Linear-movement Motors Patents (Class 318/135)
  • Patent number: 11962212
    Abstract: Electrical windings for a low-pressure environment are provided. The electrical windings include a body having an aperture and electrical conductors wound about the aperture in the body; a conductive layer at the body, the conductive layer arranged to electrically shield the electrical conductors; electrical connectors at one or more external sides of the body, the electrical connectors electrically connected to the electrical conductors; an insulating housing containing electrical connections between the electrical connectors and the electrical conductors; a conducting faceplate at the insulating housing, grounding portions of the electrical connectors attached to the conducting faceplate; and a conductive coating on the insulating housing, the conductive coating electrically connected to the conducting faceplate and the conductive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: HYPERLOOP TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Juha Nieminen, Arbi Gharakhani Siraki, Rachel Ozer
  • Patent number: 11942885
    Abstract: A device and method for activating a conveyor device. An actual value for a pose of a device movable by the conveyor device by a magnetic force action is received. Depending on the actual value for the pose, as a function of a setpoint value for a torque, as a function of a setpoint value for a force, and as a function of a model, a setpoint value for the activation of at least one actuator of the conveyor device is determined. The model is trained to determine setpoint values for the activation of the at least one actuator as a function of actual values for poses of the device and as a function of setpoint values for torques and setpoint values for forces, using which the device is to be moved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventor: Jonathan Spitz
  • Patent number: 11936253
    Abstract: A system can include an axial field rotary energy device with an axis of rotation and a rotor coaxial with the axis and having a shaft, bearings, rotor disks that are coaxial and permanent magnets on each rotor disk. A printed circuit board (PCB) stator is located between the rotor disks to define an air gap on each side of the PCB stator. An enclosure has two enclosure sections with an inspection port. Bearing caps and bearings are mounted to the rotor. A variable frequency drive (VFD) assembly is coupled to the axial field rotary energy device. The VFD has a flexible conduit that extends between the VFD housing and the axial field rotary energy device. The flexible conduit can adapt to different sizes of axial field rotary energy devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: INFINITUM ELECTRIC INC.
    Inventors: Paulo Guedes-Pinto, Shriram Pushparaj Patil, John Mitchell Wilson, Randal A. Lee, Zachary Thomas Radkey-Pechacek, Luke Robert Wilkin
  • Patent number: 11933640
    Abstract: A magnetic linear position detector includes a stator and a mover that is movable along a first direction with respect to the stator. One of the stator and the mover includes a magnetic detector, and the other of the stator and the mover includes a magnet. The magnet has a first face facing the magnetic detector, and the first face is provided alternately with N poles and S poles along the first direction. The magnet includes a first region and a second region provided on each side of the first region along the first direction. In the first region, a length along a second direction perpendicular to the first face is constant. In the second region, a length along the second direction is different from the length in the first region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takeshi Musha, Yoshinao Tatei, Hisanori Torii, Makoto Higashino
  • Patent number: 11927264
    Abstract: A magnetic actuator includes a first element and a second element movable with respect to the first element in a movement direction. The first element includes teeth successively in the movement direction, two coils in slots defined by the teeth, and a permanent magnet. The second element includes teeth successively in the movement direction. The teeth of the first and second elements and the permanent magnet are arranged so that the second element is held by magnetic forces in each of three positions also when there are no currents in the coils. The second element can be moved between the three positions by supplying electric currents to the coils. Thus, the second element is held in any of the three positions also when current supply to the magnetic actuator is unintentionally lost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: LAPPEENRANNAN-LAHDEN TEKNILLINEN YLIOPISTO LUT
    Inventors: Ilya Petrov, Juha Pyrhönen
  • Patent number: 11923733
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a stator with an inner surface and an outer surface, a plurality of rotors magnetically coupled to the stator, wherein a first rotor faces the inner surface of the stator and a second rotor faces the outer surface of the stator, and a first airgap between the inner surface of the stator and the first rotor, and a second airgap between the outer surface of the stator and the second rotor, wherein first conductors, the first airgap, and the first rotor form a first submotor, and second conductors, the second airgap, and the second rotor form a second submotor, and wherein the first submotor and the second submotor are so configured that the first rotor and the second rotor produce mechanical torques in a same direction when currents flow in the plurality of windings in an operation mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Quantentech Limited
