Nonmagnetic Motor Patents (Class 318/116)
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Patent number: 12055600Abstract: A device includes a resonant voltage measurement unit 10 configured to input a predetermined frequency signal to a circuit including a fixed capacitance formed between a ground and a lower electrode, a variable capacitance formed between an upper electrode that is disposed above the lower electrode and the ground or between the lower electrode and the upper electrode, and a resonance inductor to measure a resonant voltage that is dependent on a current flowing in the resonance inductor when the variable capacitance is changed to cause the circuit to resonate, a pre-correction voltage-to-ground measurement unit 20 configured to measure a pre-correction voltage-to-ground that is a voltage between a measurement electrode, which is disposed at an equal height to the lower electrode and forms a capacitance-to-ground between the measurement electrode and the ground, and a measurement probe connected to a conductor, and a voltage-to-ground correction unit 30 configured to use the fixed capacitance, the variable capaType: GrantFiled: August 14, 2019Date of Patent: August 6, 2024Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone CorporationInventors: Naruto Arai, Ken Okamoto, Jun Kato
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Patent number: 12037122Abstract: An aircraft wing may comprise an airfoil having deicing zone, an anti-icing zone, and an ice runback control zone. An aircraft wing may comprise an electro-thermal ice protection system disposed in the aircraft wing. The electro-thermal ice protection system may be disposed along the deicing, anti-icing, and ice runback control zones of the airfoil to improve aerodynamic performance of the aircraft and reduce ice formation along the wings of the aircraft.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2022Date of Patent: July 16, 2024Assignee: GOODRICH CORPORATIONInventors: Brandon Hein, Casey M. Slane, Galdemir C. Botura
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Patent number: 12030648Abstract: An ice removal apparatus for an aircraft is provided comprising a laminate structure encapsulating an electrically operable heater. The laminate structure comprises a plurality of layers and at least two layers are configured to be selectively movable relative to each other to increase the separation of the two layers, thereby removing ice.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2019Date of Patent: July 9, 2024Assignee: GKN Aerospace Services LimitedInventors: Stephen Goodfellow-Jones, Ashley Brooks
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Patent number: 12034362Abstract: An electronic control device for controlling a converter that comprises a piezoelectric element and a plurality of switches which are commanded to alternate phases, respectively at substantially constant voltage, and substantially constant charge, across the terminals of said piezoelectric element, the control device comprising: a measurement module for measuring a period of a resonance cycle of the piezoelectric element; an event detection module for detecting a characteristic event belonging to a current resonance cycle; a command module for commanding the switching of the switches; a computation module for computing at least three subsequent switching time instants during at least one subsequent resonance cycle, which is posterior to the current resonance cycle, each subsequent switching time instant being computed based on a respective characteristic event; and the command module being configured to command the switching of the respective switch at each of the subsequent time instants computed.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2022Date of Patent: July 9, 2024Assignee: Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternativesInventors: Ghislain Despesse, Mustapha Touhami, Adrien Morel, Gaël Pillonnet
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Patent number: 11940617Abstract: Examples are disclosed herein that relate to driving a resonant scanning mirror system using a linear LC resonant driving scheme. In one example, a resonant scanning mirror system includes a scanning mirror, first and second mirror drive elements, and a drive circuit to drive the scanning mirror at a resonant frequency. The drive circuit includes one or more signal sources configured to create a first source signal and a second source signal that is 180 degrees out of phase with the first source signal. The drive circuit further includes a buffer stage configured to receive the first and second source signals and output first and second drive signals, a first resonant LC stage configured to amplify the first drive signal for provision to the first mirror drive element, and a second resonant LC stage configured to amplify the second drive signal for provision to the second mirror drive element.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2020Date of Patent: March 26, 2024Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Chang Joon Park, Martin Francis Galinski, III
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Patent number: 11924994Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for managing a heatsink of an information handling system includes: determining, by a controller unit of the information handling system, that a vibration event is to occur, the vibration event associated with a vibration unit of the information handling system, the controller unit communicably coupled to the vibration unit, the vibration unit removably coupled to the heatsink; and causing, by the controller unit, the vibration unit to generate the vibration event, the vibration event causing the vibration unit to apply one or more vibrations to the heatsink, the one or more vibrations causing a boundary layer of particles to be removed from a surface of the heatsink.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2021Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: Dell Products L.P.Inventors: Chiu Jung Tsen, Yi-Te Chih, John T. Morrison, Travis C. North
