Magnetic, Inductive Or Capacitive Patents (Class 341/15)
  • Patent number: 11842003
    Abstract: A touch panel device includes a face plate, a bracket, and a PCB. The face plate receives a contact. The bracket includes a permanent magnet affixed to a surface of the bracket. The PCB is positioned proximate to the bracket such that a surface of the PCB is adjacent to the bracket. The PCB includes a Hall sensor collocated proximate to the permanent magnet. The touch panel circuit is coupled to the Hall sensor. When the contact is received at the face plate, the PCB moves closer to the bracket. In response, the touch panel circuit receives a voltage from the Hall sensor, determines a force associated with the contact based upon the voltage, and triggers a haptic feedback response in the bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Wu Chin-Chung, Yong-Teng Lin, Chun-Kai Tzeng, Bradford Edward Vier
  • Patent number: 11762035
    Abstract: An abnormality detection method according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a method of detecting an abnormality in an AC signal to be input from an AC power supply. The method includes, where an ideal AC signal is represented as V0 sin ?t (V0: amplitude, co: angular frequency, t: time), calculating an arithmetic value including a value represented by sin2?t+cos2?t and determining that the AC signal is abnormal when the arithmetic value is out of a threshold range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignees: Tokyo Electron Limited, AVALDATA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoya Bessho, Shiro Hayashi, Junichi Harada, Akitsugu Noguchi
  • Patent number: 11747129
    Abstract: In a method for operating an absolute measuring position detection system having a sensor arrangement (100) and a single-track magnetic code object (105) with non-repeating code regions, wherein the sensor arrangement (100) is formed by a substantially linear arrangement of a plurality of magnetic field sensors (110), it is provided in particular that the relative position of the sensor arrangement (100) with respect to the respective code object (105) is determined by searching for a partial pattern which is most similar to a currently sensor-detected partial pattern on the basis of available reference data containing magnetic curve progressions or magnetic patterns of magnetic field vector components detected by sensors for the entire code object (105) depending on the position on the code object (105).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: BALLUFF GMBH
    Inventors: Zoltan Kantor, Kolos Karoly
  • Patent number: 11662834
    Abstract: An electronic erasing device includes a casing, an erasing portion slidably attached to the casing and having a bottom surface and a side surface that extends from an outer edge of the bottom surface, both the bottom surface and at least a part of the side surface protruding from an end of the casing, and a position indicator including a core body and a pressure detector that detects a pressure applied to the core body, the position indicator outputting a position indication signal indicating an erasure position indicated by the core body and information indicating the pressure. The position indicator is included in the erasing portion and fixed inside the casing such that a tip portion of the core body is positioned away from an outer side of the bottom surface of the erasing portion and the applied pressure is transmitted to the core body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Wacom Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryoji Kamiyama, Toshihiko Horie, Masamitsu Ito, Shigeru Yamashita, Fujii Kosuke
  • Patent number: 11598654
    Abstract: An angular position sensor comprising two annular sensors, one annular sensor for generating a coarse resolution time varying signal in the presence of a rotatable inductive coupling element and the other annular sensor for generating a fine resolution time varying signal in the presence of the rotatable inductive coupling element. The rotatable inductive coupling element comprising a first annular portion comprising at least one annular conductive sector and at least one annular non-conductive sector and a second annular portion comprising at least one annular conductive sectors and at least one annular non-conductive sector, wherein the number of annular conductive sectors of the first annular portion and the second annular portion are different. In particular, the annular conductive sectors of the annular portions may comprise 50% or 75% of the total area of the annular portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Microchip Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Ganesh Shaga
  • Patent number: 11549960
