Miniature Motors Patents (Class 310/40MM)
  • Patent number: 6160329
    Abstract: A miniature electric motor has an earth strap 56 connecting one terminal 42 to a steel end plate 28. An insulating holder 40 is fixed to the end plate 28 by posts 52. The terminal 42 is supported by the holder 40 by being pressed into a passageway 48 in a boss 50 of the holder. The passageway 48 has a longitudinal groove 68 for receiving an end of the earth strap 56 which makes resilient contact with the terminal 42. The other end of the earth strap 56 is resiliently deformed between the holder 40 and the end plate 28 to establish an electrical connection between the terminal and the end plate. The end plate is in electrical contact with the casing of the motor by crimping the end of the casing over the edge of the end plate to close the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Johnson Electric S.A.
    Inventor: Martin Ng
  • Patent number: 6150744
    Abstract: A sealed type motor arrangement, comprising: a micro-motor with a reduction unit and a sealed housing made of plastic, said sealed housing having a bottom housing and a cover housing, said sealed housing defines a sealed space for accommodating said micro-motor and a non-sealed space, in the periphery of said sealed space of said bottom housing, said non-sealed space having a small groove with a resilient sealing plastic washer arranged therein, said bottom housing having an opening for a cylindrical shaft of said micro-motor to extend out of said sealed housing, a plurality of small apertures are arranged symmetrically between said bottom housing and said cover housing for tightening a plurality of screws to make said bottom housing and said covered housing sealed, a wire with a power supply input plug goes through an opening on a side wall of said bottom housing and a hole on a wall between said sealed space and said non-sealed space to connect a pair of leads of said motor in said sealed space, the hole on
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Brite Star Limited
    Inventor: Yosuke Onishi
  • Patent number: 6144133
    Abstract: A direct current electromotor, having in particular small dimensions, comprising a collector plate arranged on a shaft, a plurality of collector wires held by the collector plate plate and accumulated to a collector sleeve, and comprising a capacitor disk also arranged in the area of the collector plate, the contact pads of the capacitor disk are each in electrical connection to at least one associated collector wire in a respective coordination. A direct current motor of this kind shall have a more simple structure so that very small diameters can also be produced. This is achieved in that the capacitor disk with its contact pads is directly set onto the collector wires and is connected therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Interelectric AG
    Inventors: Joachim Steffan, Hansruedi Wenger, Andre Halter
  • Patent number: 6140721
    Abstract: A slender-type cylindrical coreless motor for use in battery driven equipment in which power-consumption is low, high reliability is achieved, miniaturization and long-term battery driving of the equipment are realized. The slender-type cylindrical coreless motor includes: a pipe (2) with one end fixed to a frame (1); a cylindrical magnet (3) disposed around the outer surface of the pipe (2); and an inner bearing (7) for holding a fixed portion of a shaft (5) to a rotor assembly body (4). A second end portion of the pipe (2) has a length that does not permit protrusion thereof from an end surface (3b) of the magnet (3), and the inner bearing (7) is located at the end surface (3b) of the magnet (3) concentrically with the outer diameter of the magnet. Portions of the inner bearing (7) and the end surface facing each other are joined with solder material, and portions of the pipe (2) and the magnet (3) facing each other are joined with solder material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiichi Ibata, Toshiaki Tsuzaki
  • Patent number: 6140724
    Abstract: Disclosed is a vibration motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., LTD
    Inventor: In Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 6133670
    Abstract: A compact electrostatic comb actuator is disclosed for microelectromechanical (MEM) applications. The actuator is based upon a plurality of meshed electrostatic combs, some of which are stationary and others of which are moveable. One or more restoring springs are fabricated within an outline of the electrostatic combs (i.e. superposed with the moveable electrostatic combs) to considerably reduce the space required for the actuator. Additionally, a truss structure is provided to support the moveable electrostatic combs and prevent bending or distortion of these combs due to unbalanced electrostatic forces or external loading. The truss structure formed about the moveable electrostatic combs allows the spacing between the interdigitated fingers of the combs to be reduced to about one micron or less, thereby substantially increasing the number of active fingers which can be provided in a given area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: M. Steven Rodgers, Michael S. Burg, Brian D. Jensen, Samuel L. Miller, Stephen M. Barnes
  • Patent number: 6127767
