Patents by Inventor Daniel John Kapner
Daniel John Kapner has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 9689715Abstract: A light source array used in illumination portions for optical encoders comprising an illumination portion, a scale grating extending along a measuring direction and receiving light from the illumination portion, and a detector configuration. The light source array comprises individual sources arranged in a grid pattern and coinciding with two transverse sets of parallel grid pattern lines that have two different grid line pitches between their parallel lines. Different instances of the light source array may be mounted with different rotational orientations about an axis normal to the grid pattern, for use in different illumination portions adapted for use with respective scale gratings having different grating pitches along the measuring axis direction. By using the different respective rotational orientations, the individual sources are aligned along respective illumination source lines that are spaced apart by different respective illumination source line pitches along the measuring axis direction.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2015Date of Patent: June 27, 2017Assignee: Mitutoyo CorporationInventors: Brynn Kristen Hickman MacCoy, Casey Edward Emtman, Daniel John Kapner
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Patent number: 9683869Abstract: An electronic absolute position encoder comprises a scale, a detector and a signal processing configuration. The scale comprises a signal modulating scale pattern including a first periodic pattern component having a spatial wavelength ?1, and a second periodic pattern component having a spatial wavelength ?2. The detector comprises a set of first wavelength sensing elements comprising a first filtering subset of first wavelength sensing elements and a second filtering subset of first wavelength sensing elements including complementary pairs of sensing elements spaced apart by an integer number times 180 degrees of the spatial wavelength ?2. The detector comprises a set of second wavelength sensing elements comprises a first filtering subset of second wavelength sensing elements and a second filtering subset of second wavelength sensing elements including complementary pairs of sensing elements spaced apart by an integer number times 180 degrees of the spatial wavelength ?1.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2015Date of Patent: June 20, 2017Assignee: Mitutoyo CorporationInventor: Daniel John Kapner
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Publication number: 20170167893Abstract: An electronic absolute position encoder comprises a scale, a detector and a signal processing configuration. The scale comprises a signal modulating scale pattern including a first periodic pattern component having a spatial wavelength ?1, and a second periodic pattern component having a spatial wavelength ?2. The detector comprises a set of first wavelength sensing elements comprising a first filtering subset of first wavelength sensing elements and a second filtering subset of first wavelength sensing elements including complementary pairs of sensing elements spaced apart by an integer number times 180 degrees of the spatial wavelength ?2. The detector comprises a set of second wavelength sensing elements comprises a first filtering subset of second wavelength sensing elements and a second filtering subset of second wavelength sensing elements including complementary pairs of sensing elements spaced apart by an integer number times 180 degrees of the spatial wavelength ?1.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2015Publication date: June 15, 2017Inventor: Daniel John Kapner
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Publication number: 20160341576Abstract: A light source array used in illumination portions for optical encoders comprising an illumination portion, a scale grating extending along a measuring direction and receiving light from the illumination portion, and a detector configuration. The light source array comprises individual sources arranged in a grid pattern and coinciding with two transverse sets of parallel grid pattern lines that have two different grid line pitches between their parallel lines. Different instances of the light source array may be mounted with different rotational orientations about an axis normal to the grid pattern, for use in different illumination portions adapted for use with respective scale gratings having different grating pitches along the measuring axis direction. By using the different respective rotational orientations, the individual sources are aligned along respective illumination source lines that are spaced apart by different respective illumination source line pitches along the measuring axis direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 19, 2015Publication date: November 24, 2016Inventors: Brynn Kristen Hickman MacCoy, Casey Edward Emtman, Daniel John Kapner
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Patent number: 8493569Abstract: A device for measuring relative displacement between two members includes a scale grating and an optical encoder readhead comprising a first wavelength light source illuminating the grating. The grating outputs scale light to form a moving periodic intensity pattern at the first wavelength. The readhead comprises a plurality of spatial phase detectors comprising: a periodic spatial filter; a phosphor layer that receives light arising from the first wavelength periodic intensity pattern and outputs second wavelength light, and a photodetector element that receives, and is sensitive to, the second wavelength light. The photodetector element inputs second wavelength light corresponding to a spatially filtered version of the first wavelength periodic intensity pattern and outputs a signal indicative of its spatial phase relative to that spatial phase detector. The spatial filtering may be provided by a mask element, or by a pattern of the phosphor layer and/or the detector element, in various embodiments.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2010Date of Patent: July 23, 2013Assignee: Mitutoyo CorporationInventor: Daniel John Kapner
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Patent number: 8309906Abstract: An encoder configuration comprises a dual-modulation scale track pattern that provides a first intensity modulation component for producing periodic signals, and a second intensity modulation component for producing a long-range absolute signal. The dual-modulation scale track pattern increases the range-to-resolution ratio of the encoder without the use of additional scale tracks that would increase the width of the encoder components. The long-range signal may be encoded in the dual-modulation scale track pattern either by varying certain dimensions of pattern elements included in the scale track or by superimposing a layer including an optical density variation along on the track on pattern elements of similar areas. In either case, the net offset and/or amplitude levels of the associated signals are modified along the scale track. These modified offset and/or amplitude levels provide the basis for the long-range absolute signal.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2010Date of Patent: November 13, 2012Assignee: Mitutoyo CorporationInventors: Daniel John Kapner, Michelle Mary Milvich
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Publication number: 20120162663Abstract: A device for measuring relative displacement between two members includes a scale grating and an optical encoder readhead comprising a first wavelength light source illuminating the grating. The grating outputs scale light to form a moving periodic intensity pattern at the first wavelength. The readhead comprises a plurality of spatial phase detectors comprising: a periodic spatial filter; a phosphor layer that receives light arising from the first wavelength periodic intensity pattern and outputs second wavelength light, and a photodetector element that receives, and is sensitive to, the second wavelength light. The photodetector element inputs second wavelength light corresponding to a spatially filtered version of the first wavelength periodic intensity pattern and outputs a signal indicative of its spatial phase relative to that spatial phase detector. The spatial filtering may be provided by a mask element, or by a pattern of the phosphor layer and/or the detector element, in various embodiments.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 27, 2010Publication date: June 28, 2012Applicant: MITUTOYO CORPORATIONInventor: Daniel John Kapner
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Publication number: 20110304482Abstract: An encoder configuration comprises a dual-modulation scale track pattern that provides a first intensity modulation component for producing periodic signals, and a second intensity modulation component for producing a long-range absolute signal. The dual-modulation scale track pattern increases the range-to-resolution ratio of the encoder without the use of additional scale tracks that would increase the width of the encoder components. The long-range signal may be encoded in the dual-modulation scale track pattern either by varying certain dimensions of pattern elements included in the scale track or by superimposing a layer including an optical density variation along on the track on pattern elements of similar areas. In either case, the net offset and/or amplitude levels of the associated signals are modified along the scale track. These modified offset and/or amplitude levels provide the basis for the long-range absolute signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 10, 2010Publication date: December 15, 2011Applicant: MITUTOYO CORPORATIONInventors: Daniel John Kapner, Michelle Mary Milvich