Photoelectric Or Optical-type Measuring Instruments Patents (Class 318/640)
  • Patent number: 11486696
    Abstract: An on-machine measurement device that locates a tip position of a blade of a machining tool provided on a machining device includes: a measurement unit configured to measure, in a workpiece that has been machined by the machining tool, a height of a reference plane not machined by the machining tool and a height of a machined surface machined by the machining tool; and a locating unit configured to locate the tip position of the blade of the machining tool based on information on a machining depth specified at the time of machining of the workpiece, and the height of the reference plane and the height of the machined surface that are measured by the measurement unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiro Murota, Yonpyo Hon, Akira Yamamoto, Tomoki Shimizu
  • Patent number: 11342828
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention provide methods and systems for moving a plurality of moveable stages relative to a stator. The stator comprises a plurality of coils shaped to provide pluralities of coil trace groups where each coil trace group comprises a corresponding plurality of generally linearly elongated coil traces which extend across a stator tile. Each moveable stage comprises a plurality of magnet arrays. Methods and apparatus are provided for moving the moveable stages relative to the stator, where a magnet array from a first moveable stage and a magnet array from a second moveable stage both overlap a shared group of coil traces. For at least a portion of the time that the magnet arrays from the first and second moveable stages overlap the shared group of coil traces, currents are controllably driven in the shared coil trace group based on the positions of both the first and second moveable stages. The positions of the first and second moveable stages may be ascertained by feedback.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: The University of British Columbia
    Inventor: Xiaodong Lu
  • Patent number: 11298016
    Abstract: A positioning unit for positioning an optical unit in an optical path of a microscope between a microscope lens and in front of an eye to be examined includes a connection device coupling the positioning unit to the microscope. The positioning unit includes an accommodating device configured to adapt an ophthalmoscopic lens that serves to examine an ocular fundus to the positioning unit as an optical element of the optical unit. The positioning unit includes a positioning device to move the ophthalmoscopic lens relative to the microscope in the longitudinal direction of the optical path. The accommodating device presents an adjusting means for displacing the ophthalmoscopic lens in an adjusting plane that runs orthogonally relative to the optical path of the microscope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: OCULUS OPTIKGERAETE GMBH
    Inventor: Carsten Feiertag
  • Patent number: 11114326
    Abstract: Methods for chucking and de-chucking a substrate from an electrostatic chucking (ESC) substrate support to reduce scratches of the non-active surface of a substrate include simultaneously increasing a voltage applied to a chucking electrode embedded in the ESC substrate support and a backside gas pressure in a backside volume disposed between the substrate and the substrate support to chuck the substrate and reversing the process to de-chuck the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Wendell Glenn Boyd, Jr., Jim Zhongyi He, Ramesh Gopalan, Robert T. Hirahara, Govinda Raj
  • Patent number: 11084111
    Abstract: A method for automated positioning of a toothed workpiece, having the following method steps: providing a toothed workpiece, which has a machine-readable, workpiece-specific marking, such as a QR code, a barcode, an RFID tag, or the like; attaching the toothed workpiece on a spindle of a CNC-controlled multiaxis machine; automatically acquiring the marking of the workpiece; ascertaining an actual position of the workpiece in relation to the multiaxis machine on the basis of the marking; transferring the workpiece from the actual position into a setpoint position in relation to the multiaxis machine, before a machining and/or measuring method is carried out in the multiaxis machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Inventor: Thomas Predki
  • Patent number: 11042004
    Abstract: Systems and methods can align of one or more optical beams with respect to one another, an optical axis, a far-field location, and/or a near-field location. An example method includes coupling, with an index-matched epoxy, a plurality of adjustable optical surfaces and an optical element. Each adjustable optical surface of the plurality of adjustable optical surfaces is associated with a respective light-emitter device of a plurality of light-emitter devices. Additionally, the method includes causing at least one light-emitter device to emit light that interacts with at least one adjustable optical surface and an optical element to provide a transmitted light beam. The method also includes receiving information about a beam profile of the transmitted light beam, comparing the beam profile to a desired beam profile, and adjusting a position of the at least one adjustable optical surface with respect to the optical element based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Ralph Shepard, Pierre-yves Droz
  • Patent number: 11040451
