M. Hamilton, Will Lowry, Garrison Bollig, Craig Schultz, Andrew Carlson
  • Patent number: 11302045
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprises an image obtaining unit that obtains a captured image, an information obtaining unit that obtains analysis data recorded in correspondence with the captured image and including flag information indicating whether an object present in the captured image is a masking target, a detecting unit that detects objects from the captured image, and a mask processing unit that generates an image in which an object, among the objects detected from the captured image, which is indicated as the masking target by the flag information, is masked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kan Ito
  • Patent number: 11175564
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes an electronic viewfinder unit configured to move between a stored state stored in a main body and a projecting state projecting from the main body, wherein the electronic viewfinder unit is held to be able to turn in the projecting state and is held not to be able to turn in the stored state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keita Iwai, Ryoji Okuno, Hidetoshi Kei, Jiro Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 10893174
    Abstract: Provided are a camera, a system for remote viewing and talking, and its application. The camera includes a camera shielding case, a holder, and a cloud deck shielding case, the holder is a hollow structure, and a cavity of the camera shielding case is communicated with a cavity of the cloud deck shielding case through the holder with the hollow structure; a lens, a camera mainboard, an optical fiber transceiver, and a first filter are arranged in the camera shielding case; the camera shielding case is further provided with a power line hole and an optical fiber interface; the optical fiber transceiver is connected with the optical fiber interface through an optical fiber; output ends of the first filter are connected with the camera mainboard and the optical fiber transceiver respectively to supply power to the camera mainboard and the optical fiber transceiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: GUANGZHOU CHANGEN ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
    Inventors: Nan Li, Jun Li
  • Patent number: 10871704
    Abstract: A gimbal for carrying an imaging device includes a support frame and a center of gravity adjusting unit arranged at the support frame. The center of gravity adjusting unit is configured to adjust a center of gravity of the support frame by moving one part of the support frame relative to another part of the support frame. The center of gravity adjusting unit includes a threaded rod. One end of the threaded rod is provided with a rotating handle or a driving motor configured to drive the threaded rod to rotate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: SZ DJI OSMO TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Li Zhou, Yanchong Zhao
  • Patent number: 10732491
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus that suppresses looseness of an accessory fastened to a fastening portion of an apparatus body. An image pickup apparatus includes an accessory that includes a pair of fastening members, and an apparatus body including two fastening portions to which the accessory is removably fastened using the pair of fastening members. The accessory is provided with a second fitting portion which is fitted to one of first fitting portions formed around the fastening portions, by protrusion-recess fitting, in a state in which the accessory is fastened to the fastening portions of the apparatus body using the fastening members. One of the first fitting portion and the second fitting portion is formed by two fitting portions provided in association with the fastening members, and the other is formed by at least one fitting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Norikazu Hirota, Kouichi Shigeta
  • Patent number: 10572861
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a maintenance support method is performed by a wearable device including a first camera and a second camera, and an information processing apparatus. The method includes causing the wearable device to detect identification information of a maintenance target position from a first image shot by the first camera and transmit the identification information and a second image shot by the second camera to the information processing apparatus in correspondence with the detection of the identification information. The method includes causing the information processing apparatus to determine, based on the second image, a situation of a user who wears the wearable device, and record the situation of the user in association with the identification information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Shinya Mihara, Ayaka Nakanishi
  • Patent number: 10410365
    Abstract: An apparatus, system and process for utilizing dual complementary pattern illumination of a scene when performing depth reconstruction of the scene are described. The method may include projecting a first reference image and a complementary second reference image on a scene, and capturing first image data and second image data including the first reference image and the complementary second reference image on the scene. The method may also include identifying features of the first reference image from features of the complementary second reference image. Furthermore, the method may include performing three dimensional (3D) scene reconstruction for image data captured by the imaging device based on the identified features in the first reference image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Verily Life Sciences LLC
