Patents by Inventor Gordon Stevenson
Gordon Stevenson 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).
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Publication number: 20250125697Abstract: A method of controlling an electric machine includes: energizing stator windings of a stator by a stator current, producing a stator magnetic field within the stator by the energized stator windings, modifying a corresponding rotor magnetic field within a ferromagnetic material within a rotor by the stator magnetic field, generating a force tangential to the rotor by a shift in the stator magnetic field, moving the rotor by the generated force tangential to the rotor, resisting a decay of a magnetic flux within the rotor by current within the rotor windings in response to the shift in the stator magnetic field, and achieving a target operational output of the electric machine. The stator magnetic field and the rotor maintain synchronicity with one another during operation of the electric machine.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 26, 2024Publication date: April 17, 2025Inventors: Walter Wesley Pennington, III, Matthew J. Rubin, Gregory Gordon Stevenson, Michael Parker Owen, Ethan Bagget Swint, Matthias Preindl
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Patent number: 12249874Abstract: An electric motor has a stator defining multiple stator poles with associated electrical windings, and a rotor having multiple rotor poles. The rotor has flux barriers between adjacent rotor poles, the flux barriers each having a material with an electrical conductivity higher than the rotor pole material. The flux barriers are electrically isolated from one another external to the ferromagnetic material. Eddy currents are induced in the flux barrier to cause destructive interference of an impending magnetic field, such that the flux barrier effectively acts to inhibit magnetic flux during motor operation, which in some cases will result in a repulsive force that will act to increase an induced motive force on the rotor poles.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2023Date of Patent: March 11, 2025Assignee: Tau Motors, Inc.Inventors: Walter Wesley Pennington, III, Matthew J. Rubin, Gregory Gordon Stevenson, Adam Daniel Ambrecht, Euzeli Cipriano dos Santos, Jr.
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Patent number: 12199482Abstract: An electric machine includes a stator and a rotor energizable by magnetic fields produced by the stator when receiving a stator current to produce relative motion between the rotor and the stator. A controller is configured to send the stator current through the stator at a current angle measured from the closest one of a pole of the rotor, determine a desired operational output of the electric machine, and determine a desired rotor motion corresponding to the desired operational output of the electric machine. The controller is further configured to calculate a vector control modulation applied to the stator that elicits the desired rotor motion, and adjust the current angle of the stator current based on the vector control modulation to cause the rotor to perform the desired rotor motion and achieve the desired operational output of the electric machine.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2024Date of Patent: January 14, 2025Assignee: Tau Motors, Inc.Inventors: Walter Wesley Pennington, III, Matthew J. Rubin, Gregory Gordon Stevenson, Michael Parker Owen, Ethan Bagget Swint, Matthias Preindl
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Publication number: 20240405709Abstract: A reconfigurable electric motor (or machine) that may be reconfigured to improve performance given particular motor conditions. The motor is part of a motor system including a stator, a rotor, a microinverter network including a plurality of microinverters, and a motor controller including processing circuitry. The motor controller controls the plurality of microinverters to drive the motor in accordance with a first configuration of a plurality of motor configurations. The motor controller determines, based on determined motor conditions, to reconfigure the motor from the first configuration to a second configuration, where the first configuration has a first pole count that is different than a second pole count of the second configuration. The motor controller further controls the plurality of microinverters to drive the motor in accordance with the second configuration.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2024Publication date: December 5, 2024Inventors: Walter Wesley Pennington, III, Ethan Bagget Swint, Matthias Preindl, Gregory Gordon Stevenson, Matthew J Rubin, Anthony Da Costa
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Patent number: 12074546Abstract: A reconfigurable electric motor (or machine) that may be reconfigured to improve performance given particular motor conditions. The motor is part of a motor system including a stator, a rotor, a microinverter network including a plurality of microinverters, and a motor controller including processing circuitry. The motor controller controls the plurality of microinverters to drive the motor in accordance with a first configuration of a plurality of motor configurations. The motor controller determines, based on determined motor conditions, to reconfigure the motor from the first configuration to a second configuration, where the first configuration has a first pole count that is different than a second pole count of the second configuration. The motor controller further controls the plurality of microinverters to drive the motor in accordance with the second configuration.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2022Date of Patent: August 27, 2024Assignee: TAU MOTORS, INC.Inventors: Walter Wesley Pennington, III, Ethan Bagget Swint, Matthias Preindl, Gregory Gordon Stevenson, Matthew J Rubin, Anthony Da Costa