    Abstract: A teaching device includes an image acquisition unit which acquires an image including a manipulation target object which is linked to operations of an arm of a robot and a teaching position of the manipulation target object, a movement control unit which controls the arm to move the manipulation target object in the image to the teaching position, and a teaching information acquisition unit which acquires a state of the arm in a state in which the manipulation target object in the image is present at the teaching position as teaching information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Inventors: Satoshi Shiraishi, Takashi Nammoto
  • Patent number: 11013161
    Abstract: An electronic component mounter is provided which easily detects penetrating portions. An electronic component mounter comprises a holding section configured to hold a board having a penetrating portion penetrating the board in a front-rear direction and into which a lead of an electronic component is inserted; a light section disposed on one face from among the front face and the rear face of the board when the board is held by the holding section and configured to irradiate a light beam, which is direct light or reflected light, on to the board; and a light receiving section disposed on the other face from among the front face and the rear face of the board when the board is held by the holding section and configured to receive the light beam via the penetrating portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: FUJI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Daisuke Nakayama
  • Patent number: 10921163
    Abstract: An optical positioning measurement device includes a light source module operable to emit light, an encoder module and a sensor module. The sensor module is configured to output electric signals relating to luminous flux of light received thereby via the encoder module. The encoder module having a first incremental code portion, a second incremental code portion and an absolute code portion. The first incremental code portion includes multiple first incremental code patterns that are equally distributed. The second incremental code portion includes multiple second incremental code patterns that are equally distributed. The second incremental code patterns are arranged more loosely than the first incremental code patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: HIWIN MIKROSYSTEM CORP.
    Inventors: Heng-Sheng Hsiao, Yin-Yuan Chen, Tsan-Lin Chen
  • Patent number: 10746945
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods directed to alignment of light-emitting devices. An example method includes coupling a support substrate to a light guide assembly. The support substrate includes a plurality of elongate structures and a plurality of laser diodes. Each laser diode of the plurality of laser diodes is coupled to a respective elongate structure of the plurality of elongate structures. The method also includes causing a given laser diode of the plurality of laser diodes to emit light toward the light guide assembly. The light guide assembly includes a light guide manifold configured to guide at least a portion of the emitted light as transmitted light. The method additionally includes comparing at least one optical characteristic of the transmitted light to a desired optical characteristic and, based on the comparison, adjusting a position of the given laser diode by adjusting the respective elongate structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Pierre-yves Droz, Augusto Tazzoli, David Schleuning, Nathaniel Golshan, David Hutchison
  • Patent number: 10707740
    Abstract: An X-Y movable stage with rotation and tilt is described. A fixed base comprises a magnetic bed with a checkerboard, hexagonal or pseudo-random pattern of alternating north and south poles on a grid. A movable puck moves, rotates and tilts on the base. The base and puck system is free of any other moving parts. The puck comprises three or more nodes where each node may be energized for a north, south, or off magnetic field, with varying field strength. Embodiments include use in a vacuum or fluid. Light from the base to the puck may be used to charge or power a puck. Methods of mapping node locations, controllers, and applications are described. Embodiments for specific applications are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Inventor: Kim Rubin
  • Patent number: 10707739
    Abstract: An X-Y movable stage with rotation is described. A fixed base comprises a magnetic bed with a checkerboard, hexagonal or pseudo-random pattern of alternating north and south poles on a grid. A movable puck moves and rotates on the base. The puck comprises three or more nodes where each node may be energized for a north, south, or off magnetic field, with varying field strength. Methods of mapping node locations, controllers, and applications are described. Embodiments for specific applications are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Inventor: Kim Rubin
  • Patent number: 10649421
