Patents by Inventor Kazuhiko Kodama

Kazuhiko Kodama 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: 9739642
    Abstract: An encoder scale, displaced relative to a detector head, includes: an insulating substrate; a conductive adhesive layer that is formed on the insulating substrate; and conductive pattern layers that are formed on the adhesive layer in a shape enabling the detector head to detect a position, wherein: the adhesive layer electrically connects all the pattern layers and includes an out-of-detection-range pattern that extends outward from a position detection range of the detector head; and the out-of-detection-range pattern is grounded via a conductive member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takanori Otsuka, Taisuke Wakasa, Kouichi Yoshihara, Ryo Morita, Kazuhiko Kodama
  • Publication number: 20160313144
    Abstract: An encoder scale, displaced relative to a detector head, includes: an insulating substrate; a conductive adhesive layer that is formed on the insulating substrate; and conductive pattern layers that are formed on the adhesive layer in a shape enabling the detector head to detect a position, wherein: the adhesive layer electrically connects all the pattern layers and includes an out-of-detection-range pattern that extends outward from a position detection range of the detector head; and the out-of-detection-range pattern is grounded via a conductive member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Inventors: Takanori Otsuka, Taisuke Wakasa, Kouichi Yoshihara, Ryo Morita, Kazuhiko Kodama
  • Patent number: 9291482
    Abstract: A linear encoder includes a scale; a frame in which the scale is held, the frame having an opening that extends in a longitudinal direction of the frame; and a pair of elongated dustproof members arranged to face each other in the opening. At least a part of each dustproof member is elastically deformable. Each dustproof member includes a first end portion in a transverse direction of the dustproof member, a first projecting portion disposed on the first end portion, and a second end portion in the transverse direction. The opening has a pair of fitting recesses formed therein. The first end portion of each dustproof member is fitted in a corresponding one of the fitting recesses, and the first projecting portion contacts the corresponding one of the fitting recesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Kodama, Kazushi Kikuchi, Takanori Otsuka
  • Publication number: 20140338446
    Abstract: A linear encoder includes a scale; a frame in which the scale is held, the frame having an opening that extends in a longitudinal direction of the frame; and a pair of elongated dustproof members arranged to face each other in the opening. At least a part of each dustproof member is elastically deformable. Each dustproof member includes a first end portion in a transverse direction of the dustproof member, a first projecting portion disposed on the first end portion, and a second end portion in the transverse direction. The opening has a pair of fitting recesses formed therein. The first end portion of each dustproof member is fitted in a corresponding one of the fitting recesses, and the first projecting portion contacts the corresponding one of the fitting recesses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: Mitutoyo Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Kodama, Kazushi Kikuchi, Takanori Otsuka
  • Publication number: 20140339779
    Abstract: A dustproof member for a measurement device is provided. The measurement device includes a frame in which a scale is held and which has an insertion opening that extends in a longitudinal direction, and a detector that is inserted through the insertion opening and capable of moving along the insertion opening in the longitudinal direction to obtain position information from the scale. The dustproof member is provided on the frame to cover the insertion opening of the measurement device. The dustproof member includes a reinforcing member that extends continuously in the longitudinal direction and that is disposed in a substantially central region of the dustproof member in a width direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Kodama, Takanori Otsuka, Kazushi Kikuchi, Yoshihide Osawa, Yusuke Kurosawa
  • Patent number: 8130427
    Abstract: When generating an origin signal of an encoder having a scale on which an incremental pattern and the origin pattern are formed, an origin signal having a necessary position and width is generated by software based on an origin waveform obtained from the origin pattern. This enables origin detection with excellent repeatability, S/N ratio (pulse width), and bidirectionality while maintaining ease of mounting and adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
    Inventors: Kouichi Arai, Kazuhiko Kodama
  • Patent number: 7619745
    Abstract: An optical encoder which is designed to convert light generated from a light source into parallel light rays by using a collimator lens, thereby allowing the collimated light to radiate to gratings (a first grating, a second grating and a third grating). A diffusing element (a diffusion plate or a diffusion surface) is provided between the light source and the collimator lens to mitigate the parallelization degree of light, thereby weakening the second-order and the third-order or high-order diffraction light. Consequently, even where a light emitting diode (LED) or laser diode (LD) is used as the light source, a favorable interference output can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
    Inventors: Takanori Otsuka, Kazuhiko Kodama
  • Patent number: 7592584
    Abstract: An optical encoder (100) is provided with: a light-emitting element (30) including a main-signal light-emitting element (31) having a red LED (31A) that emits red light and an origin light-emitting element (32) having an infrared LED (32A) that emits infrared light; and a receiver unit (40) including a main-signal photo detector (41) that receives the red light to generate a predetermined signal and an origin photo detector (42) that receives the infrared light to generate a predetermined signal. Accordingly, even when the infrared light enters the main-signal photo detector (41) or the red light enters the origin photo detector (42), no signal is generated by the light, thereby effectively preventing crosstalk. Thus, the measurement accuracy of the optical encoder (100) can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
    Inventors: Takanori Otsuka, Kazuhiko Kodama, Toru Yaku
  • Publication number: 20080111063
    Abstract: An optical encoder (100) is provided with: a light-emitting element (30) including a main-signal light-emitting element (31) having a red LED (31A) that emits red light and an origin light-emitting element (32) having an infrared LED (32A) that emits infrared light; and a receiver unit (40) including a main-signal photo detector (41) that receives the red light to generate a predetermined signal and an origin photo detector (42) that receives the infrared light to generate a predetermined signal. Accordingly, even when the infrared light enters the main-signal photo detector (41) or the red light enters the origin photo detector (42), no signal is generated by the light, thereby effectively preventing crosstalk. Thus, the measurement accuracy of the optical encoder (100) can be improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Applicant: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takanori OTSUKA, Kazuhiko KODAMA, Toru YAKU
  • Publication number: 20080024797
