Having Variable Focal Length Of Camera Objective Patents (Class 396/72)
-
Patent number: 11880023Abstract: A zoom lens according to the present invention includes sequentially from an object side: a first lens group having negative refractive power, and a second lens group having positive refractive power, and performs a magnification change operation by changing a gap between the adjacent lens groups. The zoom lens has specific optical characteristics represented by four expressions relating to the second lens group.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2020Date of Patent: January 23, 2024Assignee: Tamron Co., Ltd.Inventors: Masaki Sato, Yuki Mori, Hironori Taguchi
-
Patent number: 11703654Abstract: Provided is a lens assembly, which comprises: a first optical lens module, comprising a first carrier and at least one first optical lens received in the first carrier; and a second optical lens module, comprising a second carrier, at least one second optical lens received in the second carrier, and a bearing portion connected to the second carrier. A lower end portion of the first carrier extends to the bearing portion, so as to constrain the relative positions of the first optical lens module and the second optical lens module.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2022Date of Patent: July 18, 2023Assignee: NINGBO SUNNY OPOTECH CO., LTD.Inventors: Chunmei Liu, Yiqi Wang, Liang Ding, Mingzhu Wang, Hailong Liao, Nan Guo
-
Patent number: 11640049Abstract: A zoom lens includes a negative first lens group, a positive second lens group, and a subsequent lens group in order from an object side. A focusing lens group closer to an image side than the first lens group moves during focusing. The first lens group consists of a first-a lens group and a first-b lens group in order from the object side. Assuming that an average of refractive indices of the negative lenses of the first-a lens group is Nd1ave, a focal length of the focusing lens group is ff, and a focal length of the first lens group is f1, Conditional Expression (1) of 1.73<Nd1ave<1.95 and Conditional Expression (2) of 1<|ff/f1|<3 are satisfied.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2022Date of Patent: May 2, 2023Assignee: FUJIFILM CorporationInventor: Daiki Kawamura
-
Patent number: 11547275Abstract: Endoscopes of this disclosure, such as colonoscopes, provide a broader field of view and allow extended access of surgical tools, and also enable efficient packing of all necessary elements in the tip section, while maintaining their functionality. Methods and systems of this disclosure include for capturing and displaying still and video images using an endoscope corresponding to a left-side looking viewing element, a front-looking viewing element, and a right-side looking viewing element of an endoscopic tip generated in a native aspect ratio.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2021Date of Patent: January 10, 2023Assignee: EndoChoice, Inc.Inventors: Avi Levy, Moshiko Levi, Golan Salman, Yaniv Kirma, Leonid Krivopisk, Amram Aizenfeld, Stephan Wieth, Jeruham Avron, Robby Dascalo, Mark Gilreath, Victor Levin
-
Patent number: 11525974Abstract: A lens apparatus includes a cam barrel having a cam groove and rotatable around an optical axis, a cam follower engaged with the cam groove, a movable member movable in an optical axis direction via the cam follower as the cam barrel rotates, a straight guide member configured to guide the movable member in the optical axis direction and restrict a movement of the cam barrel in a first direction parallel to the optical axis, a first biasing member configured to bias the movable member in a second direction opposite to the first direction so that the cam follower contacts a first cam groove surface of the cam groove in the optical axis direction, and a second biasing member configured to bias the cam barrel in the first direction.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2019Date of Patent: December 13, 2022Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Katsuhiro Inoue
-
Patent number: 11435545Abstract: A camera lens module includes a lens assembly. The lens assembly may comprise a first optical lens module comprising a first carrier and at least one first optical lens received in the first carrier; and a second optical lens module comprising a second carrier, at least one second optical lens received in the second carrier, and a bearing portion connected to the second carrier. When the first optical lens module and the second optical lens module are assembled together, an adjustable clearance exists between the first carrier and the bearing portion, and between bottom surfaces of the first carrier and a lowermost lens of the first optical lenses and a top surface of an uppermost lens of the second optical lenses.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2020Date of Patent: September 6, 2022Assignee: NINGBO SUNNY OPOTECH CO., LTD.Inventors: Chunmei Liu, Yiqi Wang, Liang Ding, Mingzhu Wang, Hailong Liao, Nan Guo
-
Patent number: 11350038Abstract: A dual-aperture zoom digital camera operable in both still and video modes. The camera includes Wide and Tele imaging sections with respective lens/sensor combinations and image signal processors and a camera controller operatively coupled to the Wide and Tele imaging sections. The Wide and Tele imaging sections provide respective image data. The controller is configured to output, in a zoom-in operation between a lower zoom factor (ZF) value and a higher ZF value, a zoom video output image that includes only Wide image data or only Tele image data, depending on whether a no-switching criterion is fulfilled or not.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2020Date of Patent: May 31, 2022Assignee: Corephotonics Ltd.Inventors: Noy Cohen, Oded Gigushinski, Nadav Geva, Gal Shabtay, Ester Ashkenazi, Ruthy Katz, Ephraim Goldenberg
