Multi-level magnetic system

• US 8,570,130 B1
• Filed: 05/11/2013
• Issued: 10/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Correlated Magnetics Research, LLC
• Original Assignee: Correlated Magnetics Research, LLC
• Inventors: Fullerton, Larry W., Roberts, Mark D.
• Primary Examiner(s): BARRERA, RAMON M
• Application Number:
  US13/892,246
• Publication Number:
  US 20130285775A1
• Time in Patent Office: 171 Days
• Field of Search: 335205-207, 335/285, 335/306, 26714014-14015, 200/404
• US Class Current: 335/285
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/006 for covers or panels for manholes E02D29/1427; for holes enabling access to installations in buildings E04F19/08; for pressure vessels F16J13/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 19/16 Devices holding the wing by magnetic or electromagnetic attraction E05C17/56 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1677 for detecting open or closed state or particular intermediate positions assumed by movable parts of the enclosure, e.g. detection of display lid position with respect to main body in a laptop, detection of opening of the cover of battery compartment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1679 for locking or maintaining the movable parts of the enclosure in a fixed position, e.g. latching mechanism at the edge of the display in a laptop or for the screen protective cover of a PDA G06F1/1681 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/02 Permanent magnets [PM]
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/021 Construction of PM H01F7/0278 takes precedence; PM compositions H01F1/032
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/0231 Magnetic circuits with PM for power or force generation
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/0242 Magnetic drives, magnetic coupling devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/0252 PM holding devices H01F7/021, H01F7/0215, H01F7/0226 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/0263 Closures, bags, bands, engagement devices with male and female parts
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/20 without armatures cores H01F3/00; coils H01F5/00 ; shaping metal by applying magnetic forces B21D26/14; electromagnets specially adapted for NMR applications G01R33/381

Abstract

A multilevel magnetic system described herein includes first and second magnetic structures that produce a net force that transitions from an attract force to a repel force as a separation distance between the first and second magnetic structures increases. The multi-level magnetic system is configured to maintain a minimum separation distance between a transition distance where the net force is zero and a separation distance at which a peak repel force is produced.

Claims

1. A multi-level magnetic system, comprising:

a first magnetic structure;

a second magnetic structure, said first and second magnetic structures producing a net force that transitions from an attractive force to a repel force when a separation distance between said first and second magnetic structures equals a first separation distance, said net force being an attractive force when said separation distance is less than said first separation distance, said net force being a repel force when said separation distance is greater than said first separation distance; and

at least one movement constraining structure to maintain at least a second separation distance between said first and second magnetic structures, said second separation distance being greater than or equal to said first separation distance and less than a third separation distance between said first and second magnetic structures at which said first and second magnetic structures produce a peak repel force.

2. The multi-level magnetic system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first magnetic structure or said second magnetic structure comprises a plurality of magnetic sources.

3. The multi-level magnetic system of claim 2, wherein said plurality of magnetic sources includes a first magnetic source having a first polarity and a second magnetic source having a second polarity opposite said first polarity.

4. The multi-level magnetic system of claim 1, wherein one of said first magnetic structure or said second magnetic structure is a conventional magnet.

5. The multi-level magnetic system of claim 1, wherein said first and second magnetic structures each include a first portion where the first portions produce an attractive force curve and wherein said first and second magnetic structures each include a second portion where the second portions produce a repel force curve, said attractive force curve and said repel force curve producing a composite force curve.

6. The multi-level magnetic system of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one movement constraining structure comprises a spacer.

7. The multi-level magnetic system of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one movement constraining structure constrains movement of at least one of said first magnetic structure or said second magnetic structure.

8. The multi-level magnetic system of claim 1, wherein said at least one movement constraining structure is configured to constrain rotational movement.

9. The multi-level magnetic system of claim 1, wherein said at least one movement constraining structure is configured to constrain translational movement.

10. The multi-level magnetic system of claim 1, wherein said multi-level magnetic system is configured to allow movement of at least one of said first magnetic structure or said second magnetic structure that varies a composite force curve associated with the first and second magnetic structures.

11. The multi-level magnetic system of claim 1, wherein said second magnetic structure is configured to move from a first position to a second position when an external force is applied to said second magnetic structure.

12. The multi-level magnetic system of claim 11, further comprising:

a circuit;

a first contact attached to said circuit; and

a second contact attached to said second magnetic structure and attached to said circuit, said second contact being movable relative to said first contact to open and close said circuit, said first position corresponding to an open state of said circuit where said first and second contacts are open, said second position corresponding to a closed state of said circuit where said first and second contacts are closed.

13. The multi-level magnetic system of claim 12, wherein said circuit is an electrical circuit.

14. The multi-level magnetic system of claim 11, wherein said second separation distance equals said first separation distance.

15. The multi-level magnetic system of claim 11, wherein said second magnetic structure moves from said second position to said first position as said external force is reduced.

16. The multi-level magnetic system of claim 15, wherein as said external force is reduced the second magnetic structure remains at said second position until the external force becomes less than said net force at which the second magnetic structure begins to accelerate to said first position.

17. The multi-level magnetic system of claim 11, wherein said external force required to move said second magnetic structure from said first position to said second position increases until said separation distance becomes less than said third separation distance at which said second magnetic structure begins to accelerate to said second position.

18. The multi-level magnetic system of claim 1, wherein said multi-level magnetic system is a cushioning device.

19. The multi-level magnetic system of claim 18, wherein said cushioning device is integrated with at least one of a bed, a chair seat, a chair back, a shock absorber, a vehicle bumper, a protective shielding, a knee pad, an elbow pad, or a protective gear.

20. A multi-level magnetic system, comprising:

a first magnetic structure;

a second magnetic structure, said first and second magnetic structures producing a net force that transitions from an attractive force to a repel force as a separation distance between said first and second magnetic structures increases, said net force transitioning from an attractive force to said repel force when said separation distance equals a first separation distance; and

at least one movement constraining structure to maintain at least a second separation distance between said first and second magnetic structures, said second separation distance being greater than or equal to said first separation distance and less than a third separation distance between said first and second magnetic structures at which said first and second magnetic structures produce a peak repel force.