Having Focus Operation Patents (Class 396/79)
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Patent number: 12212834Abstract: A device may have a multi-camera system including one or more camera modules. At least one camera module may include one or more lenses, an image sensor, and a chassis structure. The camera module may include a bearing structure including one or more stages moving on a plurality of rolling elements to allow the lenses and/or the image sensor to move in one or more directions. The chassis structure may form a limit for a span distance or length of a group of rolling elements. A portion of the chassis structure may include an opening to provide extra space to allow the span distance or length of the group of rolling elements to be extended, so as to reduce effects of raceway indentations on the rolling elements to the camera module performance.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2022Date of Patent: January 28, 2025Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Nicholas D Smyth, Scott W Miller
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Patent number: 11994668Abstract: Provided are a camera module and terminal. The camera module comprises a circuit substrate, an adjustable lens module, a lens, and an auxiliary member. The lens is disposed on the circuit substrate, the adjustable lens module is disposed above the lens. The adjustable lens module comprises a lens outer frame and a lens body. The lens outer frame is fixed to the lens, the lens is disposed in the lens outer frame. A first conductive portion is formed on the lens outer frame, and a second conductive portion is formed on the circuit substrate. The auxiliary member comprises a conductive member. The conductive member is electrically connected to the first conductive portion, and the conductive member is electrically connected to the second conductive portion, so as to electrically connect to the lens outer frame and the circuit substrate.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2019Date of Patent: May 28, 2024Assignee: KUNSHAN QTECH MICROELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Aixin Xu, Jie Huang, Lian Xu, Wei Meng, Qingyue Huang
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Patent number: 11889174Abstract: An integrated image sensor and lens assembly is disclosed that includes: an image sensor assembly defining an optical axis; a lens holder; and a lens barrel. The lens holder is coupled to the image sensor assembly and includes a tubular body portion terminating in a tapered surface that extends at an angle to the optical axis. The lens barrel is coupled to the lens holder by an adhesive that is applied between the lens holder and the lens barrel such that the adhesive extends in non-perpendicular relation to the optical axis.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2022Date of Patent: January 30, 2024Assignee: GoPro, Inc.Inventors: Scott Patrick Campbell, Thomas Czepowicz
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Patent number: 11782161Abstract: Disclosed are a ToF module and an object recognition device using the ToF module. The ToF module according to the present invention is a time of flight (ToF) module for measuring distance and depth information in a ToF manner, and comprises: a light transmitting unit for outputting light to an object; and a light receiving unit for receiving light reflected from the object, wherein the light transmitting unit comprises: a light source including a package of a plurality emitters; an emitter driving unit for selectively driving at least one emitter of the plurality of emitters; and a drive control unit for primarily controlling the driving of the plurality of emitters and, in accordance with the reflected light received by the light receiving unit, secondarily selecting at least one emitter of the plurality of emitters and controlling the driving thereof.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2018Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.Inventor: Gwui Youn Park
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Patent number: 11665425Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, and program products are disclosed for operating a camera sense mode. One apparatus includes a processor, a camera, and a memory that stores code executable by the processor. The code is executable by the processor to determine, by use of the processor, whether the camera is set to a camera sense mode. The camera sense mode is a mode of the camera configured to use the camera as a sensor. The code is executable by the processor to, in response to the camera being set to the camera sense mode: analyze images captured by the camera, using a sensing application, to determine information related to the images; and inhibit applications separate from the sensing application from accessing images captured by the camera.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2020Date of Patent: May 30, 2023Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.Inventors: Kenneth Seethaler, Adam Jerome Cavenaugh, Brian Lee, Joseph M. Pennisi
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Patent number: 11543623Abstract: A lens apparatus includes an optical element, first and second fixed barrels coupled to each other, a conversion mechanism from a rotary motion to a linear motion, fitted to the first fixed barrel and configured to be rotated about a first axis as an axis of the first fixed barrel to drive the optical element along the first axis, an operation member fitted to an outer periphery of the second fixed barrel and configured to be operated to be rotated about a second axis as an axis of the second fixed barrel, and a transmission ring, supported by the conversion mechanism to be translatable in a first direction orthogonal to the first axis and by the operation member to be translatable in a second direction and orthogonal to the second axis, configured to transmit rotation from the operation member to the conversion mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2020Date of Patent: January 3, 2023Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Go Shibasaki