-
Patent number: 11314036Abstract: A liquid lens, which forms one optical system together with a solid lens, according to an embodiment, comprises: a first plate in which a cavity for accommodating a conductive liquid and a non-conductive liquid is arranged; a first electrode arranged on the first plate; a second electrode arranged under the first plate; a second plate arranged on the first electrode; and a third plate arranged under the second electrode, wherein a total volume of the conductive liquid and the non-conductive liquid and an area in which the lower surface of the second plate comes in contact with the conductive liquid can be designed so as to meet specific conditions.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2018Date of Patent: April 26, 2022Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.Inventor: Seung Ryong Park
-
Patent number: 11231560Abstract: An optical imaging system includes: a plurality of lenses disposed along an optical axis; and a reflection member closer to an object than the plurality of lenses, and including a reflection surface configured to change a path of light; wherein the plurality of lenses are spaced apart from each other by preset distances along the optical axis; and the condition 0.9<DF/DC<1.3 is satisfied, where DF is an effective aperture radius of an image-side surface of a lens closest to an image sensor among the plurality of lenses, and DC is an effective aperture radius of an object-side surface of a lens closest to the reflection member among the plurality of lenses.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2020Date of Patent: January 25, 2022Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.Inventor: Ho Sik Yoo
-
Patent number: 11209576Abstract: The invention relates to a lens, comprising a container (100) defining a volume (V) which is filled with a transparent liquid (2), wherein the container (10) comprises a transparent and elastically deformable membrane (20) and a rigid member (30), wherein the membrane (20) and the rigid member (30) delimit said volume (V), and a lens shaping element (200) that contacts the membrane (20) and defines an area (21) of said membrane (20), which area (21) has an adjustable curvature for adjusting the focal length of the lens (1). According to the invention, the lens (1) is configured to compensate a thermal expansion of the liquid (2) and/or a change of the refractive index of the liquid (2) due to an increased temperature of the liquid (2) in order to reduce an unwanted thermally induced change of the focal length of the lens (1).Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2016Date of Patent: December 28, 2021Assignee: OPTOTUNE AGInventors: Roman Patscheider, David Niederer, Pit Gebbers, Daniel Borer, Christopher Laning, Stephan Smolka
-
Patent number: 11048149Abstract: A lens structure includes a lens barrel, a frame, a first lens module, a second lens module, and an elastic sleeve. The frame leans against a rear end of the lens barrel. A first gap is provided between the lens barrel and the frame. The first lens module includes a first side exposed outside the lens barrel and a second side arranged in a front end of the lens barrel. A second gap is provided between the lens barrel and the first lens module. The second lens module includes a third side arranged in the rear end of the lens barrel and a fourth side exposed outside the frame. The elastic sleeve sleeved on the lens barrel includes a first end extending to the frame to completely cover the first gap and a second end extending to a portion of the first lens module to completely cover the second gap.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2020Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignee: Coretronic CorporationInventors: Yun-Sheng Wang, I-Hsien Liu, Ching-Feng Hsieh, Chien-Ming Peng
-
Patent number: 11012596Abstract: Various embodiments of enclosures for machine-vision cameras are disclosed. The enclosures are designed to fit\hug the camera to be as small as physically possible, and also integrate other features such as better cabling, IP-67 compliance, and end-effectors. Further, the embodiments herein have also integrated a way to mount extra lights as part of the design. The embodiments herein accommodate the specific need of the particular application. The embodiments herein can accommodate numerous shapes and sizes of cameras, including square, cylindrical, or cubical cameras, and encompass either rectangular or round enclosures.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2019Date of Patent: May 18, 2021Assignee: Components Express, InternationalInventors: John Berst, Art Didyk, Nick DeFrancesco
-
Patent number: 10979627Abstract: Proposed is a mobile terminal including triple cameras having first, second and third FOVs (field of views) respectively, wherein the first FOV is larger than the second FOV which is larger than the third FOV, wherein the mobile terminal includes: a display for outputting visual information; and a controller configured for controlling the triple cameras and the display, wherein the controller is configured for: detecting a signal to indicate capturing an object by the triple cameras at a time; in response to the detected signal, activating cameras of the first FOV and second FOV to capture the object individually; deactivating one of the cameras of the first FOV and second FOV, wherein one of the cameras of the first FOV and second FOV has captured the object earlier than the other thereof; and activating a camera of the third FOV to capture the object using an imaging setting values obtained from at least one of the cameras of the first FOV and second FOV.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2019Date of Patent: April 13, 2021Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.Inventors: Jiwon Yun, Eunyoung Noh, Seungmin Yang, Junhwa Lee
