Source: http://www.patentsencyclopedia.com/app/20130199031
Timestamp: 2019-12-15 17:01:01
Document Index: 11823763

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 61', 'art 2080', 'art 2082', 'art 2080', 'art 2082', 'art 2092', 'art 2094', 'art 2092', 'art 2094', 'art 2092']

Inventors: Larry W. Fullerton (New Hope, AL, US) Correlated Magnetics Research , Llc. (New Hope, AL, US) Mark D. Roberts (Huntsville, AL, US)
Patent application number: 20130199031
8. A system for manufacturing a field emission structure, comprising: a magnet supplying device; and a magnet placement device, said magnet placement device placing each one of a plurality of magnets at a corresponding location of a plurality locations of said field emission structure, said corresponding location and a corresponding polarity orientation of each of said plurality of magnets relative to each other being defined in accordance with a code that specifies at least one magnet of said plurality of magnets having a first polarity orientation and at least one other magnet of said plurality of magnets having a second polarity orientation, said second polarity orientation being different from said first polarity orientation.
9. The system of claim 8, wherein said magnet placement device comprises vacuum tweezers.
10. The system of claim 8, wherein said magnet placement device comprises an insertion tool.
11. The system of claim 8, wherein said magnet placement device comprises a screwing device.
12. The system of claim 8, wherein said magnet placement device comprises a bolting device.
13. The system of claim 8, wherein said magnet placement device comprises an affixing device.
14. The system of claim 8, wherein said magnet placement device comprises an adhesive supplying device.
15. The system of claim 8, further comprising: a pressure supplying device.
16. The system of claim 15, wherein said pressure supplying device is used to put said magnetic field emission structure under pressure to provide a holding force to maintain said orientations of said plurality of magnets.
17. The system of claim 8, wherein said magnet placement device comprises an array of magnets.
18. The system of claim 17, wherein each one of said array of magnets has a location and polarity orientation in accordance with said code.
19. The system of claim 8, wherein each one of said plurality of magnets is individually placed at a corresponding location.
20. The system of claim 8, wherein at least one of said plurality of magnets would naturally flip its orientation if not for a holding force maintaining its orientation.
21. The system of claim 8, wherein said plurality of locations of said field emission structure corresponds to the locations of a plurality of holes in a support frame.
22. The system of claim 8, wherein said plurality of locations of said field emission structure corresponds to the locations of a plurality of holes in a substrate.
23. The system of claim 8, wherein said code corresponds to a code modulo of said first field emission structure and a code modulo of a second field emission structure, said code defining a peak spatial force corresponding to substantial alignment of said code modulo of said first field emission structure with said code modulo of said second field emission structure, said code also defining a plurality of off peak spatial forces corresponding to a plurality of different misalignments of said code modulo of said first field emission structure and said code modulo of said second field emission structure, said plurality of off peak spatial forces having a largest off peak spatial force, said largest off peak spatial force being less than half of said peak spatial force.
24. The system of claim 8, wherein said code is at least one of a pseudorandom code, a deterministic code, or a designed code.
25. The system of claim 8, wherein said code is a one-dimensional code.
26. The system of claim 8, wherein said code is a two-dimensional code.
27. The system of claim 8, wherein said code is a three-dimensional code.
[0001] This U.S. Non-Provisional application is a Divisional of pending U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 12/206,271, filed Sep. 8, 2008, "A Method for Manufacturing a Field Emission Structure" which claims priority to U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 12/123,718, filed May 20, 2008, titled "A Field Emission System and Method", which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/123,019, filed Apr. 4, 2008, titled "A Field Emission System and Method", all of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
[0036] FIGS. 14d and 14e depict exemplary spatial force functions of selected magnetic field emission structures having randomly reordered rows moving across minor image magnetic field emission structures both without rotation and as rotated -90, respectively;
[0042] FIG. 17b depicts the spatial force function of the magnetic field emission structure of FIG. 17a interacting with its minor image magnetic field emission structure;
[0043] FIG. 18a depicts an exemplary code intended to produce a magnetic field emission structure having a first stronger lock when aligned with its minor image magnetic field emission structure and a second weaker lock when rotated 90° relative to its minor image magnetic field emission structure;
[0044] FIG. 18b depicts an exemplary spatial force function of the exemplary magnetic field emission structure of FIG. 18a interacting with its minor magnetic field emission structure;
[0045] FIG. 18c depicts an exemplary spatial force function of the exemplary magnetic field emission structure of FIG. 18a interacting with its minor magnetic field emission structure after being rotated 90°;
[0088] In accordance with the present invention, combinations of magnet (or electric) field emission sources, referred to herein as magnetic field emission structures, can be created in accordance with codes having desirable correlation properties. When a magnetic field emission structure is brought into alignment with a complementary, or minor image, magnetic field emission structure the various magnetic field emission sources all align causing a peak spatial attraction force to be produced whereby misalignment of the magnetic field emission structures causes the various magnetic field emission sources to substantially cancel each other out as function of the code used to design the structures. Similarly, when a magnetic field emission structure is brought into alignment with a duplicate magnetic field emission structure the various magnetic field emission sources all align causing a peak spatial repelling force to be produced whereby misalignment of the magnetic field emission structures causes the various magnetic field emission sources to substantially cancel each other out. As such, spatial forces are produced in accordance with the relative alignment of the field emission structures and a spatial force function. As described herein, these spatial force functions can be used to achieve precision alignment and precision positioning. Moreover, these spatial force functions enable the precise control of magnetic fields and associated spatial forces thereby enabling new forms of attachment devices for attaching objects with precise alignment and new systems and methods for controlling precision movement of objects. Generally, a spatial force has a magnitude that is a function of the relative alignment of two magnetic field emission structures and their corresponding spatial force (or correlation) function, the spacing (or distance) between the two magnetic field emission structures, and the magnetic field strengths and polarities of the sources making up the two magnetic field emission structures.
[0092] FIG. 5 depicts a Barker length 7 code used to determine polarities and positions of magnets making up a magnetic field emission structure. Referring to FIG. 5, a Barker length 7 code 500 is used to determine the polarities and the positions of magnets making up a first magnetic field emission structure 502. Each magnet has the same or substantially the same magnetic field strength (or amplitude), which for the sake of this example is provided a unit of 1 (where A=Attract, R=Repel, A=-R, A=1, R=-1). A second magnetic field emission structure that is identical to the first is shown in 13 different alignments 502-1 through 502-13 relative to the first magnetic field emission structure 502. For each relative alignment, the number of magnets that repel plus the number of magnets that attract is calculated, where each alignment has a spatial force in accordance with a spatial force function based upon the correlation function and magnetic field strengths of the magnets. With the specific Barker code used, the spatial force varies from -1 to 7, where the peak occurs when the two magnetic field emission structures are aligned such that their respective codes are aligned. The off peak spatial force, referred to as a side lobe force, varies from 0 to 1. As such, the spatial force function causes the magnetic field emission structures to generally repel each other unless they are aligned such that each of their magnets is correlated with a complementary magnet (i.e., a magnet's South pole aligns with another magnet's North pole, or vice versa). In other words, the two magnetic field emission structures substantially correlate when they are aligned such that they substantially mirror each other.