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Patent number: 11391907Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes a rotary ring that has a plurality of groove portions formed in an inner periphery in a rotation direction, a holding member that holds the rotary ring, a click member that generates a click feel by repeating an abutting state in which the rotary ring abuts on the groove portion and a non-abutting state in which the rotary ring does not abut on the groove portion when the rotary ring is rotated, and an urging member that urges the click member from an inside of the rotary ring toward an outside of the rotary ring. The click member which protrudes from a cutout portion obtained by cutting out a portion of the holding member abuts on the groove portion from the inside of the rotation ring toward the outside of the rotation ring.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2019Date of Patent: July 19, 2022Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Shinga Nakashima
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Patent number: 10951808Abstract: A method for focus control and a mobile terminal are disclosed. The method includes recognizing whether a face region appears in a preview window in a photographing preview mode; acquiring a preset travel path of the lens that matches with the face region in response to an area of the face region being less than a first preset value, wherein a start point of the preset travel path is a first position, an end point of the preset travel path is a second position close to the far focus position, and the first position is not coincident with the second position; and focusing on the face region following the movement between the first position and the second position along the optical axis according to the preset travel path.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2019Date of Patent: March 16, 2021Assignee: GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.Inventor: Xiaopeng Li
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Patent number: 10917571Abstract: An image processing device is disclosed. The image processing device controls an image capture device to capture at least first image that comprises one or more objects. The image processing device identifies at least a first object in the first image. The image processing device determines a first blur value of identified first object and determines the identified first object as a blur object based on the first blur value. The image processing device adjusts a focal point of the image capture device to focus on the blurred first object. The image processing device controls the image capture device to capture a second image of the first object based on adjusted focal point. The image processing device replaces the first object in first image with the first object in the second image to generate an output image and further controls the display screen to display well-focused output image.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2018Date of Patent: February 9, 2021Assignee: SONY CORPORATIONInventors: Sankar Shanmugam, Prashanth Puttamalla, Ashwin Kulkarni, Madhvesh Sulibhavi
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Patent number: 10554869Abstract: A camera assembly and a mobile electronic device are provided. The camera assembly includes at least two image sensors. Each image sensor includes a pixel array and a control circuit. The pixel array includes a plurality of row pixels and a plurality of column pixels. The control circuit is configured to control the image sensor to work in an imaging mode or in a light sensing mode. The control circuit is further configured to receive a light sensing instruction to control an intersection region of a part of row pixels and a part of column pixels to detect an illumination intensity so as to enable the image sensor to work in the light sensing mode and to receive an imaging instruction to control the pixel array to obtain an image so as to enable the image sensor to work in the imaging mode.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2018Date of Patent: February 4, 2020Assignee: GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.Inventors: Yibao Zhou, Jiao Cheng, Haiping Zhang
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Patent number: 10491795Abstract: An auxiliary portable photographing device for use in a mobile phone includes an image collection module, a data transmission module and a second power module; the image collection module includes a lens optical unit, an imaging unit and a collection controller connected together; the lens optical unit adopts a lens system of a multistage barrel; the imaging unit adopts a CMOS system; the data transmission module includes an AD converter, a register and a transmission controller connected together; the interface is detachably connected with the connector to achieve detachable connection. The image data collection method performs photographing by the lens optical unit and imaging unit, and the picture photographed is transmitted to the mobile phone to be processed, optimized and displayed. The photographing device is light and portable as compared to conventional portable cameras, and provides better image data as compared to cameras built in the mobile phones.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2017Date of Patent: November 26, 2019Assignee: SOOCHOW UNIVERSITYInventors: Jihua Nie, Qi Zhang, Xing Tong, Ruigong Su, Jianping Cao, Yuyou Qiu, Jian Tong