    Abstract: In an optical encoder which is designed to convert light generated from a light source into parallel light rays by using a collimator lens, thereby allowing the collimated light to radiate to gratings (a first grating, a second grating and a third grating), a diffusion means (a diffusion plate or a diffusion surface) is provided between the light source and the collimator lens to mitigate the parallelization degree of light, thereby weakening the second-order and the third-order or high-order diffraction light. Thereby, even where a light emitting diode (LED) or laser diode (LD) is used as the light source, a favorable interference output can be obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Applicant: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takanori Otsuka, Kazuhiko Kodama
  • Publication number: 20060268379
    Abstract: When generating an origin signal of an encoder having a scale on which an incremental pattern and the origin pattern are formed, an origin signal having a necessary position and width is generated by software based on an origin waveform obtained from the origin pattern. This enables origin detection with excellent repeatability, S/N ratio (pulse width), and bidirectionality while maintaining ease of mounting and adjustment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2006
    Publication date: November 30, 2006
    Applicant: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kouichi Arai, Kazuhiko Kodama
  • Patent number: 7103987
    Abstract: A slider or a slide shoe for maintaining an interval between a scale and the slider is provided with inclined faces for excluding a foreign matter on a scale face or a sliding guide face at both ends of the slider in a moving direction thereof or at both ends of the slide shoe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Kodama, Yutaka Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 7007397
    Abstract: A main scale is firmly bonded to a metal tape having a desired coefficient of linear expansion by a powerful adhesive. At the same time, the metal tape is fixed to a frame by a two-sided adhesive tape so as to be capable of expansion and contraction. A length measuring apparatus is provided, wherein a scale material which is unstable with respect to variations in temperature and humidity is stabilized, thereby achieving a desired coefficient of linear expansion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Kodama, Shigeru Oshima
  • Publication number: 20040211078
    Abstract: A main scale is firmly bonded to a metal tape having a desired coefficient of linear expansion by a powerful adhesive. At the same time, the metal tape is fixed to a frame by a two-sided adhesive tape so as to be capable of expansion and contraction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2004
    Publication date: October 28, 2004
    Applicant: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Kodama, Shigeru Oshima
  • Publication number: 20040211079
    Abstract: A slider or a slide shoe for maintaining an interval between a scale and the slider is provided with inclined faces for excluding a foreign matter on a scale face or a sliding guide face at both ends of the slider in a moving direction thereof or at both ends of the slide shoe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2004
    Publication date: October 28, 2004
    Applicant: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Kodama, Yutaka Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 6039912
    Abstract: A housing structure for projection type television receivers comprises a casing provided with an opening on each of the front side and the back side, a framework holding a screen and a back cover. The framework for holding the screen is installed on the front side of the casing. The back cover is installed on the back side of the casing. Concaved members for mating with bosses that are used to mount the framework are formed on the outer rim of the front side of the casing. Reinforcing ribs and guide ribs that are used to mount the back cover are formed on the back side of the casing. The housing structure disclosed here makes it possible to mount and detach the screen, working from the outside of the housing structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadashi Ohira, Yoshiaki Sato, Kazuhiko Kodama
  • Patent number: 5995170
    Abstract: A housing structure for projection type television receivers comprises a casing provided with an opening on each of the front side and the back side, a framework holding a screen and a back cover. The framework for holding the screen is installed on the front side of the casing. The back cover is installed on the back side of the casing. Concaved members for mating with bosses that are used to mount the framework are formed on the outer rim of the front side of the casing. Reinforcing ribs and guide ribs that are used to mount the back cover are formed on the back side of the casing. The housing structure disclosed here makes it possible to mount and detach the screen, working from the outside of the housing structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadashi Ohira, Yoshiaki Sato, Kazuhiko Kodama
  • Patent number: 5827469
    Abstract: Molding methods for disposing a functional film on a hollow inner surface or undulated surface. A blow molding process for manufacturing a molded product having a hollow part and a pressure forming process for manufacturing a molded product having an undulated part, and the products produced there from. Before the parison or forming material is cooled and solidified, a compressed fluid containing a material for forming a film is supplied into a die, thereby forming a film simultaneously when molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kaoru Shimizu, Kazuhiko Kodama
  • Patent number: 5807617
    Abstract: A hollow structural component which includes an integral structure, partition walls intersecting each other within the integral structure, and a plurality of independent hollow portions formed as specified by the partition walls so as to be arranged within the integral structure. The integral structure is formed into one piece by one-shot molding or by one injection molding die which is caused to slide against each other between its stationary side and movable side for post-forming, whereby weight reduction of the hollow structural component, reduction in the amount of resin used, reduction in the number of parts involved, and improvement in the workability for assembling may be achieved with consequent cost reduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomio Shiota, Toshiharu Hikida, Masashi Sugimoto, Kazuhiko Kodama, Kaoru Shimizu
  • Patent number: 5807618
    Abstract: A hollow structural component which includes an integral structure, partition walls intersecting each other within the integral structure, and a plurality of independent hollow portions formed as specified by the partition walls so as to be arranged within the integral structure. The integral structure is formed into one piece by one-shot molding or by one injection molding die which is caused to slide against each other between its stationary side and movable side for post-forming, whereby weight reduction of the hollow structural component, reduction in the amount of resin used, reduction in the number of parts involved, and improvement in the workability for assembling may be achieved with consequent cost reduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomio Shiota, Toshiharu Hikida, Masashi Sugimoto, Kazuhiko Kodama, Kaoru Shimizu