The present invention provides a magnetic movement path control device including: a magnetic force moving unit including a permanent magnet generating a permanent magnetic force, a first pole piece attached to a first surface of the permanent magnet, and a second pole piece attached to a second surface of the permanent magnet; a first outer pole piece in contact with the magnetic force moving unit to form a magnetic path; a second outer pole piece in contact with the magnetic force moving unit to form a magnetic path different from the magnetic path formed by the first outer pole piece; and a magnetic path control member releasing or generating the magnetic path by allowing the magnetic force moving unit to come into contact with the first outer pole piece and be spaced apart from or come in contact with the second outer pole piece, wherein the magnetic force moving unit moves between a first position where at least one of the first pole piece and the second pole piece is in contact with the first outer pole piece and the second pole piece is spaced apart from the second outer pole piece to drop a target object and a second position where at least one of the first pole piece and the second pole piece is in contact with the first outer pole piece and the second pole piece is in contact with the second outer pole piece to lift the target object.

The present invention provides a magnetic movement path control device including: a magnetic force moving unit including a permanent magnet generating a permanent magnetic force, a first pole piece attached to a first surface of the permanent magnet, and a second pole piece attached to a second surface of the permanent magnet; a first outer pole piece in contact with the magnetic force moving unit to form a magnetic path; a second outer pole piece in contact with the magnetic force moving unit to form a magnetic path different from the magnetic path formed by the first outer pole piece; and a magnetic path control member releasing or generating the magnetic path by allowing the magnetic force moving unit to come into contact with the first outer pole piece and be spaced apart from or come in contact with the second outer pole piece, wherein the magnetic force moving unit moves between a first position where at least one of the first pole piece and the second pole piece is in contact with the first outer pole piece and the second pole piece is spaced apart from the second outer pole piece to drop a target object and a second position where at least one of the first pole piece and the second pole piece is in contact with the first outer pole piece and the second pole piece is in contact with the second outer pole piece to lift the target object.

Magnetic coupling devices are disclosed which may be configured in at least three states. The various states may be provided through one or more of altering a position of a permanent magnet relative to another permanent magnet and altering a current level in a coil surrounding a permanent magnet.

Magnetic coupling devices are disclosed which may be configured in at least three states. The various states may be provided through one or more of altering a position of a permanent magnet relative to another permanent magnet and altering a current level in a coil surrounding a permanent magnet.

An electrical device, such as a camera controller includes a connector having a first magnetic element and a first cam surface. An electrical housing includes a housing panel having an outer surface configured to receive the connector. A target element is disposed within the electrical housing. The target element includes a second magnetic element. The outer surface includes a second cam surface configured to engage the first cam surface and translate a rotation of the connector into an axial displacement of the connector. In one aspect, a target positioning member is configured to position the target element into the first position when the connector is removed from the outer surface. The targeting positioning member is further configured to position the target element into the second position when the first cam surface engages the second cam surface.

An electrical device, such as a camera controller includes a connector having a first magnetic element and a first cam surface. An electrical housing includes a housing panel having an outer surface configured to receive the connector. A target element is disposed within the electrical housing. The target element includes a second magnetic element. The outer surface includes a second cam surface configured to engage the first cam surface and translate a rotation of the connector into an axial displacement of the connector. In one aspect, a target positioning member is configured to position the target element into the first position when the connector is removed from the outer surface. The targeting positioning member is further configured to position the target element into the second position when the first cam surface engages the second cam surface.

A magnetic switch can be configured to have or provide a variable, user-selectable radial flux pattern. In an example, the switch comprises a magnetized outer structure and a magnetized inner structure provided at least partially inside of the magnetized outer structure. In an example, at least one of the magnetized inner and outer structures is rotatable relative to the other one of the magnetized inner and outer structures about an axis of rotation that is common to the magnetized outer structure and magnetized inner structure. The radial flux pattern can extend away from the common axis of rotation and can vary in strength according to a relative position of the magnetized inner and outer structures. In other examples, the switch can comprise multiple layers of magnetized structures.

A magnetic switch can be configured to have or provide a variable, user-selectable radial flux pattern. In an example, the switch comprises a magnetized outer structure and a magnetized inner structure provided at least partially inside of the magnetized outer structure. In an example, at least one of the magnetized inner and outer structures is rotatable relative to the other one of the magnetized inner and outer structures about an axis of rotation that is common to the magnetized outer structure and magnetized inner structure. The radial flux pattern can extend away from the common axis of rotation and can vary in strength according to a relative position of the magnetized inner and outer structures. In other examples, the switch can comprise multiple layers of magnetized structures.

A programmable permanent magnet actuator, a magnetic field generation apparatus and a method of controlling thereof. The actuator has a first body that is a ferromagnetic material, a second body that is a single magnetized ferromagnet and a magnetic field generation device associable to the second body to generate a magnetic field in proximity with the second body. The actuator also has a controller adapted to control the magnetic field generation device to generate a controlled magnetic field. The controlled magnetic field is adapted to modify a magnetization of the second body such as to produce with the second body a required magnetic field to move one of the first or the second body with respect to one another according to a desired position or a desired torque. The desired position or the desired torque is maintained even after the application of the controlled magnetic field. The apparatus has a permanent magnet that has an intrinsic coercivity (Hci) value that is greater than 200 kA/m and a remanence (Br) value that is greater than 0.4 Tesla. The apparatus also has a magnetic field generation device associated to the permanent magnet and a controller connected to the magnetic field generation device. The controller is adapted to control the magnetic field generation device to produce a controlled magnetic field to variably modify a magnetization of the permanent magnet in order to produce a desired variable magnetic field and influence the electrically charged or magnetized material when placed in the desired variable magnetic field.

A programmable permanent magnet actuator, a magnetic field generation apparatus and a method of controlling thereof. The actuator has a first body that is a ferromagnetic material, a second body that is a single magnetized ferromagnet and a magnetic field generation device associable to the second body to generate a magnetic field in proximity with the second body. The actuator also has a controller adapted to control the magnetic field generation device to generate a controlled magnetic field. The controlled magnetic field is adapted to modify a magnetization of the second body such as to produce with the second body a required magnetic field to move one of the first or the second body with respect to one another according to a desired position or a desired torque. The desired position or the desired torque is maintained even after the application of the controlled magnetic field. The apparatus has a permanent magnet that has an intrinsic coercivity (Hci) value that is greater than 200 kA/m and a remanence (Br) value that is greater than 0.4 Tesla. The apparatus also has a magnetic field generation device associated to the permanent magnet and a controller connected to the magnetic field generation device. The controller is adapted to control the magnetic field generation device to produce a controlled magnetic field to variably modify a magnetization of the permanent magnet in order to produce a desired variable magnetic field and influence the electrically charged or magnetized material when placed in the desired variable magnetic field.