Abstract: A biaxial positioning device is described. The positioning device includes: a stationary base element; a first positioning element movably mounted relative to the base element along a first direction by means of a first guide device; a second positioning element movably mounted relative to the first positioning element along a second direction, which is different to the first direction, by means of a second guide device; a first drive for adjusting the first positioning element along the first direction of movement; and a second drive for adjusting the second positioning element along the second direction of movement. The stationary base element and the second positioning element each have a printed circuit board, and the first positioning element is a metal support element and is disposed between the base element and the second positioning element.

Abstract: The magnetic shelf system is a display. The magnetic shelf system is configured for use with one or more images. The magnetic shelf system is configured for use with one or more figurines. There is a one to one correspondence between the one or more images and the one or more figurines. Each individual image selected from the one or more images is associated with an individual figurine selected from the one or more figurines. The magnetic shelf display comprises a mounting shield, an image mount, and a figurine shelf. The image mount and the figurine shelf attach to the mounting shield. The image mount displays an individual image selected from the one or more images. The figurine shelf displays the individual figurine selected from the one or more figurines that is associated with the selected individual image.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for braking a translator of a linear multiphase electromagnetic machine. The system detects a fault event, and in response to detecting the fault event, causes the translator to brake using an electromagnetic technique. Braking includes causing the translator to stop reciprocating, by applying a force opposing an axial motion, which may occur within one cycle, or over many cycles. The fault event may include, for example, a fault associated with an encoder, a controller, an electrical component, a communications link, a phase, or a subsystem. The system includes a power electronics system configured to apply current to the phases. The system may use position information, current information, operating parameters, or a combination thereof to brake. Alternatively, the system need not use position information, current information, and operating parameters, and may brake the translator independent of such information.

Abstract: An XY macro-micro motion stage and a control method thereof based on end feedback. The XY macro-micro motion stage includes a fine-adjusting assembly, a macro-driving assembly and an XY position detecting device. The macro-driving assembly includes an X-direction macro-driving unit, a Y-direction macro-driving unit, an X-direction mounting plate and a Y-direction mounting plate. The XY position detecting device is configured to obtain its position on the X axis and Y axis.

Abstract: A linear-rotary actuator includes a base, a first linear motor, a second linear motor, a linear rail, and a ball screw. The first and second linear motors are disposed on the base and respectively have a coil assembly and a magnet backplane. The linear rail is located on the base. The ball screw includes a screw and a nut, wherein the screw is connected to the first linear motor, and the nut is connected to the second linear motor. When the screw and the nut are driven by the first and second linear motors to move along the linear rail in a synchronized manner, the linear-rotary actuator provides linear motion output. When the nut is driven by the second linear motor to move along the linear rail in an asynchronous manner with respect to the screw, the linear-rotary actuator provides rotary motion output.

Abstract: To provide a linear motor and device which suppress contact of a movable element with a core. The linear motor includes: a movable element having a permanent magnet; and an armature having magnetic pole teeth located in an up/down direction of the movable element, a winding wound around the magnetic pole teeth, and an arm part extending in a right/left direction of the movable element. The movable element and the armature make relative movement in a front/back direction. The linear motor includes a protective member which is located between the arm part and the movable element and in which a movable element facing surface facing the movable element is located inside an outer end of the winding.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to a propulsion system for an elevator having a first motor portion mounted to one of an object to be moved and a stationary structure and a second motor portion mounted to the other of the object to be moved and the stationary structure, the first motor portion having at least one coil.

Abstract: An electric machine 100 is provided, which includes: a stator 10 including a concentrated-winding armature winding 14; an inner rotor 30; and an outer rotor 20, the outer rotor 20 having a plurality of circumferentially spaced magnetic path forming elements 21, the inner rotor 30 having a plurality of rotor teeth 32, which are arranged side by side in the circumferential direction, wound by induction coils 34 and field coils 35; and a rectifier circuit 36 configured to rectify induced current generated by each of induction coils to DC current.

Abstract: An actuator includes a first stator with four first poles and a second stator with four second poles aligned with the four first poles. A permanent magnet is attached to the first stator and the second stator. Four moving armatures are positioned at terminal ends of the four first poles and the four second poles. Coils are wrapped around the first stator and the second stator. A controller selectively applies current to the coils to migrate flux created by the permanent magnet through selective poles of the first stator and the second stator and thereby alter the size of air gaps associated with the four moving armatures.

