Bizarre Patents
A Christmas stocking having illumination means associated therewith for signalling the arrival of Santa Claus.
PatentStorm News
Make the Most of Our Site
See this month's Top Inventors and Most Cited Patents.
Stay on top of the latest innovations by subscribing to an RSS feed.
Registered users: Manage your profile.
| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8041204 | Mechanism for controlling position of optical element An optical element position control mechanism includes an optical element holding member which holds an optical element of a photographing system; an advancing/retracting movement guide member which guides the optical element holding member in an optical axis direct... | 10/18/2011 |
| 8027580 | Image capture unit and image capture device having same An exemplary image capture unit includes a light guide plate, a camera module, and a driving unit. The light guide plate includes a first wedge-shaped portion, a second wedge-shaped portion, and an intermediate portion connecting to the first wedge-shaped portion an... | 09/27/2011 |
| 8023813 | Collapsible lens barrel and optical instrument using the same A collapsible lens barrel includes a first holding frame (2) for holding a first lens group (L1), a second holding frame (5) for holding a second lens group (L2) that is disposed on an image plane side with respect to the first lens group... | 09/20/2011 |
| 8000590 | Driving apparatus, image capturing unit, and image capturing apparatus An object of the preset invention is to provide a technique capable of preventing occurrence of an assembly error. A driving apparatus for driving an object includes: a driving part having a stationary part and a moving part; and a displacement transmitting part for... | 08/16/2011 |
| 7965933 | Mechanism for controlling position of optical element An optical element position control mechanism includes an optical element holding member which holds an optical element of a photographing system and is guided in an optical axis direction; a drive mechanism for moving the optical element holding member in the optic... | 06/21/2011 |
| 7965934 | Switching mechanism for camera device A switching mechanism for a camera device includes a driving device, a first screw bar connecting to the driving device, a second screw bar connecting to the first screw bar, and a lead screw having an end coupled with the second screw bar. The first screw bar is dr... | 06/21/2011 |
| 7565070 | Telephone vibrator A vibrator for cellular telephones and the like uses components of a camera. Thus, the need for a dedicated vibrator, and the cost associated therewith, are mitigated. A component of the camera can be moved so as to provide vibration. For example, a lens of the came... | 07/21/2009 |
| 7444076 | Image device and method for driving optical system An imaging device for picking up an image of an object via an optical system and recording image information in a recording medium, a driving system for the optical system being controlled according to a position of an operating unit, includes a motor driving an obj... | 10/28/2008 |
| 7437064 | Drive mechanism for camera A drive mechanism for a camera includes a movable member located behind a photographing lens and linearly moved along an optical axis thereof, the movable member supporting an image pickup device; an AF coil secured to the movable member or an immovable member of th... | 10/14/2008 |
| 7424215 | Lens device and imaging device using the same A lens frame holding a taking lens is movably connected to a driving shaft via a connector. A guide member is disposed at a lower portion of the lens frame so as to separate from the connector by about 180 degrees around an optical axis. The guide member is movably ... | 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 |
| 7391464 | Camera unit for driving lenses and method of manufacturing the same A camera unit includes a soft substrate on which electrode regions and an image pickup device region are disposed, a driving electrode group disposed on one of the electrode regions, an image pickup device disposed on the image pickup device region, stationary unit ... | 06/24/2008 |
| 7389040 | Lens barrel A lens barrel includes a radially-retractable optical element constituting a part of photographing optical system, and is movable between a photographing position and a radially-retracted position; a biasing device for biasing the radially-retractable optical elemen... | 06/17/2008 |
| 7345836 | Zoom lens driving apparatus A zoom lens driving apparatus achieves the object of driving multiple lens groups by a single motor and low production cost. When a first lens group, which includes a first lens, moves along guide rods, a leading cam of a leading member drives a leading pin of a fol... | 03/18/2008 |
| 7339623 | Camera and image pickup device unit which reduce influence of dust image quality A camera is provided which includes a dust-proofing member having a substantially circular or polygonal plate-shape and a transparent portion at an area having at least a predetermined length in a radial direction from a center of the dust-proofing member. The trans... | 03/04/2008 |
| 7317487 | Compact digital camera with zoom lens system In a digital camera, a solid state imaging device is used to catch subject light so that an image signal is created. The digital camera contributes to effectively implementing further thinness as compare with the conventional ones. A focus lens is revolved between a... | 01/08/2008 |
| 7308195 | Collapsible lens barrel and optical instrument using the same A collapsible lens barrel includes a first holding frame (2) for holding a first lens group (L1), a second holding frame (5) for holding a second lens group (L2) that is disposed on an image plane side with respect to the first lens group... | 12/11/2007 |
| 7303126 | System and method for sensing ambient light in an optical code reader A system and method are provided for scanning an optical code, in which an optical code scanner system includes an ambient light sensor having at least one photo sensor for sensing ambient light conditions and generating at least one first electrical signal correspo... | 12/04/2007 |
| 7301577 | Digital camera with a collapsible lens barrel A digital camera can retain its optical performance and has a particularly slim closed status. The digital camera (1) includes two lens groups (51, 52) installed in a collapsible lens barrel (3a), a focus lens (44), and a CCD (4... | 11/27/2007 |
| 7294950 | Electrostatic actuator, electrostatic actuator driving method electromechanical transducer, and electromechanical transducer driving method An electrostatic actuator includes a stator having an electrode substrate, a movable unit having a movable element and an electrode arranged opposite to the electrode substrate, a plurality of first operation modules each of which issues an operation command for rea... | 11/13/2007 |
