Switchable magnetic apparatus with reduced switching force and methods thereof

A switchable magnetic apparatus comprising:

• a first layer comprising one or more first-layer magnets;
• a second layer on a rear side of the first layer, the second layer comprising one or more second-layer magnets, the first and second layers being movable relative to each other between an ON position and an OFF position for switching the switchable magnetic apparatus between an ON state and an OFF state;
• and
• a third layer on a rear side of the second layer;
• wherein the third layer comprises one or more third-layer magnets for applying a first force to the one or more second-layer magnets when the second layer is at a position intermediate the ON and OFF positions;
• and
• wherein the first force is at a direction opposite to a second force applied to the one or more second-layer magnets by the first-layer magnets when the second layer is at the position intermediate the ON and OFF positions.

A switchable magnetic apparatus comprising:

• a front layer comprising one or more front-layer magnets interleaved with a plurality of ferromagnetic blocks, the polarities of the one or more front-layer magnets being in a same plane and adjacent pairs of the one or more front-layer magnets having opposite polarities;
• a rear layer on a rear side of the front layer, the rear layer comprising a plurality of rear-layer magnets interleaved with a plurality of spacers, the polarities of the rear-layer magnets being perpendicular to the polarities of the one or more front-layer magnets, and adjacent rear-layer magnets having opposite polarities, the front and rear layers being movable relative to each other for switching the switchable magnetic apparatus between an ON state and an OFF state;
• and
• a switching-force-reduction layer on a rear side of the rear layer, the switching-force-reduction layer comprising one or more force-reduction magnets, each force-reduction magnet comprising or causing a first pole adjacent the rear layer for reducing a force to switch the switchable magnetic apparatus between the ON state and the OFF state;
• wherein each rear-layer magnet overlaps one of the ferromagnetic blocks along a forward-rearward direction, and each of the plurality of spacers overlaps one of the one or more front-layer magnets along the forward-rearward direction;
• wherein when in the ON state, each ferromagnetic block is adjacent same magnetic poles of the front-layer and rear-layer magnets, and the first pole of each force-reduction magnet is adjacent an end with an opposite pole of a first one of the rear-layer magnets;
• and
• wherein when in the OFF state, each ferromagnetic block is adjacent different magnetic poles of the front-layer and rear-layer magnets, and the first pole of each force-reduction magnet is adjacent an end with a same pole of a second one of the rear-layer magnets.