Specific Use Device Patents (Class 310/12.04)
  • Patent number: 11487077
    Abstract: An optical element driving mechanism includes a fixed assembly, a movable assembly, a driving assembly and a circuit assembly. The driving assembly is configured to drive the movable assembly to move relative to the fixed assembly. The driving assembly includes a first coil group which has a plurality of first coils and a magnetic module which has a magnetic element and a first conductive element. The circuit assembly includes a first circuit member electrically connected to the first conductive element and a second circuit member electrically connected to the first coils. When the magnetic module is located in different positions relative to the first coil group, the first conductive element is electrically connected to different first coils in sequence, so that the first coil is electrically connected to the first circuit member and the second circuit member, and other first coils remain open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: TDK TAIWAN CORP.
    Inventors: Chao-Chang Hu, Chao-Hsi Wang, Chih-Wei Weng, Kuen-Wang Tsai, Sin-Jhong Song
  • Patent number: 11287602
    Abstract: An optical unit includes: a moving frame disposed so as to freely move back and forth inside a fixed barrel and configured to hold a moving lens; an actuator configured to drive the moving frame along an optical axis of the moving lens; a plurality of spherical bodies configured to make the moving frame slidable; a plurality of guide grooves configured to guide the plurality of spherical bodies; a plurality of magnets disposed so as to generate magnetic force in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis; and a magnetic member disposed at a facing position of the plurality of magnets, and configured to cancel attractive forces in opposing directions generated with the plurality of magnets by the magnetic force and generate urging force only in a direction of bringing the plurality of spherical bodies into contact with the guide grooves at the moving frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kanako Saito, Takeshi Saito
  • Patent number: 11284957
    Abstract: An input control device is disclosed. The input control device can be configured to operate in different modes depending on proximity data provided by a proximity detection system. The input control device can include a feedback generator configured to generate feedback in response to the input control device switching between operational modes, the proximity data provided by the proximity detection system, and/or other conditions of the surgical procedure, robotic surgical tool, surgical site, and/or patient. The input control device can include a variable resistance assembly for resisting input control motions applied to an actuator thereof. Additionally or alternatively, the input control device can include an end effector actuator assembly for repositioning the end effector actuator based on feedback from a paired robotic surgical tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Clinton W. Denlinger, Gregory W. Johnson, Charles J. Scheib, Jeffrey S. Swayze
  • Patent number: 11215786
    Abstract: One embodiment of a lens driving device may comprise: a cover member; a bobbin which is disposed within the cover member so as to be movable in a first direction; a first magnet which is disposed within the cover member to move the bobbin in the first direction; a winding ring which is coupled to the bobbin; a coil which is wound around the outer circumferential surface of the winding ring and applies current for the movement of the bobbin in the first direction; a base which is coupled to the lower end of the cover member; and a flexible circuit board which is disposed on the lower side of the bobbin so as to be electrically connected with the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sang Jun Min, Sung Guk Lee, Tae Jin Jung
  • Patent number: 11121615
    Abstract: An actuator is provided, including a fixed assembly and a movable assembly. The fixed assembly includes a coil module, a base, a first screwing member, and a linear rail. The first screwing member passes through the base and the linear rail, and the linear rail is positioned on the base. The movable assembly includes a U-shaped back board having an inner space, a first magnetic module, a second magnetic module aligned with the first magnetic module, and a sliding block. The first and second magnetic modules are disposed on the U-shaped back board and accommodated in the inner space. The coil module is disposed between the first magnetic module and the second magnetic module. The sliding block is positioned on the U-shaped back board in the inner space, and slidably connected to the linear rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Po-Tzu Chen, Chi-Wen Chung, En-Yi Chu, Chun-Hsiu Chen