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Patent number: 11909332Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide a comb drive, a comb drive system, and a method of operating the comb drive to rotate bi-directionally in a MEMS environment. An exemplary comb drive system may include a comb drive, at least one power source, and a controller. The comb drive may include a stator comb having a first electrically conductive layer spaced apart from a second electrically conductive layer. The comb drive may also include a rotor comb having a first electrically conductive layer spaced apart from a second electrically conductive layer. The controller may be configured to apply first and second voltage levels having opposite polarities to the first and second electrically conductive layers of the rotor comb, respectively. The controller may also be configured to apply an intermediate voltage level to one of the first or second electrically conductive layers of the stator comb.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2021Date of Patent: February 20, 2024Assignee: BEIJING VOYAGER TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.Inventors: Qin Zhou, Youmin Wang, Yue Lu, Lingkai Kong
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Patent number: 11845401Abstract: A vehicle key capable of generating electrical energy by itself through energy harvesting, and a method of manufacturing the vehicle key are provided. The vehicle key includes a power generator including an energy generation module configured to generate electrical energy using energy harvesting and an electric condenser configured to store the generated electrical energy; an inputter configured to receive a user input; a communicator configured to communicate with the vehicle; and a controller configured to control the communicator to transmit a control signal corresponding to the received user input to the vehicle. At least one of the inputter, the communicator, and the controller may be configured to receive power from the power generator.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2020Date of Patent: December 19, 2023Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation, Korea Polytechnic University Industry Academic Cooperation FoundationInventors: Ji Hyun Woo, Chang-Kyu Kim
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Patent number: 11838632Abstract: A driving control apparatus is configured to control a driving unit that moves relative to each other a vibrator that is excited to vibrate by applying a first driving signal and a second driving signal that have a phase difference with each other, and a contact member that contacts the vibrator. The driving control apparatus includes a first control unit configured to control the phase difference, and a second control unit configured to control a voltage amplitude of each of the first driving signal and the second driving signal. The second control unit controls the voltage amplitude so that a change rate of the voltage amplitude increases as an absolute value of the phase difference decreases.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2022Date of Patent: December 5, 2023Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Junichi Maniwa, Kenya Fukabori, Yusuke Kazami, Takeshi Omata, Sairi Iwata, Ryota Ogawa
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Patent number: 11818954Abstract: A method of manufacturing a piezoelectric actuator includes preparing a laminate including a substrate, a first electrode layer disposed on the substrate, a piezoelectric layer disposed on the first electrode layer, and a second electrode layer disposed on the piezoelectric layer, and forming a contour shape of the piezoelectric layer. The forming of the contour shape includes dry etching the piezoelectric layer from the second electrode layer side to dig the piezoelectric layer halfway in a thickness direction, covering, with a resist film, a dry etched surface formed on a side surface of the piezoelectric layer by the dry etching, and wet etching the piezoelectric layer from the second electrode layer side to dig the piezoelectric layer until the first electrode layer is reached.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2021Date of Patent: November 14, 2023Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventor: Noboru Furuya
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Patent number: 11779336Abstract: A method for assessing performance of a surgical instrument including one or more drivetrains is disclosed. The method includes sensing via one or more vibration sensors vibrations generated during operation of the one or more drivetrains of the surgical instrument, generating an output signal based on the sensed vibrations, filtering the output signal to generate a filtered signal of the sensed vibrations from the one or more drivetrains, processing the filtered signal to generate a processed signal of the sensed vibrations from the one or more drivetrains, and comparing predetermined threshold values for each of an acceptable status, a marginal status, and a critical status of the surgical instrument to corresponding values of the processed signal.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2022Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: Cilag GmbH InternationalInventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Mark D. Overmyer, David C. Yates, Jason L. Harris
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Patent number: 11738369Abstract: A capacitive transducer comprising a top electrode and a bottom electrode, and a sidewall between the top electrode and the bottom electrode. The sidewall is configured to separate the top electrode and the bottom electrode by a gap. There is a high contact resistance part on one or both of a bottom side of the top electrode or a top side of the bottom electrode.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2020Date of Patent: August 29, 2023Assignee: GE PRECISION HEALTHCARE LLCInventors: Rupak Bardhan Roy, Frederic Lanteri, Edouard Da Cruz, Bruno Haider
