Patents by Inventor Toru Yaku

Toru Yaku 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: 11467384
    Abstract: A telecentric optical apparatus that is capable of suppressing an increase in the number of components as well as achieving high precision optical axis alignment, is provided. The telecentric optical apparatus of the present invention is characterized in that it is provided with: a first telecentric lens surface that is provided on an object side; a second telecentric lens surface that is provided on an image side and that shares a focus position with the first telecentric lens surface; and an optical path trimming part that is provided, between the first telecentric lens surface and the second telecentric lens surface, in an outside region, which is located on a side further out than a light passing region having a center thereof located at the focus position, and that changes an optical path such that a light beam incident on the outside region is prevented from contributing to image formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenji Okabe, Tatsuya Nagahama, Toru Yaku, Kimitoshi Ono
  • Publication number: 20200073093
    Abstract: A telecentric optical apparatus that is capable of suppressing an increase in the number of components as well as achieving high precision optical axis alignment, is provided. The telecentric optical apparatus of the present invention is characterized in that it is provided with: a first telecentric lens surface that is provided on an object side; a second telecentric lens surface that is provided on an image side and that shares a focus position with the first telecentric lens surface; and an optical path trimming part that is provided, between the first telecentric lens surface and the second telecentric lens surface, in an outside region, which is located on a side further out than a light passing region having a center thereof located at the focus position, and that changes an optical path such that a light beam incident on the outside region is prevented from contributing to image formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2019
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventors: Kenji Okabe, Tatsuya Nagahama, Toru Yaku, Kimitoshi Ono
  • Patent number: 10520710
    Abstract: A telecentric optical apparatus that is capable of suppressing an increase in the number of components as well as achieving high precision optical axis alignment, is provided. The telecentric optical apparatus of the present invention is characterized in that it is provided with: a first telecentric lens surface that is provided on an object side; a second telecentric lens surface that is provided on an image side and that shares a focus position with the first telecentric lens surface; and an optical path trimming part that is provided, between the first telecentric lens surface and the second telecentric lens surface, in an outside region, which is located on a side further out than a light passing region having a center thereof located at the focus position, and that changes an optical path such that a light beam incident on the outside region is prevented from contributing to image formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenji Okabe, Tatsuya Nagahama, Toru Yaku, Kimitoshi Ono
  • Publication number: 20190145800
    Abstract: To enable a displacement measurement apparatus to detect its own environment and discover, in advance, a worsening in the environment or a cause of a drop in measurement precision. The displacement measurement apparatus includes a scale contained within a scale housing, and a slider capable of moving relative to the scale, the slider measuring displacement relative to the scale. Furthermore, at least one of the slider and the scale housing is provided with a second sensor. The second sensor detects at least one of hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, oxygen, vibration, sound, and magnetism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Inventor: Toru Yaku
  • Patent number: 10184810
    Abstract: A scale includes a grating pattern arranged in a measurement direction. A detection head can be moved relative to the scale in the measurement direction and outputs an electric signal indicating a result of detection of the pattern. An operation unit calculates a relative displacement of the detection head relative to the scale. The detection head irradiates the scale with light. A light-receiving unit includes a light-receiving element array arranged in the measurement direction and outputs a result of detection of the irradiation light applied to the light-receiving element array as the electric signal. An optical system forms light from the scale into interference fringes on a light-receiving surface of the light-receiving unit by using lens arrays arranged in the measurement direction. A lens array pitch between neighboring lenses of the lens arrays is not equal to an integral multiple of a pitch of the grating pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toru Yaku
  • Patent number: 10041815
    Abstract: A scale is provided with a two-level code pattern according to a pseudo random code sequence along a length measurement direction. Each code of the two-level code pattern indicates a code “1” or “0”, each code includes two bits, and each bit of the two bits is L or H. The code “1” is represented by an A pattern which is a combination of L and H, and the code “0” is represented by a B pattern which is a combination of L and L or by a C pattern which is a combination of H and H. When the codes “0” are continued, the B pattern and the C pattern are alternately used. The scale is commonly used in a reflective type encoder or transmissive type encoder. A detection head part includes an inversion processing unit which performs inversion processing to a detection image of the scale as required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shu Hirata, Toru Yaku
  • Patent number: 10003321
    Abstract: A resistor string outputs sixteen signals with a phase difference of 22.5° by dividing voltage between two adjacent phases of a four-phase input signal with a phase difference of 2?/M (where M is an integer equal to or greater than 2), and by generating four signals with a delayed phase for each phase of the four-phase input signal. A switch portion selects four signals with a phase difference of 90° from the sixteen signals. Amplifiers output each of the four signals, which are attenuated by dividing the voltage with the resistor string, as a four-phase output signal by amplifying each of the four signals such that an amplitude of the four signals matches the amplitude of the four-phase input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tetsuro Kiriyama, Toru Yaku
