Lens Cover Patents (Class 396/448)
  • Patent number: 11937012
    Abstract: To reduce increased consumption of the recording capacity of a recording medium to record generated image data, an imaging device includes an imaging element and an image processor that receive subject light through an opening in a housing and generate image data, a recording controller that records the image data generated by the imaging processor onto a memory card, a lens cover movable to a position at which the lens cover covers the opening to restrict the subject light from entering the imaging element, and a determiner that detects a position of the lens cover based on the image data generated by the imaging processor and determines whether the lens cover covers the opening. The recording controller stops recording the image data onto the memory card when the determiner determines that the lens cover covers the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: NIDEC COPAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryuzo Nakano, Taizo Takiguchi
  • Patent number: 11854134
    Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods for using electronic diffusers to implement message indicators are described. A segment of a diffuser attached to an electronic device is configured to indicate an informational message in response to signals that result in a change to an optical property. A set of information to be displayed using the segment is determined, and a signal is transmitted to the segment to display the information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Joel S. Armstrong-Muntner
  • Patent number: 11843864
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes a fixation unit, a panning unit that has an opening and is configured to rotate in a pan direction relative to the fixation unit, and a lens unit configured to move within the opening in the pan direction and thereby rotate in the pan direction relative to the panning unit. The lens unit rotates in the pan direction at least 360 degrees relative to the fixation unit due to the panning unit rotating in the pan direction relative to the fixation unit and the lens unit rotating in the pan direction relative to the panning unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Ide
  • Patent number: 11733588
    Abstract: A light pass aperture module, in order along a central axis, includes a blade assembly and a cap. The blade assembly includes a plurality of blades. The blades form a light pass aperture, and the light pass aperture is variable in size with the central axis as a center. The cap covers the blade assembly. The cap has a through hole, and the through hole is disposed corresponding to the light pass aperture. The cap includes a surface level down structure. The surface level down structure is disposed corresponding to one of the blades, and the surface level down structure is closer to the one blade than the through hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: LARGAN PRECISION CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hao Jan Chen, Yu Chen Lai
  • Patent number: 11728628
    Abstract: A shutter mechanism for a camera of an electronic device can include a slider mechanism that enables the shutter mechanism to operate between an open state in which a lens of the camera is exposed and a closed state that blocks the lens of the camera. The slider mechanism comprises a one or more slider appendages that operate the shutter mechanism between the open state and the closed state. Each of the one or more slider appendages slide along a horizontal axis in relation to a horizontal axis corresponding to the lens of the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Brilliant Home Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron T. Emigh, Steven Stanek
  • Patent number: 11709367
    Abstract: Systems and devices for controlling camera privacy in wearable devices are described. A camera cover can be provided that is movable between a closed position and an open position. In the closed position, the camera cover can occlude a field of view of a camera, such that the camera cannot capture meaningful data. In the open position, the camera cover can be at least partially out of the field of view of the camera, such that the camera can capture meaningful data. The camera cover can be positioned within a housing of the wearable device, and an actuator can be positioned external to the housing of the wearable device. A user can move the camera cover by moving the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventors: Joshua Tiffin, Joshua Moore, Adam Carvalho
  • Patent number: 11422434
    Abstract: An electronic device is disclosed. An electronic device according to an embodiment includes a housing including a glass plate and a rear case that is combined with the glass plate to form an inner space, a bezel, disposed on at least one edge of the glass plate, including a light passage hole, a camera module disposed in the inner space in which a center of the light passage hole and an optical axis of the lens of the camera module coincide each other and a cover member for opening and closing the light passage hole, wherein the cover member includes a sliding button which includes a rack gear on a first surface and capable of performing a linearly reciprocating movement and a pinion gear that rotates according to the movement of the rack gear, and wherein the pinion gear is disposed on at least a part of the circumference at a position corresponding to the teeth meshing with the rack gear and the light passage hole and includes an open area for transmitting an incident light through the light passage hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Myoungjun Choi, Daesic Chae
