Patent ID: 8471658

Claim:
A magnetic switch for operating a circuit, comprising: a multi-level magnetic system, comprising: a first magnetic structure; and a second magnetic structure, said first and second magnetic structures producing a first force; a first contact attached to the circuit; a second contact attached to said second magnetic structure and attached to said circuit, said second contact being movable relative to said first contact to open and close said circuit; said second magnetic structure being configured to move from a first position to a second position when a second force is applied thereto, said first position corresponding to an open state of said circuit where said first and second contacts are open, said second position corresponding to a closed state of said circuit where said first and second contacts are closed wherein said multi-level magnetic-system is configured to maintain at least a minimum separation distance between said first and second magnetic structures; and wherein said minimum separation distance is between a first separation distance at which said first force achieves a peak repel force and a second separation distance at which said first force transitions to an attract force.