Electromagnetic swing
AssigneeKids II, Inc.
InventorsDavid C. Gilbert, Stephen R. Burns, Peter D. Jackson, Charles Simons, Chen Jing Ru
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to a powered children's swing. In various embodiments, the swing includes a seat, swing frame, one or more swing arms, a first magnetic component, second magnetic component, swing motion sensor, and swing control circuit. The magnetic components are configured to generate a magnetic force that drives the seat along a swing path. The swing control circuit is configured to control the magnetic components based at least on input from the swing motion sensor and generate control signals causing the seat to swing with a substantially constant amplitude as specified by a user.
Claims16
A method for controlling a swing comprising a seat driven along a swing path by an electromagnetic drive system including a first magnetic component and a second magnetic component, wherein at least one of the first and second magnetic components comprises an electromagnet and wherein the method comprises the steps of:
- sensing an amplitude of the seat's motion along the swing path;
- comparing the sensed amplitude with a value indicative of a goal amplitude for the swing;
- generating an attractive magnetic force between the first magnetic component and second magnetic component that causes the seat to swing with an amplitude nearer to the goal amplitude;
- and
- generating a repulsive magnetic force between the first magnetic component and second magnetic component that causes the seat to swing with an amplitude nearer to the goal amplitude.
A method for controlling a swing comprising a seat driven along a swing path by an electromagnetic drive system including a first magnetic component and a second magnetic component, wherein at least one of the first and second magnetic components comprises an electromagnet and wherein the method comprises the steps of:
- sensing an amplitude of the seat's motion along the swing path;
- comparing the sensed amplitude with a value indicative of a goal amplitude for the swing;
- determining when the second magnetic component is a certain distance from the first magnetic component;
- determining when the second magnetic component is moving away from the first magnetic component;
- and
- generating a magnetic force between the first magnetic component and second magnetic component when the second magnetic component is the certain distance from the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component is moving away from the first magnetic component, the magnetic force causing the seat to swing with an amplitude nearer to the goal amplitude.
A method for controlling a swing comprising a seat driven along a swing path by a drive system, the method comprising the steps of:
- displacing and releasing the seat, thereby causing the seat the swing along the swing path;
- sensing a first amplitude of the seat's motion along the swing path, the first amplitude of the seat's swing motion occurring at a first point in time and resulting from the displacement of the seat;
- sensing a second amplitude of the seat's motion along the swing path, the second amplitude of the seat's swing motion occurring at a second point in time, wherein the second point in time occurs after the first point in time;
- comparing the first sensed amplitude with the second sensed amplitude;
- and
- driving the seat via the drive system to swing with an amplitude nearer to the first amplitude.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.