  • Patent number: 11075573
    Abstract: A method for moving a stage includes coupling a stage mover to the stage, and directing current to the stage mover with a control system. The stage mover includes a magnet array and a conductor array positioned adjacent to the magnet array. The conductor array includes a first layer of coils and a second layer of coils, with the first layer of coils being closer to the magnet array than the second layer of coils. The control system directs current to the first layer of coils and the second layer of coils independently. Further, the control system directs more current to the first layer of coils than the second layer of coils during a movement step to reduce the power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Nikon Research Corporation of America
    Inventors: Neyram Hemati, Michael B. Binnard
  • Patent number: 11025151
    Abstract: A linear drive mechanism which moves a detector having sensitivity in a first axial direction, relatively to a workpiece in a second axial direction orthogonal to the first axial direction, the linear drive mechanism includes: a drive shaft extending in the second axial direction; a mover which is supported in a non-contact fashion by the drive shaft and configured to move along the drive shaft integrally with the detector or the workpiece; a guide provided at a position deviated relative to the drive shaft in a third axial direction orthogonal to both the first axial direction and the second axial direction, the guide parallel to the drive shaft; and a resistance force generator which is provided on one of the mover and the guide, and is in contact with the other of the mover and the guide, the resistance force generator generates a resistance force which resists against movement of the mover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: TOKYO SEIMITSU CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takahiro Okano
  • Patent number: 10859793
    Abstract: An actuator includes an oscillating unit including two or more oscillation circuits each configured to output an oscillation signal including a frequency, which is changed in response to movement of a detection target, a frequency down-converting unit configured to down-convert frequencies of two or more oscillation signals respectively output from the two or more oscillation circuits, and a determining unit configured to calculate a position of the detection target in response to two or more down-converted oscillation signals output from the frequency down-converting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang Hyun Min, Jae Hyung Lee, Kwang Mook Lee
  • Patent number: 10782599
    Abstract: Disclosed is a lighting assembly including a plurality of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) for providing a projection of a substantially uniform light at a working distance from the lighting assembly by oscillating the included plurality of LEDs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: DESIGNS FOR VISION, INC.
    Inventors: Richard E. Feinbloom, Ken Braganca, Kenneth Koscheka
  • Patent number: 10752313
    Abstract: The present application provides an electrical self-balancing scooter, comprising two wheels mounted on a wheel shaft, and a support frame located between the two wheels, wherein, the support frame comprises a bar mounted on the wheel shaft, whith a handle part mounted on an upper end of the bar through a rotation mechanism, the rotation mechanism comprises a stator mounted on the bar and a rotor that is rotable relative to the stator, the handle part is fixed on the rotor, the rotation mechanism is provided with an angle measurement device to measure a rotation angle of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: CHANGZHOU AIRWHEEL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. (CN)
    Inventor: Guogang Zuo
  • Patent number: 10658913
    Abstract: A linear vibration motor comprising a vibrator and a stator, wherein the vibrator comprises at least two permanent magnets disposed adjacent to each other and a magnetic yoke disposed between any two adjacent permanent magnets, and adjacent ends of the two adjacent permanent magnets have the same polarities; the stator comprises coils and magnetic cores disposed in the coils; magnetization directions of the permanent magnets are perpendicular to axis directions of the coils. The linear vibration motor enables the magnetic lines of flux of the permanent magnets to intensively pass through the coils by means of a repulsive force between two ends with same polarity of two permanent magnets so as to obtain a larger magnetic flux and a stronger vibration sensing effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: GOERTEK INC.
