Patents by Inventor Shiro Igasaki

Shiro Igasaki 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: 11474285
    Abstract: A variable focal length lens device includes: a lens system of a liquid resonant type whose refractive index is changed in response to a drive signal to be inputted; a temperature sensor configured to acquire temperature information of the lens system; and a drive controller configured to control the lens system. The drive controller includes: a resonant frequency estimation unit configured to calculate an estimated value of a resonant frequency of the lens system on a basis of the temperature information; and a starting frequency setting unit configured to set a starting frequency of the lens system on a basis of the estimated value of the resonant frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shiro Igasaki, Yuki Kurahashi
  • Publication number: 20220229211
    Abstract: An image detection device includes an image detection optical system including a liquid resonant lens; an image detector configured to detect an image corresponding to a detection phase of a drive signal through the image detection optical system; a range determination unit configured to determine a first half or a second half of a cycle of the drive signal as a designated allowable range of the detection phase based on whether a phase delay shown by a variation waveform of a focus position is positive or negative; a detection phase setting unit configured to set the detection phase in the designated allowable range; and a detection control unit configured to control an image-detection timing by the image detector to a timing offset from the detection phase by an angle corresponding to the phase delay.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2022
    Publication date: July 21, 2022
    Applicant: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Aimin SHA, Shiro IGASAKI
  • Patent number: 11215739
    Abstract: A variable focal length lens apparatus includes a liquid lens apparatus in which the refractive index changes in accordance with an input drive signal, and a refractive power controller that controls refractive power of the lens system. The refractive power controller adjusts the voltage of the drive signal in accordance with effective power that is supplied to the liquid lens apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shiro Igasaki, Nobuo Ooba, Masaki Okayasu, Yuki Kurahashi
  • Patent number: 11193757
    Abstract: An image measurement apparatus, which functions as a non-contact profile-measuring device, includes: an image sensor as an image pick-up device; a variable focal length lens (liquid lens unit) disposed on an optical axis extending from a workpiece to the image sensor; and a controller (image-pickup lens controller and image measurement processor) configured to control the variable focal length lens and process a detected image by the image sensor. The image measurement apparatus, which also functions as a non-contact displacement-detecting device, includes: an image sensor; a variable focal length lens (liquid lens unit) disposed on an optical axis extending from the workpiece to the image sensor; and a controller (displacement-detection lens controller and profile measurement processor) configured to control the variable focal length lens and a detected image by the image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoru Yoshida, Tatsuya Nagahama, Masafumi Yamanaka, Hitoshi Isobe, Naoto Oita, Koji Kubo, Yuko Shishido, Nobuo Ohba, Takahisa Ootake, Hiroki Matsui, Masanori Arai, Shiro Igasaki, Yuki Kurahashi, Hiroshi Sakai, Yutaka Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20210173129
    Abstract: A variable focal length lens device includes: a lens system of a liquid resonant type whose refractive index is changed in response to a drive signal to be inputted; a temperature sensor configured to acquire temperature information of the lens system; and a drive controller configured to control the lens system. The drive controller includes: a resonant frequency estimation unit configured to calculate an estimated value of a resonant frequency of the lens system on a basis of the temperature information; and a starting frequency setting unit configured to set a starting frequency of the lens system on a basis of the estimated value of the resonant frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2021
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Applicant: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shiro IGASAKI, Yuki KURAHASHI
  • Patent number: 11022727
    Abstract: A variable focal length lens apparatus includes a liquid lens apparatus in which the refractive index changes in accordance with an input drive signal, and a drive controller that outputs the drive signal to the liquid lens apparatus. The drive controller includes a resonance lock controller that changes a frequency of the drive signal by tracking the drive signal to a resonance frequency of the liquid lens apparatus, and a tracking delayer that delays a change in the frequency of the drive signal that is due to the resonance lock controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shiro Igasaki, Nobuo Ooba
  • Patent number: 10908398
