US5349735A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Information detection apparatus and displacement information measurement apparatus
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1993-10-05
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Granted: 1994-09-27
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Expires: 2013-10-05
Abstract
Abstract An information detection apparatus is disclosed. A plurality of probes are arranged in the apparatus so as to face a medium which carries an information, Each of the plurality of probes produces a detection signal from the medium. A performance testing device is provided in the apparatus for testing the performance of each of the plurality of probes. A detection device in the apparatus selects the signal from at least one normal probe on the basis of the test result of the testing device and detects the information in accordance with the selected signal. By such the construction in the apparatus, the detection of the information can be continuously effected even if one of the probes is broken.
Inventors
- 👤 Toshimitsu Kawase
- 👤 Akihiko Yamano
- 👤 Ryo Kuroda
- 👤 Hiroyasu Nose
- 👤 Toshihiko Miyazaki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 16:38
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01B; G01B7/00; G01B7/003; G11; G11B; G11B9/00; G11B9/12; G11B9/14; G11B9/1409; B; B82; B82Y; B82Y10/00; G01Q; G01Q70/00; G01Q70/06; G01Q80/00; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S977/00; Y10S977/84; Y10S977/849; Y10S977/86; Y10S977/874; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49764; Y10T29/49771
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
86 words
An apparatus for detecting information from an information bearing medium, comprising: a plurality of probes arranged to face the medium, each of said probes producing a detection signal from the medium; performance test means for testing a signal producing condition of each of said probes; and detection means for selecting a detection signal from at least one of the probes having a predetermined signal producing condition based on a test by said performance test means and detecting the information in response to the selected detection signal.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
86 words
An apparatus for detecting information from an information bearing medium, comprising: a plurality of probes arranged to face the medium, each of said probes producing a detection signal from the medium; performance test means for testing a signal producing condition of each of said probes; and detection means for selecting a detection signal from at least one of the probes having a predetermined signal producing condition based on a test by said performance test means and detecting the information in response to the selected detection signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
An apparatus for detecting information from an information bearing medium according to claim 1, wherein said probes are arranged to face scale means of the medium for imparting information on a length of the medium, and said detection means detects relative displacement information of said probes with respect to said scale means as said information.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus for detecting information from an information bearing medium according to claim 2, wherein said probes are arranged to face a plurality of identical scale means formed for respective probes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
An apparatus for detecting information from an information bearing medium according to claim 1, wherein said performance test means tests the signal producing condition of respective ones of the plurality of probes based on the signals produced from the respective ones of the plurality of probes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus for detecting information form an information bearing medium according to claim 1, wherein said probes produce signals due to tunneling currents flowing between said probes and the medium as the detection signals.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
56 words
An apparatus for detecting information from an information bearing medium according to claim 1, wherein said detection means detects the information in response to a signal from the at least one of said probes having the predetermined signal producing condition when a physical defect is detected in one of said probes by said performance test means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
An apparatus for detecting information from an information bearing medium according to claim 1, wherein said detection means detects the information in response to a signal from a predetermined one of said probes when a physical defect is not detected in any of said probes by said performance test means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
51 words
An apparatus for detecting information from an information bearing medium according to claim 1, wherein said detection means detects the information in response to a mean value of the signals produced by said probes when a physical defect is not detected in any of said probes by said performance test means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus for detecting information from an information bearing medium according to claim 1, further comprising repairing means for repairing a probe having a physical defect detected by said performance test means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
71 words
An apparatus for detecting information from an information bearing medium according to claim 9, wherein said repairing means includes position control means for bringing the probe having the physical defect detected to face a probe reproducing station and reproducing means for repairing the probe brought to face the probe reproducing station, and said position control means controls the position of the probe repaired by said reproducing means to face the medium.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
117 words
An apparatus for detecting displacement information between two objects based on information from a scale imparting a positional reference, comprising: a plurality of probes formed on one of said two objects other than an object having scales formed thereon, said probes being arranged to face respective scales and said probes producing detection signals from the scales; a performance test circuit for testing a signal producing condition of said probes; and a signal processing circuit for selecting a detection signal from at least one of said probes having a predetermined signal producing condition based on the test by said performance test circuit and detecting the displacement information of the two objects in response to the selected detection signal.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
117 words
