IP Library Granted Patent US 11,678,837
Granted Patent B2
US 11,678,837 · App. 17/727,337 · Granted Jun 20, 2023

Hardness meter and hardness measuring method for estimating target object having hardness estimation portion that estimates hardness of measurement object based

Inventors: Yuko Sano (Tokyo, JP); Akihiko Kandori (Tokyo, JP); Mitsuo Okimoto (Tokyo, JP); Shigemitsu Ando (Oyamazaki, JP); Mitsunobu Watanabe (Oyamazaki, JP)
Assignee: Maxell, Ltd.
A61B5/442A61B5/743G01N3/40A61B2562/0219A61B2562/0223A61B2562/0247G01N2203/0005G01N2203/0019G01N2203/0032G01N2203/0083G01N2203/0218G01N2203/0617
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,678,837
App. No.
17/727,337
Granted
Jun 20, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

The objective of the present invention is to provide a hardness meter which estimates hardness in a stable manner regardless of a compression strength. A hardness meter includes: a movable portion which is continuously pressed against an object to be measured; a sensor which outputs an output signal reflecting a reaction force at a part of the object to be measured; a motive force mechanism that causes the movable portion to perform a piston motion; a hardness estimating portion which estimates the hardness of the object on the basis of an alternating current component of the output signal, generated by the piston motion; a position estimating portion which estimates a measurement position information by shooting with a camera; and a hardness map display portion which maps and displays the hardness on a schematic diagram of the surface of a living body based on the measurement position information.

Claims (29)

1. A hardness meter comprising:

a movable portion which is continuously contact with an object to be measured;

a sensor which outputs an output signal reflecting a reaction force at a part of the object to be measured that is in contact with the movable portion;

a motive force mechanism that causes the movable portion to perform a piston motion;

a hardness estimating portion which estimates the hardness of the object to be measured on the basis of an alternating current component of the output signal, generated by the piston motion of the movable portion;

a position estimating portion which estimates a measurement position information by shooting with a camera; and

a hardness map display portion which maps and displays the hardness on a schematic diagram of the surface of a living body based on the measurement position information.

2. The hardness meter according to claim 1 comprising, a storage portion which stores a position information related to the hardness;

wherein the hardness map display portion displays a color map based on the position information related to the hardness and the hardness.

3. The hardness meter according to claim 2 ,

wherein the hardness estimating portion estimates the hardness of the object to be measured on the basis of an amplitude of the alternating current component of the output signal.

4. The hardness meter according to claim 3 ,

wherein the hardness estimating portion estimates the hardness of the object to be measured on the basis of the amplitude of the alternating current component when a magnitude of a direct current component of the output signal is fixed at a predetermined value.

5. The hardness meter according to claim 2 ,

wherein the hardness estimating portion estimates the hardness of the object to be measured on the basis of a magnitude of a direct current component when the amplitude of the alternating current component of the output signal is fixed at a predetermined value.

6. The hardness meter according to claim 2 ,

wherein the hardness map display portion presents a difference between two hardness maps.

7. The hardness meter according to claim 2 ,

wherein the hardness map display portion displays the hardness at different time points on a schematic diagram of the surface of the living body in a map that can be compared with each other.

8. The hardness meter according to claim 1 ,

wherein the hardness estimating portion estimates the hardness of the object to be measured on the basis of an amplitude of the alternating current component of the output signal.

9. The hardness meter according to claim 8 ,

wherein the hardness estimating portion estimates the hardness of the object to be measured on the basis of the amplitude of the alternating current component when a magnitude of a direct current component of the output signal is fixed at a predetermined value.

10. The hardness meter according to claim 1 ,

wherein the hardness estimating portion estimates the hardness of the object to be measured on the basis of a magnitude of a direct current component when the amplitude of the alternating current component of the output signal is fixed at a predetermined value.

11. The hardness meter according to claim 1 ,

wherein the hardness map display portion presents a difference between two hardness maps.

12. The hardness meter according to claim 1 ,

wherein the hardness map display portion displays the hardness at different time points on a schematic diagram of the surface of the living body in a map that can be compared with each other.

Assignments (3)
MERGER Recorded Feb 15, 2023
From: MAXELL, LTD.
To: MAXELL HOLDINGS, LTD.
Reel/Frame 062704/0937 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 15, 2023
From: MAXELL HOLDINGS, LTD.
To: MAXELL, LTD.
Reel/Frame 062709/0838 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 10, 2023
From: SANO, YUKO; KANDORI, AKIHIKO; OKIMOTO, MITSUO; ANDO, SHIGEMITSU; WATANABE, MITSUNOBU
To: MAXELL, LTD.
Reel/Frame 062651/0570 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP JP2016-245528 · Dec 19, 2016 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation 16470964
Related Publication 20220240839A1 · Aug 4, 2022