Method and apparatus for electromagnetic actuation
First Claim
1. An electromagnetic actuator, comprising:
- a main body;
a moveable body, where the moveable body is moveably attached to the main body;
a plurality of coil conductor elements, wherein the plurality of coil conductor elements are microfabricated; and
a plurality of permanent magnets providing magnetic flux to the plurality of coil conductor elements, wherein the plurality of permanent magnets are microfabricated,wherein when a current is applied to one or more of the plurality of coil conductor elements a force moves the moveable body in a piston motion with respect to the main body.
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Abstract
Embodiments of the subject invention relate to a method and apparatus for electromagnetic actuation. Embodiments of an electromagnet actuator in accordance with the subject invention can include a fixed main body and a deformable membrane or displaceable piston-like member. In the case of piston motion, in specific embodiments, the piston can be supported by a corrugated diaphragm or bellows. In various embodiments, all or portions of the electromagnet actuator can be produced using microfabrication techniques. Specific embodiment of the subject invention can incorporate a plurality of magnets providing magnetic flux to a plurality of coil conductor elements so as to provide a plurality of locations that a force is applied to the moveable body portion of the electromagnetic actuator. Specific embodiments can incorporate an array of magnets interdigitated with an array of coil conductor elements, where the arrays can include 2, 5, 10, 20, or more each. Further specific embodiments allow the relative position of the magnetic flux and coil conductor elements to remain substantially the same during the movement of the moveable body by positioning the magnets and coil conductor elements on the moveable body so that the relative position of the magnets and the coil conductor elements on the moveable body do not change with the movement of the moveable body.
15 Citations
89 Claims
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1. An electromagnetic actuator, comprising:
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a main body; a moveable body, where the moveable body is moveably attached to the main body; a plurality of coil conductor elements, wherein the plurality of coil conductor elements are microfabricated; and a plurality of permanent magnets providing magnetic flux to the plurality of coil conductor elements, wherein the plurality of permanent magnets are microfabricated, wherein when a current is applied to one or more of the plurality of coil conductor elements a force moves the moveable body in a piston motion with respect to the main body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A method of producing an electromagnetic actuator, comprising:
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producing an electromagnetic actuator comprising; a main body; a moveable body, where the moveable body is moveably attached to the main body; a plurality of coil conductor elements, wherein the plurality of coil conductor elements are microfabricated, wherein the plurality of coil conductor elements are positioned on the main body or the moveable body; and a plurality of permanent magnets providing magnetic flux to the plurality of coil conductor elements, wherein the plurality of permanent magnets are microfabricated, wherein the plurality of permanent magnets are positioned on the main body or the moveable body, wherein when a current is applied to one or more of the plurality of coil conductor elements a force moves the moveable body in a piston motion with respect to the main body, wherein the electromagnetic actuator is produced via microfabrication techniques.
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46. A method of electromagnetic actuation, comprising:
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providing an electromagnetic actuator comprising; a main body; a moveable body, where the moveable body is moveably attached to the main body; a plurality of coil conductor elements, wherein the plurality of coil conductor elements are microfabricated; and a plurality of permanent magnets providing magnetic flux to the plurality of coil conductor elements, wherein the plurality of permanent magnets are microfabricated, wherein when a current is applied to one or more of the plurality of coil conductor elements a force moves the moveable body in a piston motion with respect to the main body; and applying a current to one or more of the plurality of coil conductor elements. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89)
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Specification