Patent ID: 8018106

Claim:
A magnetic bearing device for supporting an object magnetically, comprising: an amplifier unit, and at least one group of electromagnetic actuators for controlling a number of degrees of freedom of the object, where the number of actuators in said group is at least three, each actuator in said group of actuators having a first port and a second port for providing a current to said actuator, the first port of each actuator in said group of actuators being connected to said amplifier unit, wherein said group of actuators is divided into a first subgroup and a second subgroup of actuators, the second port of each actuator in the first subgroup being connected to a first common node and the second port of each actuator in the second subgroup being connected to a second common node, wherein said first common node and said second common node are electrically connected by a node connection means, and wherein said amplifier unit is adapted to control said currents through said actuators in such a way that the sum of currents through each subgroup always flows in the same direction.