IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,504,306
Granted Patent B2
US 12,504,306 · App. 18/551,934 · Granted Dec 23, 2025

Absolute encoder

Inventors: Katsunori Saito (Nagano, JP); Takeshi Sakieda (Nagano, JP)
Assignee: MINEBEA MITSUMI Inc.
G01D5/2497G01D5/04G01D5/145G01D5/24433G01D2205/26G01D2205/28G01D2205/40
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,504,306
App. No.
18/551,934
Granted
Dec 23, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

To suppress deterioration in the detection accuracy of a rotation angle of a magnet even when a member located in the vicinity of the magnet is made of a magnetic material. An absolute encoder includes a first sub-shaft gear configured to rotate based on rotation of a main shaft, a bearing part configured to rotatably support the first sub-shaft gear around an axial line A, a support shaft configured to support the bearing part, and a spacer provided between the first sub-shaft gear and the bearing part. At least a part of the spacer is formed of a magnetic material, and the spacer is formed extending in a direction intersecting the axial line A.

Claims (28)

1 . An absolute encoder comprising:

a sub-shaft gear configured to rotate based on rotation of a main shaft;

a bearing part configured to rotatably support the sub-shaft gear around an axial line;

a shaft part configured to support the bearing part; and

a spacer provided between the sub-shaft gear and the bearing part, wherein

at least a part of the spacer is formed of a magnetic material, and

the spacer is formed extending in a direction intersecting the axial line.

2 . The absolute encoder according to claim 1 , wherein

the spacer includes a plate-shaped part and a ring part,

the plate-shaped part is a portion extending along a plane and has a pair of surfaces, and

the ring part is an annular portion and protrudes from one of the pair of surfaces of the plate-shaped part.

3 . The absolute encoder according to claim 2 , wherein

the ring part and the plate-shaped part are integrated with each other, and

the spacer is formed of the magnetic material.

4 . The absolute encoder according to claim 2 , wherein

the ring part and the plate-shaped part are separate from each other, and

the plate-shaped part is formed of the magnetic material.

5 . The absolute encoder according to claim 2 , wherein

the plate-shaped part is formed covering the bearing part in the axial direction.

6 . The absolute encoder according to claim 1 , wherein

the bearing part includes at least one bearing,

the bearing has an outer ring and an inner ring,

the outer ring of the bearing is fixed to the sub-shaft gear,

the inner ring of the bearing is fixed to the shaft part, and

the spacer is sandwiched between the sub-shaft gear and the outer ring of the bearing in the axial direction.

7 . The absolute encoder according to claim 1 , wherein

the sub-shaft gear includes an accommodating part forming a space capable of accommodating the spacer and the bearing part, and

the bearing part is configured to be fitted into the accommodating part.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 22, 2023
From: SAITO, KATSUNORI; SAKIEDA, TAKESHI
To: MINEBEA MITSUMI INC.
Reel/Frame 064997/0731 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2021-062046 · Mar 31, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240175724A1 · May 30, 2024
References Cited (14)
US 20090263061A1 · Takahashi · 2009 [cited by examiner]
US 20100052663A1 · Mehnert et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20110080162A1 · Steinich et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20110137609A1 · Itomi · 2011 [cited by examiner]
US 20130015333A1 · Miyajima et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20140077922A1 · Horiguchi · 2014 [cited by examiner]
US 20190277668A1 · Osada · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 20200132507A1 · Osada · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 20220196380A1 · Saito et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
EP 2159547A2 · 2010 [cited by applicant]
JP 2013024572A · 2013 [cited by applicant]
WO 2020203467A1 · 2020 [cited by applicant]
International Search Report for corresponding International Application No. PCT/JP2022/010842 mailed Apr. 26, 2022. [cited by applicant]
Written Opinion for corresponding International Application No. PCT/JP2022/010842 dated Apr. 26, 2022. [cited by applicant]