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Publication number: 20240258944Abstract: A reconfigurable electric motor (or machine) that may be reconfigured to improve performance given particular motor conditions. The motor is part of a motor system including a stator, a rotor, a microinverter network including a plurality of microinverters, and a motor controller including processing circuitry. The motor controller controls the plurality of microinverters to drive the motor in accordance with a first configuration of a plurality of motor configurations. The motor controller determines, based on determined motor conditions, to reconfigure the motor from the first configuration to a second configuration, where the first configuration has a first pole count that is different than a second pole count of the second configuration. The motor controller further controls the plurality of microinverters to drive the motor in accordance with the second configuration.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2022Publication date: August 1, 2024Inventors: Walter Wesley Pennington, III, Ethan Bagget Swint, Matthias Preindl, Gregory Gordon Stevenson, Matthew J Rubin, Anthony Da Costa
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Publication number: 20240213864Abstract: An electric machine includes a stator and a rotor energizable by magnetic fields produced by the stator when receiving a stator current to produce relative motion between the rotor and the stator. A controller is configured to send the stator current through the stator at a current angle measured from the closest one of a pole of the rotor, determine a desired operational output of the electric machine, and determine a desired rotor motion corresponding to the desired operational output of the electric machine. The controller is further configured to calculate a vector control modulation applied to the stator that elicits the desired rotor motion, and adjust the current angle of the stator current based on the vector control modulation to cause the rotor to perform the desired rotor motion and achieve the desired operational output of the electric machine.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2024Publication date: June 27, 2024Inventors: Walter Wesley Pennington, III, Matthew J. Rubin, Gregory Gordon Stevenson, Michael Parker Owen, Ethan Bagget Swint, Matthias Preindl
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Publication number: 20240204591Abstract: A stator defines multiple stator poles with associated electrical windings. A rotor includes multiple rotor poles. The rotor is movable with respect to the stator and defines, together with the stator, a nominal gap between the stator poles and the rotor poles. The rotor poles includes a magnetically permeable pole material. The rotor also includes a series of frequency programmable flux channels (FPFCs). Each FPFC includes a conductive loop surrounding an associated rotor pole. The stator and the rotor are arranged such that the electrical windings in the stator induce an excitement current within at least one of the FPFCs during start-up.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 1, 2024Publication date: June 20, 2024Inventors: Walter Wesley Pennington, III, Matthew J. Rubin, Gregory Gordon Stevenson, Michael Parker Owen
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Publication number: 20240204622Abstract: An electric machine includes a stator defining multiple stator poles with associated stator windings configured to receive a stator current. The electric machine also includes a rotor defining multiple fixed rotor poles with associated rotor windings, wherein the rotor defines a field energizable by magnetic fields produced by the stator windings when receiving the stator current to produce relative motion between the rotor and the stator and wherein the rotor is maintained in synchronicity with the magnetic fields produced by the stator during operation of the electric machine. The electric machine also includes a rectification system configured control against an alternating current being induced in the rotor poles as the field is energized by magnetic fields produced by the stator windings when receiving the stator current.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 1, 2024Publication date: June 20, 2024Inventors: Walter Wesley Pennington, III, Matthew J. Rubin, Gregory Gordon Stevenson, Michael Parker Owen, Ethan Bagget Swint, Matthias Preindl
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Publication number: 20240195269Abstract: A stator defines multiple stator poles with associated stator windings. A rotor defines multiple rotor poles with associated rotor windings configured to be energized substantially by the stator. The rotor defines a rotor field energizable by magnetic fields produced by the stator windings to produce relative force between the rotor and the stator. An active rectifier is conductively coupled to one or more first rotor windings. The active rectifier is configured to control a direction of current flow through the one or more first rotor windings responsive to a signal received wirelessly from the stator by one or more second rotor windings.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2022Publication date: June 13, 2024Inventors: Walter Wesley Pennington, III, Ethan Bagget Swint, Gregory Gordon Stevenson, Michael Parker Owen, Anthony Da Costa, Matthew J. Rubin, Matthias Preindl
