Novatorque, Inc.

Luckoff Display Corporation

Nikon Corporation

Hitachi Metals, Ltd.

Iomega Corporation

Other

Novartorque, Inc.

Ken George Wasson

John Patrick Petro

Jeremy Franz Mayer

Jefferson E Odhner

Donald L Cullen

Andrew J Hazelton

John C Briggs

Donald Burch

Michael Regalbuto

James E Dvorsky

Juro Endo

Masahiro Mita

Daniel J Smith

W Thomas Novak

Shailesh S Bhat

Lawrence Edward Miller

A method, apparatus, article of manufacture and system for producing a field pole member for electrodynamic machinery are disclosed to, among other things, reduce magnetic flux path lengths and to eliminate back-iron for increasing torque and/or efficiency per unit size (or unit weight) and for reducing manufacturing costs. For example, a field pole member structure can either reduce the length of magnetic flux paths or substantially straighten those paths through the field pole members, or both. In one embodiment, a method provides for the construction of field pole members for electrodynamic machines.

Sculpted field pole members and methods of forming the same for electrodynamic machines

A method, apparatus, system and computer-readable medium for designing and/or simulating electrodynamic machinery are disclosed to, among other things, optimize one or more performance characteristics by manipulating structural and/or functional characteristics of the constituent components of an electrodynamic machine. According to the various embodiments, a motor designer can create a new motor design by modeling a rotor-stator structure to design and/or simulate electrodynamic machines that implement, for example, conically shaped magnets and accompanying field pole members.

Computer-readable medium, a method and an apparatus for designing and simulating electrodynamic machines implementing conical and cylindrical magnets

Various embodiments relate generally to electrodynamic machines and the like, and more particularly, to rotor assemblies and rotor-stator structures for electrodynamic machines, including, but not limited to, outer rotor assemblies and/or inner rotor assemblies with a corresponding stator assembly. In some embodiments a rotor assembly can include magnetically permeable structures having confronting surfaces oriented at an angle to the axis of rotation. A group of magnetic structures can be interleaved with the magnetically permeable structures. The magnetically permeable structures can also include non-confronting surfaces adjacent to which boost magnets are disposed to enhance flux in a flux path passing through magnetic structures that are interleaved with magnetically permeable structures. Further, the rotor assemblies can include a flux conductor shield disposed adjacent to the boost magnets, the flux conductor shield configured to provide return flux paths.

Rotor-stator structures including boost magnet structures for magnetic regions having angled confronting surfaces in rotor assemblies

Various embodiments relate generally to electrodynamic machines and the like, and more particularly, to rotor assemblies and rotor-stator structures for electrodynamic machines, including, but not limited to, outer rotor assemblies. In some embodiments, a stator assembly including field pole members arranged about an axis of rotation and including pole faces at the ends of the field pole members, subsets of the pole faces being disposed within a boundaries of conically-shaped spaces having apexes disposed on the axis of rotation. The rotor assemblies include interior regions in which the subsets of the pole faces are disposed, the interior regions having surfaces external to the boundaries of the conically-shaped spaces. The rotor assemblies also include subsets of magnets interleaved circumferentially with the subsets of magnetically permeable structures and boost magnets disposed adjacent the subsets of magnetically permeable structures. Further, rotor assemblies include flux conductor shields disposed adjacent the boost magnets.

Rotor-stator structures including boost magnet structures for magnetic regions in rotor assemblies disposed external to boundaries of conically-shaped spaces

Embodiments of the invention relate generally to electric motors, alternators, generators and the like, and more particularly, to stator structures and rotor-stator structures for motors that can be configured to, for example, reduce detent.

Stator and rotor-stator structures for electrodynamic machines

A method, apparatus and system producing for electrodynamic machinery are disclosed. In one embodiment, an integrated stator-housing structure for constructing electrodynamic machines includes one or more field pole members. Each field pole member can have a first pole face and a second pole face. Also, the members each can have a field pole core being configured to produce a flux path in a direction from the first pole face to the second pole face. In one embodiment, the integrated stator-housing structure can also include a housing structure configured to support the one or more field pole members. The housing structure is configured to mate with one or more other housing structures to form an enclosure of an electrodynamic machine. In another embodiment, the housing structure is composed of potting compound formed with the one or more field pole members in, for example, a mold. In this case, the integrated stator-housing structure includes the potting compound and the field pole members. In a specific embodiment, the flux path is straight from the first pole face to the second pole face.

