Patents Assigned to Keyence Corporation
  • Patent number: 11493331
    Abstract: A three-dimensional shape measuring apparatus includes a stage that includes a translation stage part having a placement surface on which a measurement object is placed and capable of translating the placement surface; an illuminator that includes independently controllable and two-dimensionally-arranged projection devices, and illuminates the measurement object, which is placed on the stage, with measuring light having a predetermined projection pattern having alternating light-and-dark intervals; a photoreceptor that receives measuring light reflected by the measurement object illuminated by the illuminator, and to generate a projection pattern image; and a movement controller that controls the translational movement of the translation stage part by a moving pitch smaller than the minimum width of the projection pattern which can be projected on the stage by independently controlling the projection devices of the illuminator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: KEYENCE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takuya Karube, Masaki Fujiwara
  • Publication number: 20220349827
    Abstract: It is possible to save time and effort required for imaging of an analysis point and to improve usability of an analysis device. An analysis and observation device as a laser-induced breakdown spectroscope includes: a first camera, an electromagnetic wave emitter that emits laser light to a sample; a reflective object lens that collects plasma light generated in the sample; first and second detectors that generate intensity distribution spectra; and a processor. The processor controls the first camera in response to reception of a start trigger signal to generate a pre-irradiation image that is an image before the sample is irradiated with the laser light, and controls the electromagnetic wave emitter after controlling the first camera to emit the laser light to the sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2022
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Applicant: Keyence Corporation
    Inventors: Ryosuke KONDO, Kenichiro HIROSE
  • Publication number: 20220349813
    Abstract: An analysis and observation device includes: an electromagnetic wave emitter that emits a primary electromagnetic wave; a reflective object lens having a primary mirror provided with a primary reflection surface reflecting a secondary electromagnetic wave and a secondary mirror provided with a secondary reflection surface receiving and further reflecting the secondary electromagnetic wave; first and second detectors that receive the secondary electromagnetic wave and generate an intensity distribution spectrum; and a controller that performs component analysis of a sample based on the intensity distribution spectrum. A transmissive region through which the primary electromagnetic wave is transmitted is provided at a center of the secondary mirror.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2021
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Applicant: Keyence Corporation
    Inventors: Ryosuke IMAI, Kenichiro HIROSE
  • Publication number: 20220349848
    Abstract: An analysis and observation device includes an analysis unit, a primary storage device that reads a substance library in which types of substances are associated with a plurality of characteristics, and a processor that executes processing based on the substance library. The substance library is configured by storing hierarchical information of superclasses each of which represents a general term of a substance and subclasses each of which represents a type of the substance. A processor includes: a spectrum acquirer that acquires an intensity distribution spectrum; a characteristic extractor that extracts a characteristic of a substance based on the intensity distribution spectrum; a substance estimator that estimates the type of the substance from subclasses based on the extracted characteristic; and a user interface controller that causes a display to display the estimated subclass and the superclass to which the subclass belongs in a hierarchical manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2022
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Applicant: Keyence Corporation
    Inventors: Hayato OHBA, Kenichiro HIROSE
  • Publication number: 20220335587
    Abstract: The image inspection apparatus includes an image score calculator and an imaging condition specifier. The image score calculator calculates scores of images, which are produced under different imaging conditions. The imaging condition specifier receives, when two or more thumbnails corresponding to two or more of the images that have a higher score are displayed on the display, selection of one from the two or more thumbnails to specify a set of imaging conditions corresponding to the thumbnail selected. The different imaging conditions include a single-shot set of conditions under which a single-shot image is produced, and a composition series of sets of conditions under which images are captured to produce a composite image from the images. The display shows a reference information display area that indicates reference information representing the single-shot set or composition series of sets in response to the displaying of the two or more thumbnails.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2022
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Applicant: Keyence Corporation
    Inventors: Yuichiro HAMA, Keisuke FUKUTA, Nobuyuki KURIHARA
  • Publication number: 20220335588
    Abstract: An image inspection apparatus includes a learned neural network storage storing a neural network that previously learns weighting factors between input, intermediate and output layers, and an inferer determining failure/no-failure of a workpiece and classify the workpiece to classes based on an image of the workpiece. The inferer performs first and second inferences. In the first inference, the inferer determines failure/no-failure of the workpiece based on failure/no-failure feature quantities that are obtained by providing the workpiece image to the neural network and a failure/no-failure determination boundary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2022
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Applicant: Keyence Corporation
    Inventor: Di HE
  • Publication number: 20220317648