    Inventors: Fenglei Zu, Chungfa Liu
  • Patent number: 10626944
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses an actuator, comprising a first torsion spring body and a second torsion spring body, each of the first torsion spring body and the second torsion spring body comprising: an inner ring; an outer ring; and a plurality of elastic units, connected in parallel between the inner ring and the outer ring. An outer ring of the first torsion spring body and an outer ring of the second torsion spring body are rigidly connected, and an inner ring of the first torsion spring body and an inner ring of the second torsion spring body are aligned with each other. The actuator further includes a motor element and a braking element. The motor element is for providing an output torque, and is connected with the inner ring of the first torsion spring body. The braking element is for providing a braking torque, and is connected with the inner ring of the second torsion spring body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: The Chinese University of Hong Kong
    Inventors: Wei-Hsin Liao, Bing Chen, Ling Qin, Xuan Zhao, Hao Ma
  • Patent number: 10581308
    Abstract: A moving-magnet type linear motor controlling system which can highly accurately control carts even when a plurality of coil units apply forces to the carts is provided. The moving-magnet type linear motor controlling system has: a plurality of coil units having a plurality of coils; a position detecting unit for detecting the positions of the plural carts which are moved along the plurality of coil units; and a controlling unit for determining a ratio of currents which are supplied to the plural coil units on the basis of the positions of the plural carts and an impedance and thrust characteristics of each of the plural coil units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takeshi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 10400588
    Abstract: A system and method to for communicating with a telemetry tool by generating mud pressure waveforms is disclosed according to one or more embodiments. The system includes a rotor having a first bore spaced axially apart from a second bore and a blade disposed therebetween, a stator having a first and second component with a portion of each stator component disposed in a respective one of the first and second rotor bores, and an actuator having a tubular core wrapped with a winding and a plurality of magnets. The rotor blade includes a plurality of cutouts that may be aligned with a plurality of through bores disposed on each stator component when the rotor is in an open position. The core, winding, magnets, and rotor operate like a limited angle torque motor to electromagnetically produce torque by reciprocatingly rotating the rotor within an angle of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventor: Hugh Douglas
  • Patent number: 10379321
    Abstract: A lens drive device includes a movable portion, a fixed portion, and a nonmagnetic case. The movable portion includes a double-pole magnet having two pairs of magnetic poles, a first coil opposing to the double-pole magnet in a perpendicular direction to a light axis, and a lens holder being movable to the double-pole magnet in a direction of the light axis. The fixed portion includes a second coil arranged so as to oppose to the double-pole magnet in the direction of the light axis. The nonmagnetic case is attached to the fixed portion so as to cover the movable portion. The double-pole magnet includes a first section and a second section. L1/L2 is 0.9 to 1.1, where L1 and L2 are respectively a length of the first and second sections in the direction of the light axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shusuke Ichihashi
  • Patent number: 10348354
    Abstract: An explosion proof assembly that includes a first portion with a window; an outer touchscreen adhesively sealed around a perimeter of a first portion rear face; and a second portion releasably coupled to the first portion. The second portion has a second portion inner surface defined by a second portion inner edge that transitions into a second portion dissipation wall. The second portion has a second portion window sealed off by a rear element sealingly engaged around a perimeter of a second portion shoulder surface. The assembly includes a mobile device operable via a mobile device touchscreen. Upon assembly, the outer touchscreen is transmissive to the mobile device touchscreen, and the rear element is inductive to an electromagnetic signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Xciel, Inc.
    Inventor: Xavier Balourdet
  • Patent number: 10345323
    Abstract: A single sensing unit having two electrodes with a common thermal reference is positioned near the centroid of the inertial mass of a differential inductive accelerometer. As the mass is displaced a first sensor detects an increase in inductance while a second sensor detects a decrease in inductance. Significantly, the first and second sensors share a common thermal reference eliminating any thermal differential. As the sensor system is closely aligned with the centroid of the inertial mass the sensor system of the present invention reduces or eliminates any systemic error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: BLUE LINE ENGINEERING CO.
    Inventor: Gregory H. Ames
  • Patent number: 10340761
    Abstract: An electric device and a stator assembly for the electric device includes a stator core defining a plurality of slots spaced from each other. The stator assembly includes a plurality of bar conductors disposed in each of the slots and arranged to present a first winding path, a second winding path and a third winding path. A first set of the bar conductors of the first, second and third winding paths are configured to receive current in a parallel circuit arrangement. The stator assembly also includes a plurality of electrical jumpers electrically connected to a predetermined number of the bar conductors such that an amount of current flowing through the first winding path and the third winding path is substantially the same and an amount of current flowing through the second winding path is different from the amount of current flowing through the first and third winding paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Paul F. Turnbull, Edward L. Kaiser, Matthew D. Laba, Khwaja M. Rahman, Rolf Blissenbach
  • Patent number: 10304571