    Inventors: Vidya Ganapati, Eden Rephaeli
  • Patent number: 10401706
    Abstract: To provide a digital camera that allows an imaged image to be easily checked by peeking through an electronic view finder regardless of the vertical and horizontal orientation of the digital camera when taking a photograph from a low angle. A digital camera 1 includes a camera main body 2 with an imaging lens 2a, and an electronic view finder 3 that allows a user to observe the image imaged by the imaging lens 2a. The electronic view finder 3 includes an image display part 4 that displays the imaged image, a pivot bracket 5 that supports the image display part 4 so as to be rotatable about an axis A, and a fixed bracket 6 that couples the camera main body 2 and the pivot bracket 5, and that supports the pivot bracket 5 so as to be rotatable about an axis B.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Inventor: Minoru Inaba
  • Patent number: 10230899
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus for intermittently acquiring first images for use in generating a time lapse moving image, from among images corresponding to frames included in a moving image. The image capturing apparatus includes a target value setting unit configured to, based on a result of photometry, set a target value regarding an exposure when an image is acquired, a control value calculation unit configured to calculate a control value with respect to each frame regarding the exposure when brightness is changed toward the target value, and a control unit configured to control the exposure based on the control value. In a predetermined period before each first image is acquired, the control unit changes the exposure by a first degree of change, and outside the predetermined period, the control unit changes the exposure by a second degree of change different from the first degree of change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hinako Nakamura
  • Patent number: 10217088
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a maintenance support method is performed by a wearable device including a first camera and a second camera, and an information processing apparatus. The method includes causing the wearable device to detect identification information of a maintenance target position from a first image shot by the first camera and transmit the identification information and a second image shot by the second camera to the information processing apparatus in correspondence with the detection of the identification information. The method includes causing the information processing apparatus to determine, based on the second image, a situation of a user who wears the wearable device, and record the situation of the user in association with the identification information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Shinya Mihara, Ayaka Nakanishi
  • Patent number: 10073326
    Abstract: A gimbal comprises a first support frame, a second support frame, a third support frame, and a support assembly. The first support frame comprises two first-frame pillars, two guiding posts, and two clamping devices. The two guiding posts are movable along a longitudinal direction of the first-frame pillars through the clamping devices. The support assembly comprises two adaptors slidably arranged on the guiding posts. The third support frame comprises a third-frame pillar and a connecting plate. The gimbal further comprises at least one center of gravity adjusting unit which is arranged at least on the first-frame pillar, between the two clamping devices, or in the connecting plate. The at least one center of gravity adjusting unit is configured to at least adjust positions of the guiding posts on the first-frame pillars, positions of the adaptors on the guiding posts, or a position of the third-frame pillar on the connecting plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: SZ DJI OSMO TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Li Zhou, Yanchong Zhao
  • Patent number: 10057463
    Abstract: Disclosed are a mobile terminal having an image capturing function, and a method of controlling the same. The mobile terminal includes a body; a sensing unit configured to sense a motion of the body; a camera formed to be relatively-rotatable with respect to the body, based on the sensed motion; a display unit configured to output an image input through the camera; and a controller configured to relatively-rotate the camera with respect to the body in a moving direction of the body when a motion of the body is sensed, such that an image of a place corresponding to a predicted moving path of the body based on the motion of the body is output, wherein an image input through the relatively-rotated camera is output to the display unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Yoongeun Kwon
  • Patent number: 9958320
    Abstract: The apparatus for selectively transmitting the spectrum of electromagnetic radiation within a predefined wavelength range is provided with a carrier (115), a pinhole diaphragm which is arranged above the carrier (115) and is made of a material that is substantially impermeable to the radiation of interest, wherein the pinhole diaphragm has at least one radiation passage opening with a size for allowing through radiation at a wavelength which is less than or equal to a predefinable upper limit wavelength, and an electrically insulating and optically transparent dielectric layer (103) which is formed on the carrier (115) inside the radiation passage opening and extends, in a manner adjoining the radiation passage opening, between the carrier (115) and at least one section below the pinhole diaphragm. The dielectric layer (103) has a thickness which is less than or equal to half a predefinable lower limit wavelength which is less than the upper limit wavelength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Elmos Semiconductor AG