    Abstract: The various implementations described herein include methods and systems for protecting unattended children in the home. In one aspect, a method is performed at computer system. The computer system: (1) receives occupancy data for a room in a smart home environment; (2) determines based on the received occupancy data whether a predetermined child-protection alert condition is met; (3) in accordance with a determination that the condition is met, presents or sends instructions to issue a child-protection alert; (4) receives a request to cancel the child-protection alert; (5) in accordance with a determination that the request is a first type of cancellation request, cancels the child-protection alert and modifies the predetermined child-protection alert condition; and (6) in accordance with a determination that the request is a second type of cancellation request, cancels the child-protection alert and foregoes modifying the predetermined child-protection alert condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventors: Sierra Leigh Nelmes, Sophie Solvieg Le Guen, Maxime Veron, Isabel Guenette, David Sloo
  • Patent number: 10527462
    Abstract: An encoder, comprising a first element, a second element, and a plurality of components, in which the first element is movable among a plurality of positions relative to the second element, each position is adjacent to at least one other position, each component generates a signal at each of said positions, and movement of the first element from any position to any adjacent position results in a change in a signal from only one of said components. Also, an encoder that comprises a multi-detector element which comprises two or more sub-detectors that generate sub-signals, the sub-detectors spaced from each other a distance (rotational and/or translational) that is smaller than a distance between two positions of a first element. Also, a method of detecting a position of a first element relative to a second element, comprising moving a first element relative to a second element from a first position to a second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Marquardt GmbH
    Inventors: Daniel Savage, Matthew R. Randle, Kenneth L. Markowski
  • Patent number: 10461620
    Abstract: An X-Y movable stage with rotation is described. A fixed base comprises a magnetic bed with a checkerboard pattern of alternating north and south poles on a grid. A movable puck moves and rotates on the base. The puck comprises three or more nodes where each node may be energized for a north, south, or off magnetic field, with varying field strength. The nodes are arranged on an X-Y motion grid on the puck that are rotated 45° from the magnetic base grid. A first set of node locations on the puck may be each centered between a pair of opposite poles on the magnetic base. One arrangement of nodes is at the corners of a rectangle aligned with the motion grid. An optional second set of one node locations on the puck may be each centered between a pair of opposite poles on the magnetic base, when the first set of nodes is aligned over poles. Methods of mapping node locations, controllers, and applications are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Inventor: Kim Rubin
  • Patent number: 10343168
    Abstract: A reagent-loaded pencil, method of preparing a reagent-loaded pencil, and a system that uses reagent-loaded pencils are disclosed. The reagent-loaded pencil or pencils include a matrix of at least a soluble carrier, a hardening substance, and a reagent. The pencils also include a sheath disposed around at least a portion of the matrix. The soluble carrier may include poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether. The hardening substance may leave a visible mark when abraded against a writing surface. One example of such a substance includes graphite. The sheath may be the outside of a wooden pencil or a mechanical pencil. A system that uses reagent-loaded pencils or compressed matrices may include a computer-controlled plotter that holds and plots with at least one of the reagent-loaded pencils or matrices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Cal Poly Corporation
    Inventors: Andres W. Martinez, Haydn T. Mitchell, Chad E. Immoos, Nathaniel W. Martinez, Philip J. Costanzo, Samantha J. Carlton
  • Patent number: 10302494
    Abstract: An optical device includes a waveplate sandwiched between first and second polarizers and is arranged to receive light emanating from an object or object image that is in motion relative to the optical device. A detector array includes one or more detector elements and is optically coupled to receive light from the second polarizer. Each detector element of the detector array provides an electrical output signal that varies according to intensity of the light received from the second polarizer. The intensity of the light is a function of relative motion of the object or the object image and the optical device and contains spectral information about an object point of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: Alex Hegyi, Joerg Martini, Peter Kiesel, David K. Biegelsen
  • Patent number: 10265780
    Abstract: According to one implementation, a drilling machine includes a drilling structure and a travelling machine. The drilling structure drills an object to be drilled composed of at least one structural object on a platy part. The travelling machine positions the drilling structure in a travelling direction of the travelling machine by travelling in a longitudinal direction of the at least one structural object using the at least one structural object as a guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuzuru Ono, Tsukasa Yokono, Hisayuki Hirai, Shigeru Shibata
  • Patent number: 10232447