[0093] FIG. 6 depicts the binary autocorrelation function 600 of the Barker-7 code, where the values at each alignment position 1 through 13 correspond to the spatial force values calculated for the thirteen alignment positions shown in FIG. 5. As such, since the magnets making up the magnetic field emission structures of FIG. 5 have the same magnetic field strengths, FIG. 6 also depicts the spatial force function of the two magnetic field emission structures of FIG. 5. As the true autocorrelation function for correlated magnet field structures is repulsive, and most of the uses envisioned will have attractive correlation peaks, the usage of the term `autocorrelation` herein will refer to complementary correlation unless otherwise stated. That is, the interacting faces of two such correlated magnetic field emission structures will be complementary to (i.e., minor images of) each other. This complementary autocorrelation relationship can be seen in FIG. 5 where the bottom face of the first magnetic field emission structure 502 having the pattern `S S S N N S N` is shown interacting with the top face of the second magnetic field emission structures 502-1 through 502-13 each having the pattern `N N N S S N S`, which is the mirror image (pattern) of the bottom face of the first magnetic field emission structure 502.
[0094] FIG. 7 depicts a Barker length 7 code 500 used to determine polarities and positions of magnets making up a first magnetic field emission structure 502. Each magnet has the same or substantially the same magnetic field strength (or amplitude), which for the sake of this example is provided a unit of 1 (A=-R, A=1, R=-1), with the exception of two magnets indicated with bolded N and S that have twice the magnetic strength as the other magnets. As such, a bolded magnet and non-bolded magnet represent 1.5 times the strength as two non-bolded magnets and two bolded magnets represent twice the strength of two non-bolded magnets. A second magnetic field emission structure that is identical to the first is shown in 13 different alignments 5021 through 502-13 relative to the first magnetic field emission structure. For each relative alignment, the number of magnets that repel plus the number of magnets that attract is calculated, where each alignment has a spatial force in accordance with a spatial force function based upon the correlation function and the magnetic field strengths of the magnets. With the specific Barker code used, the spatial force varies from -2.5 to 9, where the peak occurs when the two magnetic field emission structures are aligned such that their respective codes are aligned. The off peak spatial force, referred to as the side lobe force, varies from 0.5 to -2.5. As such, the spatial force function causes the structures to have minor repel and attract forces until about two-thirds aligned when there is a fairly strong repel force that weakens just before they are aligned. When the structures are substantially aligned their codes align and they strongly attract as if the magnets in the structures were not coded.
[0098] FIGS. 11a through 11d depict 27 different alignments 902-1 through 902-27 of two magnetic field emission structures 902 where a Barker code of length 7 is used to determine the polarities and the positions of magnets making up a first magnetic field emission structure 902, which corresponds to two modulos of the Barker length 7 code end-to-end. Each magnet has the same or substantially the same magnetic field strength (or amplitude), which for the sake of this example is provided a unit of 1 (A=-R, A=1, R=-1). A second magnetic field emission structure that is identical to the first is shown in 27 different alignments 902-1 through 902-27 relative to the first magnetic field emission structure. For each relative alignment, the number of magnets that repel plus the number of magnets that attract is calculated, where each alignment has a spatial force in accordance with a spatial force function based upon the correlation function and magnetic field strengths of the magnets. With the specific Barker code used, the spatial force varies from -2 to 14, where the peak occurs when the two magnetic field emission structures are aligned such that their respective codes are aligned. Two secondary peaks occur when the structures are half aligned such that one of the successive codes of one structure aligns with one of the codes of the second structure. The off peak spatial force, referred to as the side lobe force, varies from -1 to -2 between the peak and secondary peaks and between 0 and 1 outside the secondary peaks.
[0101] FIG. 14a depicts a two dimensional Barker-like code 1400 and a corresponding two-dimensional magnetic field emission structure 1402a. Referring to FIG. 14a, two dimensional Barker-like code 1400 is created by copying each row to a new row below, shifting the code in the new row to the left by one, and then wrapping the remainder to the right side. When applied to a two-dimensional field emission structure 1402a interesting rotation-dependent correlation characteristics are produced. Shown in FIG. 14a is a two-dimensional mirror image field emission structure 1402b, which is also shown rotated -90°, -180°, and -270° as 1402c-1402e, respectively. Autocorrelation cross-sections were calculated for the four rotations of the minor image field emission structure 1402b 1402e moving across the magnetic field emission structure 1402a in the same direction 1404. Four corresponding numeric autocorrelation cross-sections 1406, 1408, 1410, and 1412, respectively, are shown. As indicated, when the minor image is passed across the magnetic field emission structure 1402a each column has a net 1R (or -1) spatial force and as additional columns overlap, the net spatial forces add up until the entire structure aligns (+49) and then the repel force decreases as less and less columns overlap. With -90° and -270° degree rotations, there is symmetry but erratic correlation behavior. With -180° degrees rotation, symmetry is lost and correlation fluctuations are dramatic. The fluctuations can be attributed to directionality characteristics of the shift left and wrap approach used to generate the structure 1402a, which caused upper right to lower left diagonals to be produced which when the minor image was rotated -180°, these diagonals lined up with the rotated minor image diagonals.
[0102] FIG. 14b depicts exemplary spatial force functions resulting from a mirror image magnetic field emission structure and a minor image magnetic field emission structure rotated -90° moving across the magnetic field emission structure. Referring to FIG. 14b, spatial force function 1414 results from the minor image magnetic field emission structure 1402b moving across the magnetic field emission structure 1402a in a direction 1404 and spatial force function 1416 results from the minor image magnetic field emission structure rotated -90° 1402c moving across magnetic field emission structure 1402a in the same direction 1404. Characteristics of the spatial force function depicted in FIG. 12 may be consistent with a diagonal cross-section from 0,0 to 40,40 of spatial force function 1414 and at offsets parallel to that diagonal. Additionally, characteristics of the spatial force function depicted in FIG. 13b may be consistent with a diagonal from 40,0 to 0,40 of spatial force function 1414.
[0105] FIG. 14e depicts a spatial force function 1440 resulting from fourth magnetic field emission structure 1434 moving across its minor image magnetic field emission structure in a direction 1404 and a spatial force function 1442 resulting from the fourth magnetic field emission structure 1434 being rotated -90° and moving in the same direction 1404 across its minor image magnetic field emission structure.
[0106] FIG. 15 depicts exemplary one-way slide lock codes and two-way slide lock codes.
[0107] Referring to FIG. 15, a 19×7 two-way slide lock code 1500 is produced by starting with a copy of the 7×7 code 1402 and then by adding the leftmost 6 columns of the 7×7 code 1402a to the right of the code 1500 and the rightmost 6 columns of the 7×7 code to the left of the code 1550. As such, as the mirror image 1402b slides from side-to-side, all 49 magnets are in contact with the structure producing the autocorrelation curve of FIG. 10 from positions 1 to 13. Similarly, a 7×19 two-way slide lock code 1504 is produced by adding the bottommost 6 rows of the 7×7 code 1402a to the top of the code 1504 and the topmost 6 rows of the 7×7 code 140a to the bottom of the code 1504. The two structures 1500 and 1504 behave the same where as a magnetic field emission structure 1402a is slid from side to side it will lock in the center with +49 while at any other point off center it will be repelled with a force of 7. Similarly, one-way slide lock codes 1506, 1508, 1510, and 1512 are produced by adding six of seven rows or columns such that the code only partially repeats. Generally, various configurations (i.e., plus shapes, L shapes, Z shapes, donuts, crazy eight, etc.) can be created by continuing to add partial code modulos onto the structures provided in FIG. 15. As such, various types of locking mechanisms can be designed.