    Abstract: An electrostatic driving apparatus for a microactuator is provided, in which a parasitic capacitance is offset to improve the performance thereof. According to the complementary electrostatic driving apparatus for the microactuator, in order to prevent an excitation signal from being mixed with a sensing signal via the parasitic path formed of parasitic capacitance according to the structure of the microactuator and vibration characteristics thereof, which cause noise, signals having opposite polarities are applied to activating vibration plates using an inverter such that the activating vibration signals of each plate, which cause noise, are offset, thereby markedly improving the signal-to-noise ratio. Also, the vibration displacement can be easily detected by a circuit which is not integrated with an actuator. In addition, a sensing unit is simplified, reducing the initial costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Byung-leul Lee, Yong-soo Oh, Ci-moo Song
  • Patent number: 6124649
    Abstract: Micro-generator for a clockwork movement. It contains a rotor provided with two disks and a stator with three coils connected in series. Each disk is provided with six permanent magnets with alternating north-south polarity. The coils are mounted on a module containing an electronic circuit. This circuit controls the speed of the generator in that it compares the frequency of the signal at the output of the generator with a reference frequency derived from a quartz oscillator and changes the load of the generator by means of a variable brake resistance.The micro-generator is constructed in such a way that the peak voltage of the generated signal is as high as possible and the space requirement inertia and frictional resistance of the rotor are kept as low as possible. To achieve this, the coils of the rotor are disposed on the module asymmetrically with respect to the axis of the rotor. The coils can have a maximal surface, the micro-generator being easily mountable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: Ronda AG
    Inventor: Konrad Schafroth
  • Patent number: 6124650
    Abstract: An actuation device employing square-loop latchable magnetic material having a magnetization direction (polarization) capable of being changed in response to exposure to an external magnetic field is disclosed. The magnetic field is created by a conductor assembly with non-solenoid configuration. Once the magnetization direction of the material is so changed, the external magnetic field is no longer required to maintain the new magnetization direction. The latchable magnetic material is disposed on the mobile electrode of a switching device, and another magnetic material is disposed in spaced relation to the latchable magnetic material on a stationary electrode or surface. By applying an electrical current to a conductor assembly arranged proximate the latchable material, a magnetic field is created about the latchable magnetic material, to change the magnetization direction and thereby enable the attraction or repulsion of another magnetic material located on the stationary electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: David John Bishop, Sungho Jin, Jungsang Kim, Ainissa G. Ramirez
  • Patent number: 6121710
    Abstract: An improved stator structure for industrial cooling fans includes silicon steel plates punched directly into shape to allow direct magnetic conductance so as to enhance field intensity. Upper and lower silicon steel plates are passed through plastic insulating packing pieces and inserted into recessed grooves of a plastic sleeve. The assembly is then riveted in tight fit to achieve a motor stator structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Inventor: Jsewen Ho
  • Patent number: 6118192
    Abstract: Devices for use in highly integrated radio frequency transceivers utilize microelectro-mechanical systems, or wobble motors, to form superior switches and to select and vary components that determine different frequencies of operation. Each device has a substrate with concentric rings of electrodes and contacts. A circular rotor is centrally pivoted or wobbled to engage the contacts along its circumferential edge. The rotor may be mechanically or materially modified to create symmetric or asymmetric forms which interact with one or more stationary capacitor electrodes on the substrate. The positioning of the rotor forms in terms of rotation, overlap and separation, relative to the capacitor electrodes, varies the capacitance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: John P. Karidis
  • Patent number: 6107704
    Abstract: A microelectric motor has a housing and a rotatable motor shaft extending axially in the housing. The housing has an axial length. A rotor is fastened to the motor shaft and a stator is positioned in the housing for cooperating with the rotor. A receiving chamber is provided in the housing within its axial length. The transducer is positioned in the receiving chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: Dr. Fritz Faulhaber GmbH & Co., KG
    Inventors: Herbert Wallner, Jochen Knittel, Ulrich Beckord
  • Patent number: 6104109
    Abstract: A base plate is formed by press processing by cutting out a bottom portion and a side wall portion connected integrally with the bottom portion, and a rotating-shaft insertion hole is formed thereon. The side wall portion is bent at a border portion where the side wall portion is connected to the bottom portion and is curved around the bottom portion, and further both end portions of the side wall portion in the transverse direction are connected to each other. As a result, a cylinder-shaped yoke is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: ASMO Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshihiro Sato
