FIELD EMISSION SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20090273422A1
• Filed: 01/23/2009
• Published: 11/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Correlated Magnetics Research, LLC
• Original Assignee: Cedar Ridge Research LLC
• Inventors: Richards, James L., Fullerton, Larry W., Roberts, Mark D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,868,721 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 335/306
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 13/00 Apparatus or processes for magnetising or demagnetising devices for holding workpieces using magnetic or electric force acting directly on the workpieces B23Q3/15 ; for degaussing ships B63G9/06; for clocks or watches G04D9/00; recording or erasing of information on magnetic record carriers G11B5/00 ; demagnetising arrangements for colour television H04N9/29
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/0284 using a trimmable or adjustable magnetic circuit, e.g. for a symmetric dipole or quadrupole magnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/32 having magnetic fastener

Abstract

An improved field emission system and method is provided that involves field emission structures having electric or magnetic field sources. The magnitudes, polarities, and positions of the magnetic or electric field sources are configured to have desirable correlation properties, which may be in accordance with a code. The correlation properties correspond to a desired spatial force function where spatial forces between field emission structures correspond to relative alignment, separation distance, and the spatial force function.

Claims

1. A magnetic field emission structure, comprising:

an array of magnetic field emission sources each having positions and polarities relating to a spatial force function; and

at least one current source associated with at least one of said array of magnetic field emission sources, said at least one current source generating an electric current to change said spatial force function.

2. The structure of claim 1, wherein said at least one magnetic field emission source comprises an electro-permanent magnet.

3. The structure of claim 1, wherein said at least one magnetic field emission source is associated with a conductive element coupled to said at least one current source, said conductive element carrying an amount of current sufficient to change the magnetic state of said at least one of said array of magnetic field emission sources.

4. The structure of claim 3, wherein said conductive element comprises at least one winding.

5. The structure of claim 1, wherein said at least one current source is associated with at least one of a row of said array of magnetic field emission sources or a column of said array of magnetic field emission sources.

6. The structure of claim 5, wherein said at least one of a row of said array of magnetic field emission sources or a column of said array of magnetic field emission sources corresponds to one magnetic field emission source of said array of magnetic field emission sources.

7. The structure of claim 1, wherein said electric current comprises an electric pulse.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein said electric current comprises an electric pulse.

8. A method of producing a magnetic field emission structure, comprising the steps of:

associating at least one current source with at least one magnetic field emission source of an array of magnetic field emission sources, each of said magnetic field emission sources having a corresponding position and polarity corresponding to a spatial force function; and

generating an electric current associated with said at least one magnetic field emission source of said array of magnetic field emission sources to change said spatial force function.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said at least one magnetic field emission source comprises an electro-permanent magnet.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

associating said at least one magnetic field emission source with a conductive element coupled to said at least one current source, said conductive element carrying an amount of current sufficient to change the magnetic state of said at least one of said array of magnetic field emission sources.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said conductive element comprises at least one winding.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

associating said at least one current source with at least one of a row of said array of magnetic field emission sources or a column of said array of magnetic field emission sources.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said at least one of a row of said array of magnetic field emission sources or a column of said array of magnetic field emission sources corresponds to one magnetic field emission source of said array of magnetic field emission sources.

15. A magnetic field emission structure, comprising:

an array of magnetic field emission sources each having positions and polarities relating to a spatial force function, each of said array of magnetic field emission sources having a corresponding conductive element of a plurality of conductive elements; and

at least one current source associated with said plurality of conductive elements, said at least one current source generating an electric current, each said corresponding conductive element of said plurality of conductive elements carrying an amount of current sufficient to change the magnetic state of said at least one of said array of magnetic field emission sources to change said spatial force function.

16. The structure of claim 15, wherein said at least one magnetic field emission source comprises an electro-permanent magnet.

17. The structure of claim 15, wherein said at least one conductive element of said plurality of conductive elements comprises at least one winding.

18. The structure of claim 15, wherein said at least one current source is associated with at least one of a row of said array of magnetic field emission sources or a column of said array of magnetic field emission sources.

19. The structure of claim 18, wherein said at least one of a row of said array of magnetic field emission sources or a column of said array of magnetic field emission sources corresponds to one magnetic field emission source of said array of magnetic field emission sources.

20. The structure of claim 15, wherein said electric current comprises an electric pulse.