Patents by Inventor Kentaro Nemoto

Kentaro Nemoto has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8964281
    Abstract: An optical probe includes a laser light source that emits laser light, a collimator lens that converts the laser light into parallel light, a light shape changing section that converts the parallel light into linear laser light, an irradiating section to irradiate an object with a selected part of the linear laser light, an image pickup section that picks up an image of the object based on the laser light reflected from the object, and a controller that controls irradiation of the linear laser light. The linear laser light is composed of a plurality of parts including one end part and the other end part; and the irradiating section irradiates the object with the parts of the linear laser light sequentially from the one end part to the other end part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
    Inventors: Masaoki Yamagata, Kentaro Nemoto
  • Patent number: 8908256
    Abstract: An optical probe includes a laser light source that emits laser light, a collimator lens that converts the laser light into parallel light, a light shape changing section that converts the parallel light into linear laser light, an irradiating section to irradiate an object with a selected part of the linear laser light, an image pickup section that picks up an image of the object based on the laser light reflected from the object, and a controller that controls irradiation of the linear laser light. The linear laser light is composed of a plurality of parts including one end part and the other end part; and the irradiating section irradiates the object with the parts of the linear laser light sequentially from the one end part to the other end part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
    Inventors: Masaoki Yamagata, Kentaro Nemoto
  • Publication number: 20140253724
    Abstract: A shape measuring apparatus includes: an irradiating part configured to irradiate work with a linear line laser, the irradiating part including: a light source configured to produce laser light; a first optical member configured to linearly spread the laser light from the light source and generate the line laser; and a second optical member, provided between the light source and the first optical member, configured to adjust an area of irradiation with a line laser on the work; a first sensor configured to receive a line laser reflected by the work and capture an image of the work; a lens configured to form an image of a line laser reflected by the work on an imaging surface of the first sensor; and a control part configured to control adjustment of the area of irradiation with the line laser on the work by the second optical member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaoki YAMAGATA, Kentaro NEMOTO, Eisuke MORIUCHI, Tadashi IWAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20140232855
    Abstract: A shape measuring apparatus includes a first light source, a second light source, an optical system, an image capturer, and a controller. The first light source emits visible light. The second light source emits measurement light used in a measurement. The optical system emits the visible light and the measurement light at the same position on a work piece. The image capturer captures an image of the measurement light reflected by the work piece. The controller is configured to cause the emission of the visible light onto the work piece with the first light source when determining a measurement position, and to control the emission of the measurement light onto the work piece with the second light source when making the measurement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaoki YAMAGATA, Kentaro NEMOTO, Eisuke MORIUCHI, Tadashi IWAMOTO
  • Patent number: 8643718
    Abstract: An image measuring apparatus includes: a light source; an imaging device; and a controller configured to adjust a light emission amount of the light source based on a light reception amount of the imaging device, wherein: when a light reception amount of the light receiving element is more than a maximum value, the controller reduces a light amount of the light source in next light reception; when the light reception amount of the light receiving element is less than the maximum value, the controller increases the light amount of the light source in the next light reception; and when the light amount of the light source reaches the maximum light amount and the light reception amount is smaller than a minimum value, the controller makes the light amount of the light source in the next light reception a minimum light amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
    Inventors: Masaoki Yamagata, Kentaro Nemoto
  • Patent number: 8553234
    Abstract: Disclosed is a shape measurement device including: a light irradiation unit which irradiates linear light onto a work; an imaging element which images reflected light reflected by the work; and an image-forming lens which forms an image of the reflected light reflected by the work on an imaging plane of the imaging element, and a light irradiation plane of the light irradiation unit, a principal plane including a principal point of the image-forming lens, and the imaging plane of the imaging element satisfy a Scheimpflug principle. The shape measurement device further includes: an image obtaining region selection unit which divides the imaging plane of the imaging element into a plurality of regions, and selects, as an image obtaining region, a region for use in measurement from the plurality of regions in response to at least one of measurement accuracy and a size of a measurement range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
