The present invention relates to a magnetic levitation device, and more particularly, to a magnetic levitation device incorporating wireless power transmission technology.
Magnetic levitation (or “maglev”) technology can be used to solve certain mechanical problems, such as reducing friction at linking points of mechanical components in order to improve output results or enhance mechanical performance. For example, maglev trains apply magnetic levitation technology to reduce friction between trains and tracks, and therefore trains can travel at very high speeds. Magnetic levitation technology has also been used for product display purposes. For example, a displayed object incorporating a magnetic element can be levitated above a base by using electromagnetic levitation techniques. To elevate the display effect of products, various display methods may be additionally employed to deliver a better visual effect for products. For example, light emitting components such as LED components may be used on a displayed product. However, LED components need to be activated with an additional power supply. If a power supply, such as a battery with a considerable size, is arranged on a displayed product employing magnetic levitation techniques, the additional weight of the power supply may affect the levitation result of the displayed product. And if the displayed product needs to use a cord to connect to the power supply, the visual effect of the display may be affected.
In view of the above, there is a need for a magnetic levitation device incorporating the wireless power transmission function.
To address the needs as described above, the present invention provides a magnetic levitation device that integrates both electromagnetic levitation and wireless charging technologies in the same device. Electromagnetic levitation and wireless charging technologies are both related to electromagnetic induction, and the noise resulting from interference between magnetic fields is taken into consideration for the present invention. Accordingly, the magnetic levitation device of this invention reduces the impact of magnetic field noise to wireless charging and therefore allows wireless power transmission to operate more smoothly.
The present invention provides a magnetic levitation device, comprising: a first magnet set, arranged substantially along a first plane; a second magnet set, arranged substantially along a second plane and surrounding the first magnet set; and a transmitting coil, arranged substantially along a third plane and positioned between the first magnet set and the second magnet set. The transmitting coil electrically connects to a transmitting circuit such that the transmitting coil can be controlled to generate an induction signal.
The magnetic levitation device of the present invention further comprises a corresponding levitated object above said base. The levitated object comprises a magnetic element, and is levitated above the third plane by magnetic fields provided by the first magnet set and the second magnet set. The levitated object is characterized in comprising a receiving coil configured to receive the induction signal from the transmitting coil, whereas the induction signal is then converted to electrical energy and stored as power by a receiving circuit electrically connected to the receiving coil. The receiving coil defines a central axis, and the magnetic element of the levitated object is positioned substantially on the central axis of the receiving coil. The levitated object further comprises an electromagnetic wave absorbing element properly arranged to reduce noise that is to be received by the receiving coil.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims and accompanying drawings that are provided only for further elaboration without limiting or restricting the present invention.
The present invention will become better understood with the following descriptions and accompanying drawings.
The present invention provides a magnetic levitation device which comprises not only an electromagnetic levitation (EML) device, but also a wireless power transmission device. An EML device applied for product display purpose generally comprises a base and a levitated object. The base typically comprises a power supply unit, a control unit (control circuit), a set of magnets arranged in a specific manner, and one or more coil combinations. The set of magnets are arranged to generate a particular magnetic field distribution around the base. The coils are arranged to electrically connect to the control unit, so that dynamic electromagnetic fields can be created. The levitated object has a magnetic element that repels the magnetic field distribution described above, and thus, the levitated object can be levitated above the base.
The wireless power transmission device mainly comprises a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter comprises a transmitting circuit and a transmitting coil; the receiver comprises a receiving coil, which corresponds to the transmitting coil, and a power storage unit. The transmitting circuit can be independent of the control circuit described above. In an embodiment of the present invention, the transmitting circuit can also be integrated into the control circuit at a proper position. The transmitting circuit electrically connects to the control circuit and is driven to generate an induction signal. The receiving coil receives the induction signal, which is then converted to power and stored.
The base 1 comprises a first magnet set 10, a second magnet set 12 and a transmitting coil 14. The first magnet set 10 includes a plurality of magnets having basically the same shape. Specifically, the first magnet set 10 is a set of electromagnets. In another embodiment of the invention, the first magnet set 10 may include magnets having two or more shapes. As
The second magnet set 12 is arranged properly to surround the first magnet set 10. By properly arranging the first magnet set 10 and the second magnet set 12, the base can provide a proper magnetic field to support the levitated object. The second magnet set 12 shown in
The transmitting coil 14 according to the present invention is arranged between the first magnet set 10 and the second magnet set 12. As shown in
The control circuit 16 is configured to control the coils electrically connected to it, including the wire coils added to the first magnet set 10 and the transmitting coil 14. The control circuit 16 and the transmitting circuit 18 are electrically connected. In another embodiment of the invention, the transmitting circuit 18 has a dedicated control circuit within it, instead of an independent control circuit as described above. The control circuit 16 is formed by several electronic components arranged on a printed circuit board. This printed circuit board (not shown) can be used as a substrate carrying the first magnet set 10 and the second magnet set 12, and is accommodated within the base.
In an embodiment of the invention, the transmitting circuit 18 and the control circuit 16 are arranged on different printed circuit boards. As shown in
In the magnetic levitation device of the present invention, the relative positions of the magnet sets and the transmitting coil are properly arranged to improve transmission performance of the induction signals.
The transmitting coil 14 defines a central axis 17. The first magnet set 10 and the second magnet set 12 are arranged symmetrically, substantially centering on the central axis 17. The central axis 17 is substantially perpendicular to the first plane 21, the second plane 22, and the third plane 23.
When the central axis 33 of the receiving coil 32 substantially coincides with the central axis 17 of the transmitting coil 14, the levitated object 3 is basically at an equilibrium position in a horizontal direction because of the support of the first and second magnet sets 10 and 12. Moreover, when the wireless transmission of induction signals is activated, the receiving coil 32, which is located on the transmission path, can start storing power through the receiving circuit.
The levitated object 3 may have a light emitting element 34, such as an LED unit, arranged to electrically connect to the power storage element of the receiving circuit. When the wireless transmission of induction signals is activated, the converted and stored power can be used to activate the light emitting element 34 to create a special visual effect. By integrating the receiving coil and the receiving circuit, the levitated object of the magnetic levitation device according to this invention can have an enhanced visual effect, and the use of a considerably bulky battery or a cord that may affect the visual effect is no longer needed.
The levitated object 3 may further comprise an electromagnetic wave absorbing element (not shown). The electromagnetic wave absorbing element can be properly arranged in the levitated object 3 to reduce noise that is to be received by the receiving coil. The noise comes from the magnetic field(s) of the first magnet set 10 and/or the second magnet set 12.
All the planes as described in the above embodiments are horizontal planes, and each of them is substantially parallel to one another. While this invention has been described by way of examples and in terms of preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited hereto, and that various changes, substitutions, and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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105206993 | May 2016 | TW | national |