Patents by Inventor Jun-ichi Kodaira

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

  • Patent number: 6137567
    Abstract: The laser survey instrument according to the present invention comprises a rotary laser device and a photodetector for receiving a laser beam, wherein the rotary laser device comprises a light source unit for emitting the laser beam, a rotator for projecting the laser beam toward the photodetector by rotary irradiation, detection means for detecting status of the rotary laser device, and a control unit for changing the number of rotations of said rotator based on the result of detection from the detection means in order to transmit the detection result from the detection means to the photodetector, the photodetector comprises a photodetection unit for receiving the laser beam from the rotary laser device and for issuing a photodetection signal, display means having a display corresponding to the photodetection signal, and judging means for detecting the number of rotations of the laser beams from the photodetection signal of the photodetection unit and for operating the display means according to the rotating
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha TOPCON
    Inventors: Mitsutoshi Ohoka, Kazuki Osaragi, Jun-ichi Kodaira
  • Patent number: 6137568
    Abstract: The present invention provides an optical axis compensator, which comprises a liquid sealing container 1 with a transparent liquid 14 sealed therein so as to form a free liquid surface 2, an optical axis compensating unit 44 for allowing a light beam to pass through the liquid sealing container at a predetermined angle and for performing optical axis compensation based on changes of an exit optical axis according to angular change of said free liquid surface with respect to an incident optical axis, a tilting mechanism 12 for tilting said optical axis compensating unit, tilt detecting means for detecting tilt of said optical axis compensating unit, and a control unit for driving said tilting mechanism according to a signal from said tilt detecting means and for leveling said optical axis compensating unit, whereby said control unit drives said tilting mechanism according to tilt detection from the tilt detecting means and levels the optical axis compensating unit, and the optical axis compensating unit compen
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha TOPCON
    Inventors: Fumio Ohtomo, Jun-ichi Kodaira, Kazuki Osaragi
  • Patent number: 6073353
    Abstract: The present invention provides a laser leveling device, which comprises a light emitting unit for irradiating a laser beam, a rotating unit for rotating the laser beam for scanning, and a means for turning off the scanning laser beam so that a spotlike is formed in a specific direction. By forming a reference spot light, and aligning an irradiating point of the spot beam with the reference point, it is possible to install the laser leveling device 1 to the reference point and to perform accurate positioning of the laser leveling device by the scanning line of the laser beam formed on a portion other than the spot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha TOPCON
    Inventors: Fumio Ohtomo, Jun-Ichi Kodaira, Takayuki Fujioka
  • Patent number: 6067148
    Abstract: An execution height setting system 100 includes laser device 102 for setting a horizontal reference plane by rotatably radiating a laser beam and a execution height display device 104. The execution height display device 104 has a light receiving section 112 for receiving the laser beam, an indexing section 118 for indicating a shift of the sensed laser beam relative to the reference position, and a data display section 108 for displaying the inputted grade or execution height. As the execution height display device 104 receives the laser beam, it senses the distance between the laser device 102 and the execution height display device 104 and then computes the desired execution height based on the set grade value. The computation result for the execution height is displayed on the execution height display portion 108c.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Topcon
    Inventors: Jun-ichi Kodaira, Takaaki Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 5959729
    Abstract: An automatic tilt angle compensator, which comprises a sealed container for sealing at least two types of liquids to form a free interface, a light projecting system arranged to project a light beam through the free interface, an entry window for allowing the light beam to enter, reflecting means for reflecting the light beam after passing through the free interface, and an exit window for irradiating the light beam from said sealed container, wherein said entry window, said reflecting means and said exit window are always in contact with said liquid, and when the system is laid down by 90 degrees, the free interface is rotated by 90 degrees, and the light beam passing through the free interface is irradiated through the exit window in the same manner as before the rotation by 90 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Topcon
    Inventors: Jun-ichi Kodaira, Takashi Takahashi, Fumio Ohtomo
  • Patent number: 5953116
    Abstract: A tilt detecting device of the present invention comprises a bubble tube 21, a light emitting element 22 for emitting detection light and photodetector elements 23 and 24 arranged opposite to each other with the bubble tube therebetween, and at least a light shading plate 35 disposed on an optical path of the detection light 26 and for partially blocking off light components entering the photodetector elements from the light emitting element, whereby a part of the detection light entering the photodetector elements is blocked off and it increase difference and ratio of light amounts between the case where the detection light passes through the air bubble of the bubble tube and the case where it passes through only the liquid portion of the bubble tube, and tilt detection accuracy is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha TOPCON
