Digital Patents (Class 33/819)
  • Patent number: 11900623
    Abstract: An endoscopic imaging system for use in a light deficient environment includes an imaging device having a tube, one or more image sensors, and a lens assembly including at least one optical elements that corresponds to the one or more image sensors. The endoscopic system includes a display for a user to visualize a scene and an image signal processing controller. The endoscopic system includes a light engine having an illumination source generating one or more pulses of electromagnetic radiation and a lumen transmitting one or more pulses of electromagnetic radiation to a distal tip of an endoscope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Joshua D. Talbert, Donald M. Wichern
  • Patent number: 11821724
    Abstract: A digital micrometer includes a main-body frame, a spindle, a thimble part, and a displacement detector that detects displacement of the spindle. The main-body frame includes a U-shaped frame part, and a spindle holding part provided on the other end side of the U-shaped frame part and having a length in a direction away from an anvil. The spindle is held by a spindle holding part, provided to be movable forward and backward in an axial direction with respect to the anvil, and includes a contactor on one end face. The main-body frame and the spindle are formed of a non-magnetic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koji Matsumoto, Yuji Fujikawa, Shinichiro Yanaka, Osamu Saito
  • Patent number: 11574412
    Abstract: An endoscopic imaging system for use in a light deficient environment includes an imaging device having a tube, one or more image sensors, and a lens assembly including at least one optical elements that corresponds to the one or more image sensors. The endoscopic system includes a display for a user to visualize a scene and an image signal processing controller. The endoscopic system includes a light engine having an illumination source generating one or more pulses of electromagnetic radiation and a lumen transmitting one or more pulses of electromagnetic radiation to a distal tip of an endoscope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Inventors: Joshua D. Talbert, Donald M. Wichern
  • Patent number: 11562921
    Abstract: A method including: locating a shaft of a rotor relative to a stator of a motor, locating a robot arm mount on the shaft, temporarily stationarily fixing the robot arm mount relative to the stator at a predetermined rotational location relative to the stator, and while the robot arm mount is temporarily stationarily fixed relative to the stator at the predetermined rotational location, stationarily fixing the robot arm mount to the shaft by a connection, where the connection allows the robot arm mount to be stationarily fixed to the shaft at one of a plurality of angular orientations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Persimmon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Martin Hosek, Leonard T. Lilliston, III, Sripati Sah
  • Patent number: 10996043
    Abstract: There is provided a method for controlling a small-sized adjustable measuring force measurement device capable of appropriately setting the origin. A central control unit changes an operation mode to an origin setting mode in response to predetermined mode changing operation. The central control unit sets a counter value of an encoder to zero as an origin when a measuring force detecting means detects that a movable member is brought into contact with an object to be measured at a predetermined pressure in the origin setting mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Tsujimoto, Yuji Fujikawa
  • Patent number: 9982985
    Abstract: Provided is a comparator including: a substantially U-shaped frame; an anvil supported at one end of the frame in an advanceable and retractable manner; a spindle supported at another end of the frame coaxially with the anvil in an advanceable and retractable manner; a measurement unit that measures the advancement and retraction of the anvil; and a display unit that displays a measurement result of the measurement unit. The measurement unit includes: an anvil contact portion that rotates around a support shaft in accordance with the advancement and retraction of the anvil; an interlocking portion that is formed to have a length greater than the length of the anvil contact portion, is supported so as to be rotatable around the support shaft, and is coupled to the anvil contact portion; and a detection unit that detects a displacement of rotation of the interlocking portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuji Fujikawa
  • Patent number: 9482509
    Abstract: A micrometer provides a quick adjustment mode and a fine adjustment mode. A spline-like rotary coupling configuration constrains the micrometer thimble and a threaded element to move together with respect to rotation, but does not constrain the position of the threaded element relative to the thimble along the measurement axis. A gear in the micrometer frame includes gear teeth that mesh with the threaded element and roll thereon along the measurement direction. A locking arrangement, when unlocked, allows the meshed gear to be rotated by a user to drive the threaded element along the measuring axis in the quick adjustment mode. When locked, the locking arrangement prevents motion of the gear to provide the fine adjustment mode, wherein the user rotates the thimble to screw the threaded element through the meshed teeth of the gear, to adjust the spindle position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
    Inventor: Kim W. Atherton
  • Patent number: 9109872
    Abstract: A calibration device for gauges for the measurement of the geometrical characteristics of cylinders, such as the diameter, profile, rotundity and eccentricity errors, wherein such gauges include a pair of movable opposing arms equipped with feelers or sensors at their free ends, includes a pair of abutments reciprocally approachable and/or withdrawable by means of motors until a sample measure is obtained, as desired, within the measuring range of the gauge, on which the calibration device is assembled, revealed by means of measuring means cooperating with the abutments, such that consequently the feelers or sensors are respectively abutted or approached to the abutments to reveal the sample measure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: TENOVA S.P.A.
    Inventors: Fausto Candiani, Paolo Gaboardi, Claudio Trevisan, Flavio Stefano Bianchessi
  • Patent number: 8844153
    Abstract: A micrometer includes: a displacement detector that detects a displacement of a spindle; a display device that is rotatably attached to a fixed sleeve; and a control device that controls the display device. The display device includes: an image display section that displays an image including a measurement value based on the displacement detected by the displacement detector; a surface member that faces the image display section and has a touch surface; a position sensor that detects a position pressed on the touch surface; and a support member that supports the image display section, the surface member and the position sensor while the touch surface is exposed to an outside, the support member being rotatably attached to the fixed sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
    Inventor: Shuji Hayashida
  • Publication number: 20130276319
    Abstract: A micrometer includes: a frame; an anvil; a spindle; an encoder; a display; a strain gauge that detects a deformation of the frame; a storage that stores a change amount of the detection value (a displacement of the spindle detected by the encoder) per a unit deformation detected by the strain gauge, as a compensation factor; and a compensator that compensates the detection value based on a difference between a zeroset-time deformation that is detected by the strain gauge when a command for zeroset is given and a measurement-time deformation that is detected by the strain gauge in measurement, and based on the compensation factor stored in the storage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shozaburo TSUJI
  • Publication number: 20130091720
    Abstract: A micrometer includes: a displacement detector that detects a displacement of a spindle; a display device that is rotatably attached to a fixed sleeve; and a control device that controls the display device. The display device includes: an image display section that displays an image including a measurement value based on the displacement detected by the displacement detector; a surface member that faces the image display section and has a touch surface; a position sensor that detects a position pressed on the touch surface; and a support member that supports the image display section, the surface member and the position sensor while the touch surface is exposed to an outside, the support member being rotatably attached to the fixed sleeve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventor: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
  • Patent number: 8091251
    Abstract: A high-speed measuring electronic digital outside micrometer allowing a user to make measurements quickly and effectively compared to conventional electronic outside micrometers with rotary thread spindles, which have limited measuring speed. This high-speed measuring electronic digital outside micrometer features: a linear motion digital sensor, a linear scale digital sensor, a linear motion digital sensor base, a digital display unit, an electronic processing unit, a micrometer body, a linear spindle, a linear spindle movement unit, a spindle control unit, a micrometer anvil, and retractable springs. In a stationary position, the measuring surface of the micrometer anvil and the linear spindle are in contact to the other. By operating the spindle control unit, it will create distance between the micrometer anvil and the linear spindle measuring surface. This distance is a measurable distance of the micrometer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Inventors: Yanchen Zhang, Rene Roland Laferriere
  • Patent number: 7765712
    Abstract: In addition to other aspects disclosed, a caliper is configured to measure at least one physical dimension. The caliper has a display configured to present a first representation and a second representation of a measurement provided by the caliper. The format of the first representation is different from the format of the second representation, and the first representation is approximately simultaneously displayed with the second representation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: American Radionic Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Stockman
  • Patent number: 7681325
    Abstract: An erosion gauge for measuring a chord length of an eroded turbine blade in a steam turbine that may include: a jaw that includes a lower jaw that includes a lower jaw surface and an upper jaw that includes an upper jaw surface such that the lower jaw surface and the upper jaw surface oppose each other; a sliding scale that connects the lower jaw to the upper jaw, wherein a first end of the sliding scale is fixed to the lower jaw and a second end of the sliding scale slides through the upper jaw such that the distance between the lower jaw surface and the upper jaw surface may be varied; and an electronic depth gauge that determines the distance between the lower jaw surface and the upper jaw surface. The lower jaw surface may include a valley insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Sassatelli, Mark McPhilmy, Timothy McMurray, Eloy Emeterio
  • Patent number: 7665221
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the bore diameter of a hole as a function of hole depth is disclosed. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a diametric probe, for generating first measured bore diameter data along a diametric probe sensitive axis; a foot, for positioning the diametric probe sensitive axis in a plane parallel to the hole; a linear distance probe, coupled to the diametric probe, for generating first measured depth data describing the depth of the diametric probe sensitive axis within the hole; and a data acquisition system, for recording first measured bore diameter data from the diametric probe and first measured depth data from the linear distance probe of an insertion of the diametric probe into the hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Stephen J. Bennison, Bruce S. Howard
  • Publication number: 20090282689
    Abstract: A digital displacement measuring instrument detects a displacement of a spindle by an encoder and then displays the displacement on a digital display unit. With an imaginary base line centered along an axial direction of an outer circumference of a sleeve, a millimeter graduation for displaying the displacement of the spindle in millimeters is provided on one side, and the inch graduation for displaying the displacement of the spindle is provided on the other side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2009
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Applicant: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shuji Hayashida, Masahiko Tachikake, Yuji Fujikawa
  • Patent number: 7467480
    Abstract: A rotation transmitter (44) includes a rotor support member (440) provided on an outer circumference of a spindle (2), a rotary piece (45) provided with an engaging portion (46) that is adapted to be engaged with an engaging groove (23), and a coil spring (48) provided between the rotary piece (45) and the rotor support member (440). The rotary piece (45) is supported by the rotor support member (440) in a manner rotatable in a circumferential direction of a rotation shaft (441) provided parallel to the axis of the spindle (2) and the coil spring (48) biases the engaging portion (46) onto the engaging groove (23) via the rotary piece (45).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
    Inventors: Shuji Hayashida, Shozaburo Tsuji
  • Publication number: 20080184583
    Abstract: A measuring system (100) includes a measuring instrument (10) and a processing device (20). The measuring instrument includes a base (12), a guide column (14), a sliding member (16), and a digital micrometer (18). The guide column is vertically attached to the base. The sliding member is moveably attached to the guide column. The digital micrometer is firmly fastened to the sliding member. The processing device is electronically connected with the digital micrometer. The processing device receives a measured value from the digital micrometer and diplays a testing result after processing the measured value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Applicants: SHENZHEN FUTAIHONG PRECISION INDUSTRIAL CO.,LTD., SUTECH TRADING LIMITED
    Inventors: LEI LI, PING CHEN, YUN-FANG ZHAO, DONG LI, ZHI-LI CHEN, JUN JIANG
  • Publication number: 20080010850
    Abstract: A rotation transmitter (44) includes a rotor support member (440) provided on an outer circumference of a spindle (2), a rotary piece (45) provided with an engaging portion (46) that is adapted to be engaged with an engaging groove (23), and a coil spring (48) provided between the rotary piece (45) and the rotor support member (440). The rotary piece (45) is supported by the rotor support member (440) in a manner rotatable in a circumferential direction of a rotation shaft (441) provided parallel to the axis of the spindle (2) and the coil spring (48) biases the engaging portion (46) onto the engaging groove (23) via the rotary piece (45).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Applicant: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shuji Hayashida, Shozaburo Tsuji
  • Patent number: 7020979
    Abstract: A stator (42) is hooked in a frame body (10) away with a prespecified space from a spindle (2), so that it is not necessary to fix the stator with a screw. The stator (42), therefore, can easily be mounted, and further as it is not necessary to provide a screw hole in the frame body (10), so that the need for waterproofing processing associated with a screw hole is eliminated. Further the stator (42) is hooked in a protrusion (53) of an electronic unit (50) inside the frame body (10) away with a prespecified space from the spindle (2), so that a rotation thereof in the peripheral direction of the spindle due to play and rattle is small and a measurement error can be suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
    Inventors: Shuuji Hayashida, Yuji Fujikawa, Yuichi Ichikawa, Osamu Saito, Takahiro Nakamura
  • Patent number: 6308433
    Abstract: A minimum value renewal holder (33) for renewing and displaying a detected value (D) detected by a displacement sensor (9) on a display (10) when a spindle is moving in an advancing direction relative to an anvil and for holding a displayed value on the display (10) when the spindle moves in a retracting direction relative to the anvil and a retraction amount thereof (D−Dm) is less than a set amount (&agr;), and a minimum value hold releasing potion (34) for releasing minimum value hold status when the spindle moves in the retracting direction relative to the anvil and the retraction amount (D−Dm) is not less than the set amount (&agr;) are provided. Accordingly, the displayed value can be kept even when the anvil backs unpreparedly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
    Inventors: Seigo Takahashi, Tetsuya Nakadoi, Takahiro Otsuka, Shuuji Hayashida, Kouji Sasaki, Masahiko Tachikake
  • Patent number: 6247244
    Abstract: The micrometer includes a sleeve provided with an at least partially threaded inner surface and an at least partially threaded outer surface. The outer surface includes at least one deformable, tapered portion. A micrometric screw is engaged in the sleeve, and is able to be set in rotation with respect to the sleeve in such a way as to displace itself along the longitudinal measuring axis (x) of the device. A nut is engaged on the external threading of the sleeve and is able to be put in contact with the tapered portion in such a way as to deform it in order to adjust the play between the screw and the sleeve. The tapered portion is devoid of longitudinal slits; its deformability is provided by an external diameter variable along its periphery, preferably by an odd number of flat segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: Brown & Sharpe Tesa SA
    Inventors: Adriano Zanier, Arthur Bovey, Michel Paudex
  • Patent number: 5495677
