Patent Publication Number: US-2020279682-A1

Title: Magnetic levitation mounted and controlled payload on a curved surface

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE 
     The present application is a national stage filing under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of PCT application number PCT/IN2017/050003, having an international filing date of Jan. 3, 2017, which claims priority to Indian Patent Application Number 201641000232, having a filing date of Jan. 4, 2016, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     This invention relates to magnetic levitation, and more particularly to levitating a payload using magnetic levitation. 
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     Currently, there are devices which require a 360 degree field of view, such as cameras (surveillance cameras, conferencing cameras, and so on), projectors, microphones, and so on, to provide a complete user experience. Consider a surveillance camera, which is mounted in a room. Even if the camera is placed on a swiveling mount with a 360 degree motion, the camera still has blind spots, such as right below the camera. 
     Current solutions use multiple devices to prevent dead zones (where the device does not have coverage, such as blind spots for a camera, an unlighted area for a projector, a zone from where the sound is not captured, and so on). However, these solutions are typically costly, as multiple devices are required. Also, the design and implementation of such solutions is complicated, as the systems have to be designed and placed appropriately to avoid dead zones. Back-end processing is also required to utilize the system efficiently. This can result in increase in equipment and power requirements. 
     OBJECT OF INVENTION 
     The principal object of this invention is to provide a payload mounted on a curved surface using magnetic levitation. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a payload mounted on a curved surface using magnetic levitation, wherein the device can move over the surface using magnetic levitation. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES 
       This invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, throughout which like reference letters indicate corresponding parts in the various figures. The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following description with reference to the drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  depicts an apparatus comprising of a payload mounted on a spherical surface, according to embodiments as disclosed herein; 
         FIG. 2  depicts an example wherein a payload comprising of a camera and at least one microphone is mounted on a spherical surface, according to embodiments as disclosed herein; 
         FIGS. 3 a  and 3 b    depict examples of the movement of the payload across the spherical surface, according to embodiments as disclosed herein; 
         FIG. 4  depicts a cross-section of the apparatus, according to embodiments as disclosed herein; 
         FIGS. 5 a  and 5 b    depict location of the electromagnets in the apparatus, according to embodiments as disclosed herein; 
         FIGS. 5 c  and 5 d    depicts cross-sectional views of the apparatus, according to embodiments as disclosed herein; 
         FIG. 6  depicts the payload controller, according to embodiments as disclosed herein; and 
         FIG. 7  depicts the payload, according to embodiments as disclosed herein. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION 
     The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein. 
     The embodiments herein provide a payload mounted on a curved surface using magnetic levitation, wherein the device can move over the surface using magnetic levitation. Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to  FIGS. 1 through 7 , where similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the figures, there are shown preferred embodiments. 
     Surface herein can refer to at least one a curved surface (for example, such as a spherical surface, hemispherical surface, and so on), wherein a payload can move over the surface using magnetic levitation. Payload herein can refer to an object which can move over the surface using magnetic levitation. The payload can comprise of a magnet and at least one other module. Examples of the module can be a camera (surveillance and/or video conference), a projector (a projector which can be used for presentations/displays, and so on, a projector which can be used for projecting light similar to a light show, and so on), a microphone, a speaker, a motion sensor, a radar, and so on. In another example, the payload can comprise of more than one other module. 
       FIG. 1  depicts an apparatus comprising of a payload mounted on a spherical surface. The payload  102  can be mounted on the surface  101  using magnetic levitation. The surface  101  can be mounted on a mounting surface  105  using a base  104  and a pedestal  103 . The mounting surface  105  can be at least one of the ceiling, roof, floor, wall, door, window, and so on. 
       FIG. 2  depicts an example wherein a payload  102  comprising of a camera and at least one microphone is mounted on a spherical surface  101 . The payload, in this example, is a camera and a plurality of microphones. The camera can automatically move, based on configured instructions. For example, if the camera is focused on a specific person and the person moves, the camera can move automatically to ensure that the person remains in the field-of-view of the camera. The camera can move, based on instructions provided by an authorized user. 
       FIGS. 3 a  and 3 b    depict examples of the movement of the payload  102  across the spherical surface  101 . In  FIG. 3 a   , the payload  102  moves along a path from an initial position to a final position on the surface  101 . In  FIG. 3 b   , the payload  102  moves from an initial position to a final position; wherein the payload  102  has at least three possible paths to move from the initial position to the final position on the surface  101 . 
       FIG. 4  depicts a cross-section of the apparatus. The apparatus, as depicted, comprises of an outer shell  403 , on which the payload  102  is mounted. The outer shell  403  may be a smooth surface. In an embodiment, there can be an inner shell present, wherein the inner shell can be conductive. A plurality of electromagnets  404  can be mounted on a magnet shell  405 , which serves as the base for mounting the electromagnets  404 .  FIGS. 5 a  and 5 b    depict the electromagnets located in the apparatus. In an embodiment herein, the electromagnets  404  can be a solenoid, and so on. The apparatus can be hollow in nature, wherein a payload controller  401  is present internal to the apparatus. A conduit  402  can be present, through which the payload controller  401  can communicate with at least one other external entity. The conduit  402  can be also used to provide a power supply to the payload controller  401 . The payload controller  401  can control each of the electromagnets  404 . 
     In an embodiment, the payload controller  401  can be present external to the apparatus, with the payload controller  401  communicating with the apparatus through the conduit  402 . 
       FIGS. 5 c  and 5 d    depict the cross sectional view of the apparatus. 
