Patents by Inventor Stephen J. Botos
Stephen J. Botos 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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Patent number: 7420298Abstract: A high precision z-theta stage having a horizontal translation axis (z-axis) and a rotary axis (theta-axis) parallel with the translation axis comprises parallel spaced apart linear translation stages, a carriage supported between the parallel translation stages, and a rotation stage carried by the carriage between the parallel translation stages. Each brushless linear motor is connected to the carriage to apply translation forces in a horizontal plane intersecting the vertical center of gravity.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2005Date of Patent: September 2, 2008Assignee: Aerotech, Inc.Inventors: Stephen J. Botos, Brian P. O'Connor
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Patent number: 7105956Abstract: A high precision z-theta stage having a horizontal translation axis (z-axis) and a rotary axis (theta-axis) parallel with the translation axis comprises parallel spaced apart linear translation stages, a carriage supported between the parallel translation stages, and a rotation stage carried by the carriage between the parallel translation stages. Each brushless linear motor is connected to the carriage to apply translation forces in a horizontal plane intersecting the vertical center of gravity.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2004Date of Patent: September 12, 2006Assignee: Aerotech, Inc.Inventors: Stephen J. Botos, Brian P. O'Connor
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Patent number: 7084533Abstract: A dual-function, three-axis positioning system having a high precision z-theta state with a horizontal translation axis (z-axis) and a rotary axis (theta-axis) parallel with the translation axis and a second horizontal translation axis (x-axis) comprises parallel spaced apart linear translation states, a first carriage supported between the parallel translation stages, and a rotation stage carried by the carriage between the parallel translation stages. A removable or permanently fixed second carriage is mounted on or being part of the first carriage.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2004Date of Patent: August 1, 2006Assignee: Aerotech, inc.Inventors: Stephen J. Botos, Brian P. O'Connor
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Patent number: 7038334Abstract: A high precision laser machining apparatus having a horizontal translation axis (z-axis) and a rotary axis (theta-axis) parallel with the translation axis comprises parallel spaced apart linear translation stages, a carriage supported between the parallel translation stages, and a rotation stage carried by the carriage between the parallel translation stages. Mounted on the same base plate is a laser optics support stage and a workpiece advance mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2005Date of Patent: May 2, 2006Assignee: Aerotech, Inc.Inventors: Stephen J. Botos, Brian P. O'Connor
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Patent number: 6700249Abstract: A direct drive vertical lift and rotation stage comprises an annular z-axis housing having a central opening, a z-axis rotor assembly journaled within the central opening of the z-axis housing, a motor between the z-axis housing and the z-axis rotor, an annular theta-axis housing having a central opening, a theta-axis rotor assembly journaled within the central opening of the theta-axis housing, and a motor between the theta-axis housing and the theta-axis rotor.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2002Date of Patent: March 2, 2004Assignee: Aerotech, Inc.Inventor: Stephen J. Botos
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Patent number: 6664664Abstract: A linear motor includes an armature having a plurality of side-by-side electrically conductive coils formed on an electrically and magnetically nonconductive substrate with adjacent coils electrically isolated from each other. Each coil includes a plurality of electrically conductive windings positioned coaxially and electrically connected so that in response to an electrical current flowing therethrough each winding produces a magnetic field having the same polarity. Each electrically conductive winding of each coil is preferably formed on a layer and a plurality of layers is laminated together to form the substrate.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2001Date of Patent: December 16, 2003Assignee: Aerotech, Inc.Inventors: Stephen J. Botos, Robert T. Novotnak
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Patent number: 6588081Abstract: A small footprint mechanical positioning stage capable of operating in two perpendicular orientations comprises a base plate, a carriage plate, linear bearings, a brushless linear motor, and a linear encoder. The linear bearings, the linear motor, and the encoder scale are all parallel to the direction of travel of the positioning stage.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2001Date of Patent: July 8, 2003Assignee: Aerotech, Inc.Inventors: Stephen J. Botos, Brian L. Favero
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Publication number: 20020185919Abstract: A linear motor includes an armature having a plurality of side-by-side electrically conductive coils formed on an electrically and magnetically nonconductive substrate with adjacent coils electrically isolated from each other. Each coil includes a plurality of electrically conductive windings positioned coaxially and electrically connected so that in response to an electrical current flowing therethrough each winding produces a magnetic field having the same polarity. Each electrically conductive winding of each coil is preferably formed on a layer and a plurality of layers is laminated together to form the substrate.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2001Publication date: December 12, 2002Applicant: Aerotech, Inc.Inventors: Stephen J. Botos, Robert T. Novotnak
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Patent number: 6486574Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 19, 2001Date of Patent: November 26, 2002Assignee: Aerotech, Inc.Inventors: Stephen J. Botos, Albert P. Ciez, Gerald W. McClain
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Publication number: 20020129491Abstract: A small footprint mechanical positioning stage capable of operating in two perpendicular orientations comprises a base plate, a carriage plate, linear bearings, a brushless linear motor, and a linear encoder. The linear bearings, the linear motor and the encoder scale are all parallel to the direction of travel of the positioning stage.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2001Publication date: September 19, 2002Applicant: Aerotech, Inc.,Inventors: Stephen J. Botos, Brian L. Favero
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Publication number: 20020129503Abstract: A stage assembly includes a first element and a second element. A coarse and fine adjustment mechanism is attached to the first element and engages the second element. Turning either a coarse or fine range selector produces relative movement of the second element in relation to the first element. An encoder is attached to the first element and the second element. The encoder detects movement of the second element in relation to the first element and determines the position of the second element from a home position. A display electrically connected to the encoder displays the position of the second element. A multiplier may be electrically connected to the encoder to partition a digital signal from the encoder to improve the resolution of the adjustment mechanism.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2001Publication date: September 19, 2002Applicant: Aerotech, Inc.Inventors: Stephen J. Botos, Alexander R. Weibel, Eric J. Berdes, Anthony E. Castle
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Publication number: 20020130560Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2001Publication date: September 19, 2002Applicant: Aerotech, Inc.Inventors: Stephen J. Botos, Albert P. Ciez, Gerald W. McClain
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Publication number: 20020129492Abstract: A small footprint mechanical positioning stage capable of operating in two perpendicular orientations comprises a base plate, a carriage plate, linear bearings, a brushless linear motor, and a linear encoder. The linear bearings, the linear motor, and the encoder scale are all parallel to the direction of travel of the positioning stage.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2001Publication date: September 19, 2002Applicant: AEROTECH, INC.Inventors: Stephen J. Botos, Brain L. Favero
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Patent number: 6442851Abstract: A low profile tilt stage comprises a planar base, a cradle defining a cylindrical surface having a cylindrical axis parallel to the base, a table mounted on the cradle by curvilinear bearings, a curvilinear direct drive brushless motor between the cradle and table, and an encoder reader fixed relative to the base and an encoder scale fixed to the table.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2001Date of Patent: September 3, 2002Assignee: Aerotech, Inc.Inventors: Stephen J. Botos, Albert P. Ciez, Brian L. Favero
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Patent number: 5731641Abstract: A linear motor driven positioning stage comprises a wedge positioned between a carrier and a base and a linear motor positioned between the wedge and the base for moving the wedge relative to the base along a second axis whereby the carrier moves relative to the base along a first axis.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 1997Date of Patent: March 24, 1998Assignee: Aerotech, Inc.Inventors: Stephen J. Botos, Albert P. Ciez