    Inventors: Kentaro Nemoto, Masaoki Yamagata, Tadashi Iwamoto, Nobuyoshi Machida
  • Patent number: 8416426
    Abstract: A calibrating jig comprises a reference sphere, and a reflecting plate configured to support the reference sphere from a lower side thereof and mirror-reflect light in a case that the reference sphere is illuminated from an upper side thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
    Inventors: Masaoki Yamagata, Yasuhiro Takahama, Hiraku Ishiyama, Kentaro Nemoto
  • Publication number: 20130083384
    Abstract: An optical probe includes a laser light source that emits laser light, a collimator lens that converts the laser light into parallel light, a light shape changing section that converts the parallel light into linear laser light, an irradiating section to irradiate an object with a selected part of the linear laser light, an image pickup section that picks up an image of the object based on the laser light reflected from the object, and a controller that controls irradiation of the linear laser light. The linear laser light is composed of a plurality of parts including one end part and the other end part; and the irradiating section irradiates the object with the parts of the linear laser light sequentially from the one end part to the other end part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaoki Yamagata, Kentaro Nemoto
  • Publication number: 20120262726
    Abstract: Disclosed is a shape measurement device including: a light irradiation unit which irradiates linear light onto a work; an imaging element which images reflected light reflected by the work; and an image-forming lens which forms an image of the reflected light reflected by the work on an imaging plane of the imaging element, and a light irradiation plane of the light irradiation unit, a principal plane including a principal point of the image-forming lens, and the imaging plane of the imaging element satisfy a Scheimpflug principle. The shape measurement device further includes: an image obtaining region selection unit which divides the imaging plane of the imaging element into a plurality of regions, and selects, as an image obtaining region, a region for use in measurement from the plurality of regions in response to at least one of measurement accuracy and a size of a measurement range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kentaro Nemoto, Masaoki Yamagata, Tadashi Iwamoto, Nobuyoshi Machida
  • Publication number: 20120262724
    Abstract: Disclosed is a shape measurement device which scans a surface of a work by a probe in a noncontact manner and measures a surface shape of the work. The probe includes: a light irradiation unit which irradiates linear light onto the work; and an imaging unit which images reflected light of the light irradiated from the light irradiation unit, the reflected light being reflected by the work. The imaging unit includes: an imaging element which images an image of the work; an image-forming lens which forms the image of the reflected light being reflected by the work on an imaging plane of the imaging element; and a lens exchange unit which makes the image-forming lens exchangeable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kentaro NEMOTO, Masaoki YAMAGATA
  • Publication number: 20120188558
    Abstract: A calibrating jig comprises a reference sphere, and a reflecting plate configured to support the reference sphere from a lower side thereof and mirror-reflect light in a case that the reference sphere is illuminated from an upper side thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaoki YAMAGATA, Yasuhiro TAKAHAMA, Hiraku ISHIYAMA, Kentaro NEMOTO
  • Publication number: 20120098963
    Abstract: An image measuring apparatus includes: a light source; an imaging device; and a controller configured to adjust a light emission amount of the light source based on a light reception amount of the imaging device, wherein: when a light reception amount of the light receiving element is more than a maximum value, the controller reduces a light amount of the light source in next light reception; when the light reception amount of the light receiving element is less than the maximum value, the controller increases the light amount of the light source in the next light reception; and when the light amount of the light source reaches the maximum light amount and the light reception amount is smaller than a minimum value, the controller makes the light amount of the light source in the next light reception a minimum light amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaoki Yamagata, Kentaro Nemoto
  • Patent number: 8139229
    Abstract: A calibrating jig comprises a reference sphere, and a reflecting plate configured to support the reference sphere from a lower side thereof and mirror-reflect light in a case that the reference sphere is illuminated from an upper side thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
    Inventors: Masaoki Yamagata, Yasuhiro Takahama, Hiraku Ishiyama, Kentaro Nemoto
  • Patent number: 7934992
    Abstract: A game machine which uses play items such as cards and which enables the player to play a game seriously and to concentrate in the game so as to win over the opponent is provided according to the present invention. The game machine controls the progress of a game based on data read out from the play items, and issues a new play item for each game played. The game machine includes means for setting a game fee at a discount rate in accordance with the number of previous consecutive wins for the player to try a next post-victory bonus game after winning one game, and means for determining the number of games played based on the outcome (win or loss) of the player's previous games and for issuing new play items collectively to the player by the number corresponding to the determined number of games played.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Sega Corporation