    Abstract: A top drive system comprising a drilling rig, and a top drive unit operatively associated with the drilling rig. The top drive includes a top drive housing, and a rotatable member having a first member portion within the top drive housing, and a second member portion extending outward from the top drive housing. There is a sensor assembly disposed within the top drive housing, the assembly comprising a sensor configured to provide an output signal associated with an at least one parameter of the top drive. The first member portion is configured with a profile sensed by the sensor assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Inventor: Larry G. Keast
  • Patent number: 11054287
    Abstract: There is provided a signal processing method, for a photoelectric encoder, capable of correctly determining a bright part and a dark part of a bright/dark pattern having distorted light intensity distribution by setting an appropriate threshold. A detector unit includes a light source, a light-receiving detector that receives transmitted light from a scale to acquire a bright/dark image, and a lens arranged between the light source and the light-receiving detector. The detector unit classifies the bright/dark image acquired by the light-receiving detector into an image-forming region corresponding to a center region of the lens and a non-image-forming region corresponding to a region except for the center region of the lens, calculates a representative value reflecting a light intensity of the image-forming region, and obtains a pre-processed bright/dark image in which the light intensity of the non-image-forming region is replaced with the representative value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Kato
  • Patent number: 10795465
    Abstract: A touch control unit, a touch pad, an input method and a display panel are disclosed. The touch control unit includes a substrate, a first electrode layer formed on the substrate, an electrochromic film formed on the first electrode layer, a second electrode unit formed on the electrochromic film and a piezoelectric film unit disposed corresponding to the second electrode unit. At least a portion of the piezoelectric film unit is in direct contact with the second electrode unit. The second electrode unit is transparent, and a projection area of the piezoelectric film unit on the substrate is smaller than a projection area of the second electrode unit on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignees: CHENGDU BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shaning Yan
  • Patent number: 10203222
    Abstract: Provided is a method for a magnetic encoder having a magnetic body comprised of a magnetic rubber molded article, comprising a mixing step of mixing and then kneading a nitrile rubber (A), a ferrite magnetic powder (B) and a vulcanizing agent (C) to provide a magnetic rubber composition; and a molding step of molding and vulcanizing the magnetic rubber composition in a mold to which a magnetic field is applied to provide the magnetic rubber molded article, wherein a content of the ferrite magnetic powder (B) is 700 to 1500 parts by mass based on 100 parts by mass of the nitrile rubber (A); and a compressed density of the ferrite magnetic powder (B) is 3.5 g/cm3 or more. According to this method, a magnetic encoder having a magnetic body with high coercivity and residual magnetic flux density can be produced by vulcanizing a magnetic rubber composition having favorable moldability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: UCHIYAMA MANUFACTURING CORP.
    Inventors: Kazushi Sakate, Tadashi Kasamoto, Tatsuo Katayama
  • Patent number: 10119844
    Abstract: There is provided an absolute position detection type photoelectric encoder which improves robustness to dirt while maintaining high resolution. A two-level code pattern according to a pseudo random code sequence is provided on a scale along a length measurement direction. Each code of the two-level code pattern indicates a code “1” or a code “0”, and includes two bits. Each of the two bits is L or H. The code “1” is represented by an A pattern which is a combination of L and H, and the code “0” is represented by a B pattern which is a combination of L and L or a C pattern which is a combination of H and H. When the codes “0” are continued, the B pattern and the C pattern are alternately used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shu Hirata
  • Patent number: 10048287
    Abstract: A tachometer system for an aircraft landing gear. The tachometer system includes a tachometer arranged to generate a variable voltage signal in response to the rotation of a wheel of the aircraft landing gear, and a processing system arranged to output a speed signal indicative of the rotation speed of the wheel of the aircraft landing gear. The speed signal is determined from the variable voltage signal from the tachometer using a set of determined parameters. The determined parameters of the processing system are determined from the voltage levels of the variable voltage signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Airbus Operations Limited
    Inventor: Ashley Bidmead
  • Patent number: 10041815