  • Patent number: 6087743
    Abstract: A positioning system adapted for use with micromechanical actuators provides feedback control of the position of the movable element of the actuator utilizing a low Q sensing coil. The effective inductance of the sensing coil changes with position of the movable element to change the frequency of oscillation of a variable oscillator. The output of the variable oscillator is compared in a phase detector to a reference oscillator signal. The phase detector provides a pulsed output having a pulse duty cycle related to the phase or frequency difference between the oscillator signals. The output of the phase detector is provided to a drive coil which applies a magnetic force to the movable element which balances the force of a spring. The movable element can be displaced to a new position by changing the frequency of the reference oscillator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Henry Guckel, Eric W. Stiers
  • Patent number: 6082208
    Abstract: A process for forming complex microelectromechanical (MEM) devices having five layers or levels of polysilicon, including four structural polysilicon layers wherein mechanical elements can be formed, and an underlying polysilicon layer forming a voltage reference plane. A particular type of MEM device that can be formed with the five-level polysilicon process is a MEM transmission for controlling or interlocking mechanical power transfer between an electrostatic motor and a self-assembling structure (e.g. a hinged pop-up mirror for use with an incident laser beam). The MEM transmission is based on an incomplete gear train and a bridging set of gears that can be moved into place to complete the gear train to enable power transfer. The MEM transmission has particular applications as a safety component for surety, and for this purpose can incorporate a pin-in-maze discriminator responsive to a coded input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: M. Steven Rodgers, Jeffry J. Sniegowski, Samuel L. Miller, Paul J. McWhorter
  • Patent number: 6081055
    Abstract: A vibration motor (10) having a metal holder frame (30) provided with a motor accommodation portion (31) for receiving and holding a substantially tubular drum portion of a vibration motor body (20) and terminal pieces (40) for being affixed and connected to end portions of the vibration motor body. The metal holder frame has a bottom plate portion (32) adapted for soldering to a pattern on a printed circuit board. The bottom plate has a bulge portion formed by making a depression in the rear side of the bulge portion to make a projection on the front side of the bulge portion at least one position of the bottom plate portion, whereby when driving the vibration motor, the portion of the bulge portion acts as a turn-stopping device and prevents rotational deviation so that the vibration motor can be simultaneously mounted in a double-side mounting process by reflow soldering to a printed circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignees: Sanyo Seimitsu Corporation, Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuto Narusawa
  • Patent number: 6069419
    Abstract: A micro-actuator includes a movable member having fins that are elastically mounted thereto, and a reciprocating actuator. In rotational micro-actuators embodying the invention, the fins are attached to a peripheral surface of a rotor, and the actuator moves to compress the fins toward the peripheral surface of the rotor. This imparts a rotational force which rotates the rotor. In linear micro-actuators, fins can be attached to a movable member which is arranged to move along a track. Actuators positioned along the track can cause the fins on the movable member to compress, thereby moving the movable member along the track. In alternate linear micro-actuators, the actuators can be located on the movable member, and the fins can be located on the track. Rotational and linear micro-actuators embodying the invention could also be configured to operate in opposing directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Inventor: Massood Tabib-Azar
  • Patent number: 6069420
    Abstract: Actuators for power driven accessories for moving objects, such as vehicle power windows, windshield wipers, vehicle power antennas, power side view mirrors, catheter drivers, curtain moving machines, bi-directional rotary motors, thruster mechanisms that move relative to a reaction surface or that drive a driven member relative to itself, use orthogonal oscillatory transducers cooperatively to drive intermediary elements to move these objects bi-directionally along constrained paths. The actuators may also power a pneumatically driven autonomous robot element using dual pneumatic DSES elements such as planar contact surfaces with an array of apertures which are cyclically switched form a source of compressed air which acts as a lubricant to greatly reduce surface friction to a vacuum source, which acts as a clamping medium increasing contact frictional force. Orthogonal bladders are cyclically pressurized or vented to move a central block relative to a surrounding frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Omnific International, Ltd.
