Linear magnetic drive system

Claim 2

In a system for providing a controlled relative movement between two members along first and second coordinate axes, the combination of: a first member having magnetic properties, a second member disposed relative to the first member for independent displacement between the first and second members along each of the first and second coordinate axes, first means disposed on the first member for producing a magnetic flux extending between the first and second members in a first direction, second means disposed on the first member and operatively coupled to the first means for introducing signals of particular characteristics to the first means to obtain a vectorial translation of the flux between the first and second members along the first axis, third means disposed on the first member for producing a magnetic flux extending between the first and second members in the first direction, and fourth means disposed on the first members and operatively coupled to the third means for introducing signals of the particular characteristics to the third means to obtain a vectorial translation of the flux between the first and second members along the second axes, and fifth means disposed on the second member and responsive to the vectorial translations of the magnetic fluxes produced by the first and third means for producing in such first and third means energy changes which cooperate with the magnetic flux respectively produced by the first and third means in producing forces on the first member relative to the second member to obtain movements of the second member relative to the first member along the first and second coordinate axes.

Claim 3

In the system set forth in claim 1, the fifth means being electrically conductive and being responsive to the vectorial translation of the magnetic flux produced by the first means for producing in the electrically conductive means an electrical current in a direction transverse to the first direction to cooperate with such magnetic flux in producing a fOrce on the first member relative to the second member along the first coordinate axis, the electrically conductive means being responsive to the magnetic flux produced by the third means for producing in the electrically conductive means an electrical current in a direction transverse to the second direction to cooperate with such magnetic flux in producing a force on the first member relative to the second member along the second coordinate axis.

Claim 4

In the system set forth in claim 1, the fifth means being responsive to the vectorial translation of the magnetic flux respectively produced by the first and third means to produce a residual state of magnetization in the second member for cooperating with such magnetic flux in producing a force on the first member relative to the second member to move the first member relative to the second member along the first and second coordinate axes.

Claim 5

In the system set forth in claim 1, sixth means cooperative with the fifth means and responsive to the energy changes produced in the fifth means for indicating the displacement of the first member relative to the second member along the first coordinate axis, and seventh means cooperative with the fifth means and responsive to the energy changes produced in the fifth means for indicating the displacement of the first member relative to the second member along the second coordinate axis.

Claim 6

In the system set forth in claim 2, means disposed on the first member and responsive to the eddy currents produced in the conductive means for inhibiting any rotation of the first member relative to the second member about an axis substantially normal to the surface defined by the first and second axes.

Claim 7

In the system set forth in claim 1, the first and second members being planar.

Claim 8

In a system for providing a controlled relative movement between two members along first and second coordinate axes, the combination of: a first member having magnetic properties, a second member disposed in contiguous relationship to the first member for independent displacement between the first and second members along each of the first and second coordinate axes, first means disposed on a particular one of the first and second members for producing a magnetic flux in a first direction in the first and second members, second means operatively coupled to the first means for introducing signals to the first means to obtain a vectorial translation of the magnetic flux between the first and second members along the first axis, third means disposed on the particular one of the first and second members for producing in the first and second members magnetic flux in the first direction, fourth means operatively coupled to the third means for introducing signals to the third means to obtain a vectorial translation of the magnetic flux between the first and second members along the second axis, and fifth means disposed on the other one of the first and second members and responsive to the vectorial translation of the magnetic flux along the first axis for producing in such member energy changes for cooperating with the magnetic flux produced by the first means to produce a force on the first member for providing a movement of the first member relative to the second member along the first coordinate axis, the fifth means being responsive to the vectorial translation of the magnetic flux along the second axis for producing in such member energy changes for cooperating with the magnetic flux produced by the third means to produce a force on the first member for providing a movement of the first member relative to the second member along the second coordinate axis.

Claim 9

In a system for providing a controlled relative movement between two members along first and second coordinate axes, the combination of: a first member having magnetic properties, a second member disposed in contiguous relationship to the first member for independent displacement between the first and second members along each of the first and second coordinate axes, first means disposed on a particular one of the first and second members for producing a magnetic flux in a first direction in the first and second members, second means operatively coupled to the first means for introducing signals to the first means to obtain a vectorial translation of the magnetic flux between the first and second members along the first axis, third means disposed on the particular one of the first and second members for producing in the first and second members magnetic flux in the first direction, fourth means operatively coupled to the third means for introducing signals to the third means to obtain a vectorial translation of the magnetic flux between the first and second members along the second axis, and fifth means disposed on the other one of the first and second members and responsive to the vectorial translation of the magnetic flux along the first axis for producing in such member energy changes for cooperating with the magnetic flux produced by the first means to produce a force on the first member for providing a movement of the first member relative to the second member along the first coordinate axis, the fifth means being responsive to the vectorial translation of the magnetic flux along the second axis for producing in such member energy changes for cooperating with the magnetic flux produced by the third means to produce a force on the first member for providing a movement of the first member relative to the second member along the second coordinate axis.

