VARIABLE FIELD MAGNETIC HOLDING SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A magnetic holding device, comprising:
- an array of a plurality of switchable magnets;
a carrier that holds the array of switchable magnets to form at least a portion of a working surface;
each switchable magnet in the array having a coil of wire surrounding a magnetizable core element;
the array arranged in a plurality of groups of one or more switchable magnets in each group; and
a magnetizing and demagnetizing circuit coupled to the coils and configured to selectively carry out magnetizing and demagnetizing actions on each group of switchable magnets so as to selectively and independently place each group of switchable magnets in the array into a selected one of the following states;
a first ON state that configures the selected group to have a first magnetic polarity at the working surface,a second ON state that configures the selected group to have a second magnetic polarity that is opposite the first magnetic polarity at the working surface, andan OFF state that configures all of the switchable magnets in the selected group to have little or no magnetism at the working surface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A magnetic holding device uses an array of switchable magnets. A carrier holds the array of switchable magnets to form a working surface. Each switchable magnet has a coil of wire surrounding a magnetizable core element. The array is arranged in groups of magnets. A circuit is coupled to the coils to selectively magnetize and demagnetize each group of switchable magnets to selectively independently place each group into one of these states: an ON state that configures the selected group to have a first magnetic polarity at the working surface, an ON state that configures the selected group to have an opposite magnetic polarity at the working surface, and an OFF state that configures the magnets in the selected group to have no magnetism at the working surface. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A magnetic holding device, comprising:
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an array of a plurality of switchable magnets; a carrier that holds the array of switchable magnets to form at least a portion of a working surface; each switchable magnet in the array having a coil of wire surrounding a magnetizable core element; the array arranged in a plurality of groups of one or more switchable magnets in each group; and a magnetizing and demagnetizing circuit coupled to the coils and configured to selectively carry out magnetizing and demagnetizing actions on each group of switchable magnets so as to selectively and independently place each group of switchable magnets in the array into a selected one of the following states; a first ON state that configures the selected group to have a first magnetic polarity at the working surface, a second ON state that configures the selected group to have a second magnetic polarity that is opposite the first magnetic polarity at the working surface, and an OFF state that configures all of the switchable magnets in the selected group to have little or no magnetism at the working surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 19, 20)
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11. A magnetic holding device, comprising:
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an array of a plurality of switchable magnets; a ferromagnetic carrier that holds the array of switchable magnets; each switchable magnet in the array having a coil of wire surrounding a core; the array arranged in at least first and second groups of switchable magnets on the ferromagnetic carrier; and a magnetizing and demagnetizing circuit coupled to the coils and configured to selectively carry out magnetizing and demagnetizing actions on each of the first and second groups to put the switchable magnets in the array into one of the following states; a first ON state that configures the array to be an induced pole system in which the carrier serves as an induced pole for each of the switchable magnets, a second ON state that configures the array to be a true pole system, and an OFF state where all of the switchable permanent magnets in both the first group and the second group are demagnetized. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18)
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17. A magnetic holding device, comprising:
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an array of a plurality of switchable permanent magnets; a ferromagnetic carrier that holds the array of switchable permanent magnets; each switchable permanent magnet in the array having a coil of wire surrounding a permanent magnet; each of the switchable permanent magnets having sufficient coercivity level so as to be magnetized or demagnetized by application of a magnetizing or demagnetizing current to the coil; the array arranged in at least first and second groups of alternating switchable permanent magnets on the ferromagnetic carrier, where each switchable permanent magnet in the first group has closest neighbor switchable permanent magnets that are in the second group, and where each switchable permanent magnet in the second group has closest neighbor switchable permanent magnets that are in the first group; and a magnetizing and demagnetizing circuit coupled to the coils and configured to selectively carry out magnetizing and demagnetizing actions to put the switchable permanent magnets in the array into one of the following states; a first ON state where all of the switchable permanent magnets in both the first group and the second group are magnetized to have the same magnetic polarity thereby establishing the array as an induced pole system with the ferromagnetic carrier serving as an induced pole, a second ON state where the switchable permanent magnets in the first group are magnetized to have a polarity opposite a polarity to which the switchable permanent magnets in the second group are magnetized thereby establishing the array as a true pole system, and an OFF state where all of the switchable permanent magnets in both the first group and the second group are demagnetized.
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Specification