Patents by Inventor Gary I. Norton

Gary I. Norton has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Actuators and methods for use
    Patent number: 11532969
    Abstract: Examples include an actuator that includes a rotor that includes a permanent magnet; a stator that at least partially surrounds the rotor; a plurality of electromagnets coupled to the stator that are configured to apply magnetic force to the permanent magnet to rotate the rotor; a first lock that (i) has a first mechanical bias to engage the rotor and prevent rotation of the rotor when the rotor is in a home position and (ii) is configured to disengage the rotor against the first mechanical bias while receiving a first control signal; and a second lock that (i) has a second mechanical bias to disengage the rotor and (ii) is configured to engage the rotor against the second mechanical bias to prevent rotation of the rotor while receiving a second control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Gary I. Norton
  • Actuators and Methods for Use
    Publication number: 20200403483
    Abstract: Examples include an actuator that includes a rotor that includes a permanent magnet; a stator that at least partially surrounds the rotor; a plurality of electromagnets coupled to the stator that are configured to apply magnetic force to the permanent magnet to rotate the rotor; a first lock that (i) has a first mechanical bias to engage the rotor and prevent rotation of the rotor when the rotor is in a home position and (ii) is configured to disengage the rotor against the first mechanical bias while receiving a first control signal; and a second lock that (i) has a second mechanical bias to disengage the rotor and (ii) is configured to engage the rotor against the second mechanical bias to prevent rotation of the rotor while receiving a second control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Inventor: Gary I. Norton