Patents Examined by Emily P Pham
  • Patent number: 11043910
    Abstract: A vibration wave motor comprises: an electromechanical conversion element; an elastic body which has a drive surface on which a vibration wave is generated due to vibration of the electromechanical conversion element; and a relative motion member which makes contact with the drive surface of the elastic body and is configured to rotationally drive by the vibration wave, the electromechanical conversion element having a density of from 4.2 to 6.0×103 kg/m3, a plurality of grooves being provided on the drive surface side of the elastic body, and a value of T/(B+C) being within a range of from 1.3 to 2.8 when: depth of at least one groove of the plurality of grooves is defined as T; thickness from a base unit of the groove to a first surface is defined as B; and thickness of the electromechanical conversion element is defined as C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takatoshi Ashizawa, Azusa Muto
  • Patent number: 11043907
    Abstract: An ultrasonic linear actuation device includes a mover and a plurality of stator sets. The mover includes at least one mover rack. The plurality of stator sets is located in correspondence with the mover. Each of the plurality of stator sets includes an actuating component and a plurality of stator racks. The actuating component is used for stimulating corresponding one of the plurality of stator sets to generate standing-wave oscillations in an oscillation direction, such that the plurality of stator racks of each of the plurality of stator sets can engage the at least one mover rack of the mover to allow the stator racks to mesh the corresponding mover rack and thus to displace the mover in a moving direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Han-Ping Yang, Cheng-Ping Yang, Kun-Ju Xie, Shou-Cheng Ma
  • Patent number: 11038398
    Abstract: An energy storage system includes a power source configured to generate power. The energy storage system also includes an induction machine coupled to an inertial flywheel, the induction machine configured to receive electrical energy from the power source, store the energy in the flywheel, and deliver a first portion of the energy to a first pulsed load. The energy storage system further includes a damping network configured to receive and absorb a second portion of the energy at a controlled rate to regulate torsional oscillations in a rotary motion of the flywheel caused by load swings or pulsations of the first pulsed load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Stephen Kuznetsov
  • Patent number: 11038385
    Abstract: A four-pole stator assembly including a bobbin assembly; and two c-shaped stator cores, each c-shaped stator core comprising a back and first and second pole arms extending from the back. The bobbin assembly includes first and second bobbin portions, each bobbin portion comprising two hollow bobbin arms, each bobbin arm defining a slot for receiving a pole arm, and a winding wound around each bobbin arm. The c-shaped stator cores are arranged such that each c-shaped stator core bridges across both bobbin portions with one of the first and second pole arms extending through a slot in the first bobbin portion, and the other of the first and second pole arms extending through a slot in the second bobbin portion, the pole arms being fixed in the slots by adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited
    Inventors: Nigel Youatt Dymond, Andrew Simeon Barnes, Andrew Charlton Clothier
  • Patent number: 11038441
    Abstract: A piezoelectric motor with form-locked drive mechanism avoiding step losses and undefined step sizes caused by environmental conditions such as temperature, surface quality and air humidity by engaging actuator teeth interacting with the toothed structure of a driven rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: STRATEC Biomedical AG
    Inventors: Tibor Horvarth, Jens Großmann
  • Patent number: 11018578
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a circuit board that manages supply of electricity to the electronic device. The circuit board includes an integrated circuit and an external capacitor coupled to a supply terminal of the circuit board. During a startup operation of the integrated circuit, the integrated circuit supplies a first charging current to charge the capacitor to a supply voltage value. The circuit board includes a boost circuit that receives a portion of the first charging current and outputs a second charging current that augments charging of the capacitor. The second charging current is an amplification of the first charging current. The integrated circuit enables operation of the electronic device after the capacitor is charged to the supply voltage value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Alberto Bianco, Giuseppe Scappatura, Francesco Ciappa
  • Patent number: 11018605
    Abstract: According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided a DC to DC converter module for use between an electric power source and an electric motor. The DC to DC converter module having: a DC to DC converter; input terminals configured to provide a source voltage to the DC to DC converter from the electric power source; output terminals connected to outputs of the DC to DC converter and configured to provide an output voltage of the DC to DC converter module to the electric motor; and control circuitry connected to the DC to DC converter, the control circuitry having an input for receiving a signal indicative of a desired electric motor performance. The control circuitry being configured to control the DC to DC converter in order to adjust the output voltage based at least partially on the signal indicative of a desired electric motor performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: L7 Drive Oy