[0108] FIG. 16a depicts a hover code 1600 produced by placing two code modulos 1402a side-by-side and then removing the first and last columns of the resulting structure. As such, a minor image 1402b can be moved across a resulting magnetic field emission structure from one side 1602a to the other side 1602f and at all times achieve a spatial force function of -7. Hover channel (or box) 1604 is shown where minor image 1402b is hovering over a magnetic field emission structure produced in accordance with hover code 1600. With this approach, a mirror image 1402b can be raised or lowered by increasing or decreasing the magnetic field strength of the magnetic field emission structure below. Similarly, a hover channel 1606 is shown where a mirror image 1402 is hovering between two magnetic field emission structures produced in accordance with the hover code 1600. With this approach, the mirror image 1402b can be raised or lowered by increasing and decreasing the magnetic field strengths of the magnetic field emission structure below and the magnetic field emission structure above. As with the slide lock codes, various configurations can be created where partial code modulos are added to the structure shown to produce various movement areas above which the movement of a hovering object employing magnetic field emission structure 1402b can be controlled via control of the strength of the magnetic in the structure and/or using other forces.
[0109] FIG. 16b depicts a hover code 1608 produced by placing two code modulos 1402a one on top of the other and then removing the first and last rows. As such, mirror image 1402b can be moved across a resulting magnetic field emission structure from upper side 1610a to the bottom side 1610f and at all time achieve a spatial force function of -7.
[0110] FIG. 16c depicts an exemplary magnetic field emission structure 1612 where a mirror image magnetic field emission structure 1402b of a 7×7 barker-like code will hover with a -7 (repel) force anywhere above the structure 1612 provided it is properly oriented (i.e., no rotation). Various sorts of such structures can be created using partial code modulos. Should one or more rows or columns of magnets have its magnetic strength increased (or decreased) then the magnetic field emission structure 1402b can be caused to move in a desired direction and at a desired velocity. For example, should the bolded column of magnets 1614 have magnetic strengths that are increased over the strengths of the rest of the magnets of the structure 1612, the magnetic field emission structure 1402b will be propelled to the left. As the magnetic field emission structure moves to the left, successive columns to the right might be provided the same magnetic strengths as column 1614 such that the magnetic field emission structure is repeatedly moved leftward. When the structure 1402b reaches the left side of the structure 1612 the magnets along the portion of the row beneath the top of structure 1402b could then have their magnetic strengths increased causing structure 1402b to be moved downward. As such, various modifications to the strength of magnets in the structure can be varied to effect movement of structure 1402b. Referring again to FIGS. 16a and 16b, one skilled in the art would recognize that the slide-lock codes could be similarly implemented so that when structure 1402b is slid further and further away from the alignment location (shown by the dark square), the magnetic strength of each row (or column) would become more and more increased. As such, structure 1402b could be slowly or quickly repelled back into its lock location. For example, a drawer using the slide-lock code with varied magnetic field strengths for rows (or columns) outside the alignment location could cause the drawer to slowly close until it locked in place. Variations of magnetic field strengths can also be implemented per magnet and do not require all magnets in a row (or column) to have the same strength.
[0111] FIG. 17a depicts a magnetic field emission structure 1702 comprising nine magnets positioned such that they half overlap in one direction. The structure is designed to have a peak spatial force when (substantially) aligned and have relatively minor side lobe strength at any rotation off alignment.
[0112] FIG. 17b depicts the spatial force function 1704 of a magnetic field emission structure 1702 interacting with its minor image magnetic field emission structure. The peak occurs when substantially aligned.
[0113] FIG. 18a depicts an exemplary code 1802 intended to produce a magnetic field emission structure having a first stronger lock when aligned with its minor image magnetic field emission structure and a second weaker lock when rotated 90° relative to its minor image magnetic field emission structure.
[0114] FIG. 18b depicts spatial force function 1804 of a magnetic field emission structure 1802 interacting with its minor image magnetic field emission structure. The peak occurs when substantially aligned.
[0115] FIG. 18c depicts the spatial force function 1804 of magnetic field emission structure 1802 interacting with its minor magnetic field emission structure after being rotated 90°. The peak occurs when substantially aligned but one structure rotated 90°.
[0116] FIGS. 19a-19i depict the exemplary magnetic field emission structure 1802a and its mirror image magnetic field emission structure 1802b and the resulting spatial forces produced in accordance with their various alignments as they are twisted relative to each other. In FIG. 19a, the magnetic field emission structure 1802a and the mirror image magnetic field emission structure 1802b are aligned producing a peak spatial force. In FIG. 19b, the minor image magnetic field emission structure 1802b is rotated clockwise slightly relative to the magnetic field emission structure 1802a and the attractive force reduces significantly. In FIG. 19c, the minor image magnetic field emission structure 1802b is further rotated and the attractive force continues to decrease. In FIG. 19d, the minor image magnetic field emission structure 1802b is still further rotated until the attractive force becomes very small, such that the two magnetic field emission structures are easily separated as shown in FIG. 19e. Given the two magnetic field emission structures held somewhat apart as in FIG. 19e, the structures can be moved closer and rotated towards alignment producing a small spatial force as in FIG. 19f. The spatial force increases as the two structures become more and more aligned in FIGS. 19g and 19h and a peak spatial force is achieved when aligned as in FIG. 19i. It should be noted that the direction of rotation was arbitrarily chosen and may be varied depending on the code employed. Additionally, the mirror image magnetic field emission structure 1802b is the mirror of magnetic field emission structure 1802a resulting in an attractive peak spatial force. The minor image magnetic field emission structure 1802b could alternatively be coded such that when aligned with the magnetic field emission structure 1802a the peak spatial force would be a repelling force in which case the directions of the arrows used to indicate amplitude of the spatial force corresponding to the different alignments would be reversed such that the arrows faced away from each other.
[0117] FIG. 20a depicts two magnetic field emission structures 1802a and 1802b. One of the magnetic field emission structures 1802b includes a turning mechanism 2000 that includes a tool insertion slot 2002. Both magnetic field emission structures include alignment marks 2004 along an axis 2003. A latch mechanism such as the hinged latch clip 2005a and latch knob 2005b may also be included preventing movement (particularly turning) of the magnetic field emission structures once aligned. Under one arrangement, a pivot mechanism (not shown) could be used to connect the two structures 1802a, 1802b at a pivot point such as at pivot location marks 2004 thereby allowing the two structures to be moved into or out of alignment via a circular motion about the pivot point (e.g., about the axis 2003).
[0118] FIG. 20b depicts a first circular magnetic field emission structure housing 2006 and a second circular magnetic field emission structure housing 2008 configured such that the first housing 2006 can be inserted into the second housing 2008. The second housing 2008 is attached to an alternative turning mechanism 2010 that is connected to a swivel mechanism 2012 that would normally be attached to some other object. Also shown is a lever 2013 that can be used to provide turning leverage.
[0119] FIG. 20c depicts an exemplary tool assembly 2014 including a drill head assembly 2016. The drill head assembly 2016 comprises a first housing 2006 and a drill bit 2018. The tool assembly 2014 also includes a drill head turning assembly 2020 comprising a second housing 2008. The first housing 2006 includes raised guides 2022 that are configured to slide into guide slots 2024 of the second housing 2008. The second housing 2008 includes a first rotating shaft 2026 used to turn the drill head assembly 2016. The second housing 2008 also includes a second rotating shaft 2028 used to align the first housing 2006 and the second housing 2008.