  • Publication number: 20170276522
    Abstract: A scale is provided with a two-level code pattern according to a pseudo random code sequence along a length measurement direction. Each code of the two-level code pattern indicates a code “1” or “0”, each code includes two bits, and each bit of the two bits is L or H. The code “1” is represented by an A pattern which is a combination of L and H, and the code “0” is represented by a B pattern which is a combination of L and L or by a C pattern which is a combination of H and H. When the codes “0” are continued, the B pattern and the C pattern are alternately used. The scale is commonly used in a reflective type encoder or transmissive type encoder. A detection head part includes an inversion processing unit which performs inversion processing to a detection image of the scale as required.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Inventors: Shu Hirata, Toru Yaku
  • Publication number: 20170067758
    Abstract: A scale includes a grating pattern arranged in a measurement direction. A detection head can be moved relative to the scale in the measurement direction and outputs an electric signal indicating a result of detection of the pattern. An operation unit calculates a relative displacement of the detection head relative to the scale. The detection head irradiates the scale with light. A light-receiving unit includes a light-receiving element array arranged in the measurement direction and outputs a result of detection of the irradiation light applied to the light-receiving element array as the electric signal. An optical system forms light from the scale into interference fringes on a light-receiving surface of the light-receiving unit by using lens arrays arranged in the measurement direction. A lens array pitch between neighboring lenses of the lens arrays is not equal to an integral multiple of a pitch of the grating pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Publication date: March 9, 2017
    Inventor: Toru Yaku
  • Publication number: 20160349490
    Abstract: A telecentric optical apparatus that is capable of suppressing an increase in the number of components as well as achieving high precision optical axis alignment, is provided. The telecentric optical apparatus of the present invention is characterized in that it is provided with: a first telecentric lens surface that is provided on an object side; a second telecentric lens surface that is provided on an image side and that shares a focus position with the first telecentric lens surface; and an optical path trimming part that is provided, between the first telecentric lens surface and the second telecentric lens surface, in an outside region, which is located on a side further out than a light passing region having a center thereof located at the focus position, and that changes an optical path such that a light beam incident on the outside region is prevented from contributing to image formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2016
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Inventors: Kenji Okabe, Tatsuya Nagahama, Toru Yaku, Kimitoshi Ono
  • Publication number: 20160294364
    Abstract: A resistor string outputs sixteen signals with a phase difference of 22.5° by dividing voltage between two adjacent phases of a four-phase input signal with a phase difference of 2?/M (where M is an integer equal to or greater than 2), and by generating four signals with a delayed phase for each phase of the four-phase input signal. A switch portion selects four signals with a phase difference of 90° from the sixteen signals. Amplifiers output each of the four signals, which are attenuated by dividing the voltage with the resistor string, as a four-phase output signal by amplifying each of the four signals such that an amplitude of the four signals matches the amplitude of the four-phase input signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2016
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Applicant: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tetsuro KIRIYAMA, Toru YAKU
  • Patent number: 9383231
    Abstract: A photoelectric encoder includes an absolute scale provided with an absolute pattern based on pseudo-random data, and a detection head including a light source that emits light to the absolute pattern of the absolute scale, and a light receiving unit that receives light from the absolute pattern, and it detects an absolute position of the detection head with respect to the absolute scale. In the photoelectric encoder, the absolute pattern is composed of a grating part and a dark part arranged in a repetitive manner. The photoelectric encoder further includes an interference pattern generation means that generates an interference pattern in combination with the grating part, and an interference pattern signal processing unit that detects the pseudo-random data of the absolute pattern based on the interference pattern received by the light receiving unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toru Yaku, Yoshiaki Kato
  • Patent number: 8987905
    Abstract: A semiconductor package includes a semiconductor device and a substrate, the semiconductor device including a straight line portion on an outer periphery and the substrate supporting the semiconductor device. A foil positioning pattern is formed on a front surface of the substrate, the positioning pattern touching the straight line portion of the semiconductor device to regulate a position of the semiconductor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
    Inventors: Toru Yaku, Ken Mizuno
  • Publication number: 20150060653
