o Bearing spacer and housing By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An exemplary center housing rotating assembly includes a turbine wheel (260); a compressor wheel (240); a center housing (210) that includes a through bore (215), extending from a compressor end to a turbine end along a bore axis, and a recess (217), adjacent the bore, in a plane orthogonal to the bore axis; a bearing assembly (230) positioned in the bore that includes a keyway (233); and an anti-rotation component (280) seated in the recess and at least partially in the keyway to restrict rotation of the bearing assembly in the bore. Various other exemplary devices, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed. Full Article
o Tire inflation system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A tire inflation system including a drive mechanism having a rotational axis, a pump cavity positioned a radial distance away from the axis of rotation, and a force translator coupling the rotational axis to the pump cavity. The drive mechanism includes a cam comprising an arcuate bearing surface having a non-uniform curvature, the cam rotatable about the rotational axis, and an eccentric mass couple to the cam that offsets a center of mass of the drive mechanism from the rotational axis. The pump cavity is rotatably coupled to the cam, wherein the pump cavity includes an actuating element and a chamber. The force translator couples the arcuate bearing surface to the actuating element, wherein the force translator includes an axis having an arcuate position fixed to an arcuate position of the pump cavity. Full Article
o Centrifugal blower with asymmetric blade spacing By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A centrifugal blower in a cooling system of an electronic device having asymmetrical blade spacing with acceptable balance. The asymmetrical blade spacing is determined according to a set of desired acoustic artifacts that are favorable and balance that is similar to that found with equal fan blade spacing. In one embodiment, the fan impeller can include thirty one fan blades. The perceived sound quality from the fan is improved with essentially no effect on the thermal performance of the fan. Full Article
o Ceiling fan with suspension detection By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A ceiling fan includes a suspending part fixed to a ceiling and a ceiling fan body suspended via the suspending part. The ceiling fan body has a plurality of horizontally-provided blades, a motor that rotates the blades, a shaft protruding from an upper side of the motor, and a joint part that is fixed to an upper side of the shaft and is connected to the suspending part. The joint part is detachable from the suspending part and is provided with a suspension detecting part extending from the joint part to the suspending part. The suspension detecting part detecting an energized state between the suspending part and the joint part. Full Article
o Piston and scroll compressor assembly By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A compressor is provided and may include a shell, a motor assembly, a drive shaft, a first compression mechanism, and a second compression mechanism. The motor assembly may be disposed within the shell. The drive shaft may be powered by the motor assembly. The first compression mechanism may be disposed within the shell and may be driven by the motor assembly. The second compression mechanism may be driven by the motor assembly. Full Article
o Camera system and focus detecting method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A camera system according to the present invention, comprising: an interchangeable lens comprising: a zoom position detecting section configured to detect a zoom position corresponding to a focal length of the photographing optical system; and a lens control section configured to input the zoom position and transmit it to the camera body, and a camera body comprising: a body control section configured to communicate with the lens control section, a focus detecting section configured to detect an in-focus position of a focus lens included in the photographing optical system, and a zoom position memory section configured to memorize the zoom position which is transmitted from the lens control section and received by the body control section, wherein when transmitting the in-focus position to the lens control section, the body control section transmits the memory zoom position memorized in the zoom position memory section to the lens control section. Full Article
o Actuator By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An actuator is provided for driving a camera module to perform a focusing operation. The actuator includes a carrier part, a base, a driving module, and plural balls. The carrier part is used for supporting the camera module and the plural balls. The base is used for accommodating the carrier part. The driving module is used for driving movement of the carrier part. The driving module is located at a corner of the carrier part. The plural balls are located at other corners of the carrier part. The carrier part is guided by the plural balls to be moved in a direction parallel with an optical axis of the camera module. Full Article
o Camera protection module for portable device case By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A mobile device case defining an aperture and a camera protection module within the aperture. The camera protection module may be a separate element from the case shell or may be formed as an integral part of shell. Full Article
o Periphery coating apparatus, periphery coating method and storage medium therefor By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A periphery coating unit performs a scan-in process of moving a resist liquid nozzle 27 from an outside of an edge Wb of a wafer W to a position above a periphery region Wc of the wafer W while rotating the wafer W and discharging a resist liquid from the resist liquid nozzle 27; and a scan-out process of moving the resist liquid nozzle 27 from the position above the periphery region Wc of the wafer W to the outside of the edge Wb of the wafer W while rotating the wafer W and discharging the resist liquid from the resist liquid nozzle 27. Further, in the scan-out process, the resist liquid nozzle 27 is moved at a speed v2 lower than a speed v3 at which the resist liquid is moved to a side of the edge Wb of the wafer W. Full Article
