Electromagnetic-induction coupling apparatus

Abstract

An electromagnetic-induction coupling apparatus adapted for use as a feeder system for supplying electric power to a spherical semiconductor (10) having a coil (11) on the surface thereof by electromagnetic-induction coupling by means of the coil and/or a data communication system for transferring information signals to and from the spherical semiconductor through the coil. The apparatus comprises a coil array (22) including a plurality of coil elements (21) symmetrically two-dimensionally arranged in the longitudinal and transverse directions, for example, on a given plane, and a magnetic field control element (24) for controlling the respective polarities and phases of magnetic fields generated by means of the individual coil elements of the coil array, thereby changing the respective directions of magnetic fields in a region near the coil array to which the spherical semiconductor is guided. The magnetic field control element drives a plurality of coil elements in phase, thereby generating a magnetic field perpendicular to the coil plane of the coil array, and drives the coil elements in predetermined sets of the coil array out of phase, thereby generating a magnetic field parallel to the coil surface of the coil array or inclined at a given angle to the coil plane.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.