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Publication number: 20240186932Abstract: A stator defines multiple stator poles with associated stator windings. A rotor defines multiple fixed rotor poles with associated teeth with a ferromagnetic material. The fixed rotor poles have associated rotor windings configured to be energized substantially by the stator. Each of the rotor windings is associated with the tooth. Each of the rotor windings includes an alternating current (AC) coil (or auxiliary coil) configured to carry an AC current induced by an AC current flowing in the stator. A direct current (DC) coil (or primary coil) defines a rotor field energizable by magnetic fields produced by the stator windings to produce relative forces between the rotor and the stator. The DC coil is at least partially powered or controlled by the AC coil.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2022Publication date: June 6, 2024Inventors: Walter Wesley Pennington, III, Ethan Bagget Swint, Gregory Gordon Stevenson, Anthony Da Costa, Michael Parker Owen, Matthew J. Rubin, Matthias Preindl
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Patent number: 12003144Abstract: An electric machine includes a stator defining multiple stator poles with associated stator windings configured to receive a stator current. The electric machine also includes a rotor defining multiple fixed rotor poles with associated rotor windings, wherein the rotor defines a field energizable by magnetic fields produced by the stator windings when receiving the stator current to produce relative motion between the rotor and the stator and wherein the rotor is maintained in synchronicity with the magnetic fields produced by the stator during operation of the electric machine. The electric machine also includes a rectification system configured control against an alternating current being induced in the rotor poles as the field is energized by magnetic fields produced by the stator windings when receiving the stator current.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2023Date of Patent: June 4, 2024Assignee: Tau Motors, Inc.Inventors: Walter Wesley Pennington, III, Matthew J. Rubin, Gregory Gordon Stevenson, Michael Parker Owen, Ethan Bagget Swint, Matthias Preindl
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Publication number: 20240171046Abstract: An electric motor has a stator defining multiple stator poles with associated electrical windings, and a rotor having multiple rotor poles. The rotor has flux barriers between adjacent rotor poles, the flux barriers each having a material with an electrical conductivity higher than the rotor pole material. The flux barriers are electrically isolated from one another external to the ferromagnetic material. Eddy currents are induced in the flux barrier to cause destructive interference of an impending magnetic field, such that the flux barrier effectively acts to inhibit magnetic flux during motor operation, which in some cases will result in a repulsive force that will act to increase an induced motive force on the rotor poles.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 27, 2023Publication date: May 23, 2024Inventors: Walter Wesley Pennington, III, Matthew J. Rubin, Gregory Gordon Stevenson, Adam Daniel Ambrecht, Euzeli Cipriano dos Santos, Jr.
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Patent number: 11949289Abstract: A stator defines multiple stator poles with associated electrical windings. A rotor includes multiple rotor poles. The rotor is movable with respect to the stator and defines, together with the stator, a nominal gap between the stator poles and the rotor poles. The rotor poles includes a magnetically permeable pole material. The rotor also includes a series of frequency programmable flux channels (FPFCs). Each FPFC includes a conductive loop surrounding an associated rotor pole. The stator and the rotor are arranged such that the electrical windings in the stator induce an excitement current within at least one of the FPFCs during start-up.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2022Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Assignee: TAU MOTORS, INC.Inventors: Walter Wesley Pennington, III, Matthew J Rubin, Gregory Gordon Stevenson, Michael Parker Owen
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Patent number: 11936255Abstract: An electric machine includes a stator and a rotor energizable by magnetic fields produced by the stator when receiving a stator current to produce relative motion between the rotor and the stator. A controller is configured to send the stator current through the stator at a current angle measured from the closest one of a pole of the rotor, determine a desired operational output of the electric machine, and determine a desired rotor motion corresponding to the desired operational output of the electric machine. The controller is further configured to calculate a vector control modulation applied to the stator that elicits the desired rotor motion, and adjust the current angle of the stator current based on the vector control modulation to cause the rotor to perform the desired rotor motion and achieve the desired operational output of the electric machine.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2023Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: Tau Motors, Inc.Inventors: Walter Wesley Pennington, III, Matthew J. Rubin, Gregory Gordon Stevenson, Michael Parker Owen, Ethan Bagget Swint, Matthias Preindl