-
Patent number: 10951833Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method and a device for switching between cameras and a terminal. When it is determined that a current zoom factor satisfies a first switching condition, a distance between a current object to be photographed and the camera and/or current illumination is obtained. It is determined whether the distance between the current object to be photographed and the camera and/or the current illumination satisfies a second switching condition. When the distance between the current object to be photographed and the camera and/or the current illumination satisfies the second switching condition, a switch is performed between the cameras.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2018Date of Patent: March 16, 2021Assignee: GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.Inventor: Quan Yuan
-
Patent number: 10917576Abstract: A dual-aperture zoom digital camera operable in both still and video modes. The camera includes Wide and Tele imaging sections with respective lens/sensor combinations and image signal processors and a camera controller operatively coupled to the Wide and Tele imaging sections. The Wide and Tele imaging sections provide respective image data. The controller is configured to output, in a zoom-in operation between a lower zoom factor (ZF) value and a higher ZF value, a zoom video output image that includes only Wide image data or only Tele image data, depending on whether a no-switching criterion is fulfilled or not.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2019Date of Patent: February 9, 2021Assignee: Corephotonics Ltd.Inventors: Noy Cohen, Oded Gigushinski, Nadav Geva, Gal Shabtay, Ester Ashkenazi, Ruthy Katz, Ephraim Goldenberg
-
Patent number: 10866490Abstract: An accessory apparatus includes a first electrical contact configured to receive power from an image capturing apparatus in a state of being attached to the image capturing apparatus, a second electrical contact disposed on a predetermined direction A side of the first electrical contact, configured to be connected to a predetermined electrical contact connected to a reference potential of the image capturing apparatus in the state of being attached to the image capturing apparatus, and configured to be unconnected to the reference potential during detachment from the image capturing apparatus, and a capacitor device connected to the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact. Further, the accessory apparatus includes a reduction unit configured to reduce charge stored in the capacitor device during the detachment from the image capturing apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2019Date of Patent: December 15, 2020Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Fuya Mizuochi
-
Patent number: 10754122Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 28, 2017Date of Patent: August 25, 2020Assignee: COGNEX CORPORATIONInventors: Kai Flugge, Laurens Nunnink, Richard Reuter, David R. King
-
Patent number: 10732376Abstract: A camera lens module includes a lens assembly. The lens assembly may comprise a first optical lens module comprising a first carrier and at least one first optical lens received in the first carrier; and a second optical lens module comprising a second carrier, at least one second optical lens received in the second carrier, and a bearing portion connected to the second carrier. When the first optical lens module and the second optical lens module are assembled together, an adjustable clearance exists between the first carrier and the bearing portion, and between bottom surfaces of the first carrier and a lowermost lens of the first optical lenses and a top surface of an uppermost lens of the second optical lenses.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2018Date of Patent: August 4, 2020Assignee: NINGBO SUNNY OPOTECH CO., LTD.Inventors: Mingzhu Wang, Chunmei Liu, Hailong Liao, Yiqi Wang, Liang Ding, Nan Guo, Heng Jiang, Feifan Chen, Bojie Zhao
-
Patent number: 10692906Abstract: A camera comprising: a sensor holder, an image sensor mounted on the sensor holder, a mount holder, and a lens mount being adapted to receive a lens array and being mounted to the mount holder, wherein the sensor holder is attached to the mount holder, wherein a gap having an extension along an optical axis of the camera is formed between the sensor holder and the lens mount, and wherein the sensor holder is provided with a thermally conducting protrusion bridging the gap and being in contact with the lens mount at an interface allowing relative motion between the lens mount and the thermally conducting protrusion along the optical axis while maintaining contact between the lens mount and the thermally conducting protrusion.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2018Date of Patent: June 23, 2020Assignee: Axis ABInventor: Hiroyuki Ide
-