    Inventor: Hengchun Mao
  • Patent number: 11909284
    Abstract: A flat-type stator with multilayer coils for a disc-type motor is provided with a stator coil and a flat stator base, wherein a coil assembly is arranged in the stator coil, and a plurality of coil assemblies are arranged in a ring or in a straight line on the stator base; the coil assembly is formed by stacking even-numbered layers of single coils overlapped with the stator base in a vertical direction, each single coil is composed of even-numbered layers of single-layer coils wound by a single wire, and the single-layer coil is provided with a single axial wire; metal wires are sequentially connected in series among the plurality of coil assemblies to form a coil unit, the single coils in the coil unit have a same structure and a same shape and are not overlapped axially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Inventor: Renwei Yu
  • Patent number: 11884016
    Abstract: An X-arm carriage assembly for an additive manufacturing machine includes a magnet frame, a frame plate, a top plate and a bottom plate that define a rectangular shaped tube structure, first and second support brackets attached to first and second distal ends of the rectangular shaped tube structure to support the X-arm carriage assembly for movement along an x-axis, an encoder strip, a top linear rail mounted and a bottom linear rail adapted to moveably support a print head carriage on the X-arm carriage assembly along a y-axis, a longitudinal slot formed within the magnet frame, and a linear motor magnet track mounted onto the magnet frame in alignment with the longitudinal slot and extending longitudinally along the magnet frame, the linear motor magnet track including one of a single magnet and a plurality of magnets mounted adjacent one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: ESSENTIUM IPCO, LLC
    Inventors: Erik John Gjovik, William Jack MacNeish, III
  • Patent number: 11870385
    Abstract: A linear motor includes a magnetic assembly and a coil assembly having at least one coil positioned to magnetically engage the magnetic assembly for linear displacement between the magnetic assembly and the coil assembly. The linear motor further includes an encoder strip attached to one of the magnetic assembly and the coil assembly and an encoder reader attached to the other one of the magnetic assembly and the coil assembly to read the encoder strip during the linear displacement between the magnetic assembly and the coil assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Arcus Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher C. Chang
  • Patent number: 11831182
    Abstract: An independent cart system provides a track assembly having a first, second, and third portion with the first and second portions providing drive coils mounted along the length of the track and flanking the second portion devoid of drive coils, the second portion providing an energy transfer coil. A plurality of movers operative to travel along the track, and have a drive member and a pick-up coil mounted for electrical interaction with the energy transfer coil when a given mover is aligned with a given second track portion. The first and second track portions include current drive circuits providing current to respective drive coils to generate electromagnetic fields which engages mover drive members to propel each movers along the track and the second track portion includes an energy transfer circuit providing current to the energy transfer coil to transfer electrical energy through mutual inductance to pick-up coils of the movers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuhong Huang, Brian M. Perreault, Robert H. Schmidt, Michaela R. Kaufmann
  • Patent number: 11810715
    Abstract: An electromagnetic propulsion system is provided. The system comprises first and second pluralities of stator coils wound about first and second axes, a plurality of support structures, first and second couplers that surround portions of the first and second pluralities of stator coils, and first and second pluralities of sets of rotor coils wound about axes that are parallel to the first and second axes. The stator coils are configured to receive electric current through an outside controller selecting appropriately coupled stator sections or through a sliding electrical contact system or bearing system to induce at least a first magnetic field. The plurality of support structures supports the first and second plurality of stator coils. The first and second couplers include notches and are oriented so that their notches pass over the plurality of support structures when the couplers move along the stator coils. The couplers may have an adjustable segment to close the notch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Honeywell Federal Manufacturing & Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Seth Hartman, Erik Timpson
  • Patent number: 11794322
