Curved magnetic actuators, and systems, and methods for mounting tilt platforms

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10203475-B2
Application number	US-201615299306-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 20, 2016
Priority date	Oct 20, 2016
Publication date	Feb 12, 2019
Grant date	Feb 12, 2019

Abstract

A magnetic actuator, comprising a first magnet having a first magnetic axis and having a first magnetic field, a second magnet having a second magnetic axis and having a second magnetic field, the first and second magnets defining, at least in part, a magnetic assembly; and a coil actuator assembly at least partially disposed about the magnetic assembly, wherein the first and second magnetic fields collectively approximate a curve. A tilt platform assembly, comprising a support base: a tilt platform pivotally coupled to the support base: at least one coil actuator assembly, mounted to one of the support base or the tilt platform; and at least one magnet assembly mounted to the other of the support base or tilt platform, and being disposable within the at least one coil actuator assembly, the at least one magnetic assembly comprising at least two magnets having respective magnetic fields angularly offset from one another and that collectively approximate a curve.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A magnetic actuator, comprising:
a first magnet having a first magnetic axis and a first magnetic field;
a second magnet having a second magnetic axis and a second magnetic field, the first and second magnets defining, at least in part, a magnetic assembly; and
a coil actuator assembly comprising a housing through which the magnetic assembly is at least partially disposed, wherein the first and second magnetic fields collectively approximate a curve, wherein the magnetic assembly is curved to maximize clearance of the magnetic assembly relative to the housing when the magnetic assembly is actuated relative to the housing, thereby minimizing a size of the housing,
wherein the coil actuator assembly further comprises a coil wrapped around the housing, such that, in response to supplying a voltage to the coil, the magnetic assembly is actuated relative to and through an opening of the housing, and
wherein the magnetic assembly is coupleable to an optical device, such that actuation of the magnetic assembly by the coil actuator assembly causes the magnetic assembly and the optical device to rotate relative to the housing.

2. The magnetic actuator of claim 1 , wherein the first magnet is positioned relative to the second magnet to angularly offset the respective magnetic axes.

3. The magnetic actuator of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic assembly comprises a plurality of stacked magnets, wherein at least one of the first and second magnets has a tapered cross-section having a magnetic axis angularly offset from a magnetic axis of another magnet in the magnetic assembly.

4. The magnetic actuator of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second magnets comprises a wedge-shape design.

5. The magnetic actuator of claim 1 , wherein the first and second magnets comprise opposing curved surfaces, such that opposing surfaces of the magnet assembly are curved.

6. The magnetic actuator of claim 1 , further comprising third, fourth, and fifth magnets stacked on the first and second magnets, wherein each magnet has a magnetic axis, and wherein at least some of the magnetic axes are angularly offset from one another.

7. The magnetic actuator of claim 1 , further comprising an attachment pole piece secured to an end of the magnetic assembly.

8. The magnetic actuator of claim 7 , wherein the attachment pole piece comprises at least two alignment components.

9. The magnetic actuator of claim 1 , wherein the magnet assembly includes a plurality of stacked magnets attached together, wherein adjacent magnets of the stack are arranged such that north and south poles of the adjacent magnets are positioned in an alternating manner.

10. A tilt platform assembly, comprising:
a support base;
a tilt platform pivotally coupled to the support base;
at least one coil actuator assembly, mounted to one of the support base or the tilt platform; and
at least one magnet assembly mounted to the other of the support base or tilt platform, and being disposable within the at least one coil actuator assembly, the at least one magnetic assembly comprising at least two magnets having respective magnetic fields angularly offset from one another and that collectively approximate a curve,
wherein the at least one coil actuator assembly further comprises a housing and a coil wrapped around the housing, and wherein the at least one magnetic assembly is moveable through the housing in response to a voltage applied to the coil, thereby pivoting the tilt platform relative to the support base.

