A sorting apparatus is provided for sorting selected magnetically attractable articles from non-selected magnetically attractable articles in a stream of articles. A sensor generates sensor signals representative of a property associated with a selected class of magnetically attractable articles. A separator device includes an array of magnets. A controller receives sensor signals from the sensor, identifies a location within the stream of articles of a selected magnetically attractable article, and selectively activates one or more magnets of the array of magnets and thereby magnetically attracts the selected magnetically attractable article from a first trajectory into a second trajectory while allowing non-selected magnetically attractable articles to continue along the first trajectory.

A magnetically levitating sterilizing toothbrush holder with associated toothbrush comprises a holder generating a magnetic field and a toothbrush comprising a magnetic or ferromagnetic element. The holder and toothbrush are so configured that, when the toothbrush is placed in the holder, the force of gravity acting on the toothbrush is balanced in opposition to the magnetic force resulting from the interaction of the toothbrush's magnetic element with the holder's magnetic field, resulting in magnetic levitation of the toothbrush within the holder, thereby suspending the brush from all potentially contaminating surfaces. The holder further comprises a sterilizing ultraviolet light source, whereby the operational end of the toothbrush with its bristles is bathed in sterilizing radiation when the brush is suspended in the holder.

A transfer system used in a semiconductor manufacturing device in which a moving body having a magnet moves while being levitated from a floor by a magnetic force to transfer a substrate to a processing module for processing the substrate is provided. The transfer system comprises: a through-hole forming member having a through-hole formed in a vertical direction; a blocking member that blocks the through-hole to form the floor; a housing of which bottom wall serving as the floor and of which inside is evacuated to create a vacuum atmosphere in a moving area of the moving body that is formed on the floor; a plurality of electromagnets provided inside the floor to move the moving body; and magnetic sensors disposed inside the floor at positions overlapping the through-hole forming member and the blocking member in plan view, and configured to detect a magnetic force of the magnet.

A sorting apparatus is provided for sorting selected magnetically attractable articles from non-selected magnetically attractable articles in a stream of articles. A sensor generates sensor signals representative of a property associated with a selected class of magnetically attractable articles. A separator device includes an array of magnets. A controller receives sensor signals from the sensor, identifies a location within the stream of articles of a selected magnetically attractable article, and selectively activates one or more magnets of the array of magnets and thereby magnetically attracts the selected magnetically attractable article from a first trajectory into a second trajectory while allowing non-selected magnetically attractable articles to continue along the first trajectory.

An apparatus, according to one embodiment, includes: an electromagnetic shaft, an expandable balloon coupled to a first end of the shaft, and a fluid reservoir. A conduit also extends between the fluid reservoir and an interior of the balloon. The apparatus also includes a selectively magnetizable fluid, at least a portion of which is contained in the fluid reservoir, and a pump for selectively transferring the magnetizable fluid from the fluid reservoir to the balloon. A pressure sensor for detecting a pressure of the magnetizable fluid, and a controller for controlling the pump are further included. Moreover, at least a portion of the shaft is flexible. Other systems, methods, and computer program products are described in additional embodiments.

A switch apparatus includes a base module including a base case; a manipulation module including a manipulation case, and a grip mounted on an external circumferential surface of the manipulation case; a magnetic mechanism including a base-side magnetic unit provided to the base module, and a manipulation-side magnetic unit provided to the manipulation module; and a grip force sensing unit provided between the manipulation case and the grip, wherein the grip force sensing unit detects whether a grip force applied to the grip is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold, and the magnetic mechanism is configured to vary a magnetic force generated between the base-side magnetic unit and the manipulation-side magnetic unit in accordance with a magnitude of the grip force detected by the grip force sensing unit.

A magnetic field control system according to an embodiment of the present invention may comprise: a structure forming part for forming a three-dimensional structure having an inner space; a magnetic field generating part for generating a magnetic field, the magnetic field generating part being formed to extend from a predetermined position of the structure forming part and being disposed to face a target region defined in the inner space; and a power source part for supplying electric power to the magnetic field generating part.

There is provided a substrate processing system comprising: a plurality of modules including a processing chamber in which a substrate is held and processing is performed on the substrate; a transfer chamber to which the plurality of modules are connected; a substrate transfer device provided inside the transfer chamber, for transferring the substrate to the plurality of modules and taking out the substrate from the plurality of modules; and a controller. The substrate transfer device includes a first transfer unit and a second transfer unit, each of which places thereon the substrate and is linearly movable and swivelable independently and freely over a surface of the transfer chamber, and the controller controls the substrate transfer device such that a substrate replacement operation is performed from one module to another module among the plurality of modules by moving the first transfer unit and the second transfer unit concurrently in parallel.

An electromagnetic device for manipulating a magnetic-responsive robotic device, and an electromagnetic apparatus incorporate one or more such electromagnetic device. The electromagnetic device includes a magnetic core 200 having a first portion and a second portion extends from one side of the first portion. The first portion has a first cross section and defining a first central axis. The second portion has a second cross section smaller than the first cross section, and defines a second central axis parallel to the first central axis. A first electromagnetic coil is arranged around the first cylindrical portion. A second electromagnetic coil is arranged around the second cylindrical portion.

An electromagnet for a thermography system comprising a first elongated magnetic core spaced apart from a second elongated magnetic core; at least a first shorting bar connecting substantially at a first end of the first elongated magnetic core and a first end of the second elongated magnetic core; and at least a first excitation coil configured to conduct electrical current.