Patent classifications
H02K41/0358
THROTTLE DRIVE ACTUATOR FOR AN ENGINE
A throttle drive actuator for an engine includes a rotor and a stator. The rotor connects with a valve of a throttle body to rotate the valve, to open a close an air passage of the throttle body of the engine.
Systems and methods for controlling a Lorentz-force-based apparatus
The disclosed system may include (1) a conductive coil, where at least a portion of the coil is oriented along a first direction and orthogonal to a second direction, (2) a magnetic field generation structure that generates a magnetic field through the coil along a third direction orthogonal to the first and second directions, (3) a force constant compensator that (a) receives a current command to alter a relative location of the coil and the field, and (b) adjusts the current command based on at least one physical characteristic of the system that affects a relationship between current in the coil and resulting force between the coil and the field along the second direction, and (4) a coil driver that generates, in response to the adjusted current command, a first current in the coil to generate a force between the coil and the field. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
Electronic devices and corresponding methods for modifying voice coil motor drive signals in response to influencing magnectic fields from device operating conditions
A method in an electronic device includes determining, with one or more processors, an operating condition of the electronic device influencing one or more magnetic fields measured by a voice coil motor sensor of the electronic device. The method includes obtaining, by the one or more processors from a memory of the electronic device, an expected voice coil motor sensor measurement that is a function of the operating condition. Thereafter, the method includes causing, by the one or more processors, a voice coil motor driver to modify a voice coil motor drive signal until the voice coil motor sensor detects the expected voice coil motor sensor measurement, thereby compensating for effects of the operating condition affecting the voice coil motor.
IMAGE BLUR CORRECTION DEVICE AND IMAGING DEVICE
The image blur correction device is an image blur correction device that corrects a blur of an image of a subject to be captured, and includes a movable frame, a fixed frame, a plurality of connection members, a plurality of actuators, a pair of magnets, and a magnetic body. The movable frame is displaceable along a plane orthogonal to an optical axis. The fixed frame faces the movable frame. The plurality of connection members connects the fixed frame and the movable frame to each other, and supports the movable frame so as to be displaceable. The plurality of actuators changes the position of the movable frame according to displacement of the movable frame. The pair of magnets is mounted on one of the fixed frame and the movable frame, and includes a first magnetic pole and a second magnetic pole. The magnetic body is mounted on the other of the fixed frame and the movable frame, and disposed to face the pair of magnets. The magnetic body has a flat surface facing the pair of magnets, the flat surface having four sides. A first side out of the four sides is located across the first magnetic pole and the second magnetic pole of the pair of magnets, and a second side intersecting the first side is located along one of the first magnetic pole and the second magnetic pole of the pair of magnets. The first side is linear, and the second side has a recessed shape or a protruded shape intersecting the first side.
OPTICAL ELEMENT DRIVING MECHANISM
An optical element driving mechanism is provided. The optical element driving mechanism includes a fixed portion, a first movable portion, a second movable portion, a first driving assembly, and a second driving assembly. The first movable portion is movable relative to the fixed portion. The second movable portion is used for holding an optical element having a main axis, and is movable relative to the first movable portion. The first driving assembly is used for driving the first movable portion to move in a first dimension relative to the fixed portion, and the second driving assembly is used for driving the second movable portion to move in a second dimension relative to the fixed portion. The first dimension and the second dimension are different.
Electronic Devices and Corresponding Methods for Modifying Voice Coil Motor Drive Signals in Response to Influencing Magnectic Fields from Device Operating Conditions
A method in an electronic device includes determining, with one or more processors, an operating condition of the electronic device influencing one or more magnetic fields measured by a voice coil motor sensor of the electronic device. The method inlcudes obtaining, by the one or more processors from a memory of the electronic device, an expected voice coil motor sensor measurement that is a function of the operating condition. Thereafter, the method includes causing, by the one or more processors, a voice coil motor driver to modify a voice coil motor drive signal until the voice coil motor sensor detects the expected voice coil motor sensor measurement, thereby compensating for effects of the operating condition affecting the voice coil motor.
HYBRID SPHERICAL MOTOR, SYSTEM, AND AERIAL VEHICLE INCORPORATING THE SAME
A hybrid spherical motor includes a first gear box, a second gear box, a yoke arm, a brushless direct current (BLDC) motor, a spherical stator, and a spherical armature. The split armature, in response to the spherical stator being energized, rotates about a first rotational axis, thereby causing the first gear box input connection and the second gear box input connection to rotate about the first rotational axis, and the yoke arm rotates about the first rotational axis in response to the first gear box input connection and the second gear box input connection being rotated about the first rotational axis, whereby the BLDC motor rotates about the first rotational axis.
ROTATIONAL BALL-GUIDED VOICE COIL MOTOR
Actuators for rotating or tilting an optical element, for example an optical path folding element, comprising a voice coil motor (VCM) and a curved ball-guided mechanism operative to create a rotation or tilt movement of the optical element around a rotation axis upon actuation by the VCM. In some embodiments, an actuator includes two, first and second VCMs, and two curved ball-guided mechanisms operative to create rotation or tilt around respective first and second rotation axes.
Apparatuses, systems, and methods for lorentz-force-based movement
The disclosed apparatus may include (1) a subassembly that includes (a) a plurality of conductive coils, where the coils are arranged into first and second rows that are aligned as adjacent layers along a first direction, and where the rows are offset along the first direction such that two portions of each of the coils are arranged along the first direction without overlapping and each of the two portions of each coil is aligned in parallel along a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and (b) a body that holds the coils, (2) a structure that generates a magnetic field through the portions of the coils, where the magnetic field is directed along a third direction orthogonal to the first and second directions, and (3) a coil driver circuit that supplies current to at least some of the coils to move the structure relative to the subassembly, or vice-versa, along the first direction. Various other embodiments are also disclosed.
ROTATIONAL BALL-GUIDED VOICE COIL MOTOR
Actuators for rotating or tilting an optical element, for example an optical path folding element, comprising a voice coil motor (VCM) and a curved ball-guided mechanism operative to create a rotation or tilt movement of the optical element around a rotation axis upon actuation by the VCM. In some embodiments, an actuator includes two, first and second VCMs, and two curved ball-guided mechanisms operative to create rotation or tilt around respective first and second rotation axes.