Patent number: 10656505Abstract: A optical projection device disposed close to a projection surface and capable of further widening an angle is provided. A optical projection device includes first optical system including lens groups movable and second optical system reflecting light emitted from the first optical system. The first optical system includes first lens frame which holds first lens group positioned at side closest to the second optical system among the movable lens groups and includes cam pin, guide barrel which includes straight groove, cam barrel which includes cam groove with which the cam pin is engaged, the first lens frame includes frame protruding portion protruding from the cam barrel to second optical system side and holding the first lens group, and notch is provided in such way that portion is formed to be cut out at side through which light reflected by the second optical system passes, in the frame protruding portion.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2016Date of Patent: May 19, 2020Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventor: Naoto Takehana
-
Patent number: 10567666Abstract: A dual-aperture zoom digital camera operable in both still and video modes. The camera includes Wide and Tele imaging sections with respective lens/sensor combinations and image signal processors and a camera controller operatively coupled to the Wide and Tele imaging sections. The Wide and Tele imaging sections provide respective image data. The controller is configured to output, in a zoom-in operation between a lower zoom factor (ZF) value and a higher ZF value, a zoom video output image that includes only Wide image data or only Tele image data, depending on whether a no-switching criterion is fulfilled or not.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2019Date of Patent: February 18, 2020Assignee: Corephotonics Ltd.Inventors: Noy Cohen, Oded Gigushinski, Nadav Geva, Gal Shabtay, Ester Ashkenazi, Ruthy Katz, Ephraim Goldenberg
-
Positioning apparatus for photographic and video imaging and recording and system utilizing the same
Patent number: 10462347Abstract: A method and device are provided for positioning a mounted camera. The device includes a holding element that secures the mounted camera to the device, a wireless linkage at which remote attitude commands representing attitude changes of a remote driver are received, a local controller that interprets the remote attitude commands and generates local attitude commands that move the camera to mimic an orientation of the remote driver, and an attitude sensing element that senses a local attitude of the device. The attitude sensing element includes a gyro, an accelerometer, or a magnetometer, and jitter present in the remote attitude commands is removed and not passed on to the local attitude commands.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2019Date of Patent: October 29, 2019Assignee: GoPro, Inc.Inventors: Josh Guyot, JoeBen Bevirt -
Patent number: 10356332Abstract: A dual-aperture zoom digital camera operable in both still and video modes. The camera includes Wide and Tele imaging sections with respective lens/sensor combinations and image signal processors and a camera controller operatively coupled to the Wide and Tele imaging sections. The Wide and Tele imaging sections provide respective image data. The controller is configured to output, in a zoom-in operation between a lower zoom factor (ZF) value and a higher ZF value, a zoom video output image that includes only Wide image data or only Tele image data, depending on whether a no-switching criterion is fulfilled or not.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2019Date of Patent: July 16, 2019Assignee: Corephotonics Ltd.Inventors: Noy Cohen, Oded Gigushinski, Nadav Geva, Gal Shabtay, Ester Ashkenazi, Ruthy Katz, Ephraim Goldenberg
-
Patent number: 10230898Abstract: A dual-aperture zoom digital camera operable in both still and video modes. The camera includes Wide and Tele imaging sections with respective lens/sensor combinations and image signal processors and a camera controller operatively coupled to the Wide and Tele imaging sections. The Wide and Tele imaging sections provide respective image data. The controller is configured to output, in a zoom-in operation between a lower zoom factor (ZF) value and a higher ZF value, a zoom video output image that includes only Wide image data or only Tele image data, depending on whether a no-switching criterion is fulfilled or not.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2016Date of Patent: March 12, 2019Assignee: Corephotonics Ltd.Inventors: Noy Cohen, Oded Gigushinski, Nadav Geva, Gal Shabtay, Ester Ashkenazi, Ruthy Katz, Ephraim Goldenberg
-
Patent number: 9983381Abstract: A lens barrel and an optical device having small sizes by saving a space for inner components such as a moving group while stably retaining and moving the inner components are provided. The lens barrel retains lenses while allowing movement along an optical axis. The lens barrel includes: a first frame; a second frame positioned inside the first frame; and n linear guide structures configured to allow movement of the second frame relative to the first frame along the optical axis, wherein the n linear guide structures include: n linear guide concave parts spaced apart from each other in a circumferential direction around the optical axis and extending along the optical axis; and n linear guide convex parts engaging with the n linear guide concave parts in a relatively movable manner, wherein some of the n linear guide concave parts are provided on the first frame, and the others of the n linear guide concave parts are provided on the second frame (n is an integer equal to or greater than 2).Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2016Date of Patent: May 29, 2018Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventor: Yoshiaki Shimizu
-
