Patents Assigned to Linear Labs, Inc.
  • Patent number: 12272998
    Abstract: There are presented various embodiments disclosed in this application, including methods and systems of arranging permanent magnets to switch from a first configuration designed for a first torque output to a second configuration designed for a second torque output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: Linear Labs, Inc.
    Inventor: Fred E. Hunstable
  • Patent number: 12261486
    Abstract: A system includes: a set of magnetic elements arranged radially about a motor axis; and a set of coil modules. The set of coil modules includes: a first subset of coil modules defining a first independent phase configuration; and a second subset of coil modules defining a second independent phase configuration, different from the first independent phase configuration. The controller is configured to: drive a first current at a first magnitude through the first subset of coil modules to induce magnetic coupling between the first subset of coil modules and the set of magnetic elements; and drive a second current at the first magnitude through the second subset of coil modules to induce magnitude coupling between the second subset of coil modules and the set of magnetic elements, and maintain a target power output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2024
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: Linear Labs, Inc.
    Inventor: Fred Eugene Hunstable
  • Patent number: 12206303
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for switched reluctance machines having a rotor comprising a plurality of rotor core assemblies configured to form a reluctance torque tunnel having at least a first reluctance tunnel segment and a second reluctance tunnel segment and a stator having a plurality of coils configured to form a coil winding assembly, the coil winding assembly positioned within the reluctance torque tunnel, such that at least one of the plurality of coils is surrounded by the first reluctance tunnel segment or the second reluctance tunnel segment, alternatively the rotor may be the coil winding assembly and the stator may be the reluctance torque tunnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: Linear Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrei Popov, Michael Van Steenburg, Fred Hunstable
  • Patent number: 12184140
    Abstract: A motor winding includes a wire defining a rectangular cross-section and wound in a continuous direction about a coil axis to form a continuous coil including: a first coil segment spiraling in a first plane, defining a first external terminal, and defining a first interior end inset from the first external terminal and arranged on a first side of a coil axis; a second coil segment spiraling in a second plane parallel and offset from the first plane, defining a second exterior terminal parallel to the first external terminal, and defining a second interior end inset from the second exterior coil end and arranged on a second side of the coil axis opposite the first interior end; and a junction extending between the first plane and the second plane to couple the first interior end of the first coil segment to the second interior end of the second coil segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: Linear Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Erik Hatch, John Langsdorf, Cosmin Gheorghe Barbu
  • Patent number: 12170467
    Abstract: A method includes, at a controller: directing current through a set of coil assemblies in an electric motor based on a first commutation technique; in response to an operating speed of the electric motor exceeding a first operating speed threshold, initiating a transition from the first commutation technique to a second commutation technique; during a transition period, directing current through the set of coil assemblies based on the first commutation technique controlled according to a first pulse width modulation scheme and the second commutation technique controlled according to a second pulse width modulation scheme; and, in response to completion of the transition period, directing current through the set of coil assemblies based on the second commutation technique.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2024
    Assignee: Linear Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Carlo Kopf, Erik Hatch
  • Patent number: 12149141
    Abstract: One variation of a system for an electric motor includes a set of coil assemblies defining: an inner radial facet, an outer radial facet, a first axial facet, and a second axial facet opposite the first axial facet. Additionally, each coil assembly in the set of coil assemblies includes a receiving member arranged at the outer radial facet of the coil assembly. Furthermore, the system includes a rotor comprising a set of magnetic elements: encompassing the inner radial facet, the outer radial facet, the first axial facet, and the second axial facet of the set of coil assemblies; and defining a radial magnetic tunnel. The system also includes a housing: engaging the receiving member of each coil assembly, in the set of coil assemblies to couple the housing to the set of coil assemblies; and includes a shaft coupled to the set of magnetic elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: Linear Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Erik Christopher Hatch, Anto Joseph Barigala Charles Paulraj, Abla Hariri
  • Patent number: 12095394
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for an induction machine having a rotor comprising a plurality of rotor core assemblies configured to form a toroidal magnetic torque tunnel having at least a first inductive tunnel segment and a second inductive tunnel segment and a stator having a plurality of coils configured to form a coil winding assembly, the coil winding assembly positioned within the toroidal magnetic torque tunnel, such that at least one of the plurality of coils is surrounded by the first inductive tunnel segment or the second inductive tunnel segment, alternatively the rotor may be the coil winding assembly and the stator may be the toroidal magnetic torque tunnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Linear Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrei Popov, Michael Van Steenburg, Fred Hunstable
  • Patent number: 12081090
    Abstract: One variation of a system for an electric motor includes a rotor including magnetic elements within a body. The system also includes a stator including coil assemblies arranged about the rotor. Each coil assembly includes an outer hook element and an inner hook element. The outer hook element extends across a first axial face and an outer radial surface of the rotor. The inner hook element: extends across a second axial face of the rotor; extends partially across the inner radial surface of the rotor; and is coupled to the outer hook element to define a throat configured to locate the rotor within the coil assembly. The system includes a shaft coupled to the inner radial surface of the rotor. Furthermore, the system includes a controller configured to drive current through the coil assemblies to generate a toroidal magnetic field configured to couple the magnetic elements to rotate the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: Linear Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Abla Hariri, Andrei Popov, Erik Hatch, John Langsdorf, Mohit Gangireddy
  • Patent number: 12021467
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for reluctance synchronous machines having a rotor comprising a plurality of rotor core assemblies configured to form a reluctance torque tunnel having at least a first reluctance tunnel segment and a second reluctance tunnel segment and a stator having a plurality of coils configured to form a coil winding assembly, the coil winding assembly positioned within the reluctance torque tunnel, such that at least one of the plurality of coils is surrounded by the first reluctance tunnel segment or the second reluctance tunnel segment, alternatively the rotor may be the coil winding assembly and the stator may be the reluctance torque tunnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: Linear Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrei Popov, Michael Van Steenburg, Fred Hunstable
  • Patent number: 12009717
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for an electric machine where the stator is a coil assembly and the rotor is a magnetic toroidal cylindrical tunnel or where the rotor is a coil assembly and the stator is a magnetic toroidal cylindrical tunnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: Linear Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred E. Hunstable, Michael Van Steenburg, Andrei V. Popov
  • Patent number: 11967866
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for a new and improved multi-tunnel motor and controller for an electric motor, where the motor controller is able to dynamically modify the number of phases and pole count of the electric machine in order to reduce the torque output and increase speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Linear Labs, Inc.