    Abstract: A scale is provided with a two-level code pattern according to a pseudo random code sequence along a length measurement direction. Each code of the two-level code pattern indicates a code “1” or “0”, each code includes two bits, and each bit of the two bits is L or H. The code “1” is represented by an A pattern which is a combination of L and H, and the code “0” is represented by a B pattern which is a combination of L and L or by a C pattern which is a combination of H and H. When the codes “0” are continued, the B pattern and the C pattern are alternately used. The scale is commonly used in a reflective type encoder or transmissive type encoder. A detection head part includes an inversion processing unit which performs inversion processing to a detection image of the scale as required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shu Hirata, Toru Yaku
  • Patent number: 9885733
    Abstract: Provided is a manufacturing method of an axial-type magnetic. The manufacturing method includes a press molding step and an injection molding step. The axial-type magnetic encoder includes a wrap-around binding part wrapping around from a sensor-opposed surface to a back surface of an inward flange part of an annular fixing member. A separated inner peripheral part separated from a rotating body is formed at an inner diameter-side portion of the inward flange part while an outer diameter-side portion of a back surface of the inward flange part is abutted against the rotating body. The inner peripheral part of the annular plastic magnet wraps around to a back surface of the separated inner peripheral part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: NAKANISHI METAL WORKS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masayuki Taki, Mitsuru Saitoh
  • Patent number: 9347802
    Abstract: The scale for a vernier encoder including a sensor relatively movable with the scale in a first direction and configured to read periodic patterns provided in the scale. The scale includes first and second scale tracks each including multiple periodic patterns having mutually different periods in the first direction and being arranged parallel in a second direction. The multiple periodic patterns form, between the first and second scale tracks, multiple pairs of periodic patterns to be used for producing multiple periodic signals, each periodic signal being produced by vernier operation. In at least one of the first and second scale tracks, a first periodic pattern, which is used for producing a shortest period periodic signal among the multiple periodic signals, is provided closest to a boundary between the first and second scale tracks among the multiple periodic patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Haruhiko Horiguchi
  • Patent number: 9222804
    Abstract: A system for position sensing includes an incremental track including a plurality of sectors and a measurement subsystem. The measurement subsystem includes at least two differential read-heads each having at least one primary coil and at least two differential secondary coils, the at least two differential secondary coils of one of the at least two differential read-heads configured to generate output signals having their amplitudes modulated by the sectors of the incremental track and the at least two differential secondary coils of the other of said two differential read-heads configured to generate output signals having their amplitudes modulated by the sectors of the incremental track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Persimmon Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Martin Hosek
  • Patent number: 9157941
    Abstract: A detachable electric power information display receptacle module includes an outlet apparatus and an electric power information display apparatus. The outlet apparatus is detachably connected to the electric power information display apparatus and has a power output interface and a power input interface. When an electrical device is connected to the outlet apparatus, the outlet apparatus detects the power consumption of the electrical device. The electric power information display apparatus receives the power consumption from a signal transmission line and displays electric power information. When the electric power information display apparatus is combined with the outlet apparatus, the detachable electric power information display receptacle module is performed as a portable electronic meter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Powertech Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tsung-Chih Lin
  • Patent number: 9107798
    Abstract: Apparatus is provided for lipolysis and body contouring of a subject. The apparatus includes a housing adapted for placement on tissue of the subject. The apparatus also includes a plurality of acoustic elements disposed at respective locations with respect to the housing, including at least a first and a second subset of the acoustic elements, wherein the first subset is configured to transmit energy in a plane defined by the housing, such that at least a portion of the transmitted energy reaches the second subset. Other embodiments are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: SLENDER MEDICAL LTD.