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Patent number: 10264250Abstract: A method, non-transitory computer readable medium and apparatus for determining spectral characteristics of an image captured by a camera on a mobile endpoint device are disclosed. For example, the method includes receiving the image of a color calibration card comprising a plurality of color patches and a quick response (QR) code, wherein each one of the plurality of color patches has a known spectral reflectance, determining spectral characteristics from the image of the color calibration card, wherein the spectral characteristics are used to analyze additional images that are received from the camera on the mobile endpoint device and transmitting an activation signal to activate an incentive associated with the QR code to the mobile endpoint device in response to receiving the image of the color calibration card.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2017Date of Patent: April 16, 2019Assignee: The Procter & Gamble CompanyInventors: Martin Sidney Maltz, Raja Bala, Paul Jonathan Matts, Ankur Purwar
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Patent number: 10033917Abstract: Camera modules that may be dynamically adjusted during capture of an image. The camera may include a sensor that captures images using line scan imaging or other scanning technologies. A controller may dynamically control adjustment or movement of the camera lens by an actuator as an image is scanned by the sensor. The lens may be controlled to be in different positions and in different orientations in relation to the sensor as different lines or areas of pixels of the sensor are read. When capturing an image, a region of the sensor may be read, the lens may be adjusted, and a next region of the sensor may be read according to a pattern. Different focus, depth of field, perspective, and other effects may be achieved at different areas or regions of the image during image capture.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2015Date of Patent: July 24, 2018Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Brian M. Silverstein, D. Amnon Silverstein
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Patent number: 9769371Abstract: An phase detect (PD) module including a phase detect (PD) lens, PD image sensor, and a PD controller is disclosed. The PD module may be configured to provide a control signal to an electromechanical device, such as a voice coil motor (VCM), of an image capture module to move a lens assembly to focus an image of an object to be imaged onto a primary image sensor. The PD module may direct the capture of a PD image by the PD image sensor and perform a phase detect (PD) technique on the captured AF image to identify a focus point of the lens assembly. This determined focus point may be used to displace the lens assembly relative to the primary image sensor to achieve focus of the object onto the primary image sensor.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2014Date of Patent: September 19, 2017Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Eddie Alex Azuma, Leo Benedict Baldwin
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Patent number: 9678408Abstract: Provided is a zoom lens including a plurality of lens units, in which an interval between each pair of adjacent lens units is changed during zooming, the plurality of lens units include a lens unit BR arranged closest to image side in zoom lens, which moves in optical axis direction during focusing and a lens element A arranged adjacent to lens unit BR on object side, having refractive power of sign opposite to that of lens unit BR, in which lens element A consists of a single lens or a cemented lens, and distance between surface closest to image side of lens element A and image plane at wide angle end, distance between surface closest to image side of lens element A and surface closest to object side of lens unit BR at wide angle end, and focal length of zoom lens at wide angle end are each appropriately set.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2016Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Yuki Ikegaya
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Patent number: 9503650Abstract: Provided is an improved zoom-tracking method. A point or two points between a Wide point and a Tele point are chosen, histogram information is stored, and a distance to a subject is estimated based on the stored histogram information. A locus curve is selected based on the estimated distance to the subject, and zoom-tracking is performed along the locus curve after a zoom lens reaches a specific point.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2015Date of Patent: November 22, 2016Assignee: Hanwha Techwin Co., Ltd.Inventors: Daebong Kim, Youngsang Kwon, Jungkyung Lee
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Patent number: 9465200Abstract: An apparatus for adjusting a zoom lens that includes a mechanical structure having a plurality of lens assemblies and an actuator to adjust a zoom level or focus of the apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2013Date of Patent: October 11, 2016Assignee: Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kwok Sing Cheng, Kin Ming Fan
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Patent number: 9442270Abstract: A lens barrel includes a barrel body, an optical system disposed inside the barrel body, a zoom motor, a focus motor, a zoom lever switch disposed on the outer circumference of the barrel body and configured to transmit a user's operation instruction to the zoom motor, and a focus lever switch disposed on the outer circumference of the barrel body and configured to transmit a user's operation instruction to the focus motor. The zoom lever switch and the focus lever switch are arranged in a region formed of first and fourth quadrants of the lens barrel.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2014Date of Patent: September 13, 2016Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoshiharu Araki, Makoto Nakamura, Tetsuya Kaneshiro
