Methods and systems for reactively compensating magnetic current loops
First Claim
1. A magnetic current loop system adapted to produce strong near fields and weak far fields, the magnetic current loop system comprising:
- (a) first and second magnetic current loops for generating a local magnetic field, the magnetic current loops being divided into k sections, k being an integer, each of the k sections having a series reactance at a frequency;
(b) k reactive compensation elements for controlling generation of the local magnetic field, each reactive compensation element being coupled to one of the k sections and having a reactance that substantially cancels the series reactance of each section at the frequency; and
(c) a current source coupled to the first and second magnetic current loops such that current flows in a first direction in the first magnetic current loop and in a second direction, opposite the first direction, in the second magnetic current loop, the current producing a strong magnetic field near the first and second magnetic current loops and substantially canceling dipole magnetic fields produced by the magnetic current first and second loops at a distance far from the first and second magnetic current loops, the reactive compensation elements producing substantial uniformity in phase and magnitude of the current flowing through each loop and thereby enabling the cancellation of the dipole magnetic fields.
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Abstract
Methods and systems for compensating magnetic current loops provide current magnitude and phase uniformity within the magnetic current loops. A magnetic current loop is divided into k sections. Each of the k sections has a series reactance. Series reactive compensation is added to each of the k sections such that the reactive compensation substantially cancels the series reactance of each section. Adding reactive compensation to the loop that cancels the series reactance of each section of the loop provides current magnitude and phase uniformity along the loop at any given instant in time. As a result, the magnitude and phase of the magnetic field at a point in space can be controlled with precision to achieve a desired result, such as precise field cancellation or precise field generation.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. A magnetic current loop system adapted to produce strong near fields and weak far fields, the magnetic current loop system comprising:
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(a) first and second magnetic current loops for generating a local magnetic field, the magnetic current loops being divided into k sections, k being an integer, each of the k sections having a series reactance at a frequency; (b) k reactive compensation elements for controlling generation of the local magnetic field, each reactive compensation element being coupled to one of the k sections and having a reactance that substantially cancels the series reactance of each section at the frequency; and (c) a current source coupled to the first and second magnetic current loops such that current flows in a first direction in the first magnetic current loop and in a second direction, opposite the first direction, in the second magnetic current loop, the current producing a strong magnetic field near the first and second magnetic current loops and substantially canceling dipole magnetic fields produced by the magnetic current first and second loops at a distance far from the first and second magnetic current loops, the reactive compensation elements producing substantial uniformity in phase and magnitude of the current flowing through each loop and thereby enabling the cancellation of the dipole magnetic fields. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A magnetic current loop system adapted to produce strong near fields and weak far fields, the magnetic current loop system comprising:
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(a) first and second magnetic current loops for generating a local magnetic field, the magnetic current loops being divided into k sections, k being an integer, each of the k sections having a series reactance at a frequency; (b) k reactive compensation elements for controlling generation of the local magnetic field, each reactive compensation element being coupled to one of the k sections and having a reactance that substantially cancels the series reactance of each section at the frequency; and (c) a current source coupled to the first and second magnetic current loops such that current flows in a first direction in the first magnetic current loop and in a second direction, opposite the first direction, in the second magnetic current loop thereby substantially canceling a dipole field at a distance spaced from the first and second magnetic current loops, wherein the series reactance of each of the k sections comprises an inductive reactance and each of the k reactive compensation elements comprises a capacitor, and wherein each capacitor has a capacitance value Ck such that wherein ω
the angular frequency of the current source and Lk is the series inductance of the kth section of the magnetic current loops.
