ALEXANDRIA, Va., July 3 -- United States Patent no. 12,345,550, issued on July 1, was assigned to MINEBEA MITSUMI Inc. (Nagano, Japan).
"Absolute encoder" was invented by Yasuo Osada (Kawaguchi, Japan).
According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "To reduce the influence of backlash in a reduction mechanism on detection accuracy. An absolute encoder includes a first worm gear portion rotating according to rotation of a main shaft and a first worm wheel portion meshing with the first worm gear portion. The absolute encoder is provided coaxially with the first worm wheel portion and includes a second worm gear portion rotating according to rotation of the first worm wheel portion and a second worm wheel portio...