Hollow motor apparatuses and associated systems and methods

Abstract

Hollow motor apparatuses and associated systems and methods for manufacturing hollow motor apparatuses may be provided. In one implementation, a hollow motor apparatus may include a rotor assembly rotatable about a rotation axis, a stator assembly positioned adjacent to, and coaxially with, the rotor assembly, and a bearing assembly configured to maintain a position of the rotor assembly relative to the stator assembly. The rotor assembly may include an inner portion disposed around an opening configured to receive and to rotate at least a portion of a payload. The bearing assembly may be disposed outside of the inner portion of the rotor assembly.

1 . A hollow motor apparatus, comprising:
 a rotor assembly configured for rotation 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 and to rotate the 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 of 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.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the payload comprises an optical component configured for rotation with the rotor assembly about the rotation axis, the optical component comprising at least one of a prism or a reflector. 
     
     
         3 - 31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the stator assembly is arranged within a first plane that is substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis, and   wherein the bearing assembly is arranged within a second plane that is substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis, the second plane being different from the first plane.   
     
     
         33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the rotor assembly comprises:
 a magnet yoke and a magnet coupled to the magnet yoke,   wherein the magnet yoke comprises a portion in contact with the bearing assembly, and   wherein the magnet is positioned either radially internal to the stator assembly, external to the magnet yoke, between the stator assembly and the bearing assembly, or between the magnet yoke and the bearing assembly.   
     
     
         35 - 61 . (canceled) 
     
     
         62 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the bearing assembly comprises:
 an inner portion coupled to the rotor assembly and surrounding the inner portion of the rotor assembly;   an outer portion positioned radially external to the inner portion of the bearing assembly; and   at least one rolling component rotatably positioned between the inner portion of the bearing assembly and the outer portion of the bearing assembly.   
     
     
         63 - 82 . (canceled) 
     
     
         83 . A system, comprising:
 the hollow motor apparatus of  claim 1 ; and   a second hollow motor apparatus comprising:
 a second rotor assembly configured for rotation about a second rotation axis, the second rotor assembly having an inner portion disposed around an opening that is configured to receive at least a portion of a payload; 
 a second stator assembly positioned adjacent to the second rotor assembly and coaxially with the second rotor assembly relative to the second rotation axis; and 
 a second bearing assembly disposed outside of the inner portion of the second rotor assembly and operably coupled to the second rotor assembly, the second bearing assembly configured to maintain a position of the second rotor assembly relative to the second stator assembly, 
   wherein the hollow motor apparatus and the second hollow motor apparatus are positioned adjacent to one another.   
     
     
         84 . The system of  claim 83 , wherein the hollow motor apparatus and the second hollow motor apparatus have a common rotation axis. 
     
     
         85 - 113 . (canceled) 
     
     
         114 . A method for positioning a bearing assembly in a hollow motor apparatus, the hollow motor apparatus comprising:
 a rotor assembly configured for rotation about a rotation axis, and   a stator assembly positioned adjacent to the rotor assembly and coaxially with the rotor assembly relative to the rotation axis,   the bearing assembly comprising:   an inner portion coupled to the rotor assembly,   an outer portion positioned radially external to the inner portion of the bearing assembly, and   at least one rolling component rotatably positioned between the inner portion of the bearing assembly and the outer portion of the bearing assembly,   wherein the method comprises:   attaching the outer portion of the bearing assembly to a support; and   applying a force to the inner portion of the bearing assembly along a direction parallel to the rotation.   
     
     
         115 - 118 . (canceled) 
     
     
         119 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the bearing assembly comprises:
 an inner portion;   an outer portion positioned radially external to the inner portion of the bearing assembly; and   at least one rolling component rotatably positioned between the inner portion of the bearing assembly and the outer portion of the bearing assembly,   wherein the inner portion of the bearing assembly and the outer portion of the bearing assembly are configured to move in opposite directions when electrical current flows in the stator assembly.   
     
     
         120 . The apparatus of  claim 119 ,
 wherein the rotor assembly comprises a magnet, at least one of the inner portion of the bearing assembly or the outer portion of the bearing assembly being coupled to the rotor assembly, and   wherein when the electrical current flows in the stator assembly:
 the inner portion of the bearing assembly and the outer portion of the bearing assembly are configured to be driven in the opposite directions, and 
 the magnet is configured to move toward the stator assembly along the rotation axis. 
   
     
     
         121 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the stator assembly and the bearing assembly are configured to surround the rotor assembly when the stator assembly and bearing assembly are arranged side by side. 
     
     
         122 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a second optical component configured to rotate about the rotation axis, wherein the optical component is configured to rotate about the rotation axis at a first rotational speed and the second optical component is configured to rotate about the rotation axis at a second rotational speed that is different from the first rotational speed.   
     
     
         123 . The apparatus of  claim 62 , further comprising:
 a chassis coupled to the outer portion of the bearing assembly, wherein the stator assembly is fixedly coupled to a housing and the chassis is fixedly coupled to the housing   
     
     
         124 . The apparatus of  claim 123 , wherein the inner portion of the bearing assembly is configured to be driven into a predetermined position by a force along the rotation axis. 
     
     
         125 . The apparatus of  claim 123 , further comprising:
 a first magnet coupled to the inner portion of the bearing assembly; and   a second magnet facing the first magnet,   wherein the bearing assembly is configured to be driven into a predetermined position by a magnetic force generated between the first magnet and the second magnet.   
     
     
         126 . The system of  claim 83 , further comprising:
 a first magnet coupled with the rotor assembly of the hollow motor apparatus; and   a second magnet coupled with the second rotor assembly of the second hollow motor apparatus, the second magnet facing the first magnet,   wherein the first magnet and second magnet are configured to position the bearing assembly of the hollow motor apparatus and the second bearing assembly of the second hollow motor apparatus in a predetermined configuration.   
     
     
         127 . The system of  claim 126 , wherein the first magnet and the second magnet are configured to respectively apply opposing forces on the inner portion of the hollow motor apparatus and the inner portion of the second hollow motor apparatus. 
     
     
         128 . The apparatus of  claim 83 , wherein the rotor assembly and the second rotor assembly are configured to rotate at one or more of different speed or different directions. 
     
     
         129 . The apparatus of  claim 83 ,
 wherein the rotor assembly is configured to rotate a first light bending element, and   wherein the second rotor assembly is configured to rotate a second light bending element.   
     
     
         130 . The apparatus of  claim 129 ,
 wherein the first light bending element is a first prism, and the second light bending element is a second prism or a reflector.