Patent number: 9979890Abstract: An electronic device has multiple cameras and displays a digital viewfinder user interface for previewing visual information provided by the cameras. The multiple cameras may have different properties such as focal lengths. When a single digital viewfinder is provided, the user interface allows zooming over a zoom range that includes the respective zoom ranges of both cameras. The zoom setting to determine which camera provides visual information to the viewfinder and which camera is used to capture visual information. The user interface also allows the simultaneous display of content provided by different cameras at the same time. When two digital viewfinders are provided, the user interface allows zooming, freezing, and panning of one digital viewfinder independently of the other. The device allows storing of a composite images and/or videos using both digital viewfinders and corresponding cameras.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2016Date of Patent: May 22, 2018Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Jeffrey Traer Bernstein, Lukas Robert Tom Girling, Linda L. Dong, Henrique Penha, Paulo Michaelo Lopez, Behkish J. Manzari
-
Patent number: 9894282Abstract: Methods and apparatus for performing zoom in and zoom out operations are described using multiple optical chains in a camera device. At least one optical chain in the camera device includes a moveable light redirection device, said light redirection device being one of a substantially plane mirror or a prism. Different zoom focal length settings correspond to different scene capture areas for the optical chain with the moveable light redirection device. Overlap between scene areas captured by different optical chains increases during zoom in and decreases during zoom out. Images captured by different optical chains are combined and/or cropped to generate a composite image corresponding to a zoom focal length setting.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2016Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: Light Labs Inc.Inventor: Rajiv Laroia
-
Patent number: 9818171Abstract: One embodiment provides a method, involving: displaying, on a display device, display data; sensing, using a device sensor, movement of the display device; determining, based on the movement sensed, one or more responsive actions; executing, using a processor, the one or more responsive actions to adjust a user interface element. Other aspects are described and claimed.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2015Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.Inventors: Grigori Zaitsev, Scott Wentao Li
-
Patent number: 9813615Abstract: An image photographing apparatus and an image photographing method are provided. The image photographing apparatus includes: a plurality of image capturers respectively comprising lenses having different focal distances and respectively configured to capture a plurality of images having different resolutions; a storage configured to store the plurality of images captured by the plurality of image capturers; an image processor configured to adjust properties of the plurality of images to correspond to each other; a controller configured to, in response to a magnification change command being input, control the image processor to synthesize the plurality of images of which the properties are adjusted and generate a synthesis image of a magnification changed according to the magnification change command; and a display configured to display the synthesis image.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2015Date of Patent: November 7, 2017Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Tae-hee Lee, Jae-gon Kim, Stepan Tuliakov, Sung-ho Lee, Seung-ryong Jeon, Kyoung-young Kim, Hyun-seok Hong, Hee-chul Han
-
Patent number: 9739974Abstract: An interchangeable lens has a lens frame holding a movable lens group, another lens frame holding another movable lens group, one actuator that drives one lens frame, and the other actuator that drives the other lens frame. A first yoke forming a magnetic circuit of the one actuator and a second yoke forming a magnetic circuit of the other actuator are disposed away from each other in an optical axis direction, and a nonmagnetic member is interposed between the first yoke and the second yoke.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2015Date of Patent: August 22, 2017Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATIONInventors: Norio Arai, Tomohide Yano
-
Patent number: 9739985Abstract: A projection lens includes a compound aspherical lens in which a resin layer is formed on a surface of a glass lens and a lens surface of the resin layer on the air contacting surface side has an aspherical shape. If the glass transition temperature of the resin layer is taken as Tg and its unit is taken as ° C., Tg of at least one of the resin layers is 150<Tg<280. The projection lens is configured to satisfy a given conditional expression with respect to the at least one of the resin layers.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2015Date of Patent: August 22, 2017Assignee: FUJIFILM CorporationInventors: Tomoyuki Baba, Yukiko Nagatoshi, Masanao Kawana, Masaru Amano, Akiko Nagahara
-
Patent number: 9541747Abstract: A zoom lens including a first lens group and a second lens group is provided. Refractive powers of the first lens group and the second lens group are respectively negative and positive. The first lens group includes a first lens, a second lens, and a third lens arranged in sequence from an object side to an image side. The second lens group is disposed between the first lens group and the image side, and includes a fourth lens, a fifth lens, a sixth lens, a seventh lens, and an eighth lens arranged in sequence from the object side to the image side. The zoom lens satisfies ?2.4<f1/fw<?1.0, wherein f1 is the effective focal length of the first lens group, and fw is the effective focal length of the zoom lens at a wide end.Type: GrantFiled: December 25, 2013Date of Patent: January 10, 2017Assignee: Young Optics Inc.Inventors: Yu-Hung Chou, Pei-Ching Liu