    Abstract: A variable focal length lens device includes: a lens system whose refractive index changes in accordance with an inputted drive signal; and a resonance-lock controller that locks the drive signal to a resonance frequency of the lens system. The resonance-lock controller tunes a frequency of the drive signal to a peak position of a voltage-current phase difference between a voltage of the drive signal and a drive current of the lens system, and raises or lowers the frequency of the drive signal in accordance with the drive current when the voltage-current phase difference changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shiro Igasaki, Nobuo Ohba, Yuki Kurahashi
  • Patent number: 10845580
    Abstract: A variable focal length lens device includes: a lens system whose refractive index changes depending on an inputted drive signal; an objective lens disposed in an optical axis common to the lens system; an image detector for detecting an image of a target object through the lens system and the objective lens; a resonance-lock controller for locking the frequency of the drive signal to a resonance frequency of the lens system; and a resonance-lock operation unit for switching enabling and suspending the resonance-lock controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shiro Igasaki, Nobuo Ohba, Koji Kubo, Takahisa Ootake
  • Publication number: 20200208965
    Abstract: An image measurement apparatus, which functions as a non-contact profile-measuring device, includes: an image sensor as an image pick-up device; a variable focal length lens (liquid lens unit) disposed on an optical axis extending from a workpiece to the image sensor; and a controller (image-pickup lens controller and image measurement processor) configured to control the variable focal length lens and process a detected image by the image sensor. The image measurement apparatus, which also functions as a non-contact displacement-detecting device, includes: an image sensor; a variable focal length lens (liquid lens unit) disposed on an optical axis extending from the workpiece to the image sensor; and a controller (displacement-detection lens controller and profile measurement processor) configured to control the variable focal length lens and a detected image by the image sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Applicant: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoru YOSHIDA, Tatsuya NAGAHAMA, Hitoshi ISOBE, Masafumi YAMANAKA, Naoto OITA, Koji KUBO, Yuko SHISHIDO, Nobuo OHBA, Takahisa OOTAKE, Hiroki MATSUI, Masanori ARAI, Shiro IGASAKI, Yuki KURAHASHI, Hiroshi SAKAI, Yutaka WATANABE
  • Patent number: 10684109
    Abstract: An indicator inspection machine inspects the accuracy of an indicator based on a value displayed by the indicator when a spindle changes position. The indicator inspection machine includes a measurement spindle provided so as to be freely raised and lowered in order to displace the spindle of the indicator; a contact point provided to a distalmost end of the measurement spindle, the contact point making contact with an indicator contact point provided to a distalmost end of the spindle of the indicator; a drive mechanism driving the measurement spindle; and a controller controlling the drive mechanism so as to bring the contact point into contact with the indicator contact point while changing a speed of the measurement spindle at a predetermined periodicity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaoki Yamagata, Shiro Igasaki
  • Publication number: 20200073024
    Abstract: A variable focal length lens apparatus includes a liquid lens apparatus in which the refractive index changes in accordance with an input drive signal, and a drive controller that outputs the drive signal to the liquid lens apparatus. The drive controller includes a resonance lock controller that changes a frequency of the drive signal by tracking the drive signal to a resonance frequency of the liquid lens apparatus, and a tracking delayer that delays a change in the frequency of the drive signal that is due to the resonance lock controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Applicant: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shiro IGASAKI, Nobuo OOBA
  • Publication number: 20200073025
    Abstract: A variable focal length lens apparatus includes a liquid lens apparatus in which the refractive index changes in accordance with an input drive signal, and a refractive power controller that controls refractive power of the lens system. The refractive power controller adjusts the voltage of the drive signal in accordance with effective power that is supplied to the liquid lens apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Applicant: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shiro IGASAKI, Nobuo OOBA, Masaki OKAYASU, Yuki KURAHASHI
  • Publication number: 20180364019
    Abstract: An indicator inspection machine inspects the accuracy of an indicator based on a value displayed by the indicator when a spindle changes position. The indicator inspection machine includes a measurement spindle provided so as to be freely raised and lowered in order to displace the spindle of the indicator; a contact point provided to a distalmost end of the measurement spindle, the contact point making contact with an indicator contact point provided to a distalmost end of the spindle of the indicator; a drive mechanism driving the measurement spindle; and a controller controlling the drive mechanism so as to bring the contact point into contact with the indicator contact point while changing a speed of the measurement spindle at a predetermined periodicity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Applicant: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaoki YAMAGATA, Shiro IGASAKI