    Inventors: John V. Mizzi, Bruce M. Smackey, Edward K. Woo
  • Patent number: 6066910
    Abstract: A direct-current motor has a single coil having a plurality of active branches and a rotor having a permanent magnet. The active branches are arranged in sequence essentially without gaps. The permanent magnet has magnetic segments which overlap all the active branches. The number of magnetic poles is at least equal to the number of active branches. As a result of the magnetic overlap of the coil and the permanent magnet, a greater efficiency is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Assignee: Micronel AG
    Inventor: Ernst Scherrer
  • Patent number: 6060807
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a rotating shaft support member which permits a reduced number of parts, simpler assembly operation, and improved dimensional accuracy, and also to provide a small motor equipped with the same. To this end, a rotating shaft support member (1) according to the present invention is constituted by a nearly circular bracket main body (2) wherein an outer peripheral wall (3) is provided on the outer periphery thereof, and a bearing unit (4) which rotatably supports an end of the rotating shaft of a rotor is formed integrally with the bracket main body (2). The bearing unit 4 has a shaft bore (41) in which the rotating shaft is inserted. The shaft bore (41) has an inner peripheral surface (42) in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the rotating shaft and a bottom surface (43) against which an end surface of the rotating shaft is held. Further, a pair of through holes (5) through which lead wires are passed are formed in the bracket main body (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kohichi Saito, Seiji Kawabata
  • Patent number: 6060799
    Abstract: Permanent magnets are pre-positioned around an injection molded magnet carrier, and the magnet carrier together with the magnets is inserted through one end of a motor housing. Locating features of the magnet carrier position the magnets within the housing. Mounting features of the magnet carrier secure the magnets in place. Other features, including an end cap, can be appended to the magnet carrier to further aid assembly of the motor housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Webster Plastics
    Inventors: Edward C. McManus, David W. Lodge
  • Patent number: 6054786
    Abstract: An electric motor having a pancake construction stator and rotor poles that are formed by photolithography. The stator and rotor can be formed from an amorphous material, thereby reducing grain boundaries and allowing smaller poles to be etched. The number of poles, never less than three, can be from 20 to 5000 times the stator diameter in centimeters. The extremely thin rotor comprises a flexible disk spaced from the stator by an air cushion maintained in accordance with forces as dictated by Bernoulli's principle. This insures that the spacing between the rotor and stator is automatically adjusted to minimize the distance between the rotor and stator poles and thereby to maximize flux linkage between the poles. By operating the motor in a range that avoids saturation of the poles, a variable torque motor is provided since increased current through the motor windings allows the magnetic field intensity and thus the flux linkage to increase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: Halo Data Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Gilbert D. Springer
  • Patent number: 6054335
    Abstract: A III-V compound light emitter is integrated with Si-based actuators. The Proposed devices take advantage of the superior optical properties of III-V compounds and the superior mechanical properties of Si, as well as mature fabrication technologies of Si-Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS). The emitter can be a light emitting diode (LED), a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) or an edge emitting laser. Electro or magnetic based actuation from Si-based actuators provides linear or angular movement of the light emitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Decai Sun, Ross D. Bringans, Christopher L. Chua, Philip D. Floyd, Eric Peeters, Joel A. Kubby, Alex T. Tran
  • Patent number: 6054785
    Abstract: A compact miniature motor includes a DC motor, a worm gear, a pinion transfer gear, at least one cluster gear, an output gear, and an output shaft. A socket may be used to accept the output shaft. The gears form a gear train that wraps tightly around the DC motor in the shape of a capital letter J. Inverted trunnions stabilize the pinion transfer gear by extending longitudinally inside thereof. Acoustical chambers packed with grease suppress noise generated by the gear train. A PC board is also provided and has components for rectifying, filtering for constant DC, and modifying AC voltage before passing it to energize the DC motor. The output shaft may drive a product mover for beverage cans inside a vending machine or another type of electromechanical unit requiring the application of high torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: Molon Motor & Coil Corporation
    Inventors: Mohamed Kerdjoudj, A.N. (Tom) Tsergas
  • Patent number: 6046517
    Abstract: An electrical motor includes a cylindrical magnet divided into n regions circularly around at least an outer circumference thereof that are magnetized in alternate polarities. The motor also includes first and second coils arranged in an axial direction of the magnet. The magnet is interposed between the first and second coils. The motor further includes first and second external portions excitable by current flowing through the first and second coils, respectively, so that these portions become first and second external magnetic poles, respectively. The first and second external portions face the outer circumference of the magnet at one side and the other side thereof, respectively. The area of the first and second external portions facing the outer circumference of the first and second coils, respectively, is equal to or smaller than three-quarters of the area of the outer circumference of the first and second coils, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toyoshige Sasaki, Chikara Aoshima
  • Patent number: 6029337
    Abstract: Micromotors are fabricated with utilitarian features on their rotors. In some embodiments, the features are formed by the molded addition of material on top of a rotor surface. In other embodiments, the features are formed by the provision of an additional layer on top of the rotor, and the selective removal of material therefrom. In yet other embodiments, the features are defined by the selective removal of material from the rotor itself. The disclosure is particularly illustrated with reference to the fabrication of a polygon (nickel) mirror on a polysilicon, electrostatic micromotor rotor for use in scanning applications. However, the principles of the invention can likewise be applied to fabrication of a variety of other features, such as optical gratings, shutters, mechanical actuators, pump impellers and fins, and to a variety of different micromotor constructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Case Western Reserve University
    Inventors: Mehran Mehregany, Francis Lawrence Merat
  • Patent number: 6031308
    Abstract: A geared motor is provided. A through hole formed in a base passes a rotor shaft. An annular guide rim to guide a carrier and a cylindrical stationary gear are integrally and concentrically formed on the base which seals an open end of a small motor. A guide to guide the rotation of a movable gear is provided at the top end of the stationary gear. The gears making up the geared motor are disposed in a compact arrangement with high accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Kinoshita, Keisuke Sakagami
  • Patent number: 6011333
    Abstract: A vibrator motor has a generally sector-shaped eccentric armature rotor that has a nonmagnetic body including core parts, around which armature coils are individually wound. The core parts are disposed at an even pitch angle, but within a 180.degree. angular range, about the rotational axis of the rotor. A rotor body of one embodiment consists of a first part and a second part that includes the core parts and the first part is made of a synthetic resin and the second part is made of a synthetic resin or a nonmagnetic but electrically-conductive metal. A rotor of an additional embodiment has a single-piece body of a synthetic resin that integrally has the core parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: Tokyo Parts Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadao Yamaguchi, Koichi Nakajima, Toru Arai
  • Patent number: 5994801
    Abstract: A gyroscope powered by an engine, all fabricated on a common substrate in the form of an integrated circuit. Preferably, both the gyroscope and the engine are fabricated in the micrometer domain, although in some embodiments of the present invention, the gyroscope can be fabricated in the millimeter domain. The engine disclosed herein provides torque to the gyroscope rotor for continuous rotation at varying speeds and direction. The present invention is preferably fabricated of polysilicon or other suitable materials on a single wafer using surface micromachining batch fabrication techniques or millimachining techniques that are well known in the art. Fabrication of the present invention is preferably accomplished without the need for assembly of multiple wafers which require alignment and bonding, and without piece-part assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventor: Ernest J. Garcia
  • Patent number: 5986367
    Abstract: In a motor mounting mechanism, a cylindrical motor includes a frame (6) serving as a stator and an electric power supply terminal (2) attached to a bottom surface of a bracket (1). When the motor is mounted to a motor attachment device, a first external electrode (10) is mechanically and electrically connected to a cylindrical side surface of the frame (6) while a second external electrode (11) is mechanically and electrically connected to the power supply terminal (2). The first and second external electrodes are both located outside the motor, and thus, the process of providing lead wires for connecting the external electrodes to the printed board can be omitted, allowing the total size of the motor mounting mechanism to be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Tsuzaki, Koji Kuyama, Eiichi Ibata, Kodo Fukuoka, Hideki Shimada
  • Patent number: 5982059
