John Toor from Los Gatos, CA, age 64

Quick Release Hold-Down For Pci/Agp Cards

View page

US Patent:

6618263, Sep 9, 2003

Filed:

Sep 4, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/946860

Inventors:

Ko (Kevin) Kin-Wing - Redwood City CA
John W. Toor - Palo Alto CA
Andrea Koerselman - Mountain View CA
Livius D. Chebeleu - San Jose CA

Assignee:

Flextronics Design - San Jose CA

International Classification:

H05K 712

US Classification:

361759, 361732, 361801, 361825, 211 4117

Abstract:

A quick release hold-down mechanism for releasably securing protective covers and expansion cards within a personal computer comprises a press plate for exerting a force upon the flange of a protective cover or the flange of an expansion card. A tension arm is operatively coupled to the press plate for holding the press plate in place. The tension arm is releasable to and securable within a fixed position such that the press plate maintains the force upon a surface of the expansion card or protective cover to maintain the expansion card or protective cover in its desired location. The tension arm is rotatably moved which causes the press plate to pivot through an arc, around a pivot means. By this rotatable motion of the tension arm, the press plate engages the surface of the installed protective cover or expansion card. More than one protective cover and expansion card can be installed and any number of either or both can be thus secured. The tension arm is secured by means of a locking indent that engages the computer chassis.

Micro Camera Module With Discrete Manual Focal Positions

View page

US Patent:

7469100, Dec 23, 2008

Filed:

Oct 3, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/242646

Inventors:

John W. Toor - Palo Alto CA, US
Elaine B. Bogue - Dunstable MA, US
Ellen B. Cargill - Norfolk MA, US
Kraig S. Clark - Erie CO, US

Assignee:

Flextronics AP LLC - Niwot CO

International Classification:

G03B 13/32

US Classification:

396144, 348345

Abstract:

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 groove) that is engaged by a plurality of pins fixed to the housing. Further, a biasing member is disposed between the sleeve and the housing such that an upward force will enable the pins to firmly engage the lower portion of the channel. In a more particular embodiment, the channel defines two detents that secure the sleeve into predetermined positions with respect to the housing. In an even more particular embodiment, the channel is sloped such that upon rotation of the sleeve, the distance between the lens assembly and an image capture device is changed. In another particular embodiment, the camera module includes an electrical mode detecting switch that is indicative of the position of the camera module.

Zoom Module Using Actuator And Lead Screw With Translating Operation

View page

US Patent:

7573011, Aug 11, 2009

Filed:

Aug 3, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/888979

Inventors:

Lothar Westerweck - San Jose CA, US
Wolfram Grziwa - Amherst NH, US
Klaus Raschke - Weston FL, US
Alexander Raschke - Weston FL, US
John Toor - Palo Alto CA, US

Assignee:

Flextronics AP, LLC - Broomfield CO

International Classification:

G02B 7/04

US Classification:

2502012, 250239

Abstract:

An optical module includes a first optics group, a second optics group, and an image sensor, wherein the first optics group and second optics group are configured to provide an image having a focus and a magnification to the image sensor. In some embodiments of the present invention, a first optics assembly includes a first optics group coupled to a threaded portion of a first lead screw so that translation of the first lead screw results in translation of the first optics group along an axis of the first lead screw, a first actuator for rotating the first lead screw; and a first sensing target configured to permit detection of rotation of the first lead screw. In some embodiments of the present invention a second optics assembly includes a second optics group coupled to a threaded portion of a second lead screw so that translation of the second lead screw results in translation of the second optics group along an axis of the second lead screw, a second actuator for rotating the second lead screw, and second means for sensing configured to detect rotation of the second lead screw.

Micro Camera Module With Discrete Manual Focal Positions

View page

US Patent:

7873269, Jan 18, 2011

Filed:

Dec 22, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/317295

Inventors:

John W. Toor - Palo Alto CA, US
Elaine B Bogue - Dunstable MA, US
Ellen B. Cargill - Norfolk MA, US
Kraig S. Clark - Erie CO, US

Assignee:

Flextronics AP LLC - Broomfield CO

International Classification:

G03B 13/00

US Classification:

396144

Abstract:

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 groove) that is engaged by a plurality of pins fixed to the housing. Further, a biasing member is disposed between the sleeve and the housing such that an upward force will enable the pins to firmly engage the lower portion of the channel. In a more particular embodiment, the channel defines two detents that secure the sleeve into predetermined positions with respect to the housing. In an even more particular embodiment, the channel is sloped such that upon rotation of the sleeve, the distance between the lens assembly and an image capture device is changed. In another particular embodiment, the camera module includes an electrical mode detecting switch that is indicative of the position of the camera module.

