Patents by Inventor Peter FRITSCHEL

Peter FRITSCHEL 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).

  • High-reliability ultra-fast mechanical shutter
    Patent number: 11467395
    Abstract: An electro-mechanical device includes a payload of a magnet affixed to a mirror, and a coil assembly. The coil assembly has a body with wound electrically conducting wires and a payload aperture through which the payload travels. When voltage is applied to the coil assembly, current through the coil assembly generates a magnetic field resulting in a net upward force on the magnet that accelerates the payload to travel upward through the payload aperture for the mirror to block an optical pulse. As the magnet travels through the payload aperture, due to a magnetization direction of the magnet and a magnetic field in an upper portion of the coil assembly, the magnet experiences a net deceleration force that arrests the payload.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignees: CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Richard Abbott, Peter Fritschel, Kavya Sreedhar
  • HIGH-RELIABILITY ULTRA-FAST MECHANICAL SHUTTER
    Publication number: 20200393668
    Abstract: An electro-mechanical device includes a payload of a magnet affixed to a mirror, and a coil assembly. The coil assembly has a body with wound electrically conducting wires and a payload aperture through which the payload travels. When voltage is applied to the coil assembly, current through the coil assembly generates a magnetic field resulting in a net upward force on the magnet that accelerates the payload to travel upward through the payload aperture for the mirror to block an optical pulse. As the magnet travels through the payload aperture, due to a magnetization direction of the magnet and a magnetic field in an upper portion of the coil assembly, the magnet experiences a net deceleration force that arrests the payload.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2020
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Applicants: California Institute of Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Richard Abbott, Peter Fritschel, Kavya Sreedhar
  • Ultra-fast mechanical shutter
    Patent number: 10036885
    Abstract: An electro-mechanical shutter is described. The fast operation is based on a coil operated via a current, where the coil can move within a set of magnets to provide opening and closing of a shutter. The shutter can comprise a mirror connected to the coil, so that the mirror can be moved into the path of an optical beam. The mirror can block the beam light in the closed state, and allow the beam light in the open state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignees: CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Richard Abbott, Peter Fritschel
  • ULTRA-FAST MECHANICAL SHUTTER
    Publication number: 20150331232
    Abstract: An electro-mechanical shutter is described. The fast operation is based on a coil operated via a current, where the coil can move within a set of magnets to provide opening and closing of a shutter. The shutter can comprise a mirror connected to the coil, so that the mirror can be moved into the path of an optical beam. The mirror can block the beam light in the closed state, and allow the beam light in the open state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Inventors: Richard ABBOTT, Peter FRITSCHEL