o Portable support having extendable rod By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A portable support for supporting equipment above a surface having an opening to a subsurface space. The support includes a head, an elevator on the head, and legs connected to the head for supporting the head above the surface. Each of the legs has a foot for engaging the surface when supporting the head above the surface. The support also includes an elongate rod vertically mounted on the elevator for movement between a raised position, in which an upper end of the rod extends above the head, and a lowered position, in which a lower end of the rod extends below the feet of the legs to extend into the subsurface space. The support includes an instrument platform positionable on the lower end of the rod when in the lowered position to support the equipment in the subsurface space when the rod is in the lowered position. Full Article
o Camera module with threadless lens barrel engagement design By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A camera module with a lens barrel containing a lens, and a lens carrier that slidably receives the lens barrel. Each of the exterior surface of the lens barrel and the interior surface of the lens carrier include a seating surface formed thereon. One of the exterior surface of the lens barrel and the interior surface of the lens carrier include a plurality of protrusions for controlling the relative position of the lens barrel and the lens carrier. The other of the exterior surface of the lens barrel and the interior surface of the lens carrier include a plurality of channels that are sized and arranged so as to slidably receive the protrusions to allow for the lens barrel to be slid into the lens carrier. The channels also each include a transverse section to allow the lens barrel to be pivoted about an optical axis of the lens barrel. Full Article
o Actuator By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An actuator includes a stator and a movable component movably mounted in the stator. The stator includes a yoke, a printed circuit board disposed at one axial end of the yoke, a bobbin mounted inside the yoke, windings wound about the bobbin; and multiple terminals mounted to the bobbin to electrically connect the windings ends to the printed circuit board. The bobbin includes a plurality of spaced extending portions extending towards the printed circuit board. The terminals are mounted to a respective end of the extending portions of the bobbin that face the printed circuit board. The terminals are spaced from the yoke. A free length of the terminal between the bobbin and the printed circuit board is short enough to avoid bending which may result in a short circuit between the terminals and the yoke. Full Article
o Image capturing apparatus and control method of the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An image capturing apparatus comprises: an image sensor configured to capture an image; a vibration detection unit configured to detect a vibration; a vector detection unit configured to detect a motion vector from images; a first correction unit configured to optically correct an image blur; a second correction unit configured to electrically correct the image blur; a first calculation unit configured to calculate, on the basis of the vibration, a first vibration correction amount for controlling the first correction unit; a second calculation unit configured to calculate, on the basis of the motion vector, a second vibration correction amount for controlling the second correction unit; and a control unit configured to control the first and second calculation units so that the first and second vibration correction amounts are suppressed when a vibration amount is greater than a first threshold. Full Article
o Method and apparatus for controlling flash By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method and an apparatus for controlling a flash are disclosed. The method includes obtaining a statistical gray value of a preview image. If the statistical gray value of the preview image is less than a preset threshold, a corresponding fill light parameter is searched for in a preset dynamic fill light table according to the statistical gray value of the preview image and the fill light drive current is set according to the fill light parameter. The fill light drive current is configured to drive a flash lamp to fire a pre-flash. A corresponding exposure drive current in the preset exposure parameter table is configured according to the fill light parameter and the exposure drive current is configured to drive the flash lamp to flash. Full Article
o Methods for enhancing camera focusing performance using camera orientation By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An electronic system for enhancing camera focusing on a portable electronic device is disclosed. The system comprises a body, a bus, and a camera module coupled to the bus and comprising a photosensitive substrate and a lens assembly wherein the lens assembly comprises a lens capable of being selectively moved to a distance from the photosensitive substrate for light focus thereon. Further, it comprises an accelerometer coupled to the bus and configured to generate orientation information, said orientation information indicating contemporaneous orientation of the body with respect to a predetermined reference. It also comprises a memory and a processor coupled to the bus. The memory comprises instructions that when executed implement an autofocus program configured to automatically determine the distance based on: 1) image data captured by said camera module; and 2) the orientation information generated by the accelerometer. Full Article
o Image capture apparatus and method of controlling the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An image capture apparatus comprises an inclination detection unit which detects an inclination of the image capture apparatus, a display unit which displays the inclination of the image capture apparatus, and a predetermined reference orientation set for the image capture apparatus, a still state determination unit which determines that the image capture apparatus is in a still state, if a variation of the inclination falls within a predetermined range, and a reference orientation setting unit which sets the reference orientation of the image capture apparatus, wherein the reference orientation setting unit does not set the reference orientation if the still state determination unit determines that the image capture apparatus is not in the still state. Full Article