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides various embodiments of a fastener-driving tool that includes a battery-charged supercapacitor as a power source. The fastener-driving tool includes first and second spaced-apart, conductive rails and a partially conductive piston slidably mounted on the rails. The rails and the piston are electrically connected to one another. The supercapacitor is electrically connected to the first rail. When the supercapacitor discharges electrical current, the electrical current flows from the supercapacitor, into the first rail, through the piston into the second rail, and from the second rail. The electrical current induces magnetic fields in the rails and the piston, and the combination of the electrical current and the magnetic fields induce a Lorentz force that acts on the piston to move the piston toward a nosepiece to drive a fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Chinbay Q. Fan, Patrick Talano
  • Patent number: 11791753
    Abstract: A motor drive system includes motor drive control devices supplying first and second powers to first and second coils, respectively. The first motor drive control device includes: a detector communication unit acquiring a mover movement detection value; a position and speed control unit generating a thrust command to cause the movement detection value to follow a time-series movement target value received from an external device; and a current control unit supplying, to the first coils, the first power to cause thrust generated on the mover to follow the thrust command, and generating data on third power to be supplied to the second coils and transmitting the data to the second motor drive control device when the mover moves from the first coil to the second coil. The second motor drive control device supplies the second power calculated using the data on the third power to the second coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shoya Kitagawa, Yuji Igarashi
  • Patent number: 11780333
    Abstract: An improved system for preventing collisions between movers while improving throughput in a linear drive system utilizes a continually variable vehicle length for each mover. A vehicle length is assigned to each mover, where the vehicle length is a minimum track length required by the vehicle to avoid physically contacting a neighboring vehicle along the track. The vehicle length for each mover is then determined for each location along the track based on both the track geometry and the mover geometry. The vehicle length is continually variable along the length of the track allowing movers to be positioned as close together as possible for each location along the track based on both the track geometry and the mover geometry. The continually variable vehicle length provides collision prevention between movers while increasing throughput of movers along segments of the track that do not require the largest spacing between movers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuhong Huang, Brian M. Perreault
  • Patent number: 11774521
    Abstract: The invention discloses a position measuring mechanism and a measuring method of a linear motion system in which two sensors are respectively disposed on two sides of a stator, in addition to allowing a moving portion to perform bidirectional movement, under a premise of not increasing a quantity of the sensors, a measuring range of the sensors can be calculated based on information measured by the sensors themselves. Furthermore, the invention further combines measurement sections respectively measured by the two sensors to ensure an accuracy of position feedback, instead of the conventional technique using an operational method of combining sinusoidal and cosine signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: HIWIN MIKROSYSTEM CORP.
    Inventors: Mikhail Tiapkin, Oleg Tolstykh, Sergey Volkov, Gennady Tyapkin, Aleksandr Balkovoi
  • Patent number: 11767180
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for shuttle turning systems having linear synchronous motors. In one embodiment, an example system for shuttle transportation may include a first linear synchronous motor arranged in a first orientation, a second linear synchronous motor arranged in a second orientation that is transverse to the first orientation, and a shuttle. The shuttle may have a first permanent magnet coupled to the shuttle and a second permanent magnet coupled to the shuttle, where the first permanent magnet is arranged parallel to the first orientation and the second permanent magnet is arranged parallel to the second orientation. The shuttle may be configured to be propelled in a first direction via the first linear synchronous motor and the first permanent magnet, and to be propelled in a second direction via the second linear synchronous motor and the second linear synchronous motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Rajeev Dwivedi, Vivek S. Narayanan, Ganesh Krishnamoorthy, Mohit Malik, Michael Alan Bray
  • Patent number: 11757323
    Abstract: A stator configuration for a motor or generator has a stator core made of a thermally conductive material. The field coil of this configuration is secured to the stator core by a thermally conductive material. A field coil configuration has first and second layers of windings of an electrical conductor in which adjacent flat surfaces disposed generally parallel to the axis of magnetic flux of the coil are in direct contact with each other. The stator configuration and the field coil configuration may be an element of an electric motor or generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Blackbox Energy Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Elijah Robert Jensen
  • Patent number: 11725896