[0120] FIG. 20d depicts an exemplary hole cutting tool assembly 2030 having an outer cutting portion 3032 including a first magnetic field emission structure 1802a and an inner cutting portion 2034 including a second magnetic field emission structure 1802b. The outer cutting portion 2032 comprises a first housing 2036 having a cutting edge 2038. The first housing 2036 is connected to a sliding shaft 2040 having a first bump pad 2042 and a second bump pad 2044. It is configured to slide back and forth inside a guide 2046, where movement is controlled by the spatial force function of the first and second magnetic field emission structures 1802a and 1802b. The inner cutting portion 2034 comprises a second housing 2048 having a cutting edge 2050. The second housing 2048 is maintained in a fixed position by a first shaft 2052. The second magnetic field emission structure 1802b is turned using a shaft 2054 so as to cause the first and second magnetic field emission structures 1802a and 1802b to align momentarily at which point the outer cutting portion 2032 is propelled towards the inner cutting potion 2034 such that cutting edges 2038 and 2050 overlap. The circumference of the first housing 2036 is slightly larger than the second housing 2048 so as to cause the two cutting edges 2038 and 2050 to precisely cut a hole in something passing between them (e.g., cloth). As the shaft 2054 continues to turn, the first and second magnetic field emission structures 1802a and 1802b quickly become misaligned whereby the outer cutting portion 2032 is propelled away from the inner cutting portion 2034. Furthermore, if the shaft 2054 continues to turn at some revolution rate (e.g., 1 revolution/second) then that rate defines the rate at which holes are cut (e.g., in the cloth). As such, the spatial force function can be controlled as a function of the movement of the two objects to which the first and second magnetic field emission structures are associated. In this instance, the outer cutting portion 3032 can move from left to right and the inner cutting portion 2032 turns at some revolution rate.
[0121] FIG. 20e depicts an exemplary machine press tool comprising a bottom portion 2058 and a top portion 2060. The bottom portion 2058 comprises a first tier 2062 including a first magnetic field emission structure 1802a, a second tier 2064 including a second magnetic field emission structure 2066a, and a flat surface 2068 having below it a third magnetic field emission structure 2070a. The top portion 2060 comprises a first tier 2072 including a fourth magnetic field emission structure 1802b having minor coding as the first magnetic field emission structure 1802a, a second tier 2074 including a fifth magnetic field emission structure 2066b having mirror coding as the second magnetic field emission structure 2066a, and a third tier 2076 including a sixth magnetic field emission structure 2070b having minor coding as the third magnetic field emission structure 2070a. The second and third tiers of the top portion 2060 are configured to receive the two tiers of the bottom portion 2058. As the bottom and top portions 2058, 2060 are brought close to each other and the top portion 2060 becomes aligned with the bottom portion 2058 the spatial force functions of the complementary pairs of magnetic field emission structures causes a pressing of any material (e.g., aluminum) that is placed between the two portions. By turning either the bottom portion 2058 or the top portion 2060, the magnetic field emission structures become misaligned such that the two portions separate.
[0122] FIG. 20f depicts an exemplary gripping apparatus 2078 including a first part 2080 and a second part 2082. The first part 2080 comprises a saw tooth or stairs like structure where each tooth (or stair) has corresponding magnets making up a first magnetic field emission structure 2084a. The second part 2082 also comprises a saw tooth or stairs like structure where each tooth (or stair) has corresponding magnets making up a second magnetic field emission structure 2084b that is a minor image of the first magnetic field emission structure 2084a. Under one arrangement each of the two parts shown are cross-sections of parts that have the same cross section as rotated up to 360° about a center axis 2086. Generally, the present invention can be used to produce all sorts of holding mechanism such as pliers, jigs, clamps, etc. As such, the present invention can provide a precise gripping force and inherently maintains precision alignment.
[0123] FIG. 20g depicts an exemplary clasp mechanism 2090 including a first part 2092 and a second part 2094. The first part 2092 includes a first housing 2008 supporting a first magnetic field emission structure. The second part 2094 includes a second housing 2006 used to support a second magnetic field emission structure. The second housing 2006 includes raised guides 2022 that are configured to slide into guide slots 2024 of the first housing 2008. The first housing 2008 is also associated with a magnetic field emission structure slip ring mechanism 2096 that can be turned to rotate the magnetic field emission structure of the first part 2092 so as to align or misalign the two magnetic field emission structures of the clasp mechanism 2090. Generally, all sorts of clasp mechanisms can be constructed in accordance with the present invention whereby a slip ring mechanism can be turned to cause the clasp mechanism to release. Such clasp mechanisms can be used as receptacle plugs, plumbing connectors, connectors involving piping for air, water, steam, or any compressible or incompressible fluid. The technology is also applicable to Bayonette Neil-Concelman (BNC) electronic connectors, Universal Serial Bus (USB) connectors, and most any other type of connector used for any purpose.
[0124] The gripping force described above can also be described as a mating force. As such, in certain electronics applications this ability to provide a precision mating force between two electronic parts or as part of a connection may correspond to a desired characteristic, for example, a desired impedance. Furthermore, the invention is applicable to inductive power coupling where a first magnetic field emission structure that is driven with AC will achieve inductive power coupling when aligned with a second magnetic field emission structure made of a series of solenoids whose coils are connected together with polarities according to the same code used to produce the first magnetic field emission structure. When not aligned, the fields will close on themselves since they are so close to each other in the driven magnetic field emission structure and thereby conserve power. Ordinary inductively coupled systems' pole pieces are rather large and cannot conserve their fields in this way since the air gap is so large.
[0125] FIG. 21 depicts a first elongated structural member 2102 having magnetic field emission structures 2104 on each of two ends and also having an alignment marking 2106 ("AA"). FIG. 21 also depicts a second elongated structural member 2108 having magnetic field emission structures 2110 on both ends of one side. The magnetic field emission structures 2104 and 2110 are configured such that they can be aligned to attach the first and second structural members 2102 and 2108. FIG. 21 further depicts a structural assembly 2112 including two of the first elongated structural members 2102 attached to two of the second elongated structural members 2108 whereby four magnetic field emission structure pairs 2104/2110 are aligned. FIG. 21 includes a cover panel 2114 having four magnetic field emission structures 1802a that are configured to align with four magnetic field emission structures 1802b to attach the cover panel 2114 to the structural assembly 2112 to produce a covered structural assembly 2116.
[0126] Generally, the ability to easily turn correlated magnetic structures such that they disengage is a function of the torque easily created by a person's hand by the moment arm of the structure. The larger it is, the larger the moment arm, which acts as a lever. When two separate structures are physically connected via a structural member, as with the cover panel 2114, the ability to use torque is defeated because the moment arms are reversed. This reversal is magnified with each additional separate structure connected via structural members in an array. The force is proportional to the distance between respective structures, where torque is proportional to force times radius. As such, under one arrangement, the magnetic field emission structures of the covered structural assembly 2116 include a turning mechanism enabling them to be aligned or misaligned in order to assemble or disassemble the covered structural assembly. Under another arrangement, the magnetic field emission structures do not include a turning mechanism.
[0127] FIGS. 22-24 depict uses of arrays of electromagnets used to produce a magnetic field emission structure that is moved in time relative to a second magnetic field emission structure associated with an object thereby causing the object to move.