  • Patent number: 11385525
    Abstract: A shielding structure includes a camera base, a shielding member, and an operating member. The camera base is provided with a lens module and a guiding rail. One end of the shielding member is provided with a shielding part, the other end of the shielding member is provided with a connecting part, and a pivot point arranged between the connecting part and the shielding part. The operating member is connected to the connecting part and configured to slide along the guiding rail. Sliding of the operating member along the guiding rail drives the connecting part of the shielding member to move so as to bring the shielding member to rotate around the pivot point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: SHENZHEN XINZENGCAI CREATIVE ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jingshui Wu
  • Patent number: 11258937
    Abstract: This application describes techniques for controlling an apparatus that includes a camera both locally and remotely. The camera apparatuses described herein may include obfuscation components that function to selectively obfuscate a view of the camera at the request of a user. For instance, one particular camera apparatus may include a lens cap and an actuator to move the lens cap from a position in which the lens cap at least partially obfuscates the view of the camera to a position in which the lens cap does not (and vice versa). The camera apparatus may include a physical control to allow a user to locally request to open or close the lens cap, and may also include a network interface to communicate with a user device, thus allowing a user to remotely request to open or close the lens cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Van Tuyl Bentley, Paul Berenberg, Emmanuel J M Laffon de Mazieres
  • Patent number: 11143936
    Abstract: Examples disclosed herein provide a cover for obscuring an opening found on a housing of a computing device. As an example, the housing includes a bezel that includes the opening extending through the bezel. The cover includes a pin disposed on a first end of the cover, wherein the pin is insertable into a hole along the bezel. The housing includes features to swivel a second end of the cover opposite the first end in either a first or second position. In the first position, the second end is to obscure a viewing portion of the opening, and in the second position, the second end is to expose the viewing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Derek Kanas, Chan-Woo Park
  • Patent number: 11079657
    Abstract: A display module including upper case, front case, blocking ribs, image-capturing opening, and blocking component is provided. The front case connects the upper case. The holding ribs are from on inner side of the upper case, and a guiding area is remained between the front case and the ribs. The image-capturing opening is formed on the front case. The blocking component is disposed on the inner side of the upper case and the front case. The blocking component has guiding part and blocking part. The guiding part is located on the guiding area. The guiding part has protrusions and compressible openings being adjacent to the ribs. Each of the compressible openings is corresponded to one of the protrusions. The protrusions exceed the guiding area. The blocking component is adjacent to the inner side of the front case and the image-capturing opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignees: Inventec (Pudong) Technology Corporation, INVENTEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yu-Cheng Chang
  • Patent number: 11032458
    Abstract: A multi-lens protection device of a mobile phone includes a protector, a multi-lens positioning plate, a first adhesive layer, an opaque printing layer, and a second adhesive layer. The multi-lens positioning plate has at least two perforations corresponding to camera lenses of the mobile phone. The first adhesive layer is attached to one side of the multi-lens positioning plate, facing the protector. The opaque printing layer is attached to one side of the protector, facing the first adhesive layer and adhered to the first adhesive layer. The second adhesive layer is attached to another side of the multi-lens positioning plate, facing away from the first adhesive layer. The perforations of the multi-lens positioning plate is quickly aligned with the camera lenses, and the protector is accurately adhered to a camera module convex body without generating air bubbles, thereby protecting the camera module convex body from scrapes or direct impacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Inventor: Chia-Hao Lin
  • Patent number: 10935872
    Abstract: A permanent camera cover is disclosed herein. The camera cover includes a base attachable to a mobile device having a camera, such as a smartphone, tablet, or laptop. The base includes an aperture to permit the camera a clear view path. A cover is engageable with the base. The cover may also have an exterior decorative covering that may be removed and/or replaced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: JTrent, LLC
    Inventors: Valerie Trent, Yuri Gallegos
  • Patent number: 10930452