-
Patent number: 9485432Abstract: A method and apparatus for zooming an image by a zoom factor wherein a first image without zoom and a second image with fixed optical zoom are processed to find a mapping between low resolution patches and high resolution patches that are then used for zooming the first image if the zoom factor is less than the fixed optical zoom else the mapping between low resolution patches and high resolution patches are used for zooming the second image with fixed optical zoom.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2015Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: Uurmi Systems Private LimitedInventors: Swarup Shanti Medasani, Gaurav Gajanan Bhosale, Ajinkya Santoshrao Deshmukh
-
Patent number: 9325899Abstract: An image capturing device and a digital zooming method thereof are proposed in the invention. The method includes the following steps. A scene is captured by a primary lens and a secondary lens to generate a primary image and a secondary image. Image rectification is then performed on the primary and the secondary images to obtain two corresponding rectified images. Feature points detected and matched from the two rectified images are used to determine a corresponding overlapping region, respectively. Pixel displacement and depth map in the two overlapping regions could be calculated and estimated. Image zooming and warping techniques are performed on the two rectified images to obtain corresponding warped images using a recalculated homography matrix according to each specific zooming factor. Finally, the two overlapping regions in the warped image are fused by a weighted blending approach to generate a digital zoomed image.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2014Date of Patent: April 26, 2016Assignee: Altek Semiconductor Corp.Inventors: Hong-Long Chou, Yi-Hong Tseng, Wen-Yan Chang, Yu-Chih Wang, Tsan-Wei Wang, Yi-Yi Yu
-
Patent number: 9274321Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic image pickup system whose depth dimension is extremely reduced, taking advantage of an optical system type that can overcome conditions imposed on the movement of a zooming movable lens group while high specifications and performance are kept. The electronic image pickup system comprises an optical path-bending zoom optical system comprising, in order from its object side, a 1-1st lens group G1-1 comprising a negative lens group and a reflecting optical element P for bending an optical path, a 1-2nd lens group G1-2 comprising one positive lens and a second lens group G2 having positive refracting power. For zooming from the wide-angle end to the telephoto end, the second lens group G2 moves only toward the object side. The electronic image pickup system also comprises an electronic image pickup device I located on the image side of the zoom optical system.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2014Date of Patent: March 1, 2016Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATIONInventors: Shinichi Mihara, Hirokazu Konishi, Toyoharu Hanzawa, Masahito Watanabe, Atsujiro Ishii, Tetsuhide Takeyama, Ayami Imamura
-
Patent number: 9255795Abstract: A method of increasing signal-to-noise ratio of a distance-measuring device includes a light-emitting component emitting a detecting light to a measured object during an emitting period for generating a reflected light, a delay period after the light-emitting component emitting the detecting light, a light-sensing component sensing the energy of the reflected light to generate a light-sensing signal, and obtaining a measured distance between the distance-measuring device and the measured object according to the energy of the detecting light and the light-sensing signal. Since the measured distance is longer than a predetermined shortest measured distance, the method can accordingly calculate a proper delay period for ensuring that the reflected light reaches the light-sensing component after the delay period. In this way, the light-sensing component does not sense the background light during the delay period, so that the signal-to-noise ratio of the light-sensing signal is improved.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2013Date of Patent: February 9, 2016Assignee: PixArt Imaging Inc.Inventors: En-Feng Hsu, Yen-Min Chang
-
Patent number: 9213162Abstract: To decrease operating noise of actuators in a lens barrel, provided is a lens barrel comprising a first optical member that moves in an optical axis direction prior to image capturing and during image capturing; a first drive member that causes the first optical member to move in the optical axis direction during image capturing; a second optical member that has the first drive member fixed thereto, moves in the optical axis direction prior to image capturing, and is fixed at a position in the optical axis direction during image capturing; and a second drive member that causes the second optical member, the first optical member, and the first drive member to move in the optical axis direction prior to image capturing. Also provided is an image capturing apparatus comprising the lens barrel and an image capturing section that captures image light from the lens barrel.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2012Date of Patent: December 15, 2015Assignee: NIKON CORPORATIONInventor: Hisanori Togawa
-
