Closed-path linear motor
AssigneeAnorad Corporation
InventorAnwar Chitayat
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A linear motor path forms a closed figure. Contactless power control and position feedback permit a linear motor stage to traverse the closed figure without interference from trailing wires. One embodiment of the closed figure includes a racetrack pattern with straight runs joined by curved ends. Axes of armature windings are skewed to lie across the path in the curved ends to maintain force on the linear motor stage. Other embodiments of the invention includes multilevel paths wherein one portion of the path crosses over another portion of the path. Disclosure is made of a linear motor stage supported below the path by magnetic attraction between permanent magnets on the stage and magnetic material in the path.
Claims35
A linear motor system, comprising:
- a path for a linear motor, the path including at least one winding adapted to receive power;
- at least one switch operatively coupled to the at least one winding;
- a moveable stage adapted to move along the path, the moveable stage including at least one switching magnet and at least one motor magnet, wherein in response to the at least one switch being under the influence of the at least one switching magnet, the at least one switch closes such that power can be applied to the at least one winding to interact with the at least one motor magnet and effect movement of the stage along the path.
A linear motor system, comprising:
- a linear motor path including:
- at least one winding adapted to receive power;
- at least one switch operably coupled to at least one winding;
- and
- at least one switching sensor disposed along the path, the at least one switching sensor controlling the at least one switch;
- and
- a movable stage adapted to move along the path, the movable stage including:
- at least one motor magnet;
- and
- at least one switching magnet;
- wherein when the at least one switching sensor is under the influence of the at least one switching magnet, the at least one switching sensor closes the at least one switch such that power is applied to the at least one winding which effects movement of the stage along the path.
A method for moving a stage along a linear path comprising:
- providing a path including at least one winding adapted to receive power;
- providing at least one switch operably coupled to the at least one winding;
- providing a moveable stage supported and guided by the linear path, the moveable stage including a plurality of motor magnets and at least one switching magnet disposed on the moveable stage;
- and
- moving the stage about the path by closing the at least one switch in response to the influence of the at least one switching magnet thereby applying power to the at least one winding to effect movement of the stage along the path.
A method for moving a stage along a linear path, comprising:
- providing a path including at least one winding adapted to receive power;
- providing at least one switch operably coupled to the at least one winding;
- providing a movable stage supported and guided by the linear path, the movable stage including a plurality of motor magnets disposed on the movable stage;
- providing at least one switching sensor disposed along the path, the switching sensor controlling the state of the at least one switch;
- providing at least one switching magnet located on the movable stage;
- and
- moving the stage about the path by closing the at least one switch when the at least one switching sensor of sensor switches that come under the influence of the at least one switching magnet thereby applying power to the at least one winding which effects movement of the stage along the path.
A linear motor system adapted to move a stage about a path, comprising:
- a movable stage including means for providing a magnetic field;
- means for creating a transitional force on the stage by interacting with the magnetic field;
- means for controlling application of the transitional force;
- means for detecting the presence of the movable stage, the means for detecting the presence of the movable stage enabling the means for controlling application of the transitional force;
- and
- means for providing at least one of position and motion information.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.