    Abstract: According to one implementation, a drilling machine includes a drilling structure and a travelling machine. The drilling structure drills an object to be drilled composed of at least one structural object on a platy part. The travelling machine positions the drilling structure in a travelling direction of the travelling machine by travelling in a longitudinal direction of the at least one structural object using the at least one structural object as a guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuzuru Ono, Tsukasa Yokono, Hisayuki Hirai, Shigeru Shibata
  • Patent number: 10112301
    Abstract: An automatic calibration method for a robot system is disclosed. The automatic calibration method for a robot system includes the steps of calibrating a sensor and a sensor coordinate system of the sensor with respect to a world coordinate system, controlling a robot under the guidance of the sensor to move a point of a tool mounted on the robot to reach a same target point with a plurality of different poses, the point of the tool in a tool coordinate system, and calculating a transformation matrix tcpTt of the tool coordinate system with respect to a tool center point coordinate system based on pose data of the robot at the same target point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignees: Tyco Electronics (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., TE Connectivity Corporation
    Inventors: Yingcong Deng, Dandan Zhang, Roberto Francisco-yi Lu, Lvhai Hu
  • Patent number: 10083883
    Abstract: Embodiments include devices and methods for detecting particles, monitoring etch or deposition rates, or controlling an operation of a wafer fabrication process. In an embodiment, a particle monitoring device for particle detection includes several capacitive micro sensors mounted on a wafer substrate to detect particles under all pressure regimes, e.g., under vacuum conditions. In an embodiment, one or more capacitive micro sensors is mounted on a wafer processing tool to measure material deposition and removal rates in real-time during the wafer fabrication process. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Leonard Tedeschi, Kartik Ramaswamy, Daniel Thomas McCormick, Robert Paul Meagley
  • Patent number: 10054718
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are provided for machining a feature on a work piece along a curving tool path including a spiral pattern with continuously varying radius. In particular, the feature is scribed by a tool while varying an angle of rotation of a cutting surface of the tool with respect to the work piece to maintain a substantially constant angle between the cutting surface and a corresponding relative translational movement between the cutting surface and the work piece along the spiral pattern. A dynamic feed rate of the tool also is varied continuously with respect to the work piece based on the continuously varying radius of the at least one spiral pattern to substantially maintain a target centripetal acceleration of the tool with respect to the work piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: FLIR Systems Trading Belgium BVBA
    Inventors: David Keller, Brett Brocato
  • Patent number: 10008915
    Abstract: Displacement devices comprise a stator and a moveable stage. The stator comprises a plurality of coils shaped to provide pluralities of generally linearly elongated coil traces in one or more layers. Layers of coils may overlap in the Z-direction. The moveable stage comprises a plurality of magnet arrays. Each magnet array may comprise a plurality of magnetization segments generally linearly elongated in a corresponding direction. Each magnetization segment has a magnetization direction generally orthogonal to the direction in which it is elongated and at least two of the magnetization directions are different from one another. One or more amplifiers may be connected to selectively drive current in the coil traces and to thereby effect relative movement between the stator and the moveable stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: The University of British Columbia
    Inventors: Xiaodong Lu, Irfan-Ur-Rab Usman
  • Patent number: 9997175
    Abstract: An electric arm lifting and turntable's auto-stop assembly of a record player is revealed. A record player is disposed with a power-driven turntable, a rotatable and movable arm disposed on one side of the turntable, a lift mechanism used for pushing against and moving the arm upward, and a sensor. The arm is moveable over the turntable. The sensor is arranged at an arm rotating shaft of the arm and used for sending a signal while detecting that the arm is moved to a lift point over the turntable. The lift mechanism is activated to move the arm upward and the turntable is stopped simultaneously for protecting a needle on the arm while the sensor detects that the arm has been moved from the turntable to the lift point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Hanpin Electron Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shen-Keng Liu, Hsi-Ping Wang
  • Patent number: 9814640
    Abstract: This invention, pertaining to hospital bed, is a new concept development for automation of services for bedridden patients in the variety of environments. The novelty introduced here is the use of robotic arms affixed on hospital type bed that operates by an electric keypad on the bed side or virtually from a remote location, i.e. a nursing station in the case of a hospital stay. The best mode of operation for this invention would be hospitals, home health care or other health care facilities and settings. This invention is a ground-breaking solution for healing the shortage of trained staff in the health care system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Space Technology Research LLC
