Magnetic levitation apparatus and method

Claim 1

An apparatus for levitating objects in a magnetic field, comprising: at least one electromagnet positioned in alignment with an object, said electromagnet having a core centrally disposed within, said core having one end positioned adjacent an outer surface of said electromagnet; at least one electrical power coupling for connecting said electromagnet to an electrical power source; a first magnetic field sensor disposed adjacent said one core end, and a second magnetic field sensor mounted adjacent an opposite core end and in an opposite orientation to said first sensor with respect to magnetic fields generated by said electromagnet, said sensors capable of providing output signals proportional to a sensed magnetic field level; at least one magnet secured to the object to be levitated in alignment with said core and having a field strength sufficient to move said object relative to said core; summing means for summing said sensor output signals; reference means for generating a reference voltage signal; comparator mean connected to said summing means and reference means for comparing respective voltages generated by said summing and reference means; a field strength controller connected in series with said power source for adjusting electrical power delivered to said electromagnet in response to differences detected by said comparator means.

Claim 2

An apparatus for levitating objects in a magnetic field, comprising: at least one electromagnet positioned in alignment with an object, said electromagnet having a core centrally disposed within, said core having one end positioned adjacent an outer surface of said electromagnet; at least one electrical power coupling for connecting said electromagnet to an electrical power source; a first magnetic field sensor disposed adjacent said one core end, and a second magnetic field sensor mounted adjacent an opposite core end and in an opposite orientation to said first sensor with respect to magnetic fields generated by said electromagnet, said sensors capable of providing output signals proportional to a sensed magnetic field level; at least one magnet secured to the object to be levitated in alignment with said core and having a field strength sufficient to move said object relative to said core; summing means for summing said sensor output signals; reference means for generating a reference voltage signal; comparator mean connected to said summing means and reference means for comparing respective voltages generated by said summing and reference means; a field strength controller connected in series with said power source for adjusting electrical power delivered to said electromagnet in response to differences detected by said comparator means.

Claim 10

A method of levitating objects in a magnetic field, comprising the steps of: disposing an electromagnet adjacent to an object to be levitated, said electromagnet having a high field low retention core; mounting a magnet on said object, said magnet orientated to be attracted to said core of said electromagnet and having a field strength sufficient to lift said object toward said electromagnet; generating a pulse magnetic field using the electromagnet; mounting a first Linear Output Hall Effect transducer on a first end of said core with a fixed orientation with respect to magnetic fields generated by said electromagnetic; mounting a second transducer on an opposite end of said core from said first transducer and in an opposite orientation with respect to magnetic fields generated by said electromagnet; detecting voltages produced by said transducers; summing outputs of said transducers; generating a reference level voltage; comparing said reference level voltage to said summed transducer output; and adjusting said pulsed field in response to a detected difference.

Claim 11

A method of levitating objects in a magnetic field, comprising the steps of: disposing an electromagnet adjacent to an object to be levitated, said electromagnet having a high field low retention core; mounting a magnet on said object, said magnet orientated to be attracted to said core of said electromagnet and having a field strength sufficient to lift said object toward said electromagnet; generating a pulse magnetic field using the electromagnet; mounting a first Linear Output Hall Effect transducer on a first end of said core with a fixed orientation with respect to magnetic fields generated by said electromagnetic; mounting a second transducer on an opposite end of said core from said first transducer and in an opposite orientation with respect to magnetic fields generated by said electromagnet; detecting voltages produced by said transducers; summing outputs of said transducers; generating a reference level voltage; comparing said reference level voltage to said summed transducer output; and adjusting said pulsed field in response to a detected difference.

Claim 14

A method of levitating objects in a magnetic field, comprising the steps of: disposing an electromagnet adjacent an object to be levitated, said electromagnet having a core centrally disposed within it; securing a magnet to said object with its magnetic poles orientated for movement relative to said core, said magnet having a field strength sufficient for moving said object relative to said core; positioning a pair of magnetic field sensors one on each end of said core and in opposite orientations with respect to magnetic fields generated by said electromagnet; generating a pulsed magnetic field using the electromagnet; detecting output voltages produced by said magnetic field sensors; summing said second output voltages; generating a reference level voltage; comparing said summed sensor output voltages with said reference level voltage; and adjusting said pulsed magnetic field in response to differences between said compared voltages.

Claim 15

A method of levitating objects in a magnetic field, comprising the steps of: disposing an electromagnet adjacent an object to be levitated, said electromagnet having a core centrally disposed within it; securing a magnet to said object with its magnetic poles orientated for movement relative to said core, said magnet having a field strength sufficient for moving said object relative to said core; positioning a pair of magnetic field sensors one on each end of said core and in opposite orientations with respect to magnetic fields generated by said electromagnet; generating a pulsed magnetic field using the electromagnet; detecting output voltages produced by said magnetic field sensors; summing said second output voltages; generating a reference level voltage; comparing said summed sensor output voltages with said reference level voltage; and adjusting said pulsed magnetic field in response to differences between said compared voltages.