Patents Assigned to Keyence Corporation
  • Publication number: 20210197313
    Abstract: High processing accuracy of a workpiece is maintained even if the workpiece is misaligned. A laser processing apparatus includes: a setting section that sets a pattern area and a distance measurement position on a captured image; a condition setting storage section that stores image information in the pattern area; a position correction section that detects a misalignment of a new workpiece different from a workpiece used to set the pattern area and corrects the distance measurement position on the new workpiece; a distance measurement section that measures a distance based on a light reception position of distance measuring light in a distance measuring light receiving section; and a Z scanner that adjusts a focal position based on a measurement result of the distance measurement section prior to irradiation of the workpiece with laser light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Applicant: Keyence Corporation
    Inventor: Junya ONODA
  • Patent number: 11050212
    Abstract: To prevent an output decrease of laser light due to impurities formed in a Q switch. A laser machining device includes a Q-switch housing section configured by housing a Q switch and a first mirror and a wavelength converting section including a housing in which a transmission window section capable of transmitting a fundamental wave is formed, the wavelength converting section being configured by airtightly housing, with an internal space surrounded by the housing, at least a first wavelength conversion element, a second wavelength conversion element, and a second mirror. A resonator forming a resonant optical path passing through the transmission window section is configured by the first mirror in the Q-switch housing section and the second mirror in the wavelength converting section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: KEYENCE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masao Sato, Yu Takabatake, Hideki Yamakawa
  • Patent number: 11042977
    Abstract: To enable inspection setting flows appropriate for a rule-based inspection mode and a learning-based inspection mode to be easily created when these modes are implemented in an image inspection apparatus. The rule-based inspection mode and the learning-based inspection mode are implemented in the image inspection apparatus. In the setting mode in a rule-based inspection, the user can set an imaging condition, select an image processing tool, set the application range of an image processing tool, and adjust the parameters of the image processing tool. In the setting mode in a learning-based inspection, a non-defective product image and a defective product image are input to generate a distinguishing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: KEYENCE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Kurihara, Shunichi Hino
  • Patent number: 11042976
    Abstract: To suppress erroneous input in inputting a non-defective product image and a defective product image, thereby increasing accuracy of distinguishing between a non-defective product image and a defective product image. An additional image that is added with an attribute as either one of a non-defective product and a defective product by a user is plotted in a feature space, and the probability that the attribute of the additional image is wrong is estimated. In the case in which the additional image is expected to have a wrong attribute, this result is notified. Result of selection whether to correct the attribute of the additional image by a user who receives the notification is received. A classifier generator 22 determines the attribute of the additional image on the basis of the result of selection and corrects a classification boundary in accordance with the determined attribute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: KEYENCE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Di He
  • Publication number: 20210178767
    Abstract: To prevent a printing head not placed on a cleaning placing unit from being cleaned and prevent contamination of an ambient environment by cleaning liquid. An ink jet recording system includes a placement detecting unit configured to detect that a printing head 1 is placed on a cleaning placing unit 200. The placement detecting unit is configured to, when detecting that the printing head 1 is placed, transmit a signal based on placement confirmation for the printing head 1 to a controller connected to the printing head 1 placed on the cleaning placing unit 200.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2020
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Applicant: Keyence Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi KITAMURA, Takanori ANDO, Minoru TANEDA, Mamoru IDAKA
  • Publication number: 20210178584
    Abstract: A user can easily create a robot program. A measuring device includes a position determination processing part that determines a holding position, held by a robot hand, of a workpiece placed in a work space and determines coordinates of a fixed via point having any single attribute based on a result of measurement made by a measuring part and holding information, the fixed via point being one of an approach position of the robot hand for holding the holding position, the holding position, and a retreat position after holding, and an output part that outputs, to a robot controller, the coordinates of the fixed via point determined by the position determination processing part and attribute information showing the attribute of the fixed via point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2020
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Applicant: Keyence Corporation
    Inventors: Kyosuke TAWARA, Naoki TAKAYAMA
  • Patent number: 11035714
    Abstract: Provided is a flow meter capable of logging data more reliably. In this operation, a detection element repeatedly detects a physical quantity related to a flow rate of a fluid flowing in a pipe in a predetermined sampling cycle. Based on physical quantities, a calculation part sequentially calculates the flow rate of the fluid in the pipe. Further, a time measurement part calculates the time. A control storage part is caused to store a logging target, a logging cycle, and logging start definition information. Based on the logging start definition information, a control part automatically starts logging of the logging target in response to startup of the flow meter, and causes a log storage part to store the time measured by the time measurement part and a numerical value of the logging target in association with each other in every logging cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: KEYENCE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yohei Hashimoto, Satoru Tomoshi, Hiroki Matsui