| 7295772 | Optical unit and imaging device comprising optical unit A collapsible lens mount optical unit comprises a fixed lens mount, a lens mount movable along the optical axis with respect to the fixed lens mount, an infrared ray intercepting filter interposed between the fixed lens mount and the lens mount. The collapsible lens... | 11/13/2007 |
| 7259923 | Lens barrel A lens barrel, including, a moving frame (2) to hold a lens (8), a direct-advance ring (4) provided on an outer periphery of the moving frame and movable relative to the moving frame in an optical direction, a resilient member (6) provide... | 08/21/2007 |
| 7242534 | Lens unit and a camera incorporating the same lens unit A lens unit in which at least one of a subject side lens group and an image side lens group is moved toward an image side to be retracted along an optical axial direction, including a subject side lens group supporting frame to support the subject side lens group, a... | 07/10/2007 |
| 7233449 | Lens moving mechanism and imaging apparatus A lens moving mechanism which includes a moving lens for zooming or focusing; a lens holder holding the moving lens in a lens-barrel, and being supported freely movably into an optical axis direction of the moving lens; a guide shaft guiding the lens holder into the... | 06/19/2007 |
| 7230777 | Lens unit and compact image pickup module The lens unit includes an imaging lens including lenses, each of which includes a lens portion having an optical function and a flange portion on a periphery of the lens portion, and a ring-shaped lens holding member provided between the lenses and holds at least on... | 06/12/2007 |
| 7229223 | Rotation transfer mechanism and a zoom camera incorporating the rotation transfer mechanism A rotation transfer mechanism includes a rotatable ring and has a circumferential gear formed on a peripheral surface of the rotatable ring, and a rotation transfer gear, wherein rotation of the rotatable ring is transferred to the rotation transfer gear via engagem... | 06/12/2007 |
| 7218460 | Lens barrel, camera and portable information terminal A lens barrel including a telescopic cylinder accommodated within a fixed cylinder and lenses, the lens barrel having lens retaining frames and a lens driving device which drives the telescopic cylinder between a collapsed position and an extended position, wherein ... | 05/15/2007 |
| 7194203 | Lens barrel, photographic apparatus, and optical apparatus A lens barrel has its collapsed length which can be further decreased and its extended length which can be further increased. A photographic apparatus incorporates the lens barrel into its body. A lens barrel is equipped with a first gear which is rotatably supporte... | 03/20/2007 |
| 7166951 | Electrostatic actuator and method of driving the same First and second stationary members are arranged to face each other, and a movable member is arranged between these first and second stationary members so as to be movable in a predetermined direction. An electrode groups including a plurality of stationary electrod... | 01/23/2007 |
| 7161751 | Optical module and camera module An optical unit is disclosed which is capable of being easily assembled, enabling its optical element to smoothly move, and preventing friction loss from being generated around its nut member. A lens driving apparatus is provided for moving an optical element holder... | 01/09/2007 |
| 7129621 | Vibration wave linear motor and lens implement using vibration wave linear motor The vibration wave linear motor of the present invention is structured comprising a driven component, a first vibrator having two or more driving contacting parts for driving the driven component in a certain predetermined direction, a second vibrator having one or ... | 10/31/2006 |
| 7129620 | Vibration wave linear motor and lens implement using vibration wave linear motor The present invention comprises a first vibrator comprising a piezoelectric unit and at least one driving contacting part which vibrates by applying a predetermined voltage thereto, a second vibrator which comprises a piezoelectric unit and a plurality of driving co... | 10/31/2006 |
| 7106376 | Method and system for improving image quality of portrait images using a focus zone shift A method for capturing an image using an image capture device is disclosed. The image is capable of including a plurality of objects. Each of the plurality of objects is a corresponding distance from the imaging device. The image is associated with a focus zone. The... | 09/12/2006 |
| 7058293 | Optical element retracting mechanism for a retractable lens A retractable lens barrel includes a rear holder which holds a first optical element, and is movable along the axis thereof between an operational retracted positions; an annular member movable relative to the rear holder without rotation; a retractable holder holdi... | 06/06/2006 |
| 7050713 | Optical element retracting mechanism for a photographing lens A retracting mechanism includes a linearly movable ring; a swingable holder supported inside the linearly movable ring; a position-controller holding the swingable holder; a pair of support plates attached to opposite ends of the linearly movable ring; a support pla... | 05/23/2006 |
| 7043154 | Photographing lens having an optical element retracting mechanism A retractable lens includes a linearly movable ring, a retractable holder, a holding device, a retracting device, and a flexible PWB configured to connect an electronic component supported inside the linearly movable ring, with an electronic circuit positioned outsi... | 05/09/2006 |
| 7035019 | Lens barrel extending and retracting mechanisms A lens barrel extending and retracting mechanism. A photographic optical axis and a central axis of a lens barrel are eccentric such that a first lens group and a second lens group are housed in a side of a CCD separated from the optical axis. The lens barrel is rot... | 04/25/2006 |
| 7031604 | Lens barrel incorporating the linear guide mechanism A linear guide mechanism for guiding rings supporting components of a lens barrel along an optical axis includes an outer ring supporting a first imaging component; an inner ring positioned radially inwardly of the outer ring for supporting a second imaging componen... | 04/18/2006 |
| 6999237 | Method and apparatus for configuration and assembly of a video projection light management system A pathlength matched prism assembly is constructed from Polarizing Beam Splitter optical components having varying degrees of precision by arranging them in pathlength matched positions and fixing them to a baseplate or frame. Gaps between the optical components are... | 02/14/2006 |
| 6978088 | Optical element retracting mechanism for a retractable lens A retracting mechanism for a lens barrel, the mechanism includes a non-rotatable member having an engagement surface; a frame movable along an axis towards and away from the non-rotatable member without rotation and having a holder for holding an imaging element, th... | 12/20/2005 |