    Abstract: A system includes a frame and a camera coupled to the frame. The camera includes a switch having an on position and an off position. The switch coupled to the frame wherein when the switch is in an off position a portion of the switch covers the lens and the camera is disable and when the switch is in an on position the portion of switch does not cover the lens and the camera is enabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Purism
    Inventor: Todd Weaver
  • Patent number: 10845675
    Abstract: A camera is configured for use with a removable camera lens cover, which can be secured to or removed from the camera by a user without the use of a tool set. The mechanism which allows the lens cover to be secured to and removed from the camera includes a set of wires embedded into the lens cover and a set of wedges protruding from the lens wall of the camera. To secure the lens cover to the camera, the lens cover is placed onto the front of the camera and rotated until the wires align with corresponding wedges, securing the wires underneath the tapered surface of the wedges. To remove the lens cover from the camera, a force is applied outward and normal to the lens cover, causing the wires to flex outward and enabling the rotation and removal of the lens cover from the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
    Inventors: Way Chet Lim, Andrew Liu, Margaret Birmingham Mittan, Daniel Lee Sobel
  • Patent number: 10826554
    Abstract: Provided is a mobile phone case having a hidden camera detection function. The mobile phone case includes a case body whose one surface is formed to enclose portions, except for a display of a mobile phone and having an opening formed at a position corresponding to a light emitting diode (LED) light source and a camera of the mobile phone; a detector including a red filter for passing through light of a red wavelength of a wavelength range of 600 nm to 700 nm; and an operation unit whose one end is coupled to the detector and whose the other end is protruded to the other surface of the case body and for enabling the detector to move in a vertical or horizontal direction, wherein the detector covers or opens the opening by the operating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Inventor: Hyunah Lee
  • Patent number: 10816878
    Abstract: A cover device is configured to be secured to an electronic device to obstruct the camera lens of a digital camera of the electronic device. The cover device may have a movable cover tab configured to be rotated and/or slid over the camera lens and rotated and/or slid off of the camera lens. The cover device may have adhesive such as pressure sensitive and/or electrostatic adhesive by which the cover device is secured to the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Inventor: Kameron Miller
  • Patent number: 10775685
    Abstract: A projector, comprising a housing (100) and a machine body provided inside the housing (100). A supporting piece (200) is connected to the housing (100) via a connection mechanism, and the supporting piece (200) can be converted between a first position and a second position under the limiting action of the connection mechanism. The supporting piece (200) is attached to a surface of the housing (100) at the first position, and a projection element is triggered at the same time to enable the machine body to be in a first working state. The supporting piece (200) departs from the surface of the housing (100) at the second position and drives the housing (100) to change a projection elevation thereof with respect to a horizontal plane, and the projection element is triggered at the same time to enable the machine body to be in a second working state, thereby controlling the working states of the machine body on the premise of free adjustment of a projection angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: APPOTRONICS CORPORATION LIMITED
    Inventors: Xiliang Wu, Yongzhuang Chen, Yi Deng
  • Patent number: 10768511
    Abstract: An imaging device of the present disclosure is configured that when the accessory holding unit is mounted to the imaging device main-body, the first mounting/removing movable portion and the second mounting/removing movable portion are moved to the mounted positions, the first engaging portion and the first engaged portion are engaged with each other, the second engaged portion and the second engaging portion are engaged with each other, the locking portion and the locked portion are locked to each other, and the first connection terminal and the second connection terminal are electrically connected to each other, and when an accessory component is mounted only to the first engaged portion, the first mounting/removing movable portion is moved to the mounted position, and the second mounting/removing movable portion is held at the non-mounted position to protect the second engaged portion, the locked portion, and the first connection terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Sato, Hikaru Tsuchitani
  • Patent number: 10754118
    Abstract: A lens barrel 10 comprises a first lens group frame 29, a rotating shaft 30, a plurality of barrier vanes 23a to 26b, an annular barrier sliding frame 28, and an annular stationary frame 27. The plurality of barrier vanes 23a to 26b rotate around the rotating shaft 30, and switch between an open state of exposing the surface of a first lens L1 in an imaging state, and a closed state of covering the surface of the first lens L1 in a collapsed state. The annular barrier sliding frame 28 is disposed on the subject side of the first lens group frame 29, and rotates the plurality of barrier vanes 23a to 26b upon rotating relatively around the optical axis with respect to the first lens group frame 29. The stationary frame 27 is disposed between the plurality of barrier vanes 23a to 26b and the barrier sliding frame 28 and fixed with respect to the first lens group frame 29, and supports the plurality of barrier vanes 23 a to 26b from the opposite side from the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Taku Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 10701249
