Electromagnetic drive device having a plurality of sinusoidal coils

Electromagnetic drive means for converting input electric current to output motion comprising:

• a) stator means comprising a plurality of discrete coil means arranged in a circular configuration to form an annular travel path, wherein each of the coil means extends in a sinuous configuration between leads at each end of each of the coil means to thereby provide alternating peaks and troughs at respective half cycle apexes of the sinusoid such that the peaks and troughs are 180.degree. out of phase;
• b) rotor means having a disc shape and provided with a plurality of discrete magnet means spaced at intervals around the disc, wherein the magnet means are arranged such that north and south magnetic poles alternate around the rotor means;
• c) energizer means for selectively supplying electrical current to at least one of the plurality of discrete coil means of the stator means to thereby create alternating and 180.degree. out of phase north and south magnetic fields in either the peaks and troughs of the energized coil means, wherein the rotor means is rotatable around the annular travel path in response to magnetic attraction and repulsion forces set up between the magnet means of the rotor means and the alternating magnetic fields provided by the energized peaks and troughs of the at least one coil means of the stator means;
• and
• d) driver means which selectively regulates the energization of the coil means and a direction and magnitude of the current flow supplied to the coil means in response to a control input wherein the relationship of the direction and magnitude of the current flow in the at least one coil means is determinative of the magnetic attraction and repulsion forces established between the magnet means and the at least one energized coil means in response to change in control input supplied to the driver means and wherein coordination of the sequencing of the energization and the change in the direction and magnitude of the current flow in the at least one coil means causes appropriate change in the magnetic attraction and repulsion forces established between the coil means of the stator means and the magnet means of the motive means to effect incremental rotational movement of the rotor means to indicate a relative value of the control input.

Electromagnetic drive means for converting input electric current to output motion comprising:

• a) stator means comprising a plurality of coil means arranged on opposite sides of an intermediate track provided therebetween, wherein each of the coil means extends in a sinuous configuration between leads at each end of each of the coil means to thereby provide alternating peaks and troughs at respective half cycle apexes of the sinusoid such that the peaks and troughs are 180.degree. out of phase and displaced from a centerline of each of the coil means;
• b) slider means for carrying a plurality of discrete magnet means spaced at intervals along the slider means, wherein the magnet means are arranged such that north and south magnetic poles alternate along the slider means;
• c) energizer means for selectively supplying electrical current to at least one of the plurality of discrete coil means of the stator means to thereby create alternating and 180.degree. out of phase north and south magnetic fields in either the peaks and troughs of the energized coil means, wherein the slider means is movable along the track formed between the coil means in response to magnetic attraction and repulsion forces set up between the magnet means of the slider means and the alternating magnetic fields provided by the energized peaks and troughs of the coil means of the stator means;
• and
• d) driver means which selectively regulates the energization and a direction and magnitude of the current flow supplied to the at least one coil means in response to a control input wherein the relationship of the direction and magnitude of the current flow in the at least one coil means is determinative of the magnetic attraction and repulsion forces established between the energized coil means and the magnet means and wherein coordination of the sequencing of the energization and the change in the direction and magnitude of the current flow in the at least one coil means in response to change in the control input supplied to the control means causes appropriate change in the magnetic attraction and repulsion forces established between the coil means of the stator means and the magnet means of the slider means to effect incremental movement of the slider means along the travel path to thereby indicate a relative value of the control input.

In an indicator means for registering the magnitude of a measurement including electromagnetic drive means comprising operatively associated stator means and rotor means wherein energization of the stator means is controlled by a control means so that movement of the rotor means is indicative of the relative value of a measurement supplied to the control means from an external source, the improvement comprising:

• a) housing means provided with an indentation that receives the indicator means, the indentation formed by a surrounding side wall that extends to and joins with a bottom wall wherein the stator means comprises a plurality of discrete coil means arranged in a circular configuration extending around a portion of at least either a periphery of the surrounding side wall or the bottom wall of the indentation or a combination of them and wherein each of the coil means extends in a sinuous configuration between leads at each end of each of the coil means to thereby provide alternating peaks and troughs at respective half cycle apexes of the sinusoid such that the peaks and troughs are 180.degree. out of phase;
• b) the rotor means having a disc shape and provided with a plurality of discrete magnet means spaced at intervals around the disc such that north and south magnetic poles alternate around the rotor means fixedly mounted on a shaft having a distal end rotatably received in an opening in the bottom wall of the indentation of the housing means for rotational movement of the rotor means about a longitudinal axis of the shaft means by appropriate magnetic interaction between the stator means and the magnet means of the rotor means;
• c) a portion of the housing means adjacent to the indentation being provided with indicia that are graduated in such a manner so as to correspond to an intended range of measurements and wherein a proximate end of the shaft means supports a pointer means that is movable with respect to the graduated indicia in response to the magnetic interaction between the magnet means of the rotor means and the stator means to thereby indicate the magnitude of the measurement;
• and
• d) the shaft means being provided with an indentation inletted into the distal end thereof that serves to receive a lamp means for illumination of the shaft means and the associated pointer means.

A method for converting input electrical current to output mechanical motion comprising:

• a) providing a stator means comprising a plurality of separately electrically energizable sections of an electrically conductive material, each section having a sinuous configuration between leads at each end of each of the section thereby defining a plurality of alternating peaks and troughs at respective half cycle apexes of the sinusoid such that the peaks and troughs are 180.degree. out of phase along a travel path provided by the stator means;
• b) providing a motive means comprising a plurality of discrete magnetic means at spaced intervals along the motive means;
• c) selectively supplying electric current to at least one of the sections of the stator means to thereby create alternating and 180.degree. out of phase north and south magnetic fields in either the peaks and troughs of the energized sections;
• d) controlling a direction and magnitude of current flow to each of the energized sections of the stator means;
• and
• e) coordinating the sequence of energizing the stator sections and the direction and magnitude of current flow therein to control the magnetic attractive and repulsive forces set up between the stator means and the motive means to cause movement of the motive means relative to the stator means.