SELECTIVELY CONTROLLABLE ELECTROMAGNETIC SHIELDING
First Claim
1. An electromagnetic shielding system comprising:
- an electromagnetic shield having a permeability substantially greater than a permeability of ambient space such that said electromagnetic field provides an electromagnetic flow path of lesser resistance than ambient space; and
a magnetic field source positioned or positionable proximate said electromagnetic shield, said magnetic field source generating a magnetic field of sufficient strength to selectively substantially saturate at least a portion of said shield, thereby selectively reducing said permeability of said electromagnetic shield such that said electromagnetic shield no longer provides an electromagnetic flow path of lesser resistance than ambient space.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A selectively controllable electromagnetic shield having an electromagnetic shielding material and a mechanism for selectively generating an aperture in the shield. The mechanism for selectively generating an aperture may be a magnetic field source that generates a magnetic field of sufficient strength to substantially saturate all or a portion of the shielding material. For example, a permanent magnet or DC electromagnet may be used to selectively saturate the shield. In its un-saturated state, the magnetic shield has a high permeability and functions as a flux path for the magnetic field. Once saturated, the permeability of the shield is substantially reduced so that the magnetic field lines are no longer drawn into the shield to the same degree. As a result, once saturated, a substantially greater amount of the electromagnetic field may flow through or around the shield in the saturated region.
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Citations
76 Claims
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1. An electromagnetic shielding system comprising:
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an electromagnetic shield having a permeability substantially greater than a permeability of ambient space such that said electromagnetic field provides an electromagnetic flow path of lesser resistance than ambient space; and a magnetic field source positioned or positionable proximate said electromagnetic shield, said magnetic field source generating a magnetic field of sufficient strength to selectively substantially saturate at least a portion of said shield, thereby selectively reducing said permeability of said electromagnetic shield such that said electromagnetic shield no longer provides an electromagnetic flow path of lesser resistance than ambient space. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An electromagnetic transfer system comprising:
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an electromagnetic field generator capable of generating an electromagnetic field; an electromagnetic field receiver capable of receiving said electromagnetic field; an electromagnetic shield disposed between said field generator and said receiver, said electromagnetic shield being selectively capable of substantially reducing an ability of said electromagnetic field to reach said electromagnetic field receiver; and a DC magnetic field source selectively operable to selectively saturate at least a portion of said electromagnetic shield such that a substantially greater portion of said electromagnetic field is capable of passing through said electromagnetic shield to reach said electromagnetic field receiver. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A wireless power system comprising:
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a wireless power supply having an electromagnetic field source capable of generating an electromagnetic field; a remote device separate from wireless power supply and being capable of being selectively placed adjacent to said electromagnetic field source; an electromagnetic shield disposed between said electromagnetic field source and said remote device, said electromagnetic shield having sufficient permeability to prevent passage of a significant portion of said electromagnetic field from said electromagnetic field source to said remote device; and a magnetic field source selectively operable to substantially saturate at least a region of said electromagnetic shield such that a substantial greater portion of said electromagnetic field is capable of passing from said electromagnetic field source to said remote device through said saturated region. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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52. A method of selective shielding comprising the steps of:
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providing an electromagnetic field generator; providing an electromagnetic shield capable of selectively transitioning between a saturated state and an unsaturated state; providing a DC magnetic field source capable of producing a DC magnetic field of sufficient strength to cause at least a portion of the electromagnetic shield to transition from the unsaturated state to the saturated state; positioning the shield between the electromagnetic field generator and an electromagnetic field receiver; operating the electromagnetic field generator to produce an electromagnetic field; and selectively saturating at least a portion of the shield with the DC magnetic field generator to selectively cause at least a portion of the electromagnetic shield to transition to the saturated state, whereby the shield in the saturated state permits a substantially greater portion of the electromagnetic field to reach the electromagnetic receiver than in the unsaturated state. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65)
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66. A wireless power transfer system comprising:
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a wireless power supply having an electromagnetic field source capable of generating an electromagnetic field, said wireless power supply having a power transfer surface; an electromagnetic shield disposed adjacent said electromagnetic field source between said electromagnetic field source and said power transfer surface, said electromagnetic shield having sufficient permeability to prevent pass-through of a significant portion of said electromagnetic field from said electromagnetic field source to said power transfer surface; and a plurality of remote devices separate from wireless power supply and being capable of being selectively placed on said power transfer surface, each of said remote devices including a magnetic field source operable to substantially saturate at least a region of said electromagnetic shield such that a substantially greater portion of said electromagnetic field is capable of passing through said electromagnetic shield from said electromagnetic field source to said remote device through said saturated region. - View Dependent Claims (67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76)
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Specification