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15. A reader for a magnetic-current-loop-based communication system, the reader comprising:
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(a) first and second magnetic current loops for generating a local magnetic field, each being divided into n sections, n being an integer, each section having a series reactance, the first and second magnetic current loops having a total of 2n sections; (b) 2n reactive compensation elements for controlling generation of the local magnetic field, one element being associated with each of the 2n sections, such that the reactive compensation elements substantially cancel the series reactance of each of the sections; and (c) circuitry operatively associated with the first and second magnetic current loops for communicating with a device when the device is within a predetermined distance of the first and second magnetic current loops, wherein the circuitry includes a current source for driving the first and second magnetic current loops to produce a strong magnetic field near the first and second magnetic current loops and to substantially cancel dipole magnetic fields produced by the first and second magnetic current loops at distances far from the first and second magnetic current loops, the reactive compensation elements producing substantial uniformity in phase and magnitude of the current flowing through each loop and thereby enabling the cancellation of the dipole magnetic fields. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A reader for a magnetic-current-loop-based communication system, the reader comprising:
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(a) first and second magnetic current loops for generating a local magnetic field, each being divided into n sections, n being an integer, each section having a series reactance; (b) 2n reactive compensation elements for controlling generation of the local magnetic field, one element being associated with each of the 2n sections, such that the reactive compensation elements substantially cancel the series reactance of each of the sections; (c) circuitry operatively associated with the first and second magnetic current loops for communicating with a device when the device is within a predetermined distance of the first and second magnetic current loops, wherein the first and second magnetic current loops are coaxial with each other; (d) a third magnetic current loop positioned between and equidistant from the first and second magnetic current loops for coupling to a magnetic field from the device; and (e) circuitry operatively associated with the third magnetic current loop for processing a signal modulated on the magnetic field from the device. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. A magnetic current loop system comprising:
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(a) a plurality of magnetic current loops for generating a local magnetic field, each magnetic current loop being divided into n sections, n being an integer, each of the n sections having a series reactance at a frequency; (b) n reactive compensation elements for controlling generation of the local magnetic field, the reactive compensation elements being respectively coupled to each of the n sections of each loop, each of the n reactive compensation elements having a reactance that substantially cancels the series reactance of the corresponding section at the frequency, thereby producing substantial current magnitude and phase uniformity along the magnetic current loop; and (c) a current source coupled to the magnetic current loops for producing a current in the magnetic current loops, wherein the magnetic current loops are coupled to each other such that a strong magnetic field is produced near the magnetic current loops and such that dipole magnetic fields resulting from the current flowing through each loop cancel at distances far from the current loops, the reactive compensation elements producing substantial uniformity in phase and magnitude of the current flowing through each loop and thereby enabling the cancellation of the dipole magnetic fields. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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25. A magnetic current loop system comprising:
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(a) n magnetic current loops for generating a local magnetic field, n being an integer, each of the n magnetic current loops being divided into sections, each section having a series reactance, the magnetic current loops being coupled to each other and magnetized in opposite directions to produce a strong magnetic field near the magnetic current loops and to substantially cancel a dipole magnetic field at distances far from the magnetic current loops, the reactive compensation elements producing substantial uniformity in phase and magnitude of the current flowing through each loop and enabling the cancellation of the dipole magnetic fields; and (b) reactive compensation elements respectively coupled to the sections for controlling generation of the local magnetic field, each of the reactive compensation elements having a reactance that substantially cancels the series reactance of the respective section. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A magnetic current loop system comprising:
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(a) n magnetic current loops for generating a local magnetic field, n being an integer, each of the n magnetic current loops being divided into sections, each section having a series reactance, wherein the n magnetic current loops comprise first, second, and third magnetic current loops being coaxial with each other, the third magnetic current loop being located between the first and second magnetic current loops; (b) reactive compensation elements respectively coupled to the sections for controlling generation of the local magnetic field, each of the reactive compensation elements having a reactance that substantially cancels the series reactance of the respective section; and (c) a first current source coupled to the first and second magnetic current loops adapted to produce a first current having a first magnitude and a first direction in the first and second magnetic current loops and a second current source coupled to the third magnetic current loop adapted to produce a second current having a second magnitude and a second direction in the third magnetic current loop, the second direction being opposite the first direction and the second magnitude being twice the first magnitude.
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34. A method for reactively compensating magnetic current loops, the method comprising:
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(a) dividing first and second magnetic current loops into k sections, k being an integer, each of the k sections having a series reactance at a frequency; (b) adding reactive compensation to each of the k sections such that the reactive compensation substantially cancels the series reactance of each of the k sections and controls generation of a local magnetic field by the magnetic current loops; (c) driving the magnetic current loops with a current source having a frequency such that current flows in a first direction in the first magnetic current loop and in a second direction in the second magnetic current loop and producing a strong magnetic field near the magnetic current loops; and (d) placing the first and second magnetic current loops in close proximity to each other to substantially cancel dipole magnetic fields produced by the magnetic current loops at distances far from the magnetic current loops, the reactive compensation elements producing substantial uniformity in phase and magnitude of the current flowing through each loop and thereby enabling the cancellation of the dipole magnetic fields. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A method for reactively compensating a magnetic current loop, the method comprising:
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(a) dividing each of first and second magnetic current loops into k sections, k being an integer, each of the k sections having a series reactance at a frequency; (b) adding reactive compensation to each of the k sections such that the reactive compensation substantially cancels the series reactance of each of the k sections at the frequency, thereby making the amplitude and phase of a current in the loop at the frequency substantially uniform throughout the loop and thereby providing more precise control over generation of a magnetic field at the frequency; and (c) coupling the magnetic current loops to each other and driving the magnetic current loops to produce a strong magnetic field near the magnetic current loops and to substantially cancel dipole magnetic fields produced by the magnetic current loops at distances far from the magnetic current loops, the reactive compensation elements producing substantial uniformity in phase and magnitude of the current flowing through each loop and thereby enabling the cancellation of the dipole magnetic fields.
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Specification