Patent Publication Number: US-2021193357-A1

Title: Methods and apparatus for generating magnetic fields

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/001,187 filed on Jan. 19, 2016, all of which are incorporated here as if set forth in full. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Field of the Invention 
     The embodiments described herein are related to generating magnetic fields, and more particularly to the generation of magnetic fields with multiple polarities. 
     Background of the Invention 
     Magnets of all kinds, e.g., permanent, electromagnetic, and superconducting magnets generate two magnetic poles of opposite polarity at opposite sides. This can be illustrated by reference to the bar magnet  100  shown in  FIG. 1 . As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , bar magnet  100  has two magnetic poles: south pole  102  and north pole  104 , respectively.  FIG. 1  also shows magnetic field  106  generated by bar magnet  100  which has a direction going from the north pole  104  to south pole  102 . 
     These magnetic poles have the ability to repel and attract. For example, if the north pole of a second bar magnet is to be brought near, e.g., the south pole  102  of magnet  100 , then magnet  100  would attract the second magnet. Conversely, if the south pole of the second magnet is to be brought near the south pole  102  of magnet  100 , then magnet  100  would repel the second magnet. The north pole  104  of magnet  100  will operate in a converse fashion, i.e., repelling the north pole and attracting the south pole of the second magnet. 
     While the above described property of magnets can be used to create devices, it can also limit their uses or at least limit their efficiency. This can be illustrated by a stator/rotator combination of an electric motor. 
       FIG. 2  presents a block diagram illustrating multiple magnets  202  forming a stator ring, and a rotator magnet  204  positioned in the middle of the stator ring. As can be seen in  FIG. 2 , each of the magnets  202  (i.e.,  202   a - 202   d ) has the south and north magnetic poles arranged as indicated, and the rotator magnet  204  has its poles arranged as shown. During operation, the south poles of stator magnets  202   a  and  202   d  will repel the south pole of rotator magnet  204 , while the north poles of stator magnets  202   b  and  202   c  will attract the south pole of rotator magnet  204 . At the same time, the north poles of stator magnets  202   b  and  202   c  will repel the north pole of rotator magnet  204  while the south poles of stator magnets  202   d  and  202   a  will attract the north pole of rotator magnet  204 . The cumulative effect causes rotator magnet  204  to rotate clockwise around a shaft  205 . Unfortunately, as can be seen in  FIG. 2 , each of stator magnets  202  generates a second pole on the outside of the stator ring that is not used. As a result, the overall utilization of the stator&#39;s available magnetic fields is 50% at best. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments described herein provide devices, systems, and techniques for generating a magnetic field pattern that includes a plurality of magnetic poles. In specific embodiments, a magnetic device is disclosed which generates a magnetic field pattern including two magnetic poles of the same polarity on both ends, or sides of the magnetic device, and a third magnetic pole of a different polarity from the other two magnetic poles, wherein the third magnetic pole is located inside the magnetic device and between the other two magnetic poles. This three-pole magnetic field pattern can be used to accelerate a magnet or another magnetic device from one side of the magnetic device to the other side of the magnetic device. 
     In various embodiments, multiple of the disclosed magnetic devices can be arranged in series or linked with one another to generate a combined magnetic field pattern that comprises multiple of the three-pole magnetic field pattern. This combined magnetic field pattern can be used to accelerate another magnet device over a longer distance in a linear path or around a fly wheel of a magnetic rotor-stator device in a circular path. 
     In various embodiments, the magnetic device which generates the three-pole magnetic field is configured with two openings located at the two transition boundaries/interfaces of the three-pole magnetic field. As such, the two transition boundaries become accessible to objects. In particular, when another magnet is inserted at an interface between two magnetic poles, the magnet will “register” right at the interface and hover over or be suspended at the opening of the magnetic device. The combination of such a magnet and the magnetic device can be used to create transducers, valves, speakers, microphones, and pumps. 
     In one aspect, a magnetic device for generating a desired magnetic field pattern is disclosed. This magnetic device includes a base that includes an upper surface, a lower surface, and an inner wall and an outer wall that are sandwiched between the upper surface and the lower surface. The upper surface includes a first opening defined by the upper edge of the inner wall, the lower surface includes a second opening defined by the lower edge of the inner wall. The base further includes a set of magnet placement locations located between the inner wall and the outer wall. The magnetic device further includes a set of magnets placed at these placement locations such that each of the magnets is placed at a location on the inner wall such that an axis of the magnet connecting the north pole and the south pole of the magnet forms an angle with respect to the upper and lower surfaces. As a result of the device configuration, the magnetic device generates three primary fields: a first field of a first polarity formed substantially between the upper surface and the lower surface inside the base, a second field of a second polarity formed outward from the first opening of the base and on a first side of the first field, and a third field of the second polarity formed outward from the second opening of the base and on a second side of the first field opposite to the first side. As such, the two transition boundaries become accessible to objects. In particular, when another magnet is inserted at an interface between the two magnetic poles, the magnet will “register” right at the interface and hover over or be suspended at the interface between the two magnetic poles. The combination of such a magnet and the magnetic device can be used to create transducers, valves, speakers, microphones, and pumps. 
     In some embodiments, the set of magnet placement locations includes two locations. 
     In some embodiments, the set of magnet placement locations includes three or more locations. 
     In some embodiments, the set of magnets forms a continuous magnetic structure around the inner wall. 
     In some embodiments, an upper portion of each of the magnet placement locations is thinner than a lower portion of the magnet placement location. 
     In some embodiments, each magnet within the set of magnets includes a surface in the vicinity of the inner wall which has an angular shape. 
     In some embodiments, the set of magnet placement locations are substantially flat on the inner wall and configured to accommodate surface mounting magnets. 
     In some embodiments, the region of magnetic influence of the second field is significantly larger than the region of magnetic influence of the third field. 
     In some embodiments, the sizes and geometries of the first and second openings are configured to control the region of magnetic influence of each of the second field and the third field. 
     In some embodiments, the north pole of each magnet faces the center of the base whereas the south pole of the magnet faces away from the center of the base. Moreover, the first field of the first polarity is magnetic south and the second field and the third field of the second polarity is magnetic north. 
     In some embodiments, the south pole of each magnet faces the center of the base whereas the north pole of the magnet faces away from the center of the base. Moreover, the first field of the first polarity is magnetic north and wherein the second field and the third field of the second polarity is magnetic south. 
     In some embodiments, the first pole of each magnet facing the center of the base is positioned closer to the upper surface of the base while the second pole of the magnet facing away from the center of the base is positioned closer to the lower surface of the base. 
     In some embodiments, the angle formed between the axis of each magnet connecting the north pole and the south pole of the magnet, and the upper and lower surfaces is between 0 and 90 degrees. 
     In some embodiments, the inner wall of the base has a parabolic shape or an angled shape. 
     In some embodiments, a surface of each magnet has a parabolic shape, an angular shape or a flat shape. 
     In some embodiments, the first field of the first polarity is located substantially within the space surrounded by the first opening, the second opening, and the inner wall. 
     In some embodiments, a first transition boundary between the first field of the first polarity and the second field of the second polarity is in the vicinity of the first opening of the base, and wherein a second transition boundary between the first field and the third field of the second polarity is in the vicinity of the second opening of the base. 
     In some embodiments, each of the first and second transition boundaries is accessible to an object such that when a magnet is inserted at the first or the second transition boundary, the magnet hovers over the corresponding opening of the magnetic device. 
     In some embodiments, the magnetic device is configured such that if a pressure is applied to the hovering magnet and then released, the magnet inclines to return to substantially the same location. 
     In some embodiments, the combination of the magnet and the magnetic device is used to create transducers, valves, speakers, microphones, and pumps. 
     In some embodiments, each of the magnets is a permanent magnet, an electromagnetic magnet, a superconducting magnet, or a combination of the above. 
     In some embodiments, the base further includes a gap formed into the base which connects the space in the center of the base and the space outside the base. 
     In another aspect, a device for propelling a magnetic object from a first location to a second location is disclosed. This device includes a first magnetic field generator configured to generate a first magnetic field pattern that comprises a first magnetic field of a first polarity, and a second magnetic field and a third magnetic field both of a second polarity and located on either side of the first magnetic field. The device also includes a second magnetic field generator coupled in series with the first magnetic field generator and configured to generate a second magnetic field pattern which is substantially identical to the first magnetic field pattern. The first and the second magnetic field patterns form a combined linear field pattern having first-second-first-first-second-first polarities. The combined linear field pattern causes a magnetic object to enter from a first end of the combined linear field pattern, traverse each of the magnetic field in the combined linear field pattern, and exit from a second end of the combined linear field pattern, as a result of the magnetic interaction between the magnetic object and the combined linear field pattern. 