    Inventors: Bernd Burchard, Frank Kleinschmidt, Jesco Möller
  • Patent number: 9948851
    Abstract: A phase difference AF processing unit (19) connects detection signals of phase difference detection pixels (52A) in an AF area (53), connects detection signals of phase difference detection pixels (52B) in the AF area (53), and performs a correlation operation with respect to detection signal groups after connection to generate a defocus amount when it is determined that a subject image formed in the AF area (53) includes a high frequency component. The phase difference AF processing unit (19) performs a correlation operation with respect to detection signal groups of phase difference detection pixels (52A, 52B) in each pair line in the AF area (53) to generate the defocus amount when it is determined that the subject image formed in the AF area (53) does not include a high frequency component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Aoki, Yasuo Ohtsuki
  • Patent number: 9395605
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus reduced in the number of components without impairing the operability of an unlocking operation part and an adjacent other operation part of a grip part. A digital video camera has a camera body and a grip part rotatable with respect to the camera body. A lock member within the grip part is rotatable in unison with the grip part, and is pivotally moved between a locking position for locking the grip part and an unlocking position for unlocking the same. A spring member urges the lock member toward the locking position. An operation knob formed on the lock member pivotally moves the lock member to the unlocking position against the urging force of the spring member. A recording start/stop button is formed in the lock member adjacent to the operation knob. The knob and the button are operated in respective different directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Norikazu Hirota
  • Patent number: 9167166
    Abstract: An image display device includes a beam splitter that splits an incident light entering from a subject side, an imaging device that converts a first optical image generated by an one-side incident light split by the beam splitter into an electrical signal and outputs the converted electrical signal as a capture image, a synthesis image generating unit that generates an electronic information image, a display panel that displays the electronic information image, and an optical prism that emits an optical image of the electronic information image projected from the display panel to be superimposed on a second optical image generated by the other-side split incident light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Oshima, Shigeru Kondou, Takashi Aoki, Kazuki Inoue, Daisuke Hayashi, Takeshi Misawa, Atsushi Misawa
  • Patent number: 9071747
    Abstract: A digital camera of the present invention includes a receiving portion 155 that receives a control signal from a remote controller, and a microcomputer 110 having a live view mode controlling so that image data generated by a CMOS sensor 130 or image data obtained by subjecting the image data generated by the CMOS sensor 130 to predetermined processing is displayed on a liquid crystal monitor 150 as a moving image in real time, wherein when the receiving portion 155 receives the control signal from the remote controller, the microcomputer 110 controls so as to shift the digital camera to a live view mode. Due to this configuration, in a digital camera that includes a movable mirror and is capable of displaying a subject image in a live view through an electronic viewfinder, the operability thereof can be enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ueda, Kenichi Honjo, Naoto Yumiki, Toshio Makabe, Kenji Maeda, Kaoru Mokunaka, Kazuhiko Ishimaru
  • Patent number: 9030590
    Abstract: A photographing apparatus includes: a lens unit; a light transmission adjustment unit that adjusts light transmittance of light that passes through the lens unit; a photographing unit that is disposed a reflected light path of the light transmission adjustment unit and that generates an image data according to received light, and a view finder that is disposed on a transmitted light path of the light transmission unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang-tae Kim, Dae-myung Kim, Toshikazu Takayanagi, Jong-hoon Lim
  • Patent number: 8970758
    Abstract: An image pickup device is provided, capable of complete correction with data of once analog-to-digital conversion, and prevention of excess use of switches and analog devices and/or erroneous correction, including: an image sensor having a plurality of analog-to-digital converters determining conversion results from a digital signal of higher order bit through separate steps of two or more times; a first correction unit which has a correction factor for correcting nonlinear errors of the plurality of analog-to-digital converters so as to adapt to the analog-to-digital converters and corrects a nonlinear error of a digital signal output from respective analog-to-digital converters based on a correction factor corresponding to respective analog-to-digital converters, characterized in that the first correction unit corrects the nonlinear errors after converting the digital signals from the plurality of analog-to-digital converters into a serial output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuichiro Yamashita