    Abstract: A plasma generator is provided for initiation of propellant charges in a weapons system, for example when launching projectiles from a barrel weapon, by electrical discharge between a rear electrode and a front electrode in a combustion chamber channel enclosed in a combustion chamber body and filled with filling gas, designed to ignite at least one propellant charge. An ammunition unit and a launching device including the plasma generator are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: BAE SYSTEMS BOFORS AB
    Inventor: Mats Jansson
  • Patent number: 11722176
    Abstract: A wireless communication apparatus may include: an oscillator including a coil assembly exposed to an outside of the wireless communication apparatus, a variable capacitor, and a negative resistor; and a phase locking circuit connected to the coil assembly and the negative resistor. The phase locking circuit may be configured to generate a control signal to lock an oscillation frequency of the oscillator based on an oscillation signal generated by the oscillator, and provide the generated control signal to the variable capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seok Ju Yun, Sang Joon Kim, Joonseong Kang
  • Patent number: 11721443
    Abstract: Control rod drives include linearly-moveable control elements inside an isolation barrier. Control rod drives move the control element through secured magnetic elements subject to magnetic fields. Induction coils may generate the magnetic fields across a full stroke length of the control element in the reactor. A closed coolant loop may cool the induction coils, which may be in a vacuum outside the isolation barrier. A control rod assembly may house the magnetic elements and directly, removably join to the control element. The control rod assembly may lock with magnetic overtravel latches inside the isolation barrier to maintain an overtravel position. Overtravel release coils outside the isolation barrier may release the latches to leave the overtravel position. Methods of operation include selectively energizing or de-energizing induction coils to drive the control element to desired insertion points, including full insertion by gravity following de-energization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: GE-HITACHI NUCLEAR ENERGY AMERICAS LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Morgan, David L. Major, Randy M. Brown
  • Patent number: 11718488
    Abstract: A linear motor conveyor system having a moving element including a first and a second magnetic element on opposite sides; a first track including a first linear motor configured to generate a dynamic magnetic field which acts on the first magnetic element to provide a first lateral force and a first longitudinal force; a second track with a transfer region positioned adjacent to the first track, the second track configured to generate a magnetic field that acts on the second magnetic element to provide a second lateral force; and a controller to control the first linear motor such that the first dynamic lateral force is configured to bias the moving element toward the first linear motor until the moving element reaches a switch point in the transfer region, where the first and second lateral forces are selectively adjusted to bias the moving element toward the second track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: ATS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Albert Kleinikkink, Roger Hogan
  • Patent number: 11712792
    Abstract: A setting tool for driving fastening elements into a substrate, comprising a holder for holding a fastening element; a drive-in element for transferring a fastening element held in the holder into the substrate along a setting axis; and a drive for driving the drive-in element toward the fastening element along the setting axis, wherein the drive comprises an electrical capacitor; a squirrel-cage rotor arranged on the drive-in element; and an excitation coil; which during discharge of the capacitor is flowed through by current and generates a magnetic field that accelerates the drive-in element toward the fastening element, wherein the setting tool further comprises a soft-magnetic frame, in which the excitation coil is embedded; and a supporting structure; wherein, at least during the discharge of the capacitor, the supporting structure exerts on the soft-magnetic frame a pretensioning force directed radially inward with respect to the setting axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Tilo Dittrich, Thomas Sperrfechter, Norbert Heeb
  • Patent number: 11702295
    Abstract: An embodiment includes a plurality of transport modules forming a transport path on which a carriage that transports a workpiece travels, and a control unit that controls a position of the carriage on the plurality of transport modules based on a drive instruction, and the control unit corrects the drive instruction during carriage motion that is based on the drive instruction and stops the carriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Manabu Umeyama, Hidetada Narahara, Shinichiro Takahama, Takeshi Yamamoto, Koji Tomoda
  • Patent number: 11701786