    Abstract: A magnetic jack type in-vessel control element drive mechanism includes: an upper coil assembly which includes a first sleeve configured to coaxially wrap a control element drive shaft, a first coil, and a first coil housing which is externally coupled to the first sleeve; a lower coil assembly which includes a second sleeve configured to coaxially wrap the control element drive shaft, a second coil, and a second coil housing which is externally coupled to the second sleeve, wherein the lower coil assembly is located under the upper coil assembly, a connecting member which connects the upper coil assembly and the lower coil assembly; a support tube which extends downward from the lower coil assembly; a motor assembly which is located between the control element drive shaft, and the first and second sleeves; and an anti-separation cap which prevents separation of the motor assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: KEPCO ENGINEERING & CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: Jin Seok Park, Yong Tae Jang, Myoung Goo Lee, Sang Gyoon Chang, Dae Hee Lee
  • Patent number: 10246972
    Abstract: In-riser power generation devices and methods are utilized to generate power subsea to operate subsea devices of a subsea well system. A turbine power generator is located in fluid communication with a subsea fluid flow path of a subsea well system and the turbine power generator is operationally connected to a subsea power device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kirk W. Flight, Matthew Niemeyer, Ronald James Spencer, John Yarnold, Jeffrey Marabella, Gary Rytlewski
  • Patent number: 10216231
    Abstract: A system includes a device chassis with a back panel and a haptic conduction interface. An acoustic radiating panel, attached to the chassis, and the back panel define a space. A moving magnet actuator is positioned in the space and mechanically coupled to the acoustic radiating panel, the moving magnet actuator including an element having a thickness smaller than a first dimension of the space, the moving magnet actuator being configured to vibrate the element during operating. An electronic control module coupled to the moving magnet actuator is programmed to activate the moving magnet actuator with a haptic signal that displaces the element in the first direction an amount sufficient to cause the element to contact the haptic conduction interface, the haptic signal having an amplitude and frequency sufficient to generate a haptic response in the device chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: NVF Tech Ltd
    Inventor: Graham Robert Landick
  • Patent number: 10151603
    Abstract: The explosion-proof housing for a sensor, in particular, for a rotary encoder having a shaft rotatably situated in the rotary encoder and axially aligned to detect a rotary angle, having a flameproof interior vis-a-vis the atmosphere, in which at least one sensor part is situated, and an at least two-part, approximately cylindrical overall housing is made up of a cover having a cable inlet, which is releasably coupled to a possibly multi-part housing by a plurality of fastening screws distributed around the circumference, and the contacting fastening planes of the cover and housing are designed as explosion-proof ex-joints, and at least the fastening screws between the cover and the possibly multi-piece housing create the separation between the flameproof interior and the atmosphere by forming ex-joints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: HENGSTLER GMBH
    Inventors: Andreas Wöhrstein, Peter Elbel
  • Patent number: 10139457
    Abstract: A dielectric member includes a first bobbin, which is located on a radially outer side of a first core, a holder, which receives a magnet, and a second bobbin, which is located on a radially outer side of a second core. A first terminal and a second terminal are fixed to a terminal fixing portion. A wire continuously forms a first connecting portion, which is connected to the first terminal, a first coil portion, which is wound around the first bobbin, a first crossover portion, which traverses from the first coil to the second bobbin over the holder, a second coil portion, which is wound around the second bobbin, a second crossover portion, which traverses from the second coil portion to the first coil portion over the holder, and a second connecting portion, which is connected to the second terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hirotsugu Ishino
  • Patent number: 10079530
    Abstract: A linear vibration motor is disclosed. The linear vibration motor includes a housing, a vibrator placed in the housing and an elastic component providing the vibrator with restoring force of vibration. The linear vibration motor also comprises a guide device including an internal guide device, an external guide device, a ball location device arranged between the internal guide device and the external guide device and fixed relative to the housing, and multiple balls positioned on the ball location device. The balls are propped against the external guide device and the internal guide device respectively. Moreover, the rollers will roll in presence of drive effect of the internal guide device and roll at the permanent position. The vibrator is propped in the housing by using the balls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: AAC TECHNOLOGIES PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Lubin Mao, Hongxing Wang
  • Patent number: 10041603
    Abstract: A hydraulic valve, in particular a hydraulic transmission valve including a magnetizable housing which envelops a magnet coil at an outer circumference and at least at one face of the magnet coil; a pole cap arranged in an interior of the housing, wherein the pole cap includes a pole core and a pole tube arranged in an axial sequence towards a face of the magnet coil, wherein the pole core and the pole tube are integrally connected in one piece by a connection bar, wherein the pole core is connected with the connection bar by a pole core cone and/or the pole tube is connected with the connection bar by a pole tube cone, and wherein the pole tube includes an end that is closed with a termination plate at a face of the pole tube that is oriented away from the connection bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Hilite Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Drazen Boban, Andreas Eisenberger, Christian Hertwig, Thomas Jacob, Andreas Knecht
  • Patent number: 9956916
    Abstract: A truck mirror positioning device for adjusting the position of a rear-view truck mirror includes a mounting bracket adapted to be attached to a truck external to the truck driver's cabin. A pivotal support means is provided mechanically coupled to the mounting bracket for substantially supporting the weight of the truck mirror. An electric motor is mounted on the mounting bracket for moving the mirror, and a gearbox is mechanically coupled to the motor and adapted to be mechanically coupled to the truck mirror so as to adjust the plane in which the mirror lies wherein, in use, an operator can adjust the angle of the mirror by activating the electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Alpine Tech Australia Pty Ltd.
