{"schema_version":"1.0","canonical_url":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9854157","patent":{"patent_number":"US-9854157","title":"Camera with touch sensor integrated with lens window","assignee":null,"inventors":[],"filing_date":"2016-10-04T00:00:00.000Z","publication_date":"2017-12-26T00:00:00.000Z","cpc_codes":["H04N","H04N","H04N","H04N"],"num_claims":20,"abstract":"A camera comprises a camera body, an image sensor internal to the camera body for capturing images, a lens assembly, a display screen on an external face of the camera body, and a touch controller. The lens assembly comprises one or more lens elements to direct light to the image sensor. The one or more lens elements includes a lens window on the external face of the camera body that comprises a transparent integrated touch sensor to detect a position of a touch on the lens window and to generate a touch signal indicating the position of the touch. The touch controller processes the touch signal and updates a display on the display screen in response to the touch signal."},"analysis":{"summary":"The Camera with Touch Sensor Integrated with Lens Window patent details a camera design featuring a transparent touch sensor integrated directly into the lens window, enabling users to control camera functions through touch gestures on the lens itself. This innovation addresses the problem of cumbersome and inefficient traditional camera controls. By embedding a touch sensor within the lens, the system allows for intuitive adjustments of focus, zoom, aperture, and other settings directly on the lens surface. The touch sensor detects the position of the user's touch, and a touch controller processes this signal to update the camera's display screen in real-time.\n\nThis technology offers significant business value by simplifying camera operation, enhancing the speed and precision of adjustments, and creating a sleeker, more ergonomic camera body. It has potential applications in various markets, including professional photography, videography, and mobile imaging. The market opportunity is substantial, as the demand for user-friendly and high-performance cameras continues to grow. \n\nBy integrating touch functionality into the lens, this system offers a competitive advantage over traditional cameras and smartphones with limited physical controls or cumbersome touchscreen interfaces. This innovation could lead to new business models, such as subscription-based services offering advanced touch-based camera controls and features. The Camera with Touch Sensor Integrated with Lens Window represents a promising step forward in camera technology, with the potential to transform how we interact with cameras and capture images.","layman_explanation":"The Camera with Touch Sensor Integrated with Lens Window patent introduces a new way to control cameras by integrating a touch sensor directly into the lens. This explanation breaks down the business implications without getting too technical.\n\n**1. What Problem Does This Solve?**\nTraditional cameras rely on buttons, dials, and complicated menus to adjust settings like focus, zoom, and aperture. This can be slow and confusing, especially for new users. Even experienced photographers can miss crucial moments while fumbling with controls. Existing touchscreen interfaces on camera bodies can be awkward to use and lack the tactile feedback of physical controls. The Camera with Touch Sensor Integrated with Lens Window aims to solve this usability problem by providing a more intuitive and direct way to control camera settings.\n\n**2. How Does It Work?**\nImagine the front lens of your camera is also a touchscreen. Instead of using buttons, you simply touch the lens to zoom in or out, adjust the focus, or change other settings. This is achieved by embedding a transparent touch sensor into the lens window. When you touch the lens, the sensor detects your finger's position, and the camera's computer interprets this as a command. The camera then adjusts the settings accordingly, providing immediate visual feedback on the display screen. It's like having a smartphone screen on your camera lens.\n\n**3. Why Does This Matter?**\nThis technology has the potential to significantly improve the user experience of cameras. It can make cameras easier to use for beginners, while also allowing experienced photographers to make adjustments more quickly and precisely. This could lead to increased sales for camera manufacturers and create new opportunities for innovation in camera design. The technology could also be applied to other devices, such as smartphones and video cameras, further expanding its market potential. For investors, this patent represents a valuable asset with the potential to generate significant returns.\n\n**4. What's Next?**\nFuture applications of this technology could include advanced touch gestures, such as using two fingers to adjust aperture or rotating a finger to change the white balance. The technology could also be integrated with augmented reality (AR) applications, allowing users to overlay digital information onto the real world. The market adoption timeline will depend on factors such as manufacturing costs, consumer demand, and the availability of compatible software and hardware. Investment implications include the potential for venture capital funding, strategic partnerships, and acquisitions.","technical_analysis":"The Camera with Touch Sensor Integrated with Lens Window patent presents a novel approach to camera interface design by integrating a transparent touch sensor directly into the lens window. This technical analysis explores the system's architecture, implementation details, and potential implications for camera technology. The core innovation lies in the integration of a transparent touch sensor within the lens window. This sensor, typically constructed from materials like indium tin oxide (ITO), detects the position of a user's touch and generates a corresponding signal. A touch controller then processes this signal, interpreting the touch input and updating the camera's display screen accordingly.