    Inventor: Shahzadeh Khaligh
  • Patent number: 9789608
    Abstract: A synthetic representation of a robot tool for display on a user interface of a robotic system. The synthetic representation may be used to show the position of a view volume of an image capture device with respect to the robot. The synthetic representation may also be used to find a tool that is outside of the field of view, to display range of motion limits for a tool, to remotely communicate information about the robot, and to detect collisions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Brandon D. Itkowitz, Daniel J. Halabe, Tao Zhao, Simon Dimaio, Christopher J. Hasser, Catherine J. Mohr, Paul W. Mohr, David Q. Larkin, Wenyi Zhao, Brian D. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 9725268
    Abstract: A sheet detecting apparatus which detects a sheet conveyed while being nipped by a pair of fixing rollers includes: an abutting portion which is supported so as to be rotatable about a rotation shaft and against which the sheet abuts; and a photo sensor which detects the rotation of the abutting portion, wherein the rotation shaft is disposed at a predetermined inclination angle so that the rotation shaft is not parallel to a sheet surface of the sheet against which the abutting portion abuts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Sachiyori Shiina
  • Patent number: 9703086
    Abstract: A beam splitter contains: a body, a main reflection portion, a sub reflection portion, and a refraction portion. The body includes an inlet and an outlet. The main reflection portion is located on a first side of the body, and the main reflection portion and the outlet have a first rotating angle and a second rotating angle respectively so that the main reflection portion reflects an external beam to produce a main beam. The sub reflection portion is located on the first side of the body, and the sub reflection portion reflects the external beam to produce a sub beam. The refraction portion is located on a second side of the body and has a third rotating angle different from the inlet, the sub beam projects out of the refraction portion to produce a deflective projection angle of the sub beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: ORANGETEK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Po-Chuan Chen, Chun-Chieh Chen, Hsuan-Yi Li
  • Patent number: 9685849
    Abstract: Displacement devices comprise a stator and a moveable stage. The stator comprises a plurality of coils shaped to provide pluralities of generally linearly elongated coil traces in one or more layers. Layers of coils may overlap in the Z-direction. The moveable stage comprises a plurality of magnet arrays. Each magnet array may comprise a plurality of magnetization segments generally linearly elongated in a corresponding direction. Each magnetization segment has a magnetization direction generally orthogonal to the direction in which it is elongated and at least two of the magnetization directions are different from one another. One or more amplifiers may be connected to selectively drive current in the coil traces and to thereby effect relative movement between the stator and the moveable stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: The University of British Columbia
    Inventors: Xiaodong Lu, Irfan-Ur-Rab Usman
  • Patent number: 9586321
    Abstract: A robot includes a grasping unit and performs an action based on: first imaging information of the grasping unit which does not grasp an object to be grasped in a first point; second imaging information of the grasping unit which does not grasp the object to be grasped in a second point which is different from the first point; and third imaging information of the object to be grasped which is grasped by the grasping unit in the first point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kenichi Maruyama
  • Patent number: 9449388
    Abstract: There is provided a measurement apparatus including an objective lens, a stage, a setting unit, and a controller. The stage is configured to support a sample vessel in which a plurality of wells each containing a sample are arranged and to define relative positions of the sample vessel and the objective lens. The setting unit is configured to determine whether to set each of the plurality of wells to be a measurement target and set the measurement target. The controller is configured to control the stage such that a well determined to be the measurement target by the setting unit and the objective lens face each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Eiichi Tanaka, Masanobu Tamai, Hiroaki Morikawa, Hirokazu Tatsuta, Suguru Dowaki, Tomohiro Hayakawa, Eriko Matsui, Shin Hasegawa, Tatsuya Minakawa
  • Patent number: 9447574
    Abstract: An anchor for attaching a structure to a concrete structure, comprises an anchor rod having a lower threaded portion for being embedded in a concrete structure and an upper portion for extending outside the concrete structure; an anchor body including a first threaded central opening for threadedly receiving one end portion of the lower threaded portion; and a support including a floor. The support includes a second central threaded opening through the floor portion for threadedly receiving another end portion of the lower portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Cetres Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas M Espinosa
