Wireless network and devices

Abstract

Examples relating to techniques for wireless communications, e.g., visible light communication, VLC, are disclosed. In particular, there is disclosed a communication device for communicating with a plurality of other devices, using a wireless link. The device provides individual reference signals using a number of subcarriers or time slots in accordance to the optical clock reference and the number of transmitting devices in the set or streams to be transmitted in parallel. The device defines the position of subcarriers or of signals at the time slots in accordance to an identification number associated to an individual device within the whole set of transmitting devices or in dependence on an identification number identifying a specific stream or transmitter. The device transmits the reference signal which enables the plurality of receiving devices to identify the signal coming from the individual communication device in the whole set of devices.

Claims

1. A communication device for communicating with a plurality of other communication devices using a wireless link, wherein the communication device is configured to transmit a plurality of data streams using a plurality of transmitters, wherein the communication device is configured to determine, using which of the plurality of transmitters and using which intensities a first of the plurality of data streams is to be transmitted, wherein the communication device is configured to determine, using which of the plurality of transmitters and using which intensities a second of the plurality of data streams is to be transmitted, wherein the communication device is configured to: provide individual reference signals using a number of subcarriers and time slots in accordance to: an optical clock reference; and a number of the transmitters in the plurality of transmitters or data streams in the plurality of data streams to be transmitted in parallel; define a position of subcarriers and of signals at the time slots in accordance to an identification number identifying a specific transmitter in the plurality of transmitters or a specific data stream in the plurality of data streams; transmit the reference signal which enables the plurality of receiving communication devices to identify the signal coming being associated with a specific data stream of the plurality of data streams or transmitter of the plurality of transmitters.

2. The device of claim 1, configured to use a matrix-vector operation P.Math.x operating symbol-wise when using time-domain Reed-Solomon (RS) or subcarrier-wise, wherein P is a vector and x is a vector with header information symbols.

3. The device of claim 1, configured to multiply a vector of data symbols with a precoding matrix.

4. The communication device of claim 1, wherein at least one reference signal is configured so that a header comprises a specific analog waveform associated with the communication device or a data stream or a transmitter while a rest of the header is transmitted using a common modulation format shared between different devices, and/or the communication device is configured to transmit different specific analog waveforms using different transmitters.

5. The communication device of claim 1, configured to select a specific waveform out of a plurality of waveforms which are orthogonal in a time domain, and transmit a specific analog waveform associated with a data stream of the plurality of data streams or a transmitter of the plurality of transmitters.

6. The communication device of claim 1, configured to select a sequence out of a plurality of sets of mutually orthogonal sequences in dependence on an index identifying a specific device or a specific data stream of the plurality of data streams or a specific transmitter of the plurality of transmitter and to derive a specific analog waveform from the selected row or column of a Hadamard matrix.

7. The communication device of claim 6, wherein the set of mutually orthogonal sequences is associated to a Hadamard Matrix, wherein the Hadamard Matrix is defined as $H_{0} = [1]; H_{k} = [\begin{matrix} H_{k - 1} & H_{k - 1} \\ H_{k - 1} & - H_{k - 1} \end{matrix}] .$

8. The communication device of claim 7, configured to reduce a DC component in the selected row or column when deriving the device-specific analog waveform from the selected row or column and/or combine the selected row or column with a base sequence when deriving the specific analog waveform from the selected row or column.

9. The communication device of claim 1, configured to insert cyclic prefix to the sequence.

10. The communication device of claim 1, configured to acquire a time-domain signal which is orthogonal in the time domain to a time domain signal provided by another device or to a time domain signal associated with a different index.

11. The communication device of claim 1, configured to select specific waveform out of a plurality of waveforms which are orthogonal in a frequency domain.

12. The communication device of claim 1, configured to select a pseudo noise sequence in dependence on the optical clock rate (OCR) and the number of communication devices and/or transmitters in the plurality of transmitters and/or data streams of the plurality of data streams, and derive a set of spectral values from the selected pseudo noise sequence in order to derive a specific waveform from the OCR and/or the number of transmitters in the plurality of transmitters in the set of transmitting communication devices or data streams of the plurality of data streams to be transmitted in parallel.

13. The communication device of claim 12, wherein the pseudo noise sequence is the sequence A.sub.L and is one of the following: TABLE-US-00002 A.sub.1 = [1] A.sub.2 = [0 1] A.sub.4 = [0 1 0 1] A.sub.8 = [0 0 1 0 1 1 0 1] A.sub.16 = [0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 1] A.sub.32 = [0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 1] A.sub.64 = [0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 1] A.sub.128 = [0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 1] A.sub.256 = [0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 0 1] A.sub.512 = [0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 1] A.sub.1024 = [0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1].

