Patents by Inventor Geoffrey Alan LONG

Geoffrey Alan LONG 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).

  • Patent number: 10036654
    Abstract: A first measurement of a magnet that rotates is received from a first set of Hall sensors in a first component. A second measurement is received from a second set of Hall sensors in a second component where the first component and the second component are in a plane that is parallel to an axis of rotation associated with the magnet. An angle associated with the magnet is determined based at least in part on the first measurement and the second measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Kitty Hawk Corporation
    Inventors: Geoffrey Alan Long, Brian Robert Viele
  • Publication number: 20180190417
    Abstract: Techniques disclosed here provide an array of magnets and a method of manufacturing a magnet array. In an embodiment, the array of magnets includes a plurality of three-pole magnets arranged in an array in which each three-pole magnet comprising the array is adjacent to one or more other three-pole magnets comprising the array. For example, a three-pole magnet comprises a first surface comprising a first magnetic pole having a first magnetic polarity, a second surface that is adjacent to and at least partly orthogonal to the first surface and which comprises a second magnetic pole having a second magnetic polarity that is opposite the first magnetic polarity, and a third surface that is adjacent to the first surface at an end substantially opposite the second surface and which comprises a third magnetic pole having the second magnetic polarity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2017
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Inventor: Geoffrey Alan Long
  • Publication number: 20180191215
    Abstract: Techniques described here provide a rotor and a method of making a rotor. In an embodiment, a method of making a rotor includes forming a magnet array by assembling a plurality of magnets into the magnet array, providing pre-preg adjacent to the magnet array, co-curing the magnet array with the pre-preg, and magnetizing the magnet array subsequent to the formation of the magnet array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2017
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Inventor: Geoffrey Alan Long
  • Publication number: 20180181161
    Abstract: A magnetic spring input device is disclosed. In various embodiments, an input device as disclosed includes a manual input structure movably coupled to a base assembly; and a non-stationary magnet fixedly coupled to the manual input structure; a stationary magnet coupled to the base assembly in a manner that is fixed with respect to at least a first input axis of the input device, the stationary magnet being coupled to the base assembly with a first magnetic pole having a first magnetic polarity is oriented opposite a corresponding magnetic pole of the non-stationary magnet having the first magnetic polarity, in a position that is adjacent to but offset from the non-stationary magnet when the manual input structure is in a neutral position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2018
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Inventor: Geoffrey Alan Long
  • Publication number: 20180105268
    Abstract: Described embodiments provide a rotor mounting boom assembly for a personal aircraft. The rotor mounting boom assembly includes a rotor mounting boom releasably attachable to a wing of the personal aircraft, one or more vertical lift rotors, and one or more rotor controller assemblies. Controller assemblies for each rotor are positioned on the rotor mounting booms such that downwash from the rotor causes increased airflow across the controller assembly to cool the controller assembly components. A rotor controller enclosure includes an air inlet and an air outlet to allow airflow through the enclosure to cool the controller components. The air inlet is positioned relative to the path of the rotor blades such that the downwash from the rotor that flows into the air inlet is maximized. The structure of the enclosure includes features for increasing the airflow through the enclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: James Joseph Tighe, Geoffrey Alan Long, Uri Tzarnotzky
  • Patent number: 9898033
    Abstract: A magnetic spring input device is disclosed. In various embodiments, an input device as disclosed includes a manual input structure movably coupled to a base assembly; and a non-stationary magnet fixedly coupled to the manual input structure; a stationary magnet coupled to the base assembly in a manner that is fixed with respect to at least a first input axis of the input device, the stationary magnet being coupled to the base assembly with a first magnetic pole having a first magnetic polarity is oriented opposite a corresponding magnetic pole of the non-stationary magnet having the first magnetic polarity, in a position that is adjacent to but offset from the non-stationary magnet when the manual input structure is in a neutral position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Kitty Hawk Corporation
    Inventor: Geoffrey Alan Long
  • Patent number: 9783288
    Abstract: A lift fan position lock mechanism is disclosed. In various embodiments, a position lock mechanism includes a ring structure having a first surface, the ring structure including one or more detents defined in the first surface of the ring structure. For each detent, the lock mechanism includes a stationary magnet coupled fixedly to the ring structure at a location adjacent to the detent. The lock mechanism further includes a rotating magnet assembly comprising a magnet of opposite magnetic polarity to at least one of the stationary magnets and a mechanical stop structure of a size and shape to fit into a corresponding detent and engage mechanically with a surface defining at least one extent of said corresponding detent when the rotating magnet assembly is in a locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Kitty Hawk Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Wayne Moore, Geoffrey Alan Long
  • Patent number: 9764833
    Abstract: A rotor mounting boom assembly includes a rotor mounting boom releasably attachable to a wing of the personal aircraft, one or more vertical lift rotors, and one or more rotor controller assemblies. Controller assemblies for each rotor are positioned on the rotor mounting booms such that downwash from the rotor causes increased airflow across the controller assembly to cool the controller assembly components. A rotor controller enclosure includes an air inlet and an air outlet to allow airflow through the enclosure to cool the controller components. The air inlet is positioned relative to the path of the rotor blades such that the downwash from the rotor that flows into the air inlet is maximized. The structure of the enclosure includes features for increasing the airflow through the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Kitty Hawk Corporation
    Inventors: James Joseph Tighe, Geoffrey Alan Long, Uri Tzarnotzky
  • Publication number: 20160365755
    Abstract: A lightweight and efficient electrical machine element including a method of manufacture providing a stator winding for an electric machine which has a large portion of its volume containing electrically conductive strands and a small portion of its volume containing of an encapsulant material. The stator winding includes winding of a first phase by shaping a portion of a bundle of conductive strands into an overlapping, multi-layer arrangement. Winding of successive phases occurs with further bundles of conductor strands around the preceding phases constructed into similar overlapping, multi-layer arrangements. The multiple phases are impregnated with the encapsulant material using dies to press the bundles into a desired form while expelling excess encapsulant prior to the curing of the encapsulant material. The encapsulated winding is removed from the dies after the encapsulant has cured. The encapsulant coating on the strands may be activated using either heat or solvent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2016
    Publication date: December 15, 2016
    Inventors: Geoffrey Alan LONG, Bradley E. PADEN, Michael Richard RICCI, David Brian PADEN, Jonathan Gordon SUGAR