Claim 10

In the system set forth in claim 7, the fifth means being electrically conductive and being disposed on the other one of the first and second members and responsive to the vectorial translations of the magnetic flux produced by the first means for producing in such member eddy currents in a direction for cooperating with the magnetic flux produced by the first means to produce a force on the particular member for providing a movement of the particular member relative to the other member along the first coordinate axis, the fifth means also being responsive to the vectorial translation of the magnetic flux produced by the third means for producing in such member eddy currents in a direction for cooperation with the magnetic flux produced by the third means to produce a force on the particular member for providing a movement of the particular member relative to the other member along the second coordinate axis.

Claim 11

In the system set forth in claim 7, the fifth means being responsive to the vectorial translation of the magnetic flux produced by the first and third means to produce a magnetic hysteresis in the other member for cooperating with such magnetic flux in producing a force on the particular member relative to the other member along the first and second coordinate axes.

Claim 12

The system set forth in claim 8 wherein the electrically conductive means are in the form of a grid structure on the other member in contiguous relationship to the particular member and wherein means are movable with the particular member in contiguous relationship to the grid structure and interact with the grid structure to provide an indication of the displacement of the particular member relative to the other member along the pair of coordinate axes.

Claim 13

The system set forth in claim 10 wherein means are disposed on the particular member in contiguous relationship to the grid structure and are responsive to the eddy currents in the electrically conductive means to inhibit any rotation of the particular member relative to the other member about an axis substantially normal to a surface defined by the first and second axes.

Claim 14

The system set forth in claim 7 wherein the first and second members are planar.

Claim 15

In a system for providing a controlled relative movement between two members along a particular axis, the combination of: a first member having magnetic properties, a second member disposed in contiguous relationship to the first member for independent displacement between the first and second members along the particular axis, first means disposed on a particular one of the first and second members for producing magnetic flux in a first direction in the first and second members, second means operatively coupled to the first means for introducing signals to the first means to obtain a vectorial translation of the magnetic flux along the particular axis, third means disposed on the other one of the first and second members and responsive to the vectorial translation of the magnetic flux along the first axis for producing in the other member energy changes for cooperating with the magnetic flux to produce a force on the particular member relative to the other member to provide a movement of the particular member relative to the other member along the particular axis, and fourth means disposed on the particular one of the first and second members and responsive to the energy changes produced by the third means for inhibiting any rotation of the particular member relative to the other member about an axis substantially normal to a surface including the particular axis.

Claim 16

In a system for providing a controlled relative movement between two members along a particular axis, the combination of: a first member having magnetic properties, a second member disposed in contiguous relationship to the first member for independent displacement between the first and second members along the particular axis, first means disposed on a particular one of the first and second members for producing magnetic flux in a first direction in the first and second members, second means operatively coupled to the first means for introducing signals to the first means to obtain a vectorial translation of the magnetic flux along the particular axis, third means disposed on the other one of the first and second members and responsive to the vectorial translation of the magnetic flux along the first axis for producing in the other member energy changes for cooperating with the magnetic flux to produce a force on the particular member relative to the other member to provide a movement of the particular member relative to the other member along the particular axis, and fourth means disposed on the particular one of the first and second members and responsive to the energy changes produced by the third means for inhibiting any rotation of the particular member relative to the other member about an axis substantially normal to a surface including the particular axis.

Claim 17

In the system set forth in claim 13, the third means being electrically conductive and being responsive to the vectorial translation of the magnetic flux along the first axis for producing in the other member eddy currents for cooperating with the magnetic flux to produce a force on the particular member relative to the other member to provide a movement of the particular member relative to the other member along the particular axis, and the fourth means being responsive to the eddy currents produced by the third means for inhibiting any rotation of the particular member relative to the other member about an axis substantially Normal to a surface including the particular axis.

Claim 18

In the system set forth in claim 13, the third means having magnetic properties and being responsive to the vectorial translation of the magnetic flux along the first axis to produce in the other member a residual state of magnetization for cooperating with such magnetic flux in producing on the particular member relative to the other member a force to move the particular member relative to the other member along the first and second coordinate axes.

