Mitutoyo Corporation

Kazuhiko Kodama

Takanori Otsuka

Yutaka Ishikawa

Toru Yaku

Shigeru Oshima

Kouichi Arai

Kazushi Kikuchi

Taisuke Wakasa

Kouichi Yoshihara

Ryo Morita

An encoder scale, displaced relative to a detector head, includes: an insulating substrate; a conductive adhesive layer that is formed on the insulating substrate; and conductive pattern layers that are formed on the adhesive layer in a shape enabling the detector head to detect a position, wherein: the adhesive layer electrically connects all the pattern layers and includes an out-of-detection-range pattern that extends outward from a position detection range of the detector head; and the out-of-detection-range pattern is grounded via a conductive member.

Encoder scale and manufacturing and attaching method thereof

A linear encoder includes a scale; a frame in which the scale is held, the frame having an opening that extends in a longitudinal direction of the frame; and a pair of elongated dustproof members arranged to face each other in the opening. At least a part of each dustproof member is elastically deformable. Each dustproof member includes a first end portion in a transverse direction of the dustproof member, a first projecting portion disposed on the first end portion, and a second end portion in the transverse direction. The opening has a pair of fitting recesses formed therein. The first end portion of each dustproof member is fitted in a corresponding one of the fitting recesses, and the first projecting portion contacts the corresponding one of the fitting recesses.

Linear encoder

When generating an origin signal of an encoder having a scale on which an incremental pattern and the origin pattern are formed, an origin signal having a necessary position and width is generated by software based on an origin waveform obtained from the origin pattern. This enables origin detection with excellent repeatability, S/N ratio (pulse width), and bidirectionality while maintaining ease of mounting and adjustment.

Method and apparatus for generating origin signal of encoder

An optical encoder which is designed to convert light generated from a light source into parallel light rays by using a collimator lens, thereby allowing the collimated light to radiate to gratings (a first grating, a second grating and a third grating). A diffusing element (a diffusion plate or a diffusion surface) is provided between the light source and the collimator lens to mitigate the parallelization degree of light, thereby weakening the second-order and the third-order or high-order diffraction light. Consequently, even where a light emitting diode (LED) or laser diode (LD) is used as the light source, a favorable interference output can be obtained.

Optical encoder including aperture with diffusion element and collimator lens

An optical encoder () is provided with: a light-emitting element () including a main-signal light-emitting element () having a red LED (A) that emits red light and an origin light-emitting element () having an infrared LED (A) that emits infrared light; and a receiver unit () including a main-signal photo detector () that receives the red light to generate a predetermined signal and an origin photo detector () that receives the infrared light to generate a predetermined signal. Accordingly, even when the infrared light enters the main-signal photo detector () or the red light enters the origin photo detector (), no signal is generated by the light, thereby effectively preventing crosstalk. Thus, the measurement accuracy of the optical encoder () can be improved.

Crosstalk preventing optical encoder

A slider or a slide shoe for maintaining an interval between a scale and the slider is provided with inclined faces for excluding a foreign matter on a scale face or a sliding guide face at both ends of the slider in a moving direction thereof or at both ends of the slide shoe.

Length measuring apparatus

A main scale is firmly bonded to a metal tape having a desired coefficient of linear expansion by a powerful adhesive. At the same time, the metal tape is fixed to a frame by a two-sided adhesive tape so as to be capable of expansion and contraction. A length measuring apparatus is provided, wherein a scale material which is unstable with respect to variations in temperature and humidity is stabilized, thereby achieving a desired coefficient of linear expansion.

Growing community of inventors

Utsunomiya, Japan

Kazuhiko Kodama