    Inventor: Daniel Salonen
  • Patent number: 11018584
    Abstract: A switching regulator includes a high side transistor coupled to an input voltage node. The switching regulator also includes a low side transistor coupled to the high side transistor at a switch node. An adaptive on-time control circuit is also included and is configured to cause the high side transistor to turn on for an adaptive period of time based on a ratio of an output voltage from the switching regulator to input voltage. The adaptive period of time is configured to occur responsive to a current through an inductor falling below a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Jiancong Ruan, Runqin Tan
  • Patent number: 11012005
    Abstract: A hollow-cylindrical ultrasonic actuator is disclosed a central axis, an inner peripheral surface facing the central axis and an outer peripheral surface facing away from the central axis and spaced apart from the inner peripheral surface, a closed inner contour curve, a closed outer contour curve, at least one electrode, and an electromechanical material provided between opposed electrodes. In a non-actuated state of the ultrasonic actuator, a curvature of the inner contour curve or of an outer contour curve includes at least three mutually spaced-apart local maximum points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: PHYSIK INSTRUMENT (PI) GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Thomas Polzer
  • Patent number: 11012004
    Abstract: A vibration actuator includes a vibrator including a shaft, an output transmission member penetrated by the shaft, and configured to rotate about the axis of the shall, and a fixed member configured not to move relative to the shaft and configured to move relative to the output transmission member. The fixed member includes a base portion and a projection portion protruding from the base portion to the output transmission member side, the vibration actuator includes a pressure reception member between the base portion and the output transmission member in an axial direction of the shaft, and wherein the projection portion and the output transmission member are in contact with each other in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the shaft, and the projection portion and the output transmission member are not in contact with each other in the axial direction of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Shimada, Hiroyuki Seki
  • Patent number: 11009899
    Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a constant-voltage circuit that outputs a constant voltage and a constant-current circuit. The constant-current circuit includes a first transistor. A voltage input as an input voltage to a first gate electrode of the first transistor is equal to the node voltage at an intermediate node in a connection path between the output of the constant-voltage circuit and an external resistor. A source region of the first transistor is connected to a fixed power supply, and a drain region of the first transistor is connected to the external power supply via a load. In the first transistor, a constant current can be made to flow between the source region and the drain region based on the input voltage. A constant-current drive system in which the semiconductor integrated circuit and the external resistor have been mounted on a circuit board is also constructed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI-RIKA-DENKI-SEISAKUSHO
    Inventors: Kengo Shima, Daisuke Aoki, Satoki Uruno, Junichi Matsubara
  • Patent number: 11005313
    Abstract: Provided is a method for implementing skewing in a hybrid homopolar generator comprising. The method includes aligning inductor poles within an axial front segment of a rotor, with corresponding magnets within an axial back segment of the rotor. The method also includes moving, during assembly, the axial front segment and the axial back segment relative to each other such that inductor poles in the axial front segment and the axial back segment form a pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: UNISON INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Michael Saban, Charles Michael Stephens
  • Patent number: 11005312
    Abstract: Provided is a method for implementing skewing in a hybrid homopolar generator. The method includes aligning slots within an axial front segment of a stator, with corresponding slots within an axial back segment of the stator. The method also includes moving, during assembly, the axial front segment and the axial back segment relative to each other such that slots in the axial front segment and the axial back segment form a pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: UNISON INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Michael Saban, Charles Michael Stephens
  • Patent number: 10998777
    Abstract: An electric motor includes a stator including four split cores, and a rotor having four magnetic poles. Each of the split cores includes a yoke and a tooth. An angle ?1 [degree] formed by a side surface of the tooth and a side surface of the yoke on an inner side in a radial direction of the stator satisfies 90 degrees??1<180 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuchika Tsuchida, Yuji Takayama, Keisuke Uemura
  • Patent number: 10998823
    Abstract: A resonant DC-DC converter for generating high voltage MHz bi-polar DC pulses includes a left multi-level resonant rectifier bank [100] connected to a positive electrode [104] and coupled via capacitive isolation to a left RF amplifier terminal [128]; a right multi-level resonant rectifier bank [102] connected to a negative electrode [106] and coupled via capacitive isolation to a right RF amplifier terminal [130]. Each multi-level resonant rectifier bank comprises multiple resonant rectifier stages [112-122], where each stage comprises two capacitors for capacitively isolating the stage, an output capacitor, a MOSFET switch connected to an adjacent MOSFET switch of an adjacent stage, and a gating resonant circuit connected to the MOSFET switch, whereby MOSFET switches in the banks can be passively controlled by RF signals from a left RF amplifier and a right RF amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Luke C. Raymond, Wei Liang, Kawin Surakitbovorn, Juan M. Rivas Davila
  • Patent number: 10992221
    Abstract: A buck-boost charge pump includes a flying capacitor and a switch network. The switch network couples an input terminal to a first terminal of the flying capacitor using a first double switch and the second terminal of the flying capacitor to a power supply voltage terminal using a second switch in a charging phase of a boost mode, the input terminal to the second terminal of the flying capacitor using a third switch and the first terminal of the flying capacitor to an output terminal using the fourth switch in both a discharging phase of the boost mode and a charging phase of a buck mode, and the power supply voltage terminal to the first terminal of the flying capacitor using a first switch and the second terminal of the flying capacitor to the output terminal using a second double switch in a discharging phase of the buck mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventor: Miroslav Hukel
  • Patent number: 10985674
    Abstract: The invention relates to an ultrasonic motor comprising a plate-shaped piezoelectric ultrasonic actuator (2) and a of friction element (5) arranged on a side surface thereof, wherein the connection line (V) through the friction point and the focal point (S) of the ultrasonic actuator defines an operating direction, and a perpendicular plane intersecting the ultrasonic actuator defines an operating plane (W). A holder (6) has two force inlet sections (7) in order to move the holder and thereby the ultrasonic actuator in a direction parallel to the operating direction, and to press same against an element to be driven. The force inlet sections, preferably based on permanent magnets (8, 9) are each arranged in the operating plane and laterally next to and at a distance from the the ultrasonic actuator, and the intersection point (SP) of the connection line (V) with the operating plane (W) either coincides with the focal point (S) or lies between the focal point and the side surface having the friction element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Physik Instrumente (PI) GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Bernd Philips, Mathias Rosenkranz, Dieter Wienecke, Kurt Sinske
  • Patent number: 10978635
    Abstract: A multilayer piezoelectric element that expands and contracts in response to an applied voltage includes external electrodes disposed on surfaces of an element body, internal electrodes connected to the external electrodes, and piezoelectric layers laminated alternately with the internal electrodes. An electrode material used for the internal electrodes or the external electrodes contains a base material composed of Ag and Pd in a weight ratio of 60/40 to 85/15 and Pt in an amount of 0.1% to 10% by weight based on the weight of the base material. Also included is a piezoelectric actuator including the piezoelectric element and a piezoelectric transformer including the piezoelectric element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kiyohito Shibata, Norifumi Iwaki, Toru Ezaki, Toshikatsu Nomura
  • Patent number: 10978633
    Abstract: An actuator device is provided. The actuator device includes: a first substrate including a contact; and a second substrate including a trace electrically connected to the contact. A portion of the second substrate is laminated to the first substrate in a first direction. The portion of the second substrate is adhered to the first substrate. A portion of the trace overlaps the contact in the first direction. A portion of the trace includes a plurality of terminals and a base section. The plurality of terminals are separated from each other. The base section is coupled to the plurality of terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Toru Kakiuchi
  • Patent number: 10979019
    Abstract: A resonator device may include a stacked first resonator and second resonator. The first resonator may be configured to resonate at a first operating frequency, and the second resonator may be configured to resonate at a second operating frequency different from the first operating frequency. The first resonator may include a first electrode and a first active layer arranged over the first electrode. The second resonator may include a second active layer arranged over the first active layer, and a second electrode arranged over the second active layer. The stacked first resonator and second resonator may be coupled to a reconfiguration switch for selectively operating at the first operating frequency or the second operating frequency. One of the first resonator and the second resonator is active upon selection by the reconfiguration switch, while the other resonator is inactive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Singapore Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Joan Josep Giner De Haro, Humberto Campanella Pineda