  • Patent number: 9434071
    Abstract: A wafer handling traction control system is provided that is able to detect slippage of a semiconductor wafer with respect to an end effector and is able to adjust the end effector's movement in order to minimize further slippage. Upon the detection of relative motion of the semiconductor wafer with respect to the end effector past a threshold amount, the end effector's movements are adjusted to minimize slippage of the semiconductor wafer. The wafer handling traction control system may include a sensor that detects relative motion between the semiconductor wafer and the end effector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventor: Matthew J. Rodnick
  • Patent number: 9417130
    Abstract: An interference spectrophotometer including a movable mirror unit having a movable mirror capable of reciprocating movement; a stationary mirror; an infrared light source unit which emits an infrared light; a beam splitter; an interference light detection unit which detects light intensity information of light transmitted or reflected by a sample; a movable mirror velocity information detection unit which detects movable mirror velocity information for movable mirror; and a control unit which acquires the light intensity information and movable mirror velocity information and computes the absorption or transmission spectrum of the sample; wherein the interference spectrophotometer further comprises a storage unit which stores a target movable mirror velocity range, and control unit does not employ light intensity information obtained when the movable mirror velocity of movable mirror was outside the target movable mirror velocity range for computing the absorption or transmission spectrum of the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hisato Fukuda
  • Patent number: 9403354
    Abstract: There is described a numbering device (1) for carrying out numbering in sheet-fed or web-fed numbering presses, the numbering device (1) comprising a numbering unit (6) with rotatable numbering wheels (7) carrying alpha-numerical symbols thereon, which numbering wheels (7) are disposed next to each other and rotate about a common rotation axis (17), the numbering device (1) further comprising electro-mechanical actuation means for setting the position of the numbering wheels (7). The electro-mechanical actuation means are entirely located within the numbering device (1) and are mechanically autonomous, the electro-mechanical actuation means comprising a plurality of independent driving means (15, 18-23; 23*) for actuating a corresponding plurality of the numbering wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: KBA-NotaSys SA
    Inventors: Alain Wursch, Antoine Merminod
  • Patent number: 9329401
    Abstract: An apparatus for separating polarization of light includes a rotatable beam splitter including an input for receiving light with a first polarization and an output for outputting light with a second polarization different from the first polarization. Rotation of the rotatable beam splitter changes the first polarization of the input light to the second polarization of the output light. An optical network and method are also set forth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric E. Sanborn, Mark E. Froggatt
  • Patent number: 9331624
    Abstract: The present invention proposes a thrust ripple mapping system in a precision stage with the thrust ripple mapping system comprising a moving stage, a load cell, a plurality of motors and a processing component. The load cell is coupled to the moving stage. The motors are employed in moving the load cell and the moving stage. The processing component takes a thrust force measurement at each of a plurality of moving increments of the load cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: NATIONAL TAIWAN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Jia-yush Yen, Fu-tsun Kuo, Craig Western
  • Patent number: 9121732
    Abstract: This disclosure discloses an encoder. The encoder includes a disk including a first and a second track. A first and a second rotating grating are formed in the first and second tracks, respectively. A first and a second detector are disposed so as to face the first and second tracks, and have a first fixed grating constructing a first diffraction interference optical system together with the first rotating grating and a second fixed grating constructing a second diffraction interference optical system together with the second rotating grating, respectively, and configured to detect a first and a second detection signal, respectively, from the first and second diffraction interference optical systems. At least one of the first and second rotating gratings is formed by a plurality of curved slits in a curved shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventors: Yasushi Yoshida, Koji Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9052250
    Abstract: A calibration system and method utilizes acceleration of a mass to generate a force on the mass. An expected value of the force is calculated based on the magnitude and acceleration of the mass. A fixture is utilized to mount the mass to a force balance, and the force balance is calibrated to provide a reading consistent with the expected force determined for a given acceleration. The acceleration can be varied to provide different expected forces, and the force balance can be calibrated for different applied forces. The acceleration may result from linear acceleration of the mass or rotational movement of the mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Peter A. Parker, Ray D. Rhew, Thomas H. Johnson, Drew Landman
