Latching micro-magnetic switch array
First Claim
1. A system for actuating micro-magnetic latching switches in an array of micro-magnetic latching switches, wherein the array of switches is defined by Y rows aligned with a first axis and X columns aligned with a second axis, and wherein each switch in the array of switches is capable of being actuated by a coil, comprising:
- a row of coils that includes X individually addressable coils;
a step motor that moves said row of coils along the second axis to be positioned adjacent to any one of the Y rows of switches, wherein when said row of coils is positioned adjacent to a selected one of the Y rows of switches, coils in said row of coils are positioned adjacent to corresponding switches in said selected one of the Y rows of switches;
a coil driver that provides a sufficient driving current to a selected coil in said row of coils to actuate a selected switch in the array of switches when said selected coil is positioned adjacent to said selected switch;
a step motor driver that drives said step motor; and
a controller coupled to said coil driver and said step motor driver.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for actuating micro-magnetic latching switches in an array of micro-magnetic latching switches are described. The array of switches is defined by Y rows aligned with a first axis and X columns aligned with a second axis. Each switch in the array of switches is capable of being actuated by a coil. In an aspect, a row of coils is moved along the second axis to be positioned adjacent to a selected one of the Y rows of switches. A sufficient driving current is proved to a selected coil in the row of coils to actuate a selected switch in the selected one of the Y rows of switches. In another aspect, a plurality of first axis drive signals and a plurality of second axis drive signals are generated. These signals drive an array of coils, wherein each coil in the array of coils is positioned adjacent to a corresponding switch in the array of switches. Each first axis drive signal is coupled to coils in a corresponding column of coils in the array of coils. Each second axis drive signal is coupled to coils in a corresponding row of coils in the array of coils. In another aspect, a three-dimensional array of switches is actuated by drive signals that drive a three-dimensional array of coils.
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Citations
52 Claims
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1. A system for actuating micro-magnetic latching switches in an array of micro-magnetic latching switches, wherein the array of switches is defined by Y rows aligned with a first axis and X columns aligned with a second axis, and wherein each switch in the array of switches is capable of being actuated by a coil, comprising:
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a row of coils that includes X individually addressable coils;
a step motor that moves said row of coils along the second axis to be positioned adjacent to any one of the Y rows of switches, wherein when said row of coils is positioned adjacent to a selected one of the Y rows of switches, coils in said row of coils are positioned adjacent to corresponding switches in said selected one of the Y rows of switches;
a coil driver that provides a sufficient driving current to a selected coil in said row of coils to actuate a selected switch in the array of switches when said selected coil is positioned adjacent to said selected switch;
a step motor driver that drives said step motor; and
a controller coupled to said coil driver and said step motor driver. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for actuating micro-magnetic latching switches in an array of micro-magnetic latching switches, wherein the array of switches is defined by Y rows aligned with a first axis and X columns aligned with a second axis, and wherein each switch in the array of switches is capable of being actuated by a coil, comprising:
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(A) moving a row of coils along the second axis to be positioned adjacent to a selected one of the Y rows of switches; and
(B) providing a sufficient driving current to a selected coil in the row of coils to actuate a selected switch in the selected one of the Y rows of switches. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system for actuating micro-magnetic latching switches in an array of switches, wherein the array of switches is defined by Y rows and X columns of micro-magnetic latching switches, and wherein each switch in the array of switches is capable of being actuated by a coil, comprising:
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an array of coils defined by Y rows and X columns of coils, wherein each coil in said array of coils is positioned adjacent to a corresponding switch in the array of switches;
a first axis coil driver that generates a plurality of first axis drive signals, wherein first axis drive signals are coupled to coils in a corresponding column of coils in the array of coils;
a second axis coil driver that generates a plurality of second axis drive signals, wherein second axis drive signals are coupled to coils in a corresponding row of coils in the array of coils; and
a controller coupled to said first axis coil driver and said second axis coil driver. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method for actuating micro-magnetic latching switches in an array of switches, wherein the array of switches is defined by Y rows and X columns of micro-magnetic latching switches, and wherein each switch in the array of switches is capable of being actuated by a coil, comprising:
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(A) generating a plurality of first axis drive signals;
(B) generating a plurality of second axis drive signals; and
(C) receiving the plurality of first axis drive signals and second axis drive signals at an array of coils, wherein the array of coils is defined by Y rows and X columns of coils, and coils in the array of coils are positioned adjacent to a corresponding switch in the array of switches, wherein the first axis drive signals are coupled to coils in a corresponding column of coils in the array of coils, and the second axis drive signals are coupled to coils in a corresponding row of coils in the array of coils. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A system for actuating micro-magnetic latching switches in a three-dimensional array of micro-magnetic latching switches, wherein the three-dimensional array of switches is defined by Y rows, X columns, and Z layers of micro-magnetic latching switches, and wherein each switch in the array of switches is capable of being actuated by a coil, comprising:
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a three-dimensional array of coils defined by Y rows, X columns, and Z layers of coils, wherein each coil in said three-dimensional array of coils is positioned adjacent to a corresponding switch in the three-dimensional array of switches;
a plurality of first axis coil drivers, wherein each first axis coil driver of the plurality of first axis coil drivers corresponds to a layer of coils in the Z layers of coils, and generates a plurality of first axis drive signals, wherein first axis drive signals in the plurality of first axis drive signals are coupled to coils in a corresponding column of coils in the corresponding layer of coils;
a plurality of second axis coil drivers, wherein each second axis coil driver of the plurality of second axis coil drivers corresponds to a layer of coils in the Z layers of coils, and generates a plurality of second axis drive signals, wherein second axis drive signals in the plurality of second axis drive signals are coupled to coils in a corresponding row of coils in the corresponding layer of coils; and
a controller coupled to said plurality of first axis coil drivers and said plurality of second axis coil drivers. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A method for actuating micro-magnetic latching switches in a three-dimensional array of micro-magnetic latching switches, wherein the three-dimensional array of switches is defined by Y rows, X columns, and Z layers of micro-magnetic latching switches, and wherein each switch in the array of switches is capable of being actuated by a coil, comprising:
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(A) generating a plurality of first axis drive signals;
(B) generating a plurality of second axis drive signals; and
(C) receiving the plurality of first axis drive signals and plurality of second axis drive signals at a three-dimensional array of coils, wherein the three-dimensional array of coils is defined by Y rows, X columns, and Z layers of coils, and coils in the three-dimensional array of coils are positioned adjacent to a corresponding switch in the three-dimensional array of switches, wherein the first axis drive signals are coupled to coils in a corresponding column of coils that reside in a particular layer of coils, and the second axis drive signals are coupled to coils'"'"' in a corresponding row of coils that reside in a particular layer of coils. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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Specification