     In some embodiments, the first polarity is magnetic north and the second polarity is magnetic south. 
     In some embodiments, the first polarity is magnetic south and the second polarity is magnetic north. 
     In some embodiments, each of the first and second magnetic field generators includes a base including an upper surface, a lower surface, and an inner wall and an outer wall that are sandwiched between the upper surface and the lower surface. The upper surface includes a first opening defined by the upper edge of the inner wall, the lower surface includes a second opening defined by the lower edge of the inner wall. Each magnetic field generator also includes a set of magnets placed to cover a portion of the inner wall, and each of the magnets is positioned such that an axis of the magnet connecting the north pole and the south pole of the magnet forms an angle with respect to the upper and lower surfaces. 
     In some embodiments, the set of magnets are placed inside a set of recessed locations within the inner wall of the base. 
     In some embodiments, the set of magnets are mounted on the surface of the inner wall of the base. 
     In some embodiments, each of the set of magnets has a trapezoid, circular, square, and/or triangular geometry. 
     In some embodiments, the set of magnets includes two or more magnets. 
     In some embodiments, the first magnetic field of a first polarity is formed substantially between the upper surface and the lower surface inside the base, the second magnetic field of the second polarity is formed outward from the first opening of the base, and the third magnetic field of the second polarity is formed outward from the second opening of the base and on the opposite side of the first magnetic field. 
     In some embodiments, the device includes one or more additional magnetic field generators coupled in series with the first and second magnetic field generators and configured to generate one or more additional magnetic field patterns which are substantially identical to the first and second magnetic field patterns. 
     In some embodiments, the first, the second, and the one or more additional magnetic field generators form a linear array for propelling the magnetic object in a linear path. 
     In some embodiments, the first, the second, and the one or more additional magnetic field generators form a circular array for propelling the magnetic object in a circular path. 
     These and other features, aspects, and embodiments are described below in the section entitled “Detailed Description.” 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Features, aspects, and embodiments are described in conjunction with the attached drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a conventional bar magnet having two poles. 
         FIG. 2  presents a block diagram illustrating multiple magnets forming a stator ring, and a rotator magnet positioned in the middle of the stator ring. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an exemplary device which can be used to form a proposed magnetic device for producing a desired magnetic field pattern in accordance with some embodiments described herein. 
         FIG. 4A  illustrates a magnetic device with a set of magnets installed in the magnet placement locations of the base described in  FIG. 3 , and field patterns that would be expected to be produced given the field patterns shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4B  illustrates exemplary field patterns actually generated by the magnet configuration of the device vs. the expected field patterns shown in  FIG. 4A . 
         FIG. 5  illustrates an approximated field pattern of the proposed magnetic device comprising the three primary fields in accordance with some embodiments described herein. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates an exemplary process of accelerating a device comprising a magnet attached to a rod or other stabilizing apparatus through a magnetic field formed by multiple field patterns shown in  FIG. 5  in accordance with some embodiments described herein. 
         FIG. 7A  illustrates a magnetic rotor-stator device that includes a circular array of magnetic field generating devices configured as stators to drive a rotor wheel around a shaft that includes a circular array of magnets attached to the rotor wheel through a set of rods in accordance with some embodiments described herein. 
         FIG. 7B  illustrates an alternative magnetic rotor-stator device that includes a circular array of magnetic field generating devices attached to a center shaft acting as the rotor and a set of magnets attached to the outside of the rotor-stator device through a corresponding set of rods and acting as the stator in accordance with some embodiments described herein. 
         FIG. 7C  illustrates another example of a magnetic rotor-stator device based on the magnetic rotor-stator device described in  FIG. 7B . 
         FIG. 8A  illustrates the initial position of the electromagnetic device before entering the first north pole of field pattern  500   a.    
         FIG. 8B  illustrates the electromagnetic device completely enters the first north pole field after being attracted by the first north pole of field pattern  500   a.    
         FIG. 8C  illustrates the electromagnetic device has moved from the first north pole field into the south pole field in the middle of field pattern  500   a  under the attraction force of the south pole. 
         FIG. 8D  illustrates the electromagnetic device has completely entered field  510   a  and the polarities of the device remain the same. 
