LINEAR POSITIONING SYSTEM UTILIZING HELICALLY POLARIZED MAGNET
First Claim
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1. A system, comprising:
- a helically polarized magnet having a plurality of north and south poles circumferentially and helically patterned along a linear axis, wherein magnetic flux varies at different positions along a linear path in a direction aligned with the linear axis; and
a multi-axis magnetometer configured with at least two sensing coils to detect the position of the helically polarized magnet by sensing the magnetic flux variations at the different positions along the linear path.
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Abstract
A system includes a helically polarized magnet having a plurality of north and south poles circumferentially and helically patterned along a linear axis. Magnetic flux varies at different positions along a linear path in a direction aligned with the linear axis. A multi-axis magnetometer and/or magnetometer array is configured with at least two sensing coils to detect the position of the helically polarized magnet by sensing the magnetic flux variations at the different positions along the linear path.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A system, comprising:
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a helically polarized magnet having a plurality of north and south poles circumferentially and helically patterned along a linear axis, wherein magnetic flux varies at different positions along a linear path in a direction aligned with the linear axis; and a multi-axis magnetometer configured with at least two sensing coils to detect the position of the helically polarized magnet by sensing the magnetic flux variations at the different positions along the linear path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system, comprising:
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a helically polarized magnet having a plurality of north and south poles circumferentially and helically patterned along a linear axis, wherein magnetic flux varies at different positions along a linear path in a direction aligned with the linear axis; and a sensor array configured with a plurality of magnetometers, each magnetometer in the sensor array configured with at least two sensing coils to detect the position of the helically polarized magnet by sensing the magnetic flux variations at the different positions along the linear path. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A system, comprising:
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a helically polarized magnet (HPM) having a plurality of north and south poles circumferentially and helically patterned along a linear axis, wherein magnetic flux varies at different positions along a linear path in a direction aligned with the linear axis; a connecting rod coupled to the HPM to move the HPM along the linear path; a control rod coupled to the connecting rod to control a reaction in a nuclear reactor; and a sensor array configured with a plurality of magnetometers, each magnetometer in the sensor array configured with at least two sensing coils to detect the position of the HPM by sensing the magnetic flux variations at the different positions along the linear path. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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20. The system of claim 20, wherein each magnetometer in the sensor array includes an excitation coil that is driven by a common excitation signal and each of the sensing coils for each magnetometer of the sensor array provides a position output signal for each of the magnetometers on to a common signal bus.
Specification