Device for driving at least one mover over a drive area

A device for driving at least one mover on a drive surface, the mover comprising at least one second magnetic field generator, the device comprising:

• a plurality of plate-shaped sectors, the sectors comprising magnetic field generators, wherein said sectors form the drive surface,
• said sectors being connected to a control unit, and
• said control unit being configured to generate magnetic fields via a corresponding control of a power supply of said magnetic field generators in such a manner that the mover is moved over the drive surface in at least one direction, at least one virtual path network being provided for the drive surface;
• the control unit being configured to determine a first travel path for the mover on the path network, and
• the control unit being configured to actuate the magnetic field generators of the sectors with current such that the mover is movable over the drive surface along the determined travel path within the path network;
• wherein the path network comprises at least two alternative paths at least in a contiguous part of the path network, via which a mover is moved from its current position to a target, and
• wherein the control unit is configured to determine the travel path for the mover depending on operating conditions of at least one sector and/or of at least the mover such that one of the two alternative paths is used as the travel path.

A method for determining a first travel path for at least one mover on a drive surface,

• the mover having at least one second magnetic field generator, and
• the drive surface having a plurality of plate-shaped sectors, the sectors having magnetic field generators;
• wherein at least one virtual path network is provided for the drive surface,
• wherein the first travel path for the mover is determined on the path network,
• wherein the path network comprises at least two alternative paths at least in a contiguous part of the path network, via which a mover is moved from its current position to a target, and
• wherein the control unit is configured to determine the travel path for the mover depending on operating conditions of at least one sector and/or of at least the mover such that one of the two alternative paths is used as the travel path.