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Patent number: 11719232Abstract: A driving system for driving piezoelectric pump includes one or more mechanical devices and a driving circuit system electrically connected to the at least one mechanical device. The driving circuit system includes a pump-driving unit, a linear voltage-stabilizing unit, a microcontroller unit, a current-sensing unit, and a connection unit. The microcontroller unit generates a first signal, a second signal, and a third signal, and the pump-driving unit receives these signals to drive the mechanical device. The current-sensing unit receives a fourth signal transmitted by the pump-driving unit to obtain an actuation current value of the mechanical device. The linear voltage-stabilizing unit, the current-sensing unit, and the microcontroller unit are coupled to each other through a fifth signal and a sixth signal. The connection unit and the microcontroller unit are coupled to each other through a reset signal, a seventh signal, and an eighth signal provided by the microcontroller unit.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2021Date of Patent: August 8, 2023Assignee: MICROJET TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.Inventors: Hao-Jan Mou, Shih-Chang Chen, Che-Wei Huang, Chun-Hung Liao, Wei-Chuan Liao, Chi-Feng Huang, Yung-Lung Han, Tsung-I Lin, Chin-Wen Hsieh
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Patent number: 11681260Abstract: An electronic watch includes a power source, an electrostatic motor including a rotor in which a plurality of electret films are arranged in a rotational direction and a plurality of fixed electrodes arranged in the rotational direction at positions facing the rotor, a hand rotating in conjunction with the rotation of the rotor, and a motor control circuit controlling the electrostatic motor. The motor control circuit selectively executes a hand movement mode for rotating the hand and a stop mode for keeping the hand stationary. In the stop mode, the motor control circuit keeps the rotor stationary through electrostatic forces exerted on the electret films from the fixed electrodes with the polarities of the fixed electrodes maintained.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2019Date of Patent: June 20, 2023Assignee: CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD.Inventors: Toshinari Maeda, Shogo Kimura
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Patent number: 11626799Abstract: A converter circuit includes first and second electronic switches coupled at an intermediate node, with an inductor coupled between the intermediate node and an output node. Switching drive control circuitry causes the first and the second electronic switch to switch between a conductive state and a non-conductive state. The drive control circuitry includes a first feedback signal path to control switching of the first and the second electronic switch as a function of the difference between a feedback signal indicative of the signal at the output node and a reference value. A second feedback signal path includes a low-pass filter coupled to the output node and configured to provide a low-pass filtered feedback signal resulting from low-pass filtering of the output signal. The second feedback signal path compensates the feedback signal as a function of the difference between the low-pass filtered feedback signal and a respective reference value.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2021Date of Patent: April 11, 2023Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Alessandro Bertolini, Alberto Cattani, Stefano Ramorini, Alessandro Gasparini
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Patent number: 11539309Abstract: A zero-voltage zero-current soft switching type driving method for an ultrasonic motor is provided, relating to the technical field of driving of a two-phase actuator. The disclosure solves the problems of high loss, high heat amount and the like in a traditional ultrasonic motor driving circuit. The method provided realizes resonance between series inductors and buffer capacitors by means of an optimal design of the inductance of matching inductors, the capacitance of buffer capacitors, a dead time value and a delay time value, thereby causing a power tube to realize zero-voltage and zero-current switching. Two signal input ends of a two-phase pseudo full bridge inverter are connected to a power grid, and two signal output ends of the two-phase pseudo full bridge inverter are respectively connected to two signal input ends of a matching circuit; and the output ends of the matching circuit are respectively connected to a two-phase ultrasonic motor.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2020Date of Patent: December 27, 2022Assignee: HARBIN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGYInventors: Weijia Shi, Xuyang Yu, Bo Zhao, Jiubin Tan
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Patent number: 11527970Abstract: A control method of a piezoelectric driving device which includes a vibrator including a piezoelectric element and vibrating by application of a drive signal to the piezoelectric element, a driven unit moving by the vibration of the vibrator, a drive signal generation unit generating the drive signal based on a pulse signal, the control method including: stopping the application of the drive signal to the piezoelectric element at the time when a driving speed of the driven unit is a reference speed, in a case of stopping driving of the driven unit.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2020Date of Patent: December 13, 2022Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventor: Makoto Murakami
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Patent number: 11502627Abstract: A piezoelectric drive device includes a vibrator having a vibrating portion including a piezoelectric element, and a convex portion placed in the vibrating portion, an urging member including a base, a holding portion holding the vibrator, and a spring portion coupled to the base at one end and coupled to the holding portion at another end and urging the convex portion toward a driven unit, wherein d1>d2 in a natural state in which the vibrator is not urged by the urging member, where a separation distance between the one end and the convex portion along directions of the longitudinal direction is d1 and a separation distance between the other end and the convex portion is d2, and |d1?d2| in an urging state in which the vibrator is urged toward the driven unit by the urging member is smaller than |d1?d2| in the natural state.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2021Date of Patent: November 15, 2022Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventors: Yusaku Nakamura, Daisuke Nakanishi, Yudai Okamae