  • Patent number: 8964097
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes: a photographing optical system; an image capturing element; and a viewfinder device, in which the viewfinder device includes at least one variable magnification lens that may be inserted on and removed from an optical path of the viewfinder device, and a drive mechanism configured to drive the variable magnification lens, in which the image capturing apparatus further includes: a variable magnification lens control unit configured to supply a drive signal to the drive mechanism so as to control the insertion and removal of the variable magnification lens on and from the optical path, and perform a high-speed control to move the variable magnification lens through a maximum moving distance for a first time, and a low-speed control to move the variable magnification lens through the maximum moving distance for a second time that is longer than the first time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Shogo Fumino, Tadashi Jogetsu, Kouhei Awazu
  • Publication number: 20150049236
    Abstract: A view finder device includes a main body including a via hole, through which light of a subject transmits; and a transparent display formed of a transparent material that transmits the light, and disposed on an optical path of the light that has been transmitted through the via hole in order to transmit the light or to display images that overlap with the light transmitting the via hole when a signal is applied to the transparent display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventors: Sang-tae Kim, Lae-kyoung Kim
  • Patent number: 8953935
    Abstract: In an illumination arrangement (1) for an image field delimiting frame (2) of a mixed-image viewfinder camera having an observation beam path (9) and a viewfinder beam path (3), the illumination arrangement is arranged in the viewfinder beam path (3) in the direction of light upstream of the image field delimiting frame (2), the illumination is formed by an active light source (14, 14?) and the viewfinder beam path (3) is mechanically delimited (16, 22) within the illumination apparatus (1) with respect to the light source (14, 14?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Leica Camera AG
    Inventor: Horst Stieger
  • Patent number: 8947576
    Abstract: An optical viewfinder to observe an object image focused as a primary image by an objective lens includes a first display unit of self-luminous type and a second display unit of non-self-luminous type. The first display unit is arranged at a position closer to a primary image plane of the objective lens than the second display unit in a direction of an optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Irie
  • Patent number: 8922697
    Abstract: Provided are a polarization beam splitter 69 disposed between a subject side finder window 16 and a photographer side observation window 17 and disposed to be obliquely inclined at 45 degrees with respect to an optical axis L of an incident light from the subject side finder window 16, a polarizing filter installed at the incident light entering side of the polarization beam splitter 69 and configured to reflect or cut the s-polarized wave of the incident light; and a display device 61 configured to project a display information of the s-polarized wave on the polarization beam splitter 69 and project the display information reflected from the polarization beam splitter 69 in a direction of the photographer side observation window 17.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Yukitaka Takeshita
  • Publication number: 20140313393
    Abstract: Provided is an image processing apparatus including: a focused area judgment unit configured to judge a focused area in target image data; a distribution information generation unit configured to generate distribution information of an edge evaluation value with the focused area judged by the focused area judgment unit as a target; a threshold value setting unit configured to variably set a threshold value used for judging an emphasis display portion using the distribution information generated by the distribution information generation unit; and a display data generation unit configured to select an emphasis display portion in the image data using the threshold value set by the threshold value setting unit and generate display data for displaying the selected portion with emphasis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: MASAYA KINOSHITA, AKIRA SASSA
  • Publication number: 20140300796
    Abstract: A camera apparatus includes: a camera main body having a single plate type imaging section; and a handle mounting section for mounting a handle on an upper portion of the camera main body, wherein a lens for a three-plate type imaging section can be mounted on a lens mount section of a front portion of the camera main body via a mount adapter, and the handle mounting section mounts the handle on the upper portion of the camera main body so as to be able to move in a front-back direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshimasa Sakishita, Yuki Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20140240583
    Abstract: A finder optical system includes an erecting optical system, an eyepiece optical system, and a light metering optical system. An optical axis of the light metering optical system is non-parallel to an optical axis of the eyepiece optical system. The light metering optical system includes a first lens having positive refractive power and a second lens having negative refractive power in this order from a side of the erecting optical system to a side of an image sensor, and the second lens is a prism body reflecting a light flux incoming from an incident surface off an inner reflection surface and outputting the light flux from a light outputting surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yuichi Kosaka