    Abstract: A generator and lighting assembly is provided for use on a mechanism, e.g. a power driven tool, having a shaft that is rotated during use. The assembly includes a rotor assembly 122 including a rotor shaft 102 affixed to the mechanism shaft, and a permanent magnet 132 supported on the rotor shaft for rotation therewith. A stator assembly 124 is also provided, and includes a body presenting pair of electrically conductive arms 138 extending on opposite sides of the rotor and an electrically conductive shank 140 connecting the arms together, and a winding 136 of electrically conductive wire supported on the body and presenting a pair of opposed ends. The assembly includes a lamp assembly 128 for providing illumination to an area to be lighted, and includes a light emitting diode (LED) embedded in a solid transparent bulb formed of a synthetic resin composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Inventor: Marty J. Anderson
  • Patent number: 5982055
    Abstract: A miniature motor with a two-pole stator, and a rotor having three or more salient poles each having a core with flanges extending toward both sides thereof and a winding. The rotor is adapted to simulate a two-pole construction by cutting off at least the tip of a flange on either side on a part or all the salient rotor pole cores, thereby limiting the spontaneous-stop angular positions of the rotor to two. One insulating spacer is provided between a plurality of commutator segments of the commutator in such a positional relationship as to come in contact with one of the two brushes when the rotor is at a spontaneous-stop angular position. The motor is prevented from burning and restarting suddenly after a stop since the motor has a self-inactivating function by interrupting current supply at spontaneous-stop angular positions while maintaining motor torque by minimizing the angle of non-conduction to the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Mabuchi Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ikuo Matsushita, Fumiyoshi Itou, Megumu Onishi
  • Patent number: 5973425
    Abstract: A motor includes a rotor having a permanent magnet circumferentially equally divided and alternately magnetized to different poles formed into a cylindrical shape, and a first coil. The rotor and a second coil may be successively disposed axially of the rotor. A first outer magnetic pole and a first inner magnetic pole excited by the first coil may be opposed to the outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface of the rotor, and a second outer magnetic pole and a second inner magnetic pole excited by the second coil may be opposed to the outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface of the rotor. The rotor has an output transmitter, such as a gear or a pulley, mounted on the outer peripheral surface of the central portion thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Chikara Aoshima
  • Patent number: 5969465
    Abstract: An improved micromachined structure used for beam scanners, gyroscopes, etc. includes a reference member from which project a first pair of axially aligned torsion bars. A first dynamic member, coupled to and supported from the reference member by the torsion bars, oscillates in one-dimension about the torsion bar's axis. A second dynamic member may be supported from the first dynamic member by a second pair of axially aligned torsion bars for two-dimensional oscillation. The dynamic members respectively exhibit a plurality of vibrational modes each having a frequency and a Q. The improvement includes means for altering a characteristic of the dynamic member's frequency and Q. Coupling between dynamic members permits altering the second dynamic member's frequency and Q by techniques applied to the first dynamic member. Some techniques disclosed also increase oscillation amplitude or reduce driving voltage, and also increase mechanical ruggedness of the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: XROS, Inc.
    Inventors: Armand P. Neukermans, Timothy G. Slater, Philip Downing
  • Patent number: 5959376
    Abstract: An indexing apparatus is disclosed that can be used to rotate a gear or move a rack in a precise, controllable manner. The indexing apparatus, based on a reciprocating shuttle driven by one or more actuators, can be formed either as a micromachine, or as a millimachine. The reciprocating shuttle of the indexing apparatus can be driven by a thermal, electrostatic or electromagnetic actuator, with one or more wedge-shaped drive teeth of the shuttle being moveable to engage and slide against indexing teeth on the gear or rack, thereby moving the gear or rack. The indexing apparatus can be formed by either surface micromachining processes or LIGA processes, depending on the size of the apparatus that is to be formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventor: James J. Allen
  • Patent number: 5959375
    Abstract: A device fabricated to redirect electromagnetic signals, the device including a primary driver adapted to provide a predetermined force, a linkage system coupled to the primary driver, a pusher rod rotationally coupled to the linkage system, a flexible rod element attached to the pusher rod and adapted to buckle upon the application of the predetermined force, and a mirror structure attached to the flexible rod element at one end and to the substrate at another end. When the predetermined force buckles the flexible rod element, the mirror structure and the flexible rod element both move to thereby allow a remotely-located electromagnetic signal directed towards the device to be redirected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Inventor: Ernest J. Garcia
  • Patent number: 5959378