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Publication number: 20240014721Abstract: An electric machine includes a stator and a rotor energizable by magnetic fields produced by the stator when receiving a stator current to produce relative motion between the rotor and the stator. A controller is configured to send the stator current through the stator at a current angle measured from the closest one of a pole of the rotor, determine a desired operational output of the electric machine, and determine a desired rotor motion corresponding to the desired operational output of the electric machine. The controller is further configured to calculate a vector control modulation applied to the stator that elicits the desired rotor motion, and adjust the current angle of the stator current based on the vector control modulation to cause the rotor to perform the desired rotor motion and achieve the desired operational output of the electric machine.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2023Publication date: January 11, 2024Inventors: Walter Wesley Pennington, III, Matthew J. Rubin, Gregory Gordon Stevenson, Michael Parker Owen, Ethan Bagget Swint, Matthias Preindl
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Patent number: 11870319Abstract: An electric motor has a stator mechanically coupled to the rotor by a nutating traction interface, such that during nutation of the rotor with respect to the stator a tilt axis of the rotor progresses about the axis of rotation of the output shaft. The rotor and a surface of the stator bound a dynamic gap across which a magnetic field is produced by electrical activation of the motor to generate a force between the rotor and the stator. The traction interface and the gap are arranged such that, in a plane containing the axis of rotation of the output shaft, the traction interface is angled with respect to the stator surface bounding the gap. The rotor is connected to the output shaft by a tiltable connection such as a gimbal.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2022Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Assignee: Tau Motors, Inc.Inventors: Matthew J. Rubin, Walter Wesley Pennington, III, Adam Daniel Ambrecht, Gregory Gordon Stevenson
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Publication number: 20230396111Abstract: An electric machine having a thermal management system includes a stator having a stator core, and a rotor having a rotor core that is moveable relative to the stator. At least one of the stator and the rotor include one or more windings. One or more coolant cans encapsulate one or more of the windings disposed on the at least one of the stator and the rotor in an interior compartment of the coolant can. The interior compartment of the coolant can defines a coolant flow passage through the one or more windings. The coolant can includes a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet in fluid connection with the interior compartment of the coolant can. The interior compartment of the one or more coolant cans are fluidically isolated from the stator core and the rotor core.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 27, 2021Publication date: December 7, 2023Inventors: Walter Wesley Pennington, III, Ethan Bagget Swint, Gregory Gordon Stevenson, Michael Parker Owen, Matthew Joseph Reeve, Matthew J. Rubin
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Patent number: 11831199Abstract: An electric motor has a stator defining multiple stator poles with associated electrical windings, and a rotor having multiple rotor poles. The rotor has flux barriers between adjacent rotor poles, the flux barriers each having a material with an electrical conductivity higher than the rotor pole material. The flux barriers are electrically isolated from one another external to the ferromagnetic material. Eddy currents are induced in the flux barrier to cause destructive interference of an impending magnetic field, such that the flux barrier effectively acts to inhibit magnetic flux during motor operation, which in some cases will result in a repulsive force that will act to increase an induced motive force on the rotor poles.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2023Date of Patent: November 28, 2023Assignee: Tau Motors, Inc.Inventors: Walter Wesley Pennington, III, Matthew J. Rubin, Gregory Gordon Stevenson, Adam Daniel Ambrecht, Euzeli Cipriano dos Santos, Jr.
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Publication number: 20230336065Abstract: An electric motor has a stator mechanically coupled to the rotor by a nutating traction interface, such that during nutation of the rotor with respect to the stator a tilt axis of the rotor progresses about the axis of rotation of the output shaft. The rotor and a surface of the stator bound a dynamic gap across which a magnetic field is produced by electrical activation of the motor to generate a force between the rotor and the stator. The traction interface and the gap are arranged such that, in a plane containing the axis of rotation of the output shaft, the traction interface is angled with respect to the stator surface bounding the gap. The rotor is connected to the output shaft by a tiltable connection such as a gimbal.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 21, 2023Publication date: October 19, 2023Inventors: Walter Wesley Pennington, III, Matthew J. Rubin, Adam Daniel Ambrecht, Gregory Gordon Stevenson