         FIG. 8E  illustrates the electromagnetic device has entered the second north pole field  508   a  in field pattern  500   a  and the polarities of device  800  remain the same. 
         FIG. 8F  illustrates the electromagnetic device has again switched polarities from south-north back to north-south. 
         FIG. 8G  illustrates the electromagnetic device moves into the first north pole field of the second field pattern  500   b  after switching the polarities. 
         FIG. 8H  illustrates the electromagnetic device has switched polarities again from north-south back to south-north to facilitate the device to move across the second south pole field of field pattern  500   b.    
         FIG. 9A  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the proposed magnetic field generating device that includes a base having a parabolic shaped inner wall and a set of magnets installed inside a corresponding set of magnet placement locations within the inner wall. 
         FIG. 9B  illustrates an alternative magnetic field generating device which uses surface mounting magnets in accordance with some embodiments described herein. 
         FIG. 10A  shows a cross-sectional view of another example of the proposed magnetic device which includes two similar sizes openings and the associated field pattern with three poles in accordance with some embodiments described herein. 
         FIG. 10B  shows a perspective view of the magnetic device having the two transition boundaries at the two openings in accordance with some embodiments described herein. 
         FIG. 10C  shows magnetic suspension using the magnetic device  1000  where two permanent magnets  1  and  2  are suspended at the two transition boundaries —position  1  and position  2  in accordance with some embodiments described herein. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Some embodiments described herein relate to apparatus or devices that comprise a plurality of magnets positioned to form a parabolic shape. The magnets can be permanent magnets, electromagnetic magnets, superconducting magnets, or some combination of the above. When the magnets are positioned in the parabolic shape as described herein, they can generate two primary fields of magnetic force of the same polarity extending outward from the apparatus in opposite directions and a third magnetic field substantially in the center of the apparatus of an opposite polarity. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates an exemplary device  300  which can be used to form a proposed magnetic device for producing a desired magnetic field pattern in accordance with some embodiments described herein. As can be seen in  FIG. 3 , device  300  comprises a base  302  that has a ring geometry that includes at least two openings. More specifically, base  302  has an upper surface  307 , a lower surface  305 , an inner wall  311  defining the central opening or hole through the ring-shaped base between surfaces  305  and  307 , and an outer wall  313  sandwiched between the surfaces  305  and  307 . Upper surface  307  further includes an opening  308 , in this case having a circular shape, while lower surface  305  includes an opening  310  which also has a circular shape in the illustrated example. Notably, opening  308  in upper surface  307  has a larger diameter than opening  310  in lower surface  305 . As a result, inner wall  311  can have a parabolic shape or an angled shape. Although base  302  in the embodiment of  FIG. 3  is shown to have a ring/circular shape, other embodiments of device  300  can have a base that has other closed shapes with a non-circular opening, for example, including but are not limited square, pentagon, hexagon, or other polygon shaped opening. Hence, embodiments of this disclosure are not limited to using ring-shaped bases shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     Base  302  further includes a plurality of magnet placement locations  304  that can each accommodate a magnet. As can be seen in  FIG. 3 , the plurality of magnet placement locations  304  are located between inner wall  311  and outer wall  313 , and spaced substantially evenly around the ring-shaped base  302 . For example, the distance between a pair of adjacent magnet placement locations can be denoted as “d.” However, in some other embodiments, the plurality of magnet placement locations  304  can be positioned around the ring-shaped base  302  with uneven spacings. Note that each magnet placement location  304  includes an opening on the inner wall  311  to receive a magnet. As such, the opening of each magnet placement location  304  can also have a parabolic shape or an angled shape if the inner wall  311  has a parabolic shape or an angled shape. In such embodiments, due to the parabolic or angled shape of inner wall  311 , each of the magnet placement locations  304  can have an upper portion  312  that is thinner than a lower portion  314 . 
     In some embodiments, the back wall of each magnet placement location  304 , which is embedded inside the solid portion of base  302 , can be set at an angle with respect to the outer wall  313  of base  302 . In these embodiments, the surface of the magnets to be installed into the magnet placement locations  304  can also have a parabolic or angled shape. In some embodiments, instead of using magnet placement locations configured as recesses into the inner wall, a base of the proposed magnetic device uses a set of magnet placement locations around the inner wall. These magnet placement locations can be used to accommodate surface mounting magnets, as is described in more detail below in conjunction with  FIGS. 9A and 9B . 