An apparatus for detecting displacement information between two objects based on information from a scale imparting a positional reference, comprising: a plurality of probes formed on one of said two objects other than an object having scales formed thereon, said probes being arranged to face respective scales and said probes producing detection signals from the scales; a performance test circuit for testing a signal producing condition of said probes; and a signal processing circuit for selecting a detection signal from at least one of said probes having a predetermined signal producing condition based on the test by said performance test circuit and detecting the displacement information of the two objects in response to the selected detection signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
44 words
An apparatus for detecting displacement information between two objects according to claim 11, wherein said performance test circuit tests the signal producing condition of respective ones of the plurality of probes based on signals produced from the respective ones of the plurality of probes.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus for detecting displacement information between two objects according to claim 11, wherein said probes produce signals due to tunneling currents flowing between said and a medium as the detection signals.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
50 words
An apparatus for detecting displacement information between two objects according to claim 11, further comprising an actuator for vibrating said probes laterally with respect to the scales; said performance test circuit testing the signal producing condition of said probes based on the signals from said probes vibrated by said actuator.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
57 words
An apparatus for detecting displacement information between two objects according to claim 11, further comprising an actuator for vibrating said probes laterally with respect to the scales; said signal processing circuit detecting the displacement information of the two objects based on a signal produced by a probe having the predetermined signal produced condition vibrated by said actuator.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
56 words
An apparatus for detecting displacement information between two objects according to claim 11, wherein said signal processing circuit detects the displacement information of the two objects in response to a signal from a probe having the predetermined signal producing condition when a physical defect is detected in one of the probes by said performance test circuit.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
55 words
An apparatus for detecting displacement information between two objects according to claim 11, wherein said signal processing circuit detects the displacement information of the two objects in accordance with a signal from a predetermined one of said probes when a physical defect is not detected in any of said probes by said performance test circuit.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
56 words
An apparatus for detecting displacement information between two objects according to claim 11, wherein said signal processing circuit detects the displacement information of the two objects in response to a mean value of the signals produced by said probes when a physical defect is not detected in any of said probes by said performance test circuit.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus for detecting displacement information between two objects according to claim 11, further comprising a repairing mechanism for repairing a probe having a physical defect detected by said performance test circuit.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
81 words
A method for detecting information from an information bearing medium, comprising the steps of: arranging a plurality of probes to face the medium; detecting signals from the medium by the probes; testing a signal producing condition of each probe; selecting a detected medium signal from at least one of the probes having a predetermined signal producing condition based on the testing of the signal producing condition of the probes; and detecting the information in response to the selected detected medium signal.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
81 words
A method for detecting information from an information bearing medium, comprising the steps of: arranging a plurality of probes to face the medium; detecting signals from the medium by the probes; testing a signal producing condition of each probe; selecting a detected medium signal from at least one of the probes having a predetermined signal producing condition based on the testing of the signal producing condition of the probes; and detecting the information in response to the selected detected medium signal.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
63 words
A method for detecting information from an information bearing medium according to claim 20, wherein the step of arranging the plurality of probes includes arranging the plurality of probes to face scale means of the medium to impart information on length of the medium, and the step of detecting information includes detecting relative displacement information of the probes with respect to the scale.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method for detecting information from an information bearing medium according to claim 20, further comprising the step of repairing a probe having a physical defect based on the testing of the signal producing condition of the probes.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
68 words
An apparatus for transferring information between a medium and a probe, comprising: performance test means for testing a signal producing condition of a plurality of probes arranged to face the medium; and transfer means for selecting at least one of the probes having a predetermined signal producing condition based on the test by said performance test means and transferring the information int he medium with the selected probe.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
68 words
An apparatus for transferring information between a medium and a probe, comprising: performance test means for testing a signal producing condition of a plurality of probes arranged to face the medium; and transfer means for selecting at least one of the probes having a predetermined signal producing condition based on the test by said performance test means and transferring the information int he medium with the selected probe.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
41 words
An apparatus for transferring information between a medium and a probe according to claim 23, wherein said transfer means detects information on a length from the medium by the at least one of said probes having the predetermined signal producing condition.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus for transferring information between a medium and a probe according to claim 23, further comprising means for repairing a probe having a physical defect based on the test by said performance test means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-09-26 | 1998-03-28 | 1998-09-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-09-26 | 2002-03-28 | 2002-09-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-09-26 | 2006-03-28 | 2006-09-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |