Patents Examined by R. Barrerg
  • Patent number: 5298875
    Abstract: Apparatus for levitating a magnetic body. The apparatus includes a structure (10) comprised of a material that is superconductive below a critical temperature. The structure includes at least one Josephson junction device (14) for passing a variable current therethrough for controlling an amount of magnetic flux penetration into the structure. At a first current flow magnetic flux generated by a magnetic body (12) is excluded from the structure and the magnetic body is levitated above a surface of the structure. At a second current flow the magnetic flux penetrates the structure, causing he levitating magnetic body to approach a surface of the structure. Controllably applying a current to an array (30) of superconductive tiles (34), forming Josephson tunnel junctions (38), is shown to provide a lateral motion of, or a rotation of, the magnetic body relative to the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1994
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert B. Laibowitz, Gordon J. Lasher