    Inventors: Fumio Ohtomo, Hiroshi Koizumi, Jun-ichi Kodaira
  • Patent number: 5926305
    Abstract: A rotating laser apparatus having a reciprocating laser scanning system which facilitates visual recognition of a laser beam on an object to be measured by raising an effective energy level on the object. In the apparatus the laser beam is rotated by a rotation device. The reciprocating laser scanning system includes reflection members for reflecting the laser beam, a laser beam detector for detecting a return laser beam reflected from the reflection members, and a microcomputer for controlling a rotation of the rotation device in accordance with the output of the laser beam detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: Topcon Corporation
    Inventors: Fumio Ohtomo, Hiroyuki Nishizawa, Jun-ichi Kodaira, Kenichirou Yoshino
  • Patent number: 5907907
    Abstract: The present invention provides a laser leveling system for forming a reference line or a reference plane by a laser beam. The laser leveling system comprises a laser light emitting means for emitting a laser beam, a projection optical system for projecting the laser beam irradiated from the light emitting means, a rotating unit for rotating the light beam projected by the projection optical system, and a leveling means for tilting the rotating unit, whereby a horizontal reference plane and a vertical reference plane are formed by the light beam, and a reference irradiation spot is formed on the horizontal reference plane or on the vertical reference plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1999
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha TOPCON
    Inventors: Fumio Ohtomo, Satoshi Hirano, Kazuki Osaragi, Jun-ichi Kodaira, Ken-ichiro Yoshino
  • Patent number: 5909311
    Abstract: An object reflector detecting apparatus for identifying an object reflector by emitting a light from a polarized light source toward the object reflector and then detecting a reflected light from the object reflector characterized in that the light emitted from said polarized light source is a polarized light of which direction of polarization is specially defined, the polarized lights between said reflected light and said emitted light are different in the direction of polarization, and said object reflector detecting apparatus is adaped to detect only a component of the direction of polarization from said object reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1999
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Topcon
    Inventors: Fumio Ohtomo, Kunihiro Hayashi, Jun-ichi Kodaira, Hiroyuki Nishizawa, Kenichiro Yoshino
  • Patent number: 5867263
    Abstract: A laser survey instrument, which is arranged on an optical axis of an emitted polarized irradiation light beam and is provided with a reflection light blocking means for blocking an incident reference light having a polarizing member and a 1/4 wave birefringence member, whereby a harmful reflection light is blocked by the reflection light blocking means to improve detection accuracy of a signal light to be detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha TOPCON
    Inventors: Fumio Ohtomo, Jun-ichi Kodaira, Ken-ichiro Yoshino
  • Patent number: 5847824
    Abstract: An automatic angle compensator comprising a liquid sealing container 4 having transparent liquid to form a free liquid surface 1 sealed therein, light projecting systems 21 and 22 for projecting light at a given angle to the free liquid surface, and an optical system for guiding the light beam, which is reflected by the free liquid surface and irradiated from the liquid sealing container, whereby optical axis of the light beam reflected by the free liquid surface is aligned with optical axis of the optical system regardless of whether the free liquid surface is turned by 0.degree. or 90.degree., and automatic compensation can be achieved regardless of whether the system is positioned in horizontal or vertical directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Topcon
    Inventors: Fumio Ohtomo, Hiroo Sugai, Ikuo Ishinabe, Jun-ichi Kodaira
  • Patent number: 5774211
    Abstract: The present invention provides an object reflector detection system, in which laser beam is emitted toward an object reflector and reflection light beam is received to detect presence or absence and position of the object reflector, whereby there are provided a laser beam emitter and a reflection light beam detector, and further a laser beam emitter for emitting polarized irradiation light beam toward the object reflector, and a reflection light beam detector for detecting polarized reflection light beam from the object reflector, and the reflection light beam detector having a first detection means for detecting polarized reflection light beam from the object reflector, a second detection means for detecting polarized light beam different from the polarized reflection light beam from the object reflector and a reflection light beam detection circuit for identifying the object reflector based on comparison between output of the first detection means and output of the second detection means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Topcon
    Inventors: Fumio Ohtomo, Kunihiro Hayashi, Jun-ichi Kodaira, Hiroyuki Nishizawa, Ken-ichiro Yoshino, Satoshi Hirano, Yohei Ogawa
  • Patent number: 5751459
    Abstract: A rotating laser apparatus having a reciprocating laser scanning system which facilitates visual recognition of a laser beam on an object to be measured by raising an effective energy level on the object. In the apparatus the laser beam is rotated by a rotation device. The reciprocating laser scanning system includes a reflection members for reflecting the laser beam, a laser beam detector for detecting a return laser beam reflected from the reflection member, and a microcomputer for controlling a rotation of the rotation device in accordance with the output of the laser beam detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: Topcon Corporation