    Abstract: An action camera includes an external housing and a main chip disposed inside the external housing. The action camera also includes a heat dissipation assembly configured to dissipate heat from at least one heat generating component of the action camera. The at least one heat generating component includes the main chip. The heat dissipation assembly includes a heat tube and a first heat dissipation panel. An evaporation end and a condensation end of the heat tube are both in thermal contact with the first heat dissipation panel. The condensation end of the heat tube is disposed farther away from the main chip relative to the evaporation end of the heat tube. The first heat dissipation panel is configured to be in thermal contact with the main chip and the external housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: SZ DJI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shengjia Guo, Guisheng Nong, Kunpeng Jing
  • Patent number: 10656499
    Abstract: A webcam shutter assembly includes a first sub-assembly and second sub-assembly formed independently of each other. The first sub-assembly includes a shutter for selectively covering a camera lens, and the second sub-assembly includes a manually operable actuator. The actuator is biased in a non-engaging arrangement with the shutter and is positioned to releasably engage the shutter for movement of the shutter in a lateral direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Ming-Shan Tsai
  • Patent number: 10514592
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a telescopic camera mechanism, which includes a holder having a holding cavity, a camera is placed in the holding cavity, and a top of the camera is provided with a protective cover, the holder is further equipped with a protective cover movement component and a camera telescopic component, wherein the protective cover movement component includes a rotating motor, a screw rod, and a guide plate, the screw rod is connected to a lateral face of the holding cavity, the guide plate is sleeved on the screw rod, and a top end of the guide plate is fixedly connected to the protective cover, the camera telescopic component includes a support spring strip and a poke rod, wherein the support spring strip is connected to a bottom of the camera and is fixedly connected to the holder, and the poke rod is movably connected to the holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: JRD COMMUNICATION (SHENZHEN) LTD
    Inventors: Junhui Xiao, Huilin Huang
  • Patent number: 10481633
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a camera, a camera cover configured to be movable within a range at least including a closed position where the camera cover covers the camera and an open position where the camera cover does not cover the camera, a guide part which comes into contact with the camera cover and guides movement of the camera cover, and at least one dust collection part which is provided on a contact route along which the guide part comes into contact with the camera cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Kinoshita, Takehito Yamauchi, Fumitake Mizoguchi, Shigehiro Horiuchi
  • Patent number: 10372172
    Abstract: Disclosed is a cover structure for a notebook computer's built-in camera. The cover structure includes a U-shaped lower plate (102) fixedly provided on an upper surface of a monitor frame at a predetermined distance from a camera, and an upper plate (104) slidably coupled to an upper surface of the lower plate (102) so as to open and close the camera, whereby one side of the lower plate is an open structure so that a user is able to easily and stably perform a sliding operation through a wide manipulation range in a horizontal direction, thereby easily physically closing the camera, and the upper and lower plates have a simple structure and shape, thereby providing easy manufacture and assembly of the cover structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: STEAGLE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Sung Mo Son
  • Patent number: 10295778
    Abstract: A fisheye lens filter for a fisheye lens includes an optically clean dome sized to fit over the fisheye lens. The dome includes in some embodiments a coating layer(s) to filter out light as desired for use in recording an image. The fisheye lens filter provides an unobstructed field of view in front of fisheye lenses preventing optical aberrations such as vignetting while providing filtering effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Inventor: Tadashi Yamaoda
  • Patent number: 10122898
    Abstract: An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a housing; a camera module disposed in the housing and having a lens outstanding from a surface of the housing; and a protection unit connected to the housing, wherein when the camera module is in an off-state, a top surface of the protection unit is higher than a surface of the lens, when the camera module is in an on-state, the top surface of the protection unit is lower than the surface of the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: MEDIATEK INC.