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Patent number: 9310589Abstract: Provided is an image pickup apparatus including, in order from an object side: a first lens unit; a stop; a second lens unit having a positive refractive power; and an image pickup element. The second lens unit includes a second lens sub-unit including only at least one positive lens. A refractive index (N2a) at a d-line of every lens included in the second lens sub-unit, an Abbe constant (?2a) and a partial dispersion ratio (?2a) of the every lens, a temperature-related relative refractive index change (dn2a/dTrelative) at the d-line, a focal length (f) of the overall system, a focal length (f2a) of the second lens sub-unit, an overall length (TD) of an image pickup lens, and a distance (BF) from an image-side surface of a lens arranged closest to an image side in the image pickup lens to an image plane of the image pickup element satisfy predetermined relationships.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2014Date of Patent: April 12, 2016Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Tsuyoshi Wakazono, Shohei Kikuchi
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Patent number: 9285656Abstract: A system for determining lens position including a first capacitor plate disposed on a stationary housing of a camera. A second capacitor plate is disposed on a rotating lens component of the camera. A processor is operatively connected to the first and second capacitor plates to identify the position of the lens of the camera based on capacitance between the first and second capacitor plates.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2014Date of Patent: March 15, 2016Assignee: Sensors Unlimited, Inc.Inventors: John T. Foster, Michael Delamere, John P. Barby
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Patent number: 9204029Abstract: An aspect of the present invention provides an interchangeable lens camera having a camera body and a lens unit that is freely attachable and detachable to the camera body. In the interchangeable lens camera, a communications unit in the camera body sends via communications terminals (MT_MOSI and MT_MISO) an INTR_BUSY control instruction that instructs whether to make notification with a busy signal (INTR_BUSY signal) for any operation out of a plurality of types of operations that can be executed, and the lens unit or camera body communications unit sets the busy signal (INTR_BUSY) to an ON state (low level) only during the period of operation of the type indicated by the INTR_BUSY control instruction.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2015Date of Patent: December 1, 2015Assignee: FUJIFILM CorporationInventor: Kenshi Imamura
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Patent number: 9201290Abstract: An aspect of the present invention provides an interchangeable lens camera having a camera body and a lens unit that is freely attachable and detachable to the camera body. In the interchangeable lens camera, a communications unit in the camera body sends via communications terminals (MT_MOSI and MT_MISO) an INTR_BUSY control instruction that instructs whether to make notification with a busy signal (INTR_BUSY signal) for any operation out of a plurality of types of operations that can be executed, and the lens unit or camera body communications unit sets the busy signal (INTR_BUSY) to an ON state (low level) only during the period of operation of the type indicated by the INTR_BUSY control instruction.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2015Date of Patent: December 1, 2015Assignee: FUJIFILM CorporationInventor: Kenshi Imamura
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Patent number: 9151939Abstract: There is provided a zoom lens in which the load on the driving system for wobbling operation can easily made low and an image pickup apparatus equipped with the same. A zoom lens in which each of distances between a plurality of lens units changes during zooming from the wide angle end to the telephoto end, includes a focus lens unit that shifts along an optical axis to effect focusing from infinity to a close distance and a plurality of wobbling lens units that wobble after a shift of the focus lens unit at an amplitude smaller than the shift of the focus lens unit in focusing operation, wherein a combination of the wobbling lens units caused to operate changes in the middle of the zooming from the wide angle end to the telephoto end.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2014Date of Patent: October 6, 2015Assignees: OLYMPUS CORPORATION, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP.Inventors: Toru Miyajima, Kazuya Nishimura, Hiroshi Kodama, Toshio Takahashi
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Patent number: 9137481Abstract: A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium stores an image processing program executable by a processor to reproduce images from an imaging signal supplied from an imaging sensor that captures subject light. The program includes instructions to (i) generate a first movie image focused to a first region set in a through-image displayed on a display unit based on the imaging signal supplied from the imaging sensor, and subsequently generate a second movie image focused to a second region, different from the first region, set in the through-image displayed on the display unit based on the imaging signal; (ii) perform image processing in linking portions of each of the first and second movie images in order to link the first movie image and the second movie image in time sequence of each movie image to generate compiled movie images; and (iii) control the display unit to display the compiled movie images.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2014Date of Patent: September 15, 2015Assignee: NIKON CORPORATIONInventor: Yoshiaki Miyakawa