Patent number: 9185271Abstract: An imaging device includes a first detection unit, a vector correction unit, and a second detection unit. The first detection unit is configured to detect a motion vector based on reference image data and input image data after aberration of a lens is corrected. The vector correction unit is configured to correct an error component included in the motion vector detected by the first detection unit according to an aberration characteristic of the lens. The error component is produced by aberration correction. The second detection unit is configured to set a search area of the motion vector based on the motion vector corrected by the vector correction unit and detect the motion vector in the search area.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2012Date of Patent: November 10, 2015Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masashi Kawakami, Yushi Kaneko
-
Patent number: 9063272Abstract: Disclosed is a camera module. The camera module includes a lens barrel including a lens, a lens holder coupled with the lens barrel, and a sensor unit in the lens holder. The lens holder includes a body part including the sensor unit, and a focal length adjusting unit interposed between the lens barrel and the body part to adjust a focal length between the lens and the sensor unit. The focal length of the camera module is easily adjusted without disassembling the camera module.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2013Date of Patent: June 23, 2015Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.Inventor: Ki Kyung Jeon
-
Patent number: 8947562Abstract: A zoom lens has first through fourth lens groups from the object side to the image side, and changes the magnification by changing their intervals. The first and third lens groups and the second and fourth lens groups have negative and positive powers, respectively. When changing the magnification from the wide-angle end to the telescopic end, the interval between the first and the second lens groups is reduced. The first lens group includes a reflective optical element. The second lens group includes at least two lenses, and the lens nearest to the image is a single plastic positive lens. The third lens group is configured by a single plastic negative lens. When the focal length of the single lens nearest to the image in the second lens group is defined as f2L and the focal length of the third lens group is defined as f3, “0.60<|f2L/f3|<1.60” is satisfied.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2011Date of Patent: February 3, 2015Assignee: Konica Minolta Opto, inc.Inventor: Yuichi Ozaki
-
Patent number: 8908050Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit, a field angle change unit, and a movement detection unit. The imaging unit includes a lens that forms an image of a subject and acquires a picture image by taking the image formed by the lens. The field angle change unit changes a field angle of the picture image acquired by the imaging unit. The movement detection unit detects a movement of the imaging apparatus. The field angle change unit changes the field angle of the picture image in accordance with a moving direction of the imaging apparatus when the movement detection unit detects the movement of the imaging apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2010Date of Patent: December 9, 2014Assignee: Olympus Imaging Corp.Inventors: Tatsuya Kino, Yoshinori Matsuzawa, Osamu Nonaka
-
Patent number: 8908260Abstract: A focusing mechanism for focusing a lens module includes a base seat, a movable platform, a positioning assembly, a support bracket and a plurality of arms. The positioning assembly is fixed to the base seat and passes through a center of the movable platform, a lens of the lens module is detachably mounted on the positioning assembly. The support bracket is fixed to the movable platform. A sensor of the lens module is detachably mounted on the support bracket. Each of the plurality of arms rotatably interconnects the movable platform and the base seat, the movable platform drives the support bracket to rotate relative to the positioning assembly to enable the lens to rotate relative to the sensor via a drive of the arms.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2012Date of Patent: December 9, 2014Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.Inventor: Bo Long
-
Patent number: 8891176Abstract: A lens barrel including a subject-side lens guided by guide bars. The lens barrel has a first guide shaft disposed within a cylindrical fixed cylinder and oriented axially along the fixed cylinder; a second guide shaft disposed outside the fixed cylinder and oriented axially; a first holding member that holds a first lens and moves along the first guide shaft; and a second holding member that holds a second lens positioned on a subject side of the first lens and moves along the second guide shaft.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2013Date of Patent: November 18, 2014Assignee: Nikon CorporationInventor: Kunihiro Fukino
-
Patent number: 8879160Abstract: An optical device with a deformable membrane including an anchor zone on a support contributing to trapping fluid, a central zone reversibly deforming from a rest position, and an actuating mechanism to displace fluid acting on the membrane in an intermediate zone between the anchor and central zones. The actuating mechanism includes a principal actuation mechanism and supplementary actuation mechanism each arranged in at least one ring mounted around the central zone, each ring including one or plural piezoelectric actuators, and being anchored on the intermediate zone, only the supplementary actuation mechanism may be anchored to the support, these actuation mechanisms and the membrane to which they are anchored forming at least one piezoelectric bimorph, such that they contract or expand in the radial direction during actuation such that when the fluid moves, it deforms the central zone.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2010Date of Patent: November 4, 2014Assignee: Commissariat a l'energie atomique et aux energies alternativesInventors: Sébastien Bolis, Stéphane Moreau
-
Patent number: 8878907Abstract: The monocular stereoscopic imaging device according to one aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter includes: an imaging optical system including a zoom lens and a diaphragm; a pupil dividing unit configured to divide a light flux having passed through a imaging optical system into multiple light fluxes; an imaging unit configured to receive the multiple light fluxes, so as to continuously acquire a left-eye image and a right-eye image; and a controlling unit configured to control a zoom lens driving unit to move the zoom lens in accordance with an instruction of changing the focus distance, and configured to control the diaphragm driving unit to maintain at a substantially constant level a stereoscopic effect of the left-eye image and the right-eye image three-dimensionally displayed on a display unit before and after the zoom lens is moved.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2012Date of Patent: November 4, 2014Assignee: FUJIFILM CorporationInventors: Kouhei Awazu, Takashi Aoki, Hiroshi Endo, Hirofumi Horii
-
Patent number: 8855477Abstract: A zoom lens barrel capable of decreasing a distance between a lens and a diaphragm in an optical axis direction to thereby increase the photographing magnification and at the same time to reduce the lens barrel size, and capable of changing a diaphragm aperture diameter according to zoom control. The lens barrel has a lens relatively movable toward and away from an iris diaphragm in the optical axis direction with a change in the photographing magnification. An operation of the iris diaphragm is controlled in such a manner that a minimum diameter of an aperture of diaphragm blades of the iris diaphragm changes according to an amount of intrusion of a part of the lens into the aperture of the diaphragm blades in a range where the diaphragm blades do not interfere with the lens.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2012Date of Patent: October 7, 2014Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tomoyuki Kudoh
-
Patent number: 8810920Abstract: A lens barrel (3) comprises a drive frame (30) and a first lens frame (50). The first lens frame (50) has first to third cam followers (54a to 54c) that are respectively inserted into first to third outer cam grooves (34a to 34c), and first and second auxiliary pins (55a and 55b) disposed so as to be able to come into contact with first and second auxiliary grooves (35a and 35b). When viewed in the Y axis direction, the first and second auxiliary pins (55a and 55b) are disposed between the first to third cam followers (54a to 54c) in the peripheral direction. The positions of the first and second auxiliary pins (55a and 55b) are offset from the positions of the first to third cam followers (54a to 54c) in the Y axis direction.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2011Date of Patent: August 19, 2014Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Shinichi Iwasaki, Keiji Sakamoto, Eiji Nagasaki, Kenji Sasaki, Fumio Shinano
-
Patent number: 8774615Abstract: A lens barrel which can be extended over a larger amount without increasing the length of the lens barrel in a collapsed state. A movable barrel having a cam formed on an inner periphery thereof is movable in an optical axis direction. The movable barrel is extended toward an object in a shooting state, and is housed in a collapsed state. A lens holding frame holds a first lens group disposed closest to an object side of lens groups arranged in the optical axis direction. The lens holding frame including a fitting portion for slidably fitting to the cam is capable of moving in the optical axis direction, following a profile line of the cam. Barrier blades are disposed on the object side of the first lens group. A barrier drive ring is connected to the lens holding frame is rotatable to open and close the barrier blades.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2012Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Yosuke Fukai
-
Patent number: 8761590Abstract: A mobile terminal and an operating method thereof are provided. The mobile terminal includes displaying a preview image provided by a camera module on a display module; searching for object information of an object within a predetermined distance of the mobile terminal; and displaying the object information on the display module when a user command generated by pressing a predetermined key is received. Therefore, it is possible to provide object information with high readability by displaying the object information only when receiving a predetermined user command.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2011Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Youngsoo An, Songrae Cho
-
Patent number: 8717691Abstract: A lens barrel includes a lens group including a fixed lens including one or more lenses and an adjustment lens including one or more lenses, and a lens frame to hold the lens group, including an adjustment lens frame to hold the adjustment lens and an aligning mechanism to hold the adjustment lens frame movably in a direction orthogonal to an optical axis of the lens group relative to the lens frame.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2011Date of Patent: May 6, 2014Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Daisuke Terahara, Takehide Ohno