Claim 19

In a system as set forth in claim 14, the electrically conductive means being in the form of a grid and being disposed in contiguous relationship to the particular member and means disposed on the particular member and responsive to the movements of the particular member along the particular axis to provide an indication of the displacement of the particular member relative to the other member along the particular axis.

Claim 20

In a system as set forth in claim 16, the first and second members being planar and the grid constituting the electrically conductive means being defined by isolated magnetic portions and the indicating means having magnetic characteristics to respond to the isolated magnetic portions for indicating the displacement of the particular member relative to the other member along the particular axis.

Claim 21

In a system for providing a controlled relative movement between two members along a particular axis, the combination of: a first member having magnetic properties, a second member disposed relative to the first member for independent displacement between the first and second members along the particular axis, first means disposed on the first member for producing a magnetic flux between the members in a first direction transverse to the particular axis, the magnetic flux being vectorially translatable along the first axis, second means disposed on the second member and defining a grid interrelationship with the magnetizable properties of the first member, the second means being responsive to the vectorial translation of the magnetic flux produced by the first means for producing in the second means energy changes in a direction for cooperating with the magnetic flux from the first means in producing a force on the first member relative to the second member to provide a movement of the first member relative to the second member along the particular axis, third means operatively coupled to the first means for selectively energizing the first means to obtain a controlled vectorial translation of the magnetic flux along the particular axis, and fourth means movable with the first member and responsive to the grid interrelationship between the second means and the magnetizable properties of the first member for providing an indication of the displacement of the first member relative to the second member along the particular axis.

Claim 22

In a system for providing a controlled relative movement between two members along a particular axis, the combination of: a first member having magnetic properties, a second member disposed relative to the first member for independent displacement between the first and second members along the particular axis, first means disposed on the first member for producing a magnetic flux between the members in a first direction transverse to the particular axis, the magnetic flux being vectorially translatable along the first axis, second means disposed on the second member and defining a grid interrelationship with the magnetizable properties of the first member, the second means being responsive to the vectorial translation of the magnetic flux produced by the first means for producing in the second means energy changes in a direction for cooperating with the magnetic flux from the first means in producing a force on the first member relative to the second member to provide a movement of the first member relative to the second member along the particular axis, third means operatively coupled to the first means for selectively energizing the first means to obtain a controlled vectorial translation of the magnetic flux along the particular axis, and fourth means movable with the first member and responsive to the grid interrelationship between the second means and the magnetizable properties of the first member for providing an indication of the displacement of the first member relative to the second member along the particular axis.

Claim 23

In the system set forth in claim 18, the second means being electrically conductive and being responsive to the vectorial translation of the magnetic flux produced by the first means for producing in the second means an electrical current in a direction for cooperating with the magnetic flux from the first means in producing a force on the first member relative to the second member to produce a movement of the first member relative to the second member along the particular axis.

Claim 24

In the system set forth in claim 18, the second means being responsive to the vectorial translation of the magnetic flux produced by the first means to produce in the second means a magnetic hysteresis for cooperating with such magnetic flux in producing a force on the first member relative to the second member to move the first member relative to the second member along the particular axis.

Claim 25

In the system set forth in claim 18, the first and second members being planar and means disposed on the first member and responsive to the energy changes produced in the second meAns for inhibiting any rotation of the first member relative to the second member about an axis substantially normal to a surface defined by the particular axis.

Claim 26

In the system set forth in claim 19, the first and second members being planar and means disposed on the first member and responsive to the electrical current produced in the second means for inhibiting any rotation of the first member relative to the second member about an axis substantially normal to a surface defined by the particular axis.

Claim 27

In the system set forth in claim 21, means for providing signals representing desired displacements of the first member relative to the second member along the particular axis and servo means responsive to the signals representing the desired displacements and the indications of the displacement of the first member relative to the second member along the particular axis for adjusting the position of the first member relative to the second member along the particular axis to provide a correspondence between the desired displacement and the actual displacement of the first member relative to the second member along the particular axis.