    Inventors: Haim Azhari, Jacob Benarie, Yossi Gross
  • Patent number: 9091703
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to improvements in the measurement of shaft speed. The shaft has an end face and at least one detection mark provided on or in the end face of the shaft to enable the speed, angular displacement, position or movement of the shaft to be detected. The shaft is for use in a shaft assembly comprising a sensor positioned at a distance from the shaft end face. The sensor is configured to measure the speed, angular displacement, position or movement of the shaft by sensing movement of the detection marks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Turner Powertrain Systems Limited
    Inventor: Jonathan James Mulcaster
  • Patent number: 9030194
    Abstract: A scanning device for a position encoder is provided that comprises a plurality of sensor elements for generating a plurality of sensor signals. A summation unit is also provided for generating at least a first summation signal and a second summation signal that provide information on the relative alignment of the scanning device and an associated scale. The first summation signal is generated from a first subset of the plurality of sensor signals and the second summation signal is generated from a second subset of the plurality of sensor signals. The plurality of sensor elements are substantially evenly spaced apart from one another N and sensor elements are provided per period of an associated scale, wherein N is an integer value and a multiple of three and four. In this manner, the third harmonic contribution to the summation signals is suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignees: RLS Merilna Tehnika D.O.O., Renishaw PLC
    Inventor: Gregor Dolsak
  • Patent number: 9007057
    Abstract: The device to measure the absolute rotation angle of a rotating shaft includes a rotating disc, fixed to the shaft. A group of permanent magnets of different sizes and polarities is disposed on a circular track. Further, a group of Hall sensors, fixed to a static part of the device, are disposed on a circular path, in proximity of the rotating disc magnets tracks, and generate electric signals proportional to the strength of the magnetic field produced by the magnets in proximity. The signs of these electric signals are used to calculate a code characteristic of a low resolution absolute angular position. Two analog signals are associated to the obtained code, according to a predefined table. The associated analog signal having the closest value to zero is used as an entry to a pre-recorded table containing the correspondent angular position of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Servosence (SMC) Ltd.
    Inventor: Yves Villaret
  • Patent number: 8878125
    Abstract: Provided herein is an encoder including a position detecting device provided with a gear mechanism and an optical encoder device. A housing includes a bearing holder provided between a first housing portion and a second housing portion of the housing. The bearing holder serves as a partition wall portion configured to separate the gear mechanism from the optical encoder device. If the gear mechanism is separated from the optical encoder device, abrasion powder or grease can be reliably prevented from scattering from the gear mechanism to adhere to constituent parts of the optical encoder device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Sanyo Denki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tooru Miyajima, Toshiaki Ayuzawa, Yoshihiro Shoji
  • Patent number: 8659448
    Abstract: Provided is a rotation detection device that detects a rotational direction and amount of a rotatable operation member. The detection device manages to reduce the rotation detection pitch while maintaining sufficient clearance for a rotation detection switch to operate. In other words, sufficient distance is given between rotation detection members such that the switch can accurately detect the movement from one member to the next. The rotatable operation member generally includes a plurality of switch driving sections that rotate in unison. A rotation detection switch generally includes a portion that moves in a first and second direction opposite to each other when coming into contact with the rotatable operation members, and is configured to output a detection signal at each movement. The switch and rotatable operation members are configured so that the movement direction of the detector is in a direction orthogonal to the circumferential direction of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hirokatsu Nakajima
  • Patent number: 8558721
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a position detection apparatus including: a signal line along which a bit array including a plurality of bits used for expressing information on one of absolute positions in a direction determined in advance is created repeatedly in the direction determined in advance; and an information reading-out section which is capable of making a movement relative to the signal line in the direction determined in advance in accordance with a driving operation carried out by driving means determined in advance and is used for reading out the information expressed by the bits from the signal line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hitoshi Yano, Katsuhiro Onishi
  • Patent number: 8390272
