A two degree-of-freedom actuator includes a first linkage, a second linkage, a third linkage, a magnet, a winding panel, and a plurality of windings. The second linkage is rotationally coupled to the first linkage, whereby the first linkage is rotatable, relative to the second linkage, about a first rotational axis. The third linkage is rotationally coupled to the second linkage, whereby the first and second linkages are rotatable, relative to the third linkage, about a second rotational axis that is perpendicular to the first rotational axis. The magnet is fixedly mounted on the first linkage. The winding panel is fixedly mounted to the third linkage and has an inner surface and an opposing outer surface. The inner surface faces the magnet and is spaced apart therefrom. The windings are wound around the winding panel.

A motor is disclosed. The motor includes a stator with a stator coil to generate a periodic unidirectional field current flowing through the stator coil and a rotor. An air gap is disposed between the stator and the rotor. The rotor has at least one rotor ring, a portion of the rotor ring is disposed in the air gap. Due to the unidirectional magnetic field, a periodic electric current is induced in the rotor ring. The electric current flowing through the portion of the rotor ring disposed in the air gap flows in a first direction to rotate the rotor relative to the stator.

According to one embodiment, a magnetic disk device includes a base that includes a bottom wall and side walls standing along a circumference of the bottom wall, a housing that includes a cover facing the bottom wall and closing the base, an actuator assembly that is housed inside the housing and is rotatable around a rotation axis, a head movably supported by the actuator assembly, a control circuit board provided outside of the housing, a first sensor disposed on the control circuit board, and a second sensor disposed inside the housing.

A mover is configured to be electromagnetically propelled along a track in a linear motor track system with a force that is calculated to include compensation for gravity. A multi-axis accelerometer arranged in each segment of the track can detect an orientation or angle of the track segment for determining gravity with respect to the particular section. As a result, if the track is at an incline, such as a ramp, a desired force for moving a mover along the track can be compensated to include gravity due to the incline for achieving a desired motion result. In addition, the detected orientation of the track can be compared to an expected orientation stored by a control program to avoid a loss of performance due to physical changes in the track not matching an expected/programmed configuration of the track.

The disclosed system may include (1) a subassembly including (a) conductive coils having portions oriented along a first direction, and (b) a body that holds the coils such that the portions are aligned along a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, (2) a structure that generates a magnetic field directed through at least one coil along a third direction orthogonal to the first and second directions, (3) a commutation controller that (a) receives a current command indicating a total amount of current to provide to the coils, and (b) determines, based on a present location of the body along the second direction relative to the magnetic field, a portion of the total amount to supply to each coil, and (4) a coil driver for each coil, where each coil driver supplies the portion of the total amount to the corresponding coil. Various other embodiments are also disclosed.

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.

According to one embodiment, a magnetic disk device includes a base that includes a bottom wall and side walls standing along a circumference of the bottom wall, a housing that includes a cover facing the bottom wall and closing the base, an actuator assembly that is housed inside the housing and is rotatable around a rotation axis, a head movably supported by the actuator assembly, a control circuit board provided outside of the housing, a first sensor disposed on the control circuit board, and a second sensor disposed inside the housing.

A mover is configured to be electromagnetically propelled along a track in a linear motor track system with a force that is calculated to include compensation for gravity. A multi-axis accelerometer arranged in each segment of the track can detect an orientation or angle of the track segment for determining gravity with respect to the particular section. As a result, if the track is at an incline, such as a ramp, a desired force for moving a mover along the track can be compensated to include gravity due to the incline for achieving a desired motion result. In addition, the detected orientation of the track can be compared to an expected orientation stored by a control program to avoid a loss of performance due to physical changes in the track not matching an expected/programmed configuration of the track.

An electrodynamic assembly for propelling a spacecraft in orbit around a celestial body having a magnetic field is disclosed. The assembly includes a plurality of coaxial cables for an electrodynamic assembly for propelling a spacecraft in orbit around a celestial body having a magnetic field. Each coaxial cable includes an electrically conductive core surrounded by a first electrically insulating sheath, and an electrically conductive current return circuit mounted outside the first electrically insulating sheath. The current return circuit includes a first end electrically connected to a first end of the core of the coaxial cable.

A curvilinear track section of a linear motor system including: a straight track portion; a curvilinear track portion coupled to the straight track portion; at least one motor unit for driving a moving element along the straight track portion and the curvilinear track portion; wherein the curvilinear track portion has a clothoid transition region adjacent to the straight track portion. In some cases, the curvilinear track portion includes a first slot grouping formed in an exterior edge of the curvilinear track portion, wherein the first slot grouping is at a predetermined angle relative to the exterior edge; a second slot grouping formed in the exterior edge of the curvilinear track portion, wherein the second slot grouping is at a second predetermined angle; and motor units inserted into the first and second slot groupings.