Linear motor with a plurality of stages independently movable on the same path

A linear motor comprising:

• a motor controller;
• said motor controller producing first and second motor drive power;
• a path;
• said path including a plurality of armature windings therein;
• a plurality of first switches;
• each of said plurality of first switches controlling the application of said first motor drive power to a respective one of said plurality of armature windings:
• a plurality of second switches;
• each of said plurality of second switches controlling the application of said second motor drive power to a respective one of said plurality of armature windings;
• first and second linear motor stages movable on said path;
• said first and second linear motor stages each including a plurality of permanent magnets thereon facing said plurality of armature windings, for magnetic interaction with said armature windings to produce a force in a direction of said path;
• a first switch controller;
• said first switch controller including means for controlling the application of said first motor drive power only to those of said plurality of armature windings within a magnetic influence of said permanent magnets on said first linear motor stage;
• a second switch controller;
• and
• said second switch controller including means for controlling the application of said second motor drive power only to those of said plurality of armature windings within a magnetic influence of said permanent magnets on said second linear motor stage, whereby said first linear motor stage is driven only by said first motor drive power and said second linear motor stage is driven by said second motor drive power independently of said first linear motor stage, and said first and second linear motor stages can be driven to any point on said path.

A linear motor comprising:

• a path;
• a plurality of armature windings in said path;
• first and second linear motor stages movable on said path;
• a first plurality of switches for applying a first motor drive power only to those of said plurality of armature windings in the vicinity of said first linear motor stage;
• and
• a second plurality of switches for applying a second motor drive power only to those of said plurality of armature windings in the vicinity of said second linear motor stage, whereby said first and second linear motor stages are independently driveable.