    Inventors: Richard John Dalton, Stuart Gerald Hunt
  • Patent number: 9917541
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates a motor driving device that includes: an H-bridge circuit that includes first and second legs, each of which has one pair of switches, and supplies a driving current to a motor; a current sensor disposed between the H-bridge circuit and a voltage source; and a controller that acquires a first sensing signal from the current sensor for a first period of time during which a turn-on signal is supplied to a first switch disposed in the first leg or a fourth switch disposed in the second leg, to acquire a second sensing signal from the current sensor for a second period of time during which a turn-on signal is supplied to a second switch disposed in the first leg or a third switch disposed in the second leg, and determines an abnormality in the H-bridge circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jong Hak Jin
  • Patent number: 9746665
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include an actuator for steering mirrors with low magnetic hysteresis losses at high frequencies, with a fast step response, and without excessive heating of the steering mirror. Various embodiments of the actuator include two stators (a left stator and a right stator or an inner stator and an outer stator) and a rotor positioned between the stators. Each stator has a core assembly with one or more cores, two or more legs, and two or more faces positioned proximate to the rotor. The two or more legs are separated from one another by portions of the one or more coils. The rotor includes a core and a plurality of magnets, where each magnet has a face positioned proximate to the faces of one core assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.
    Inventor: Timothy K. Quakenbush
  • Patent number: 9712030
    Abstract: The present invention provides a shaft rotary type linear motor that enables a movable element to rotate and linearly move by using a simple structure, and can therefore support compact, space-saving and lightweight designs. The shaft rotary type linear motor includes: a shaft; an outer cylinder; a hollow movable element having a plurality of permanent magnets within the outer cylinder; an armature surrounding the hollow movable element and having a plurality of coils; and a frame containing the armature. The shaft is supported by a rotatable and linearly movable linear guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: SANYO DENKI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuqi Tang, Satoshi Sugita
  • Patent number: 9661198
    Abstract: A voice coil motor displacement sensor and a voice coil motor controller that uses said sensor. The sensor configured to apply an alternating measurement signal at a predetermined frequency to a voice coil motor, the sensor configured to use a measure of a voltage across and a current through the voice coil motor to determine its impedance at the predetermined frequency and determine an estimated displacement of said voice coil motor using said impedance and a predetermined displacement-impedance function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Christophe Marc Macours, Shawn William Scarlett, Michael Joehren
  • Patent number: 9638929
    Abstract: The present invention aims to provide an electromagnetic driving device capable of efficiently driving swinging coils and being more miniaturized. A driving coil wound around the Z axis taken as a direction of the optical axis of a lens is mounted on a lens support. Magnets are mounted in an inner side box body for supporting the lens support to be capable of moving in the direction of Z axis. The swinging coils are mounted in an outer side box body for supporting the inner side box body to be capable of swinging in the direction orthogonal to the Z axis. The swinging coils includes a first to a fourth coils wound around axes orthogonal to the Z axis. The magnets include a plurality of magnet pieces configured opposite to the swinging coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignees: HUIZHOU DAYAWAN EVER BRIGHT ELECTRONIC INDUSTRY CO, JSS OPTICAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., HUIZHOU DAYA BAY JSS OPTICAL TECHNOLOGY. CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kokichi Terajima
  • Patent number: 9575329
    Abstract: An embodiment includes a housing including a guide protrusion projecting from an upper surface thereof and a guide groove formed adjacent to the guide protrusion, a first magnet disposed at the housing, a bobbin on which a lens is mounted, a first coil disposed on an outer circumferential surface of the bobbin to move the bobbin by interaction with the first magnet, an upper elastic member coupled to the bobbin and the housing and having an end disposed in the guide groove, a damping member disposed between a side surface of the guide protrusion and a first end of the upper elastic member disposed in the guide groove, and a second coil for moving the housing by interaction with the first magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jung Cheol Kim, Jin Suk Han
  • Patent number: 9497624
    Abstract: A capability for connectionless wireless access is presented. A wireless end device is configured to encrypt context information of the wireless end device, based on a security key associated with attachment of the wireless end device to a wireless communication network, to form encrypted context information, generate a packet including a header and a payload where the header includes the encrypted context information, and propagate the packet toward a wireless access node of the wireless communication network. The wireless access node is configured to receive the packet and propagate the encrypted context information toward a controller of the wireless communication network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent USA Inc.
