Patents by Inventor Koichi Shichi

Koichi Shichi 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).

  • Optical encoder photodetector array with multiple resolutions
    Patent number: 7301142
    Abstract: A photodetector for an optical encoder has plural sets of segmented photodiodes, each set of which is made by two adjoining segmented photodiodes capable of coping with a scale slit having a reference resolution. Output lines of the two adjoining segmented photodiodes are connected together in each set of the photodiodes. These output lines are connected to output lines of the corresponding segmented photodiodes in the other sets. The two adjoining segmented photodiodes function like one segmented photodiode, and thereby, the resolution of the applied scale slit is made ½ of the reference resolution. Thus, this photodetector easily copes with a scale slit having a half resolution of the reference resolution at low cost only by modification of wiring without changing any configuration of the segmented photodiodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koichi Shichi, Isamu Ohkubo
  • Photodetector for optical encoder
    Publication number: 20060266931
    Abstract: A photodetector for an optical encoder has plural sets of segmented photodiodes, each set of which is made by two adjoining segmented photodiodes capable of coping with a scale slit having a reference resolution. Output lines of the two adjoining segmented photodiodes are connected together in each set of the photodiodes. These output lines are connected to output lines of the corresponding segmented photodiodes in the other sets. The two adjoining segmented photodiodes function like one segmented photodiode, and thereby, the resolution of the applied scale slit is made ½ of the reference resolution. Thus, this photodetector easily copes with a scale slit having a half resolution of the reference resolution at low cost only by modification of wiring without changing any configuration of the segmented photodiodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2006
    Publication date: November 30, 2006
    Inventors: Koichi Shichi, Isamu Ohkubo
  • Photodetector for optical encoder
    Publication number: 20040262498
    Abstract: A photodetector for an optical encoder has plural sets of segmented photodiodes, each set of which is made by two adjoining segmented photodiodes capable of coping with a scale slit having a reference resolution. Output lines of the two adjoining segmented photodiodes are connected together in each set of the photodiodes. These output lines are connected to output lines of the corresponding segmented photodiodes in the other sets. The two adjoining segmented photodiodes function like one segmented photodiode, and thereby, the resolution of the applied scale slit is made ½ of the reference resolution. Thus, this photodetector easily copes with a scale slit having a half resolution of the reference resolution at low cost only by modification of wiring without changing any configuration of the segmented photodiodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2004
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Inventors: Koichi Shichi, Isamu Ohkubo