Apparatuses and methods relating to precision attachments between first and second components

• US 7,817,006 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2009
• Issued: 10/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Correlated Magnetics Research, LLC
• Original Assignee: Cedar Ridge Research LLC
• Inventors: Williams, Mitchell, Fullerton, Larry W., Roberts, Mark D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barrera, Ramon M
• Application Number:
  US12/507,015
• Publication Number:
  US 20090289749A1
• Time in Patent Office: 455 Days
• Field of Search: 335/285, 335302-306, 243/03, 310/90.5
• US Class Current: 335/306
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 11/001 Means for mounting tubular or beam shaped sighting or aiming devices on firearms
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/0215 Flexible forms, sheets
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/0263 Closures, bags, bands, engagement devices with male and female parts

Abstract

First and second components may be precisely attached to form an apparatus. In an example embodiment, a first component includes a first field emission structure, and a second component includes a second field emission structure. The first and second components are adapted to be attached to each other with the first field emission structure in proximity to the second field emission structure such that the first and second field emission structures have a predetermined alignment with respect to each other. Each of the first and second field emission structures include multiple field emission sources having positions and polarities relating to a predefined spatial force function that corresponds to the predetermined alignment of the first and second field emission structures within a field domain. The first and second field emission structures are configured responsive to at least one precision criterion to enable a precision attachment.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a first component including a first field emission structure; and

a second component including a second field emission structure;

the first and second components adapted to be attached to each other with the first field emission structure in proximity to the second field emission structure such that the first and second field emission structures have a predetermined alignment with respect to each other;

each of the first and second field emission structures including multiple field emission sources having positions and polarities relating to a predefined spatial force function that corresponds to the predetermined alignment of the first and second field emission structures within a field domain;

the first and second field emission structures configured responsive to at least one precision criterion, said spatial force function being in accordance with a code, said code corresponding to a code modulo of said first plurality of field emission sources and a complementary code modulo of said second plurality of field emission sources, said code defining a peak spatial force corresponding to substantial alignment of said code modulo of said first plurality of field emission sources with said complementary code modulo of said second plurality of field emission sources, said code also defining a plurality of off peak spatial forces corresponding to a plurality of different misalignments of said code modulo of said first plurality of field emission sources and said complementary code modulo of said second plurality of field emission sources, said plurality of off peak spatial forces having a largest off peak spatial force, said largest off peak spatial force being less than half of said peak spatial force.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the first component and the second component may be attached or detached from each other by moving the first and second field emission structures relative to each other.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the relative movement between the first field emission structure and the second field emission structure to attach or detach the first and second components to each other comprises at least a relative rotational movement between the first field emission structure and the second field emission structure.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the relative movement between the first field emission structure and the second field emission structure to attach or detach the first and second components to each other comprises at least a relative linear movement between the first field emission structure and the second field emission structure.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first component or the second component includes at least one other field emission structure.

6. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the positions and the polarities of the field emission sources of the first and second field emission structures are configured in accordance with at least one correlation function.

7. The apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein the at least one correlation function comports with at least one code.

8. The apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein the at least one code comprises at least one of a pseudorandom code, a deterministic code, or a designed code;

and wherein the at least one code comprises a one dimensional code, a two dimensional code, a three dimensional code, or a four dimensional code.

9. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein each field emission source of the multiple field emission sources has a corresponding field emission amplitude and vector direction configured in accordance with the predefined spatial force function, wherein a separation distance between the first and second field emission structures and the predetermined alignment with respect to the first and second field emission structures creates a spatial force in accordance with the predefined spatial force function.

10. The apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein the spatial force corresponds to a peak spatial force of the predefined spatial force function when the first and second field emission structures are substantially aligned such that each field emission source of the first field emission structure substantially aligns with a corresponding field emission source of the second field emission structure.

11. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one field emission source of the multiple field emission sources includes a magnetic field emission source or an electric field emission source.

12. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the field domain corresponds to first field emissions from the field emission sources of the first field emission structure interacting with second field emissions from the field emission sources of the second field emission structure.

13. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one precision criterion is based on a number of field emission sources in each of the first and second field emission structures.

14. The apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein the at least one precision criterion is further based on a total surface area exposed by the field emission sources in each of the first and second field emission structures;

and wherein the positions and the polarities of the field emission sources of the first and second field emission structures are configured in accordance with at least one code.

15. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the first component or the second component comprises at least part of medical equipment or manufacturing equipment.

16. A method relating to an apparatus including a first component and a second component, the method comprising:

disposing a first field emission structure on the first component; and

disposing a second field emission structure on the second component;

wherein the first and second components are adapted to be attached to each other with the first field emission structure in proximity to the second field emission structure such that the first and second field emission structures have a predetermined alignment with respect to each other;

each of the first and second field emission structures including multiple field emission sources having positions and polarities relating to a predefined spatial force function that corresponds to the predetermined alignment of the first and second field emission structures within a field domain;

the first and second field emission structures configured responsive to at least one precision criterion, said spatial force function being in accordance with a code, said code corresponding to a code modulo of said first plurality of field emission sources and a complementary code modulo of said second plurality of field emission sources, said code defining a peak spatial force corresponding to substantial alignment of said code modulo of said first plurality of field emission sources with said complementary code modulo of said second plurality of field emission sources, said code also defining a plurality of off peak spatial forces corresponding to a plurality of different misalignments of said code modulo of said first plurality of field emission sources and said complementary code modulo of said second plurality of field emission sources, said plurality of off peak spatial forces having a largest off peak spatial force, said largest off peak spatial force being less than half of said peak spatial force.

17. The method as recited in claim 16, further comprising:

coupling the first component and the second component to each other; and

moving the first field emission structure relative to the second field emission structure to increase a current spatial force between the first and second field emission structures in accordance with the predefined spatial force function to thereby secure the first and second components to each other via the current spatial force.

18. The method as recited in claim 16, further comprising:

designing the first and second field emission structures responsive to the at least one precision criterion that is based on a number of field emission sources in each of the first and second field emission structures and on a total surface area exposed by the field emission sources in each of the first and second field emission structures so as to meet a predetermined attachment tolerance.

19. A first component that is capable of being attached to a second component, the second component including a second field emission structure;

the first component comprising;

a body; and

a first field emission structure that is disposed on the body;

the first component adapted to be attached to the second component with the first field emission structure in proximity to the second field emission structure such that the first and second field emission structures have a predetermined alignment with respect to each other;

each of the first and second field emission structures including multiple field emission sources having positions and polarities relating to a predefined spatial force function that corresponds to the predetermined alignment of the first and second field emission structures within a field domain;

the first and second field emission structures configured responsive to at least one precision criterion, said spatial force function being in accordance with a code, said code corresponding to a code modulo of said first plurality of field emission sources and a complementary code modulo of said second plurality of field emission sources, said code defining a peak spatial force corresponding to substantial alignment of said code modulo of said first plurality of field emission sources with said complementary code modulo of said second plurality of field emission sources, said code also defining a plurality of off peak spatial forces corresponding to a plurality of different misalignments of said code modulo of said first plurality of field emission sources and said complementary code modulo of said second plurality of field emission sources, said plurality of off peak spatial forces having a largest off peak spatial force, said largest off peak spatial force being less than half of said peak spatial force.

20. The first component as recited in claim 19, wherein one or more field emission sources of the multiple field emission sources include at least one permanent magnet, electromagnet, electret, magnetized ferromagnetic material, portion of a magnetized ferromagnetic material, soft magnetic material, or superconductive magnetic material.