    Abstract: A digital display micrometer gauge holds a workpiece to be measured between an anvil and a spindle. An engagement member is provided at an end of the spindle. An inner sleeve having an axial slit into which the engagement member is inserted, is secured to a U-shaped main frame, and an outer sleeve having a spiral groove, which is formed in the inner peripheral section thereof, is provided on the outer periphery of the inner sleeve to be circumferentially rotatable. By rotating this outer sleeve, the spindle can be driven at high speed. A main scale constituting a linear encoder is attached to a side surface of the spindle extending along the axis of the spindle, whereby the displacement amount of the spindle can be detected with high accuracy. A slide member slidable on the inner surface of the inner sleeve is provided at the end of the spindle where the engagement member is provided, and the spindle can be inserted into the inner sleeve together with the main scale attached thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1996
    Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiko Tachikake, Masamichi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 5337488
    Abstract: A measuring device, such as a micrometer or other form of dimensional measuring instrument, is provided which is operable to indicate dimensional measurements made thereby in numerical form on a display, such as an electronic digital display. The measuring device or micrometer is controlled to generate digital electrical signals which are indicative of a measurement, which signals of each measurement are recorded in an electronic memory which may be supported by the device or connected thereto. The memory is employed to both indicate each measurement as it is made and to record all or selected measurements made for future reference. Other information generated, for example, by a suitable input means such as a keyboard, and defining such variables as part number, part lot, time and date of measurement, etc. may be recorded in such memory along with the recording or recordings of data defining the measurements made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1994
    Inventor: Jerome H. Lemelson
  • Patent number: 5289729
    Abstract: A displacement detector which supports either the main scale or the grid to move in a direction perpendicularly intersecting the relative movement direction of the spindle, and which has a spring for pushing one of the main scale and grid toward the other, protrusions for maintaining a predetermined clearance between the urged one of the main scale and grid and the other, and a clearance limiting device for limiting a displacement of the urged one of the main scale and grid from the other to a limited clearance distance to prevent a loss of measuring continuity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1994
    Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuru Tsunoda, Shigeru Ohtani
  • Patent number: 5102471
    Abstract: In a portable measuring instrument using as a power source a group of solar batteries in which a plurality of solar batteries are series-connected on the same plane, respective light receiving windows are made to be substantially equal in area to one another, and each of the light receiving windows surrounds the outer periphery of other light receiving windows adjacent thereto, whereby, even if part of the light which irradiates the light receiving windows of the solar batteries is screened by a hand or other holding means for operating and holding the portable measuring instrument, it is avoided that only a specific light receiving window is screened, so that a current of the group of solar batteries can be efficiently produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1992
    Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
    Inventor: Koji Sasaki
  • Patent number: 5052121
    Abstract: A computerized gauge measures dimensions, typically in the range of 6.1865" to 6.1917" accurate to .+-.0.001", typically the diameter of a steel railroad car axle. The gauge simultaneously senses the temperature, typically within a range of -20.degree. F. to 100.degree. F.+1.degree. F., of the axle workpiece. In consideration of the predetermined coefficient of expansion of the workpiece, the gauge calculates the dimension that the workpiece would exhibit should it be thermally brought to a predetermined, 59.degree. F. by convention, reference temperature. From the workpiece-temperature-compensated dimension resulting from such calculation, the axle may be recognized as being (i) oversized but repairable, (ii) within an acceptable size range, (iii) undersized but repairable, or (iv) undersized and unrepairable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1991
    Assignee: Albion Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: William R. Wachtler
  • Patent number: 4845646
    Abstract: A digital gemstone measurement device includes a first caliper jaw fixed to a housing, a second caliper jaw movable relative to the first caliper jaw, an encoding wheel that rotates in response to linear motion of the second caliper jaw, a photosensor for sensing rotation of the encoding wheel and a microcomputer responsive to photosensor output signals for calculating the weight of a gemstone. A slotted rotary encoding wheel provides measurement resolution on the order of 0.01 millimeter. A spring-loaded pneumatic dashpot urges the caliper jaws together relatively slowly so as to avoid snap-action. The gemstone shape is selected from a list, and the weight is calculated from a predetermined formula corresponding to the shape. The device is handheld and includes a keypad for controlling operation and an alphanumeric display for readout of measurement results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1989
    Assignee: Diamond Guard Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph Marquis, Philip Lichtman
  • Patent number: 4821421
    Abstract: The apparatus according to the invention essentially comprises a pistol-shaped body provided with a trigger connected to a mobile carriage carrying a piston. A measuring piece may be adapted to a fixing head provided with a surface plate constituting a reference surface. A pressure spring connected to a slide ensures the displacement of the carriage and the piston, to act upon a sliding rod accomodated within the measuring piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1989
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Girardier, Raymond Girardier