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Patent number: 9071671Abstract: A cellular telephone case providing improved camera capabilities is provided. The camera enhancement case includes a housing having a front wall and four sidewalls sized for receipt of a cellular telephone. The case includes one or more camera lenses positioned to align with the camera lens of a cellular telephone to provide improved camera capabilities. Preferably, the case includes a malleable sleeve positioned between the cellular telephone and housing. Also preferably, the housing includes a handle projection for being held by a person.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2013Date of Patent: June 30, 2015Inventor: Jayson Guzman
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Patent number: 9061883Abstract: A method for making a motion control feature for an actuator device of a type that has a moveable component coupled to an opposing fixed component for out-of-plane rotational movement relative thereto includes forming first and second flaps respectively extending from the moveable and fixed components and toward the opposing component and operable to effect one or more of damping movement of the moveable component relative to the fixed component and/or restraining movement of the moveable component relative to the fixed component in a direction substantially perpendicular to the actuator device.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2010Date of Patent: June 23, 2015Assignee: DigitalOptics Corporation MEMSInventors: Roman C. Gutierrez, Robert J. Calvet, Xiaolei Liu, Guiqin Wang, Ankur Jain
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Patent number: 9036482Abstract: Network on Chips (NoC)s with a bufferless and nonblocking architecture are described. Core processors are communicatively coupled together on a substrate with a set of routing nodes based on nonblocking process. A network component routes data packets through the routing nodes and the core processors via communication links. A bufferless cross bar switch facilitates the communication of the data packets and/or path setup packets through the communication links among source processors and destination processors. The communication links include one or more channels, in which a channel comprises a data sub-channel, an acknowledgement sub-channel and a release sub-channel.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2012Date of Patent: May 19, 2015Assignee: The Hong Kong University of Science and TechnologyInventor: Chin Tau Lea
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Patent number: 8988587Abstract: A zoom lens includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens unit having negative refractive power, a second lens unit having positive refractive power, a third lens unit having negative refractive power, and a fourth lens unit having positive refractive power. During zooming, a distance between every adjacent lens unit from the first to fourth lens units varies. A focal length fw of the entire zoom lens at a wide-angle end, a focal length f1 of the first lens unit, and a focal length f4 of the fourth lens unit are appropriately set according to predetermined mathematical conditions.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2013Date of Patent: March 24, 2015Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Kenji Shinohara
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Patent number: 8988507Abstract: A camera includes a lens assembly and a stereoscopic display for displaying an image captured by the camera, and automatically determines a correct focus for the camera using the stereoscopic display to show an icon on the image appearing to move perpendicularly, relative to a first plane corresponding to a surface of the stereoscopic display, from different perceived depths corresponding to different planes parallel to the first plane.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2009Date of Patent: March 24, 2015Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Mobile Communications ABInventor: Mats Wernersson
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Patent number: 8988586Abstract: A MEMS actuator for a compact camera couples with an alignment compensation component for generating alignment compensation signals to position and align one or more movable lenses to account for a specific focus distance and for a camera module orientation and nonlinear displacement property of the one or more movable lenses.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2013Date of Patent: March 24, 2015Assignee: DigitalOptics CorporationInventor: David McKinley
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Patent number: 8976469Abstract: A lens driving system is configured for driving a lens to a focus position, and includes a control unit and a driving unit electrically connected to the control unit and coupled with the lens. The control unit acquires the focus position, calculates a main current value according to the focus position, and calculates a number of secondary current values according to the main current value. The secondary current values gradually increase to the main current value. The driving unit drives the lens to the focus position according to the secondary current values.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2013Date of Patent: March 10, 2015Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.Inventor: Ping-Han Ku
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Patent number: 8964105Abstract: An auto-focus controlling apparatus includes a focus evaluation value generating device generating a focus evaluation value based on image data acquired through the focus lens, a target lens position determining device determining a target lens position, a timing determining device determining a plurality of acquisition lens positions for acquiring the focus evaluation values in a scanning direction from a present lens position of the focus lens toward the target lens position, a scanning device driving the focus lens in the scanning direction, a predicted focus lens position determining device predicting a predicted focus lens position based on the acquired focus evaluation values and a moving device stopping the scanning device to drive the focus lens when the predicted focus lens position is determined and driving the focus lens in the same direction as the scanning direction to move the focus lens to the predicted focus lens position.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2011Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventor: Tatsutoshi Kitajima
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Patent number: 8937682Abstract: The present invention relates to a focusing device comprising: a lens, a lens plate, an image sensor, an image sensor plate, at least two rotatable structures, and at least two strips, wherein the lens is connected to the lens plate, the image sensor is connected to the image sensor plate, wherein each strip is arranged to be wound onto one of the rotatable structures, respectively, the rotatable structures and the strips are arranged between the lens plate and the image sensor plate, the rotatable structures and/or the strips are arranged in contact with the lens plate and the image sensor plate, and wherein a distance between the lens and the image sensor is adjusted by winding the strips onto or off the rotatable structures.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2013Date of Patent: January 20, 2015Assignee: Axis ABInventor: Jonas Hjelmstrom
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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
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Publication number: 20140348498Abstract: A dome-shaped camera comprising: a camera body including a focus adjustment ring for manually performing focus adjustment; a base part which supports the camera body and includes a tilt mechanism which changes an angle of a tilt direction for supporting the camera body; a dome cover which covers the camera body; a mount device which mounts the dome cover on the base part so that the dome cover is rotatable about a center axis of the dome cover; and a power transmitting device which transmits a rotating force in a direction about the center axis added to the dome cover as a rotating force of a focus adjustment ring of the camera supported at any angle in the tilt direction via a power transmission member placed on a tilt axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 11, 2014Publication date: November 27, 2014Inventor: DAIGO AIBA
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Patent number: 8867152Abstract: The optical barrel includes a first barrel member having a guiding portion to guide an optical element holding member in an optical axis direction, and a second barrel member disposed around the first barrel member and being relatively rotatable with the first barrel member. The second barrel member is provided with a cam portion to move the holding member, and with a bayonet engagement portion in an outer circumferential portion of the second barrel member. The first barrel member is provided with a flange portion, and with overhang portions and bayonet protrusion portions in plural areas of the flange portion. Each overhang portion extends along an outer circumferential surface of the second barrel member in the optical axis direction. Each bayonet protrusion portion extends inward in the radial direction and engaging with the bayonet engagement portion.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2012Date of Patent: October 21, 2014Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Harushige Yamamoto, Kousuke Kiyamura, Mitsuhiro Izumi
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Patent number: 8842212Abstract: An optical device comprises an image sensor having plural pixels and a detection unit configured to detect a focus state. The pixels include first focus state detection pixel pairs that respectively receive a pair of light fluxes having transmitted different pupil areas of the photographing lens, and second focus state detection pixel pairs that respectively receive a pair of light fluxes having transmitted pupil areas shifted by a predetermined amount from the pupil areas where the pair of light fluxes received by the first focus state detection pixel pairs have transmitted. The detection unit detects the focus state based on signal pairs obtained by adding the signals output from the first and second focus state detection pixel pairs, respectively, if a subject to be photographed is darker than a predetermined brightness, otherwise the detection unit detects the focus state based on signal pairs output from the first and second focus state detection pixel pairs, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2010Date of Patent: September 23, 2014Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Akihiko Nagano
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Patent number: 8831419Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a lens barrel in which operability for a user is increased and a reduction in parts is achieved while provided with a manual operating member.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2012Date of Patent: September 9, 2014Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Naoto Yumiki, Takushi Terasaka, Toshio Yoshimatu
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Patent number: 8824880Abstract: An imaging system having a front side and rear side enveloping a light transmitting space formed therebetween A front lens situated on the front side forms a portal through which light from an object enters into the light transmitting space wherein at least one optical element composed of glass or elastic material, liquid lenses or liquid crystal elements, and an image sensor are positioned to develop a folded beam path between the front lens and the image sensor, and a real image of the object on the image sensor. Electrically driving at least one optical element enables alteration of the focal length within the system in a manner switchable between at least two values. The change in focal length is realized with the aid of electrically controlled piezo-actuators or by an electric field applied to at least one variable optical element.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2011Date of Patent: September 2, 2014Assignee: Jos. Schneider Optische Werke GmbHInventor: Lingli Wang