    Abstract: Various embodiments relate to magnetically moveable displacement devices or robotic devices. Particular embodiments provide systems and corresponding methods for magnetically moving multiple movable robots relative to one or more working surfaces of respective one or more work bodies, and for moving robots between the one or more work bodies via transfer devices. Robots can carry one or more objects among different locations, manipulate carried objects, and/or interact with their surroundings for particular functionality including but not limited to assembly, packaging, inspection, 3D printing, test, laboratory automation, etc. A mechanical link may be mounted on planar motion units such as said robots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Inventors: Xiaodong Lu, Peter Tang, Alexander H. Slocum, Rui Chen
  • Patent number: 11703021
    Abstract: In a fuel injection device, a driving unit structure has a magnetic aperture, in which an inner diameter is gradually enlarged toward the mover side, provided in an inner peripheral surface of the magnetic core. It is possible to reduce magnetic delay time upon valve opening from the supply of the electric current to the coil to the rise of magnetic flux and magnetic delay time upon valve closing from the stoppage of the electric current to the coil to reduction of magnetic flux, by providing a magnetic aperture in the inner peripheral surface of the magnetic core. Thus it is possible to improve the dynamic responsiveness upon valve opening and valve closing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Hitachi Astemo, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryo Kusakabe, Motoyuki Abe, Tohru Ishikawa, Noriyuki Maekawa, Masahiro Soma, Takao Miyake, Yasuo Namaizawa
  • Patent number: 11705799
    Abstract: A control device, linear drive, production- or packaging machine, computer program product and method for controlling movement of at least one rotor in the linear drive, wherein a user or a machine station specifies the movement pattern to the control device to specify the movement, where the specified movement pattern is associated with virtual axes, particularly via the computer program product, the movement pattern is advantageously automatically associated with virtual axes subsequently associated with real axes, a control unit, i.e., a converter, controls movement of the rotor on the segment of the linear drive and the control unit supplies at least one segment with electrical voltage or current, where the segments as part of the linear drive therefore move the rotors in accordance with the specifications of the movement pattern, where such an association occurs automatically, and the user is relieved of this task during specification of the movement pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Sven Rothe, Chris Hofmann, Marco Gierden, Thomas Hennefelder, Michael Jäntsch, Carsten Spindler
  • Patent number: 11697405
    Abstract: A method and a device for determining braking-related actual values of a train assembly including multiple carriages for carrying out a deceleration-controlled braking of the train assembly, in which the longitudinal deceleration and the longitudinal slope are considered to be actual values, from which an adjustment value balancing the control deviation is determined for a control element of the brake by a deceleration controller/deceleration force controller according to a predefined setpoint value of a desired braking deceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Inventors: Christoph Tomberger, Ulf Friesen
  • Patent number: 11693323
    Abstract: A control apparatus for controlling a controlled object includes a measuring device configured to measure a state of the controlled object, and a controller configured to generate a manipulated variable corresponding to an output of the measuring device and a target value. The controller includes a compensator configured to output an index corresponding to the output of the measuring device and the target value, and a converter configured to convert the index into the manipulated variable such that a probability at which a predetermined manipulated variable is generated is a target probability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takashi Kurihara
  • Patent number: 11682513
    Abstract: Electromagnetic actuators are provided, which generate bidirectional linear force output without magnetic bias from current or permanent magnets. Systems and methods based on the electromagnetic actuators are also provided. In particular, an electromagnetic actuator having a shaft, an axial bearing, coil assembly, top and bottom stationary flux returns, and top and bottom magnetic flux sensors to measure flux crossing the respective top and bottom axial air gaps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: John E. Miesner
  • Patent number: 11671045
    Abstract: A transport apparatus includes an electric motor having a mover and coils, and a control device that controls the electric motor and includes a measuring unit and a control unit. The coils drives the mover by applying a current to each of the coils. The measuring unit measures an impedance of each coil. The control unit controls the current flowing through each of the coils based on a third current command value in which a first current command value, indicating a current corresponding to a thrust command value indicating a thrust applied to the mover, and a second current command value, indicating a current for measuring the impedance, are superimposed. The control unit determines the second current command value such that the mover does not receive a thrust due to a component corresponding to the second current command value in the current flowing through each coil when measuring the impedance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiromu Sekiguchi
  • Patent number: 11667022
    Abstract: A setting tool for driving fastening elements into a substrate comprises a holder for holding a fastening element; a drive-in element for transferring a fastening element held in the holder into the substrate along a setting axis; and, a drive for driving the drive-in element toward the fastening element along the setting axis, wherein the drive comprises an electrical capacitor, which is arranged on the setting axis or around the setting axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Tilo Dittrich
  • Patent number: 11658598
    Abstract: A linear motor system includes: a stator including first to tenth coils; a mover including a permanent magnet; a switcher that switches one or more power supply target coils; and a control device that supplies power to the one or more power supply target coils by using a deviation integral value obtained by integrating a speed deviation that is a difference between an instructed speed of the mover and an actual speed of the mover. The control device includes: a compensator that calculates a post-division deviation integral value by dividing a post-summation deviation integral value, which is a value obtained by summing the deviation integral value used to supply power to each of the one or more power supply target coils immediately before the switching, by the total number of the one or more power supply target coils immediately after the switching; and a current control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Renya Kawakami, Kenta Murakami, Toru Tazawa, Yusuke Nonogaki
  • Patent number: 11650082
    Abstract: A position detection system includes: two magnet rows including a plurality of magnets arrayed cyclically and repeatedly with an array pattern as one cycle in a detection direction, a magnet in the magnet row and a magnet in the magnet row facing each other at surfaces having different polarities at a specific position in the detection direction; a magnetic sensor disposed between the two magnet rows, a relative position of the magnetic sensor relative to the two magnet rows in the X-axis direction being variable; and a determiner that determines a position of the magnetic sensor in an predetermined direction relative to the two magnet rows based on a detection value of the magnetic sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Murata Machinery, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Kadoguchi, Yasutake Yamada
  • Patent number: 11641169
    Abstract: A motor controller is provided that executes a commutation routine in one of a plurality of operating modes to regulate current provided to drive coils in a linear motion system. The motor controller generated currents for each of the drive coils in a first operating mode to minimize the copper losses in the drive coils, in a second operating mode to maximize the force applied to the mover, in a third operating mode to provide balanced currents between the drive coils, and in a fourth operating mode to provide currents according to a selected operating point that combines characteristics of the first three operating points. The motor controller may also monitor each of the drive coils for saturation and redistribute at least a portion of the current required to control operation of the mover to the other drive coils when one of the drive coils is saturated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Jadav Das
  • Patent number: 11632031
    Abstract: A magnetic field propulsion unit includes a magnetic field generating device with multiple conductive lines conduct a current to generate a magnetic field; a contact breaker arrangement individually transitions each of the multiple conductive lines from a conductive state to a non-conductive state; an energy supply unit provides the magnetic field generating device with electrical energy; and a control unit controls the energy supply unit so that energy supply to each individual conductive line is controlled and control the contact breaker arrangement. The multiple conductive lines are arranged along a longitudinal axis. The control unit supplies a first conductive line with electrical energy so that a first magnetic field surrounding the first conductive line is generated, transitions the first conductive line to a non-conductive state, and supplies a second conductive line with electrical energy so that a second magnetic field is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Tomorrow's Motion GmbH
    Inventor: Lutz May
  • Patent number: 11592456
    Abstract: Driving an electromotor and a brushed electromotor in particular results in ripples in the supply current. The amount of pulses is proportional to the amount of revolutions of the rotor of the electromotor. With a flawless motor, the amount of pulses is the same with each revolution. Flaws of the electromotor, in brushes, rotor, windings and/or other components, results in fluctuations of pulses in the supply current per revolution of the rotor. By comparing an expected amount of pulses to counted pulses and using various physical parameters of the electromotor, various methods may be employed to correct a counted amount of pulses or otherwise provide an appropriate value representing displacement of the rotor of the electromotor. The time between counted pulses may also be used for determining slip of a slip coupling comprised by a drive train to which the electromotor may be coupled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: MCi (Mirror Controls International) Netherlands B.V.
