Abstract: A semi-flexible magnetic structure includes a flexible layer and a plurality of magnetizable elements adhered to the flexible layer such that there is a spacing between magnetizable elements of the plurality of magnetizable elements, where each magnetizable element of said plurality of magnetizable elements is a solid piece of magnetizable material. The spacing between magnetizable elements enables the semi-flexible magnetic structure to bend around an object. The semi-flexible magnetic structure can be being magnetized to have a plurality of magnetic sources in a polarity pattern.

Abstract: Magnetic structure production may relate, by way of example but not limitation, to methods, systems, etc. for producing magnetic structures by printing magnetic pixels (aka maxels) into a magnetizable material. Disclosed herein is production of magnetic structures having, for example: maxels of varying shapes, maxels with different positioning, individual maxels with different properties, maxel patterns having different magnetic field characteristics, combinations thereof, and so forth. In certain example implementations disclosed herein, a second maxel may be printed such that it partially overwrites a first maxel to produce a magnetic structure having overlapping maxels. In certain example implementations disclosed herein, a magnetic printer may include a print head comprising multiple parts and having various properties. In certain example implementations disclosed herein, various techniques for using a magnetic printer may be employed to produce different magnetic structures.

Abstract: A system and method for tailoring a polarity transition of a magnetic structure is provided that involves printing one or more reinforcing maxels alongside one side or both sides of a polarity transition boundary between a first polarity region of the magnetic structure having a first polarity and a second polarity region of the magnetic structure having a second polarity, where printing reinforcing maxels alongside the polarity transition boundary improves the magnetic field characteristics of the polarity transition.

Abstract: An electrical system includes an electrical adapter and a stackable electrical adapter. The electrical adapter includes at least one of an electrical plug or an Edison screw base configured to receive a primary voltage, a voltage converter circuit configured to convert the primary voltage to the secondary voltage, and a first electrical connector part configured to be detachably coupled to a second electrical connector part of an electrical fixture configured to be powered by the secondary voltage. The stackable electrical adapter is configured to be powered by the secondary voltage, the first stackable electrical adapter having a first side and a second side opposite the first side.

Abstract: An improved system and method for moving an object includes a first correlated magnetic structure associated with a first object and a second correlated magnetic structure associated with a second object. The first and second correlated magnetic structures are complementary coded to achieve a peak attractive tensile force and a peak shear force when their code modulos are aligned thereby enabling magnetic attachment of the two objects whereby movement of one object causes movement of the other object as if the two objects were one object. Applying an amount of torque to one correlated magnetic structures greater than a torque threshold causes misalignment and decorrelation of the code modulos enabling detachment of the two objects. The number, location, and coding of the correlated magnetic structures can be selected to achieve specific torque characteristics, tensile force characteristics, and shear force characteristics.

Abstract: A system for controlling flux of a multi-pole magnetic structure includes a movable magnetic circuit where the position of the moveable magnetic circuit relative to the multi-pole magnetic structure determines the flux emitted by the magnetic structure. The moveable magnetic circuit may be configured to have a tipping movement, a translational movement, and/or a rotational movement relative to the multi-pole magnetic structure.

Abstract: A magnetizer for magnetizing magnetic field sources into a magnetizable material includes a magnetization subsystem, a motion control system, and a magnetizer control system. The magnetization subsystem includes a magnetizing inductor comprising a plurality of flat conductor layers and a plurality of insulating layers that form multiple turns of a coil having an aperture and a magnetization circuitry for applying a current to the magnetizing inductor to generate a magnetizing field having a high magnetic flux density in and near said aperture that is sufficient to magnetize said magnetizable material and having a low magnetic flux density elsewhere that is insufficient to substantially magnetize said magnetizable material.

Abstract: A magnetic hinge system includes a first component that is associated with a first object, a second component that is associated with a second object, and an axle. The first component includes a first hole and a first magnetic structure having a first plurality of magnetic source regions having a first polarity pattern. The second component includes a second hole and a second magnetic structure having a second plurality of magnetic source regions having a second polarity pattern complementary to said first polarity pattern. The axle can be inserted into the first hole and the second hole such that the first and second magnetic structures face each other across an interface boundary, where the first polarity pattern and the second polarity pattern are in accordance with a cyclic implementation of a code of length N that has a cyclic correlation function having a single peak and a plurality of off peaks per code modulo.

Abstract: Systems and methods for arranging magnetic sources for producing field patterns having high gradients for precision positioning, position sensing, and pulse generation. Magnetic fields may be arranged in accordance with codes having a maximum positive cross correlation and a maximum negative cross correlation value in proximity in the correlation function, thereby producing a high gradient slope corresponding to a high gradient force or signal associated with the magnetic structure. Various codes for doublet, triplet, and quad peak patterns are disclosed. Applications include force and torque pattern generators. A variation including magnetic sensors is disclosed for precision position sensing. The forces or sensor outputs may have a precision zero crossing between two adjacent and opposite maximum correlation peaks.

Abstract: An improved magnetic attachment is disclosed including a mechanical constraining mechanism and a magnetic structure comprising a plurality of magnetic sources in a polarity pattern. The magnetic structure has an interface boundary when magnetically interfacing with a complementary magnetic structure. The mechanical constraining mechanism constrains the relative motion of the magnetic structure to one or more degrees of freedom.

