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New Scale awarded third U.S. patent for piezoelectric SQUIGGLE® motor technology and applications 

Patent covers the latest micro motor improvements related to electrical interconnections, low-power drive electronics and integration in mobile phone cameras

Victor, NY - Feb. 4, 2008 - New Scale Technologies, Inc. has received its third US patent for its miniature piezoelectric SQUIGGLE motors, the company announced today. The patent covers New Scale's SQUIGGLE motor design improvements in three areas:

 

  • Smaller and more robust electrical interconnections using high-volume flexible printed circuit (FPC) manufacturing processes.

 

  • A simplified low-power electronic drive method using a digitally-controlled series LC resonant circuit to reduce power requirements by 50%.

 

  • A highly miniaturized auto focus and optical zoom module that integrates two SQUIGGLE motors moving two optical lens groups. This implementation targets mobile phone camera modules, and is also applicable to other miniature optical devices such as endoscopes.

 

Patent # 7,309,943 issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on December 18, 2007 to inventors David Henderson, Robert Culhane, Conrad Hoffman, and James Guelzow. It is a continuation-in-part of Henderson's fundamental SQUIGGLE motor patent #6,940,209 issued in September 2005.

 

"This latest patent validates the unique features of our SQUIGGLE motor technology and reflects our continuing commitment to high-volume manufacturing, ultra-low power operation and maximum product miniaturization for our customers," stated David Henderson, New Scale's founder and co-CEO.

 

About New Scale Technologies

New Scale Technologies (www.newscaletech.com) creates disruptively small motion systems based on our patented piezoelectric SQUIGGLE® motor, the world’s smallest linear motor, and TRACKER™ position sensor. The ultrasonic SQUIGGLE motor is smaller, more precise, less expensive, more robust and more power-efficient than other micro motors. The TRACKER position sensor integrates a magnetic sensor with on-chip digital encoder, for smaller size and higher resolution than miniature optical encoders. We create complete motion systems integrating micro motor and sensor technology with supporting electronics (ASICs) developed with our partner austriamicrosystems.

 

New Scale’s micro motors, encoders and micro-actuator modules enable design engineers to create smaller products including mobile phone cameras, electronic locks and intelligent fasteners, nano-scale fluid control including lab-on-a-chip systems, medical devices including miniature drug pumps and endoscopes, optics and imaging systems, automotive modules, lasers, aerospace and defense systems, cryogenic and MRI-compatible instruments, and consumer electronics including micro fuel cells.

 

SQUIGGLE is a registered trademark and TRACKER and New Scale Pathway are trademarks of New Scale Technologies, Inc.

 

Please note: Press releases are current as published, but are not updated after posting. Refer to our product pages for current product information including specifications.


For more information contact:

Fred Haas, Sales Manager
Phone 585-924-4450 x 112
sales@newscaletech.com


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