    Inventor: Jinku Hu
  • Patent number: 11591187
    Abstract: A linear propulsion system and method of assembling and testing the same is disclosed. The linear propulsion system may comprise a track, a vehicle, a mover mounted to the vehicle, and a dual inverter system. The track may comprise a first plurality of stator sections interleaved with a second plurality of stator sections. The dual inverter system may include first and second multi-phase inverters that share input hardware.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Fernando Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 11590640
    Abstract: A setting tool driving fastening elements, comprising a holder for a fastening element; a drive-in element transferring a fastening element in the holder into a substrate along a setting axis by a setting energy Ekin of at least 30 J and at most 600 J; a drive for driving the drive-in element toward the fastening element along the setting axis, the drive comprising a capacitor, a rotor on the drive-in element; and, an excitation coil, which during discharge of the capacitor is flowed through by current and generates a magnetic field accelerating the drive-in element toward the fastening element, the drive-in element having a piston diameter dK and a piston mass mK, and wherein, for dK, 2 3 ? ( a + b ? E k ? i ? n n ) ? d K ? 4 3 ? ( a + b ? E k ? i ? n n ) where a=33 mm, b=6 mmJ?n and n=? and/or, for mK, 2 3 ? ( c + d ? E k ? i ? n n ) ? m K ? 5 3 ? ( c + d ? E k ? i ? n n ) where c=20 g, d=30 gJ?n and n=?.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: HILTI AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Peter Bruggmueller, Chafic Abu Antoun, Tilo Dittrich
  • Patent number: 11579058
    Abstract: A bond test apparatus includes a test tool, a stage for mounting a bond for testing, and a drive mechanism comprising a voice coil. The voice coil is coupled to either the stage or to the test tool and is configured to provide relative movement between the stage and the test tool such that the bond applies a test force to the test tool. The bond test apparatus can also include a velocity sensor configured to sense an instantaneous relative velocity between the stage and the test tool, and a controller configured to control the drive mechanism in response to a signal from the velocity sensor. The bond test apparatus can also include a retarding mechanism coupled to the stage or the test tool and configured to apply, in response to relative movement between the stage and the test tool, a retarding force opposing the driving force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventor: Ian C. Mayes
  • Patent number: 11575337
    Abstract: A system is described in which a magnetic mover includes at least one mover identification device. The system also includes a stator defining a work surface and including an actuation coil assembly and at least one stator identification device operable to interact with the at least one mover identification device. One or more sensors are used to sense a position of the first magnetic mover. One or more stator driving circuits are used to drive the actuation coil assembly to thereby move the first magnetic mover over the work surface. The first magnetic mover includes one or more magnetic components positioned such that interaction of one or more magnetic fields emitted by the one or more magnetic components with one or more magnetic fields generated by the actuation coil assembly when driven by the one or more stator driving circuits enables movement of the first magnetic mover in at least two degrees of freedom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: PLANAR MOTOR INCORPORATED.
    Inventors: Xiaodong Lu, Yao Kevin Xiao
  • Patent number: 11564435
    Abstract: Embodiments herein describe automated systems and methods to assemble a garment, such as a T-shirt. Some embodiments provide for systems and methods for transferring and manipulating fabrics and joining garment components during garment manufacturing in a way that is more suitable to automation. Some embodiments provide for garment manufacturing systems and methods that are reconfigurable to enable both mass production of customized garments and small batch processing with reduced human intervention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: CreateMe Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas Chope, Eric Berner Strom, Khamvong Thammasouk, Yongqiang Li
  • Patent number: 11554721
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiment provide a sliding step assembly for a vehicle or a rail vehicle, comprising at least one footboard, which is guided on a guiding device for movement along a travel path between a retracted position and an extended position by driving by a drive. The drive contains at least one electrical linear motor operating without contact, wherein the driving force of the electrical linear motor is transferred to the footboard without mechanical connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Knorr-Bremse Gesellscaft mit beschränkter Haftung
    Inventors: Andreas Mair, Johann Wilflinger
  • Patent number: 11552553
    Abstract: A load abnormality detecting circuit for an inverter to detect abnormality of a load during an operation of the inverter which has a switching element and a phase synchronizing loop controlling an output frequency to be a resonance frequency of the load, the load abnormality detecting circuit includes a phase shift detection part that detects a phase shift between an output voltage and an output current which are applied from the inverter to the load and sends an abnormal load signal based on the detected phase shift. The switching element including a self-arc-extinguishing element and a reflux diode connected in reversely parallel to the self-arc-extinguishing element. The phase shift detection part detects advance and delay of a phase of the output current with respect to the output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: NETUREN CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takahiko Kanai
  • Patent number: 11541217