Apparatus and method for constructing electrodynamic machines

A method, apparatus and system for selectably directing power signals to coils of active field pole members in brushless electrodynamic machinery are disclosed. In one embodiment, a field pole commutator includes a power transfer region configured to transfer at least a first power signal and second power signal to the coils. It also includes a first power region and a second power region configured to provide the first power signal and the second power signal, respectively, to the power transfer region. The first power region and the second power region each are configured to rotate together with the power transfer region about an axis of rotation. In one embodiment, the field pole commutator is implemented in a brushless direct current ('DC') current motor, which includes a rotor having permanent magnets and a plurality of active field pole members. Each active field pole member has one or more coils wound about the periphery of field pole members to form said plurality of active field pole members. In a specific embodiment, permanent magnets of the rotor include either conical magnets or cylindrical magnets, or both.

Commutation of brushless electrodynamic machines

A motor module, method, apparatus and system for implementing linear and rotary motors, such as relatively large rotary motors, are disclosed. In one embodiment, an electrodynamic machine can include magnets having angled magnetic surfaces and regions of predetermined magnetic polarization. The magnets can include a first array and a second array of magnets arranged in a direction of motion. Also included are groups of field pole members arranged adjacent to the first array and the second array of magnets. The field pole members include angled flux interaction surfaces, which can be formed at the ends of the field pole members to confront the angled magnetic surfaces. In combination, the angled flux interaction surfaces and the angled magnetic surfaces define air gaps. As such, the angled flux interaction surfaces are configured to magnetically couple the field pole members to the magnets to form either a linear or rotary motor.

Motor modules for linear and rotary motors

A rotor-stator structure for electrodynamic machinery is disclosed to, among other things, minimize magnetic flux path lengths and to eliminate back-iron for increasing torque and/or efficiency per unit size (or unit weight) and for reducing manufacturing costs. In one embodiment, an exemplary rotor-stator structure can comprise a shaft defining an axis of rotation, and a rotor on which at least two magnets are mounted on the shaft. The two magnets can be cylindrical or conical magnets having magnetic surfaces that confront air gaps. In some embodiments, substantially straight field pole members can be arranged coaxially and have flux interaction surfaces formed at both ends of those field poles. Those surfaces are located adjacent to the confronting magnetic surfaces to define functioning air gaps, which are generally curved in shape.

Rotor-stator structure for electrodynamic machines

A rotor-stator structure for electrodynamic machinery is disclosed to, among other things, minimize magnetic flux path lengths and to eliminate back-iron for increasing torque and/or efficiency per unit size (or unit weight) and for reducing manufacturing costs. In one embodiment, an exemplary rotor-stator structure can comprise a shaft defining an axis of rotation, and a rotor on which at least two substantially conical magnets are mounted on the shaft. The magnets include conical magnetic surfaces facing each other and confronting air gaps. In some embodiments, substantially straight field pole members can be arranged coaxially and have flux interaction surfaces formed at both ends of those field poles. Those surfaces are located adjacent to the confronting conical magnetic surfaces to define functioning air gaps. Current in coils wound on the field poles provide selectable magnetic fields that interact with magnet flux in flux interaction regions to provide torque to the shaft.

The present invention is directed to an improvement in a diffractive display suitable for presenting graphic and the like displays. Broadly, a novel embodiment is realized from a holographic diffraction pattern carried by a magnet or element and an electrically energizable coil magnetically coupled with said magnet that is energizable for movement of the magnet. Rotation of the holographic diffraction pattern generates a display using the diffracted light from the holographic diffraction grating. Another novel embodiment is realized from a faceted rotatable element (FRE) having an array of facets each bearing a diffraction grating and a source energizable for rotation of the FRE from a resting station to a viewing station. Rotation of the FRE generates a display using the diffracted light from the diffraction gratings.

Growing community of inventors

Foster City, CA, United States of America

Ken George Wasson