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Patent number: 11490998Abstract: A brush includes a head with bristles, an actuator that expands and contracts in accordance with an electric signal, a connection member that transmits vibration of the actuator to the head, and a body including a housing that houses the actuator. The direction of reciprocal vibration of the head is at a predetermined angle relative to the direction of extension of the housing.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2019Date of Patent: November 8, 2022Assignee: KYOCERA CorporationInventor: Tomoyoshi Ikeda
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Patent number: 11479459Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for controlling a sensor assembly with a plurality of same type sensors. Sensors are operated in active and inactive states and have a corresponding performance parameter and reliability parameter that may be determined. The activation state of at least one of the sensors is changed based on an operational parameter. The performance parameter and/or the reliability parameter can then be updated.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2020Date of Patent: October 25, 2022Inventors: Karthik Katingari, Uday Mudoi, Mahdi Heydari
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Patent number: 11476403Abstract: There is provided a control method for a piezoelectric driving device including a vibrating body including a piezoelectric element for driving and configured to vibrate when a driving signal is applied to the piezoelectric element for driving, a section to be driven that is driven by the vibration of the vibrating body, and a driving-signal generating section configured to generate the driving signal using a pulse signal generated based on a target pulse duty ratio. When the target pulse duty ratio is smaller than a predetermined value, the driving signal generated by the driving-signal generating section is an intermittently generated periodic signal.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2020Date of Patent: October 18, 2022Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventor: Hidetoshi Saito
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Patent number: 11389831Abstract: Disclosed is a driver stage for activating a first ultrasonic transducer and a method for the operation thereof. The driver stage comprises a first charge pump or power source and a first capacitor. The driver stage also comprises first means for charging the first capacitor with electrical energy from the charge pump and second means for connecting the first capacitor and ultrasonic transducer to different polarities. The first means do not charge the first capacitor with energy from the charge pump or power source when the first capacitor is connected to the ultrasonic transducer by the second means.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2021Date of Patent: July 19, 2022Assignee: ELMOS SEMICONDUCTOR SEInventors: Guido Schlautmann, André Schmidt, Stefanie Heppekausen
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Patent number: 11370653Abstract: An electrostatic zipping actuator includes a primary electrode, a secondary electrode overlying the primary electrode, a dielectric layer located between and abutting at least a portion of the primary electrode and the secondary electrode, and a dielectric fluid disposed at least at a junction between the dielectric layer and one of the electrodes, where an average total thickness of the dielectric layer is less than approximately 10 micrometers.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2020Date of Patent: June 28, 2022Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLCInventors: Tianshu Liu, Yigit Menguc, Robert Manson, Shawn Reese, Tristan Thomas Trutna, Erik Samuel Roby, Katherine Healy, Nicholas Colonnese
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Patent number: 10881027Abstract: A socket includes a housing configured to receive a removable Data Storage Device (DSD) and a Thermal Interface Material (TIM). An assembly of the socket is attached to the housing and configured to expand due to heat. In a thermally expanded state, the assembly causes the TIM to come into contact with the removable DSD to draw heat away from the removable DSD. According to another aspect, a retaining strip or assembly is attached to a housing in a configuration such that the retaining strip or assembly expands due to heat to increase a resistance to removal of the removable DSD from the housing when the retaining strip or assembly is in a thermally expanded state.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2019Date of Patent: December 29, 2020Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.Inventors: John Burke, Michael Lavrentiev
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Piezoelectric generator, pushbutton, radio module and method for producing a piezoelectric generator
Patent number: 10727764Abstract: A piezoelectric generator is specified, comprising a deformation body, which spans a projection surface and is embodied with a setpoint pressure surface situated opposite the projection surface, wherein the projection surface can be converted from a smaller projection surface when not loaded under pressure into a larger projection surface when pressure is applied to the setpoint pressure surface substantially perpendicular to the projection surface, and a spring effect is provided which counteracts an application of pressure to the setpoint pressure surface, wherein an electromechanical transducer element comprising a piezoelectric material wholly or partly spans the projection surface, such that the transducer element is embodied in an expandable fashion upon pressure being applied to the deformation body, and electrical microenergy can be generated by means of the piezoelectric material.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2016Date of Patent: July 28, 2020Inventors: Enrico Bischur, Norbert Schwesinger, Sandy Zaehringer -