    Inventors: Yu-Chun Chang, Tsu-Ming Liu
  • Patent number: 10116845
    Abstract: An imaging device includes an imaging unit having an imaging part, and a holder to hold the imaging part at one end; a housing including a recess part in a first surface to house the imaging unit; and a hinge device having a hinge member housed in the recess part pivotally coupled to the housing around an axle extending in parallel with the first surface. The imaging unit pivots around the axle via the hinge device between a housing position and a projecting position of the imaging unit. The imaging part includes a rectangular imaging element, a lens introducing external light into the imaging element, and a lens hood at an outer periphery of the lens. The lens hood projects from the lens surface by a distance allowing the imaging part to introduce necessary light from the lens into the imaging element and block unnecessary light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Takahiro Hiramatsu
  • Patent number: 10068145
    Abstract: Provided is a unit for photographing, including a holding member configured to hold a pill to be photographed by a photographing section, a supporting member configured to support the holding member so that the pill faces the photographing section at a position that is determined in advance from the photographing section, a fixing unit configured to fix the holding member, which is supported to the supporting member, with a magnetic force, and a switching unit configured to switch a fixed state in which the holding member is fixed by the fixing unit and a released state in which the fixing of the holding member by the fixing unit is released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tadashi Masuda, Keiji Endo
  • Patent number: 10036935
    Abstract: A body of an imaging apparatus comprises a mount section on which an interchangeable lens and a mount adapter can be mounted. A contact unit is movable in the direction of the optical axis by a moving mechanical unit and has a first contact portion composed of a plurality of contact terminals. If the interchangeable lens is mounted on a body via a first mount adapter, the first contact portion is movable to a first position that contacts a second contact portion formed in the interchangeable lens. If the interchangeable lens is mounted on the body via a second mount adapter, the first contact portion is movable to a second position that contacts the second contact portion of the interchangeable lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hirotaka Ifuku, Yuya Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 9983379
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a convenient-to-adjust extension ring and a camera lens filter bracket. The extension ring comprises an extension ring body, and a moving ring capable of rotating is arranged on the extension ring body; an axis of the moving ring is the same as an axis of the extension ring body, and first gear teeth are arranged on its circumferential surface; at least one adjusting knob capable of rotating is arranged on a lateral surface of the extension ring body, the adjusting knob is partially positioned in the extension ring body, and second gear teeth are arranged on its circumferential surface; and the second gear teeth are directly matched and meshed with the first gear teeth, or form indirect transmission connection with the first gear teeth through a gear set. The extension ring has advantage of easiness for machining and production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: ZHUHAI CHUANFU OPTICAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
    Inventor: Guokui Yuan
  • Patent number: 9846349
    Abstract: A lens cover includes a housing defining an optical aperture. A pair of opposed lens cover blades are each pivotally mounted to the housing at a common pivot point. A biasing member biases the blades apart from one another about the pivot point to uncover the optical aperture in an open position. A pair of magnetic members is included, each magnetic member being mounted to a respective one of the blades to bias the blades together to cover the optical aperture in a closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Sensors Unlimited, Inc.
    Inventor: John T. Foster
  • Patent number: 9746636
    Abstract: An electronic device includes an electronic circuit board containing a processing element and a vision sensor. A carrier frame is used to support the electronic circuit board. An optical element is positioned over the sensor and supported by the carrier frame. The electronic circuit board is bent to reduce the length, thickness and/or width of the electronic device, without increasing the others of the length, thickness and/or width of the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Cognex Corporation
    Inventors: Kai Flügge, Laurens Nunnink, Richard Reuter, David R. King
  • Patent number: 9664875
    Abstract: The lens barrel includes a first planar portion, a barrier front cover, a vane portion, and a lens group frame. The first planar portion is configured to be substantially perpendicular to an optical axis and includes a first opening portion. The barrier front cover includes a second opening portion. The vane portion is configured to move between a first position and a second position. The vane portion is configured to cover the first opening portion and the second opening portion at the first position, and allow the first opening portion and the second opening portion to open at the second position. The lens group frame is configured to support rotatably the vane portion and includes at least one lens. The first planar portion is disposed closer to a subject than the barrier front cover. The first opening portion is formed smaller than the second opening portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tetsuya Uno
  • Patent number: 9571708
    Abstract: An apparatus for use with an electronic device having a camera. The apparatus comprises a structure configured to detachably couple to the device, and a shutter supported by the structure and comprising a lens shutter configured to obscure a lens of the camera when in an engaged position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: VYSK COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Waleed Sami Haddad
  • Patent number: 9560253
    Abstract: A camera module is provided. The camera module includes: a printed circuit board on which an image sensor is to be mounted; a base arranged on an upper side of the printed circuit board; a cover can coupled to an upper side of the base; and a sealing member interposed between the base and the cover can.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jun Taek Lee, Sang Hee Lee
  • Patent number: 9423675
    Abstract: A projector includes an armor housing including an opening section through which an image is transmitted and a shutter device configured to open and close the opening section. The shutter device includes a blade member, a moving section configured to move the blade member, and movement regulating sections configured to regulate the movement of the blade member. The blade member includes first blades and second blades arranged to overlap each other and configured to move in the same direction each other to close and open the opening section. The second blades are moved in the same direction as the first blades by frictional resistance with the first blades. The movement regulating sections include second-blade regulating sections configured to come into contact with the second blades moved in the closing direction to predetermined positions and regulate further movement of the second blades in the closing direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshinori Hashimoto, Hiroshi Tsuchitani
  • Patent number: 9411379
    Abstract: Disclosed are devices, systems and methods for inhibiting, preventing and/or hindering eavesdropping or accidental use of cameras and microphones of a portable electronic device (PED), in order to assist the user with maintaining their personal privacy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Inventors: James A. Rinner, Kimberly A. Rinner
  • Patent number: 9369170
    Abstract: A protective case for a mobile device has a body removably disposed on the mobile device and a movable lens cover disposed on the body proximate to the first camera lens. The movable lens cover includes a first lens occlusion section and a first sensor access section. The movable lens cover can have at least two positions in relation to the mobile device. A fully exposed position exposes both the first camera lens and the at least one sensor of the mobile device, and a first partially occluded position disposes the first lens occlusion section over the first camera lens preventing light from reaching the first camera lens and disposes the first sensor access section over the at least one sensor allowing the at least one sensor to receive the input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Inventor: Michael Sorrentino
  • Patent number: 9122127
    Abstract: A lens hood which is integrated with a lens cover is provided. The lens hood is attached in front of an imaging lens, and is configured to prevent undesired light incident on the imaging lens. The lens hood includes a lens cover having an upper door and a lower door, and a hood body. The hood body supports the upper door and the lower door so as to rotate the upper door and the lower door in opposite directions to each other about an axis orthogonal to an optical axis of the imaging lens, and has a storage space that stores the upper door and the lower door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayuki Shodai, Katsuya Kawakita, Koichi Muramatsu
  • Patent number: 9119323
    Abstract: An electronic device comprises a case having an air ventilation hole and an opening, a heat source, a radiator disposed inside the case and in thermal contact with the heat source, and an air current generator. The radiator comprises a body having a first and second lateral sides, and a third lateral side disposed therebetween. A first air inlet is disposed on the first lateral side. An air outlet exposed by the opening is disposed on the second lateral side, and a second air inlet is disposed on the third lateral side. The body comprising fins and a geometrical middle side of the fins is between the first and second lateral sides. The second air inlet corresponding to the air ventilation hole is between the geometrical middle side and the first lateral side. An air exhausting hole of the air current generator faces the first air inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignees: INVENTEC (PUDONG) TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION, INVENTEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Feng-Ku Wang, Yi-Lun Cheng, Chih-Kai Yang
  • Patent number: 9113058
    Abstract: A photographing apparatus includes a supporting member which supports a photographing element such as an image sensor, a vibration means which vibrates an optical member provided on a front surface of the photographing element, and a control means which controls vibrations generated by the vibration means at two different frequencies, wherein the first frequency is around a natural frequency of the supporting member and the second frequency is around a natural frequency of the optical member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Komada, Masahiro Shirono
  • Patent number: 9104089
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a lens assembly, a lens focusing rod, a power switch and a lens protective cover. When the lens protective cover is located in the first position, the lens assembly is shielded by the lens protective cover, the power switch is turned off, and the lens protective cover is separated from the lens focusing rod. When the lens protective cover is located in the second position, the power switch is turned on, and the lens protective cover is contacted with the lens focusing rod. When the lens protective cover is moved between the second position and the third position, the power switch is turned on, and the lens assembly is driven by the lens protective cover through the lens focusing rod for focusing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignees: SINTAI OPTICAL (SHENZHEN) CO., LTD., ASIA OPTICAL INTERNATIONAL LTD.
