Patents by Inventor Steven Schofield

Steven Schofield 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).

  • Vibratory motors and methods of making and using same
    Patent number: 7173362
    Abstract: A single piezoelectric is excited at a first frequency to cause two vibration modes in a resonator producing a first elliptical motion in a first direction at a selected contacting portion of the resonator that is placed in frictional engagement with a driven element to move the driven element in a first direction. A second frequency excites the same piezoelectric to cause two vibration modes of the resonator producing a second elliptical motion in a second direction at the selected contacting portion to move the driven element in a second direction. The piezoelectric is preloaded in compression by the resonator. Walls of the resonator are stressed past their yield point to maintain the preload. Specially shaped ends on the piezoelectric help preloading. The piezoelectric can send or receive vibratory signals through the driven element to or from sensors to determine the position of the driven element relative to the piezoelectric element or resonator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Inventors: Bjoern Magnussen, Peter Varadi, Benjamin Hagemann, Steven Schofield, Erick M. Davidson
  • Vibratory motors and methods of making and using same
    Patent number: 6870304
    Abstract: A single piezoelectric is excited at a first frequency to cause two vibration modes in a resonator producing a first elliptical motion in a first direction at a selected contacting portion of the resonator that is placed in frictional engagement with a driven element to move the driven element in a first direction. A second frequency excites the same piezoelectric to cause two vibration modes of the resonator producing a second elliptical motion in a second direction at the selected contacting portion to move the driven element in a second direction. The piezoelectric is preloaded in compression by the resonator. Walls of the resonator are stressed past their yield point to maintain the preload. Specially shaped ends on the piezoelectric help preloading. The piezoelectric can send or receive vibratory signals through the driven element to or from sensors to determine the position of the driven element relative to the piezoelectric element or resonator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Elliptec Resonant Actuator AG
    Inventors: Bjoern Magnussen, Peter Varadi, Benjamin Hagemann, Steven Schofield, Erick M. Davidson
  • Vibratory motors and methods of making and using same
    Publication number: 20050023933
    Abstract: A single piezoelectric is excited at a first frequency to cause two vibration modes in a resonator producing a first elliptical motion in a first direction at a selected contacting portion of the resonator that is placed in frictional engagement with a driven element to move the driven element in a first direction. A second frequency excites the same piezoelectric to cause two vibration modes of the resonator producing a second elliptical motion in a second direction at the selected contacting portion to move the driven element in a second direction. The piezoelectric is preloaded in compression by the resonator. Walls of the resonator are stressed past their yield point to maintain the preload. Specially shaped ends on the piezoelectric help preloading. The piezoelectric can send or receive vibratory signals through the driven element to or from sensors to determine the position of the driven element relative to the piezoelectric element or resonator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2004
    Publication date: February 3, 2005
    Inventors: Bjoern Magnussen, Peter Varadi, Benjamin Hagemann, Steven Schofield, Erick Davidson
  • Vibratory motors and methods of making and using same
    Patent number: 6825592
    Abstract: A single piezoelectric is excited at a first frequency to cause two vibration modes in a resonator producing a first elliptical motion in a first direction at a selected contacting portion of the resonator that is placed in frictional engagement with a driven element to move the driven element in a first direction. A second frequency excites the same piezoelectric to cause two vibration modes of the resonator producing a second elliptical motion in a second direction at the selected contacting portion to move the driven element in a second direction. The piezoelectric is preloaded in compression by the resonator. Walls of the resonator are stressed past their yield point to maintain the preload. Specially shaped ends on the piezoelectric help preloading. The piezoelectric can send or receive vibratory signals through the driven element to or from sensors to determine the position of the driven element relative to the piezoelectric element or resonator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Elliptec Resonant Actuator AG
    Inventors: Bjoern Magnussen, Peter Varadi, Benjamin Hagemann, Steven Schofield, Erick M. Davidson
  • Vibratory motors and methods of making and using same
    Publication number: 20040095040
    Abstract: A single piezoelectric is excited at a first frequency to cause two vibration modes in a resonator producing a first elliptical motion in a first direction at a selected contacting portion of the resonator that is placed in frictional engagement with a driven element to move the driven element in a first direction. A second frequency excites the same piezoelectric to cause two vibration modes of the resonator producing a second elliptical motion in a second direction at the selected contacting portion to move the driven element in a second direction. The piezoelectric is preloaded in compression by the resonator. Walls of the resonator are stressed past their yield point to maintain the preload. Specially shaped ends on the piezoelectric help preloading. The piezoelectric can send or receive vibratory signals through the driven element to or from sensors to determine the position of the driven element relative to the piezoelectric element or resonator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventors: Bjoern Magnussen, Peter Varadi, Benjamin Hagemann, Steven Schofield, Erick M. Davidson
  • Vibratory motors and methods of making and using same
    Publication number: 20020038987
    Abstract: A single piezoelectric is excited at a first frequency to cause two vibration modes in a resonator producing a first elliptical motion in a first direction at a selected contacting portion of the resonator that is placed in frictional engagement with a driven element to move the driven element in a first direction. A second frequency excites the same piezoelectric to cause two vibration modes of the resonator producing a second elliptical motion in a second direction at the selected contacting portion to move the driven element in a second direction. The piezoelectric is preloaded in compression by the resonator. Walls of the resonator are stressed past their yield point to maintain the preload. Specially shaped ends on the piezoelectric help preloading. The piezoelectric can send or receive vibratory signals through the driven element to or from sensors to determine the position of the driven element relative to the piezoelectric element or resonator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2001
    Publication date: April 4, 2002
    Applicant: Seimens Aktiengessellschaft
    Inventors: Bjoern Magnussen, Peter Varadi, Benjamin Hagemann, Steven Schofield