14. The communication device of claim 1, configured to add a bias value to the sequence, to bring an average value closer to 0, and/or insert zero values into the sequence in dependence on the information about number of transmitters in the plurality of transmitters or data streams of the plurality of data streams to be transmitted in parallel and/or cyclically shift applied to up-sampled sequence, to adjust positions of non-zero values in a shifted version of the sequence in dependence on the identification number.

15. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the identification number is defined by medium access control (MAC).

16. The communication device of claim 1, configured to: acquire, from a sequence of spectral values by concatenating the up-sampled and cyclically shifted sequence and/or a reversed version thereof, a sequence of spectral values to be used to derive a specific analog waveform and perform an inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) to derive a specific analog waveform.

17. The communication device of claim 1, configured to select both a comb shift and row or column of Hadamard matrix to be used in dependence on the identifier of stream of the plurality of data streams or transmitter of the plurality of transmitters and/or a comb factor in dependency of the number of communication devices.

18. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the number of clock cycles for the sequence and for the cyclic prefix increases proportionally with the optical clock reference (OCR).

19. The communication device of claim 1, configured to verify at least one of the conditions set by the following table: TABLE-US-00003 MHz OCR 6.25 12.5 25 50 100 200 N.sub.seq 32 64 128 256 512 1024 L(Δ = 1) 16 32 64 128 256 512 L(Δ = 2) 8 16 32 64 128 256 L(Δ = 4) 4 8 16 32 64 128 L(Δ = 8) 2 4 8 16 32 64 L(Δ = 16) 1 2 4 8 16 32 where Δ is a comb factor and L is the index of a Hadamard sequence.

20. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the communication device is configured acquire an extended header data unit, in which a header information is duplicated, and to input the extended header data unit into a Reed-Solomon-Code-based forward error correction, to acquire an error-tolerant data unit.

21. The communication device of claim 20, wherein the physical layer header describes a frame type and a length of a physical layer service data unit.

22. The communication device of claim 1, comprising: a digital processing unit; and an optical frontend including the plurality of transmitters for transmitting optical signals; wherein the digital processing unit is configured to provide a DC-free output signal to the optical frontend; wherein the optical front-end is configured to set a modulation amplitude and/or a bias of an optical transmitting device, like a light emitting diode or a laser diode, wherein the communication device is configured to perform a pulse amplitude modulation, PAM, wherein the communication device is configured to map input bits to two levels, and to subtract a constant level.

23. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the communication device is configured to transmit a channel estimation frame using a complete set of transmitters of the plurality of transmitters, and wherein the communication device is configured to selectively transmit a data frame using selected transmitters of the plurality of transmitters, wherein the communication device is configured to multiply a scalar stream of header symbols with a vector which comprises all the same values.

24. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of transmitters are optical communication devices.

25. The device of claim 1, wherein each transmitter of the plurality of transmitters is a visible light communication (VLC) device.

26. The device of claim 1, further comprising at least one photodiode or a laser diode to transmit wireless signals.

27. A visible light communication (VLC) network, wherein the VLC network includes: a domain master (DM) which is a communication device for communicating with a plurality of other communication devices using a wireless link, wherein the communication device is configured to transmit a plurality of data streams using a plurality of transmitters, wherein the communication device is configured to determine, using which of the plurality of transmitters and using which intensities a first of the plurality of data streams is to be transmitted, wherein the communication device is configured to determine, using which of the plurality of transmitters and using which intensities a second of the plurality of data streams is to be transmitted; and a plurality of relaying end points (REPs), connected with the DM, wherein the plurality of REPs are the plurality of transmitters; and a plurality of end points (EPs), which are the plurality of other communication devices, wherein each REP of the plurality of REPs is configured to transmit and receive signals: with the DM through a first communication link which is not a VLC link; and with at least one of the EPs though a second communication link which is a VLC link, wherein each REP of the plurality of REPs is configured to relay: downlink, DL, signals from the DM to the at least one EP through the second communication link; and/or uplink, UL, signals from the at least one EP to the DM through the first communication link, wherein a first EP of the plurality of EPs is configured to transmit a first comb-like pilot sequence with a discrete number of subcarriers, and a second EP of the plurality of EPs is configured to transmit a second comb-like pilot sequence with a discrete number of subcarriers, wherein the subcarriers of second first comb-like pilot sequence are shifted with respect to the subcarriers of the first comb-like pilot sequence, so as to permit at least one REP to determine metrics associated to the VLC link with respect to each of the first and second EPs.