     In some embodiments, base  302  also includes a gap  306  formed into the solid ring structure of base  302  which connects the center of base  302  to the space outside base  302 . The function and use of such a gap  306  is described in more detail below. Although not explicitly shown, each magnet placement location  304  can accommodate a magnet. A proposed magnetic device  300  is formed when magnets are properly installed into the magnet placement location  304 . 
       FIG. 4A  illustrates a magnetic device  400  with a set of magnets  402  (i.e.,  402   a  and  402   b ) installed in the magnet placement locations  304  of base  302  described in  FIG. 3 , and field patterns that would be expected to be produced given the field patterns shown in  FIG. 1 . Notably, in the exemplary device  400 , the north pole of each magnet  402  faces the center of base  302  and is positioned closer to the upper surface of the base  302 , while the south pole of each magnet  402  faces away from the center of base  302  and is positioned closer to the lower surface of base  302 . As such, each of the magnets  402  is placed such that an axis of the magnet (shown as the dotted straight lines passing through the magnets  402 ) connecting the north pole and the south pole of the magnet forms an angle with respect to the upper and lower surfaces, and the axis of each magnet is also at an angle to the central axis of the central opening through the ring-shaped base. In various embodiments, the set of magnets can include two, three, or more individual permanent magnets. In some embodiments, the set of magnets forms a continuous magnetic structure around the inner wall. 
     In the device configuration shown in  FIG. 4A , it would be expected that the magnets would generate magnetic fields  404  with poles as shown, i.e., a combined north pole formed in the middle of device  400  and two south poles formed at the opposite ends of device  400 . However, the field pattern shown in  FIG. 4A  is not what is actually produced by device  400  based on the described configuration. 
       FIG. 4B  illustrates exemplary field patterns actually generated by the magnet configuration of device  400 . More specifically,  FIG. 4B  represents a cross-sectional view of device  400 , such that the right vertical edge of device  400  corresponds to the upper surface  307  of base  302  shown in  FIG. 3 , while the left vertical edge of device  400  corresponds to the lower surface  305  of base  302  shown in  FIG. 3 . As can be seen in  FIG. 4B , three primary magnetic fields,  406 ,  408 , and  410  are produced. More specifically, the first primary field  410  having a polarity of magnetic south, instead of magnetic north, is formed substantially in the middle of base  302 . In the example shown, field  410  is located substantially within the open space surrounded by the upper opening in the upper surface, the lower opening in the lower surface, and the inner wall of based  302 . 
     Also shown in  FIG. 4B , a second primary field  408  having a polarity of magnetic north is formed outward from the upper, i.e., the larger opening of the base  302 , and a third primary field  406  having a polarity also of magnetic north is formed outward from the lower or the smaller opening of the base  302  and on the opposite side of the primary field  410 . 
     In some embodiments, a boundary between the first primary field  410  and the second primary field  408  is in the vicinity of the larger opening of the base  302  (shown as the dark vertical line on the right), and a boundary between the first primary field  410  and the third primary field  406  is in the vicinity of the smaller opening of the ring-shaped base  302  (shown as the dark vertical line on the left). Also note that, because opening  308  is greater in size than opening  310  (also indicated by the two dark lines  416  and  418  in  FIG. 4B ), the region of magnetic influence of the second magnetic field  408  may be significantly larger than the region of magnetic influence of the third magnetic field  406 . In some embodiments, the openings  308  and  310  of base  302  can be configured to desired sizes and geometries for controlling the region of magnetic influence of each of the second magnetic field  408  and the third magnetic field  406 . 
     While the exemplary device  400  is configured to form one magnetic south pole between two magnetic north poles, alternative designs of device  400  can install the magnets in reverse of the configuration shown in  FIG. 4B . In such designs, three primary magnetic fields,  406 ′,  408 ′, and  410 ′ are produced such that the first primary field  410 ′ of magnetic north is formed substantially in the middle of the base  302  while the second primary field  408 ′ and the third primary field  406  of magnetic south are formed on either side of the first primary field  410 . 
     Also shown in  FIG. 4B , there can be some additional field effects  412  and  414  in additional to the three primary fields  406 - 410 . However, for purposes of the discussion herein, the fields generated by device  400  can be approximated by the three primary fields described above.  FIG. 5  illustrates an approximated field pattern  500  of the magnetic device  400  comprising the three primary fields  406 - 410  in accordance with some embodiments described herein. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the field pattern  500  generated by device  400  includes two north poles located on both sides and one south pole located in between the two north poles. The field characteristics of the disclosed device  400  can be used in various applications to achieve various benefits, e.g., when used in an electric motor, to improve the efficiency of the electric motor. 
     As described above in conjunction with  FIG. 3 , base  302  of devices  300  or  400  can also include a gap  306  within the base  302 . Such a gap can be used in exemplary applications to accelerate another magnet.  FIG. 6  illustrates an exemplary process of accelerating a device  600  comprising a magnet  602  attached to a rod  604  or other stabilizing apparatus through a magnetic field  606  formed by multiple field patterns  500  shown in  FIG. 5  in accordance with some embodiments described herein. 
     More specifically, magnetic field  606  comprises an array of field patterns  500   a  and  500   b , each of which is generated by an instance of the device  400  in  FIGS. 4A and 4B  comprising a based  302  and a set of magnets  402 . Note that, the array of devices  400  that generates magnetic field  606  can be placed in series, or linked with one another. While only two field patterns  500   a  and  500   b  are shown, much more than two instances of device  400  can be put together to form a longer array of device  400  generating a corresponding longer array of field patterns  500  to accelerate magnet  600  over a longer distance. For example, this longer array of device  400  can be configured in a circular pattern as shown in the inset of  FIG. 6 , which includes seven instances of field pattern  500 . In this example, the magnet  602  can be accelerated/propelled in a circular motion around the circular path  608 . In another example, multiple field patterns  500  can be configured in a linear fashion to accelerate/propel the magnet  602  in a straight line path (not shown). In all these examples, when the magnet  602  travels through the array of field patterns  500 , the relatively narrow rod  604  can pass through each gap  306  of each base  302  of each instance of device  400 , while the wider magnet  602  passes through the opening of each base  302  in the middle of base  302 . 
     We now look at how the magnet  602  accelerates through field  606  in more detail. As can be seen in  FIG. 6 , when the magnet  602  is initially positioned on the left of field pattern  500   a , the south pole of magnet  602  will be attracted to the north pole of field  506   a  of field pattern  500   a . This interaction can cause device  600  to accelerate to the right in  FIG. 6 . As magnet  602  enters field  506   a , field  506   a  begins to repel the north pole of magnet  602 , causing further acceleration of magnet  602  to the right. If the magnet  602  is initially accelerated enough to overcome the repelling effect of the south pole, i.e., field  510   a  of field pattern  500   a  on the south pole of magnet  602 , then field  510   a  will start to repel the south pole of magnet  602  while continues to attract the north pole of magnet  602 . Meanwhile, the second north pole, i.e., field  508   a  of field pattern  500   a  begins to attract the south pole of magnet  602 . Once magnet  602  enters field  508   a , field  508   a  will start to repel the north pole of magnet  602  so that magnet  602  continues to accelerate to the right to exit field pattern  500   a.    
     Thus, the interaction between the three primary fields in field pattern  500   a  and the poles of magnet  602  can cause device  600  to move from left to right in  FIG. 6 . As described above, the gap  306  in base  302  can be configured to accommodate rod  604  allowing device  600  to move without obstruction through the first instance of device  400  that generates field pattern  500   a . Next, a second instance of device  400 , represented by field pattern  500   b  that is placed in series with, or linked with the first instant of device  400 , continues the process. Multiple instances of device  400  can be linked in various configurations including, but are not limited to, a circle or a linear array as described below. 
       FIG. 7A  illustrates a magnetic rotor-stator device  710  that includes a circular array of magnetic field generating devices  410   a - 410   l  configured as stators to drive a rotor wheel  704  around a shaft  702  that includes a circular array of magnets  700   a - 700   l  attached to the rotor wheel  704  through a set of rods  706   a - 706   l  in accordance with some embodiments described herein. While magnetic rotor-stator device  710  includes many more instances of magnetic field generating device  400  and many more magnets  700  than the exemplary system shown in  FIG. 6 , the driving mechanism is essential the same as the process described above in conjunction with  FIG. 6 . While the rotor wheel  704  is rotating, each narrow rod  706  can pass through each gap  306  (not shown) of each base  302  of each device  410 , while each magnet  700  passes through the opening of each base  302  in the middle of each base  302 . 
