Patent ID: 8514046

Claim:
A method for detachment of two objects, said method comprising: providing a multi-level magnetic system, said multi-level magnetic system comprising a first magnetic structure and a second magnetic structure, said first magnetic structure being associated with a first object, said second magnetic structure being associated with a second object, said multi-level magnetic system producing at least two layers of multi-level magnetism, said at least two layers of multi-level magnetism including an inner attractive layer that transitions to an outer repel layer at a transition distance between said first magnetic structure and said second magnetic structure, said first magnetic structure comprising a plurality of first permanent magnetic field sources, said first magnetic structure being separated from said second magnetic structure by a first distance that is less than said transition distance such that said first magnetic structure is magnetically attached to said second magnetic structure thereby causing attachment of said first object to said second object, said second magnetic structure comprising one or more second permanent magnetic field sources; associating a bias field source with said multi-level magnetic system, said bias field source being a magnetic field source separate from said plurality of first permanent magnetic field sources and said one or more second permanent magnetic field sources; and using said bias field source to produce a repel force that is added to said at least two layers of multi-level magnetism produced by said multi-level magnetic system, said repel force being large enough to cause said first magnetic structure to separate from said second magnetic structure by a second distance that is greater than said transition distance causing said first magnetic structure to repel said second magnetic structure thereby causing detachment of said first object from said second object.