  • Patent number: 11024049
    Abstract: The image measurement apparatus searches for a workpiece by performing a first stage operation. The image measurement apparatus generates an image in each imaging field-of-view while moving the stage according to a predetermined sequence, and determines whether or not the workpiece is included in each image. When the workpiece is found, the image measurement apparatus switches from the first stage operation to a second stage operation. The image measurement apparatus generates an image in one or more imaging field-of-views located in a direction in which the workpiece extends, among a plurality of imaging field-of-views located around the imaging field-of-view on the stage, in which the image has been obtained. The image measurement apparatus joins a plurality of images generated in the second stage operation to generate a joined image including the whole workpiece, and displays the joined image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: KEYENCE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tadashi Hashimoto, Takashi Naruse, Kengo Yanase
  • Patent number: 11017543
    Abstract: An imaging part 120 successively generates a plurality of pieces of pattern image data. The binning processing is executed to the plurality of pieces of the pattern image data generated by the imaging part 120, and a computing processing part 132 generates, on the basis of the plurality of pieces of the pattern image data after the binning processing, height data indicating a height image of the measurement target S. The imaging part 120 generates texture image data indicating an image of the measurement target S when the illuminating part 110 irradiates the measurement target S with uniform light. On the basis of the height data generated by the computing processing part 132 and the texture image data generated by the imaging part 120, an inspecting part 230 executes an inspection of the measurement target S.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: KEYENCE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shuhei Ono
  • Publication number: 20210149366
    Abstract: The present invention provides a mechanism for causing a safety controller to suitably display various pieces of information from a safety input device. A safety controller acquires a compatible port that connects at least one safety input device, and a safety input signal from the at least one safety input device connected via the compatible port and state information on the safety input device. Further, the safety controller 3 includes the MCU 23 that generates, in accordance with the safety program, a safety output signal based on the safety input signal acquired, and the display device 5a that displays, based on the state information acquired, a state of the safety input device from which the state information is acquired.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2020
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Applicant: Keyence Corporation
    Inventor: Motohiro KUDO
  • Publication number: 20210149643
    Abstract: The present invention provides a mechanism capable of creating, in a simplified manner, a safety program in accordance with a safety use. A program creation assistance device assists in creation of the safety program to be executed by a safety controller. The program creation assistance device selects a safety use of the safety program to be created in accordance with user input, determines, based on the safety use selected, an input block to which a safety input signal from an input device is assigned and a functional block that implements a safety function suitable for the safety use selected, the input block and the function block making up the safety program, provides an unfinished safety program in a programmable manner, the unfinished safety program including the blocks determined, and supplements the unfinished safety program to create the safety program in accordance with user input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2020
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Applicant: Keyence Corporation
    Inventor: Masashi KAWANAKA
  • Publication number: 20210149644
    Abstract: The present invention provides a mechanism for adding a disabling function that satisfies a safety standard to a safety program in a simplified procedure. A program creation assistance device that assists in creation of a safety program to be executed by a safety controller creates a safety program including an input block to which a safety input signal from an input device is assigned, a functional block that implements a safety function, and an output block that outputs a safety output signal, and adds, to the safety program created, a plurality blocks and connections between the plurality of blocks in accordance with an instruction from a user, the plurality of blocks and the connections between the plurality of blocks being configured to implement a disabling function that disables the safety input signal when a predetermined condition is satisfied in the safety program.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2020
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Applicant: Keyence Corporation
    Inventors: Masashi KAWANAKA, Motohiro KUDO, Shinya KAMEOKA
  • Publication number: 20210148510
    Abstract: Recording a history related to an operation of a safety program contributes to a determination of a cause of a false OFF signal. A safety controller acquires, from at least one safety input device or safety sensor, extra information that is not used for obtaining an output signal and records an input signal and an output signal together with the extra information as history information at predetermined recording intervals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2020
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Applicant: Keyence Corporation
    Inventors: Ryuma MIYAKE, Yuta KATO
  • Patent number: 11009344