    Abstract: A photoelectric encoder includes an absolute scale provided with an absolute pattern based on pseudo-random data, and a detection head including a light source that emits light to the absolute pattern of the absolute scale, and a light receiving unit that receives light from the absolute pattern, and it detects an absolute position of the detection head with respect to the absolute scale. In the photoelectric encoder, the absolute pattern is composed of a grating part and a dark part arranged in a repetitive manner. The photoelectric encoder further includes an interference pattern generation means that generates an interference pattern in combination with the grating part, and an interference pattern signal processing unit that detects the pseudo-random data of the absolute pattern based on the interference pattern received by the light receiving unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Toru Yaku, Yoshiaki Kato
  • Patent number: 8742321
    Abstract: An origin location detection circuit in an encoder. The encoder includes a scale on which an origin pattern indicating an origin is provided and a detection head relatively displaceable with respect to the scale. The origin location detection circuit includes a comparator for generating an origin signal indicating a location of the origin from an output voltage signal, which is output from a detector of the detection head and has been affected by involvement of the origin pattern; a DC voltage detection circuit smoothing the output voltage signal; and a differential amplifier circuit performing differential amplification of the output voltage signal and a DC voltage signal output from the DC voltage detection circuit. A differential amplifier signal of the differential amplifier circuit is input to the comparator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
    Inventors: Ryuichi Koiso, Toru Yaku
  • Patent number: 8637805
    Abstract: A miniaturized optical encoder capable of obtaining a sufficient amount of light in the light receiving element is provided. An optical encoder 1 includes a scale 2 having a scale track 2? and a readhead 3 having a light source 31 that emits light to the scale track 2?, a scale-side lens 32 that transmits the light emitted from the light source 31 to the scale track 2?, and a light receiving element 33 that receives the light reflected by the scale track 2? through the scale-side lens 32. The light source 31 is arranged between the scale-side lens 32 and the light receiving element 33. An optical axis Lsrc of the light source 31 is matched with an optical axis Ls of the scale-side lens 32 in a reading direction of the scale 2 and is separated from an optical axis Ls of the scale-side lens 32 by a predetermined distance D in a direction perpendicular to the reading direction of the scale 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Herbert Altendorf, Tatsuya Nagahama, Miyako Mizutani, Toru Yaku
  • Patent number: 8492703
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for suppressing loss of scale image contrast due to interference effects from optical path length differences, including lens profile aberrations, are provided in a displacement sensing optical encoder that uses a telecentric imaging configuration. According to the invention, the encoder is configured such that the image light that reaches the detector comprises symmetric ray bundles concentrated symmetrically on opposite sides of the optical axis center at the limiting aperture of the telecentric imaging configuration. Central ray bundles, and/or other ray bundles that have an optical path lengths significantly different than the operational symmetric ray bundles are prevented or blocked. As a result destructive interference is prevented and image contrast is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph D. Tobiason, Toru Yaku, Emi Kaneko, Eric H. Altendorf
  • Patent number: 8476577
    Abstract: A miniaturized optical encoder capable of obtaining a sufficient amount of light in the light receiving element is provided. An optical encoder 1 includes a scale 2 having scale markings 21 and a readhead 3 having a light source 31 that emits light to the scale 2, a scale-side lens 32 that transmits the light emitted from the light source 31 to the scale 2, and a light receiving element 33 that receives the light that has been reflected by the scale 2 and that has passed through the scale-side lens 32. The light source 31 is arranged between the scale-side lens 32 and the light receiving element 33, and a distance between the light source 31 and the scale-side lens 32 is set to be a focal distance fs of the scale-side lens 32.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuya Nagahama, Miyako Mizutani, Toru Yaku
  • Publication number: 20120085896
    Abstract: An origin location detection circuit in an encoder. The encoder includes a scale on which an origin pattern indicating an origin is provided and a detection head relatively displaceable with respect to the scale. The origin location detection circuit includes a comparator for generating an origin signal indicating a location of the origin from an output voltage signal, which is output from a detector of the detection head and has been affected by involvement of the origin pattern; a DC voltage detection circuit smoothing the output voltage signal; and a differential amplifier circuit performing differential amplification of the output voltage signal and a DC voltage signal output from the DC voltage detection circuit. A differential amplifier signal of the differential amplifier circuit is input to the comparator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Applicant: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryuichi KOISO, Toru YAKU
  • Patent number: 8127993
    Abstract: A reflection type encoder, which receives a plurality of light-receiving signals from a single scale, includes a light source, a scale having a plurality of patterns formed thereon to which light is irradiated from the light source, and a light-receiving element for receiving light reflected from each of the plurality of patterns, wherein a plurality of patterns each having different thicknesses are formed on a single track of the scale by using a dielectric substance, light of a plurality of wavelengths each having different brightnesses in accordance with differences in the thickness of the dielectric substance is irradiated from the light source, and a light-receiving signal is obtained for the respective thicknesses of the dielectric substance. Therefore, the scale can be downsized by overlapping a plurality of patterns on the same track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
    Inventors: Toru Yaku, Atsushi Tominaga