o Moving member control apparatus and imaging apparatus incorporating the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention relates to a moving member control apparatus that makes sure unerring control of a moving member having an ill-balanced structure and an imaging apparatus that incorporates that control apparatus. Full Article
o Image shake correcting apparatus and control method for same, lens barrel, optical apparatus, and imaging apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The CPU acquires the output of an angular velocity sensor and performs image shake correction. An angle 1 calculating unit integrates a signal from which an offset component is removed to calculate an angle 1. An angular velocity subtraction amount calculating unit calculates an angular velocity subtraction amount based on a signal obtained by subtracting a first offset from the output of the angular velocity sensor and a signal obtained by subtracting a second offset from the output of the angle 2 calculating unit. An angle 2 calculating unit integrates a signal obtained by subtracting the angular velocity subtraction amount from the output of the angular velocity sensor to calculate an angle 2. The CPU performs image shake correction based on the angle 1 prior to operation of a release SW, whereas the CPU performs image shake correction based on the angle 2 after operation of the release SW. Full Article
o Imaging apparatus, flash device, and control method thereof By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An imaging apparatus for performing wireless communication with an external device. An instruction transmitting unit transmits an operation instruction to the external device. A response signal receiving unit receives a response signal from the external device. A first controlling unit starts a first operation relating to an imaging process in a case that a first time passes from a point of receiving the response signal by the response signal receiving unit. The external device executes a second operation relating to the imaging process in a case that a second time passes from a point of transmitting the response signal from the external device to the imaging apparatus. Full Article
o Autofocus mechanism By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A computation & control unit defines, as first and second voltages, A+B_signal voltages at distances which give the maximum and minimum voltages of an S_signal voltage, respectively. The unit further defines the higher one of the first and second voltages as an S_signal validity determination voltage and defines a distance at which the S_signal voltage takes on an in-focus determination voltage. The unit defines first and second lower limit voltages, defines the higher one of the first and second lower limit voltages as a lower limit voltage, and defines, as an upper limit voltage, an A+B_signal voltage at a distance which gives an in-focus determination voltage between the maximum and minimum positions of the S_signal voltage. An input and output unit outputs the upper and lower limit voltages as the upper and lower limit values of a settable range of the S_signal validity determination voltage. Full Article
o Camera with hot shoe unit By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A camera includes a body and a hot shoe unit on which a strobe light is detachably installable. The hot shoe unit is rotatably installed on the body. Full Article
o Convertible flash bag By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A modifiable enclosure that can be used to house an object and can be adapted and connected to the object to aid in directing a stream of light emanating from the object. The modifiable enclosure can include a first panel with a connecting element extending substantially about a periphery thereof and a second panel with connecting element extending substantially about a periphery thereof that is releasably fastenable to the connecting element extending substantially about a periphery of the first panel. Full Article
o Ophthalmologic imaging apparatus and ophthalmologic imaging method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An ophthalmologic imaging apparatus includes an observation light source configured to generate infrared light for illuminating a subject's eye via an illumination optical system, an imaging unit configured to receive light returned from the subject's eye via an imaging optical system, and an electronic shutter control unit configured to refresh charge generated caused by light received by the imaging unit in response to turning off of the observation light source. Full Article
o Frame and insert for mounting a mobile device to a tripod By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An apparatus for mounting a mobile device on a tripod includes a frame with a rigid peripheral member defining an opening therethrough. The peripheral member includes a mount configured to releasably couple the frame to the tripod. An insert is sized and shaped to be placed into the opening of the frame and releasably engage at least a portion of the peripheral member in an assembled configuration. The insert has a membrane in the form of a cavity configured to releasably receive and support the mobile device. The membrane extends over at least a portion of the opening of the frame in the assembled configuration and includes at least one camera hole extending therethrough that is aligned with a camera lens of the mobile device when the mobile device is mounted in the cavity. Full Article
o Camera mount vibration dampener By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A vibration dampener for a camera mount is structured to reduce the movement of a first mount component relative to a second mount component. An upper camera mount component securing a camera couples to a lower camera mount component, which in turn couples to a base mount component configured to couple to a user, a sports board, a helmet, a vehicle, and the like. The vibration dampener is compressibly inserted between the lower mount component and the base mount component, causing the vibration dampener to exert an outward force on the lower mount component, and securing the lower mount component against a portion of the base mount component. The movement of the lower mount component relative to the base mount component is accordingly reduced by the vibration dampener. Full Article
