MINEBEA MITSUMI Inc.

Development of novel motor architectures beyond traditional radial flux designs, including linear, axial, or multi-armature configurations, often to optimize for specific performance characteristics like torque density or form factor.

Methods and components for converting power into mechanical motion to drive pump mechanisms, encompassing electric motors, hydraulic actuators, and specialized motion converters like ball screws or solenoids.

Manufacturing processes and techniques for producing stator cores, windings, and coils, including lamination, impregnation, hairpin winding, and segment coil bending, to improve motor efficiency, power density, or reliability.

Integration of electric motors into larger systems (e.g., vehicles, power tools) and safety features for high-voltage components, including control interfaces, mechanical integration, and environmental protection (e.g., waterproofing).

Sensors that quantify strain or deformation by measuring the change in electrical resistance of a material, such as a semiconductor film or conductive layers, as it undergoes mechanical stress.

Methods and devices that determine the position, angle, or distance of an object by detecting changes in magnetic fields or inductive coupling.

Utilizes optical fibers, often incorporating Fiber Bragg Gratings (FBG), to detect changes in strain, pressure, or temperature based on modifications to light signals (e.g., wavelength shifts, phase changes) transmitted through the fiber.

Design and integration of bearings within larger mechanical systems or devices, focusing on mounting structures, housing, endplay management, and overall assembly for specific applications.

Innovations in the mechanical and electromagnetic design of read/write heads, sliders, suspension assemblies, and actuator systems for hard disk drives, focusing on precision, stability, and data integrity.

Sophisticated software or hardware-implemented control strategies that optimize motor performance, such as precise speed/torque regulation, vibration reduction, or efficiency, often using model-based, predictive, or adaptive techniques.

Methods and circuits for controlling the power electronic converters (inverters, bridges) that supply current and voltage to electric motors, including switching strategies, voltage command generation, and multi-phase configurations.

Systems and methods for monitoring, regulating, and diagnosing the performance and health of pumps and fans, including speed control, flow rate management, abnormality detection, and safety mechanisms like overspeed safeguards.

Methods and systems for identifying anomalies, failures, or impending issues within electric motors or their associated drive and power management circuits, often by monitoring electrical or operational parameters.

Strategies and circuits for optimizing the supply and consumption of electrical power for motors, including current limiting, regenerative energy handling, battery integration, and managing power quality.

Improvements to the internal components and configurations of rolling element bearings, such as cage designs, separator materials, raceway geometry, or adjustable elements, to enhance performance or lifespan.

Focuses on optimizing the geometry, structure, and internal flow channels of impellers, blades, and housings to improve fluid dynamics, efficiency, or specific performance characteristics of centrifugal pumps and fans.

Techniques for determining the rotor position, speed, or other operational parameters of an electric motor without dedicated physical sensors, often relying on back-EMF, current, or voltage measurements.

Systems and methods for transferring electrical energy without physical contact, often utilizing inductive or resonant coupling, including antenna design, resonance tracking, and control mechanisms for efficient power delivery.

Development of novel material compositions, thin-film deposition techniques, and surface treatments for recording layers, lubricants, and protective coatings to improve data density, durability, and magnetic or optical properties.

Pumps and blowers specifically adapted or designed for unique fluid types, challenging environments, or particular industrial, medical, or consumer applications, often involving debris, specific gas mixtures, or precise delivery requirements.

Systems and methods for electronically steering or shaping antenna beams by controlling the phase and amplitude of signals fed to individual elements in an array, including calibration techniques and multi-antenna configurations.

Sensors and systems designed to detect and quantify localized contact forces, pressure distribution, or touch interactions, often employed in robotics, human-machine interfaces, or object manipulation applications.

Optical structures and lens designs that improve light extraction efficiency from LED dies and modules, including diffractive films, micro-lens arrays, reflectors, and color-conversion layers.

Systems and methods for accurately measuring and compensating for position, orientation, and movement errors in mechanical systems, often for manufacturing, robotics, or optical alignment.

Bearings that utilize a pressurized gas or liquid film to create a non-contact support surface, reducing friction and wear, often incorporating specific flow restriction or airfoil designs.

Methods and components used to control the direction, spread, and intensity of light emitted from a source, including waveguides, lenses, diffusers, and louvers.

Measures force or pressure by detecting changes in electrical capacitance. This typically involves the deformation of a dielectric material or the relative movement of conductive plates, altering the distance or area between them.

Components and designs focused on preventing ingress of contaminants (e.g., dirt, water) or egress of lubricants from bearing systems, often using elastic seals, shields, or labyrinth structures.

Advanced control algorithms and embedded systems for managing hard disk drive operations, including precise head positioning, track following, defect detection, command scheduling, and thermal management.

Devices and methodologies for precisely measuring rotational force (torque) or linear pulling force (tension) within mechanical systems, frequently incorporating compensation for environmental variables like temperature.

Development of novel materials or material compositions to enhance bearing performance, such as wear resistance, friction reduction, or load capacity, often involving composites, ceramics, or specialized coatings.

Software, algorithms, and associated hardware for monitoring, controlling, and optimizing battery performance, safety, and lifespan, including charge/discharge cycles, thermal regulation, and system integration.

Compact and lightweight lighting devices designed to be worn on the body or easily carried, often featuring ergonomic designs, integrated power sources, and adjustable illumination.

Designing user interfaces and interaction methods specifically for mobile or wearable devices, enabling control of external systems, monitoring user states, or facilitating real-world transactions.

Design and manufacturing techniques for incorporating antenna structures directly into electronic devices, product housings, or materials, often under constraints of space, aesthetics, or environmental factors.

Techniques and structures used to reduce unwanted electromagnetic coupling, scattering, or interference between multiple antennas, different frequency bands, or sensitive electronic components within a device.

Systems and methods designed to improve the accuracy, reliability, or operational range of sensors and electronic components by measuring temperature and applying corrections or adjustments.

Systems and methods for dynamically adjusting light output, distribution, color, or intensity based on environmental conditions, user presence, content, or specific application needs.

Lighting systems designed to be integrated directly into handheld tools or portable work equipment, often featuring compact designs, robust housings, and specific light direction for work areas.

The integration of force, strain, or temperature sensors directly into large-scale structures or components (e.g., concrete, pavement, pipelines) to enable real-time health assessment, anomaly detection, and long-term performance monitoring.

Mechanical assemblies designed to enable controlled rotational movement between components, often incorporating locking features, speed reduction, or eccentric adjustments for precise positioning.

Technologies for efficiently delivering power to electric vehicles, encompassing fast charging, wireless charging, and smart grid integration, alongside vehicle-side control and management of the charging process.

Design and control of power supply architectures that combine multiple power sources (e.g., AC grid, DC battery, generators) or modular battery units, often featuring switching, conversion, and redundancy for enhanced reliability and flexibility.

Mechanical and thermal package design for LED modules, including heat sinks, thermal pads, flexible PCBs, and component housings for heat dissipation.