Patent number: 10642240Abstract: A system includes an apparatus and a processor. The apparatus includes a set of actuator elements that move between two positions. Each actuator element is comprised in: exactly one first subset out of a plurality of non-empty first subsets and exactly one second subset out of a plurality of non-empty second subsets. The processor is configured to generate one or more control commands for a group of subsets out of the first and the second pluralities of subsets in response to a number of moving elements which, if released from the first extreme position during a second sampling cycle, enables production by the apparatus during the second sampling cycle of a sound.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2019Date of Patent: May 5, 2020Assignee: AUDIO PIXELS LTD.Inventors: Daniel Lewin, Yuval Cohen, Eric Andreas Haber, Shay Kaplan, Meir Ben Simon, Raanan Zacher
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Patent number: 10615719Abstract: A vibration motor controller configured to cause a vibrating member in which a vibration is excited based on two frequency signals having a phase difference to move relatively to a contact member, the vibration motor controller including: a memory configured to store a speed characteristic of the vibrating member with respect to a frequency of the two frequency signals; a controller configured to control a speed of the vibrating member by changing the frequency and/or a phase difference of the two frequency signals; a detector configured to detect the speed; and a changing unit configured to acquire change amount and change direction of the speed characteristic based on comparison between the speed detected by the detector and the speed characteristic stored in the memory, and change an activation frequency being a start point of control conducted by the controller based on the change amount and the change direction.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2016Date of Patent: April 7, 2020Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Shunsuke Miyajima
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Patent number: 10511237Abstract: The present invention provides a driving apparatus capable of suppressing the operation noise. A driving apparatus comprises a piezoelectric element expanding and contracting in accordance with a driving signal; a supporting shaft connected to said piezoelectric element; a movable body frictionally engaged with said supporting shaft and capable of moving along said supporting shaft; and a driving portion applying said driving signal including a first driving signal which moves said movable body towards a first direction to said piezoelectric element, wherein said driving portion can repeatedly apply said first driving signal against said piezoelectric element by taking a first time in between, and said first driving signal comprises a main driving waveform group which moves said movable body to said first direction, and a sub driving waveform group which is placed after said main driving waveform group by having a second rest time shorter than said first time in between.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2017Date of Patent: December 17, 2019Assignee: TDK CORPORATIONInventors: Akira Suzuki, Masaru Uno, Kazutomo Imi, Yoshiaki Haga
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Patent number: 10439522Abstract: An identification method is an identification method for use in an identification apparatus that identifies types of brushless DC motors each including a circuit board on which a terminal for tachometer is mounted. The duty ratios of pulses outputted from the terminals for tachometer vary among multiple types of brushless DC motors. The identification method includes: supplying a power supply voltage from the identification apparatus to a brushless DC motor; inputting pulses outputted from the terminal for tachometer of the circuit board to the identification apparatus; obtaining the duty ratio of the pulses as a unique information piece of the brushless DC motor; and identifying the type of the brushless DC motor based on the unique information piece of the brushless DC motor.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2018Date of Patent: October 8, 2019Assignee: NIDEC CORPORATIONInventor: Hideyuki Takemoto
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Patent number: 10250166Abstract: The invention relates to transformers. More particularly, the invention relates to transformers using (preferably electrostatic and more preferably dielectric elastomer) transducers such as generators and actuators. The invention further provides a priming circuit therefor.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2010Date of Patent: April 2, 2019Assignee: Auckland UniServices LimitedInventors: Iain Alexander Anderson, Thomas Gregory McKay, Benjamin Marc O'Brien, Emilio Patricio Calius
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Patent number: 10250163Abstract: An inverse electrowetting harvesting and scavenging circuit includes a first substrate having first and second surfaces. An electrode is formed proximate the first surface and includes an insulating layer covering a surface of the electrode. An electromechanical systems device includes a moveable mass extending over the first surface of the first substrate that may be displaced relative to the first substrate in three dimensions responsive to external forces applied to the moveable mass. The movable mass includes a moveable electrode and a conductive fluid is positioned between the insulating layer of the electrode and the movable electrode.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2016Date of Patent: April 2, 2019Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Sara Loi, Alberto Pagani