    Abstract: A position detecting device is disclosed, which detects a position indicated by a human body. The position detecting device includes: a sensor substrate including a detection area, in which a plurality of detection electrodes are formed, and a wiring area, in which wiring led out from the detection electrodes is formed, and a case configured to house the sensor substrate. The sensor substrate further includes a conductor, which is connected to a fixed potential, provided at a position opposed to (facing) the wiring area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Wacom Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaru Yokota, Hiroshi Munakata
  • Patent number: 8264380
    Abstract: A manufacturing method for a code wheel for a rotary encoder is provided. The code wheel includes, in a central portion, a hole into which a rotary shaft of a rotary member is fitted and a code portion including a radial code pattern in a circumferential edge portion. The manufacturing method is configured to include the steps of forming the code portion and a reference circle in a plate so that the reference circle has a radius larger than a radius of the hole by a tolerance of deviation between a center position of the code portion and a center position of the hole and has a same center as that of the code portion; and forming the hole in the plate in which the code portion and the reference circle are formed, so as to be contained in the reference circle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Koichi Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 8243418
    Abstract: A capacitive touch screen suitable for use in an interactive information display includes a first transparent glass substrate having first and second surfaces and a thickness of less than or equal to about 0.3 millimeters, and a second substrate having third and fourth surfaces and a transparent conductive thin film disposed at the third surface thereof. The second surface of the first transparent glass substrate is laminated to the third surface of the second substrate in order to form a capacitive touch screen having enhanced durability. The transparent conductive thin film of the second substrate opposes the second surface of the first transparent glass substrate when the second surface of the first transparent glass substrate is laminated to the third surface of the second substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: TPK Touch Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Eugene L. Halsey, IV, Catherine A. Getz
  • Patent number: 8232901
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for determining an alternative character string, in response to an invalid character string being received by a consumer application, wherein the invalid character string is derived from the selection of a series of keyboard keys in combination with a modifier key and wherein each key is associated with at least one glyph. An embodiment includes: a converter component for converting each glyph of the invalid character string into a first format; a converter component for parsing each of the converted first formats into a second format; an alternatives engine for determining from each of the second formats a third format which can be derived from a combination of a selection of the key and an alternative modifier key; and a converter component for converting each of the determined third formats into their associated glyphs for compiling into a list of alternative character strings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Richard M. Appleby, Bharat V. Bedi, Marc S. Carter, Lucas W. Partridge
  • Patent number: 8049645
    Abstract: A cylindrical cover-attached encoder apparatus, including a magnetic metal-based body having a cylindrical shape, a magnetic rubber-based encoder having a cylindrical shape and formed around the outer peripheral surface of said magnetic metal-based cylindrical body, and a nonmagnetic material-based cover having a cylindrical shape and adapted to be mounted on said magnetic rubber-based encoder for covering the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion of said magnetic rubber-based encoder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Uchiyama Manufacturing Corp.
    Inventors: Ai Shiotsuka, Yoshihiko Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 7994886
    Abstract: A contactless switch module, which is actuatable between a closed circuit position and an open circuit position, a plurality of magnetic field sensing sensors, and a plurality of magnets. The switch also includes a multi-channel switch controller. Each one of the plurality of magnetic field sensing sensors is communicatively coupled to an input channel of the multi-channel switch controller. The multi-channel switch controller is configured to determine a switch state based at least upon the respective states of its input channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Korry Electronics Co.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Clark Bedell
  • Patent number: 7956622
    Abstract: A method for the signal processing of capacitive measurement scales intended for the measurement of lengths or angles, consisting of two parts moveable relative to each other provided with electrodes that together form condensers, whose magnitudes are variable and depend on the relative position as specified by a sinusoidal relationship between the two parts. The first part has n electrodes evenly distributed over one measurement period and the second part has one electrode per measurement period. The electrodes in the first part are fed with n alternating voltages whereby the time displacements of the alternating voltages relative to each other are t 0 n , , where t0 is the length of the period of the alternating voltage. The electrode of the second mobile part captures a signal composed of one or several of the alternating voltages and the amplitude composition of the signal depends on the relative position between the two parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Hexagon Metrology AB
