US3629624A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrostatic motor
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-03-23
•
Granted: 1971-12-21
•
Expires: 1990-03-23
Abstract
Abstract An electrostatic motor adapted for use in a wristwatch and comprising a pair of relatively rotatable, capacitor plate members each having a large number of spaced preferably sectorshaped segment which may be fabricated microlithographically. For synchronous operation, a unipolar square wave voltage is applied directly across the capacitor plate members, the resultant electrostatic forces causing rotation of the motor. In alternative embodiments, sets of capacitor plate segments may be driven by signals appropriately phased to insure unidirectional motor rotation, or the segments may be connected so that only one plate member receives a drive signal. For self-switching operation, the drive voltage is switched on or off in response to changes in effective capacitance as the motor rotates. The inventive device also may be used for extremely accurate measurement of rotational speed.
Inventors
- 👤 Juergen H Staudte
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 11:30
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02N; H02N1/00; H02N1/002; H02N1/004; G; G04; G04C; G04C3/00; G04C3/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
An electrostatic motor comprising: first and second generally circular, relatively rotatable, planar, multisegmented capacitor plate members each of less than about 3 centimeters diameter and disposed in coaxial, close-spaced parallel relationship, said first plate having a large number N of generally sector-shaped, spaced electrically connected segments, said generally plate member having a like number N of generally sector-shaped electrically connected segments, drive means for periodically impressing an electric field across said plate members, said drive means comprising means for supplying to said plate members a periodic signal of frequency f cycles per second said motor thereby rotating at a speed f/N revolutions per second, and wherein said periodic signal comprises a unipolar, square wave voltage.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
115 words
An electrostatic motor comprising: first and second generally circular, relatively rotatable, planar, multisegmented capacitor plate members each of less than about 3 centimeters diameter and disposed in coaxial, close-spaced parallel relationship, said first plate having a large number N of generally sector-shaped, spaced electrically connected segments, said generally plate member having a like number N of generally sector-shaped electrically connected segments, drive means for periodically impressing an electric field across said plate members, said drive means comprising means for supplying to said plate members a periodic signal of frequency f cycles per second said motor thereby rotating at a speed f/N revolutions per second, and wherein said periodic signal comprises a unipolar, square wave voltage.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
An electrostatic motor as defined in claim 1 wherein said segments are produced microlithographically.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
An electrostatic motor as defined in claim 1 wherein one of said plate members is stationary and the other is rotary.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
An electrostatic motor as defined in claim 3 wherein said rotary member comprises a disc of electrically insulative material and wherein said segments comprise a conductive film or layer disposed on one surface of said disc.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
An electrostatic motor as defined in claim 3 wherein said rotary member comprises an electrically conductive disc, portions of said disc being etched away to define said segments.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
An electrostatic motor as defined in claim 5 wherein the thickness of said disc is on the order of 10 mils, wherein the spacing between said plate members is on the order of 0.5 mils, and wherein said disc is etched to a depth of at least 2 mils to define said elements.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
An electrostatic motor as defined in claim 3 wherein said stationary member comprises an electrically insulative substrate and wherein said segments comprise a conductive film or layer disposed on the surface of said substrate facing said disc.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
147 words
An eLectrostatic motor comprising: first and second generally circular, relatively rotatable, planar, multisegmented capacitor plate members each of less than about 3 centimeters diameter and disposed in coaxial, close-spaced parallel relationship, said first plate having a large number N of generally sector-shaped, spaced electrically connected segments, said second plate member having a like number N of generally sector-shaped electrically connected segments, drive means for periodically impressing an electric field across said plate members, said drive means comprising means for supplying to said plate members a periodic signal of frequency f cycles per second, said motor thereby rotating at a speed f/N revolutions per second, and wherein the segments of one plate member are connected in two sets, and wherein the elements on the other of said plate members are not electrically connected, said drive means comprising means for providing a unipolar, periodic voltage across said two sets.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
147 words