    Abstract: An electromagnetic, two phased pulse motor rotatable in either of two rotary directions has a radially-magnetized rotor with a rotor axis and four magnetic poles of alternating polarities distributed evenly about the rotor axis whereby adjoining magnetic axes are oppositely polarized, and has two magnetic coils coupled magnetically to the rotor via two stator plates, each of which has two stator poles that are arranged relative to each other symmetrically reversed to a center line. Two of the stator poles directly adjoin each other and are offset from each other by an angle of 45.degree., and another two of the stator poles are offset from each other by an angle of 135.degree.. Each of the first two stator poles has a pole surface disposed at a substantially constant distance from a surface of the rotor. Each of the second two stator poles has first and second pole surfaces disposed respectively at different distances from the rotor surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignees: Echkhart W. Haller, Doris Stoll-Haller
    Inventor: Helmut Stechmann
  • Patent number: 5959377
    Abstract: A miniature DC brushless motor having a radial air gap and a single coil with axial winding includes a stator having a single coil with axial winding, a rotor with a permanent magnet, and a control circuit. Two terminals of the single coil are electrically connected to the control circuit that controls the conducting direction of current of the single coil to generate alternate rotational magnetic fields, thereby driving the permanent magnet to turn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Sunonwealth Electric Machine Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Alex Horng
  • Patent number: 5955818
    Abstract: Machine structures each comprising a stack of a plurality of micromachine layers laminated together are presented, along with fabrication methods therefore. Each machine structure includes a movable member(s) defined from microstructure of at least one layer of the plurality of micromachine layers comprising the stack. During fabrication, the micromachine layers are separately formed using VLSI techniques and then subsequently laminated together in a selected arrangement in the stack to define the machine structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Claude Louis Bertin, John Edward Cronin
  • Patent number: 5955800
    Abstract: A levitation system which comprises: (a) a high conductivity body member having a greatest dimension of less than 1500 .mu.m; (b) a force generator for producing a levitating force on the body member; and (c) a miniature system adapted for rotation which further comprises: a rotating magnetic field such that the body member is rotated in the applied field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: University of Sheffield
    Inventors: Christopher Shearwood, Connel Brett Williams, Robert Barret-Yates, Phillip Henry Mellor
  • Patent number: 5955801
    Abstract: A microengine uses two synchronized linear actuators as a power source and converts oscillatory motion from the actuators into constant rotational motion via direct linkage connection to an output gear or wheel. The microengine provides output in the form of a continuously rotating output gear that is capable of delivering drive torque at a constant rotation to a micromechanism. The output gear can have gear teeth on its outer perimeter for directly contacting a micromechanism requiring mechanical power. The gear is retained by a retaining means which allows said gear to rotate freely. The microengine is microfabricated of polysilicon on one wafer using surface micromachining batch fabrication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Louis A. Romero, Fred M. Dickey
  • Patent number: 5945750
    Abstract: Stepping motor comprising a rotor (4) and two, one above the other and with respect to each other angularly offset, stators (2) which are comprised of coils (30) and stator plates (20), wherein the stator plates (20) respectively have a planer U-shaped form with two essentially parallel extending arms (22, 25), the end of arms (22, 25) each exhibits on the inside for the formation of a polar pair an arch shaped recess (23, 26) such that the rotor (4) extending therebetween, in top view, is encompassed along its circumferential segment corresponding to the contour without, however, making contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: TRW Fahrzeugelektrik Gmbh & Co. KG
    Inventors: Roland Sauter, Joerg Benz
  • Patent number: 5932940
    Abstract: The invention provides a micro-gas turbine engine and associated microcomponentry. The engine components, including, e.g., a compressor, a diffuser having diffuser vanes, a combustion chamber, turbine guide vanes, and a turbine are each manufactured by, e.g., microfabrication techniques, of a structural material common to all of the elements, e.g., a microelectronic material such as silicon or silicon carbide. Vapor deposition techniques, as well as bulk wafer etching techniques, can be employed to produce the engine. The engine includes a rotor having a shaft with a substantially untapered compressor disk on a first end, defining a centrifugal compressor, and a substantially untapered turbine disk on the opposite end, defining a radial inflow turbine. The rotor is preferably formed of a material characterized by a strength-to-density ratio that enables a rotor speed of at least about 500,000 rotations per minute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Alan H. Epstein, Stephen D. Senturia, Ian A. Waitz, Jeffrey H. Lang, Stuart A. Jacobson, Fredric F. Ehrich, Martin A. Schmidt, G. K. Ananthasuresh, Mark S. Spearing, Kenneth S. Breuer, Steven F. Nagle
  • Patent number: 5929542