o Camera lens front cover and the monitoring camera having the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A camera lens front cover and the monitoring camera having the same are disclosed. The monitoring camera may comprise a main body, a lens module and a camera lens front cover. The lens module may be disposed on the main body and comprise a lens holder and a camera lens, wherein the camera lens may protrude from the lens holder. The camera lens front cover may comprise a cylindrical casing and a glass cap, wherein the cylindrical casing may be hollow, and there are two openings at both sides of the cylindrical casing, and the lens module may be disposed inside the cylindrical casing. The glass cap may be disposed on one of the openings of the cylindrical casing and one side of the glass cap may be disposed with a protrusion part for accommodating the camera lens protruding from the lens holder. Full Article
o Motion control device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Described herein is a motion control apparatus for a camera and methods of use of the apparatus. The apparatus includes a camera attachment and a linear movement assembly operatively associated with a drive mechanism. This configuration causes linear movement of the drive mechanism and the camera attachment in a linear direction along a line or pathway. The apparatus is used for capturing time delay sequences and allows for operation over any desired path length along the line. Further, the apparatus is portable and can be used with other camera accessories. Full Article
o ***WITHDRAWN PATENT AS PER THE LATEST USPTO WITHDRAWN LIST***Image sensing and printing device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An image sensing and printing digital camera device includes a housing defining a slot for receiving a printed instruction card having printed thereon an array of dots representing a programming script, the housing further storing therein a roll of print media; an area image sensor for sensing an image and generating pixel data representing the image; a linear image sensor for scanning the array of dots on the card and converting the array of dots into a data signal; a microcontroller provided in the housing, the microcontroller for decoding the data signal into the programming script and applying the programming script on the pixel data; and a printing mechanism for printing the pixel data, having applied thereto the programming script, on the roll of print media. The microcontroller integrates on a single chip a VLIW processor, a printhead interface, and an output buffer effecting communication between the VLIW processor and the printhead interface. Full Article
o Lens holder driving device capable of avoiding deleterious effect on hall elements By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An AF unit of a lens holder driving device includes a lens holder, a focusing coil, a permanent magnet having a plurality of permanent magnet pieces having first surfaces opposed to the focusing coil, a magnet holder holding the permanent magnet, and first and second leaf springs supporting the lens holder in a direction of an optical axis shiftably. An image stabilizer portion includes a fixed portion disposed near the second leaf spring, a supporting member swingably supporting the AF unit with respect to the fixed portion, an image stabilizer coil having a plurality of image stabilizer coil portions disposed so as to oppose to second surfaces of the plurality of permanent magnet pieces that are perpendicular to the first surfaces, and a plurality of Hall elements. Each Hall element is disposed at a position where the image stabilizer coil portion is separated into a plurality of coil parts. Full Article
o Bufferless nonblocking networks on chip By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT 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. Full Article
o Electronic apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An electronic apparatus is disclosed. The electronic apparatus includes: an imaging device which converts light into an image signal; a lens unit positioned in front of the imaging device to form an image on the imaging device from light incident from an object; a shutter unit interposed between the lens unit and the imaging device to expose the imaging device to the light incident from the object based on a predetermined exposure time and that includes a shutter curtain that regulates the light incident from the object; and a measurement unit which measures an actual exposure time of the shutter unit. The measurement unit is positioned behind the shutter curtain and includes a light-receiving sensor which receives light incident on the measurement unit from the light incident from the object other than the light of the effective image area incident on the imaging device. Full Article
o Continuous film and camera and method thereof By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The dual camera allows continuous wireless transmission of image data through radio waves to outside picture processing devices and continuous capture of images on frames of camera film rolls. A radio wave transmission attachment transmits image data though radio waves to outside picture processing devices. Several housing compartments of the dual camera receive camera film rolls. When images are captured on all frames of one camera film roll, a detachable housing compartment door is operable so that the camera film roll may be removed. While the camera film roll is being removed, the dual camera may simultaneously capture images on a remaining camera film roll in a filming position and the radio wave transmission attachment may transmit image data to outside picture processing devices without exposing the camera film roll in the filming position. Alternatively, a cable transmits radio wave image data to outside picture processing devices. An image radio wave converter of the dual camera converts photograph image data into radio wave image data. Full Article
