IP Library Granted Patent US 10,268,103
Granted Patent B2
US 10,268,103 · App. 15/327,231 · Granted Apr 23, 2019

Camera device and camera device control method

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,268,103
App. No.
15/327,231
Granted
Apr 23, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

According to the invention, there is provided a camera device including a light transmitting cover, a rotatable camera unit that is provided in the cover, a light shielding plate unit that can move the positions of a plurality of light shielding plates each of which blocks a portion of light incident on the camera unit, and a control unit that controls the light shielding plate unit, in which the control unit changes a light shielding range of each of the plurality of light shielding plates according to a tilt angle of the camera unit.

Claims (32)

1. A camera device comprising:

a light transmitting cover;

a rotatable camera provided in the cover;

a plurality of light shielding plates, each of which is movable and blocks a portion of light incident on the rotatable camera; and

a controller that controls the plurality of light shielding plates,

wherein the controller changes a light shielding range of each of the plurality of light shielding plates according to a tilt angle of the rotatable camera.

2. The camera device of claim 1 ,

wherein the cover has a spherical shape.

3. The camera device of claim 1 ,

wherein the plurality of light shielding plates are arranged in a vertical direction with respect to an optical axis of the rotatable camera.

4. The camera device of claim 1 ,

wherein the plurality of light shielding plates are arc-shaped.

5. A camera device comprising:

a light transmitting cover;

a rotatable camera provided in the cover;

a first light shielding plate and a second light shielding plate, each of which is movable and blocks a portion of light incident on the rotatable camera; and

a controller that controls positions of the light shielding plate and the second light shielding plate,

wherein the controller sets light shielding ranges of the first light shielding plate and the second light shielding plate to be substantially the same when a tilt angle of the rotatable camera is close to a zenith direction and sets a light shielding range of an upper light shielding plate, of the first and second light shielding plates, to be larger than a light shielding range of a lower light shielding plate, of the first and second light shielding plates, when the tilt angle of the rotatable camera is close to a horizontal direction.

6. The camera device of claim 5 ,

wherein the rotatable camera is rotatable in a tilting direction and an axis of the rotation in the tilting direction is offset from a spherical center of the cover in the zenith direction.

7. The camera device of claim 5 ,

wherein the cover has a spherical shape.

8. The camera device of claim 5 ,

wherein the first and second light shielding plates are arranged in a vertical direction with respect to an optical axis of the rotatable camera.

9. The camera device of claim 5 ,

wherein the first and second light shielding plates are arc-shaped.

10. A camera device control method comprising:

controlling positions of a plurality of light shielding plates, each of which is movable and blocks a portion of light incident on a rotatable camera provided in a light transmitting cover; and

changing a light shielding range of each of the plurality of light shielding plates according to a tilt angle of the rotatable camera.

11. A camera device control method comprising:

controlling positions of a first light shielding plate and a second light shielding plate, each of which is movable and blocks a portion of light incident on a rotatable camera provided in a light transmitting cover; and

setting light shielding ranges of the first light shielding plate and the second light shielding plate to be substantially the same when a tilt angle of the camera is close to a zenith direction and setting a light shielding range of an upper light shielding plate, of the first and second light shielding plates, to be larger than a light shielding range of a lower light shielding plate, of the first and second light shielding plates, when the tilt angle of the rotatable camera is close to a horizontal direction.

Assignments (7)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 16, 2023
From: PANASONIC I-PRO SENSING SOLUTIONS CO., LTD.
To: I-PRO CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 063101/0966 →
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Mar 16, 2023
From: I-PRO CO., LTD.
To: I-PRO CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 063102/0075 →
MERGER Recorded Dec 31, 2020
From: PANASONIC I-PRO SENSING SOLUTIONS CO., LTD.
To: PSP HOLDINGS CO., LTD
Reel/Frame 054883/0201 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 31, 2020
From: PSP HOLDINGS CO., LTD
To: PANASONIC I-PRO SENSING SOLUTIONS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 054883/0234 →
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 →
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 Mar 29, 2017
From: WADA, JYOUJI; URASHIMA, YOSHIHITO; OKA, MASAHITO; SEKI, NOBUHITO
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 041772/0370 →