Electromagnetic energy transducer

• US 20060091984A1
• Filed: 10/06/2005
• Published: 05/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EnOcean GmbH
• Original Assignee: EnOcean GmbH
• Inventors: Schmidt, Frank
• Granted Patent: US 7,710,227 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 335/78
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/14 Pivoting armatures H01F7/17 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/076 Key stroke generating power
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 35/02 with moving magnets and stationary coil systems
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 35/04 with moving coil systems and stationary magnets

Abstract

An electromagnetic energy transducer comprising a permanent magnet (1), a soft-magnetic element (9), an electrical coil (6) and stop points (8a-8d). The electrical coil surrounds a part of the magnetic circuit, wherein the permanent magnet (1) and the soft-magnetic element (9) are arranged to form a magnetic circuit with a first flux direction. At least one of the soft-magnetic element (9) and the permanent magnet (1) is mounted for rotary movement about an axis (4) with respect to the other. End points of the rotary movement are formed by the stop points (8a-8d).

Claims

1. An electromagnetic energy transducer comprising:

a permanent magnet (1);

a soft-magnetic element (9);

an electrical coil (6); and

stop points (8a-8d);

wherein said electrical coil surrounds a part of said magnetic circuit;

wherein said permanent magnet (1) and said soft-magnetic element (9) are arranged to form a magnetic circuit with a first flux direction;

wherein at least one of said soft-magnetic element (9) and said permanent magnet (1) is mounted for rotary movement about an axis (4) with respect to the other; and

wherein end points of said rotary movement are formed by said stop points (8a-8d).

2. The electromagnetic energy transducer as claimed in claim 1,

wherein

a force which is introduced to the electromagnetic energy transducer in an operating direction in the opposite direction to a magnetic holding force initiates the rotary movement when the magnetic holding force is exceeded.

3. The electromagnetic energy transducer as claimed in claim 1,

wherein

the stop points (8a-8d) are formed by contact surfaces with the permanent magnet (1) and with the soft-magnetic element (9).

4. The electromagnetic energy transducer as claimed in claim 1,

wherein

a first and a second limit position are formed for the rotary movement, with said first limit position being defined by one set of said stop points, and said second limit position being defined by another set of said stop points.

5. The electromagnetic transducer as claimed in claim 4,

wherein

a stable first or second rest position is formed by magnetic latching forces in the first or second limit position.

6. The electromagnetic energy transducer as claimed in claim 1,

wherein

the rotary movement is through an angle of less than 90 °

.

7. The electromagnetic energy transducer as claimed in claim 4, further comprising:

a spring element (7) urging the permanent magnet (1) and/or on the soft-magnetic element (9) in the direction of the first limit position of the rotary movement.

8. The electromagnetic transducer as claimed in claim 7,

wherein

the spring element (7) is designed such that a rotary movement from the first rest position or the second rest position is assisted by the force of the spring element (7).

9. The electromagnetic energy transducer as claimed in claim 7,

wherein

the force which is exerted by the spring element (7) is of such a magnitude that the second rest position is unstable, such that a rotary movement to the second rest position is followed by a rotary movement, initiated by the spring element (7), back to the first rest position.

10. The electromagnetic energy transducer as claimed in claim 1,

wherein

all of the forces which act on the permanent magnet (1) and/or on the soft-magnetic element (9), such as the spring force and/or the magnetic force, balance one another out in a mid-position of the rotary movement, until the rotary movement is initiated by an additional external force.

11. The electromagnetic energy transducer as claimed in claim 1,

wherein

the permanent magnet (1) is designed such that magnetic north and south poles are each located at opposite ends of the soft-magnetic element (9), and thus at the same time form said stop points (8a-8d).

12. The electromagnetic energy transducer as claimed in claim 1,

wherein

the permanent magnet (1) is formed in layers from two permanent magnets (2, 3) which are magnetized in opposite directions, with the magnetic poles of the individual permanent-magnet layers (2, 3) forming each of said stop points (8a-8d).

13. The electromagnetic energy transducer as claimed in claim 1,

wherein

the soft-magnetic material is iron, ferrite or a nickel/iron alloy, or is formed from so-called electrical or transformer laminates.

14. Use of an electromagnetic transducer as claimed in claim 1,

wherein

the electromagnetic transducer supplies electrical power to an autonomous-power switch, for example a radio switch or a radio signal transmitter.