Pointing apparatuses and methods involving magnetic-contrast bearings

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020333584-A1
Application number	US-202016854488-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 21, 2020
Priority date	Apr 22, 2019
Publication date	Oct 22, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

An example apparatus includes a pointing structure, a magnetic-contrast bearing, and drive circuitry. The magnetic-contrast bearing is coupled to the pointing structure, and includes a magnetic array and a substrate that is arranged with the magnetic array. The drive circuitry generates a magnetic field that interacts with the magnetic array and causes control of a pointing position of the pointing structure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An apparatus comprising:
a pointing structure; a magnetic-contrast bearing coupled to the pointing structure, the bearing including:
a magnetic array; and
a substrate arranged with the magnetic array; and
drive circuitry to generate a magnetic field that interacts with the magnetic array and causes control of a pointing position of the pointing structure.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the drive circuitry is to control motion of the pointing structure, the control of motion and pointing position including tilting and rotating the position of the pointing structure via the magnetic array coupled thereto.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the substrate is formed of a diamagnetic material that repels the magnetic array and causes passive levitation of the pointing structure.

4 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the diamagnetic material is a material selected from a group consisting of: pyrolytic graphite, glass, metal, semiconductor, water, plastics, and combinations thereof.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further including a magnetic fluid arranged about at least a portion of the magnetic-contrast bearing, the magnetic fluid to cause passive levitation of the pointing structure.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic-contrast bearing is a planar magnetic bearing.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further including a semi-spherical substrate coupled to the magnetic array and the pointing structure, wherein the magnetic array includes a plurality of magnets arranged about a convex-curved surface of the semi-spherical substrate.

8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the substrate has a concave semi-spherical surface facing the magnetic array, the apparatus further including a semi-spherical substrate coupled to the magnetic array and the pointing structure, wherein the magnetic array is arranged about a curved surface of the semi-spherical substrate, and the magnetic-contrast bearing is a semi-spherical magnetic bearing.

9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the drive circuitry includes an array of traces or coils that are arranged with the magnetic array and a power source to provide current to the array of traces or coils, and which generates the magnetic field.

10 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further including processing circuitry coupled to the drive circuitry, the processing circuitry to provide signals to the drive circuitry to control motion of the pointing structure in x, y, and z directions.

11 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further including a light source to output a beam of light toward the pointing structure, the pointing structure including a reflective surface to reflect the beam of light, and the change in pointing position of the pointing structure causes the reflected beam of light to output at a particular angle and to a target location.

12 . An apparatus comprising:
a magnetic-contrast bearing including:
a magnetic array; and
a substrate arranged with the magnetic array;
magnetic fluid surrounding at least a portion of the magnetic-contrast bearing; a pointing structure coupled to the magnetic-contrast bearing such that the pointing structure levitates; and drive circuitry coupled to the magnetic-contrast bearing to point the pointing structure in a particular direction via controlled movement of the magnetic-contrast bearing.

13 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the drive circuitry is to control movement of the magnetic-contrast bearing includes generating a magnetic field that interacts with the magnetic array and causes control of a pointing position of the levitated pointing structure.

14 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the drive circuitry is coupled to the magnetic-contrast bearing to rotate the pointing structure over a 2π steradian (sr) field of regard.

15 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the magnetic-contrast bearing is to cause levitation of the pointing structure in response to the apparatus being in reduced or no power mode.

16 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the pointing structure is selected from the group consisting of: a reflective surface, a light source, an antenna, a magnet, an optical phase array, fiber optics, a receiver circuit, and a combination thereof.

17 . A method comprising:
levitating a pointing structure via interaction between a magnetic array and a substrate arranged with the magnetic array, wherein the magnetic array and the substrate form a magnetic-contrast bearing; generating a magnetic field that interacts with the magnetic array and causes control of a pointing position of the levitated pointing structure; and pointing the pointing structure in a particular direction based on the pointing position.

18 . The method of claim 17 , the method further including, in response to the control of the pointing position, providing a signal in the particular direction using the pointing structure in the pointing position.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the signal includes a reflected beam of light and the method further outputting a beam of light toward the pointing structure, and, in response, reflecting the beam of light via the pointing structure.

20 . The method of claim 17 , wherein generating the magnetic field includes providing signals to drive circuitry coupled to the magnetic-contrast bearing to control motion of the pointing structure in at least one of an x direction, a y direction, and a z direction.

Assignees

• Stanford Res Inst Int

Inventors

• Pelrine Ronald
• Heidel Nicole
• Wodin Jesse
• Wong-Foy Annjoe

Classifications

• G02B26/085 Primary

  the reflecting means being moved or deformed by electromagnetic means · CPC title

• G02B26/101

  with both horizontal and vertical deflecting means, e.g. raster or XY scanners (colour television using laser beams scanning a display screen H04N9/3129) · CPC title

• H02N15/00

  Holding or levitation devices using magnetic attraction or repulsion, not otherwise provided for (electric or magnetic devices for holding work on machine tools B23Q3/15 {; monorail vehicle propulsion or suspension B60L13/00}; sliding or levitation devices for railway systems B61B13/08; material handling devices associated with conveyors incorporating devices with electrostatic or magnetic grippers B65G47/92; separating thin or filamentary articles from piles using magnetic force B65H3/16; delivering thin or filamentary articles from magnetic holders by air blast or suction B65H29/24; bearings using magnetic or electric supporting means F16C32/04; relieving bearing loads using magnetic means F16C39/06; magnets H01F7/00; dynamo-electric clutches or brakes H02K49/00 {; electric furnaces with simultaneous levitation and heating H05B6/32}) · CPC title

• H04B10/27

  Arrangements for networking · CPC title