Abstract: A shunt plate is provided that is associated with a first side of a multi-pole magnetic structure. The shunt plate provides a magnetic short between opposite polarity magnetic sources on the first side of said magnetic structure, the magnetic short causing a magnetic flux of said opposite polarity magnetic sources to be routed from said first side of the magnetic structure through said magnetic structure to the second side of said magnetic structure. The thickness of the shunt plate is selected by determining the integrated flux across a magnetic source of the magnetic structure such that the corresponding flux density in the shunt plate does not substantially exceed the flux density saturation level of a cross section of the shunt plate.

Abstract: A system is described herein for monitoring the movement of one or more magnets located external to a device using the vector data from one or more magnetic vector sensors incorporated in the device to determine a position and/or to communicate information

Abstract: An improved magnetic attachment system involves a female component that is associated with a first object and a male component that is associated with a second object. The female component includes a hole and a first magnetic structure having a first plurality of magnetic source regions having a first polarity pattern. The male component includes a peg that can be inserted into the hole and a second magnetic structure having a second plurality of magnetic source regions having a second polarity pattern complementary to said first polarity pattern. The male and female component are configured such that when the peg is inserted into the hole the first and second magnetic structures face each other across an interface boundary enabling magnetic attachment of the first object to the second object, where while the peg remains inserted within the hole the male component can be rotated relative to the female component but translational movement of the male component relative to the female component is constrained.

Abstract: An improved magnetic system includes a first magnetic structure comprising a first plurality of magnetic sources having a first polarity pattern, a second magnetic structure comprising a second plurality of magnetic sources having a second polarity pattern and at least one mechanical support structure. The first magnetic structure is movable relative to the second magnetic structure. The first and second magnetic structures are engaged and produce a peak spatial force when in a correlated state where the first and second polarity patterns are aligned. The first and second magnetic structures produce an off peak spatial force when in a decorrelated state where the first and second polarity patterns are misaligned, w off peak spatial force resulting from cancellation of at least one repel force by at least one attract force.

Abstract: A stacked field emission system having an outer surface includes at least three field emission structure layers having a stacked relationship that defines a field characteristic of the outer surface. The mechanisms holds the at least three field emission structure layers such that a plurality of interface surfaces of the at least three field emission structure layers correspond to a plurality of interface boundaries between adjacent field emission structure layers. Each of the at least three field emission structure layers includes a plurality of field emission sources having positions, polarities, and field strengths in accordance with a spatial force function that corresponds to a relative alignment of the at least three field emission structures layers in the stacked relationship. A movement of at least one of the at least three field emission structures varies the field characteristics of the outer surface.

Abstract: An improved field emission system and method is provided that involves field emission structures having electric or magnetic field sources. The magnitudes, polarities, and positions of the magnetic or electric field sources are configured to have desirable correlation properties, which may be in accordance with a code. The correlation properties correspond to a desired spatial force function where spatial forces between field emission structures correspond to relative alignment, separation distance, and the spatial force function.

Abstract: Magnetic structure production may relate, by way of example but not limitation, to methods, systems, etc. for producing magnetic structures by printing magnetic pixels (aka maxels) into a magnetizable material. Disclosed herein is production of magnetic structures having, for example: maxels of varying shapes, maxels with different positioning, individual maxels with different properties, maxel patterns having different magnetic field characteristics, combinations thereof, and so forth. In certain example implementations disclosed herein, a second maxel may be printed such that it partially overwrites a first maxel to produce a magnetic structure having overlapping maxels. In certain example implementations disclosed herein, a magnetic printer may include a print head comprising multiple parts and having various properties. In certain example implementations disclosed herein, various techniques for using a magnetic printer may be employed to produce different magnetic structures.

Abstract: A system for producing magnetic structures includes multiple magnetizing circuits and multiple inductor coils used to magnetically print multiple magnetic sources onto multiple pieces of magnetizable material. The multiple pieces of magnetizable material may be moving on a motion control system. The multiple inductor coils may be configured on one or more gantries. The motion control system may be a conveyor system.

Abstract: An improved system and method for moving an object includes a first correlated magnetic structure associated with a first object and a second correlated magnetic structure associated with a second object. The first and second correlated magnetic structures are complementary coded to achieve a peak attractive tensile force and a peak shear force when their code modulos are aligned thereby enabling magnetic attachment of the two objects whereby movement of one object causes movement of the other object as if the two objects were one object. Applying an amount of torque to one correlated magnetic structures greater than a torque threshold causes misalignment and decorrelation of the code modulos enabling detachment of the two objects. The number, location, and coding of the correlated magnetic structures can be selected to achieve specific torque characteristics, tensile force characteristics, and shear force characteristics.

Abstract: An electrical adapter, the adapter including an Edison screw base configured to receive a primary voltage from a voltage source, a voltage converter circuit configured to convert the primary voltage to the secondary voltage, and a first electrical connector part configured to be detachably coupled to a second electrical connector part of an electrical fixture configured to be powered by the secondary voltage.