Camera Module With Contamination Reduction Feature

View page

US Patent:

7983556, Jul 19, 2011

Filed:

Nov 2, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/982726

Inventors:

Lothar R. Westerweck - San Jose CA, US
Bahram Afshari - Los Altos CA, US
Dennis R. Berube - Cranston RI, US
John W. Toor - Palo Alto CA, US
Elaine B. Bogue - Dunstable MA, US

Assignee:

Flextronics AP LLC - Broomfield CO

International Classification:

G03B 17/00
G03B 17/02

US Classification:

396535, 396 73

Abstract:

A novel digital camera module includes an image capture device, a lens unit including a body, a housing including an opening for receiving the lens unit and positioning the lens unit with respect to the image capture device, and a contaminant trap formed by an isolated annular space between the lens unit and the opening of the housing. In a particular embodiment, the opening of the housing includes surfaces having at least two different perimeters, the smaller of which slidably engages the outer surface of the lens unit. The contaminant trap collects and contains any contaminants before they reach vulnerable components such as the image capture device and/or other optical components within the camera module.

Micro Camera Module With Discrete Manual Focal Positions

View page

US Patent:

8204372, Jun 19, 2012

Filed:

Jan 18, 2011

Appl. No.:

12/930799

Inventors:

John W. Toor - Palo Alto CA, US
Elaine B. Bogue - Dunstable MA, US
Ellen B. Cargill - Norfolk MA, US
Kraig S. Clark - Erie CO, US

Assignee:

Flextronics AP LLC - Broomfield CO

International Classification:

G03B 13/34

US Classification:

396144

Abstract:

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 groove) that is engaged by a plurality of pins fixed to the housing. Further, a biasing member is disposed between the sleeve and the housing such that an upward force will enable the pins to firmly engage the lower portion of the channel. In a more particular embodiment, the channel defines two detents that secure the sleeve into predetermined positions with respect to the housing. In an even more particular embodiment, the channel is sloped such that upon rotation of the sleeve, the distance between the lens assembly and an image capture device is changed. In another particular embodiment, the camera module includes an electrical mode detecting switch that is indicative of the position of the camera module.

Micro Camera Module Having A Housing With A Graduated Lens Assembly Receiver Portion

View page

US Patent:

8565592, Oct 22, 2013

Filed:

Sep 14, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/232722

Inventors:

John W. Toor - Palo Alto CA, US
Elaine B. Bogue - Dunstable MA, US
Ellen B. Cargill - Norfolk MA, US
Kraig S. Clark - Erie CO, US

Assignee:

DigitalOptics Corporation - San Jose CA

International Classification:

G03B 13/32

US Classification:

396144

Abstract:

A novel micro camera module includes a lens assembly adjustably mounted within a graduated receiver portion of a housing. The lens assembly slidably contacts the graduated receiver portion when the lens assembly is moved a distance along an axis perpendicular to the sensor array of an image capture device of the camera module. Further, a resilient ring-shaped member can be coupled between the lens assembly and the housing.

Optical Lens Having Fixed Lenses And Embedded Active Optics

View page

US Patent:

20120092543, Apr 19, 2012

Filed:

May 3, 2010

Appl. No.:

13/318440

Inventors:

Bahram Afshari - Los Altos CA, US
John Toor - Palo Alto CA, US
Samuel Wennyann Ho - Foster City CA, US
Peter Clark - Boxborough MA, US

Assignee:

LENSVECTOR INC. - Mountain View CA

International Classification:

H04N 5/225
G02F 1/29

US Classification:

348335, 359315, 349200, 348E05024

Abstract:

An electrically controllable optical lens apparatus makes use of fixed lenses and an active optical element together in a lens enclosure. The enclosure may be a barrel structure that is easily mounted to a camera device having an image sensor. The active optical element, such as a tunable liquid crystal lens, receives an electrical signal from the camera device via electrical conductors integral with the lens enclosure that provide electrical pathways between the active element on the interior of the enclosure and surface contacts on the camera device. The enclosure may be a two-piece structure, and the electrical conductors may be attached to either piece of the structure. The lens enclosure may also be threaded for attachment to the camera device. The electrical conductors may also use spring loaded contact portions or molded interconnect devices.