    Inventors: Carl-Erik Gustafsson, Steve Tveit Pedersen, Svein Johannessen
  • Patent number: 7888831
    Abstract: A rotor structure for a motor comprising a rotor having an end surface; a shaft extending from the end surface; an encoder member attached to the end surface of the rotor; and a coupler coupled to the shaft adjacent to the encoder member for coupling a further member to the shaft, in which the coupler surrounds the shaft and has a lip associated therewith, the lip extending from the coupler towards the encoder member so as to define a void between the coupler and the encoder member. The void defined by the rotor structure may act to contain matters such as swarf that is ejected from the rotor when the encoder member is fixed to the rotor. The rotor may be used in a motor of an electric power assisted steering (EPAS) system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: TRW Limited
    Inventors: Andrew Lee Court, Jeffrey Ronald Coles
  • Publication number: 20110006923
    Abstract: A cylindrical cover-attached encoder apparatus, including a magnetic metal-based body having a cylindrical shape, a magnetic rubber-based encoder having a cylindrical shape and formed around the outer peripheral surface of said magnetic metal-based cylindrical body, and a nonmagnetic material-based cover having a cylindrical shape and adapted to be mounted on said magnetic rubber-based encoder for covering the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion of said magnetic rubber-based encoder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2010
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Inventors: Ai SHIOTSUKA, Yoshihiko YAMAGUCHI
  • Patent number: 7864075
    Abstract: A rotary electrostatic encoder comprising a disk-shaped fixed plate having a first transmission electrode, a second transmission electrode, and four reception electrodes; a disk-shaped rotating plate having a first induction electrode superposed on and facing the first transmission electrode, and a second induction electrode positioned on the inside of the first induction electrode and superposed on and facing the second transmission electrode, a portion of the second induction electrode being a protruding eccentric circular part; transmission means for applying a transmission signal between the first transmission electrode and the second transmission electrode; and signal processing means for generating an output signal relating to the absolute rotational displacement of the rotating plate on the basis of two signal components generated from the four reception electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Seidensha Corporation
    Inventor: Masahiko Gondo
  • Publication number: 20100295709
    Abstract: A touch sensor with a sliding structure is disclosed. The touch sensor includes a first touch detecting plate, a second touch detecting plate, and a capacitance-to-digital converter. The first touch detecting plate includes a first tilt portion, and the second touch detecting plate includes a second tilt portion, wherein a bevel edge of the second tilt portion is parallel to a bevel edge of the first tilt portion. The first touch detecting plate and the second touch detecting plate form a parallelogram slide detecting area. The first touch detecting plate transmits a first detected capacitance, and the second touch detecting plate transmits a second detected capacitance. The capacitance-to-digital converter generates a sliding state detected value according to the first detected capacitance and the second detected capacitance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2009
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: ITE Tech. Inc.
    Inventors: Tzu-Yi Wu, Lee-Chun Guo
  • Patent number: 7786631
    Abstract: A position-data converter and a motor-drive control device are connected. The position-data converter receives two-phase, sine-wave analog signals da and db from two first magnetic detectors, respectively, and converts these signals da and db to position data. On receiving a positioning instruction, the motor-drive control device calculates the value of current, from the current position signal generated by the position-data converter. The permanent magnets incorporated in a linear motor are used as components of a linear scale, as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Wako Giken Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Toshihiko Sasaki, Kazuo Watanabe, Katsumi Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 7694599
    Abstract: A gear mechanism includes a rotating input element, a rotating output element, and at least one first force transmission device arranged along a spiral line on a face of the input element. A second force transmission device is arranged along an encircling line on a face of the output element. The interaction of these force transmission devices transmits a turning moment from the input element to the output element, whereby this turning moment effects a rotating motion in the output element so that the rotational speed is lower than the rotational speed of the input element. A rotary encoder may be equipped with a gear mechanism of the aforementioned type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Dr. Johannes Heidenhain GmbH