[0128] FIG. 22 depicts a table 2202 having a two-dimensional electromagnetic array 2204 beneath its surface as seen via a cutout. On the table 2202 is a movement platform 2206 comprising at least one table contact member 2208. The movement platform 2206 is shown having four table contact members 2208 each having a magnetic field emission structure 1802b that would be attracted by the electromagnet array 2204. Computerized control of the states of individual electromagnets of the electromagnet array 2204 determines whether they are on or off and determines their polarity. A first example 2210 depicts states of the electromagnetic array 2204 configured to cause one of the table contact members 2208 to attract to a subset of the electromagnets corresponding to the magnetic field emission structure 1802a. A second example 2212 depicts different states of the electromagnetic array 2204 configured to cause the table contact member 2208 to be attracted (i.e., move) to a different subset of the electromagnetic corresponding to the magnetic field emission structure 1802a. Per the two examples, one skilled in the art can recognize that the table contact member(s) can be moved about table 2202 by varying the states of the electromagnets of the electromagnetic array 2204.
[0129] FIG. 23 depicts a first cylinder 2302 slightly larger than a second cylinder 2304 contained inside the first cylinder 2302. A magnetic field emission structure 2306 is placed around the first cylinder 2302 (or optionally around the second cylinder 2304). An array of electromagnets (not shown) is associated with the second cylinder 2304 (or optionally the first cylinder 2302) and their states are controlled to create a moving minor image magnetic field emission structure to which the magnetic field emission structure 2306 is attracted so as to cause the first cylinder 2302 (or optionally the second cylinder 2304) to rotate relative to the second cylinder 2304 (or optionally the first cylinder 2302). The magnetic field emission structures 2308, 2310, and 2312 produced by the electromagnetic array at time t=n, t=n+1, and t=n+2, show a pattern mirroring that of the magnetic field emission structure 2306 around the first cylinder 2302. The pattern is shown moving downward in time so as to cause the first cylinder 2302 to rotate counterclockwise. As such, the speed and direction of movement of the first cylinder 2302 (or the second cylinder 2304) can be controlled via state changes of the electromagnets making up the electromagnetic array. Also depicted in FIG. 23 is a electromagnetic array 2314 that corresponds to a track that can be placed on a surface such that a moving mirror image magnetic field emission structure can be used to move the first cylinder 2302 backward or forward on the track using the same code shift approach shown with magnetic field emission structures 2308, 2310, and 2312.
[0130] FIG. 24 depicts a first sphere 2402 slightly larger than a second sphere 2404 contained inside the first sphere 2402. A magnetic field emission structure 2406 is placed around the first sphere 2402 (or optionally around the second sphere 2404). An array of electromagnets (not shown) is associated with the second sphere 2404 (or optionally the first sphere 2402) and their states are controlled to create a moving mirror image magnetic field emission structure to which the magnetic field emission structure 2406 is attracted so as to cause the first sphere 2402 (or optionally the second sphere 2404) to rotate relative to the second sphere 2404 (or optionally the first sphere 2402). The magnetic field emission structures 2408, 2410, and 2412 produced by the electromagnetic array at time t=n, t=n+1, and t=n+2, show a pattern mirroring that of the magnetic field emission structure 2406 around the first sphere 2402. The pattern is shown moving downward in time so as to cause the first sphere 2402 to rotate counterclockwise and forward. As such, the speed and direction of movement of the first sphere 2402 (or the second sphere 2404) can be controlled via state changes of the electromagnets making up the electromagnetic array. Also note that the electromagnets and/or magnetic field emission structure could extend so as to completely cover the surface(s) of the first and/or second spheres 2402, 2404 such that the movement of the first sphere 2402 (or second sphere 2404) can be controlled in multiple directions along multiple axes. Also depicted in FIG. 24 is an electromagnetic array 2414 that corresponds to a track that can be placed on a surface such that moving magnetic field emission structure can be used to move first sphere 2402 backward or forward on the track using the same code shift approach shown with magnetic field emission structures 2408, 2410, and 2412. A cylinder 2416 is shown having a first electromagnetic array 2414a and a second electromagnetic array 2414b which would control magnetic field emission structures to cause sphere 2402 to move backward or forward in the cylinder.
[0131] FIGS. 25-27 depict a correlating surface being wrapped back on itself to form either a cylinder (disc, wheel), a sphere, and a conveyor belt/tracked structure that when moved relative to a mirror image correlating surface will achieve strong traction and a holding (or gripping) force. Any of these rotary devices can also be operated against other rotary correlating surfaces to provide gear-like operation. Since the hold-down force equals the traction force, these gears can be loosely connected and still give positive, non-slipping rotational accuracy. Correlated surfaces can be perfectly smooth and still provide positive, non-slip traction. As such, they can be made of any substance including hard plastic, glass, stainless steel or tungsten carbide. In contrast to legacy friction-based wheels the traction force provided by correlated surfaces is independent of the friction forces between the traction wheel and the traction surface and can be employed with low friction surfaces. Devices moving about based on magnetic traction can be operated independently of gravity for example in weightless conditions including space, underwater, vertical surfaces and even upside down.
[0132] If the surface in contact with the cylinder is in the form of a belt, then the traction force can be made very strong and still be non-slipping and independent of belt tension. It can replace, for example, toothed, flexible belts that are used when absolutely no slippage is permitted. In a more complex application the moving belt can also be the correlating surface for self-mobile devices that employ correlating wheels. If the conveyer belt is mounted on a movable vehicle in the manner of tank treads then it can provide formidable traction to a correlating surface or to any of the other rotating surfaces described here.
[0133] FIG. 25 depicts an alternative approach to that shown in FIG. 23. In FIG. 25 a cylinder 2302 having a first magnetic field emission structure 2306 and being turned clockwise or counter-clockwise by some force will roll along a second magnetic field emission structure 2502 having mirror coding as the first magnetic field emission structure 2306. Thus, whereas in FIG. 23, an electromagnetic array was shifted in time to cause forward or backward movement, the fixed magnetic field emission structure 2502 values provide traction and a gripping (i.e., holding) force as cylinder 2302 is turned by another mechanism (e.g., a motor). The gripping force would remain substantially constant as the cylinder moved down the track independent of friction or gravity and could therefore be used to move an object about a track that moved up a wall, across a ceiling, or in any other desired direction within the limits of the gravitational force (as a function of the weight of the object) overcoming the spatial force of the aligning magnetic field emission structures. The approach of FIG. 25 can also be combined with the approach of FIG. 23 whereby a first cylinder having an electromagnetic array is used to turn a second cylinder having a magnetic field emission structure that also achieves traction and a holding force with a minor image magnetic field emission structure corresponding to a track.
[0134] FIG. 26 depicts an alternative approach to that shown in FIG. 24. In FIG. 26 a sphere 2402 having a first magnetic field emission structure 2406 and being turned clockwise or counter-clockwise by some force will roll along a second magnetic field emission structure 2602 having minor coding as the first magnetic field emission structure 2406. Thus, whereas in FIG. 24, an electromagnetic array was shifted in time to cause forward or backward movement, the fixed second magnetic field emission structure 2602 values provide traction and a gripping (i.e., holding) force as sphere 2402 is turned by another mechanism (e.g., a motor). The gripping force would remain substantially constant as the sphere 2402 moved down the track independent of friction or gravity and could therefore be used to move an object about a track that moved up a wall, across a ceiling, or in any other desired direction within the limits of the gravitational force (as a function of the weight of the object) overcoming the spatial force of the aligning magnetic field emission structures. A cylinder 2416 is shown having a first magnetic field emission structure 2602a and second magnetic field emission structure 2602b which have mirror coding as magnetic field emission structure 2406. As such they work together to provide a gripping force causing sphere 2402 to move backward or forward in the cylinder 2416 with precision alignment.