    Inventors: Colin L. Kahn, Harish Viswanathan
  • Patent number: 9484781
    Abstract: A core formed from powder, such as a stator core for use in a motor for a vehicle, wherein the core is formed from metallic powder and includes an outer part disposed at an inside of the motor, an inner part disposed at an inside of the motor, and a winding part which connects the outer part and the inner part and on which a wire is wound, and to a motor for a vehicle using the same. The winding part is formed to have rounded corners and a height lower than the height of the inner part, and a connection part is obliquely formed between the winding part and the inner part so that the winding part and the inner part are naturally connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Jae Ryung Lee, Seong Jin Kim, Shin Gyu Kim, Kun Min Park
  • Patent number: 9481424
    Abstract: A radial fan assembly for use in a powered air purifying respirator includes at least an impeller, a printed circuit board and a scroll casing. The scroll casing has a first and a second scroll casing element. The second scroll casing element includes at least a portion of the printed circuit board. When the radial fan assembly is used in a powered air purifying respirators, the respirator may also include components such as a filter assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Ronald A. Hagen, Keith K. McLaughlin
  • Patent number: 9072398
    Abstract: Systems and methods for a motor-driven curtain or blind assembly are provided. For example, in some embodiments the motor drive assembly includes a track, a lead runner, and a plurality of sensors. The track can have a plurality of coils that can be electrically activated to generate an electromagnetic field to cause the lead runner to slide along the track. The lead runner may include magnet housing with a magnet to interact with the electromagnetic field. In some embodiments, the plurality of sensors or switches can be disposed between the coils. The sensors can be configured to activate the electromagnetic field locally to cause the lead runner to slide along the track. Examples of the sensors or switches include, but are not limited to, a reed switch, a silicone magnetic switch, an optical switch, a mechanical limit switch, a proximity switch, a magnetic encoder, or an optical encoder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Jackson Global Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Chong Kun Choo, Hong Seng Tan
  • Patent number: 9071108
    Abstract: There is provided a movable iron core linear actuator, which includes a magnetic circuit which causes a moving element to reciprocate. The magnetic circuit includes an iron core constituting the moving element, a stator core including a facing portion which faces the iron core, a pair of permanent magnets disposed in the facing portion along a reciprocating direction and having inverted magnetic poles at their surfaces which face the iron core, and a coil wound around the stator core. Energization to coil causes the moving element to reciprocate. When the coil is energized, the spring force of magnetic spring which changed in accordance with a relative position of the moving element with respect to the stator core is superimposed on the electromagnetic driving force produced by the energization of the coil and is applied to the moving element by the magnetic flux produced by the permanent magnets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: SINFONIA TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nakagawa, Takayoshi Fujii, Takashi Fukunaga
  • Publication number: 20150069683
    Abstract: A vehicle kinetic energy management system includes a first main body having a passive magnetic component movable therewith and a second main body movably attached to the first main body for reciprocal movement there between. The second main body includes an active magnetic component movable therewith and magnetically communicating with the passive magnetic component. One of the first and second main bodies being adapted for engagement with a vehicular component that experiences irregularities of a surface on which the vehicle travels, and the other main body engaging a load-bearing portion of the vehicle for which isolation from vibrations is desired. Interaction of the active and passive magnetic components in response to relative movement of the first and second main bodies translates between reciprocating kinetic energy associated with the vehicle motion over the surface irregularities and electrical energy associated with the active magnetic component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: David J. Hochberg, Gregory E. Peterson
  • Publication number: 20140378760