  • Publication number: 20140184879
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an auto focus control apparatus and a continuous auto focus control method. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, an auto focus control apparatus including: a focal value calculation unit for calculating a focal value from a signal of an image frame; a focus lens driving unit for moving a focus lens to a desired position; and a control unit for determining position movement of a subject based on the focal value calculated by the focal value calculation unit, executing pre-scan according to the movement of the focus lens by controlling the focus lens driving unit to move the focus lens at set frame intervals when the position of the subject is moved, and skipping a lens moving frame corresponding to the time when the focus lens moves during the pre-scan is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jong Gi KIM, Young Jin KIM
  • Patent number: 8760556
    Abstract: An image capture apparatus includes a variable translucency mirror, a viewfinder unit configured to receive light reflected by the variable translucency mirror, an imaging sensor configured to receive light transmitted through the variable translucency mirror, an image display unit configured to display an image based on the light received by the imaging sensor, and a controller configured to set a translucency of the variable translucency mirror. In a viewfinder mode, the controller sets the variable translucency mirror to be at least partially reflective such that light incident on the variable translucency mirror is reflected thereby and received by the viewfinder unit. In a display view mode, the controller sets the variable translucency mirror to be at least partially transparent, such that light incident on the variable translucency mirror is transmitted therethrough and received by the imaging sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Andy Lai Lin
  • Publication number: 20140168499
    Abstract: An optical device for forming an image of an object, comprising: a semitransparent mirror surface disposed on an optical path of the image of the object; and a light projection unit configured to project light to the semitransparent mirror surface and thereby to combine, on the optical path, the projected light transmitting through the semitransparent mirror surface with the image of the object reflecting from the semitransparent mirror surface, wherein: a first wavelength region is defined in a visible light region to include a wavelength of the projected light; the semitransparent mirror surface has a substantially flat reflectance property within a second wavelength region which is defined in the visible light region not to include the first wavelength region; and transmissivity of the semitransparent mirror surface at the wavelength of the projected light is higher by 10% to 50% than transmissivity in the second wavelength region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: RICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Naohito Sasaki, Isamu Hirai
  • Patent number: 8718464
    Abstract: The view finder includes an observation optical system for enlarged observation of information displayed on a display section. The observation optical system includes an optical path bending member for bending the optical path. The view finder is configured such that an angle formed between a principal ray of a maximum angle of view and the display section is in the range of 90±5 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Hitoshi Miyano
  • Patent number: 8704905
    Abstract: A camera body including a mirror controller configured to retract the reflecting mirror out of the optical path of the optical system when the reflecting mirror is in the first state of being in the optical path of the optical system and the moving picture photography mode is selected, in the still picture photography mode. The image recording controller is configured to perform the autofocusing operation by contrast method and make the recorder to record moving images depending on an instruction of the moving picture photography when the moving picture photography mode is selected and the mirror controller retracts the reflecting mirror out of the optical path of the optical system, in the still picture photography mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Naoto Yumiki
  • Patent number: 8683024
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a remote network management system for coupling a series of remote serial devices, servers, and computers to one or more user workstations allowing for selective access of the remote devices. The remote serial devices, servers, and computers are all connected to a remote management unit which interfaces the user workstations to the remote devices. The power supply of each remote device is also connected to the remote management unit through a controllable power supply. The video from the remote networking equipment is digitized and optimized by an LCD controller located within the remote management unit before it is compressed for transmission. An option menu containing a menu of all the remote devices allows a user to select and operate any of the remote devices. The option menu is also utilizes to selectively control the power to the remote serial devices, servers, and computers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: RIIP, Inc.