    Inventors: Chen-Ren Yu, Yi-Chung Hung, Wei-Ming Tseng
  • Patent number: 9069232
    Abstract: A lens barrier unit capable of improving the external force-resistance without increasing the size of the lens barrier unit itself. The lens barrier unit opens/closes an opening portion of a cover member. Each of a first panel member and a second panel member has an opening communicating with the opening portion and a plate-shaped portion for partially defining the opening. A lens barrier member moves between a lens protection position and a lens exposed position. A link member moves a lens barrier member to the lens protection position or the lens exposed position. The lens barrier member and the link member are arranged between the first panel member and the second panel member with the link member located on a side of the second panel member side, and the second panel member and the link member overlap with each other through a static pressure receiving structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masato Ito
  • Patent number: 9042085
    Abstract: In a broad aspect, embodiments described herein are generally directed to an electronic device comprising: a housing; a component mounted within the housing; a component cover in fixed relation to the housing; wherein the component cover is configurable between at least a first state and a second state; and wherein light transmissivity through the component cover is greater when in the second state than when in the first state. In some implementations, in the first state the component cover is substantially opaque, or in the second state the component cover is substantially transparent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
    Inventor: Colin Shiva Ramrattan
  • Publication number: 20150131985
    Abstract: A lens hood which is integrated with a lens cover is provided. The lens hood is attached in front of an imaging lens, and is configured to prevent undesired light incident on the imaging lens. The lens hood includes a lens cover having an upper door and a lower door, and a hood body. The hood body supports the upper door and the lower door so as to rotate the upper door and the lower door in opposite directions to each other about an axis orthogonal to an optical axis of the imaging lens, and has a storage space that stores the upper door and the lower door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Masayuki SHODAI, Katsuya KAWAKITA, Koichi MURAMATSU
  • Publication number: 20150093103
    Abstract: A lens protector is provided for a wide-angle lens of an imaging device, the wide-angle lens including a curved surface projecting towards a subject and forming an image circle partially protruding from an imaging plane on which an image of the subject is formed. The lens protector includes at least two projections opposing each other with an optical axis of the wide-angle lens in-between, extending along the curved surface of the wide-angle lens from a subject side of a device body, and projecting further towards the subject than the curved surface to cover a part of the curved surface which corresponds to a part of the image circle protruding from the imaging plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventor: Hideaki Umehara
  • Publication number: 20150093104
    Abstract: A protective lens attachment is configured to couple to a camera lens ring to protect a camera lens during operation. The protective lens attachment can include a compressible structure, on which a force is exerted by a camera lens ring when the camera lens ring is inserted into the protective lens attachment. The compressible structure is configured to exert a reciprocal force onto the camera lens ring, creating a friction force between the compressible structure and the camera lens ring, and securely coupling the protective lens attachment to the camera lens ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Joshua Randall Clyne, Richard Gioscia, Fong Tran, Mark Costa, Barrie Dickinson, Eric Kent, Javier Yanez, Seungheon Lee
  • Publication number: 20150086189
    Abstract: Disclosed are lens cap assemblies wherein a removable lens cap may include a lens cap body that is configured to be removably attached to an end of a lens. The lens cap can further include a cap communication interface configured to receive lens information from a lens communication interface while the lens cap is in an attached position. The lens cap can include a display to allow for the displaying of lens characteristics and information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventor: Bradley T. Kaye
  • Patent number: 8979401
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical element for use in a camera system for the inspection of passageways, a camera system for the inspection of passageways and a method of illuminating a passageway during inspection with a camera. An optical element for use in a camera system for the inspection of passageways comprises a first optical portion arranged to transmit light into a camera, a second optical portion arranged to transmit light emitted from a light source, the second optical portion located adjacent the first optical portion, and barrier means arranged to prevent light being transmitted from the second optical portion into the first optical portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: E.V. Offshore Limited
    Inventors: Jonathan Thursby, Shaun Peck, Matthew Gibson-Ford