Mitutoyo Corporation

Hirotaka Matsubara

Tatsuya Nagahama

Seiji Shimokawa

Kuniaki Obata

A measuring machine includes a non-contact probe that detects a step gauge without contact. The non-contact probe includes an emitting element that radiates light, a light receiving element that receives the light radiated from the emitting element, and an optical filter that covers an optical path to the light receiving element. The optical filter includes a transmission band in which the light radiated from the emitting element is transmitted and a blocking band in which light to which the light receiving element is sensitive is blocked.

Non-contact probe with an optical filter and measuring machine including the same

A plurality of light emitting elements comprise a number of groups having light emitting colors different from each other. The light emitting element groups are arranged in ring shapes about an optical axis of an optical system in a plane or planes substantially orthogonal to the optical axis. A combining unit combines radiation light beams of different light emitting colors to generate illumination light having a given hue. The combining unit is provided downstream of the light emitting elements along a light emitting direction. A focusing unit focuses the illumination light in the direction toward the optical axis and is provided downstream of the combining unit. Accordingly, it is possible to direct illumination light having uniform and non-irregular hue, the hue corresponding to a surface color of an object to be measured, to the object to be measured.

Growing community of inventors

Kawasaki, Japan

Hirotaka Matsubara