# US 11,307,059 B2 · Life detection device for encoder > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,307,059 B2 - Document ID: US11307059B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/746,166 - Filed: 2020-01-17 - Published: 2020-07-30 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2019-01-28 - Assignees: Mitutoyo Corporation - Applicants: Mitutoyo Corporation - Inventors: Miyako Mizutani - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11307059B2 ## CPC - G01D 5/24428: {Error prevention} - G01D 5/34707: {Scales; Discs, e.g. fixation, fabrication, compensation} - G01D 3/028: mitigating undesired influences, e.g. temperature, pressure - G01D 5/34746: {Linear encoders} - G01D 11/245: {Housings for sensors} - G01D: MEASURING NOT SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR A SPECIFIC VARIABLE; ARRANGEMENTS FOR MEASURING TWO OR MORE VARIABLES NOT COVERED IN A SINGLE OTHER SUBCLASS; TARIFF METERING APPARATUS; MEASURING OR TESTING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A life detection device of an encoder is used for the encoder including a scale and a head. The scale is housed in a scale frame. The head relatively moves along the scale to detect an amount of relative movement with the scale. The life detection device includes environmental condition detection means, life determination means, and informing means. The environmental condition detection means is configured to detect an environmental condition related to life detection in the encoder. The life determination means is configured to determine a life of a component constituting the encoder based on a detection result by the environmental condition detection means. The informing means is configured to inform the life based on a determination result by the life determination means. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A life detection device for an encoder used for the encoder including a scale and a head, the scale being housed in a scale frame, the head relatively moving along the scale to detect an amount of relative movement with the scale, the life detection device for the encoder comprising: environmental condition detection means configured to detect an environmental condition related to life detection in the encoder; life determination means configured to determine a life of a component constituting the encoder based on a detection result by the environmental condition detection means; and informing means configured to inform the life based on a determination result by the life determination means, wherein the environmental condition detection means includes: a temperature detection unit configured to detect a temperature as the environmental condition; a cumulative total time measurement unit configured to measure a cumulative total operating time of the encoder; and a cumulative total temperature measurement unit configured to measure a cumulative total temperature in the cumulative total operating time, wherein the life detection device includes computing means configured to compute an average temperature value using the cumulative total operating time and the cumulative total temperature, and the life determination means is configured to determine the life of the component based on the cumulative total operating time and the average temperature value. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The life detection device for the encoder according to claim 1, wherein the computing means is configured to compute the average temperature value TAVE, and the life determination means is configured to calculate a life determination time H1 using the average temperature value TAVE, a first constant B, and a second constant C by Equation (1), the life determination time H1 being used by the life determination means for the determination, the life determination means being configured to determine the life of the component based on the life determination time H1 and the cumulative total operating time, H1=eB/TAVE+C (1). ### Claim 3 A life detection device for an encoder used for the encoder including a scale and a head, the scale being housed in a scale frame, the head relatively moving along the scale to detect an amount of relative movement with the scale, the life detection device for the encoder comprising: environmental condition detection means configured to detect an environmental condition related to life detection in the encoder; life determination means configured to determine a life of a component constituting the encoder based on a detection result by the environmental condition detection means; and informing means configured to inform the life based on a determination result by the life determination means, wherein the environmental condition detection means includes: a humidity detection unit configured to detect a humidity as the environmental condition; a cumulative total time measurement unit configured to measure a cumulative total operating time of the encoder; and a cumulative total humidity measurement unit configured to measure a cumulative total humidity in the cumulative total operating time, wherein the life detection device includes computing means configured to compute an average humidity value using the cumulative total operating time and the cumulative total humidity, and the life determination means is configured to determine the life of the component based on the cumulative total operating time and the average humidity value. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The life detection device for the encoder according to claim 3, wherein the computing means is configured to compute the average humidity value RHAVE, and the life determination means is configured to calculate a life determination time H2 using the average humidity value RHAVE, a first constant B, and a second constant C by Equation (2), the life determination time H2 being used by the life determination means for the determination, the life determination means being configured to determine the life of the component based on the life determination time H2 and the cumulative total operating time, H2=eB/RHAVE+C (2). ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The life detection device for the encoder according to claim 1, wherein the environmental condition detection means includes: a current detection unit configured to detect a change in current in the component; a cumulative total time measurement unit configured to measure the cumulative total operating time of the encoder; and a cumulative total current measurement unit configured to measure a cumulative total current in the cumulative total operating time of the encoder, wherein the life detection device includes computing means configured to compute an average current value using the cumulative total operating time and the cumulative total current, and the life determination means is configured to determine the life of the component based on an average value based on the environmental condition detected by the environmental condition detection means, the average current value, and the cumulative total operating time. ### Claim 6 A life detection device for an encoder used for the encoder including a scale and a head, the scale being housed in a scale frame, the head relatively moving along the scale to detect an amount of relative movement with the scale, the life detection device for the encoder comprising: environmental condition detection means configured to detect an environmental condition related to life detection in the encoder; life determination means configured to determine a life of a component constituting the encoder based on a detection result by the environmental condition detection means; and informing means configured to inform the life based on a determination result by the life determination means, wherein the environmental condition detection means includes: an environment detection unit configured to detect a temperature, a humidity, and a current as the environmental condition as a detection result; a cumulative total time measurement unit configured to measure a cumulative total operating time of the encoder; and a cumulative total result measurement unit configured to measure a cumulative total result of the detection result detected by the environment detection unit in the cumulative total operating time, wherein the life detection device includes: computing means configured to compute an average value of each of the temperature, the humidity, and the current using the cumulative total operating time and the cumulative total result; and storage means that stores a plurality of failure rate functions for calculating a failure rate of the encoder, wherein the life determination means is configured to: extract an optimal failure rate function to calculate the failure rate from the plurality of failure rate functions stored in the storage means based on the average value and the cumulative total operating time; calculate the failure rate based on the optimal failure rate function and the cumulative total operating time; and determine the life of the component based on the failure rate. ### Claim 7 A life detection device for an encoder used for the encoder including a scale and a head, the scale being housed in a scale frame, the head relatively moving along the scale to detect an amount of relative movement with the scale, the life detection device for the encoder comprising: environmental condition detection means configured to detect an environmental condition related to life detection in the encoder; life determination means configured to determine a life of a component constituting the encoder based on a detection result by the environmental condition detection means; and informing means configured to inform the life based on a determination result by the life determination means, wherein the environmental condition detection means includes: an environment detection unit configured to detect a temperature, a humidity, and a current as the environmental condition as a detection result; a cumulative total time measurement unit configured to measure a cumulative total operating time of the encoder; and a cumulative total result measurement unit configured to measure a cumulative total result of the detection result detected by the environment detection unit in the cumulative total operating time, wherein the life detection device includes: computing means configured to compute an average value of each of the temperature, the humidity, and the current using the cumulative total operating time and the cumulative total result; and a matrix calculation table to which the average value is inputtable, the average value being to derive an optimal failure rate function for calculating a failure rate of the encoder, wherein the life determination means is configured to: calculate the failure rate based on the optimal failure rate function derived from the matrix calculation table and the cumulative total operating time; and determine the life of the component based on the failure rate. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The life detection device for the encoder according to claim 1, wherein the encoder is a photoelectric encoder including a light source, a scale, and light receiving means, the light source being configured to irradiate light, the scale having a graduation disposed along a measuring direction, the light receiving means being configured to receive the light irradiated from the light source via the scale, and the components are the light source, the graduation of the scale, and the light receiving means. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The life detection device for the encoder according to claim 1, wherein the informing means is any of an alarm, light emitting means, and display means, the alarm being configured to inform the life based on the determination by the life determination means, the light emitting means being disposed outside the encoder, the display means being configured to display the life. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The life detection device for the encoder according to claim 1, wherein the environmental condition detection means is disposed inside the head. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The life detection device for the encoder according to claim 1, wherein the environmental condition detection means is disposed inside the scale frame. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The life detection device for the encoder according to claim 1, wherein the environmental condition detection means is disposed outside the encoder. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The life detection device for the encoder according to claim 1 comprising: communication means including an environment detection unit and a reception unit, the environment detection unit having a transmission function, the transmission function being configured to detect a state of at least any one of a temperature, a humidity, and a current and transmit a detection result of the state, the reception unit being configured to receive the detection result from the environment detection unit, and the life determination means is configured to determine the life of the component constituting the encoder based on the detection result via the communication means.