Patents by Inventor Gerald W. McClain

Gerald W. McClain 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).

  • Small footprint vertical lift and rotation stage
    Patent number: 6486574
    Abstract: A small footprint vertical lift and rotary positioning stage comprises a bottom wedge and a top wedge, a linear bearing between the bottom wedge and the top wedge, cam grooves and cam surfaces for constraining the motion of the top wedge in a vertical direction, a brushless linear motor for moving the bottom wedge back and forth along a horizontal path raising and lowering the top wedge, a circular table rotatably mounted on the top wedge and having a first cylindrical flange extending downward from a segment of the circumference of the circular table, a bracket mounted on the side of the top wedge, the bracket supporting an upwardly extending second cylindrical flange coaxial with the circular table and the first cylindrical flange, and a brushless curvilinear motor between the first and second cylindrical flanges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Aerotech, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen J. Botos, Albert P. Ciez, Gerald W. McClain
  • Small footprint vertical lift and rotation stage
    Publication number: 20020130560
    Abstract: A small footprint vertical lift and rotary positioning stage comprises a bottom wedge and a top wedge, a linear bearing between the bottom wedge and the top wedge, cam grooves and cam surfaces for constraining the motion of the top wedge in a vertical direction, a brushless linear motor for moving the bottom wedge back and forth along a horizontal path raising and lowering the top wedge, a circular table rotatably mounted on the top wedge and having a first cylindrical flange extending downward from a segment of the circumference of the circular table, a bracket mounted on the side of the top wedge, the bracket supporting an upwardly extending second cylindrical flange coaxial with the circular table and the first cylindrical flange, and a brushless curvilinear motor between the first and second cylindrical flanges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2001
    Publication date: September 19, 2002
    Applicant: Aerotech, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen J. Botos, Albert P. Ciez, Gerald W. McClain