    Abstract: A micromachined stepper motor having a toothed slider connected at either end to spring flexures. At least one of the spring flexures is positioned between a load, such as a high pass optical filter, and the slider. The slider is positioned within three stators that are sequentially energized such that they move the slider along its longitudinal axis. The springs and guide posts hold the slider in place and establish a rest position when no driving force is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Honeywell Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas R. Ohnstein, J. David Zook, James B. Starr
  • Patent number: 5925945
    Abstract: A motor is formed in such structure that a rotor of permanent magnet, equally divided in the circumferential direction and magnetized in alternately different poles, is formed in a cylindrical shape, that a first coil, the rotor, and a second coil are located in order in the axial direction, that first outside and first inside poles excited by the first coil are opposed to outside and inside peripheral surfaces of the rotor, and that second outside and second inside poles excited by the second coil are opposed to the outside and inside peripheral surfaces of the rotor, wherein yokes forming the first and second inside poles of this motor are formed so that a cross section thereof in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the rotor has alternately formed regions with a large outside dimension and with a small outside dimension, thereby being formed in the shape with good workability. In addition, the working of a yoke for forming the outside poles is also made easy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Chikara Aoshima
  • Patent number: 5923106
    Abstract: This invention relates to a novel design of electric motor wherein a stationary fuel cell with an electrical output is integrated with a cylindrical type monopole (homopole) electric DC motor. Power is supplied to an output shaft by the introduction of reactants to the fuel cell. The fuel cell is positioned within the hollow cylindrical stator. The stator and fuel cell are stationary. The rotor is a hollow cylinder and is positioned to rotate about the exterior of the stator. The rotor has magnets distributed around the interior of the rotor. This novel compact combination of a fuel cell and a cylindrical form of monopole (homopole) electrical DC motor enables the combination to fit within a confined space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Inventors: Mark Frank Isaak, Daniel Molleker
  • Patent number: 5920134
    Abstract: The present invention refers to a dc motor, in particular a micro dc motor, comprising a shaft and a collector element arranged on said shaft and consisting of a collector plate and a collector which projects from said collector plate beyond the shaft end, the collector element being extended beyond the collector so as to form a shaft section on the side facing away from the collector plate, said shaft section being adapted to have attached thereto an additional component part. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the dc motor is provided with an incremental angle-position encoder comprising an encoder element, the encoder element being fixedly attached to the collector element, which is extended so as to form a shaft section, and constituting the additional component part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Assignee: Interelectric AG
    Inventors: Jurgen Mayer, Arnold Teimel
  • Patent number: 5917260
    Abstract: A millimeter-sized machine, including electromagnetic circuits adapted to convert electromagnetic energy to mechanical energy, for engaging and operating external mechanical loads. A plurality of millimeter-sized magnetic actuators operate out of phase with each other to control a plurality of millimeter-sized structural elements to drive an external mechanical load. Each actuator is connected to a link. Each link, in turn, is connected to a drive pinion at another similar pivoting joint. When the magnetic actuators are energized, each drive pinion is then capable of driving a larger output gear in gear-like fashion to produce positive torque about the drive pinion center at all angular positions of the output gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Inventors: Ernest J. Garcia, Todd R. Christenson, Marc A. Polosky
  • Patent number: 5917262
    Abstract: A stator structure for miniaturized DC brushless motor is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Shin-Ming Huang, Tien-Yo Yao
  • Patent number: 5917257
    Abstract: The motor (1) includes three stator parts (11, 12, 13) and two coaxial rotors (2, 3) each including a multipolar magnet having axial magnetization (4, 5) arranged between the third (13) and the first (11) respectively the second stator poles (12). The latter each comprises two stator poles (15, 16, 22, 23) having a plurality of teeth (19, 20, 26, 27) staggered with respect to one another. In the rest positions of the rotors (2, 3) the magnetic dipoles (6) of their magnets (4, 5) are phase-shifted with respect to the respective teeth (19, 20, 26, 27). Two coils (51, 52) are each coupled to a stator pole (15, 22), a third coil (53) is coupled to the other two stator poles (16, 23).As result of this arrangement, the motor (1) is compact and its rotors (2, 3) are able to rotate in both directions independently of each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: Eta SA Fabriques d'Ebauches
    Inventor: Daho Taghezout