[0135] FIG. 27a and FIG. 27b depict an arrangement where a first magnetic field emission structure 2702 wraps around two cylinders 2302 such that a much larger portion 2704 of the first magnetic field emission structure is in contact with a second magnetic field emission structure 2502 having mirror coding as the first magnetic field emission structure 2702. As such, the larger portion 2704 directly corresponds to a larger gripping force.
[0136] An alternative approach for using a correlating surface is to have a magnetic field emission structure on an object (e.g, an athlete's or astronaut's shoe) that is intended to partially correlate with the correlating surface regardless of how the surface and the magnetic field emission structure are aligned. Essentially, correlation areas would be randomly placed such the object (shoe) would achieve partial correlation (gripping force) as it comes randomly in contact with the surface. For example, a runner on a track wearing shoes having a magnetic field emission structure with partial correlation encoding could receive some traction from the partial correlations that would occur as the runner was running on a correlated track.
[0137] FIGS. 28a through 28d depict a manufacturing method for producing magnetic field emission structures. In FIG. 28a, a first magnetic field emission structure 1802a comprising an array of individual magnets is shown below a ferromagnetic material 2800a (e.g., iron) that is to become a second magnetic field emission structure having the same coding as the first magnetic field emission structure 1802a. In FIG. 28b, the ferromagnetic material 2800a has been heated to its Curie temperature (for antiferromagnetic materials this would instead be the Neel temperature). The ferromagnetic material 2800a is then brought in contact with the first magnetic field emission structure 1802a and allowed to cool. Thereafter, the ferromagnetic material 2800a takes on the same magnetic field emission structure properties of the first magnetic field emission structure 1802a and becomes a magnetized ferromagnetic material 2800b, which is itself a magnetic field emission structure, as shown in FIG. 28c. As depicted in FIG. 28d, should another ferromagnetic material 2800a be heated to its Curie temperature and then brought in contact with the magnetized ferromagnetic material 2800b, it too will take on the magnetic field emission structure properties of the magnetized ferromagnetic material 2800b as previously shown in FIG. 28c.
[0138] An alternative method of manufacturing a magnetic field emission structure from a ferromagnetic material would be to use one or more lasers to selectively heat up field emission source locations on the ferromagnetic material to the Curie temperature and then subject the locations to a magnetic field. With this approach, the magnetic field to which a heated field emission source location may be subjected may have a constant polarity or have a polarity varied in time so as to code the respective source locations as they are heated and cooled.
[0139] To produce superconductive magnet field structures, a correlated magnetic field emission structure would be frozen into a super conductive material without current present when it is cooled below its critical temperature.
[0140] FIG. 29 depicts the addition of two intermediate layers 2902 to a magnetic field emission structure 2800b. Each intermediate layer 2902 is intended to smooth out (or suppress) spatial forces when any two magnetic field emission structures are brought together such that sidelobe effects are substantially shielded. An intermediate layer 2902 can be active (i.e., saturable such as iron) or inactive (i.e., air or plastic).
[0141] FIGS. 30a through 30c provide a side view, an oblique projection, and a top view, respectively, of a magnetic field emission structure 2800b having a surrounding heat sink material 3000 and an embedded kill mechanism comprising an embedded wire (e.g., nichrome) coil 3002 having connector leads 3004. As such, if heat is applied from outside the magnetic field emission structure 2800b, the heat sink material 3000 prevents magnets of the magnetic field emission structure from reaching their Curie temperature. However, should it be desirable to kill the magnetic field emission structure, a current can be applied to connector leads 3004 to cause the wire coil 3002 to heat up to the Curie temperature. Generally, various types of heat sink and/or kill mechanisms can be employed to enable control over whether a given magnetic field emission structure is subjected to heat at or above the Curie temperature. For example, instead of embedding a wire coil, a nichrome wire might be plated onto individual magnets.
[0142] FIG. 31a depicts an oblique projection of a first pair of magnetic field emission structures 3102 and a second pair of magnetic field emission structures 3104 each having magnets indicated by dashed lines. Above the second pair of magnetic field emission structures 3104 (shown with magnets) is another magnetic field emission structure where the magnets are not shown, which is intended to provide clarity to the interpretation of the depiction of the two magnetic field emission structures 3104 below. Also shown are top views of the circumferences of the first and second pair of magnetic field emission structures 3102 and 3104. As shown, the first pair of magnetic field emission structures 3102 have a relatively small number of relatively large (and stronger) magnets when compared to the second pair of magnetic field emission structures 3104 that have a relatively large number of relatively small (and weaker) magnets. For this figure, the peak spatial force for each of the two pairs of magnetic field emission structures 3102 and 3104 are the same. However, the distances D1 and D2 at which the magnetic fields of each of the pairs of magnetic field emission structures 3102 and 3104 substantially interact (shown by up and down arrows) depends on the strength of the magnets and the area over which they are distributed. As such, the much larger surface of the second magnetic field emission structure 3104 having much smaller magnets will not substantially attract until much closer than that of first magnetic field emission structure 3102. This magnetic strength per unit area attribute as well as a magnetic spatial frequency (i.e., # magnetic reversals per unit area) can be used to design structures to meet safety requirements. For example, two magnetic field emission structures 3104 can be designed to not have significant attraction force if a finger is between them (or in other words the structures wouldn't have significant attraction force until they are substantially close together thereby reducing (if not preventing) the opportunity/likelihood for body parts or other things such as clothing getting caught in between the structures).
[0143] FIG. 31b depicts a magnetic field emission structure 3106 made up of a sparse array of large magnetic sources 3108 combined with a large number of smaller magnetic sources 3110 whereby alignment with a minor image magnetic field emission structure would be provided by the large sources and a repel force would be provided by the smaller sources. Generally, as was the case with FIG. 31a, the larger (i.e., stronger) magnets achieve a significant attraction force (or repelling force) at a greater separation distance than smaller magnets. Because of this characteristic, combinational structures having magnetic sources of different strengths can be constructed that effectively have two (or more) spatial force functions corresponding to the different levels of magnetic strengths employed. As the magnetic field emission structures are brought closer together, the spatial force function of the strongest magnets is first to engage and the spatial force functions of the weaker magnets will engage when the magnetic field emission structures are moved close enough together at which the spatial force functions of the different sized magnets will combine. Referring back to FIG. 31b, the sparse array of stronger magnets 3108 is coded such that it can correlate with a mirror image sparse array of comparable magnets. However, the number and polarity of the smaller (i.e., weaker) magnets 3110 can be tailored such that when the two magnetic field emission structures are substantially close together, the magnetic force of the smaller magnets can overtake that of the larger magnets 3108 such that an equilibrium will be achieved at some distance between the two magnetic field emission structures. As such, alignment can be provided by the stronger magnets 3108 but contact of the two magnetic field emission structures can be prevented by the weaker magnets 3110. Similarly, the smaller, weaker magnets can be used to add extra attraction strength between the two magnetic field emission structures.