Claim 28

In a system for providing a controlled relative movement between two members along first and second coordinate axes, the combination of: a first member having magnetic properties, a second member disposed relative to the first member for independent displacement between the first and second members along each of the first and second coordinate axes, first means including first windings disposed on the first member for producing a magnetic flux extending between the first and second members in a first direction transverse to the first coordinate axis, the magnetic flux being vectorially translatable along the first coordinate axis, second means including second windings disposed on the first member for producing a magnetic flux extending between the first and second members in the first direction, the magnetic flux being vectorially translatable along the second coordinate axis, electrically conductive means disposed on the second member and interrupted by discrete segments and responsive to the vectorial translation along the first axis of magnetic flux produced by the first means for producing in the conductive means eddy currents to cooperate with such magnetic flux in producing a movement of the second member relative to the first member along the first coordinate axis, the electrically conductive means being responsive to the vectorial translation along the second axis of the magnetic flux produced by the second means for producing in the conductive means eddy currents to cooperate with such magnetic flux in producing a movement of the second member relative to the first member along the second coordinate axis, the eddy currents in the conductive means in turn producing magnetic flux, third means including third windings disposed on the first member for responding to the magnetic flux produced by the eddy currents to indicate the displacement of the first member relative to the second member along the first coordinate axis, fourth means including fourth windings disposed on the first member for responding to the magnetic flux produced by the eddy currents to indicate the displacement of the first member relative to the second member along the second coordinate axis, fifth means operatively coupled to the first means for introducing signals to the first means to obtain a vectorial translation along the first axis of the magnetic flux produced by the first means, and sixth means operatively coupled to the second means for introducing signals to the second means to obtain a vectorial translation along the second axis of the magnetic flux produced by the second means.

Claim 29

In a system for providing a controlled relative movement between two members along first and second coordinate axes, the combination of: a first member having magnetic properties, a second member disposed relative to the first member for independent displacement between the first and second members along each of the first and second coordinate axes, first means including first windings disposed on the first member for producing a magnetic flux extending between the first and second members in a first direction transverse to the first coordinate axis, the magnetic flux being vectorially translatable along the first coordinate axis, second means including second windings disposed on the first member for producing a magnetic flux extending between the first and second members in the first direction, the magnetic flux being vectorially translatable along the second coordinate axis, electrically conductive means disposed on the second member and interrupted by discrete segments and responsive to the vectorial translation along the first axis of magnetic flux produced by the first means for producing in the conductive means eddy currents to cooperate with such magnetic flux in producing a movement of the second member relative to the first member along the first coordinate axis, the electrically conductive means being responsive to the vectorial translation along the second axis of the magnetic flux produced by the second means for producing in the conductive means eddy currents to cooperate with such magnetic flux in producing a movement of the second member relative to the first member along the second coordinate axis, the eddy currents in the conductive means in turn producing magnetic flux, third means including third windings disposed on the first member for responding to the magnetic flux produced by the eddy currents to indicate the displacement of the first member relative to the second member along the first coordinate axis, fourth means including fourth windings disposed on the first member for responding to the magnetic flux produced by the eddy currents to indicate the displacement of the first member relative to the second member along the second coordinate axis, fifth means operatively coupled to the first means for introducing signals to the first means to obtain a vectorial translation along the first axis of the magnetic flux produced by the first means, and sixth means operatively coupled to the second means for introducing signals to the second means to obtain a vectorial translation along the second axis of the magnetic flux produced by the second means.

Claim 30

In the system set forth in claim 24, the third windings being connected in a relationship to inhibit any rotation of the first member relative to the second member about an axis substantially normAl to a surface defined by the first and second axes.

Claim 31

In the system set forth in claim 25, the first and second members being planar and the first member being disposed in displaced but contiguous relationship to the second member.

Claim 32

In the system set forth in claim 5, the means for inhibiting rotation of the first member relative to the second member being magnetic.

Claim 33

In a system for providing a controlled relative movement between two members along first and second coordinate axes, the combination of: a first member having magnetic properties, a second member disposed relative to the first member for independent displacement between the first and second members along each of the first and second coordinate axes, first means disposed on the first member and energizable for producing a magnetic flux extending between the first and second members in a first direction transverse to the first coordinate axis, second means disposed on the first member in spaced relationship to the first means along the first axis and energizable for producing a magnetic flux extending between the first and second members in the first direction, third means disposed on the first member and energizable for producing a magnetic flux extending between the first and second members in the first direction, fourth means disposed on the first member in spaced relationship to the third means along the second means and energizable for producing a magnetic flux extending between the first and second members in the first direction, fifth means operatively coupled to the first and second means for introducing signals to the first and second means to obtain a vectorial translation along the first axis of the magnetic flux produced by the first and second means, sixth means operatively coupled to the third and fourth means for introducing signals to the third and fourth means to obtain a vectorial translation along the second axis of the magnetic flux produced by the third and fourth means, seventh means disposed on the first member at the position of the first means for producing signals representing the positioning of the first means relative to the second member along the first coordinate axis, eighth means disposed on the first member at the position of the second means for producing signals representing the positioning of the second means relative to the second member along the first coordinate axis, ninth means disposed on the second member and responsive to the vectorial translation along the first axis of the magnetic fluxes produced by the first and second means for producing in such ninth means energy changes which cooperate with such magnetic flux in producing a translational force on the first member relative to the second member along the first axis, the ninth means being responsive to the vectorial translation along the second axis of the magnetic fluxes produced by the third and fourth means for producing in such ninth means energy changes which cooperate with such magnetic flux in producing a translational force on the first member relative to the second member along the second axis, and tenth means responsive to the signals produced by the seventh and eighth means for combining these signals in a first particular relationship and introducing these signals to the fifth means to obtain the energizings of the first and second means for a linear movement of the first member relative to the second member and for combining these signals in a second particular relationship and introducing these signals to the fifth means to obtain an energizing of the first and second means for a rotary movement of the first member relative to the second member about an axis substantially perpendicular to a surface defined by the first and second coordinate axes.