An eLectrostatic motor comprising: first and second generally circular, relatively rotatable, planar, multisegmented capacitor plate members each of less than about 3 centimeters diameter and disposed in coaxial, close-spaced parallel relationship, said first plate having a large number N of generally sector-shaped, spaced electrically connected segments, said second plate member having a like number N of generally sector-shaped electrically connected segments, drive means for periodically impressing an electric field across said plate members, said drive means comprising means for supplying to said plate members a periodic signal of frequency f cycles per second, said motor thereby rotating at a speed f/N revolutions per second, and wherein the segments of one plate member are connected in two sets, and wherein the elements on the other of said plate members are not electrically connected, said drive means comprising means for providing a unipolar, periodic voltage across said two sets.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
132 words
An electrostatic motor comprising: first and second generally circular, relatively rotatable, planar, multisegmented capacitor plate members each of less than about 3 centimeters diameter and disposed in coaxial, close-spaced parallel relationship, said first plate having a large number N of generally sector-shaped, spaced electrically connected segments, said second plate member having a like number N of generally sector-shaped electrically connected segments, drive means for periodically impressing an electric field across said plate members, said drive means comprising means for supplying to said plate members a periodic signal of frequency f cycles per second, said motor thereby rotating at a speed f/N revolutions per second, and wherein the segments of one plate member are electrically connected in sets, said sets being driven with phased signals, said motor thereby rotating in one direction only.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
132 words
An electrostatic motor comprising: first and second generally circular, relatively rotatable, planar, multisegmented capacitor plate members each of less than about 3 centimeters diameter and disposed in coaxial, close-spaced parallel relationship, said first plate having a large number N of generally sector-shaped, spaced electrically connected segments, said second plate member having a like number N of generally sector-shaped electrically connected segments, drive means for periodically impressing an electric field across said plate members, said drive means comprising means for supplying to said plate members a periodic signal of frequency f cycles per second, said motor thereby rotating at a speed f/N revolutions per second, and wherein the segments of one plate member are electrically connected in sets, said sets being driven with phased signals, said motor thereby rotating in one direction only.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
143 words
An electrostatic motor comprising: first and second generally circular, relatively rotatable, planar, multisegmented capacitor plate members each of less than about 3 centimeters diameter and disposed in coaxial, close-spaced parallel relationship, said first plate having a large number N of generally sector-shaped, spaced electrically connected segments said second plate member having a like number N of generally sector-shaped electrically connected segments, drive means for periodically impressing an electric field across said plate members, said drive means comprising means for supplying to said plate members a periodic signal of frequency f cycles per second, said motor thereby rotating at a speed f/N revolutions per second, and wherein N is on the order of 1,000 and wherein said frequency has a number f of cycles per second equal to the N of segments, said motor thereby rotating at a speed of 1 revolution per second.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
143 words
An electrostatic motor comprising: first and second generally circular, relatively rotatable, planar, multisegmented capacitor plate members each of less than about 3 centimeters diameter and disposed in coaxial, close-spaced parallel relationship, said first plate having a large number N of generally sector-shaped, spaced electrically connected segments said second plate member having a like number N of generally sector-shaped electrically connected segments, drive means for periodically impressing an electric field across said plate members, said drive means comprising means for supplying to said plate members a periodic signal of frequency f cycles per second, said motor thereby rotating at a speed f/N revolutions per second, and wherein N is on the order of 1,000 and wherein said frequency has a number f of cycles per second equal to the N of segments, said motor thereby rotating at a speed of 1 revolution per second.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
97 words
An electrostatic motor comprising: a pair of relatively rotatable, planar, multisegmented capacitor plate members disposed in close-spaced parallel relationship, and drive means for periodically impressing an electric field across said plates, said drive means providing a unipolar, periodic driving voltage to said plate members, and comprising; a transformer having an output winding connected across said plate members, first and second transistors, said second transistor being connected across said plate members, means for applying a voltage via said first transistor across the input winding of said transformer, and means for alternately turning on said first and second transistors.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
97 words
An electrostatic motor comprising: a pair of relatively rotatable, planar, multisegmented capacitor plate members disposed in close-spaced parallel relationship, and drive means for periodically impressing an electric field across said plates, said drive means providing a unipolar, periodic driving voltage to said plate members, and comprising; a transformer having an output winding connected across said plate members, first and second transistors, said second transistor being connected across said plate members, means for applying a voltage via said first transistor across the input winding of said transformer, and means for alternately turning on said first and second transistors.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
