US 11,870,385 B2
Linear motors with embedded encoder
Christopher C. Chang, Pleasanton, CA (US)
Assigned to Arcus Technology, Inc., Livermore, CA (US)
Filed by ARCUS TECHNOLOGY, INC., Livermore, CA (US)
Filed on Feb. 16, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/673,596.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/150,417, filed on Feb. 17, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0263439 A1, Aug. 18, 2022
Int. Cl. H02K 41/035 (2006.01); H02K 41/00 (2006.01); H02K 41/02 (2006.01); H02P 7/025 (2016.01)
CPC H02P 7/025 (2016.02) [H02K 41/0356 (2013.01)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A linear motor comprising:
a magnetic assembly;
a coil assembly having at least one coil positioned to magnetically engage the magnetic assembly for linear displacement between the magnetic assembly and the coil assembly;
an encoder strip attached to one of the magnetic assembly and the coil assembly; and
an encoder reader attached to the other one of the magnetic assembly and the coil assembly to read the encoder strip during the linear displacement between the magnetic assembly and the coil assembly,
wherein the magnetic assembly and the coil assembly are parts of a voice coil motor, wherein the encoder reader is attached to an outer housing of the magnetic assembly, and wherein the encoder strip is attached to a coil of the coil assembly, the outer housing of the magnetic assembly being connected to a magnet structure that is positioned within the coil of the coil assembly.