    Abstract: A mobile capsule device 10 comprises a long capsule body 11 having a permanent magnet 13 movable in the lengthwise direction with respect to the long capsule body and a coil for driving the permanent magnet 13, while a propulsion force is generated entirely by applying an alternate current to the coil and performing back and forth movements of the permanent magnet 13. The coil has first and second coil parts 15 and 16 arranged circumferentially in front and back of the permanent magnet 13, and a frequency of an alternate current applied to the first and second coil parts 15 and 16 is made to accord with a resonance frequency of the capsule device 10 generated by a back and forth vibration of the permanent magnet 13. Thereby, a self-propelled, mobile capsule device 10 which is downsized, compact and efficient and a control method thereof can be provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Applicant: KYUSHU INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Takahiro Ito, Sunao Murakami
  • Patent number: 8867151
    Abstract: A voice coil motor for driving a lens group includes a housing, a first cover, a second cover, a movable member, and a plurality of magnets. The housing is a hollow and includes a top plate and four sidewalls protruding from the top plate. The movable member is movably received in a space defined by the housing and the first and second covers, and includes a barrel for receiving and being connected to the lens group, and a coil arranged around the barrel. The magnets are arranged between the housing and the movable member, stayed in contact with the sidewalls, and drive the movable member and the lens group to move in the housing when a current is supplied to the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yu-Bin Wang
  • Patent number: 8776962
    Abstract: An electromagnetic suspension system uses a linear motor having coils disposed around the outer periphery of a stator and permanent magnets disposed along the inner periphery of a mover. Wiring is routed through a gap between a first rod and a second rod. Thus, contact between the wiring and the second rod is avoided, and the wiring is protected. Consequently, it is possible to ensure reliability for the electric system of the electromagnetic suspension system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Lee, Noriyuki Utsumi, Hiroshi Yoshikura
  • Publication number: 20140175909
    Abstract: An electromechanical device includes a movable body that is movable along an axis of a direction of motion. The device also includes an actuator beam and a compliant support beam arranged to support the movable body. The compliant support beam includes a first end connected to an anchor and an actuating portion extending from the anchor and in a direction that is transverse to the axis of the direction of motion and away from the anchor. The actuating portion is also arranged adjacently and spaced apart from the actuator beam. The compliant support beam also includes a connector portion that is contiguous with the actuating portion and coupled to the movable body. The connector portion extends at least partially back toward the anchor while being arranged adjacently and spaced apart from the actuating portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: Pixtronix, Inc.
    Inventor: Pixtronix, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20140103745
    Abstract: An electric linear displacement motor for use in a testing apparatus includes a stator assembly having a stator housing and a plurality of coils within the stator housing. An armature is positioned within the stator housing and includes a plurality of magnets along a length of the armature. A bearing assembly is attached to the first end of the stator housing and includes a bearing housing containing a bearing. A first end portion of the armature engages and is carried by the bearing. A brake assembly is coupled to the first end of the armature and the bearing housing. The brake assembly includes a moving portion coupled to the armature and a non-moving portion coupled to the bearing housing wherein the moving portion has less mass than the non-moving portion and therefore reduces the moving mass of the armature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: MTS Systems Corporation
    Inventor: MTS Systems Corporation
  • Patent number: 8682396
    Abstract: Disclosed is a vibration module for a portable terminal that includes a housing, a magnetic moving part movable in a first direction within the housing; an elastic member supported between the opposite ends of the magnetic moving part and inner walls of the housing, and a solenoid coil provided in the housing. The vibration module is positioned at one end of the moving section by the magnetic force of the magnetic moving part and an object around the magnetic moving part, allowing the vibration module to provide a user with a feeling similar to a click feeling via the acceleration produced at a stopping instant. In addition, when vibrating, the vibration module generates sufficient vibration power through acceleration at the instant of changing moving direction at the ends of the moving section, to provide an alarm function, such as an incoming call notification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Tae-Heon Yang, Yu-Dong Bae, Dong-Soo Kwon, Young-Min Lee, Eun-Hwa Lee, Jeong-Seok Lee, Dong-Bum Pyo, Young-Jun Cho