[0144] One skilled in the art will recognize that the all sorts of different combinations of magnets having different strengths can be oriented in various ways to achieve desired spatial forces as a function of orientation and separation distance between two magnetic field emission structures. For example, a similar aligned attract--repel equilibrium might be achieved by grouping the sparse array of larger magnets 3108 tightly together in the center of magnetic field emission structure 3106. Moreover, combinations of correlated and non-correlated magnets can be used together, for example, the weaker magnets 3110 of FIG. 31b may all be uncorrelated magnets. Furthermore, one skilled in the art will recognize that such an equilibrium enables frictionless traction (or hold) forces to be maintained and that such techniques could be employed for many of the exemplary drawings provided herein. For example, the magnetic field emission structures of the two spheres shown in FIG. 24 could be configured such that the spheres never come into direct contact, which could be used, for example, to produce frictionless ball joints.
[0145] FIG. 32 depicts an exemplary magnetic field emission structure assembly apparatus comprising one or more vacuum tweezers 3202 that are capable of placing magnets 100a and 100b having first and second polarities into machined holes 3204 in a support 3206. Magnets 100a and 100b are taken from at least one magnet supplying device 3208 and inserted into holes 3204 of support frame 3206 in accordance with a desired code. Under one arrangement, two magnetic tweezers are employed with each being integrated with its own magnet supply device 3208 allowing the vacuum tweezers 3202 to only move to the next hole 3204 whereby a magnet is fed into vacuum tweezers 3202 from inside the device. Magnets 100a and 100b may be held in place in a support frame 3206 using an adhesive (e.g., a glue). Alternatively, holes 3204 and magnets 100a and 100b could have threads whereby vacuum tweezers 3202 or an alternative insertion tool would screw them into place. A completed magnetic field assembly 3210 is also depicted in FIG. 32. Under an alternative arrangement the vacuum tweezers would place more than one magnet into a frame 3206 at a time to include placing all magnets at one time. Under still another arrangement, an array of coded electromagnets 3212 is used to pick up and place at one time all the magnets 3214 to be placed into the frame 3206 where the magnets are provided by a magnet supplying device 3216 that resembles the completed magnetic field assembly 3210 such that magnets are fed into each supplying hole from beneath (as shown in 3208) and where the coded electromagnets attract the entire array of loose magnets. With this approach the array of electromagnets 3212 may be recessed such that there is a guide 3218 for each loose magnet as is the case with the bottom portion of the vacuum tweezers 3202. With this approach, an entire group of loose magnets can be inserted into a frame 3206 and when a previously applied sealant has dried sufficiently the array of electromagnets 3212 can be turned so as to release the now placed magnets. Under an alternative arrangement the magnetic field emission structure assembly apparatus would be put under pressure. Vacuum can also be used to hold magnets into a support frame 3206.
[0146] As described above, vacuum tweezers can be used to handle the magnets during automatic placement manufacturing. However, the force of vacuum, i.e. 14.7 psi, on such a small surface area may not be enough to compete with the magnetic force. If necessary, the whole manufacturing unit can be put under pressure. The force of a vacuum is a function of the pressure of the medium. If the workspace is pressurize to 300 psi (about 20 atmospheres) the force on a tweezer tip 1/16'' across would be about 1 pound which depending on the magnetic strength of a magnet might be sufficient to compete with its magnetic force. Generally, the psi can be increased to whatever is needed to produce the holding force necessary to manipulate the magnets.
[0147] If the substrate that the magnets are placed in have tiny holes in the back then vacuum can also be used to hold them in place until the final process affixes them permanently with, for example, ultraviolet curing glue. Alternatively, the final process by involve heating the substrate to fuse them all together, or coating the whole face with a sealant and then wiping it clean (or leaving a thin film over the magnet faces) before curing. The vacuum gives time to manipulate the assembly while waiting for whatever adhesive or fixative is used.
[0148] FIG. 33 depicts a cylinder 2302 having a first magnetic field emission structure 2306 on the outside of the cylinder where the code pattern 1402a is repeated six times around the cylinder. Beneath the cylinder 2302 is an object 3302 having a curved surface with a slightly larger curvature as does the cylinder 2302 (such as the curvature of cylinder 2304) and having a second magnetic field emission structure 3304 that is also coded using the code pattern 1402a. The cylinder 2302 is turned at a rotational rate of 1 rotation per second by shaft 3306. Thus, as the cylinder 2302 turns, six times a second the code pattern 1402a of the first magnetic field emission structure 2306 of the cylinder 2302 aligns with the second magnetic field emission structure 3304 of the object 3302 causing the object 3302 to be repelled (i.e., moved downward) by the peak spatial force function of the two magnetic field emission structures 2306, 3304. Similarly, had the second magnetic field emission structure 3304 been coded using code pattern 1402b, then 6 times a second the code pattern 1402a of the first magnetic field emission structure 2306 of the cylinder 2302 aligns with the second magnetic field emission structure 3304 of the object 3302 causing the object 3302 to be attracted (i.e., moved upward) by the peak spatial force function of the two magnetic field emission structures. Thus, the movement of the cylinder 2302 and corresponding first magnetic field emission structure 2306 can be used to control the movement of the object 3302 having its corresponding second magnetic field emission structure 3304. Additional magnetic field emission structures and/or other devices capable of controlling movement (e.g., springs) can also be used to control movement of the object 3302 based upon the movement of the first magnetic field emission structure 2306 of the cylinder 2302. One skilled in the art will recognize that a shaft 3306 may be turned as a result of wind turning a windmill, a water wheel or turbine, ocean wave movement, and other methods whereby movement of the object 3302 can result from some source of energy scavenging. Another example of energy scavenging that could result in movement of object 3302 based on magnetic field emission structures is a wheel of a vehicle that would correspond to a cylinder 2302 where the shaft 3306 would correspond to the wheel axle. Generally, the present invention can be used in accordance with one or more movement path functions of one or more objects each associated with one or more magnetic field emission structures, where each movement path function defines the location and orientation over time of at least one of the one or more objects and thus the corresponding location and orientation over time of the one or more magnetic field emission structures associated with the one or more objects. Furthermore, the spatial force functions of the magnetic field emission structures can be controlled over time in accordance with such movement path functions as part of a process which may be controlled in an open-loop or closed-loop manner. For example, the location of a magnetic field emission structure produced using an electromagnetic array may be moved, the coding of such a magnetic field emission structure can be changed, the strengths of magnetic sources can be varied, etc. As such, the present invention enables the spatial forces between objects to be precisely controlled in accordance with their movement and also enables movement of objects to be precisely controlled in accordance with such spatial forces.
[0149] FIG. 34 depicts a valve mechanism 3400 based upon the sphere of FIG. 24 where a magnetic field emission structure 2414 is varied to move the sphere 2402 upward or downward in a cylinder having a first opening 3404 having a circumference less than or equal to that of a sphere 2402 and a second opening 3406 having a circumference greater than the sphere 2402. As such, a magnetic field emission structure 2414 can be varied such as described in relation to FIG. 24 to control the movement of the sphere 2402 so as to control the flow rate of a gas or liquid through the valve 3402. Similarly, a valve mechanism 3400 can be used as a pressure control valve. Furthermore, the ability to move an object within another object having a decreasing size enables various types of sealing mechanisms that can be used for the sealing of windows, refrigerators, freezers, food storage containers, boat hatches, submarine hatches, etc., where the amount of sealing force can be precisely controlled. One skilled in the art will recognized that many different types of seal mechanisms to include gaskets, o-rings, and the like can be employed with the present invention.