o Holding device for a camera By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The invention pertains to a device which allows a person to hold a camera with a first arm (10) which extends longitudinally in the first extension direction (E). The first arm (10) is designed to be attached to or detached from the camera (2) and features a first free end (100) and a chin rest surface (21) provided on that first free end (100). The chin rest surface (21) is designed to rest on the chin (K) of the person (P) holding the camera (2). A second arm (30) extends from the first arm (10) along the second extension direction (E') and features a free end (31) where a grip area (32) is provided. This grip area (32) is designed to allow a person (P) to grasp the camera with one hand (H) using the device (1) and is kept separate from the chin rest surface (21) along the first extension direction (E). Full Article
o Focal plane shutter and optical device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A focal plane shutter includes: first, second, and third boards respectively including openings through which light enters an image pickup element from an object side, and arranged in this order from the object side toward the image pickup element side; a blade arranged between the first and second boards and capable of opening and closing the openings; and a holding member arranged between the second and third boards, not coupled to the blade, and holding the second board from the image pickup element side. Full Article
o Exchangeable lens and camera body By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An exchangeable lens includes: a mount unit at which a camera body is detachably engaged; a plurality of drive target members, conditions of which change as a drive force is applied thereto; an initialization unit that executes initialization processing for each of the plurality of drive target members; an initialization status transmission unit that transmits initialization statuses, each indicating a status of the initialization processing executed for one of the drive target members, to the camera body via a first transmission path over predetermined first cycles; and a drive condition transmission unit that transmits a drive condition of at least one drive target member among the plurality of drive target members to the camera body via a second transmission path different from the first transmission path over predetermined second cycles different from the predetermined first cycles. Full Article
o Periphery monitoring apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A periphery monitoring apparatus capable of photographing a vicinity of a vehicle without impairing the outer appearance of the vehicle includes a light source configured to be provided in the vehicle for illuminating the periphery of the vehicle, and a camera photographing a condition of the periphery of the vehicle with an optical axis changed by a mirror toward the underside of the circumferential edge of the vehicle illuminated by at least a portion of light irradiated from the light source reflected by the mirror configured to be disposed on the outer side of the circumferential edge of the vehicle. Full Article
o Method and apparatus for self camera shooting By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method enables self-camera shooting in a mobile terminal. In the method, whether a first user input is detected is determined. When the first user input is detected, a half shutter mode is entered. Whether a second user input is detected is determined. When the second user input is detected, self-camera shooting is performed. Full Article
o Interchangeable lens camera, camera body, lens unit, and busy signal control method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT 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. Full Article
o Image photographing apparatus having a slidable shutter assembly By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An image photographing apparatus capable of maintaining the size of a sensor plate even in a case when the size of a shutter assembly is increased, the image photographing apparatus including a shutter assembly configured to control an amount of light entered, an image sensor disposed at a rear of the shutter assembly to change the light to an electrical signal, a sensor plate configured to support the image sensor, and a main frame configured such that the shutter assembly and the sensor plate are be mounted thereon, wherein the main frame includes a frame base, and a shutter mounting portion protrudedly formed from the frame base such that the shutter assembly is mounted in a sliding manner on the shutter mounting portion. Full Article
o Component cover having variable light transmissivity By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT In a broad aspect, embodiments described herein are generally directed to an electronic device comprising: a housing; a component mounted within the housing; a component cover in fixed relation to the housing; wherein the component cover is configurable between at least a first state and a second state; and wherein light transmissivity through the component cover is greater when in the second state than when in the first state. In some implementations, in the first state the component cover is substantially opaque, or in the second state the component cover is substantially transparent. Full Article
o System and method for storing images captured from a booth By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A system for capturing images in a booth. The system includes a network, a server communicatively coupled to the network, the server comprising a database operable to store images. The system further includes a booth communicatively coupled to the network, the booth comprising an input device operable to receive one or more inputs from a user, a camera operable to capture one or more images of the user, a display operable to present the one or more images, and a booth computer operable to transmit the one or more images to the server. Full Article
o Dome-shape camera By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT 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. Full Article