    Inventor: David Hoerl
  • Patent number: 8670061
    Abstract: There is provided a photography device including: a display control section; a guiding section; and a guiding control section that, in a state in which the optical image has been guided to the eyepiece portion and the electronic image and the composite image have not been guided to the eyepiece portion, if the photographing conditions are changed, carries out first control that controls the guiding section such that the composite image is guided to the eyepiece portion, and, if a predetermined time elapses after the first control or a predetermined operation is carried out by a user after the first control, carries out second control that controls the guiding section such that the optical image is guided to the eyepiece portion and the electronic image and the composite image are not guided to the eyepiece portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Hitoshi Sakurabu
  • Publication number: 20140028893
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are an image capturing apparatus and a method of controlling the same, by which images may be captured without direct contact with a main body of the image capturing apparatus and without purchasing and carrying an additional remote controller. The method of controlling the image capturing apparatus includes generating a first detection signal and a second detection signal in response to motion of an object within a detection region of an ocular sensor, controlling a focusing module to bring a subject into focus in response to the generation of the first detection signal, and controlling a shutter and an imaging device to capture an image of the subject in response to the generation of the second detection signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Inventors: Ki Oh Jung, Sang Kee Jung
  • Patent number: 8624991
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a detection unit including a plurality of pixels that are arranged in a matrix and that are divided into at least first and second pixel groups, a signal processing unit including first and second readout circuits and first and second A/D converters, a power supply unit configured to supply the components included in the signal processing unit with respective biases, and a control unit configured to control at least one of the signal processing unit and the power supply unit. The control unit is configured to perform processing of altering an analog signal capable of being input into at least one of the first and second A/D converters or altering an A/D conversion characteristic of at least one of the first and second A/D converters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshio Kameshima, Tadao Endo, Tomoyuki Yagi, Katsuro Takenaka, Keigo Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 8559808
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an imaging sensor, a reticle, a focus detection unit, a spectroscopic member, and a diffusion coefficient controller. The imaging sensor is configured to receive light from a lens unit. The reticle is capable of changing a diffusion coefficient. The focus detection unit is configured to detect a focus state of an imaging surface based on a signal from the imaging sensor. The spectroscopic member is configured to split the light from the lens unit to the reticle and the focus detection unit. The diffusion coefficient controller is configured to change the diffusion coefficient of the reticle. The diffusion coefficient controller controls a diffusion coefficient of a portion of the reticle corresponding to a defocus range to be higher than a diffusion coefficient of a portion of the reticle corresponding to a focusing range according to the focus state detected by the focus detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Haruhisa Ueda
  • Patent number: 8542305
    Abstract: A control unit controls brightness of a liquid crystal display unit such that the brightness becomes darker as a distance between an electronic view finder and an operator measured by a distance measuring sensor becomes shorter. With this structure, even if the operator takes his or her eye off from the electronic view finder, the liquid crystal display unit is not switched from an OFF state to an ON state. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the brightness of the liquid crystal display unit from becoming burdensome to an operator when the eye of the operator approaches the electronic view finder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenji Iwamoto
  • Patent number: 8531582
    Abstract: Light transmitted through the imaging lens 100 is divided into two light fluxes by the half mirror 202 fixed in the camera body 200, and two light fluxes are guided to the imaging element 201 and optical viewfinder, respectively. An image processing unit corrects aberration, which occurs due to the transmittance of light through the half mirror 202, of the image data generated after receiving light at the imaging element 201, by conversion processing based on a transfer function representing its optical transfer characteristics and restores the image data prior to the occurrence of aberration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Izumi, Ryo Yamasaki, Makoto Oikawa
  • Patent number: 8503875
    Abstract: A fluidic viewfinder device may include a support member having an opening forming an aperture and a fluidic lens disposed at least partially in communication with the aperture and support member. The fluidic lens may comprise a first optical surface and a second optical surface, one or more of which includes an elastic membrane. A fluid may be enclosed in at least a portion of the fluidic lens. The optical properties of the fluidic lens may be changed by displacement of the fluid, e.g., due to movement of a slide member or a rotating yoke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Holochip Corporation
    Inventors: Andrei Szilagyi, Robert G. Batchko
  • Patent number: 8482647