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Patent number: 10228396Abstract: The invention provides circuits, systems and methods for dielectric elastomer device (DED) self-sensing. The circuit comprises a first DED coupled or adapted for coupling to a first voltage source (for providing an actuating or priming signal, for example); a current sensor provided in series with the first DED; and an oscillating signal source coupled to the first DED and adapted to cause an oscillation in a voltage across the DED, wherein the oscillating signal source is decoupled from the first voltage source.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2013Date of Patent: March 12, 2019Assignee: Auckland Uniservices LimitedInventors: Todd Alan Gisby, Thomas Gregory McKay, Ho Cheong Lo, Benjamin Marc O'Brien, Iain Alexander Anderson
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Patent number: 10075100Abstract: There is provided a three-dimensional triboelectric energy generator comprising: a moving object; at least two triboelectric energy generator modules defining at least two planes respectively, wherein the moving object is disposed between the least two planes; and at least two elastic members configured to couple the moving object to the at least two triboelectric energy generator modules respectively, wherein a movement of the moving object allows each of the at least two triboelectric energy generator modules to generate a triboelectric energy.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2016Date of Patent: September 11, 2018Assignee: Research & Business Foundation Sungkyunkwan UniversityInventors: Sang Woo Kim, Kwon Hoon Han, Seong Su Kim, Wan Chul Seung, Sung Kyun Kim
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Patent number: 10018971Abstract: A controller for controlling a micromechanical actuator having a setpoint input for receiving a setpoint signal, an actual-value input for receiving an actual-value signal, a setpoint filter to attenuate a first predefined frequency or a first predefined frequency band in the received setpoint signal to generate a filtered setpoint signal, a differentiator to generate a time derivative of the received actual-value signal; a controller core to generate a manipulated variable signal based on a system deviation between the filtered setpoint signal and the actual-value signal; a phase rotation element to modify the phase of the difference between the manipulated variable signal and the derivative of the actual-value signal for a second frequency or in a predefined second frequency band to generate a modified manipulated variable signal; and a first manipulated variable filter to suppress a predefined third frequency in the modified manipulated variable signal.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2017Date of Patent: July 10, 2018Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBHInventors: Andreas Ortseifen, Mohamad Iyad Al Dibs
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Patent number: 9984830Abstract: A variable capacitor, including: two movable plates, two poles, and one rotary shaft. The two movable plates are conductor belts, and the conductor belts are sheathed in insulators. The two poles are conductors, and each is capable of rotating around an axis thereof. First ends of the two movable plates are connected via the insulators and fixed on the rotary shaft, and second ends of the two movable plates are connected to the two poles, respectively. A conductor member of the two movable plates directly contacts the two poles. The lengths of the two movable plates are identical, and are greater than the distance from one pole to the rotary shaft.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2016Date of Patent: May 29, 2018Inventor: Mingmei Liu
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Patent number: 9964777Abstract: Various embodiments provide an optical image stabilization circuit including a drive circuit having a power waveform generator and a power waveform conversion circuit. The power waveform generator generates a power waveform. The power waveform conversion circuit converts the power waveform to a power drive signal. An actuator is then driven by the power drive signal to move a lens accordingly and compensate for any movements and vibrations of a housing of the lens.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2015Date of Patent: May 8, 2018Assignee: STMicroelectronics, Inc.Inventors: Mark A. Lysinger, Chih-Hung Tai, James L. Worley, Pavan Nallamothu
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Patent number: 9964776Abstract: Various embodiments provide an optical image stabilization circuit including a drive circuit having a power waveform generator and a power waveform conversion circuit. The power waveform generator generates a power waveform. The power waveform conversion circuit converts the power waveform to a power drive signal. An actuator is then driven by the power drive signal to move a lens accordingly and compensate for any movements and vibrations of a housing of the lens.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2015Date of Patent: May 8, 2018Assignee: STMicroelectronics, Inc.Inventors: Mark A. Lysinger, Chih-Hung Tai, James L. Worley, Pavan Nallamothu
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Patent number: 9910274Abstract: A vibration driving device that is capable of exciting a vibration of desired amplitude with a low voltage. A vibration body has a plate-like elastic body and an electro-mechanical energy conversion element that is joined to the elastic body. A control unit excites a vibration in a first vibration mode and a vibration in a second vibration mode in the vibration body by applying alternation voltages to the electro-mechanical energy conversion element. Orders or numbers of nodes of the vibrations in the first and second modes in a first direction that intersects perpendicularly with a thickness direction of the elastic body are mutually different by one. And orders or numbers of nodes of the vibrations in the first and second modes in a second direction that intersects perpendicularly with the thickness direction of the elastic body and the first direction are mutually different by one.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2016Date of Patent: March 6, 2018Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Akira Shimada
