IP Library Granted Patent US 10,228,571
Granted Patent B2
US 10,228,571 · App. 14/450,576 · Granted Mar 12, 2019

Camera apparatus and filter unit

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,228,571
App. No.
14/450,576
Granted
Mar 12, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A camera apparatus includes: an imaging device; a polarization filter that transmits a polarization component; an infrared ray cut filter that cuts infrared rays; a first motor that rotates the polarization filter; and a second motor that inserts any one filter of the polarization filter and the infrared ray cut filter in an imaging region of the imaging device. The infrared ray cut filter cuts the infrared rays among light beams incident on the imaging device when the infrared ray cut filter is inserted in the imaging region by the second motor, and the polarization filter that is rotated by the first motor transmits the polarization component among the light beams incident on the imaging device when the polarization filter is inserted in the imaging region by the second motor.

Claims (36)

1. A camera apparatus comprising:

an imaging device;

a gear;

a polarization filter that transmits a polarization component;

an infrared ray cut filter that cuts infrared rays;

a first motor that rotates the polarization filter via the gear;

an idler pulley that is positioned between the gear and the polarization filter, receives power from the first motor via the gear, transmits the power received from the first motor to the polarization filter by contact of the gear with the idler pulley and by contact of the idler pulley with an outer periphery of the polarization filter, and rotates the polarization filter based on the power received from the first motor; and

a second motor that translates the infrared ray cut filter together with the polarization filter and the idler pulley by linear reciprocation along a predetermined direction between a first position and a second position, wherein

in the first position, the infrared ray cut filter is inserted in an imaging region, the gear is separated from the idler pulley, and the idler pulley and the polarization filter are in contact with each other,

in the second position, the polarization filter is inserted in the imaging region, the gear is in contact with the idler pulley, and the idler pulley and the polarization filter are in contact with each other

the infrared ray cut filter cuts the infrared rays of light beams incident on the imaging device in the first position in which the infrared ray cut filter is inserted in the imaging region by the second motor, and

the polarization filter that transmits the polarization component of light beams incident on the imaging device in the second position in which the polarization filter is inserted in the imaging region by the second motor.

2. The camera apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a first frame that supports the polarization filter, wherein

the gear and the first frame are separated from each other before the polarization filter is inserted in the imaging region of the imaging device by the second motor and

the gear and the first frame are connected to each other via the idler pulley and the polarization filter is rotated by the first motor via the gear, the idler pulley and the first frame in the second position in which the polarization filter is inserted in the imaging region of the imaging device by the second motor.

3. The camera apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising:

a second frame that supports at least the polarization filter and the infrared ray cut filter, wherein the second motor moves the second frame.

4. The camera apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein

the idler pulley is provided in the second frame and meshes with a peripheral gear provided at a periphery of the first frame.

5. The camera apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein

the idler pulley meshes with the gear connected to the first motor in the second position in which the polarization filter is inserted in the imaging region of the imaging device by the second motor.

6. The camera apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the first motor rotates the polarization filter about a center axis of the polarization filter after insertion of the polarization filter in the imaging region of the imaging device is completed by the second motor.

7. A filter apparatus comprising:

a gear;

a polarization filter that transmits a polarization component;

an infrared ray cut filter that cuts infrared rays;

a first motor that rotates the polarization filter via the gear;

an idler pulley that is positioned between the gear and the polarization filter, receives power from the first motor via the gear, transmits the power received from the first motor to the polarization filter by contact of the gear with the idler pulley and by contact of the idler pulley with an outer periphery of the polarization filter, and rotates the polarization filter based on the power received from the first motor; and

a second motor that is adapted to translate the infrared ray cut filter together with the polarization filter and the idler pulley by linear reciprocation along a predetermined direction between a first position and a second position, wherein

in the first position, the infrared ray cut filter is inserted in an imaging region, the gear is separated from the idler pulley, and the idler pulley and the polarization filter are in contact with each other,

in the second position, the polarization filter is inserted in the imaging region, the gear is in contact with the idler pulley, and the idler pulley and the polarization filter are in contact with each other,

the infrared ray cut filter is adapted to cut the infrared rays of light beams incident on the imaging device in the first position in which the infrared ray cut filter is inserted in the imaging region by the second motor, and

the polarization filter that is adapted to transmit the polarization component of light beams incident on the imaging device in the second position in which the polarization filter is inserted in the imaging region by the second motor.

8. The camera apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein positions of the polarization filter and the infrared ray cut filter relative to the idler pulley do not change while the second motor translates the infrared ray cut filter together with the polarization filter and the idler pulley.

Assignments (7)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 31, 2020
From: PSP HOLDINGS CO., LTD
To: PANASONIC I-PRO SENSING SOLUTIONS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 054883/0234 →
MERGER Recorded Dec 31, 2020
From: PANASONIC I-PRO SENSING SOLUTIONS CO., LTD.
To: PSP HOLDINGS CO., LTD
Reel/Frame 054883/0201 →
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Dec 31, 2020
From: PANASONIC I-PRO SENSING SOLUTIONS CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC I-PRO SENSING SOLUTIONS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 054883/0248 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ERRONEOUSLY FILED APPLICATION NUMBERS 13/384239, 13/498734, 14/116681 AND 14/301144 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 034194 FRAME 0143. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Dec 24, 2020
From: PANASONIC CORPORATION
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 056788/0362 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 19, 2019
From: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC I-PRO SENSING SOLUTIONS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 051369/0172 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 10, 2014
From: PANASONIC CORPORATION
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 034194/0143 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 2, 2014
From: WADA, JYOUJI; OKA, MASAHITO; URASHIMA, YOSHIHITO
To: PANASONIC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 033867/0618 →
Cited By (2)
US 12,217,507 US 12,530,059