\n\nThe lens assembly comprises one or more lens elements designed to direct light to the image sensor. The lens window, serving as the outermost lens element, incorporates the integrated touch sensor. This requires careful design to ensure that the touch sensor does not compromise image quality. The touch controller typically employs capacitive sensing technology, known for its high sensitivity and accuracy. The controller must filter out noise and distinguish between intentional touches and accidental contact.\n\nFrom an implementation perspective, the touch sensor is integrated with the camera's operating system and application software. This requires the development of custom drivers and APIs to allow applications to access the touch sensor data. The software must also be able to handle multi-touch gestures, such as pinch-to-zoom and rotate. The integration process involves complex algorithms to interpret touch inputs and translate them into camera control commands. The performance characteristics of the system depend on the responsiveness of the touch sensor, the processing speed of the touch controller, and the efficiency of the software algorithms. Code-level implications include the need for optimized drivers and APIs to minimize latency and maximize accuracy. This technology has the potential to transform camera interfaces, providing a more intuitive and efficient way to control camera settings.","business_analysis":"The Camera with Touch Sensor Integrated with Lens Window patent presents a significant business opportunity within the camera and imaging industries. By integrating a touch sensor directly into the lens window, this technology offers a more intuitive and efficient way to control camera settings, addressing a key usability challenge in traditional camera interfaces. The market opportunity for this innovation is substantial, as consumers and professionals alike seek cameras that are both powerful and easy to use. The competitive advantages of this technology include its simplified camera operation, enhanced speed and precision of adjustments, and sleeker, more ergonomic camera body. These advantages can translate into increased market share and higher profit margins.\n\nFrom a business model perspective, this technology could be incorporated into a variety of camera products, ranging from high-end professional cameras to consumer-grade point-and-shoot models. It could also be licensed to mobile phone manufacturers, providing a competitive edge in the smartphone market. The revenue potential of this technology is significant, as it addresses a widespread need for improved camera usability. Strategic positioning involves targeting specific market segments, such as professional photographers, videographers, and tech-savvy consumers. The return on investment (ROI) projections for this technology are promising, as it has the potential to generate substantial revenue through product sales, licensing agreements, and subscription-based services. This innovation aligns with the growing trend towards user-friendly and intuitive interfaces in consumer electronics. The Camera with Touch Sensor Integrated with Lens Window represents a valuable asset for companies seeking to innovate in the camera and imaging industries.","faqs":null,"topics":["camera with touch sensor","integrated touch lens","camera lens technology","touchscreen camera","camera innovation","camera","touch","sensor"],"tech_cluster":null},"seo":{"title":"Camera with Touch Sensor Integrated with Lens Window - Patent US-9854157","description":"Explore the Camera with Touch Sensor Integrated with Lens Window patent. Integrated touch lens technology. Full analysis, claims, and market impact.","keywords":["camera with touch sensor","integrated touch lens","camera lens technology","touchscreen camera","camera innovation","patent","patent US-9854157"]},"attribution":{"source":"Patentable","source_url":"https://patentable.app","canonical_url":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9854157","license":"CC-BY-4.0-like","license_terms":"AI-generated analysis on this page (summary, layman_explanation, technical_analysis, business_analysis, faqs) may be reused with attribution and a visible link back to the canonical URL above. Patent abstracts, claims, and bibliographic data are USPTO public domain.","required_link":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9854157","citation_suggestion":"Patentable. \"Camera with touch sensor integrated with lens window\" (US-9854157). https://patentable.app/patents/US-9854157","copyright_holder":"Nomic Interactive Technology LLC"},"links":{"html":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9854157","json":"https://patentable.app/api/llm-context/US-9854157","site":"https://patentable.app","llms_txt":"https://patentable.app/llms.txt"},"generated_at":"2026-05-31T13:14:40.207Z"}