    Inventors: Alois Brandl, Johann Mitterreiter, Michael Schwabe
  • Publication number: 20100045489
    Abstract: A rotary electrostatic encoder comprising a disk-shaped fixed plate having a first transmission electrode, a second transmission electrode, and four reception electrodes; a disk-shaped rotating plate having a first induction electrode superposed on and facing the first transmission electrode, and a second induction electrode positioned on the inside of the first induction electrode and superposed on and facing the second transmission electrode, a portion of the second induction electrode being a protruding eccentric circular part; transmission means for applying a transmission signal between the first transmission electrode and the second transmission electrode; and signal processing means for generating an output signal relating to the absolute rotational displacement of the rotating plate on the basis of two signal components generated from the four reception electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2009
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Inventor: Masahiko Gondo
  • Patent number: 7612689
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a rotary encoding switch is disclosed such as used in the function setting for relays or similar. In one embodiment, a particularly secure function setting for relays or similar may be achieved by means of a rotary encoding switch with a number of switch stages with separations between the switch stages which are not constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Siegfried Neumann, Uwe Weiss
  • Publication number: 20090267804
    Abstract: A cylindrical cover-attached encoder apparatus, including a magnetic metal-based body having a cylindrical shape, a magnetic rubber-based encoder having a cylindrical shape and formed around the outer peripheral surface of said magnetic metal-based cylindrical body, and a nonmagnetic material-based cover having a cylindrical shape and adapted to be mounted on said magnetic rubber-based encoder for covering the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion of said magnetic rubber-based encoder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2009
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Inventors: Ai SHIOTSUKA, Yoshihiko YAMAGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20090195415
    Abstract: A magnetic encoder for use in a wheel bearing that forms a pulse train by means of a magnetic force and generates a code. The magnetic encoder is obtained by radially magnetizing a magnetic rubber ring with alternate S poles and N poles, said magnetic rubber ring is formed by vulcanizing and adhering a magnetic rubber base, in which unvulcanized rubber and rare earth magnetic powder are mixed, to a reinforcement ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Inventor: Hideo Mizuta
  • Patent number: 7456758
    Abstract: To provide a magnetic encoder having high resolution and a high output, and a magnetoresistive sensor for an encoder. A fine sensor having a reduced demagnetization field is produced by: forming a free layer consists of a laminated soft magnetic film in which two soft magnetic layers are coupled in anti-parallel, and setting the width of a sensor unit to 2 ?m to 4 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi Metals, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Hoshiya, Kenichi Meguro, Kazuhiro Nakamoto, Yasunori Abe
  • Patent number: 7435958
    Abstract: A structure of an electron beam apparatus having shielding properties for shielding against an environmental magnetic field is provided. The electron beam apparatus comprises a mirror barrel for housing a magnetic lens for converging an electron beam onto a specimen and a specimen chamber for housing the specimen, wherein a non-magnetic material having conductivity is used as a material for at least one of the mirror barrel and a main body of the specimen chamber. The material for the mirror barrel or the main body of the specimen chamber is an aluminum alloy and a thickness of a sidewall of the mirror barrel or the main body of the specimen chamber is 10 mm or more. A magnetic plate having a thickness smaller than that of the sidewall of the mirror barrel or the main body of the specimen chamber is provided on an inner sidewall of the mirror barrel or the main body of the specimen chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Inanobe, Sho Takami, Yoichi Ose, Katsuhiro Sasada
  • Patent number: 7391009
    Abstract: An angle-measuring system comprising at least one transmitter provided with a number of complementary signal-generating elements disposed in pairs and creating a pattern of signals. The elements create a reference mark irregularly configured at least at one spot. A device for acquiring the signals and an evaluation unit are also part of the angle-measuring system. The device is provided with at least one first sensor and one second sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Carl Freudenberg KG
    Inventor: Georg Feurer
  • Publication number: 20080117083
    Abstract: A magnetic encoder for use in a wheel bearing that forms a pulse train by means of a magnetic force and generates a code. The magnetic encoder is obtained by radially magnetizing a magnetic rubber ring with alternate S poles and N poles, said magnetic rubber ring is formed by vulcanizing and adhering a magnetic rubber base, in which unvulcanized rubber and rare earth magnetic powder are mixed, to a reinforcement ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2007