  • Publication number: 20180314041
    Abstract: A variable focal length lens device includes: a lens system whose refractive index changes in accordance with an inputted drive signal; and a resonance-lock controller that locks the drive signal to a resonance frequency of the lens system. The resonance-lock controller tunes a frequency of the drive signal to a peak position of a voltage-current phase difference between a voltage of the drive signal and a drive current of the lens system, and raises or lowers the frequency of the drive signal in accordance with the drive current when the voltage-current phase difference changes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Applicant: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shiro IGASAKI, Nobuo OHBA, Yuki KURAHASHI
  • Publication number: 20180314042
    Abstract: A variable focal length lens device includes: a lens system whose refractive index changes depending on an inputted drive signal; an objective lens disposed in an optical axis common to the lens system; an image detector for detecting an image of a target object through the lens system and the objective lens; a resonance-lock controller for locking the frequency of the drive signal to a resonance frequency of the lens system; and a resonance-lock operation unit for switching enabling and suspending the resonance-lock controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Applicant: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shiro IGASAKI, Nobuo OHBA, Koji KUBO, Takahisa OOTAKE
  • Patent number: 9904261
    Abstract: A drive controller includes a speed compensation unit that performs a speed compensation for an object based on a result of comparison made by a speed comparator that compares a current speed of the drive object with a speed indicated by a speed command. The speed compensation unit includes a position-information-based speed gain setting unit that sets a position-information-based variable gain based on position-information-based speed gain information representing a relationship between a position of the object and position-information-based variable gain that varies depending on a load torque of the motor when the object is present at a predetermined position, and a speed compensation processor that performs a speed compensation based on a result of the comparison in the speed comparator and the position-information-based variable gain set by the position-information-based speed gain setting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shiro Igasaki
  • Publication number: 20150205277
    Abstract: A drive controller includes a speed compensation unit that performs a speed compensation for an object based on a result of comparison made by a speed comparator that compares a current speed of the drive object with a speed indicated by a speed command. The speed compensation unit includes a position-information-based speed gain setting unit that sets a position-information-based variable gain based on position-information-based speed gain information representing a relationship between a position of the object and position-information-based variable gain that varies depending on a load torque of the motor when the object is present at a predetermined position, and a speed compensation processor that performs a speed compensation based on a result of the comparison in the speed comparator and the position-information-based variable gain set by the position-information-based speed gain setting unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2015
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Inventor: Shiro Igasaki
  • Patent number: 8573036
    Abstract: A surface texture measuring instrument includes a force sensor (1), an actuator (11) and a detector (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
    Inventors: Shiro Igasaki, Masaoki Yamagata
  • Patent number: 8549899
    Abstract: A surface texture measuring instrument includes a force sensor (1), an actuator (11) and a detector (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
    Inventors: Shiro Igasaki, Masaoki Yamagata
  • Patent number: 8191408
    Abstract: A surface texture measuring instrument includes a contact piece to be in contact with an object, a sensor driving mechanism that moves the contact piece along the surface of the object, a controller that controls the sensor mechanism, and a force sensor that detects a measuring force exerted on the contact piece when the contact piece is brought into contact with the object. The controller includes a target value output that outputs a target value of the measuring force, a feedback controller that performs feedback control of the sensor driving mechanism based on a deviation between the measuring force and the target value, and a feedback compensator provided on the feedback controller. The feedback compensator performs feedback compensation in accordance with the measuring force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
    Inventors: Shiro Igasaki, Masaoki Yamagata