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Patent number: 8817165Abstract: An image capturing apparatus comprises an image sensor on which a plurality of pixels are two-dimensionally arranged, and which has a plurality of image forming pixels and a plurality of types of focus detecting pixels that are discretely arranged among the plurality of image forming pixels and respectively have different distributions of received light, and selection means for, when the plurality of pixels are read out from the image sensor while thinning out the plurality of pixels, selecting one thinning-out read-out mode from a plurality of thinning-out read-out modes having different thinning-out phases of the plurality of pixels, wherein the plurality of types of focus detecting pixels are arranged so that in each thinning-out read-out mode, only signals of the focus detecting pixels of one type of focus detecting pixels are read out, and signals of the focus detecting pixels of other types are not read out.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2010Date of Patent: August 26, 2014Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Minoru Hirose
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Patent number: 8810714Abstract: A camera system is provided. The camera system includes a first housing, a lens module accommodated in an inner space of the first housing, a support panel engaged to a side surface of the first housing, a magnet which is mounted on the lens module and confronts the support panel, and a drive portion which is arranged on the support panel and linearly moves the lens module in a direction of an optical axis, wherein the drive portion comprises a hall sensor portion for detecting displacement of the lens module, a coil fixed on a circuit board of the drive portion, and a controller for controlling current applied to the coil according to output of the hall sensor portion, and wherein the controller and the hall sensor portion are integrated in one chip.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2013Date of Patent: August 19, 2014Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Jahwa Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Jin Soo Seol, Byung Cheol Lee, Jong Pil Lee, Doo Sik Shin
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Patent number: 8798452Abstract: A digital imaging apparatus and method by which an auto-focus (AF) operation may be effectively performed during capture of a moving image. The apparatus performs the AF operation during the capture of the moving image when it is determined that a lens is appropriate for capturing the moving image based on received lens information and stops the AF operation during the capture of the moving image when it is determined that the lens is inappropriate for capturing the moving image. When the lens inappropriate for capturing the moving image is mounted, the AF operation may be performed using an additional switch or a manual-focus (MF) operation may be performed.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2013Date of Patent: August 5, 2014Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Jong-hoon Won, Masataka Hamada
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Patent number: 8792048Abstract: The focus detection accuracy of a focus detection device that employs an external AF sensor unit having a pair of line sensors that are each comprised of multiple unit line sensors is improved. The individual line sensors are arranged so that the center of the field of view of an imaging optical system at a predetermined subject distance, at which field-of-view adjustment for causing the field of view of the imaging optical system and the field of view of a focus-detection optical system to match has been carried out, corresponds to the center of one of the multiple unit line sensors included in the individual line sensors.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2011Date of Patent: July 29, 2014Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Kengo Takeuchi
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Patent number: 8767097Abstract: The present invention discloses an image capturing device and a lens actuating device and a lens actuating method thereof. The lens actuating device comprises a focus lens group, a zoom lens group, a motor and a microcontroller. The focus lens group is arranged for changing a focus point of the image. The zoom lens group is arranged for changing distance of the image. The motor is arranged for driving the movements of the focus lens group and the zoom lens group respectively. The microcontroller is arranged for receiving a plurality of instructions, and controlling the motor at one of a plurality of predetermined speeds according to the instruction received to control the motor to drive the focus lens group or the zoom lens group to perform a focus motion or a zoom motion.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2012Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Altek CorporationInventor: Hong-Bin Koh
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Patent number: 8724011Abstract: The image pickup apparatus includes a first detector detecting a first in-focus position by a phase difference detection method using paired image signals, a controller controlling position of a focus lens a basis of the first in-focus position to perform focusing, a second detector detecting a second in-focus position by a contrast detection method, a calculating part calculating a correction value for correcting the first in-focus position in image capturing on a basis of difference between the first and second in-focus positions, and a determining part determining a level of reliability of the first in-focus position. The controller calculates the correction value when the level of reliability is a first level, and to restrict the calculation of the correction value when the level of reliability is a second level lower than the first level.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2012Date of Patent: May 13, 2014Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Miyako Nakamoto