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Patent number: 9859956Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for wireless power transfer and particularly wireless power transfer to remote system such as electric vehicles. In one aspect an apparatus for use with a wireless power transfer transmitter device comprising a first inductive element for generating a magnetic field, is provided. The apparatus comprises a direct current (DC) power source having an adjustable output voltage. The apparatus also comprises an inverter configured to convert the adjustable output voltage of the DC power source to alternating current. The apparatus also comprises at least one controller configured to receive an indication of current in the first inductive element and control the output voltage of the DC power source in response to the indication of current in the first inductive element. The apparatus reduces distortion signals in the alternating current output of the inverter while maintaining current in the inductive element substantially constant.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2013Date of Patent: January 2, 2018Assignee: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventors: Michael Kissin, Nicholas A Keeling, Jonathan Beaver, Edward Van Boheemen
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Patent number: 9641107Abstract: A motor controller for an electric vehicle sufficiently reduces vibration components caused by torque ripples passing through a resonance frequency of a vehicle body. The motor controller includes motor torque setting means for generating a first torque command, based on vehicle information, rotation position detection means for detecting a rotation position of the motor, rotation speed calculation means for calculating a rotation speed from a rotation position signal, a high-pass filter that extracts an AC signal component of a rotation speed signal, and a resonance suppression gain circuit that outputs a resonance suppression signal. A signal in which the resonance suppression signal is added to or subtracted from the first torque command is used as a second torque command so as to perform drive control for the motor.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2012Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Keiichi Enoki, Masahiro Iezawa, Nobuhide Mori, Yasufumi Ogawa, Hiroyuki Kobayashi
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Patent number: 9632429Abstract: A system and method that bends a reticle and senses a curvature of a bent reticle in real-time. The system includes movable reticle stage, reticle vacuum clamps, sensor systems, and reticle bender. The reticle bender comprises piezo actuators. The sensor systems comprises measurement targets and corresponding sensors. The sensors are attached to the movable reticle stage and the measurement targets are attached to the reticle clamps, the reticle bender, or on reticle surfaces. The system is configured to determine a width of the reticle or distance between measurement targets at opposing ends of the reticle, measure a first rotational angle at a first end of the reticle, and measure a second local rotational angle at a second end of the reticle that is opposite to the first end. Based on the width or distance and the first and second angles, a field curvature of the reticle is determined.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2013Date of Patent: April 25, 2017Assignees: ASML Holding N.V., ASML Netherlands B.V.Inventors: Christopher Charles Ward, Martinus Hendrikus Antonius Leenders, Mark Josef Schuster, Christiaan Louis Valentin
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Patent number: 9618646Abstract: A system for synchronizing instruments in a drill pipe to detect formation characteristics comprises at least one first transmitter for transmitting a first signal, at least one first receiver for receiving a second signal having information based on the first signal, at least one acoustic transmitter for transmitting an acoustic signal, and at least one acoustic sensor electrically connected to one of the at least one first transmitter and the at least one first receiver, the at least one acoustic sensor for sensing the acoustic signal for synchronizing the at least one first transmitter and the at least one first receiver.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2012Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Assignee: BAKERY HUGHES INCORPORATEDInventor: Christian Fulda
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Patent number: 9320336Abstract: A device for applying decoration to a nail. The device includes an elongated member having a first end having a mounting feature thereon, the mounting feature configured to maintain the first end of the device in a fixed position, and a generally opposite, free-floating end configured to be coupled to a nail decoration, the free-floating end configured to provide controlled movement of the decoration. The elongated member is configured to inhibit unintentional movement thereof.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2013Date of Patent: April 26, 2016Assignee: Young Nails, Inc.Inventor: Habib Salo
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Patent number: 9318980Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator includes a vibrating body including a piezoelectric device; a driving circuit that supplies a driving signal to the piezoelectric device; a phase difference detecting circuit that detects a phase difference between the driving signal and a detection signal detected based on vibration of the vibrating body; and a frequency controller that controls the frequency and power of the driving signal, wherein the frequency controller sets the power to an upper limit voltage value when the frequency is changed so that the phase difference falls within a predetermined range and sets the voltage to a lower limit voltage value smaller than the upper limit voltage value when the phase difference is outside the predetermined range.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2012Date of Patent: April 19, 2016Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Osamu Urano
