Hollow motor apparatuses and associated systems and methods
First Claim
1. A hollow motor apparatus, comprising:
- a rotor assembly rotatable 360°
about a rotation axis, the rotor assembly having an inner portion disposed around an opening that is configured to receive at least a portion of a payload, the payload including an optical component that is rotatable, in place, with the rotor assembly, 360°
about the rotation axis,a stator assembly positioned adjacent to the rotor assembly and coaxially with the rotor assembly relative to the rotation axis;
a bearing assembly disposed outside the inner portion of the rotor assembly and operably coupled to the rotor assembly, the bearing assembly configured to maintain a position of the rotor assembly relative to the stator assembly; and
a counterweight coupled to the rotor assembly and positioned to enable balanced rotation of the optical component with respect to the rotation axis.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Hollow motor apparatuses and associated systems and methods for manufacturing the same are disclosed herein. In representative embodiment, a hollow motor apparatus includes a rotor assembly rotatable about a rotation axis, a stator assembly positioned adjacent to the rotor assembly and coaxially with the rotor assembly relative to the rotation axis, and a bearing assembly operably coupled to the rotor assembly. The rotor assembly has an inner portion around an opening configured to receive at least a portion of a payload. The bearing assembly is disposed outside the inner portion of the rotor assembly and is configured to maintain a position of the rotor assembly relative to the stator assembly.
76 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A hollow motor apparatus, comprising:
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a rotor assembly rotatable 360°
about a rotation axis, the rotor assembly having an inner portion disposed around an opening that is configured to receive at least a portion of a payload, the payload including an optical component that is rotatable, in place, with the rotor assembly, 360°
about the rotation axis,a stator assembly positioned adjacent to the rotor assembly and coaxially with the rotor assembly relative to the rotation axis; a bearing assembly disposed outside the inner portion of the rotor assembly and operably coupled to the rotor assembly, the bearing assembly configured to maintain a position of the rotor assembly relative to the stator assembly; and a counterweight coupled to the rotor assembly and positioned to enable balanced rotation of the optical component with respect to the rotation axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A hollow motor apparatus, comprising:
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a rotor assembly rotatable 360°
about a rotation axis, the rotor assembly having an inner portion disposed around an opening that is configured to receive at least a portion of a payload, the payload including an optical component that is rotatable, in place, with the rotor assembly, 360°
about the rotation axis,a stator assembly positioned adjacent to the rotor assembly and coaxially with the rotor assembly relative to the rotation axis; a bearing assembly disposed outside the inner portion of the rotor assembly and operably coupled to the rotor assembly, the bearing assembly configured to maintain a position of the rotor assembly relative to the stator assembly; and a counterweight coupled to the optical component and positioned to enable balanced rotation of the optical component with respect to the rotation axis. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A hollow motor apparatus, comprising:
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a rotor assembly rotatable 360°
about a rotation axis, the rotor assembly having an inner portion disposed around an opening that is configured to receive at least a portion of a payload, the payload including an optical component that is rotatable, in place, with the rotor assembly, 360°
about the rotation axis,a stator assembly positioned adjacent to the rotor assembly and coaxially with the rotor assembly relative to the rotation axis; and a bearing assembly disposed outside the inner portion of the rotor assembly and operably coupled to the rotor assembly, wherein the bearing assembly is configured to maintain a position of the rotor assembly relative to the stator assembly, and wherein the bearing assembly comprises an inner portion coupled to the rotor assembly and an outer portion positioned radially external to the inner portion. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A hollow motor apparatus for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the apparatus comprising:
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a propeller, wherein the propeller comprises a light entrance portion configured to receive a light ray from a light source coupled to the UAV; a light exit portion configured to direct the light ray away from the propeller; and a light transmission portion connecting the light entrance portion and the light exit portion and configured to transmit the light ray from the light entrance portion toward the light exit portion; a rotor assembly rotatable 360°
about a rotation axis and coupled to the propeller, the rotor assembly having an inner portion disposed around an opening that is configured to receive at least a portion of a payload, the payload including an optical component that is rotatable, in place, with the rotor assembly, 360°
about the rotation axis;a stator assembly positioned adjacent to the rotor assembly and coaxially with the rotor assembly relative to the rotation axis; and a bearing assembly disposed outside the inner portion of the rotor assembly and operably coupled to the rotor assembly, the bearing assembly configured to maintain a position of the rotor assembly relative to the stator assembly.
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26. A hollow motor apparatus, comprising:
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a rotor assembly rotatable about a rotation axis, the rotor assembly having an inner portion disposed around an opening that is configured to receive at least a portion of a payload; a stator assembly positioned adjacent to the rotor assembly and coaxially with the rotor assembly relative to the rotation axis; and a bearing assembly disposed outside the inner portion of the rotor assembly and operably coupled to the rotor assembly, the bearing assembly configured to maintain a position of the rotor assembly relative to the stator assembly, wherein the bearing assembly comprises an inner portion coupled to the rotor assembly and an outer portion positioned radially external to the inner portion, and wherein a magnetic force between the stator assembly and the rotor assembly moves the inner portion, along a direction generally parallel to the rotation axis. - View Dependent Claims (27)
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28. A hollow motor apparatus for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the apparatus comprising:
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a propeller having; a light entrance portion configured to receive a light ray from a light source coupled to the UAV; a light exit portion configured to direct the light ray away from the propeller; and a light transmission portion connecting the light entrance portion and the light exit portion and configured to transmit the light ray from the light entrance portion toward the light exit portion; and a rotor assembly rotatable about a rotation axis and coupled to the propeller, the rotor assembly having an inner portion disposed around an opening that is configured to receive at least a portion of a payload; a stator assembly positioned adjacent to the rotor assembly and coaxially with the rotor assembly relative to the rotation axis; and a bearing assembly disposed outside the inner portion of the rotor assembly and operably coupled to the rotor assembly, the bearing assembly configured to maintain a position of the rotor assembly relative to the stator assembly.
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Specification