    Abstract: To provide a PLC having a data collection function and a data display screen generation function. The PLC includes: a collection section that collects a symbol value stored in a symbol, which is a device or a variable serving as a collection target, according to the application program; a determination section that determines whether or not the symbol value collected by the collection section according to the application program satisfies a normal condition set for the application program to detect a status different from usual regarding the symbol value; and a generation section that generates a display screen including a determination result of the determination section and information indicating the symbol value collected by the collection section according to the application program.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Applicant: Keyence Corporation
    Inventor: Daisuke MARUYAMA
  • Publication number: 20220318007
    Abstract: To provide a programming support apparatus including an integrated development environment in which a development environment for developing a user program to be executed by a PLC is integrated with a development environment of a display screen. A programming supporting apparatus includes a providing section that provides an integrated development environment in which a non-web application-based first development environment supporting development of a user program to be transferred to and executed by the programmable logic controller is integrated with a web application-based second development environment supporting development of a display screen by generating the display screen, which displays a symbol value collected from a symbol used in accordance with the user program in the programmable logic controller, as a web page that is described by data describing a structure, data describing a decoration, and a code describing dynamic processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Applicant: Keyence Corporation
    Inventor: Yui NEHASHI
  • Publication number: 20220317650
    Abstract: The present invention aims to efficiently perform analysis from enormous data by utilizing information other than a device and a variable held by a basic unit. In addition, another object thereof is to extract and report important data from an analysis result of the enormous data. An analysis apparatus includes: a storage section that stores PLC information different from a symbol value among pieces of information associated with a programmable logic controller; an execution engine that repeatedly executes a user program; an acquisition section that acquires operation record data including a plurality of time-series symbol values, the operation record data being collected by execution of the user program; and a processing section that outputs an analysis report obtained by analyzing an abnormal symbol that does not satisfy a normal condition regarding the acquired operation record data based on the PLC information stored in the storage section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Applicant: Keyence Corporation
    Inventors: Gen FUKATSU, Tetsuya MIYASAKA
  • Publication number: 20220316867
    Abstract: A shape measuring apparatus includes a stage, a light projecting portion, a light receiving portion, and a rotation unit. The rotation unit is attached to an end of the stage. The rotation unit rotates the measurement subject about a rotation axis that vertically intersects while holding the measurement subject. In a state where the measurement subject is at a predetermined rotation angular position, the pattern light is emitted from the light projecting portion to the measurement subject a plurality of times while being phase-shifted. At this time, the light receiving portion captures an image of the measurement subject. Three-dimensional shape data is generated on the basis of a plurality of pieces of image data obtained by imaging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Applicant: Keyence Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi SUZUKI, Shinya TAKAHASHI
  • Patent number: 11461575
    Abstract: The optical information reader includes an imaging part configured to capture a plurality of images at predetermined timing until code reading results in success or a reading process times out, and an output part configured to output information on timing at which the optical information reader receives the trigger signal, success or failure information on code reading, and the plurality of images captured by the imaging part, and success or failure information representing whether the reading process performed by a decoder results in success or failure and the plurality of images captured in response to the trigger signal are associated with the trigger signal, and, with a list of reading results corresponding to a plurality of the trigger signals displayed on a display part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: KEYENCE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hidezumi Nagata, Takashi Hirano, Kazuteru Yamamura
  • Patent number: 11448500
    Abstract: A three-dimensional shape measuring apparatus includes a fixer that fixes an illuminator and a photoreceptor to produce a measurement area to be illuminated with measuring light above a stage and to incline their optical axes with respect to a placement surface of the stage in an orientation in which the illuminator and the photoreceptor face the measurement area obliquely downward; a point cloud data generator that generates point cloud data as a set of points including three-dimensional position information representing a three-dimensional shape of a measurement object placed on the stage based on light-reception signals provided by the photoreceptor; a top view map image generator that generates a top view map image representing a plan view of the measurement object as viewed downward from a position right above the measurement object based on the point cloud data; and a display that displays the top view map image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: KEYENCE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazuki Natori
  • Publication number: 20220290978
    Abstract: A shape generation unit generates three-dimensional data of an adjustment workpiece by synthesizing a plurality of pieces of profile data generated corresponding to each position in a Y1 direction due to relative movement of the adjustment workpiece having a spherical surface in a movement direction A of an imaging head corresponding to the Y1 direction. A sphere information calculation unit calculates a parameter of the spherical surface defined by a plurality of points included in the three-dimensional data. A distortion amount calculation unit calculates a distortion amount of the spherical surface based on the parameter. A correction value calculation unit calculates at least one of a first rotation angle correction value about an X2 axis and a second rotation angle correction value about a Z2 axis in the plurality of pieces of profile data constituting the three-dimensional data so as to reduce the distortion amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2022