Abstract: A linear motor includes a stator having a core and an armature including coils respectively attached to the cores. A mover includes a shaft-like member having an opposed surface opposed to the armature and a field magneton made of a plurality of permanent magnets arrayed along the shaft-like member and fixed to the opposed surface. A frame member is configured to support the stator. A retaining member is attached to the frame member and configured to retain the shaft-like member movably in the longitudinal direction thereof such that the mover is movable in the first direction with respect to the stator.

Abstract: A linear motor that displaces a tubular body and a rod relative to each other in an axial direction includes teeth arranged in the axial direction so as to project from an inner peripheral surface of the tubular body, slots formed between adjacent teeth, coils disposed in the slots, and permanent magnets provided in the rod and arranged in the axial direction. The coils are constituted by one or more first phase coils, one or more second phase coils, and one or more third phase coils. The first, second, and third phase coils are provided in the axial direction such that the first phase coil and the second phase coil are disposed at respective ends the tubular body. A total number of coil windings of the third phase coils is set to be smaller than a total number of coil windings of the first phase coils and a total number of coil windings of the second phase coils.

Abstract: A primary part for a linear motor, a linear motor comprising such primary part, and a method for manufacturing such primary part. The primary part comprises a housing, a pre-casted unit having at least two coils which are mutually fixed in position by a solidified first casting material, a plurality of spacer elements disposed between the pre-casted unit and the housing, the plurality of spacer elements contacting the housing and ensuring a space between the housing and the pre-casted unit, and a solidified second casting material filling the space between the housing and the pre-casted unit. The solidified second casting material ensures a fixed connection of the housing to the pre-casted unit.

Abstract: An electromagnetic unit configured for being employed in a stator of an electric machine. The electromagnetic unit is constituted by a unitary solid body, and comprises a neck portion constituted by two end extensions sufficiently spaced apart for receiving therein a portion of a driven component of the electrical machine. The end extensions define therebetween a symmetry axis. The electromagnetic unit further comprises a frame extending from the end extensions and lying on the same or parallel plane as that of the end extensions. The frame has a first frame portion extending to one side of the symmetry axis to an extent W1, and a second frame portion extending to the other side of the symmetry axis to an extent W2<W1. W1, W2 are measured perpendicular to the symmetry axis, and wherein at least the first frame portion is configured for receiving therein a coil of the electrical machine.

Abstract: An interior magnet linear induction motor includes an armature and a line of inductor teeth. The armature includes coils arranged between a plurality of teeth, and the line of inductor teeth is arranged so as to face the armature and includes a plurality of tooth portions arranged at a constant pitch in a linear stroke direction. An end portion of each of the plurality of teeth has a shape such that magnetoresistance of the tooth increases toward the root side. At least one permanent magnet is arranged at an end portion of each of the plurality of teeth and adjacent permanent magnets that are arranged at different teeth are magnetized such that opposite magnetic poles face each other.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a curvilinear track section including: forming a curvilinear track portion; cutting out a first slot grouping from an exterior edge of the curvilinear track portion, wherein the first slot grouping is at a first predetermined angle; cutting out a second slot grouping from the exterior edge of the curvilinear track portion, wherein the second slot grouping is at a second predetermined angle; and inserting motor units into the first and second slot groupings. A curvilinear track section having: a curvilinear track portion; a first slot grouping formed in an exterior edge of the curvilinear track portion, wherein the first slot grouping is at a predetermined angle relative to the exterior edge; a second slot grouping formed in the exterior edge of the curvilinear track portion, wherein the second slot grouping is at a second predetermined angle; and motor units inserted into the first and second slot groupings.

Abstract: A linear motor system includes a coil assembly, a movable magnet assembly, and a bearing assembly coupled to facilitate movement of one of the magnet assembly and the coil assembly with respect to the other. The bearing assembly includes a single bearing rail, wherein the single bearing rail is a separate component from the coil assembly and the magnet assembly and is mounted to the magnet assembly on a major face thereof opposite the major face thereof adjacent to which the coil assembly is disposed. The single bearing rail is narrower than the coil assembly and the magnet assembly. The single bearing rail includes a profiled rail configured to hold the magnet assembly on the coil assembly while allowing the magnet assembly to move along the coil assembly.

Abstract: A linear motor is capable of miniaturization of a device, sharing of effective magnetic fluxes between the magnetic poles adjacent to each other, and decreasing a magnetic attractive force acting between a mover and an armature, and a linear motor drive system. The linear motor includes a mover, formed by lining up a plurality of pieces of permanent magnets or magnetic materials while inversing a magnetization direction thereof, and an armature. First and second magnetic pole teeth are disposed in such a way as to vertically tuck the permanent magnet or the magnetic material. A magnetic material links the first magnetic pole tooth to the second magnetic pole tooth, thereby forming a path for a magnetic flux, and windings are disposed on the first magnetic pole tooth and the second magnetic pole tooth, respectively. At least two units of the armatures are lined to be linked to each other.

Abstract: A magnetic suspension planar motor comprises a structure of superconductor excitation. A primary base plate is in a shape of board. Armature windings are fixed on an air gap side of the primary base plate. A secondary base plate in a secondary structure is evenly divided into 2 h*2 h magnet cells. 2 h2 superconducting magnets are respectively fixed in the magnet cells on the secondary base plate, which resembles a checkerboard pattern. The superconducting magnets are adjacent to each other, neither in a horizontal direction nor in a vertical direction. The superconducting magnets are magnetized parallelly, and magnetization directions of the superconducting magnets are perpendicular to a surface on an air gap side of the secondary base plate. The superconducting magnets in a same row or column have same magnetization directions, and the superconducting magnets in adjacent rows columns have contrary magnetization directions. A cooling container shields all of the superconducting magnets.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein may take the form of an electromagnetic actuator that produces a haptic output during operation. Generally, an electromagnetic coil is wrapped around a central magnet array. A shaft passes through the central magnet array, such that the central array may move along the shaft when the proper force is applied. When a current passes through the electromagnetic coil, the coil generates a magnetic field. The coil is stationary with respect to a housing of the actuator, while the central magnet array may move along the shaft within the housing. Thus, excitation of the coil exerts a force on the central magnet array, which moves in response to that force. The direction of the current through the coil determines the direction of the magnetic field and thus the motion of the central magnet array.

Abstract: A diamagnetic levitation system for levitating users to a levitation surface upon which they may engage in sports and other activities under relatively weightless conditions in a dome-shaped structure. Superconducting magnet segments are connected in series to form a superconducting magnet segment assembly. A plurality of these superconducting magnet segment assemblies form the diamagnetic levitation system. The diamagnetic levitation system not only generates the levitation surface to which players or other users are levitated but also confines them within the boundaries of the levitation surface. The magnetic field strength of the diamagnetic levitation system is self-terminating so that spectators viewing the players are not affected by the levitating magnetic field.

Abstract: An optical module includes: a light source configured to emit diffusion light to tracks; one light receiving array and another light receiving array which are arranged across the light source in a width direction substantially vertical to the measurement direction; a light receiving array arranged between the one light receiving array and the light source, and configured to receive light which is reflected at the tracks having a first incremental pattern; and a light receiving array arranged between the another first light receiving array and the light source, and configured to receive light which is reflected at the tracks having a second incremental pattern which pitch is longer than a pitch of the first incremental pattern.

Abstract: A cover for a linear conveyer. The linear conveyer including a stationary module having a rail extending linearly and a stator including armature coils that is fixed to the rail, and a slider including a mover component having magnetic poles arranged linearly and a rail guide that is fitted on the rail. The slider sliding from an end surface of the rail along an elongated direction of the rail to be arranged on the rail and moving on the rail by a linear motor. The cover is attached to the slider to cover a magnetic pole face of the mover component of the slider. The cover has a thickness so as to come in contact with an end portion of the stationary module when the slider is mounted on the rail. The cover is detached from the slider by the contact with the end portion of the stationary module.

Abstract: A transverse flux electrical motor to produce motion from an input electric current, the electrical motor comprising: a static element having a plurality of magnets arranged in at least two rows and defining a path of movement; a magnetizable movable element having at least two openings, each opening being sized and shaped to receive a magnet from one of the rows of magnets, the movable element being movable along the path of movement such that the magnets of each row pass through one of the openings; and a plurality of windings positioned adjacent to the movable element, to receive the electric current and produce a magnetic flux circuit in the movable element and a force on the movable element in the direction of the path of movement; wherein the magnetic flux circuit in the movable element is transverse to the direction of force on the movable element.

Abstract: A multifunctional voice coil motor is disclosed, the motor including a rotor including a bobbin and a plurality of magnets arranged at a periphery of the bobbin, a stator including a housing wrapping each magnet and a plurality of coil blocks each arranged at a position corresponding to that of each magnet, a base coupled to the housing, and an elastic member elastically supporting the rotor.

Abstract: Levitation devices and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. A system configured in accordance with a particular embodiment includes an array of magnetic elements that have differently oriented magnetic fields and an inductive component. The inductive component provides a levitation force by magnetic communication with the magnetic fields of the array of magnetic elements. The inductive component includes an array of inductive elements, with individual inductive elements having a looped circuit that provides the levitation force. The inductive component also includes one or more switch element that controls current flow in one or more of the looped circuits responsive to translational motion between the inductive component and the array of magnetic elements.

Abstract: Provided herein is a linear motor in which a back yoke can readily be mounted onto a linear motor body. The linear motor body is surrounded or wrapped by the back yoke that works to form part of a magnetic circuit of the linear motor body. The back yoke assembly includes first and second divided assemblies. The first and second divided assemblies have the same dimension and shape, and are each formed by press working a silicon steel plate or a magnetic plate made of SPCC material.

Abstract: A linear motor includes an excitation unit including a shaft and a plurality of permanent magnets located in the shaft, and an armature including a plurality of coils surrounding the excitation unit and a magnetic cover covering the coils. The plurality of coils of the same phase group are continuously wound over a plurality of insulative bobbins. A tap conductor, a jumper wire between the coils, and a terminal wire of the coils in different phase groups that are continuously wound are separately disposed in different corner portions in the magnetic cover, and the terminal wire of each phase is connected to a circuit board.

Abstract: A voice coil motor (VCM) includes a moving unit, a fixing unit, an elastic plate, and a conducting pole. The moving unit includes a moving barrel and a coil assembly around the moving barrel. The coil assembly includes a connecting portion. The moving barrel defines a blind hole on an upper surface thereof, one end of a conducting pole being received in the blind hole. The fixing unit defines a through hole receiving the moving unit. The elastic plate is connected between the moving barrel and the fixing unit. The conducting pole provides a stable electrical connection between the elastic plate and the connecting portion notwithstanding movements of the moving barrel.

Abstract: A power generation system comprises a tube, a coil assembly, a magnetic assembly, and a direct detonation source. The coil assembly comprises at least one coil configured outside the tube. The magnetic assembly comprises at least one magnet inside the tube. The magnetic assembly is configured to move relative to the tube. The direct detonation source produces a detonation impulse that causes one of the tube or the magnetic assembly to move thereby generating power based on the movement of the magnet assembly relative to the coil assembly where the direct detonation source produces the detonation impulse at an ignition point without requiring a period of deflagration.

Abstract: A method of building structures using diamagnetically levitated manipulators includes depositing, with a first end effector attached to a first manipulator, a first adhesive at a first location on a first surface, picking up, with a second end effector, an article, moving the article to the surface, and placing the article on the adhesive on the surface.

Abstract: A system for propelling craft which is applicable in any environment. It employs an alternating magnetic field supplied by a coil. A parallel plate capacitor is situated so that the flux of the magnetic field flows between the plates of the capacitor. The capacitor is charged and discharged in synchronization with the alternating magnetic field. The changing magnetic field creates an electric field that applies a force to the charge in the plates which is then transferred to the body of the device. Any induced reactive electric force on the coil affects equally the protons and electrons in the wires of the coil creating the magnetic field, thus the force is non-reactive. At the same time, the changing electric field in the capacitor creates a magnetic field. The current in the coils and/or the surface current in the ferromagnetic material (if present) experiences a force from the magnetic field.

Abstract: A linear motor system includes a coil assembly, a movable magnet assembly, and a bearing assembly coupled to facilitate movement of one of the magnet assembly and the coil assembly with respect to the other. The bearing assembly includes a single bearing rail, wherein the single bearing rail is a separate component from the coil assembly and the magnet assembly and is mounted to the magnet assembly on a major face thereof opposite the major face thereof adjacent to which the coil assembly is disposed. The single bearing rail is narrower than the coil assembly and the magnet assembly. The single bearing rail includes a profiled rail configured to hold the magnet assembly on the coil assembly while allowing the magnet assembly to move along the coil assembly.

Abstract: A linear motor for vacuum environment includes a core and a housing. The core includes a plurality of cooling plates and a plurality of electrical coils sandwiched between the plurality of cooling plates. The core further includes a plurality of thermally conductive epoxy layers positioned between the plurality of electrical coils and the plurality of cooling plates, and a plurality of shims located between the plurality of electrical coils and the plurality of cooling plates to determine a distance between the plurality of electrical coils and the plurality of cooling plates. The core is assembled and tested independently and before being assembled in the housing. The housing encloses the core and includes a body, a plurality of feed throughs, and a lid.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electromechanical conversion system comprising: a fixed supporting structure, a movable element with respect to the fixed structure; at least one excitation coil; and at least one permanent magnet for generating an excitation magnetic field. The permanent magnet is integral with the movable element and the coil is integral with the fixed supporting structure. Moreover, a ferromagnetic circuit is provided fixed with respect to the structure and cooperating with the permanent magnet.