    Abstract: A CMOS image sensor includes: a plurality of CDS/PGAs (correlating double sampling/programmable gain amplifiers) for processing output signals of pixels corresponding to same colors on different paths; and an offset difference removing part for removing offset difference that occurs when the same color signals are processed on the different paths, wherein the offset difference removing part includes: a dummy pixel array where light is shielded; a unit for reading signals of the dummy pixel array through the CDS/PGAs and storing average offset values for each path; and a signal synthesizing unit for synthesizing the average offset values and signals of an effective pixel array, which are read through the respective CDS/PGAs, and outputting signals of which offset difference is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Intellectual Ventures II LLC
    Inventors: Nam-Ryeol Kim, Song-Yl Kim, Chang-Min Bae, Hack-Soo Oh
  • Patent number: 8482652
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to imaging device, systems, and methods for collecting optical data for use with spectrometers. An imaging device configured in accordance with one aspect of the disclosure includes a lens configured to introduce light into the imaging device along an optical path, and an image sensor spaced apart from the lens and configured to receive at least a portion of the light along the optical path. The imaging device further includes a filter assembly positioned between the lens and the image sensor, and a reflector or mirror carried by the filter assembly. The filter assembly is configured to move the reflector between first and second positions. In the first position the reflector is at least partially aligned with the optical path and reflects at least a portion of the light to a corresponding light input for a spectrometer. In the second position the reflector is positioned outside of the optical path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Radiant Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Kreysar, Ronald F. Rykowski, Richard E. Albrecht
  • Patent number: 8393805
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes a shutter spring which urges a shutter drive member for driving shutter blades, a shutter charge unit which is used to charge the shutter spring, and is switched between a fixed state in which a charge operation of the shutter spring is complete, and the shutter drive member is fixed and a released state, and a drive unit which drives the shutter charge unit. When a second determination unit determines that a switching ready state of a mirror from a mirror-down state to a mirror-up state is set when a first determination unit determines that a charge operation of the shutter spring is complete, the drive unit is controlled to drive the shutter charge unit to the released state without latch the shutter charge unit in the fixed state after the charge operation of the shutter spring is complete.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Kosaka
  • Patent number: 8390727
    Abstract: An optical unit (1) includes a first attachment/detachment portion (2) to which an imaging optical system (31) is detachably attached, an optical path division means (3), a finder optical system (6), and a second attachment/detachment portion (4). An imaging unit includes a third attachment/detachment portion (11) disposed at a position corresponding to the second attachment/detachment portion (4) and an imaging element (12, 12?). An imaging body (20, 20?) includes the optical unit (1) and imaging unit (10, 10?) which are detachably attached to each other through the second and third attachment/detachment portions (4) and (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Toshifumi Nakano, Tatsuya Suzuki, Hisashi Goto
  • Patent number: 8385736
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: optical finder means for introducing subject light having passed through an image capturing optical system onto a predetermined mirror at a first angle and guiding light reflected off the predetermined mirror to a finder window; a liquid crystal display disposed in an optical path of the subject light in the optical finder means; and illumination means for illuminating the liquid crystal display with light having a predetermined wavelength, wherein scattered light produced in the liquid crystal display illuminated with the light from the illumination means is incident on the predetermined mirror at a second angle, the finder window is disposed in a path of the scattered light reflected off the predetermined mirror, and the predetermined mirror has reflection characteristics in which spectral reflectance associated with the predetermined wavelength of the light incident at the second angle is lower than the spectral reflectance associated with the predetermined wavelength of the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Ichiro Tsujimura, Takahiro Atsuta
  • Patent number: 8368769
    Abstract: A camera body includes an imaging unit, a reflecting mirror, a determination unit, and a mirror controller. The imaging unit is configured to convert the optical image into an image signal and acquires an image of the subject. The reflecting mirror has a first state of being in the optical path of the optical system and a second state of being outside the optical path. The mirror controller is configured to retract the reflecting mirror to outside the optical path of the optical system when the reflecting mirror is in the first state of being in the optical path of the optical system and a moving picture photography mode is selected, which is a mode for capturing moving pictures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Naoto Yumiki
  • Patent number: 8345147
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus that can decrease the probability of an image in which a main subject is not in focus being captured is provided. An image pickup apparatus 1A includes two image pickup devices 5 and 7 that capture an image relating to a subject image made incident through an image capturing lens, a main subject detecting unit 122 that detects a main subject in the captured image, a phase difference AF control unit 121 that performs focus control on the basis of a phase difference detection signal acquired from a ranging area set in an imaging area, a determination unit 123 that determines whether the main subject is present in the ranging area, and a warning control unit 126 that, if the determination unit 123 determines that the main subject is not present in the ranging area, performs predetermined control for preventing a state in which the main subject is not in focus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Kishimoto, Hisamo Sogawa