    Abstract: An oscillating apparatus, such as a tattooing apparatus applying an electric motor such as a linear motor, and a first sensor and a controller. A method for controlling an oscillating apparatus such as a tattooing apparatus, includes a controller and various sensors to control, among other things, the position, velocity and acceleration of a needle either directly or via a needle connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Wit Innovation ApS
    Inventors: Klaus Kristoffer Wittendorff, Asmundur Marteinsson
  • Patent number: 11522434
    Abstract: A linear positioning platform and a linear positioning system based on magnetic transmission are disclosed. The linear positioning platform includes a moving magnetic linear motor module and a magnetic transmission linear positioning module. The moving magnet linear motor module includes a base, a stator coil, a first yoke, and motor poles. There is a gap between the stator coil and motor pole. The magnetic transmission linear positioning module includes first mover poles, a magnetizing skeleton, a plurality of magnetizing blocks, a second yoke, and second mover poles. There is a gap between the first mover pole and magnetizing block and also between the magnetizing block and second mover pole. The linear positioning platform and linear positioning system have the characteristics of low cost, compact structure, high utilization rate of permanent magnets, high speed, high precision, high dynamic response, etc., which greatly promotes the development of related fields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: SOOCHOW UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Jizhu Liu, Licheng Fan, Xiaoqi Zhang
  • Patent number: 11509207
    Abstract: A wire bonding system is provided including a bond head assembly carrying a wire bonding tool. A wire bonding system also includes a linear motor system for driving the bond head assembly along a first horizontal axis. The linear motor system includes a moving magnet assembly including a magnet track and a plurality of permanent magnets coupled to the magnet track; a coil assembly arranged around the moving magnet assembly, the coil assembly including a plurality of teeth having first slots therebetween, the coil assembly also including a plurality of coils at least partially disposed in at least a portion of the slots; a position encoder system; a damper element positioned between the coil assembly and a base structure of the linear motor system; and a spring element positioned between the coil assembly and the base structure of the linear motor system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Jesse S. Parish, Gregory J. Cutilli
  • Patent number: 11504837
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides various embodiments of a fastener-driving tool that includes a battery-charged supercapacitor as a power source. The fastener-driving tool includes first and second spaced-apart, conductive rails and a partially conductive piston slidably mounted on the rails. The rails and the piston are electrically connected to one another. The supercapacitor is electrically connected to the first rail. When the supercapacitor discharges electrical current, the electrical current flows from the supercapacitor, into the first rail, through the piston into the second rail, and from the second rail. The electrical current induces magnetic fields in the rails and the piston, and the combination of the electrical current and the magnetic fields induce a Lorentz force that acts on the piston to move the piston toward a nosepiece to drive a fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Chinbay Q. Fan, Patrick Talano
  • Patent number: 11502580
    Abstract: A linear actuator includes a guide rail, a wall portion, a coil, a heat transfer member, a heat radiation member, and a heat insulation member. A mover having a permanent magnet is movable along the guide rail. The wall portion is installed on a pedestal and supports the guide rail. The heat transfer member is coupled to the coil and the heat radiation member is coupled to an end of the heat transfer member. The heat insulation member is installed on the pedestal and coupled to the heat radiation member. The heat transfer member is arranged apart from the wall portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ryota Okazaki
  • Patent number: 11496075
    Abstract: Provided is a system for reducing velocity of a conveyance. The system may include a conveyance. A first member of a linear motor may be attached to the conveyance. A second member of the linear motor may include stator coils. The second member may be separate from the first member and may be separate from the conveyance. The first member may be moveable relative to the second member. A current-interrupting device may selectively shunt at least two coil wires of the stator coils by shorting the at least two coil wires. A method for reducing velocity of a conveyance and a method for making a system for reducing velocity of a conveyance are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Velocity Magnetics, Inc.
    Inventors: Domenic P. Marzano, Terry Joseph Marzano
  • Patent number: 11472211
    Abstract: Embodiments herein describe a DTG printing environment that uses autonomous robots to move garments between DTG processing stages (e.g., retrieval stages, pretreatment stages, printing stages, drying stages, etc.). Doing so removes the dependency of DTG printing process on the stage that consumes the most time. In one embodiment, the DTG processing stages or the autonomous robot include an actuator for moving the garment and the DTG processing stage closer together. In one embodiment, the processing stage includes a lift (e.g., an actuator) that lifts a detachable carrier from the robot on which the garment is mounted. The lift can level and rotate the detachable carrier to provide a fine alignment between the garment and the DTG processing stage. While a lift is specifically disclosed, in other embodiments, the actuator could be disposed on the robot to lift up the garment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: CreateMe Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Khamvong Thammasouk, Thomas C. K. Myers, Jinhwa Jung, Benjamin R. Waller, IV, David B. Lemke