       FIG. 6  depicts the payload controller. The payload controller  401  can comprise of a controller  601 , at least one sensor  602 , a driver circuit  603 , at least one communication interface  604 , a charging mechanism  605 , and at least one memory  606 . The communication interface  604  can comprise of at least one of a wireless communication interface and a wired communication interface. The communication interface  604  can enable the payload controller  401  to communicate with the payload  102 , including providing instructions to the payload  102 , receiving instructions from the payload  102 , sending data to the payload  102  and receiving data from the payload  102 . The communication interface  604  can enable the payload controller  401  to send and receive communication (comprising of instructions, data, and so on) from an external entity (such as a computing device, an authorized person, a system, and so on). 
     The memory  606  can comprise of a storage location for storing data. The memory  606  can comprise of at least one of an internal memory, an expandable memory, an external memory location, an external server, a file/data server, an online storage location, the Cloud, and so on. 
     The sensor  602  can enable the controller  601  to determine the current location of the payload  102  on the surface  101 . The sensor  602  can comprise of at least one of a magnetic sensor, proximity sensors, 3-dimensional proximity sensors, radars, and so on. In an example, wherein the sensor  602  is a magnetic sensor, which in turn comprises of a magnetometer. In an embodiment, the magnetometer can comprise a 3-axis magnetometer, wherein the 3-axis magnetometer can be used to determine the co-ordinates of the payload  102  on the surface  101 . In an example herein, the sensor  602  can comprise of at least one magnetic field sensor. The sensor  602  can be configured to measure the strength and direction of the magnetic field. In an embodiment herein, the sensor  602  can be configured to measure the strength and direction of the magnetic field at a plurality of points within the surface  101 . 
     The driver circuit  603  can be connected to each of the electromagnets  404 . The driver circuit  603  can control the ON/OFF, magnetic field strength of each of the electromagnets  404 , the polarity of each of the electromagnets  404 , and so on; based on instructions received from the controller  601 . 
     The charging mechanism  605  can comprise of a means for wireless charging of the payload  102 . The charging mechanism  605  can use a suitable means such as inductive charging, conductive charging, power beaming, or any other equivalent means. The charging mechanism  605  can be controlled by the controller  601 , and can charge the payload  102  as required (on receiving instructions from the controller  601 , on the controller  601  receiving an intimation from the payload  102  that the battery capacity of the payload  102  has gone below a pre-defined threshold). The charging mechanism  605  can charge the payload in a continuous manner. 
     The controller  601  can monitor the location of the payload  102  on the surface  101 . The controller  601  can maintain the magnetic field strength, so as to hold the payload  102  in location, by controlling the electromagnets  404  through the drive controller  603 . The controller  601  can receive a request from the payload  102  that the payload  102  wants to move to a new location. The payload  102  can automatically determine that the payload  102  has to move, based on at least one pre-defined condition. For example, consider that the payload comprises of a camera, the camera is tracking an object in its field of view. On detecting that the object has moved, the camera has to move to a new location to maintain the object in its field of view. In another example, consider that the payload comprises of a motion sensing camera, and the camera senses motion beyond its field of vision, the camera can move to a new location, depending on the identified movement, so as to bring the object that caused the movement into its field of vision. In another example, consider that the payload comprises of a microphone which is being used to capture speech from a user. On detecting that the user has moved resulting in less than optimal capture of the speech, the payload can move to a determined location to enable speech to be captured more easily. The controller  601  can also receive communication from an external entity to move the payload  102  to a specific location. 
     On determining that the payload  102  has to move from the current position on the surface  101  (first position) to a new position on the surface  101  (second position), the controller  601  can determine at least one optimal path along which the payload  102  can move from the first position to the second position. The controller  601  can determine the optimal path based on factors such as energy efficiency, the shortest path, the quickest path, and so on. The controller  601  can also determine other factors related to the motion of the payload  102  from the first position to the second position, such as velocity, and so on. 
     On determining the optimal path and the velocity, the controller  601  can modulate the magnetic fields produced by the electromagnets  404  to enable the payload  102  to move from the first position to the second position along the determined optimal path (as depicted in  FIGS. 3 a  and 3 b   ). On the payload  102  reaching the second position, the controller  601  can maintain the energized state of the electromagnets  404 , so as to maintain the payload  102  in that second position. 
     In an embodiment herein, the controller  601  can maintain the payload  102  in a pattern of continuous steady motion across the surface  101 . The pattern and speed of motion can be determined by the controller  601  automatically, based on at least one criteria. The pattern and speed of motion can be provided to the controller  601  by an external entity. 
       FIG. 7  depicts the payload. The payload  102  can comprise of a magnet  701 , and at least one module. In an embodiment herein, the magnet  406  can be a permanent magnet, an electromagnet and so on. In an embodiment herein, the magnet  406  can be an electromagnet. The payload  102  can comprise of at least one module. Examples of the modules can be at least one camera, at least one microphone, at least one projector, at least one speaker, at least one radar, and so on. 
     In an embodiment herein, the payload  102  can comprise of a communication interface which can enable the modules present in the payload to communicate with the payload controller  401  or an external entity, using a wireless communication means. 
     In an embodiment herein, the payload  102  can comprise of at least one orientation sensor, which can monitor the orientation of the payload  102  on the surface  101 , and use the communication interface of the payload  102  to communicate to the payload controller  401 . The controller  601  can control the orientation of the payload  102  to ensure that the payload  102  is oriented in a correct manner. 
     In an embodiment herein, the payload  102  can comprise of a battery. The battery can be charged in a wireless manner. In an embodiment herein, the battery can be a battery of a small form factor, such as a coin battery, and so on. 
     In an embodiment herein, the payload  102  can comprise of a memory. The memory can comprise of a storage location for storing data. The memory can comprise of at least one of an internal memory, an expandable memory, an external memory location, an external server, a file/data server, an online storage location, the Cloud, and so on. 
     The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.