[0150] FIG. 35 depicts a cylinder apparatus 3500 where a movable object such as sphere 2042 or closed cylinder 3502 having a first magnetic field emission structure 2406 is moved in a first direction or in second opposite direction in a cylinder 2416 having second magnetic field emission structure 2414a (and optionally 2414b). By sizing the movable object (e.g., a sphere or a closed cylinder) such that an effective seal is maintained in cylinder 2416, the cylinder apparatus 3500 can be used as a hydraulic cylinder, pneumatic cylinder, or gas cylinder. In a similar arrangement cylinder apparatus 3500 can be used as a pumping device.
[0151] As described herein, magnetic field emission structures can be produced with any desired arrangement of magnetic (or electric) field sources. Such sources may be placed against each other, placed in a sparse array, placed on top of, below, or within surfaces that may be flat or curved. Such sources may be in multiple layers (or planes), may have desired directionality characteristics, and so on. Generally, by varying polarities, positions, and field strengths of individual field sources over time, one skilled in the art can use the present invention to achieve numerous desired attributes. Such attributes include, for example:
[0152] Precision alignment, position control, and movement control
[0153] Non-wearing attachment
[0154] Repeatable and consistent behavior
[0155] Frictionless holding force/traction
[0156] Ease/speed/accuracy of assembly/disassembly
[0157] Increased architectural strength
[0158] Reduced training requirements
[0159] Increased safety
[0160] Increased reliability
[0161] Ability to control the range of force
[0162] Quantifiable, sustainable spatial forces (e.g., holding force, sealing force, etc.)
[0163] Increased maintainability/lifetime
[0164] Efficiency
[0165] FIGS. 36a through 36g provide a few more examples of how magnetic field sources can be arranged to achieve desirable spatial force function characteristics. FIG. 36a depicts an exemplary magnetic field emission structure 3600 made up of rings about a circle. As shown, each ring comprises one magnet having an identified polarity. Similar structures could be produced using multiple magnets in each ring, where each of the magnets in a given ring is the same polarity as the other magnets in the ring, or each ring could comprise correlated magnets. Generally, circular rings, whether single layer or multiple layer, and whether with or without spaces between the rings, can be used for electrical, fluid, and gas connectors, and other purposes where they could be configured to have a basic property such that the larger the ring, the harder it would be to twist the connector apart. As shown in FIG. 36b, one skilled in the art would recognize that a hinge 3602 could be constructed using alternating magnetic field emission structures attached two objects where the magnetic field emission structures would be interleaved so that they would align (i.e., effectively lock) but they would still pivot about an axes extending though their innermost circles. FIG. 36c depicts an exemplary magnetic field emission structure 3604 having sources resembling spokes of a wheel. FIG. 36d depicts an exemplary magnetic field emission structure 3606 resembling a rotary encoder where instead of on and off encoding, the sources are encoded such that their polarities vary. The use of a magnetic field emission structure in accordance with the present invention instead of on and off encoding should eliminate alignment problems of conventional rotary encoders.
[0166] FIG. 36e depicts an exemplary magnetic field emission structure having sources arranged as curved spokes. FIG. 36f depicts an exemplary magnetic field emission structure made up of hexagon-shaped sources. FIG. 36g depicts an exemplary magnetic field emission structure made up of triangular sources. FIG. 36h depicts an exemplary magnetic field emission structure made up of partially overlapped diamond-shaped sources. Generally, the sources making up a magnetic field emission structure can have any shape and multiple shapes can be used within a given magnetic field emission structure. Under one arrangement, one or more magnetic field emission structures correspond to a Fractal code.
[0167] Exemplary applications of the invention:
[0168] Position based function control.
[0169] Gyroscope, Linear motor, Fan motor.
[0170] Precision measurement, precision timing.
[0171] Computer numerical control machines.
[0172] Linear actuators, linear stages, rotation stages, goniometers, minor mounts.
[0173] Cylinders, turbines, engines (no heat allows lightweight materials).
[0174] Seals for food storage.
[0175] Scaffolding.
[0176] Structural beams, trusses, cross-bracing.
[0177] Bridge construction materials (trusses).
[0178] Wall structures (studs, panels, etc.), floors, ceilings, roofs.
[0179] Magnetic shingles for roofs.
[0180] Furniture (assembly and positioning).
[0181] Picture frames, picture hangers.
[0182] Child safety seats.
[0183] Seat belts, harnesses, trapping.
[0184] Wheelchairs, hospital beds.
[0185] Toys--self assembling toys, puzzles, construction sets (e.g., Legos, magnetic logs).
[0186] Hand tools--cutting, nail driving, drilling, sawing, etc.
[0187] Precision machine tools--drill press, lathes, mills, machine press.
[0188] Robotic movement control.
[0189] Assembly lines--object movement control, automated parts assembly.
[0190] Packaging machinery.
[0191] Wall hangers--for tools, brooms, ladders, etc.
[0192] Pressure control systems, Precision hydraulics.
[0193] Traction devices (e.g., window cleaner that climbs building).
[0194] Gas/Liquid flow rate control systems, ductwork, ventilation control systems.
[0195] Door/window seal, boat/ship/submarine/space craft hatch seal.
[0196] Hurricane/storm shutters, quick assembly home tornado shelters.
[0197] Gate Latch--outdoor gate (dog proof), Child safety gate latch (child proof).
[0198] Clothing buttons, Shoe/boot clasps.
[0199] Drawer/cabinet door fasteners.
[0200] Child safety devices--lock mechanisms for appliances, toilets, etc.
[0201] Safes, safe prescription drug storage.
[0202] Quick capture/release commercial fishing nets, crab cages.
[0203] Energy conversion--wind, falling water, wave movement. Energy scavenging from wheels, etc.
[0204] Microphone, speaker.
[0205] Applications in space (e.g., seals, gripping places for astronauts to hold/stand).
[0206] Analog-to-digital (and vice versa) conversion via magnetic field control.
[0207] Use of correlation codes to affect circuit characteristics in silicon chips.
[0208] Use of correlation codes to effect attributes of nanomachines (force, torque, rotation, and translations).
[0209] Ball joints for prosthetic knees, shoulders, hips, ankles, wrists, etc.
[0210] Ball joints for robotic arms.
[0211] Robots that move along correlated magnetic field tracks.
[0212] Correlated gloves, shoes.
[0213] Correlated robotic "hands" (all sorts of mechanisms used to move, place, lift, direct, etc. objects could use invention).
[0214] Communications/symbology.
[0215] Skis, skateboards.
[0216] Keys, locking mechanisms.
[0217] Cargo containers (how they are made and how they are moved).
[0218] Credit, debit, and ATM cards.
[0219] Magnetic data storage, floppy disks, hard drives, CDs, DVDs.
[0220] Scanners, printers, plotters.
[0221] Televisions and computer monitors.
[0222] Electric motors, generators, transformers.
[0223] Chucks, fastening devices, clamps.
[0224] Secure Identification Tags.
[0225] Door hinges.
[0226] Jewelry, watches.
[0227] Vehicle braking systems.
[0228] Maglev trains and other vehicles.
[0229] Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy.
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