Abstract: The disclosure discloses a motor including a stator and a mover. The stator and the mover are arranged facing each other so as to be relatively movable via a magnetic air gap. Any one of the stator and the mover includes a yoke, a plurality of teeth, and a plurality of coils. The plurality of teeth are disposed protruding from the yoke to the magnetic air gap side. The plurality of coils are wound around the plurality of teeth. The plurality of coils include, for each phase, coil groups. Each of the coil groups includes a plurality of the coils. The coils are continuously arranged along the relative movement direction and are in-phase with each other and have the same wire diameter with each other. The coil group includes at least one the coil in which a coil width is larger than a teeth pitch.

Abstract: Cogging forces of a cylindrical linear motor are reduced with a linear motor having a rotor with eight poles and a stator with 36 toroidal coils (optionally multiples of eighteen toroidal coils) inserted into slots (N1 to N36) (or a multiple of 36 slots). The toroidal coils extend in the circumferential direction of the stator, are of equal size, and are arranged axially one behind the other. All the terminals of the toroidal coils are located in an axially extending connector channel. The two terminals of each coil are connected according to a specific connection scheme.

Abstract: A linear motor comprises an exciter that includes a plurality of permanent magnets in a shaft, an armature that surrounds the exciter and includes a plurality of coils, and a frame that houses the armature, wherein the armature houses the plurality of coils in a magnetic tube which has a linear opening.

Abstract: A vehicle utilizing the force produced between two magnetic fields, a generated magnetic field and an existing magnetic field (such as the Earth's magnetic field). The magnetic fields are provided at an angle. The vehicle comprises a platform, a partially shielded tube with an interior containing an electrically charged fluid and a circulator operable to move the charged fluid around the tube thereby generating a vehicle magnetic field. The vehicle magnetic field is generated at an angle as compared to the external magnetic field, which produces a force as the cross product of the number of charges in the charged fluid times the velocity of the charges, and the strength of the external magnetic field.

Abstract: An ironless magnetic motor includes a magnetic track and a forcer. The forcer is oriented in a magnetic field across a linear air gap of the magnetic track to generate a drive force parallel to the X drive axis and orthogonal to the Z levitation axis in response to a commutation drive current and to generate a force orthogonal to the X drive axis in response to a commutation coil current being superimposed on and phase shifted from the commutation drive current. To this end, a set of levitating turns of the coil parallel to the X drive axis and orthogonal to the Z levitation axis may be internal or external to magnetic field, and the forcer may be centered or offset from a center X-Z longitudinal axis (CP) of the linear air gap.

Abstract: A primary for a linear drive motor has a stage with stacks made from solid steel. Each stack has inner and outer teeth made that form a generally u-shaped cross-section for the stack. A magnet is disposed between the first and second stacks and a a coil wrapped between the first and second stacks. The stacks may be placed in a housing or may be formed as a housingless stage. The stacks and/or housing may be modified to selectively skew motor alignment to reduce motor cogging. The stacks may be contoured to follow various secondary forms. The stack inner and outer teeth lengths may be adjusted to help balance or optimize the magnetic circuit, to increase tooth surface area for increasing force, to allow more motor windings in the coil of the stack assembly, and to help locate the magnet and coil near the tooth surface.

Abstract: A coil unit and coil assembly for iron-less liar motor and the coil unit includes two vertical function sides and two axial non-function sides. The multiple units are alternatively connected to each other by inserting the vertical function side of one coil unit into the hollow portion of the adjacent coil unit so as to form a coil assembly. The width of the vertical function side is D1 and the distance between two respective insides of the two vertical function sides is D2. D2=m×D1+?L, wherein m representing the number of the vertical function sides of other coil units received in the vertical direction of the hollow portion. The ?L is the width of the gap which receives a separation plate between the two adjacent vertical function sides to increase the efficiency of dissipating heat or insulation when current passes through the coil assembly.