11. The tilt platform assembly of claim 10 , wherein each of the at least two magnets has a magnetic axis about their north and south poles, and wherein at least some of the magnetic axes are angularly offset from one another.

12. The tilt platform assembly of claim 10 , wherein each of the at least two magnets has a wedge-shape design and combine to approximate a curve in the magnet assembly.

13. The tilt platform assembly of claim 10 , wherein the at least two magnets has an outer surface height dimension greater than an inner surface height dimension.

14. The tilt platform assembly of claim 10 , wherein the inner surface height dimensions of the at least two magnets are arranged adjacent one another to form a nonlinear magnet assembly.

15. The tilt platform assembly of claim 10 , wherein the at least two magnets comprise opposing curved surfaces that combine to provide the magnet assembly with opposing curved surfaces.

16. The tilt platform assembly of claim 10 , wherein the at least two magnets comprise five magnets each having a magnetic axis, the five magnets secured to each other in a stack, wherein at least some of the magnetic axes are angularly offset from one another.

17. The tilt platform assembly of claim 10 , wherein the magnet assembly further comprises an attachment pole piece secured to an end of the at least two magnets.

18. The tilt platform assembly of claim 17 , wherein the platform includes a first support surface and an adjacent second support surface, wherein the attachment pole piece comprises at least two alignment components interfaced to at least one of the first and second support surfaces, the at least two alignment components arranged to facilitate self-alignment of the attachment pole piece relative to the platform prior to curing of an adhesive between the platform and the attachment pole piece, the at least two alignment components and the adhesive collectively restricting movement of the attachment pole piece relative to the platform.

19. The tilt platform assembly of claim 10 , further comprising four magnetic assemblies, each attached approximately to corner areas of the tilt platform, and further comprising four coil actuator assemblies, each attached to the support base and positioned to receive and actuate a corresponding magnet assembly to pivot the tilt platform.

20. The tilt platform assembly of claim 10 , wherein the at least one coil actuator assembly includes a housing having an opening through which the magnetic assembly is at least partially disposed.

21. The tilt platform assembly of claim 20 , wherein the housing has a central axis that is non-perpendicular to a planar operating side of the tilt platform.

22. The tilt platform assembly of claim 10 , wherein the magnet assembly includes a plurality of magnets stacked on each other and attached together, wherein magnets of the stack are arranged such that north and south poles of adjacent magnets are positioned in an alternating manner.

23. The tilt platform assembly of claim 10 , wherein the tilt platform comprises a mirror or other optical device.

24. The tilt platform assembly of claim 10 , wherein the assembly is at least part of a fast steering mirror assembly.

25. The system of claim 10 , wherein the at least one magnetic assembly is curved to maximize clearance of the at least one magnetic assembly relative to an opening of the housing when the at least one magnetic assembly is actuated relative to the housing, thereby minimizing a size of the housing.

Assignees

• Raytheon Co

Inventors

• Balaban Scott
• Cox Christopher A

Classifications

• H01F7/06

  Electromagnets; Actuators including electromagnets {(electric coils H01F5/00; devices for holding workpieces using electric force B23Q3/15; load-engaging elements for lifting articles electromagnetically B66C1/06; electromagnetic couplings F16D27/00; magnetic brakes F16D63/002; electromagnetically operated valves F16K11/24, F16K31/00; analysing materials by magnetic means G01N27/72, G01N27/80; electromagnets for winding mechanical clocks G04C1/02; electromagnetic relays H01H51/00; windings for salient poles of dynamo-electric machines H02K3/18; electromagnets for telegraphic communication H04L; for arc lamps H05B31/28)} · CPC title

• G02B7/182 Primary

  for mirrors · CPC title

• H01F7/0221

  Mounting means for PM, supporting, coating, encapsulating PM · CPC title

• H01F7/02

  Permanent magnets {[PM]} · CPC title

• H01F7/122

  by permanent magnets {(H01F7/1615, H01F7/1646 take precedence)} · CPC title