    Inventor: Fred E. Hunstable
  • Patent number: 11784529
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for Torque Tunnel Halbach Array electric machines having a rotor comprising a plurality of rotor assemblies configured to form a magnetic torque tunnel having at least a first magnetic pole tunnel segment and a second magnetic pole tunnel segment, each of the rotor assemblies having a plurality of flux shaping Halbach Arrays configured to focus the Flux Density Distribution in the magnetic torque tunnel and a stator having a plurality of coils configured to form a coil winding assembly, the coil winding assembly positioned within the magnetic torque tunnel, such that at least one of the plurality of coils is surrounded by the first magnetic pole tunnel segment or the second magnetic pole tunnel segment, alternatively the rotor may be the coil winding assembly and the stator may be the magnetic torque tunnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Linear Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred E. Hunstable, Michael Van Steenburg, Andrei V. Popov
  • Patent number: 11784546
    Abstract: There are presented various embodiments disclosed in this application, including methods and systems of arranging permanent magnets to switch from a first configuration designed for a first torque output to a second configuration designed for a second torque output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Linear Labs, Inc.
    Inventor: Fred E. Hunstable
  • Patent number: 11784523
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for a motor/generator where the stator is a coil assembly and the rotor is a magnetic toroidal cylindrical tunnel or where the rotor is a coil assembly and the stator is a magnetic toroidal cylindrical tunnel, and where the magnetic toroidal cylindrical tunnel comprises magnets having a NNSS or SSNN pole configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Linear Labs, Inc.
    Inventor: Fred E. Hunstable
  • Patent number: 11777386
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for a new and improved electric motor/generator including a toroidal magnetic cylinder centered on the longitudinal axis, and a coil assembly including a first coil assembly support positioned within the toroidal magnetic cylinder, and a second coil assembly support positioned within the toroidal magnetic cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Linear Labs, Inc.
    Inventor: Fred E. Hunstable
  • Patent number: 11532963
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for Torque Tunnel Halbach Array electric machines having a rotor comprising a plurality of rotor assemblies configured to form a magnetic torque tunnel having at least a first magnetic pole tunnel segment and a second magnetic pole tunnel segment, each of the rotor assemblies having a plurality of flux shaping Halbach Arrays configured to focus the Flux Density Distribution in the magnetic torque tunnel and a stator having a plurality of coils configured to form a coil winding assembly, the coil winding assembly positioned within the magnetic torque tunnel, such that at least one of the plurality of coils is surrounded by the first magnetic pole tunnel segment or the second magnetic pole tunnel segment, alternatively the rotor may be the coil winding assembly and the stator may be the magnetic torque tunnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Linear Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred E. Hunstable, Michael Van Steenburg, Andrei V. Popov
  • Patent number: 11502570
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for an electric machine where the stator is a coil assembly and the rotor is a magnetic toroidal cylindrical tunnel or where the rotor is a coil assembly and the stator is a magnetic toroidal cylindrical tunnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Linear Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred E. Hunstable, Michael Van Steenburg, Andrei V. Popov
  • Patent number: 11387692
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for an improved generator/motor and a method of generating current, the method comprising providing a circular rotation path, generating a concentrated magnetic field around a portion of the circular rotation path; rotating a coil along the circular path and through the concentrated magnetic field; generating current within the coil as a result of the rotating, and extracting the current from the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Linear Labs, Inc.
    Inventor: Fred E. Hunstable
  • Patent number: 11309778
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for a motor/generator where the stator is a coil assembly and the rotor is a magnetic toroidal cylindrical tunnel or where the rotor is a coil assembly and the stator is a magnetic toroidal cylindrical tunnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Linear Labs, Inc.
    Inventor: Fred E. Hunstable
  • Patent number: 11277062
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for a new and improved electric motor/generator including a toroidal magnetic cylinder centered on the longitudinal axis, and a coil assembly including a first coil assembly support positioned within the toroidal magnetic cylinder, and a second coil assembly support positioned within the toroidal magnetic cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Linear Labs, Inc.
    Inventor: Fred E. Hunstable