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Patent number: 8718458Abstract: An imaging unit includes an incident-side reflecting surface provided in a casing and reflects object-emanating light, entering the casing in a thickness direction thereof, along a lengthwise direction of the casing; a movable lens group movable along the lengthwise direction of the casing; an exit-side reflecting surface reflecting the light in the thickness direction of the casing; an image sensor provided in the casing and receiving the light from the exit-side reflecting surface; and a plurality of light shield frames provided in the casing between the movable lens group and the exit-side reflecting surface, the light shield frames being arranged in the lengthwise direction of the casing and moving in the lengthwise direction of the casing when the movable lens group performs a power-varying operation.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2011Date of Patent: May 6, 2014Assignee: Hoya CorporationInventor: Isao Okuda
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Patent number: 8692908Abstract: An image-pickup apparatus includes an image-pickup element that photoelectrically converts an optical image formed by an image-pickup optical system having a zoom function, and a correcting part that performs correction processing for a distortion component in image data generated based on an output from the image-pickup element, the distortion component corresponding to a distortion of the image-pickup optical system. The image-pickup optical system provides a first zoom range in which a distortion amount at a certain image height is larger than a predetermined value and a second zoom range in which a distortion amount at the certain image height is smaller than the predetermined value. The correcting part performs the correction processing so that the distortion component remains in a first corrected image data in the first zoom range is larger than the distortion component remaining in a second corrected image data in the second zoom range.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2012Date of Patent: April 8, 2014Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Shinichiro Saito
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Patent number: 8675121Abstract: A camera comprising at least a second focus detection unit out of a first focus detection unit which includes a first pupil-dividing unit for guiding light beams having passed through different pupil regions of a photographing lens and detects a focus of the photographing lens by using light beams guided by the first pupil-dividing unit, and the second focus detection unit which includes a second pupil-dividing unit different from the first pupil-dividing unit and detects the focus of the photographing lens on an image plane different from an image plane by the first focus detection unit by using light beams guided by the second pupil-dividing unit, wherein focus detection of the photographing lens by the second focus detection unit is performed using a correction value for focus detection that is stored in advance in the photographing lens in correspondence with the first focus detection unit.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2009Date of Patent: March 18, 2014Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Ryo Yamasaki
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Patent number: 8649675Abstract: An interchangeable lens mountable to a camera body includes a zoom lens configured to adjust an angle of view of a subject image, a driver configured to move the zoom lens in an optical axis direction, a plurality of operating members configured to generate an operation signal for driving the driver according to operation performed by a user, a communication unit configured to receive, from the camera body, setting information for setting valid/invalid of at least one of the plurality of operating members, and a controller configured to control the driver. The controller drives and does not drive the driver based on the operation signal from the operating member having been set to valid and invalid, respectively, by the setting information received through the communication unit.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2012Date of Patent: February 11, 2014Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Junji Takahata, Takahiro Ikeda
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Patent number: 8643767Abstract: An imaging device includes: an optical system which obtains an optical image of a photographic subject; an image sensor which converts the optical image to an electric signal; a digital signal processor which produces image data based on the electric signal; a display section which displays a photographic subject image expressed by the image data; and an operating section which performs a necessary setting regarding imaging, the digital signal processor including: an autofocus operation section which performs an autofocus operation based on data of an autofocus area set in the photographic subject image; a main area setting section which sets a main area in the photographic subject image; and a blurring operation section which performs a blurring operation on an area other than the main area in the photographic subject image, wherein the autofocus area is set automatically to overlap with at least a part of the main area.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2010Date of Patent: February 4, 2014Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventor: Seiji Nagao