       FIG. 7B  illustrates an alternative magnetic rotor-stator device  720  that includes a circular array of magnetic field generating devices  420   a - 420   h  attached to a center shaft  712  acting as the rotor while a set of magnets  714   a - 714   h  attached to the outside of rotor-stator device  720  through a corresponding set of rods  716   a - 716   h  and act as the stator in accordance with some embodiments described herein. 
       FIG. 7C  illustrates another example of magnetic rotor-stator device  730  based on the magnetic rotor-stator device  720  described in  FIG. 7B . As can be seen in  FIG. 7C , magnetic rotor-stator device  730  includes a set of identical subsections  730   a  to  730   e , and each of the subsections  730  is constructed in a matter similar to the magnetic rotor-stator device  720  described in  FIG. 7B . 
     In some embodiments, if magnet  602  in  FIG. 6  is an electromagnet, then the polarity of magnet  602  can be advantageously switched or turned off to aid the operation described above. This is illustrated in conjunction with  FIGS. 8A-8H , which describes a process of moving an electromagnetic device  800  from left to right through an array of field patterns  500   a - 500   c  of three instances of devices  400  while switching the polarities of device  800 . 
       FIG. 8A  illustrates the initial position of the electromagnetic device  800  before entering the first north pole of field pattern  500   a . As can be seen in  FIG. 8A , device  800  can have the magnetic polarity orientation of north-south as illustrated such that it will move left to right under the influence of field pattern  500   a  as described above.  FIG. 8B  illustrates electromagnetic device  800  completely enters north pole field  506   a  after being attracted by the first north pole of field pattern  500   a . More specifically, in  FIG. 8B , the polarity of device  800  has just switched from the initial north-south to south-north to facilitate the device  800  to easily move into and across the south pole in the middle of field pattern  500   a . This first switch operation may be useful when the north pole of field pattern  500   a  does not provide enough momentum to overcome the repellant force from the south pole of field pattern  500   a.    
       FIG. 8C  illustrates electromagnetic device  800  has moved from field  506   a  into south pole field  510   a  in the middle of field pattern  500   a  under the attraction force of the south pole, while  FIG. 8D  illustrates electromagnetic device  800  has completely entered field  510   a  and the polarities of device  800  remain the same. 
       FIG. 8E  illustrates electromagnetic device  800  has entered the second north pole field  508   a  in field pattern  500   a  and the polarities of device  800  remain the same. Note that, as device  800  exits the south pole field  510   a  and enters north pole field  508   a , there is a point at which the north pole field  506   b  of the next field pattern  500   b  has not started pushing back on device  800 . In one embodiment, this is the point at which the north pole of device  800  remains interacting with the north pole field  506   a  of field pattern  500   a . This can be a desired point of time to switch the polarities of device  800  from south-north back to north-south or turn off the electromagnetic all together and allow it to coast. 
       FIG. 8F  illustrates electromagnetic device  800  has again switched polarities from south-north back to north-south, and as a result, the north pole field  508   a  of field pattern  500   a  will repel the north pole of device  800  and the north pole field  506   b  of field pattern  500   b  will attract the south pole of device  800 . As can be seen, this condition is similar to the initial condition illustrated in  FIG. 8A  which leads device  800  to move into field  506   b  of field pattern  500   b , as is illustrated in  FIG. 8G , and the above described process can repeat. As can be seen in  FIG. 8H , the polarities of device  800  has switched again from north-south back to south-north to facilitate device  800  to move across the second south pole field  510   b  of field pattern  500   b.    
     Comparing to the non-switching process described in conjunction with  FIG. 6 , the switching operation in combination with turning the electromagnets off described above can make the operation much more efficient. In various embodiments, the spacing between adjacent instances of devices  400  and the timing of the switching play an important role in the operation and the amount of improvement in operation efficiency. 
     In an alternative embodiment to the process described above, instead of switching the polarities of the electromagnet  800 , the magnetism may be briefly switched off at some points in the process to facilitate the electromagnetic device  800  to move from poles to poles. For example, in  FIG. 8B , instead of switching, the magnetism of electromagnetic device  800  may be briefly turned off to allow the momentum to carry electromagnetic device  800  into south pole field  510   a . After the electromagnetic device has completely entered the south pole, the magnetism can then to turned back on to active the attraction force between the south pole of electromagnetic device  800  and the north pole field  508   a  and the repel force between the south pole of electromagnetic device  800  and the south pole field  510   a  so that electromagnetic device  800  moves into the second north pole field  508   a  efficiently. In some other embodiments, switching of polarities and turning on and off the magnetism can be combined into the same operation. 