  • Publication number: 20140070632
    Abstract: One embodiment of a propellantless propulsion device is a propulsion platform (40) comprising a base frame (42) with a permanent magnet (44) that provides the magnetic forces of attraction that accelerates a steel ball conveyor (48) toward the magnetic field of the permanent magnet (44) to generate a propulsive thrust (50) without the ejection of a mass of propellant from the platform (40). Another embodiment of a propellantless propulsion device is a magnetic flux drive (52) comprising a closed circuit (56) mounted on a base frame (54) with a magnetic accelerator (58) and a magnetic decelerator (60) that generates a propellantless propulsive thrust (64) with the energy of motion of a ferromagnetic conveyor (62). Other embodiments are described and shown.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Inventor: Harold Ariel Tavarez
  • Patent number: 8643226
    Abstract: One aspect of the present invention relates to a linear motor unit including a plurality of linear motors, each having a stator, a movable element that linearly reciprocates along the stator, and a magnetic sensor that can detect a position of the movable element, wherein the magnetic sensors of the adjacent linear motors are disposed so as to be placed in mutually different positions in a moving direction of the movable element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kiyotaka Sakai
  • Publication number: 20140009005
    Abstract: A haptic actuator (20(X)) provides compact mounting for a haptically-actuated assembly by mounting at least a portion of the haptically-actuated assembly to magnetic circuit members of the haptic actuator. The haptic actuator comprises a first magnetic member (62); a second magnetic member (60); a field generator (30); and a resilient connector (70). The first magnetic member (62) is configured to have a driven part (124) of the haptically-actuated assembly mounted to the first magnetic member (62). The second magnetic member (60) is selectively separated by at least one air gap from the first magnetic member (62) and is configured to have a stationary part of the haptically-actuated assembly (122) connected to the second magnetic member (62). The second magnetic member (60) is positioned at least partially within the field generator (30) and the first magnetic member (62) is positioned externally to the field generator (30).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Inventor: James C. IRWIN
  • Publication number: 20130313337
    Abstract: A method and apparatus comprising a sleeve, at least one linear electric motor connected to the sleeve, and a controller. The sleeve is configured to move between a first position and a second position. The sleeve exposes a cascade when in the second position. The at least one linear electric motor is configured to move the sleeve between the first position and the second position. The controller is configured to control operation of the at least one linear electric motor to move the sleeve between the first position and the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventor: Eric D. Bol
  • Patent number: 8593744
    Abstract: An optical device may include a movable body holding a lens, a fixed body movably holding the movable body, a drive magnet and a drive coil for relatively moving the movable body with respect to the fixed body, and a metal member fixed to the drive magnet. The drive magnet is fixed to one of the movable body and the fixed body and the drive coil is fixed to the other of the movable body and the fixed body. A nickel plating layer containing at least nickel is formed on a surface of the drive magnet and a surface of the metal member, and the drive magnet and the metal member are joined to each other by a joining layer which is made of tin-based metal containing at least tin and is disposed between the drive magnet and the metal member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Nidec Sankyo Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichi Niwa, Masao Takemura, Hiromitsu Takei, Akira Mori
  • Patent number: 8575790
    Abstract: The Superconducting Electrodynamic Turbine produces thrust by transferring momentum to the Earth, via the geomagnetic field. A pair of counter-rotating electrodynamic rotors, that are made from a Superconductor, act together to displace the surrounding geomagnetic field. The rotation of a Superconductor in the geomagnetic field, referred to as the exciting field, creates persistent eddy currents in the Superconductor. Lenz's Law states that an induced eddy current produces a magnetic field that opposes the relative change in the exciting field. A continuous increment of energy, or work, has to be expended to overcome the opposing force and to keep the counter-rotating electrodynamic rotors rotating at a constant rate. This work is transferred to the magnetic field. The Electrodynamic Turbine produces a unidirectional displacement in the exciting magnetic field, creating a force or thrust.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Inventor: William Ivan Ogilvie