    Abstract: A control section 200 executes photographing processing for controlling the light projecting section and the light receiving section to photograph a measurement object placed on a stage, contour extracting processing for extracting a contour of the measurement object from an image of the measurement object, storing processing for determining whether the measurement object is present in rectangular regions adjacent to a photographing visual field and causing a storing section to store coordinate positions of one or more of the rectangular regions where it is determined that the measurement object is present, driving processing for driving the stage-plane-direction driving section to move the photographing visual field to any one of the coordinate positions stored in the storing section by the storing processing, and coupled-image generation processing for generating a coupled image by coupling images of the rectangular regions adjacent to one another obtained by repeatedly executing the photographing processin
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: KEYENCE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazuki Natori
  • Patent number: 11008798
    Abstract: To improve toughness of a non-contact type safety door switch. A safety switch includes a metallic casing integrated as a first part of an enclosure, having an opening in a front side, a cover integrated as a front part of the enclosure, covering the opening, the cover having a surface as a front surface of the enclosure, a wireless means, a determination means, an output means, circuit substrates provided inside the metallic casing and the cover, on which the wireless means, the determination means and the output means are mounted, and attachment holes on a side surface of the metallic casing, the side surface being adjacent to the front surface of the enclosure for attaching the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: KEYENCE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kashima, Lye Tatt Cheah
  • Patent number: 11012612
    Abstract: Accuracy of image inspection is improved by causing an imaging device conformable to a standardization standard to combine a plurality of captured images. A setting device transmits a setting content for realizing a combination setting set by a user on a user interface and register information indicating a location where the setting content is stored, to the imaging device. The imaging device stores the setting content in the location indicated by the corresponding register information, and executes the combination processing for combining the plurality of captured images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: KEYENCE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Yamagami
  • Publication number: 20210140757
    Abstract: An imaging head 100 includes a laser projector 110, an LED projector 120, a light receiving lens 132, a light receiver 131, and a processor 200. The laser projector 110 emits measurement light to a workpiece W. The LED projector 120 emits uniform observation light to the workpiece W. The light receiving lens 132 converges reflected light of the measurement light and reflected light of the observation light that are reflected back from the workpiece W. The light receiver 131 has a light receiving surface composed of multiple light receiving elements that are two-dimensionally arranged. The laser projector 110, the light receiver 131, and the light receiving lens 132 are arranged so that a plane containing the light receiving surface and a plane containing the principal plane of the light receiving lens 132 will satisfy the Scheimpflug condition relative to a light projection axis of the laser projector 110.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Applicant: Keyence Corporation
    Inventor: Akira FUYUNO
  • Patent number: 11000918
    Abstract: To prevent an output decrease of laser light due to impurities that could be formed in a guide-light emitting device or an imaging device. A laser-light guiding section includes a transmission window section, an optical component disposed to cause an optical path of the UV laser light emitted from the laser-light output section and an optical path of transmitted light transmitted through the transmission window section to cross, and a sealing member in which the transmission window section is provided, the sealing member configuring a sealed space for airtightly housing the optical component. At least one of a guide-light emitting device configured to emit guide light for visualizing a scanning position of the UV laser light toward the transmission window section and an imaging device configured to receive light for imaging a workpiece via the transmission window section is disposed on the outer side of the sealed space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: KEYENCE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mamoru Idaka, Masaki Saito, Hideki Yamakawa, Kazuyoshi Ogawa
  • Patent number: 11005228
    Abstract: To appropriately change an output of laser light without deteriorating laser characteristics. A control section of a laser machining device controls, when a target output is larger than a predetermined threshold, an output of laser light by changing a driving current supplied to an excitation light source and, on the other hand, controls, when the target output is equal to or smaller than the threshold, the output of the laser light by changing a duty ratio of a Q switch while keeping the driving current supplied to the excitation light source substantially fixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: KEYENCE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masao Sato, Tatsuaki Nagai
  • Patent number: 11002535
    Abstract: A shape measuring device 100 includes a control section 200 for executing determination processing for determining an unmeasured region having height information is present outside a depth measurement range, which is a height range in which pattern light can be irradiated from a light projecting section, focal-position changing processing for controlling an optical-axis-direction driving section to change a focal position of a light receiving section when it is determined by the determination processing that the unmeasured region is present, and synthesis processing for generating synthesized stereoscopic shape data obtained by combining a plurality of stereoscopic shape data generated by automatically repeating the stereoscopic-shape-data acquisition processing, the determination processing, and the focal-position-changing processing until it is determined by the determination processing that the unmeasured region is absent or a predetermined end condition is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: KEYENCE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuki Natori, Masaki Fujiwara