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Inventor: Hideo MIZUTA
  • Patent number: 7352294
    Abstract: An absolute position detector for accurately reading a code recorded on an absolute track is provided. Output signals from sensors that read a code recorded on an absolute track are input into a binarization processor. A compensator provided within the binarization processor functions to correct and determine the value of a read target bit based on an output signal from a read sensor which is the sensor located closest to the center of the one-bit width of the read target bit, and an output signal from a compensation sensor, which is a sensor separated from the read sensor by a distance within the range from ?/2 to 3·?/2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Okuma Corporation
    Inventor: Yasukazu Hayashi
  • Patent number: 7336205
    Abstract: A rotary encoder exhibits a shaft, which can be coupled in torque-proof fashion to a rotating object to be measured. The shaft is connected at a true angle of rotation to a material measure and is divided axially into a drive section (10), which can be coupled to the measured object, and an output section (12), which is connected to the material measure. The drive section (10) and the output section (12) are connected in torsionally rigid but axially resilient fashion by an intermediate element (26), which takes the form of a disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Sick Stegmann GmbH
    Inventors: Josef Siraky, August Goetz
  • Patent number: 7301348
    Abstract: An electrostatic encoder comprising receiving coupling electrodes formed on a scale, and extending in a predetermined direction, transmitting coupling electrodes provided on a sensor head, and located to face the receiving coupling electrodes, digital electrodes provided on the scale to extend from the receiving coupling electrodes in a direction perpendicular to the predetermined direction, and arranged at a predetermined pitch, two pairs of interdigital electrodes provided on the sensor head, and located to face the digital electrodes, a voltage applying portion configured to apply an alternating voltage to the transmitting coupling electrodes, and a potential difference detecting portion configured to detect a potential difference between the interdigital electrodes of each of the two pairs of interdigital electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Shinji Kaneko, Jun Hane
  • Publication number: 20070222343
    Abstract: A rotary input apparatus is disclosed. The rotary input apparatus comprising a rotatable wheel, a first magnet joined to a side of the wheel for cooperation with the wheel and magnetized to have alternating N- and S-poles, a detection element positioned to face the first magnet for detecting changes in magnetism of the first magnet, a second magnet positioned to face the first magnet and magnetized to have alternating N- and S-poles in correspondence with the first magnet, a printed circuit board on which are mounted the detection element and the second magnet, a base to which the printed circuit board is secured, and a holder joined to the base and interposed between the wheel and the base to rotatably support the wheel, allows the user to decide whether or not to create click sensations and to regulate the magnitude of the click sensations, where the rotary input apparatus has a simple composition and yet has excellent durability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Publication date: September 27, 2007
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Eung-Cheon Kang
  • Patent number: 7265685
    Abstract: The object of the invention relates to an encoder for a rotary position sensor, including a multipolar magnetic ring driven into rotation around its axis, and provided at its circumference with magnetic poles of a given sign, alternately positioned with magnetic poles of an opposite sign, so as to form at least one series of pairs of magnetic poles with a determined period, each magnetic pole of a given sign having a width Ii and a magnetic polarisation value Mi whereas each magnetic pole of opposite sign has a width Ii+1 different from width Ii and a magnetic polarisation value Mi+1, characterized in that the polarization of the magnetic poles is such that Mi×Ii=Mi+1×Ii+1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Electricfil Automotive
    Inventor: Bertrand Legrand
  • Patent number: 7259695
    Abstract: Various alternative embodiments of a multi-turn capacitive encoder device are disclosed. The device includes two members that are fixed relative to each other and that include respective capacitive electrodes that are capacitively coupled between the two members. The respective capacitive electrodes on one member act as transmitter electrodes and the respective capacitive electrodes on the other member act as receiver electrodes. One or more modulation members are relatively movable between the two fixed members to alter or modulate the capacitive coupling to correspond to the rotational or angular position of the modulation member(s). At least one of the modulation members is driven using a gear reduction system such that its angular or rotational position corresponds to a plurality of turns of the input shaft of the multi-turn encoder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: AnderMotion Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Nils Ingvar Andermo