     It should also be noted that in certain embodiments, the magnet-rod devices can actually be in a fixed position and magnetic field generating devices can be configured to allow them to move right to left under the same principles of interaction between the fields. 
       FIG. 9A  illustrates a device  900 A which is an exemplary embodiment of device  300  or device  400  that includes a base having a parabolic shaped or an angled inner wall and a set of magnets installed inside a corresponding set of magnet placement locations within the inner wall which are spaced substantially evenly around the ring shaped base. At least part of each of the five magnet placement locations is seen in  FIG. 9A . Thus, there are a total of five evenly spaced magnet placement locations in this embodiment which each receive a magnet. 
       FIG. 9B  illustrates an alternative magnetic field generating device  900 B which uses surface mounting magnets in accordance with some embodiments described herein. As can be seen in  FIG. 9B , device  900 B includes a base substantially identical to the base of device  900 B. However, instead of using magnets which are installed into the recesses as in device  900 A, device  900 B uses a set of surface mount magnets  902  attached directly to the surface of the inner wall of device  900 B. Notably, each of these magnets takes on the parabolic shape of the inner wall. In some embodiments, each of the magnets  902  has a trapezoid geometry to facilitate achieving a maximum coverage of the inner wall. This increased coverage of the inner wall enables generating a desired three-field magnetic field pattern having a stronger intensity. 
     Referring back to  FIG. 4B , another important aspect or property of device  400  as illustrated in  FIG. 4B  is related to the interface of the north poles  406  and  408  with south pole  410 . Note that these two interfaces, located approximately at the two openings indicated by the two dark lines  416  and  418 , are the locations where the magnetic field changes polarities. As a result of the device  400  having these openings, these interfaces or transition boundaries between north poles and south pole become accessible to objects. In contrast, these locations are not accessible in permanent magnets such as bar magnet  100  in  FIG. 1  because they are located inside the magnet itself. 
     The configuration of device  400  is such that, if another magnet is inserted between north pole  406  and south pole  410 , or between north pole  408  and south pole  410  that is smaller than openings  416  and  418  respectively, then the magnet will “register” right at the interface of the poles and hover over or “be suspended at” the opening  416  or  418 . Notably, this property is not affected by the orientation of device  400 , whether device  400  is placed vertically or horizontally. If a pressure is applied to the hovering magnet and then released, the magnet will incline to return to substantially the same location. Thus, the combination of such a magnet and the device  400  can be used to create a force measuring transducer. Moreover, this combination device can also be used to create other types of transducers, valves, speakers, microphones, pumps, among others. Also note that, when the polarities of this combination device are suddenly reserved, the registered magnet will flip inside the space where it suspends at. This additional property can be utilized to make motors, fans, flow devices, and other devices which can take advantage of this property. 
       FIG. 10A  shows a cross-sectional view of another example of the proposed magnetic device  1000  which includes two openings and the associated field pattern with three poles in accordance with some embodiments described herein. In this figure, the two transition boundaries are indicated as “position  1 ” and “position  2 ,” respectively.  FIG. 10B  shows a perspective view of magnetic device  1000  having the two transition boundaries at the two openings in accordance with some embodiments described herein. 
       FIG. 100  shows magnetic suspension using the magnetic device  1000  where two permanent magnets  1  and  2  are suspended at the two transition boundaries —position  1  and position  2  with perfect fidelity in accordance with some embodiments described herein. Notably, while magnetic device  1000  in  FIG. 10B  shows a gap, other embodiments of magnetic device  1000  do not need to have a gap when the device is used to suspend a permanent magnet as described above. 
     In addition to the exemplary devices and systems described above, numerous other devices and machines can be designed that take advantage of the field properties of the proposed magnetic device such as device  400 . For example, an efficient fly wheel can be designed for storing kinetic energy or device  400  can also be used as a fan blade to cool electromagnetic components. 
     While certain embodiments have been described above, it will be understood that the embodiments described are by way of example only. Accordingly, the systems and methods described herein should not be limited based on the described embodiments. Rather, the systems and methods described herein should only be limited in light of the claims that follow when taken in conjunction with the above description and accompanying drawings.