28. The VLC network of claim 27, wherein the first and second EPs are configured to transmit the first and second comb-like sequences simultaneously.

29. The VLC network of claim 27, wherein a first REP is configured to transmit a first comb-like pilot sequence with a discrete number of subcarriers, and a second REP is configured to transmit a second comb-like pilot sequence with a discrete number of subcarriers, wherein the subcarriers of second first comb-like pilot sequence are shifted with respect to the subcarriers of the first comb-like pilot sequence, so as to permit at least one EP to determine metrics associated to the VLC link with respect to each of the first and second REPs.

30. The VLC network of claim 29, wherein the first and second REPs are configured to transmit the first and second comb-like sequences simultaneously.

31. The VLC network of claim 27, wherein at each EP is configured, when joining the VLC network, to: determine quality-related metrics associated to the second communication link with at least the most visible EP; signal determined metrics value to the DM via the REP, so that the DM comprises the determined metrics value in a connectivity matrix (CM).

32. The VLC network of claim 27, wherein the DM is configured to distinguish different types of frames to be transmitted in downlink, the types comprising: one first type of frames to be relayed synchronously by the REPs of the VLC network; one second type of frames to be relayed by one or more REPs within a predetermined region; and one third type of frames to be relayed by one REP individually.

33. The VLC network of claim 27, wherein the DM is configured to activate different channel feedback modes in different portions of the VLC network and to signal the chosen feedback mode to the EPs by: signalling a default feedback mode with a frame of the first type; transmitting a frame of the second or third type to deviate from the default feedback mode in a specific portion of the VLC network so as to appoint a different feedback mode, wherein each EP is configured to change the feedback mode according to the frames of the third type with priority with respect to the frames of the second type and the frames of the second type with priority with respect to the frames of the first type.

34. A wireless communication method for performing a communication for communicating with a plurality of other communication devices, using a wireless link, comprising: determining, using which of the of the plurality of transmitters and using which intensities a first of the plurality of data streams is to be transmitted; determining, using which of the of the plurality of transmitters and using which intensities a second of the plurality of data streams is to be transmitted; and transmitting a plurality of data streams using the plurality of transmitters, the method comprising: providing individual reference signals using a number of subcarriers or time slots in accordance to: the optical clock reference; and the number of transmitters in the plurality of transmitters or data streams of the plurality of data streams to be transmitted in parallel; defining the position of subcarriers and of signals at the time slots in accordance to an identification number identifying a transmitter of the plurality of transmitters or a specific stream of the plurality of data streams; transmitting the reference signal which enables the plurality of receiving communication devices to identify the signal coming being associated with a specific data stream of the plurality of data streams or transmitter of the plurality of transmitters.

35. The method of claim 34, the method comprising: selecting a specific waveform out of a plurality of waveforms which are orthogonal in a time by selecting a specific waveform in dependence on the number of transmitters 3, or data streams of the plurality of data streams to be transmitted in parallel.

36. The method of claim 34, further comprising: acquiring an extended header data unit, in which a header information is duplicated or repeated or copied multiple times, and inputting the extended header data unit into a Reed-Solomon-Code-based forward error correction, to acquire an error-tolerant data unit.

37. The method of claim 36, the method comprising: providing a DC-free output signal to an optical frontend, wherein the DC-free output signal is an encoded and symbol-mapped representation of a header and/or of a payload; wherein the optical front-end is configured to set a modulation amplitude and/or a bias of an optical transmitting device such as a LED or a laser diode.

38. The method of claim 36, the method comprising: transmitting a channel estimation frame using a complete set of the plurality of transmitters, and selectively transmitting a data frame using selected transmitters of the plurality of transmitters or data streams of the plurality of data streams to be transmitted in parallel.

39. A non-transitory memory unit which stores instruction which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the following method: determining, using which of the plurality of transmitters and using which intensities a first of the plurality of data streams is to be transmitted; determining, using which of the plurality of transmitters and using which intensities a second of the plurality of data streams is to be transmitted; and transmitting the plurality of data streams using the plurality of transmitters, providing individual reference signals using a number of subcarriers or time slots in accordance to: the optical clock reference; and the number of transmitters in the plurality or data streams of the plurality of data streams to be transmitted in parallel; defining the position of subcarriers and of signals at the time slots in accordance to an identification number identifying a transmitter of the plurality of transmitters or a specific stream of the plurality of data streams; transmitting the reference signal which enables the plurality of receiving communication devices to identify the signal coming being associated with a specific data stream of the plurality of data streams or transmitter of the plurality of transmitters.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Embodiments of the present invention will be detailed subsequently referring to the appended drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1A shows a schematic representation of the method of producing an oppositely magnetized microstructure;