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Applicant: Keyence Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi FUJIMOTO
  • Patent number: 11443145
    Abstract: To enable effectively narrowing down features to be generated, thereby generating effective features at a high speed, in obtaining the features from a large volume of data. A fixed rule and an additional rule are stored in advance. The fixed rule specifies a rule of a calculation operation for generating a new feature. The additional rule specifies whether to perform a calculation operation for generating the new feature on a basis of meta-information, not depending on whether the fixed rule is applicable. An objective variable is predicted from plurality of features on the basis of the fixed rule and the additional rule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: KEYENCE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Taiga Nomi, Yasunobu Umehara
  • Publication number: 20220284208
    Abstract: To suppress an increase in processing time due to a load of inference processing while improving reading accuracy by the inference processing of machine learning. An optical information reading device includes a processor including: an inference processing part that inputs a code image to a neural network and executes inference processing of generating an ideal image corresponding to the code image; and a decoding processing part that executes first decoding processing of decoding the code image and second decoding processing of decoding the ideal image generated by the inference processing part. The processor executes the inference processing and the first decoding processing in parallel, and executes the second decoding processing after completion of the inference processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2021
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Applicant: Keyence Corporation
    Inventor: Ikuo YAMADA
  • Publication number: 20220269061
    Abstract: A magnified observation apparatus includes an illuminator, a feature quantity calculator, and an illumination controller. The illumination controller selectively performs first and second sequences. In the first sequence, the illuminator is operated in the first lighting pattern, and a display is operated to display a live image of the observation object that is irradiated with the first lighting pattern by a display controller. In the second sequence, the illuminator is operated in the second lighting pattern as at least one of the different illumination directions that is selected based on the feature quantities of the image data, which are calculated correspondingly to the different illumination directions by the feature quantity calculator, and the display is operated to display by the display controller an image of the observation object that is captured when the observation object is irradiated with the second lighting pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2022
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Applicant: Keyence Corporation
    Inventors: Suguru SEKIYA, Shingo MATSUMURA
  • Publication number: 20220269062
    Abstract: A magnified observation apparatus includes an FOV changer, an in-focus degree evaluator, and a focus sequence executor. The in-focus degree evaluator calculates in-focus degree feature quantities, which represent in-focus degrees of image data corresponding to images to be displayed by a display controller on a display. The focus sequence executor executes an FOV-moving focus sequence in which a focusing device adjusts a relative distance between a focus position of the objective lens and an observation object in accordance with in-focus degree feature quantities of image data that are successively calculated by the in-focus degree evaluator corresponding to images of the observation object that are captured during movement of an observation FOV by the FOV changer so that a live image of the observation object is displayed on the display based on image data that is obtained during the movement of an observation FOV by the display controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2022
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Applicant: Keyence Corporation
    Inventors: Shingo MATSUMURA, Suguru SEKIYA
  • Patent number: 11423528
    Abstract: The image inspection apparatus includes a camera that images a workpiece placed on a stage and generates a workpiece image, and a second camera having an imaging field-of-view wider than that of the camera, which images the workpiece and generates a bird's eye view image. The apparatus detects a position of the workpiece based on the bird's eye view image, and positions the workpiece based on the position of the workpiece so that the workpiece is located in or near an imaging field-of-view of the camera, thereby imaging the workpiece with the camera to generate the workpiece image. The apparatus specifies a detailed position and an orientation of the workpiece in the workpiece image generated by the camera, and determines an inspection point of the workpiece in the workpiece image based on the detailed position and the orientation of the workpiece specified, thereby executing a predetermined inspection process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: KEYENCE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Koji Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11409257
    Abstract: To facilitate work for creating a data utilization program for collecting control data held by a PLC and a dashboard for displaying the control data. A setting device receives selection of a dashboard, receives designation of collection target data, creates setting data including a set of a template of the dashboard and a template of a data utilization program, and transfers the setting data to a PLC. A second executing section of the PLC executes, based on the setting data, predetermined data processing on the collection target data to generate display target data. The display target data is linked with a graph display component included in the template of the display data of the dashboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: KEYENCE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masato Fujimura
  • Patent number: 11408560
    Abstract: Recording a history related to an operation of a safety program contributes to a determination of a cause of a false OFF signal. A safety controller acquires, from at least one safety input device or safety sensor, extra information that is not used for obtaining an output signal and records an input signal and an output signal together with the extra information as history information at predetermined recording intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: KEYENCE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryuma Miyake, Yuta Kato