Large-gap magnetic positioning system having advantageous configuration

Abstract

A magnetic configuration was devised in which the positioned object is maintained in a stable orientation and position on one side of an opaque plane surface entirely by means of magnetic components on the other side of the plane. The system is effective with or without gravity, and can operate in any orientation. In this system, the positioned object need only contain a simple dipole magnet. The positioning components consist of a group of permanent magnets creating a magnetic field configuration which stabilizes the levitated dipole in all but one degree of freedom, and a magnetic position sensing and force feedback system to actively stabilize the object in the one unstable direction. The system utilizes very low power at equilibrium and can maintain gaps of 50 mm.