...that a workman who left the soap mixing machine on too long was responsible for making Ivory Soap? He was so embarrassed by his mistake that he threw the mess in a stream. Imagine his dismay when the evidence of his error floated to the surface! Result: Ivory soap, the soap that floats.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8145050 | Lens drive device A lens drive device includes: a lens holder holding a lens; a drive source including a rotor rotatably supported; a gear rotated by a rotation of the rotor; and a driven gear rotated by the gear. The lens holder is moved in an optical axis direction by a rotation of... | 03/27/2012 |
| 8086099 | Camera module having a low-friction movable lens Systems and methods to achieve an auto-focus camera module having a precise bearing with low friction have been disclosed. Ball bearings are guiding a lens barrel. The balls of the ball bearings are running in guide slots and are held together by ball cages. Creepin... | 12/27/2011 |
| 7941043 | Automatic focal point control for camera An automatic focal point control apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a base fixed in the camera, which includes a cylindrical projection extending from a top surface thereof and into which part of a lens barrel is inserted; a bobbin inserted into the cylin... | 05/10/2011 |
| 7933511 | Lens barrel and image pickup apparatus A lens barrel capable of reducing the radial size thereof while maintaining the degree of freedom in layout of a shutter and a anti-shake mechanism. A barrier drive ring includes first and second rotation-transmitting protrusions axially protruding toward an imaging... | 04/26/2011 |
| 7885530 | Manual focus driving ring One embodiment of a manual focus driving ring comprised of two base rings (10 and 11), each having a through-hole near their edge (20 and 21), roll pins (17) conjoining the base rings, a pressure mount ring (16) adhered to t... | 02/08/2011 |
| 7873269 | Micro camera module with discrete manual focal positions A novel micro camera module that is manually adjustable between a close-up mode and an infinite mode includes a lens assembly adjustably mounted within a sleeve that is adjustably mounted into a housing. In a particular embodiment the sleeve includes a channel (cam ... | 01/18/2011 |
| 7792422 | Lens barrel A lens barrel comprises: a first focus ring used for either one of instruction types of focus operation of a relative position instruction type focus operation for moving a position of the focus lens for focus control and an absolute position instruction type focus ... | 09/07/2010 |
| 7792421 | Triaxial snubber assembly A method and system for mitigating undesirable motion of the optics of a camera are disclosed. The system can include a stage and snubber assembly for defining motion of the camera optics. The stage and snubber assembly can include a stage assembly having a stage to... | 09/07/2010 |
| 7729606 | Lens module and digital camera module using same A digital camera module (100) includes a lens module (20) and a chip package (50) mounted in a light path of the lens module. The lens module includes a first lens assembly (21) and a second lens assembly (23). The first lens assem... | 06/01/2010 |
| 7725020 | Monitoring camera device There is provided a monitoring camera apparatus which, while ensuring waterproofness, can perform focus adjustment when a dome cover is mounted. A lens (3) is covered by the dome cover (5) which is removable. A focus adjustment mechanism (9) mov... | 05/25/2010 |
| 7684689 | External adjustment mechanism for a camera lens and electronic imager A digital camera module includes an image capture device, a lens unit, a housing for receiving the lens unit and positioning the lens unit with respect to the image capture device, and a focus mechanism disposed on the outside of the housing and operative to move th... | 03/23/2010 |
| 7650067 | Lens module with focusing mechanism An exemplary lens module (30) includes a lens barrel (31), a focusing mechanism (40), a resilient member (70), and a bottom seat (50). The lens barrel is mounted with at least one lens (36) therein and is fixed to one end of... | 01/19/2010 |
| 7639939 | Lens module with an adjustable lens unit A lens module includes a base, a drive unit, a speed reduction unit, an outer barrel, and a lens unit. The speed reduction unit is coupled to and driven rotatably by the drive unit. The outer barrel is mounted to the base and has a barrel wall that surrounds an axis... | 12/29/2009 |
