An actuator is introduced that utilizes the forces that result from placing a current carrying coil in a magnetic field to rotate a connected object about at least one axis. In some embodiments, the introduced coil actuator includes a coil of conductor coupled to an arm or other type of structural element that extends radially from an axis of rotation. The introduced coil actuator can be utilized to provide motion control in a variety of different applications such as gimbal mechanisms. In some embodiments, the introduced coil actuator can be implemented in a gimbal mechanism for adjusting an orientation of a device such as a camera relative to a connected platform such as the body of an aerial vehicle.

A direct drive brushless motor including a plurality of rotational components and a plurality of non-rotational components. Ones of the pluralities of rotational and non-rotational components form a dual magnetic circuit. The plurality of rotational components includes a center rotation shaft circumscribed by a plurality of coils and a coil termination plate configured to support the plurality of coils. The plurality of non-rotational components includes a plurality of outer magnets arranged around the plurality of coils in a Halbach configuration and a plurality of inner magnets arranged in a Halbach configuration between the coils and the shaft. A flex cable having one or more leads provides electrical current to the plurality of coils without the use of brushes.

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.

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.

The disclosed apparatus may include (1) a subassembly including (a) a first conductive coil, where at least a portion of the first coil defines a portion of a spherical surface and is oriented along a first direction along the portion of the spherical surface, (b) a second conductive coil proximate the first coil, where at least a portion of the second coil is oriented along a second direction orthogonal to the first direction along the portion of the spherical surface, and (c) a body that holds the coils, (2) a structure that generates a magnetic field through the portion of the first and second coils along a third direction orthogonal to the first and second directions, and (3) a coil driver circuit that supplies current to the coils to move the structure relative to the subassembly, or vice-versa, along the first and second directions. Various other embodiments are also disclosed.

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 detection subsystem that determines a location of the coil relative to the field, (4) a force-to-current converter that (a) receives a force command to alter a relative location of the coil and the field, and (b) issues, in response to the force command, a current command based on the location of the coil relative to the field, and (5) a coil driver that generates, in response to the current command, current in the coil to generate a force between the coil and the field along the second direction. Various other embodiments are also disclosed.

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.

A direct drive brushless motor including a plurality of rotational components and a plurality of non-rotational components. Ones of the pluralities of rotational and non-rotational components form a dual magnetic circuit. The plurality of rotational components includes a center rotation shaft circumscribed by a plurality of coils and a coil termination plate configured to support the plurality of coils. The plurality of non-rotational components includes a plurality of outer magnets arranged around the plurality of coils in a Halbach configuration and a plurality of inner magnets arranged in a Halbach configuration between the coils and the shaft. A flex cable having one or more leads provides electrical current to the plurality of coils without the use of brushes.

An actuator is introduced that utilizes the forces that result from placing a current carrying coil in a magnetic field to rotate a connected object about at least one axis. In some embodiments, the introduced coil actuator includes a coil of conductor coupled to an arm or other type of structural element that extends radially from an axis of rotation. The introduced coil actuator can be utilized to provide motion control in a variety of different applications such as gimbal mechanisms. In some embodiments, the introduced coil actuator can be implemented in a gimbal mechanism for adjusting an orientation of a device such as a camera relative to a connected platform such as the body of an aerial vehicle.

A shutter assembly comprises a base coupled to a photosensor assembly, a flexure device supported by the base, and a shutter arm rotatably coupled to the base via the flexure device. An actuation mechanism is coupled to the shutter arm via the flexure device, and is operable, upon application of an electric field, to rotate the shutter arm from a first position to a second position (or to a third position) to manage light relative to a photosensitive device of the photosensor assembly. Upon rotation of the shutter arm to the second position, the flexure device stores energy such that, upon removal of the electric field, the flexure device releases the stored energy to return the shutter arm to the first position. A keeper magnet can be provided to maintain the shutter arm in the second (actuated) position, so that the electric field can be removed while the keeper magnet maintains a magnetic force to keep the shutter arm in the second position.