Mitutoyo Corporation

Seiji Shimokawa

Kenji Okabe

Tatsuya Nagahama

Shunsaku Tachibana

Sadayuki Matsumiya

Taizo Nakamura

Yasushi Fukumoto

Eisuke Moriuchi

Kazuki Kitagawa

Keiji Akagi

Kuniaki Obata

Hirotaka Matsubara

An autofocus device including: an optical source; an optical unit that allows emitted light from the optical source and object light from a measurement target to pass through the same optical path, the optical unit being arranged between the optical source and the measurement target; and a detection unit that performs focus detection by using the object light passed through the optical unit. The optical unit includes: a tube lens that forms the emitted light into parallel light; an image forming unit that forms a continuous line image on a surface of the measurement target; and a rotation unit that rotates the continuous line.

Autofocus device including line image forming unit and rotation unit that rotates line image

A light source () is fixed at a position and emits light in a direction away from an optical axis (A) of an objective lens. An outer reflecting mirror (an optical member) () and an inner reflecting mirror (an optical member) () are provided as a unit so that relative positions thereof are fixed. A reflecting mirror unit () can be moved in directions along the optical axis (A), i.e. up and down relative to the light source (). A free-form curved surface portion () of the outer reflecting mirror () and a reflecting surface of the inner reflecting mirror () reflect light in different directions depending on a position of the light incident thereon.

Illumination device and vision measuring instrument

An optical measuring machine includes a screen having a reference line, a movable stage, a detector for detecting a displacement of the stage, the first and second image-forming units for forming optical image(s) of a target object mounted on the stage on the screen, and a storage for storing the optical image(s). The first image-forming unit includes an image pickup for picking up the optical image(s), an output unit for outputting the picked up optical image(s) in digital image data, and a projecting unit for projecting the optical image(s) on the screen in accordance with the image data output by the output unit. The storage stores the image data output by the output unit.

Optical measuring machine

Luminous intensity and chromaticity of each luminescent light source are measured for an impressed current value, a mixing ratio of intensities of lights emitted from luminescent light sources required for synthesizing lighting intensity with the preset chromaticity at the luminous intensity instructed by an instruction value is computed with a theoretical equation for computing changes in chromaticity correlating to changes in luminous intensities of the luminescent light sources for color synthesis (ST), luminous intensities of each luminous light source for generating a luminous intensity instructed by an instruction value from a mixing ratio are computed (ST), and the impressed current value required for making each luminous light source emit light at the luminous intensity is read out from the characteristics of luminous light sources (ST).

Image processing type of measuring device, lighting system for the same, lighting system control method, lighting system control program, and a recording medium with the lighting system control program recorded therein

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.

Ring illuminator

A CCD camera ( ) images a work to generate its image data. An imaging optical system ( ) focuses an image of the work on the CCD camera ( ). A down-projection illumination source ( ) includes at least one semiconductor light-emitting device for producing a down-projection illumination light to illuminate the work from above. An illuminating optical system ( ) joins the illumination light from the down-projection illumination source ( ) to the imaging optical system in order to lead the illumination light to the work via the imaging optical system. These optical components are mounted on a chassis ( ) to construct an imaging probe ( ), which is employed at any angle as a measuring probe of a three-dimensional tester.

Imaging probe

Illumination angle adjuster ( ) for condensing illumination light from a light generator ( ) toward a workpiece ( ) includes a simple-structured optical member of condenser lens ( ). With the simple arrangement, illumination angle of the illumination light to the workpiece ( ) can be easily changed by moving the condenser lens ( ) along an optical axis of an optical system ( ).

Illuminator for optical measuring instrument

A focus detection unit being applicable to various workpiece and capable of reducing production cost and an optical measuring instrument having the focus detection unit are provided. The focus detection unit is for forming image of first focusing pattern and second focusing pattern onto an image surface of an optical system, projecting the image onto the workpiece, and adjusting relative position of the first focusing pattern and the second focusing pattern for focusing, the focus detection unit including: a slide plate having a plurality of pair of the first focusing pattern and the second focusing pattern; a switching member for switching the slide plate to project the image of either one of the first focusing patterns and the second pattern corresponding thereto onto the workpiece; and a projector for projecting the image of the focusing patterns switched by the switching member onto the workpiece.

Focus detection unit and optical measuring instrument having the same

In an auto-focus apparatus having an object lens 14 which condenses light on an object surface to be measured, a CCD camera 24 observing the object's image based on emitting light from the object lens 14, and an actuator 15 which displaces the object lens 14 along the optical axis based on the contrast of the object image obtained with the CCD camera 24, the auto-focus apparatus includes an illuminator 25, a projection lens 21 and a liquid crystal panel 22 on which a designated pattern is displayed and further includes a pattern projection means 20 which projects the designated pattern on the object surface to be measured.

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Kawasaki, Japan

Seiji Shimokawa