Magnetic positioning mechanism for fluid-supported self-rotating displays
AssigneeTurtleTech Design, Inc.
InventorsChun-Hsien Yang, Shawyueh Lin, Ai-Chin Chiang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A self-rotating display device (1) includes and outer light transmissive container (2) containing a light transmissive fluid (6) and a body (4) containing an electric motor (14) for rotating the body with respect to the outer container. The body also carries a compass magnet (18) as a source of counter-torque for the motor to operate against. A magnetic positioning structure (20) made of ferromagnetic material secured to the container interacts with the magnetic field of the compass magnet to cause the body to migrate toward a location minimizing the distance between the magnetic positioning structure and compass magnet, so that the body can remain centered within the display while rotating.
Claims12
A self-rotating device comprises:
- a container carrying a fluid;
- a self-powered hollow rotating body buoyantly supported by said fluid;
- wherein said body comprises:
- an axis of rotation;
- an electric motor contained inside said body, said electric motor comprising:
- a counter-torque element rotationally responsive to an ambient magnetic field;
- and,
- wherein said device further comprises:
- a magnetic lateral positioning structure apart from said body and apart from said electric motor, wherein said magnetic lateral positioning structure is fixed and adhered to a bottom part of said container in a non-rotating manner to said container, and wherein said magnetic lateral positioning structure has an aggregate center of mass located along said axis of rotation,
- a local attractive magnetic force between said magnetic lateral positioning structure and said counter-torque element;
- wherein said local attractive magnetic force has a strength which is insufficient to overcome a buoyancy of said body;
- wherein said magnetic lateral positioning structure is located an effective distance from said counter-torque element so as to laterally bias said body toward a position of magnetic equilibrium between said magnetic lateral positioning structure and said counter-torque element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.