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Publication number: 20150146080Abstract: When a vibration-type actuator is in a non-driving period, at least one of a voltage amplitude and a phase difference of an alternate signal applied to an electrode of a piezoelectric element is set to be equal to a minimum value or a maximum value of a dead zone in terms of the voltage amplitude or the phase difference.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 24, 2014Publication date: May 28, 2015Inventor: Hiromitsu Morita
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Publication number: 20150130374Abstract: A switched resonant power amplifier system for ultrasonic transducers is disclosed. The system includes an amplifier that receives and processes a driver output signal for generating a drive signal that is provided to an ultrasonic device for controlling output of the ultrasonic device. An output control circuit receives and processes a signal related to a feedback signal generated by the ultrasonic device and a divider reference signal, and generates a compensated clock signal that is adjusted for at least one of phase and frequency differences between the received feedback signal and the divider reference signal. A compensated drive circuit receives and processes the compensated clock signal for generating the divider reference signal, and for generating the driver output signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2015Publication date: May 14, 2015Inventors: JAMES H. ORSZULAK, JAMES W. MCPHERSON
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Publication number: 20150108924Abstract: A system for driving a piezoelectric load includes a direct current (DC) voltage source and a bi-directional DC-to-DC converter having a primary side coupled to the DC voltage source and a secondary side and comprising a control input configured to receive a first control signal configured to control conversion of a first voltage on the primary side of the bi-directional DC-to-DC converter to a second voltage on the secondary side of the bi-directional DC-to-DC converter. The driver system also includes a capacitor coupled to the secondary side of the bi-directional DC-to-DC converter and configured to remove a DC offset of the second voltage and includes a reactive load having a first terminal coupled to the capacitor and a second terminal coupled to the secondary side of the bi-directional DC-to-DC converter.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2014Publication date: April 23, 2015Inventors: Ramanujam Ramabhadran, John Stanley Glaser
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Publication number: 20150108923Abstract: Method for controlling a piezoelectric actuator acting on valve elements to open or close a fuel injector respectively allowing or preventing fuel injection into a combustion chamber of an engine, the method includes: applying to the piezoelectric actuator a nominal electrical charge to open the injector, as a function of the torque required and the engine speed, to open the valve elements for fuel injection, thereafter applying to the actuator at least one electrical polarization charge, to polarize the actuator during an opening phase of the injector and fuel injection into the combustion chamber, thereafter commanding the closure of the injector by applying to the actuator at least one electrical discharge to close the valve elements, the step of applying the electrical polarization charge including a prior step of increasing the value of the charge current to a value greater than that of the nominal charge.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2013Publication date: April 23, 2015Applicants: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH, CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE FRANCEInventors: Michael Leblon, Alain Atanasyan, Jeremie Memain
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Patent number: RE45555Abstract: A power supply apparatus with a plurality of power supply circuits each having a piezoelectric transformer and a voltage-controlled oscillator which generates a signal at an operating frequency used to drive the piezoelectric transformer in accordance with a control signal, includes a frequency-dividing circuit which divides the operating frequency generated by a voltage-controlled oscillator in at least one power supply circuit, and outputs a signal at a driving frequency to drive a piezoelectric transformer in the one power supply circuit. When at least one power supply circuit and remaining power supply circuits output voltages, the operating frequency generated by the voltage-controlled oscillator in the one power supply circuit is controlled to be higher than the operating frequency generated by the voltage-controlled oscillator in another power supply circuit.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2011Date of Patent: June 9, 2015Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Atsuhiko Yamaguchi
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Patent number: RE46414Abstract: A power supply apparatus with a plurality of power supply circuits each having a piezoelectric transformer and a voltage-controlled oscillator which generates a signal at an operating frequency used to drive the piezoelectric transformer in accordance with a control signal, includes a frequency-dividing circuit which divides the operating frequency generated by a voltage-controlled oscillator in at least one power supply circuit, and outputs a signal at a driving frequency to drive a piezoelectric transformer in the one power supply circuit. When at least one power supply circuit and remaining power supply circuits output voltages, the operating frequency generated by the voltage-controlled oscillator in the one power supply circuit is controlled to be higher than the operating frequency generated by the voltage-controlled oscillator in another power supply circuit.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2011Date of Patent: May 23, 2017Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Atsuhiko Yamaguchi