Claim 34

In a system for providing a controlled relative movement between two members along first and second coordinate axes, the combination of: a first member having magnetic properties, a second member disposed relative to the first member for independent displacement between the first and second members along each of the first and second coordinate axes, first means disposed on the first member and energizable for producing a magnetic flux extending between the first and second members in a first direction transverse to the first coordinate axis, second means disposed on the first member in spaced relationship to the first means along the first axis and energizable for producing a magnetic flux extending between the first and second members in the first direction, third means disposed on the first member and energizable for producing a magnetic flux extending between the first and second members in the first direction, fourth means disposed on the first member in spaced relationship to the third means along the second means and energizable for producing a magnetic flux extending between the first and second members in the first direction, fifth means operatively coupled to the first and second means for introducing signals to the first and second means to obtain a vectorial translation along the first axis of the magnetic flux produced by the first and second means, sixth means operatively coupled to the third and fourth means for introducing signals to the third and fourth means to obtain a vectorial translation along the second axis of the magnetic flux produced by the third and fourth means, seventh means disposed on the first member at the position of the first means for producing signals representing the positioning of the first means relative to the second member along the first coordinate axis, eighth means disposed on the first member at the position of the second means for producing signals representing the positioning of the second means relative to the second member along the first coordinate axis, ninth means disposed on the second member and responsive to the vectorial translation along the first axis of the magnetic fluxes produced by the first and second means for producing in such ninth means energy changes which cooperate with such magnetic flux in producing a translational force on the first member relative to the second member along the first axis, the ninth means being responsive to the vectorial translation along the second axis of the magnetic fluxes produced by the third and fourth means for producing in such ninth means energy changes which cooperate with such magnetic flux in producing a translational force on the first member relative to the second member along the second axis, and tenth means responsive to the signals produced by the seventh and eighth means for combining these signals in a first particular relationship and introducing these signals to the fifth means to obtain the energizings of the first and second means for a linear movement of the first member relative to the second member and for combining these signals in a second particular relationship and introducing these signals to the fifth means to obtain an energizing of the first and second means for a rotary movement of the first member relative to the second member about an axis substantially perpendicular to a surface defined by the first and second coordinate axes.

Claim 35

In the system set forth in claim 28, the ninth means being electrically conductive and being responsive to the vectorial translation along the first axis of the magnetIc flux produced by the first and second means for producing in the ninth means a current in a direction transverse to the first direction to cooperate with such magnetic flux in producing a force on the first member relative to the second member along the first coordinate axis, the ninth means being responsive to the vectorial translation along the second axis of the magnetic flux produced by the third and fourth means for producing in the ninth means a current in a direction transverse to the first direction to cooperate with such magnetic flux in producing a force on the first member relative to the second member along the second coordinate axis.

Claim 36

In the system set forth in claim 29, the seventh means constituting pairs of means spaced from each other to produce quadrature-related signals and the eighth means constituting pairs of means spaced from each other to produce quadrature-related signals and the tenth means combining the quadrature-related signals from the fourth and fifth means in the first and second particular relationships.

Claim 37

In the system set forth in claim 16, the electrically conductive means having electrically conductive portions separated by electrically non-conductive portions and the indicating means disposed on the particular member being in the form of windings disposed in contiguous relationship to the electrically conductive means to have voltages induced in the windings in accordance with the flow of eddy currents through the electrically conductive means.

Claim 38

The combination set forth in claim 31, including, means for selectively energizing the first and second means to obtain a rotation of the second member relative to the first member about an axis substantially normal to a surface defined by the first and second directions.

Claim 39

The combination set forth in claim 1, including, sixth means responsive to the vectorial translation of the magnetic forces produced by the first and second means for producing in such means energy changes which cooperate with such magnetic flux in producing rotational forces on the first member relative to the second member about an axis substantially normal to a surface defined by the first and second coordinate axes.