Abstract: A direct current motor comprises a magnet assembly having a pair of magnets for generating a magnetic field and a coil assembly located between the pair of magnets, the coil assembly and the magnet assembly being movable relative to each other. The coil assembly further comprises a first coil section and a second coil section which are electrically connected to each other. A current generator is electrically connected to the coil assembly and is operative to provide first, second and third currents. The first current is electrically connected directly to the first coil section and the second current is electrically connected directly to the second coil section whereas the third current is electrically connected to the first and second coil sections at a position connecting the first and second coil sections.

Abstract: A method of propelling a magnetic manipulator above a circuit substrate includes arranging a magnetic manipulator on a diamagnetic layer on a surface of the circuit substrate, generating drive signals using a controller, and applying the drive signals to at least two conductive traces arranged in the circuit substrate below the diamagnetic layer. A circuit substrate to control movement of a magnetic manipulator has a diamagnetic layer on a surface of the substrate, and conductive traces arranged under the diamagnetic layer, the conductive traces arranged in a parallel line pattern in at least two separate layers.

Abstract: The invention relates to a linear motor for a device for testing a printed circuit board. The linear motor comprises a stator and a rotor, wherein the stator comprises a row of permanent magnets arranged side by side and alternating in their polarity, and wherein the rotor is formed from a printed circuit board on which conductor paths form magnet coils arranged side by side and each having several windings, which magnet coils, when carrying a current, apply a linear acceleration force to the rotor, so that the rotor is moved relative to the stator, wherein the printed circuit board is folded, so that the several windings of each magnet coil are distributed among several layers of the printed circuit board, which are placed on top of one another by folding the printed circuit board.

Abstract: A salient-pole type linear motor comprises a housing, a stator, a mover and coil units. The stator comprises a middle stator core and two side stator cores which have a plurality of magnetic poles on the inner peripheral surface of the stator. A plurality of coil units is wound around the plurality of magnetic poles. By generating a current that passes through the coil units sequentially, magnetic fields are produced about the magnetic poles and an attractive force is produced to enable a reciprocal motion of the mover by magnetic attraction. The salient-pole type linear motor further connects two compressor cylinders at both ends thereof for compressing gases or draining fluids so as to form a reciprocal double piston compressor with a salient-pole type linear motor.

Abstract: The invention concerns a linear transverse flux electrical machine (TFEM) comprising a fixed portion; and a movable portion located in respect with the fixed portion, the movable portion including an alternate sequence of magnets and concentrators longitudinally disposed about a longitudinal axis thereof; the fixed portion including at least one phase, the at least one phase including a plurality of cores cooperating with a coil disposed about the longitudinal axis, each core including a skewed pair of poles to progressively electromagnetically engage an electromagnetic field of respective cooperating concentrators. The invention is also concerned with a plurality of elements located in desired positions in the TFEM and also with a rotatable TFEM.

Abstract: A system has a circuit substrate having conductive traces in a first layer of the substrate, the traces arranged in independent zones, a diamagnetic layer residing on a surface of the circuit substrate, at least two manipulators residing adjacent the magnetic layer, the manipulators being moveable within the zones, the manipulators being magnetic and controllable through magnetic fields, and a controller electrically coupled to the traces arranged to produce signals to generate magnetic fields.

Abstract: A moving device comprises at least a first element provided with main magnets and a second element provided with coils. The main magnets are arranged in a grid of rows and columns, wherein main magnets in adjacent rows are oppositely polarised and staggered relative to each other. The coils can be energized for moving the first element relative to the second element in a direction parallel to the rows as well as in a direction parallel to the columns. Auxiliary magnets of the same polarity are disposed between the main magnets at least in a number of rows, wherein the strength of the magnetic field of said auxiliary magnets is different from that of the main magnets.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing an efficient oval coil planar motor are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, an electromagnetic actuator includes at least a first coil group, at least a second coil group, and a magnet array. The first coil group includes at least a first coil that is of an elongated toroidal shape. The first coil has a first coil length and a first coil width that is approximately equal to a multiple of three times the first coil width. The second coil group includes at least a second coil that is of an elongated toroidal shape. The second coil has a second coil width and a second coil length that is approximately equal to a multiple of three times the second coil width. The second coil group is approximately adjacent to the first coil group. The magnet array is configured to cooperate with the first and second coil groups, and includes a plurality of magnets.

Abstract: In accordance with the embodiment a folded electromagnetic coil comprises an electrically conducting wire looped and folded many times such that two or more semicircular sections are formed with approximately the same centerline and the same coil opening such that a supported-magnet can pass unobstructed though the coil center.