An electrostatic motor as defined in claim 1 further comprising means for starting rotation of said motor.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
A clock comprising: an electrostatic motor as defined in claim 1, and gear means driven by said motor for operating the hands of said clock.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
80 words
An electrostatic motor comprising: first and second generally circular, relatively rotatable, planar multisegmented capacitor plate members disposed in coaxial, close-spaced parallel relationship, said first plate member having a large plurality of generally sector-shaped spaced electrically disconnected passive segments, said second plate member having a plurality of generally sector-shaped, spaced segments, alternative ones of which are electrically connected to form two sets of active segments, and means for providing a unipolar periodic voltage a cross said two sets of active segments.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
80 words
An electrostatic motor comprising: first and second generally circular, relatively rotatable, planar multisegmented capacitor plate members disposed in coaxial, close-spaced parallel relationship, said first plate member having a large plurality of generally sector-shaped spaced electrically disconnected passive segments, said second plate member having a plurality of generally sector-shaped, spaced segments, alternative ones of which are electrically connected to form two sets of active segments, and means for providing a unipolar periodic voltage a cross said two sets of active segments.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
34 words
An electrostatic motor as defined in claim 14 wherein said segments are formed microlithographically, each of said plates having a diameter of less than about 3 centimeters and having at least 500 elements thereon.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
A wristwatch comprising: an electrostatic motor as defined in claim 14, and gear means driven by said motor for operating the hands of said watch.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
94 words
A self-switching electrostatic motor comprising: a pair of relatively rotatable, planar multisegmented capacitor plate members disposed in close-spaced parallel relationship, the segments on one plate member all being connected to a first terminal, the majority of segments on the other plate member being connected to a second terminal, and the remainder of segments on said other plate member being connected to a third terminal, and circuit means for switching on or off a voltage across said first and second terminals when the capacitance value between said first and third terminals exceeds a threshold level.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
94 words
A self-switching electrostatic motor comprising: a pair of relatively rotatable, planar multisegmented capacitor plate members disposed in close-spaced parallel relationship, the segments on one plate member all being connected to a first terminal, the majority of segments on the other plate member being connected to a second terminal, and the remainder of segments on said other plate member being connected to a third terminal, and circuit means for switching on or off a voltage across said first and second terminals when the capacitance value between said first and third terminals exceeds a threshold level.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
75 words
An electrostatic motor as defined in claim 17 wherein said circuit means comprises a pair of complimentary field effect transistors, series connected across a source of voltage, the gates of said transistors being connected to said third terminal, said first and second terminals being connected across one of said transistors, and a pair of diodes connected in series across said source of voltage, the junction of said diodes also being connnected to said third terminal.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
92 words
An electrostatic motor comprising: first and second generally circular, relatively rotatable, planar multisegmented capacitor plate members each of less than about 3 centimeters in diameter and disposed in coaxial, close-spaced parallel relationship, said first plate having a large number of generally sector-shaped, spaced electrically connected segments, said second plate member having a large number of generally sector-shaped, spaced conductive segments electrically connected in sets, and drive means for periodically impressing an electric field across said plate members, said sets being driven with phased signals, said motor thereby rotating in one direction only.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
92 words
An electrostatic motor comprising: first and second generally circular, relatively rotatable, planar multisegmented capacitor plate members each of less than about 3 centimeters in diameter and disposed in coaxial, close-spaced parallel relationship, said first plate having a large number of generally sector-shaped, spaced electrically connected segments, said second plate member having a large number of generally sector-shaped, spaced conductive segments electrically connected in sets, and drive means for periodically impressing an electric field across said plate members, said sets being driven with phased signals, said motor thereby rotating in one direction only.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2032932A
Cited
US735621A
Cited
US2835105A
Cited
US3107326A
Cited
US3013201A
Cited
US3094653A
Cited
US3384816A
Cited
US3436630A
Cited
US3377556A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-12-20 | 1975-06-21 | 1975-12-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-12-20 | 1979-06-21 | 1979-12-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-12-20 | 1983-06-21 | 1983-12-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |