Electromagnetic positioning

• US 20030178901A1
• Filed: 03/21/2003
• Published: 09/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CSR Technology Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Clarity LLC
• Inventors: Chuey, Mark D., Erten, Gamze
• Granted Patent: US 6,879,082 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 310/112
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/37124 Magnetic sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 2201/18 Machines moving with multiple degrees of freedom
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 3/26 consisting of printed conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 41/031 of the permanent magnet type

Abstract

A positioner has a first surface with a plurality of controlled electromagnets and a second surface having a circular cross-section movably positioned relative to the first surface. A plurality of magnetic positioners are disposed around the second surface. Control logic energizes a sequence of the controlled electromagnets to create magnetic interaction with the plurality of magnetic positioner and thereby move the second surface relative to the first surface. A rotor may be positioned to rotate relative to the second surface. Electromagnetic pickups in proximity with the rotor receive a time-varying electromagnetic field from rotor magnets as the rotor rotates, thereby generating electrical energy.

Claims

1. A magnetic positioner comprising:

a first flat surface;

a plurality of controlled electromagnets spaced about the first surface;

a second surface having a circular cross-section rollably positioned relative to the first surface;

a plurality of magnetic positioners disposed around the second surface; and

control logic in communication with the plurality of controlled electromagnets, the control logic energizing a sequence of the controlled electromagnets to create magnetic interaction with the plurality of magnetic positioner and thereby move the second surface relative to the first surface.

2. A magnetic actuation system as in claim 1 wherein at least one magnetic positioner comprises a permanent magnet.

3. A magnetic actuation system as in claim 1 wherein at least one magnetic positioner comprises an electromagnet.

4. A magnetic actuation system as in claim 1 wherein at least one magnetic positioner comprises a magnetically attracted material.

5. A magnetic actuation system as in claim 1 wherein at least one of the first surface and the second surface comprises a flexible printed circuit.

6. A magnetic actuation system as in claim 1 wherein the control logic receives signals from the plurality of controlled electromagnets, each received signal from one of the controlled electromagnets generated in response to at least one magnetic positioner moving past the controlled electromagnet.

7. A magnetic actuation system as in claim 6 wherein the control logic learns a trajectory of the first surface relative to the second surface based on the received signals.

8. A magnetic actuation system as in claim 1 wherein the second surface rollably moves relative to the first surface.

9. A magnetic positioner comprising:

a stator surface;

a plurality of controlled electromagnets spaced about the stator surface;

a spherical rotor surface rollably positioned on the stator surface; and

a plurality of magnetic positioners disposed around the rotor surface.

10. A magnetic positioner as in claim 9 further comprising control logic in communication with the plurality of controlled electromagnets, the control logic energizing a sequence of the controlled electromagnets to create magnetic interaction with the plurality of magnetic positioner and thereby move the rotor surface relative to the stator surface.

11. A magnetic positioner as in claim 9 wherein the stator surface is flat.

12. A magnetic positioner as in claim 9 wherein the stator surface is tubular, the rotor surface rolling on the inside of the stator surface.

13. A magnetic positioner as in claim 12 wherein the plurality of controlled electromagnets comprises a first plurality of electromagnets arranged along a length of the tubular stator surface and a second plurality of electromagnets arranged along the length of the tubular stator surface opposite the first plurality of electromagnets.

14. A magnetic positioner as in claim 12 wherein the tubular stator surface comprises at least one branch splitting the tubular stator surface into a first branch tubular stator surface and a second branch tubular stator surface.

15. A magnetic positioner as in claim 14 wherein the plurality of controlled electromagnets comprises at least one electromagnet operative to roll the rotor down the first branch tubular stator surface and at least one electromagnet operative to roll the rotor down the second branch tubular stator surface.

16. A magnetic positioner as in claim 9 further comprising a housing, the housing defining a cavity constraining the rotor surface such that, as the rotor surface rolls on the stator surface, the housing translates across the stator surface.

17. A magnetic system comprising:

a body having at least one cavity wall defining a cavity;

a plurality of controlled electromagnets spaced about the at least one cavity wall;

a housing having a curved outer surface defining an electromagnetically transparent opening, the housing curved surface rotatively positioned within the cavity;

at least one magnetic positioner fixed to move with the curved outer surface;

a rotor rotatively fixed within the housing, the rotor positioned to rotate by the housing opening;

at least one rotor magnet fixed on the rotor; and

at least one electromagnetic pickup disposed within the housing in proximity with the rotor, each pickup receiving a time-varying electromagnetic field from at least one rotor magnet as the rotor rotates.

18. A magnetic system as in claim 17 further comprising control logic in communication with the plurality of controlled electromagnets, the control logic energizing at least one of the controlled electromagnets to create magnetic interaction with at least one magnetic positioner and thereby move the housing relative to the cavity.

19. A magnetic system as in claim 17 further comprising control logic in communication with the plurality of controlled electromagnets, the control logic energizing at least one of the controlled electromagnets to create magnetic interaction with the at least one rotor magnet to spin the rotor within the housing.

20. A magnetic system as in claim 17 further comprising at least one electronic system disposed within the housing, the electronic system powered by energy from each pickup receiving a time-varying electromagnetic field.

21. A magnetic system as in claim 17 wherein the plurality of controlled electromagnets spaced about the at least one cavity wall comprises a first set of electromagnets for positioning the housing and a second set of electromagnets for rotating the rotor.

22. A magnetic system as in claim 17 wherein the at least one rotor magnet fixed on the rotor is a first set of at least one magnet for spinning the rotor and a second set of at least one magnet for generating each time-varying electromagnetic field received by each pickup.

23. A method of powering electronics within a housing, the housing rotatably located within a cavity formed in a body, the method comprising:

energizing at least one of a plurality of electromagnets within the body to position the housing within the cavity;

energizing at least one of a plurality of electromagnets within the body to rotate a rotor located within the housing, the rotor operative to rotate relative to the housing;

generating a time-varying electromagnetic field by rotating the rotor; and

converting the time-varying electromagnetic field into an electrical current within the housing.