| 7634190 | Lens module with focusing mechanism An exemplary lens module (20) includes a lens barrel (5), a focusing mechanism (7), a resilient member (9), and a bottom seat (6). The lens barrel is mounted with a lens (517) therein. The lens barrel is axially movable rela... | 12/15/2009 |
| 7630624 | Digital camera module with focusing function A digital camera module (100) with a focusing function includes a holder, an image sensor package (30) and a wedge (60). The holder has several lens elements (16) received therein. The image sensor package is movably received in the holde... | 12/08/2009 |
| 7616880 | Adapter ring for rotation of photographing lens barrel There is disclosed an adapter ring for rotation of a photographing lens barrel, the adapter ring being fitted into an outer periphery of the photographing lens barrel, the adapter ring being rotated through engaging with a ratchet wheel having a plurality of pawls w... | 11/10/2009 |
| 7590342 | Method and structure for suppressing response time of lens focusing structure A lens focusing structure includes a movable mechanism having at least one base, which has a camera lens centered therein and a winding externally wound therearound; an immovable mechanism having at least a frame with magnetic members mounted to four sides thereof, ... | 09/15/2009 |
| 7577352 | Mobile communication device A mobile communication device includes a first part and a second part. The first part has a camera module mounted therein, which includes a lens-barrel and a focusing mechanism engaged with the lens barrel. Wherein the focusing mechanism has a focusing lever. The se... | 08/18/2009 |
| 7515821 | Rectilinear guide which can be set without play An objective adjusting device has a stationary housing, an adjusting ring with an internal thread and a tube, with an external thread, that is guided rectilinearly in an axial direction and carries optical active elements. The adjusting ring is rotatably supported i... | 04/07/2009 |
| 7469100 | Micro camera module with discrete manual focal positions A novel micro camera module that is manually adjustable between a close-up mode and an infinite mode includes a lens assembly adjustably mounted within a sleeve that is adjustably mounted into a housing. In a particular embodiment the sleeve includes a channel (cam ... | 12/23/2008 |
| 7422382 | Camera module A camera module comprises a lens array including at least one lens, a lens accommodating unit having an inner space, in which the lens array is arranged, and an incident hole, and a housing mounted on a circuit board. The housing has a counter-engagement part engage... | 09/09/2008 |
| 7417803 | Focusing mechanism for a vision detector A machine vision image acquisition system is provided with a housing or enclosure that protects the acquisition system components from an industrial environment. The machine vision image acquisition system has a focusing mechanism that can be actuated externally to ... | 08/26/2008 |
| 7401987 | Photographing lens having an eccentricity adjusting device A photographing lens includes an eccentricity adjusting frame which holds an eccentricity adjusting lens group serving as a part of a photographing optical system of the photographing lens; a lens support frame, an axis of which is coincident with a predetermined op... | 07/22/2008 |
| 7374431 | Clamping device for digital camera module A clamping device (100) for clamping a digital camera module (300) includes a base (12) and two legs (14). Two legs extend from two sides of the base. Each leg has at least one foot (18). The at least one foot defines an arcuate su... | 05/20/2008 |
| 7359131 | Lens positioning systems and methods An improved lens mount and related lens and lens barrel positioning methods are provided. In one example, a lens mount for use with a miniature camera can include a ring member having a substantially cylindrical interior surface defining a substantially cylindrical ... | 04/15/2008 |
| 7356253 | Rotational driving apparatus and camera using the rotational driving apparatus A rotational driving apparatus with a motor, a worm pressingly fitted to an output shaft of the motor, and a worm wheel meshing with the worm, is provided to output rotation of the motor from the worm wheel via the worm. The apparatus includes support, pressing, plu... | 04/08/2008 |
| 7352089 | Driving apparatus A driving apparatus includes a stepping motor having a lead screw, a rack, and a rack-retaining bar, a barrel, a barrel-retaining bar, and a connecting spring for connecting the rack to the barrel. The connecting spring includes an engaging portion that engages with... | 04/01/2008 |
| 7330648 | Optical module There is provided an optical module having a circuit board that includes an imaging element, a lens barrel that is fixed onto the circuit board to movably accommodate a lens holder having a lens that forms an image on an imaging surface of an imaging element in a li... | 02/12/2008 |
| 7307663 | Video surveillance camera A video surveillance camera comprising a lens, lens holder, image sensor, base, and ring. The base has a plurality of slots, and the image sensor is mounted on the base. The lens is positioned in the lens holder, which has a plurality of arms with a pin. Each of the... | 12/11/2007 |
| 7213693 | Rotational transfer mechanism A rotational transfer mechanism includes a rotary output shaft, a rotary input shaft positioned inside the rotary output shaft; a circumferentially-uneven-width-space forming portion having a cam surface, to form an accommodation space between the rotary input shaft... | 05/08/2007 |
| 7201262 | One-way rotational transfer mechanism A one-way rotational transfer mechanism includes a rotary input shaft; a rotary output shaft provided around the rotary input shaft; a circumferentially-uneven-width-space forming portion formed on the rotary input shaft to form at least one accommodation space havi... | 04/10/2007 |
| 7146097 | Focusing device There is provided a focusing device capable of rapidly moving a lens to a minute focusing region and of realizing minute movement of focusing the lens in the minute focusing region. A lens moving mechanism comprises a first guide portion for guiding a lens to move i... | 12/05/2006 |
| 7133222 | Devices and methods for retaining a lens in a mobile electronic device The described embodiments provide devices and methods for securing a lens member in a mobile electronic device. The lens member is positionable between a front housing and a rear housing of the device such that inner surfaces of the housings both exert a biasing for... | 11/07/2006 |
| 7127161 | Lens barrel and optical apparatus A lens barrel is proposed, in which the optical adjustment of its lens system can be performed easily and at a reduced cost, and also an optical instrument having such a lens barrel is provided. A lens barrel is provided, which comprises: a lens frame for holding a ... | 10/24/2006 |
| 7127162 | Camera module A camera module having a lens unit; an intermediate part a hollow part of which the lens unit is affixed to; and a base unit which is opened in one direction and is equipped with a mounting part to which the intermediate part is mounted in such a way as to be able t... | 10/24/2006 |
| 7114862 | Single focus lens module A single focus lens module includes a mechanical shutter taking lens assembly and there are front lens shutter module, taking lens and holder from the object side to the image side. The taking lens is connected to the holder by threading. The front taking lens assem... | 10/03/2006 |
| 7103273 | AF driving mechanism of camera A worm gear is provided on a rotating shaft of an AF motor. A first supporting cylinder includes a gear portion and a receiving portion. A wheel gear, which is in engagement with the worm gear, is formed on an outer surface of the gear portion. A slit is formed at t... | 09/05/2006 |
| 7102837 | One-way rotational transfer mechanism, and a lens barrel incorporating the same A one-way rotational transfer mechanism includes a rotary input shaft, a rotary output shaft, a clutch member, a differential rotating member, a circumferentially-uneven-width-space forming portion formed on the rotary input shaft, a torque transfer member, and an a... | 09/05/2006 |
| 7099576 | Lens barrel incorporating a one-way rotational transfer mechanism A lens barrel includes a distance adjustment ring for moving a movable lens group; a hand-operated ring and a motor for rotating the distance adjustment ring; a one-way rotational transfer mechanism which transfers torque of the hand-operated ring to the distance ad... | 08/29/2006 |
| 7092171 | Lens barrel with lock mechanism A lens barrel with a lock arranged to avoid loosening the lock and defocusing the lens barrel when vibrated during focusing and zooming. The lens barrel includes a fixed cylinder, an adjustment ring, lock screws and a lock ring, lock screws and a lock ring. The adju... | 08/15/2006 |