  • Patent number: 9037336
    Abstract: A robot system includes a planar sign, a robot, a distance direction sensor, and a controller. The controller is configured to control the robot and includes a map data memory and a progress direction determining device. The map data memory is configured to store map data of a predetermined running path including a position of the planar sign. The progress direction determining device is configured to compare a detection result of the distance direction sensor and the stored map data so as to determine a progress direction of the robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventors: Dai Kouno, Tamio Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20150123585
    Abstract: An optical module includes: a light source configured to emit diffusion light to tracks; one light receiving array and another light receiving array which are arranged across the light source in a width direction substantially vertical to the measurement direction; a light receiving array arranged between the one light receiving array and the light source, and configured to receive light which is reflected at the tracks having a first incremental pattern; and a light receiving array arranged between the another first light receiving array and the light source, and configured to receive light which is reflected at the tracks having a second incremental pattern which pitch is longer than a pitch of the first incremental pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventors: Yasushi YOSHIDA, Yasuhiro MATSUTANI, Shiro YOSHIDOMI, Hiroshi TAKADA, Yuji ARINAGA, Ikuma MUROKITA, Masanobu HARADA, Hiroki KONDO
  • Publication number: 20150123586
    Abstract: The encoder includes a plurality of slit tracks, a point light source, two first light-receiving arrays, two second light-receiving arrays, and a third light-receiving array. The plurality of slit tracks respectively comprises a plurality of reflection slits arranged along a measurement direction. The point light source is configured to emit diffusion light to the plurality of slit tracks. The two first light-receiving arrays are disposed sandwiching the point light source in a width direction substantially orthogonal to the measurement direction. The two second light-receiving arrays are disposed sandwiching the point light source in the measurement direction. The third light-receiving array is configured to receive light reflected by the slit track comprising an incremental pattern that differs in pitch from other incremental patterns, and is disposed at a position in a direction where the first light-receiving array is disposed than the point light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventors: Yasushi YOSHIDA, Yasuhiro MATSUTANI, Shiro YOSHIDOMI, Hiroshi TAKADA, Yuji ARINAGA, Ikuma MUROKITA, Masanobu HARADA, Hiroki KONDO
  • Publication number: 20150123588
    Abstract: An encoder includes a plurality of slit tracks, a point light source, a first to third light-receiving arrays. The plurality of slit tracks respectively comprises a plurality of reflection slits. The point light source emits diffusion light to the plurality of slit tracks. The first light-receiving array receives light reflected by the slit track comprising an incremental pattern. The second light-receiving array receives light reflected by the slit track comprising an incremental pattern longer in pitch than other incremental patterns, and is disposed at a position on a side of a direction where the point light source is disposed, than the first light-receiving array, The third light-receiving array receives light reflected by the slit track comprising an absolute pattern, and is disposed at a position on a side of a direction where the point light source is disposed, than the first light-receiving array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventors: Yasushi YOSHIDA, Yasuhiro MATSUTANI, Shiro YOSHIDOMI, Hiroshi TAKADA, Yuji ARINAGA, Ikuma MUROKITA, Masanobu HARADA, Hiroki KONDO
  • Publication number: 20150123587
    Abstract: An encoder includes a plurality of slit tracks, a point light source, a first light-receiving array, and a second light-receiving array. The plurality of slit tracks respectively comprises a plurality of reflection slits arranged along a measurement direction. The point light source is configured to emit diffusion light to the plurality of slit tracks. The first light-receiving array is configured to receive light reflected by the slit track comprising an incremental pattern, and is disposed at a position in a first direction than the point light source. The second light-receiving array is configured to receive light reflected by the slit track comprising an incremental pattern that differs in pitch from the slit track corresponding to the first light-receiving array, and is disposed at a position in a second direction than the point light source. The second direction forms an angle ? with respect to the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventors: Yasushi YOSHIDA, Yasuhiro MATSUTANI, Shiro YOSHIDOMI, Hiroshi TAKADA, Yuji ARINAGA, Ikuma MUROKITA, Masanobu HARADA, Hiroki KONDO
  • Patent number: 8896256