o Method and apparatus for determining linear position using multiple magnetic field sensors By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The linear position of an object is estimated using multiple magnetic field sensors and a magnet. The multiple magnetic field sensors are held in fixed relation to one another and in moving relation with respect to the magnet. Readings of the first and second magnetic field sensors and the fixed distance between the first and second magnetic field sensors may be used to estimate the linear position. In some embodiments, an estimated frequency of an approximately sinusoidal field versus position characteristic is also used as part of the estimation. Full Article
o Camera system with rotating mirror By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An image system configured to record a scanned image of an area. The system includes a single two-dimensional (2D) imager and a rotatable mirror. The 2D imager is formed of a two-dimensional (2D) array of light detectors. The 2D imager is operable in a line-scan mode effective to individually sequence an activated line of light detectors at a time. The rotatable mirror is configured to rotate about an axis parallel to a plane defined by the rotatable mirror. The rotation is effective to vary an angle of the rotatable mirror to pan a projected image of the area across the 2D imager. The angle of the rotatable mirror and the activated line of the 2D imager are synchronized such that the scanned image recorded by the 2D imager is inverted with respect to the projected image. Full Article
o Magnetic lens filters and adapter assemblies for a camera By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Provided herein are devices and system to magnetically, rotably secure a lens filter to a camera. Generally the devices and systems comprise a magnet assembly and a lens filter assembly threadably engageable. Also provided are magnetic lens filter systems comprising the engaged magnet and lens filter assemblies and an attachment assembly securable around a camera lens and magnetically attachable to the magnet comprising the magnetic lens filter, magnetic adapter assembly or magnetic adapter. Further provided are camera systems comprising the magnetic lens filter systems rotatably affixed thereto. Full Article
o Toy projectile launching system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A toy projectile launching system including at least one launchable toy projectile, including at least one RFID tag, and a toy projectile launching apparatus, including a housing, a projectile launching mechanism, a projectile receptacle, and an RFID writer adapted to write tag data to the at least one RFID tag, wherein the toy projectile is adapted to be loaded into the projectile receptacle and launched by the projectile launching mechanism. Full Article
o Auxiliary user interface for a transmit controller By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT In an embodiment, a transmit controller compatible with an auxiliary user interface device is provided. The transmit controller has a memory with operational parameters, a control user interface, an auxiliary user interface connector, and a transmit controller processor. The transmit controller processor is configured to transmit the operational parameters to the auxiliary user interface device and modify the operational parameters in accordance with a parameter instruction from the auxiliary user interface device. The transmit controller processor is further configured to receive a control instruction from the control user interface, determine an output signal based on the control instruction and the one or more operational parameters, and transmit the output signal to the model vehicle. Full Article
o Swinging bob toy with reversibly separable bobs By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A swinging bob toy having three bobs constrained on a string, the middle bob being slideably constrained between the two end bobs, and at least one of the bobs being reversibly separable into two partial bobs. A wide variety of new tricks and maneuvers are made possible by the separability of the bobs. The two partial bobs have roughly the same weight thereby providing balanced orbits. Each of the two partial bobs slides less easily along the string than a non-separated bob. The two partial bobs have roughly the same diameter along at least one axis thereby allowing visual illusions to be performed. Full Article
o Apparatus for a throwing game By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A throwing disc, goal apparatus, and game are provided. A disc includes a central hub with blades projecting equiangularly from the hub. The blades are circumscribed by and joined to an outer perimeter ring that aids in throwing. The blades of the disc act as airfoils and impart unique flight characteristics to the disc. A goalpost is comprised of two vertical sections, joined by a horizontal cross-bar located above the midline of the vertical sections, and supported by a rectangular frame oriented perpendicularly to the vertical sections. A scoring pad is included. The game is played by tossing the disc and attempting to pass the disc while in flight between the vertical posts and above the horizontal cross-bar of the goalpost, and landing the disc on the scoring pad. Full Article
o Building blocks and building block fasteners By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A building block (100) comprises a first mating portion and a second mating portion which are complementary. The first mating portion comprises a mating protrusion (140) which defines an axially extending through bore (144) and the second mating portion comprises an axially extending mating receptacle (180) which is complementary to the mating protrusion (140). The mating protrusion (140) and the mating receptacle (180) are in communication via the through bore (144), and a fastener anchoring device (146) adapted for engaging with an engagement means (920) of a fastener (900) is formed inside the through bore (144). The through bore (144) is adapted to permit axial insertion of the engagement means (920) of the fastener (900) into the mating protrusion (140). The fastener anchoring device (146) is adapted to obstruct axial passage of the engagement means (920) until the engagement means (920) overcomes the obstruction by negotiating rotationally with the fastener anchoring device (146) to thereby gain axial advancement and enter into engagement with the fastener anchoring device (146). Full Article