Ntn Corporation

Hiroaki Ohba

Koichi Okada

Toru Takahashi

Takayuki Norimatsu

Hisashi Ohtsuki

Masatoshi Mizutani

Eiji Tajima

Katsuyuki Ikei

Kenichi Iwamoto

Akira Torii

Koji Sahashi

Kazuhiko Hozumi

Kenichi Suzumura

A height detection apparatus successively changes the brightness of white light from a first level to a second level in accordance with a position of a Z stage and captures an image of interference light while moving a two-beam interference objective lens relative to a paste film in an optical axis direction, detects, as a focus position, a position of the Z stage where the intensity of interference light is highest in a period during which the brightness of white light is set to the first or second level, for each pixel of the captured image, and obtains the height of the paste film based on a detection result.

Height detection apparatus and coating apparatus equipped with the same

A method of measuring a volume of a micro projection includes: measuring a three-dimensional shape of the micro projection using white-light interferometry; comparing a height at which a first peak of an envelope of an interference light intensity is detected with a height of a reference plane, and extracting a projection top portion of the micro projection; detecting a height of the extracted projection top portion; detecting a diameter based on a lateral dimension and a longitudinal dimension of a circumscribed quadrangle in an area that constitutes the projection top portion and a region having a height different from the height of the reference plane, the region including or being in contact with the projection top portion; and calculating the volume of the micro projection based on the height of the projection top portion and the diameter.

Method of measuring volume of micro projection and method of applying liquid material

There is provided a method of measuring a film thickness of a transparent material on a substrate. A first object (transparent material) is applied onto a first substrate surface, and a second object (transparent material) is applied onto a second substrate surface. The method includes: measuring a first relative height of a front surface of the first object with respect to the first substrate surface at a position without the first object; measuring a second relative height of the front surface with respect to a back surface of the first object; and calculating a refractive index of the transparent material, based on the first relative height and the second relative height. The method includes measuring a film thickness of the second object, using a third relative height of a front surface of the second object with respect to a back surface of the second object and the calculated refractive index.

Measuring apparatus and method for measuring film thickness using relative heights in combination with refractive index

A shape measuring apparatus includes: a light source; a two-beam interference objective lens; an imaging device; an observation optical system; a positioning device; and a control device. The control device calculates, for each unit region in the plurality of images obtained by the imaging device, as a focus position of the unit region, a position of the two-beam interference objective lens at which a luminance-based evaluation value is maximized over the plurality of images, and the control device measures a shape of a target object based on the focus position of each unit region in the plurality of images. The control device uses, as the evaluation value, a luminance of each unit region in the plurality of images as well as a value correlated with a difference between the luminance of the unit region and luminances of a plurality of unit regions adjacent to the unit region.

Shape measuring apparatus and method for manufacturing target object to be coated

A rotation detecting device that includes an electric power generator having a stator and a rotor, said rotor having a plurality of alternating opposite magnetic poles in a circumferential direction of the rotor, at least a first magnetic sensor mounted on either the stator or a support member for supporting the stator and operable to detect the alternating opposite magnetic poles in the rotor; and an electric power supply circuit for utilizing an electric power generated by the electric power generator as an electric power source for the at least first magnetic sensor.

Rotation detecting device and anti-skid braking system using the same

A rolling bearing assembly equipped with an electric power generator, having: inner and outer members rotatable relative to each other through rolling elements; an electric power generator including a multi-pole magnet assembly mounted on one of the inner and outer members and having a plurality of alternating magnetic poles arranged in a circumferential direction, and a magnetic ring assembly mounted on the remaining one of the inner and outer members and accommodating a coil and confronting the multi-pole magnet assembly; the magnetic ring assembly including a stepped portion of a generally U-shaped section having a peripheral surface portion and an end face portion, said stepped portion being defined on an outer periphery or an inner periphery of one end of the magnetic ring assembly, the magnetic ring assembly being mounted on the remaining one of the inner and outer members with the peripheral surface portion of the stepped portion press-fitted directly onto a peripheral surface of the remaining one of the inner and outer members within a bearing space.

Rotation detecting device and wheel support bearing assembly utilizing the same

To provide a rotation detecting device with a function of transmitting a rotational speed detection signal wireless and enable the rotation detecting device to be assembled compact in size without requiring any anti-rusting treatment to a multi-pole magnet assembly and a magnetic ring assembly, the rotation detecting device includes an electric power generator () for generating an electric power by a relative rotation between a non-rotatable member () and a rotatable member (). The electric power generator () includes a multi-pole magnet assembly () and a magnetic ring assembly (). A wireless transmission device () for transmitting the rotational speed detection signal outputted by the electric power generator () is employed. A sealing member () is also employed for sealing a working space delimited between the non-rotatable member () and the rotatable member (), and the multi-pole magnet assembly () and the magnetic ring assembly () of the electric power generator () confront with each other at a location inwardly of the sealing member (). The sealing member () is mounted on the magnetic ring assembly () or the wireless transmission device () of an annular configuration.

A rolling bearing assembly equipped with an electric power generator, the assembly having: first and second members rotatable relative to each other through rolling elements; an electric power generator capable of generating an electric power by a relative rotation between the first and second members; and an electric circuit disposed within a yoke forming a part of the electric power generator and utilizing the electric power generated by the electric power generator.

A wheel support bearing assembly for rotatably supporting a wheelrelative to a vehicle body structureincludes outer and inner membersandwith dual rows of rolling elementsinterposed therebetween. An electric generatorfor generating an electric power as one of the inner and outer membersandrotates relative to the other of the inner and outer membersandis utilized. The electric generatorincludes a coil/magnetic element combination, including a ring member accommodating a coil therein, and a multi-pole magnet. A signal outputted from the electric generatorand indicative of the number of revolutions of the wheelis transmitted wireless by a transmitter. This transmittermay be an annular transmitter.

Wheel support bearing assembly

To provide a bearing assembly having an electric power generating capability, that can be assembled compact in size and easily incorporated in a drive transmission system of an internal combustion engine, the bearing assembly having an electric power generating capability includes a rolling bearingincluding an outer raceand an inner racerotatable relative to the outer race, and an electric power generatorinterposed between the inner and outer racesandfor generating an electric power by a rotation of the inner racerelative to the outer race. This bearing assembly may be used as a bearing in the drive transmission system of the internal combustion engine for rotatably supporting, for example, a crankshaft

Bearing assembly with electric power generator

To provide a wheel support bearing assembly having a capability of detecting the number of revolutions of a wheel, having no risk of breaking of wire outside a vehicle body, capable of reducing the weight and cost of an automotive vehicle. This wheel support bearing assembly for rotatably supporting a wheel relative to a vehicle body structure includes an outer member having its inner periphery formed with plural rows of raceways and , an inner member having raceways and confronting respectively to the raceways and , and rows of rolling elements accommodated respectively between the raceways. An electric generator for generating an electric power as one of the outer and inner members and rotates relative to the other of the outer and inner members and . A signal indicative of the number of revolutions of the wheel outputted from the electric generator is transmitted wireless by mean of a wireless transmitting means A.

Growing community of inventors

Iwata, Japan

Hiroaki Ohba