    Inventors: Fumio Ohtomo, Hiroyuki Nishizawa, Jun-ichi Kodaira, Kenichirou Yoshino
  • Patent number: 5748353
    Abstract: A rotating laser apparatus having a reciprocating laser scanning system which facilitates visual recognition of a laser beam on an object to be measured by raising an effective energy, level on the object. In the apparatus the laser beam is rotated by a rotation device. The reciprocating laser scanning system includes reflection members for reflecting the laser beam, a laser beam detector for detecting a return laser beam reflected from the reflection members, and a microcomputer for controlling a rotation of the rotation device in accordance with the output of the laser beam detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Topcon Corporation
    Inventors: Fumio Ohtomo, Hiroyuki Nishizawa, Jun-ichi Kodaira, Kenichirou Yoshino
  • Patent number: 5703718
    Abstract: An object reflector detecting apparatus for identifying an object reflector by emitting a light from a polarized light source toward the object reflector and then detecting a reflected light from the object reflector characterized in that the light emitted from said polarized light source is a polarized light of which direction of polarization is specially defined, the polarized lights between said reflected light and said emitted light are different in the direction of polarization, and said object reflector detecting apparatus is adapted to detect only a component of the direction of polarization from said object reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Topcon
    Inventors: Fumio Ohtomo, Kunihiro Hayashi, Jun-ichi Kodaira, Hiroyuki Nishizawa, Kenichiro Yoshino
  • Patent number: 5684579
    Abstract: The automatic tilt angle compensator of the present invention includes a liquid sealing container with a transparent liquid sealed therein to form a free liquid surface, a light projecting system for projecting light beam to the free liquid surface at a given angle so that it is reflected by the free liquid surface, an optical axis dividing means for dividing an optical axis of the light projecting system, a first light entry means for allowing the light beam from the light projecting system to pass into the sealing container, a second light entry means for allowing the light beams divided by the dividing means into the sealing container, a first light irradiating means for irradiating the light beam reflected by the free liquid surface from the sealing container, and a second light irradiating means arranged face-to-face to the first light irradiating means, whereby a light beam entering the liquid sealing container from the first light entry means is irradiated by the first light irradiating means, and when
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Topcon
    Inventors: Fumio Ohtomo, Jun-ichi Kodaira
  • Patent number: 5612781
    Abstract: The present invention provides an object reflector detection system, in which laser beam is emitted toward an object reflector and reflection light beam is received to detect presence or absence and position of the object reflector, whereby there are provided a laser beam emitter and a reflection light beam detector, and further a laser beam emitter for emitting polarized irradiation light beam toward the object reflector, and a reflection light beam detector for detecting polarized reflection light beam from the object reflector, and the reflection light beam detector having a first detection means for detecting polarized reflection light beam from the object reflector, a second detection means for detecting polarized light beam different from the polarized reflection light beam from the object reflector and a reflection light beam detection circuit for identifying the object reflector based on comparison between output of the first detection means and output of the second detection means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha TOPCON
    Inventors: Fumio Ohtomo, Kunihiro Hayashi, Jun-ichi Kodaira, Hiroyuki Nishizawa, Ken-ichiro Yoshino, Satoshi Hirano, Yohei Ogawa
  • Patent number: 5583685
    Abstract: A rotating laser apparatus having a reciprocating laser scanning system which facilitates visual recognition of a laser beam on an object to be measured by raising an effective energy level on the object. In the apparatus the laser beam is rotated by a rotation device. The reciprocating laser scanning system includes reflection members for reflecting the laser beam, a laser beam detector for detecting a return laser beam reflected from the reflection members, and a microcomputer for controlling a rotation of the rotation device in accordance with the output of the laser beam detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: Topcon Corporation
    Inventors: Fumio Ohtomo, Hiroyuki Nishizawa, Jun-ichi Kodaira, Kenichirou Yoshino
  • Patent number: 5517023
    Abstract: A rotating laser apparatus having a reciprocating laser scanning system which facilitates visual recognition of a laser beam on an object to be measured by raising an effective energy level on the object. In the apparatus the laser beam is rotated by a rotation device. The reciprocating laser scanning system includes reflection members for reflecting the laser beam, a laser beam detector for detecting a return laser beam reflected from the reflection means, and a control members, microcomputer a rotation of the rotation device in accordance with the output of the laser beam detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1996
    Assignee: Topcon Corporation
    Inventors: Fumio Ohtomo, Hiroyuki Nishizawa, Jun-ichi Kodaira, Kenichirou Yoshino