    Inventors: Toru Ohara, Kazuo Komuro, Shinya Yamauchi, Jun Matsunaga, Yasuhiro Nishiyama, Kentaro Nemoto
  • Patent number: 7869970
    Abstract: A probe straightness measuring method includes: placing a measurement jig having a measurement reference surface with a known profile error on a stage surface of an XY stage so that the measurement reference surface is slanted in a moving direction of the XY stage; measuring a displaced position of the measurement piece by a displacement detector of the probe each time the XY stage is moved for a predetermined distance while controlling a driving actuator so that the measurement piece of a probe touches the measurement reference surface at a constant pressure; and calculating a straightness error of a measurement-piece moving mechanism on a basis of a measured position of the measurement piece obtained in the measuring, a nominal position of the measurement piece obtained by a calculation and a slant angle of the measurement reference surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
    Inventors: Kentaro Nemoto, Masaoki Yamagata
  • Patent number: 7784333
    Abstract: An approach controller (234) of a coordinate measuring instrument enables a position control loop (RP) and drives an actuator (133) so that a force sensor (1) is brought to a close position under a position control. When recognizing that the force sensor (1) reaches the close position, a contact controller (235) controls a switch (227) to enable a force control loop (RF) and drives the actuator (133) to bring the force sensor (1) into contact with a workpiece under a force control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
    Inventors: Kentaro Nemoto, Takeshi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7701562
    Abstract: A method of measuring a front surface profile and a back surface profile of a target object includes: mounting the target object in such a posture that a first measuring surface (front surface) is measurable by a probe; first measuring a contour of the target object; measuring the first measuring surface of the target object; reversing the target object; second measuring the contour of the target object with the reversed posture of the target object being maintained; obtaining a measurement position of a second measuring surface by comparison of contour data obtained through the first and second measuring of the contour, the measurement position of the second measuring surface corresponding to a measurement position of the first measuring surface at which the measuring of the first measuring surface is conducted; and measuring a profile of the second measuring surface along the obtained measurement position of the second measuring surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
    Inventors: Kentaro Nemoto, Masaoki Yamagata
  • Publication number: 20100007895
    Abstract: A calibrating jig comprises a reference sphere, and a reflecting plate configured to support the reference sphere from a lower side thereof and mirror-reflect light in a case that the reference sphere is illuminated from an upper side thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Applicant: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaoki Yamagata, Yasuhiro Takahama, Hiraku Ishiyama, Kentaro Nemoto
  • Publication number: 20090207403
    Abstract: A method of measuring a front surface profile and a back surface profile of a target object includes: mounting the target object in such a posture that a first measuring surface (front surface) is measurable by a probe; first measuring a contour of the target object; measuring the first measuring surface of the target object; reversing the target object; second measuring the contour of the target object with the reversed posture of the target object being maintained; obtaining a measurement position of a second measuring surface by comparison of contour data obtained through the first and second measuring of the contour, the measurement position of the second measuring surface corresponding to a measurement position of the first measuring surface at which the measuring of the first measuring surface is conducted; and measuring a profile of the second measuring surface along the obtained measurement position of the second measuring surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicant: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kentaro NEMOTO, Masaoki YAMAGATA
  • Publication number: 20090198472
    Abstract: A probe straightness measuring method includes: placing a measurement jig having a measurement reference surface with a known profile error on a stage surface of an XY stage so that the measurement reference surface is slanted in a moving direction of the XY stage; measuring a displaced position of the measurement piece by a displacement detector of the probe each time the XY stage is moved for a predetermined distance while controlling a driving actuator so that the measurement piece of a probe touches the measurement reference surface at a constant pressure; and calculating a straightness error of a measurement-piece moving mechanism on a basis of a measured position of the measurement piece obtained in the measuring, a nominal position of the measurement piece obtained by a calculation and a slant angle of the measurement reference surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2009
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Applicant: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kentaro Nemoto, Masaoki Yamagata