    Abstract: Reflected light can be effectively utilized by increasing a light receiving area. Incremental light receiving element groups are separated and arranged in the circumferential direction of a rotating unit while placing a light source therebetween. First and second absolute light receiving element groups are arranged at both sides of the outside and inside of the light source in the radial direction of the rotating unit. As a result, first and second absolute light receiving elements are continuously arranged, and also the incremental light receiving element groups and the absolute light receiving element groups can be arranged to surround the periphery of the light source from four directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa Denki
    Inventors: Yasushi Yoshida, Yuji Arinaga, Shirou Yoshidomi, Yasuhiro Matsutani
  • Patent number: 8897966
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide methods and apparatus for reducing steering effort in a vehicle. In one embodiment, a method for installing a steering-assist system onto a vehicle having an electrically powered steering system is provided. The method includes placing a controller between a torque sensor and an electronic control unit (ECU) disposed on the vehicle, coupling a primary signal line from the torque sensor to be in electrical communication with the controller, and coupling a secondary signal line to the controller to be in electrical communication with the ECU, wherein, when movement is detected by the torque sensor, the torque sensor provides a primary signal to the controller and the controller provides a secondary signal to the ECU, the secondary signal being different than the primary signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Inventors: Carlos A. Saez, Alejandro Javier Goldsmith Llorenz, Neil Emerson Rollano Conde
  • Patent number: 8884574
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a positioning method and a positioning device. The positioning device includes: an emitter for emitting light beams to a to-be-positioned point and auxiliary positioning points; a receiver for receiving reflected light beams reflected by the to-be-positioned point and the auxiliary positioning points; a judging module for judging whether the reflected light beam reflected by the to-be-positioned point is received or not; and a calculating module for receiving a judging result from the judging module and determining height information of the to-be-positioned point according to the reflected light beams reflected by the to-be-positioned point and the auxiliary positioning points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wen-da Cheng, Chujen Wu
  • Patent number: 8794610
    Abstract: A coordinate measuring machine includes a three-dimension precision transfer equipment and a measuring equipment that measures an object. The three-dimension precision transfer equipment includes a movable body, first to third driving bodies, first to third drive mechanisms that drive to move the first to third driving bodies forward and backward in a first direction, a second direction and a vertical direction that are mutually orthogonal, and first to third laser interferometers that detect a displacement of the movable body. The first to third driving bodies include first to third joints that forms a static-pressure clearance between the first to third driving bodies and the movable body. Laser paths of the first to third laser interferometers extend in a manner to respectively penetrate the first to third driving bodies and the first to third joints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
    Inventor: Hisayoshi Sakai
  • Patent number: 8773061
    Abstract: A stepping motor drive circuit includes a control-purpose controller including a control-purpose position detecting unit; a rotation command information inputting unit arranged to receive command information on the rotating position of the stepping motor; a control-purpose deviation calculating unit arranged to calculate a positional deviation between the rotating position of the stepping motor detected by the control-purpose position detecting unit and the rotating position included in the command information; and an amplitude value setting unit. The amplitude value setting unit switches operations of stator coils of the stepping motor pursuant to the command information, rotate the stepping motor to the rotating position included in the command information, and increase or decrease an amplitude value of a drive current fed to the stator coils during stoppage of the stepping motor depending on the positional deviation calculated by the control-purpose deviation calculating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Nidec Servo Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroaki Taka
  • Publication number: 20140176038
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a positioning method and a positioning device. The positioning device includes: an emitter for emitting light beams to a to-be-positioned point and auxiliary positioning points; a receiver for receiving reflected light beams reflected by the to-be-positioned point and the auxiliary positioning points; a judging module for judging whether the reflected light beam reflected by the to-be-positioned point is received or not; and a calculating module for receiving a judging result from the judging module and determining height information of the to-be-positioned point according to the reflected light beams reflected by the to-be-positioned point and the auxiliary positioning points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: SHENZHEN CHINA STAR OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wen-da Cheng, Chujen Wu