(3) FIG. 1B shows a schematic representation of the alternative method of producing an oppositely magnetized microstructure;

(4) FIG. 2a is the first in a series of schematic representations that illustrate the filling of the cavities or microcavities, wherein FIG. 2a illustrates empty cavities;

(5) FIG. 2b is the second in a series of schematic representations that illustrate the filling of the cavities or microcavities, wherein FIG. 2b illustrates loose particles in the cavities;

(6) FIG. 2c is the third in a series of schematic representations that illustrate the filling of the cavities or microcavities, wherein FIG. 2c illustrates solidified particles in the cavities;

(7) FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of a permanent-magnetic magnetic structure with oppositely magnetized arrangements of hard magnetic structures;

(8) FIG. 4 shows a diagram of the respective remanence and coercive field strength of the most important magnetic materials;

(9) FIG. 5 shows a diagram of the degree of magnetization of materials No. 2 and No. 4 in Table 1 as a function of the magnetic field used for magnetization;

(10) FIG. 6 shows a diagram of the normalized axial magnetic flow density B.sub.z of a bar magnet as a function of the ratio of its length L to its diameter d for various diameters d;

(11) FIG. 7 shows a schematic representation of a permanent-magnetic magnetic structure comprising oppositely magnetized arrangements which comprise magnets or structures of different depths and having magnetic fields of equal strength;

(12) FIG. 8 shows a schematic representation of a permanent-magnetic magnetic structure comprising oppositely magnetized arrangements of different depths which comprise magnets having magnetic fields of equal strengths, the magnets of the first and/or second arrangement(s) extending from a first surface as far as a second surface of the substrate material;

(13) FIG. 9 shows a schematic representation of a permanent-magnetic magnetic structure comprising oppositely magnetized arrangements of different depths wherein the first and second numbers of structures or magnets are arranged in any manner desired, not only in an alternating manner;

(14) FIG. 10 shows a schematic representation of a three-dimensional magnetic structure formed of two different substrates, each of which contains only micromagnets made of one material and which are oppositely magnetized;

(15) FIG. 11 shows a schematic representation of a magnetic scale with a sub mm pitch, composed of several individually magnetized SmCo combs;

(16) FIG. 12a shows a schematic representation of the production of oppositely magnetized areas by means of “thermomagnetic patterning” while using a template;

(17) FIG. 12b shows a schematic representation of the production of oppositely magnetized areas by means of “thermomagnetic patterning” wherein the pixels and/or lines are separated from one another by sawing;

(18) FIG. 13 shows a schematic representation of the production of oppositely magnetized areas without heating up while using a template made of a soft magnetic material having high permeability;

(19) FIG. 14 shows a schematic representation of the magnetization of microstructures, produced from a hard magnetic material, by applying a homogeneous magnetic field.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(20) Specifically, there are a multitude of possibilities of implementing the inventive methods and of developing them further. To this end, reference shall be made to the claims, on the one hand, and to the following description of embodiments in connection with the drawings, on the other hand.

(21) FIG. 1A shows a schematic representation of the inventive method 100A of producing a magnetic structure comprising oppositely magnetized arrangements of hard magnetic structures. The steps of the method are shown in FIG. 1A a) to FIG. 1A e).

(22) FIG. 1A a) shows a planar substrate material 110, the starting point of the method, comprising a first surface 113 and a second surface 116 located opposite the first surface 113. It is readily possible for the substrate material to contain silicon and/or glass material and/or plastic and/or ceramic.

(23) In FIG. 1A b), a first number of cavities 120 are produced and filled with a first hard magnetic material 130 exhibiting a first coercive field strength H.sub.CA so as to produce a first arrangement of hard magnetic structures. Filling of the cavities is explained in more detail in FIG. 2.

(24) In FIG. 1A c), a second number of cavities 120 are produced and filled with a second hard magnetic material 140 exhibiting a second coercive field strength H.sub.CB so as to produce a second arrangement of hard magnetic structures. The first coercive field strength H.sub.CA is ideally more than 50% higher than the second coercive field strength H.sub.CB.

(25) In FIG. 1A d), the first and second arrangements of hard magnetic structures made of first and second materials 130, 140 are magnetized, in a first direction, by a magnetic field exhibiting a field strength H.sub.1, which exceeds the first and second coercive field strengths H.sub.CA, H.sub.CB.

(26) In FIG. 1A e), only the second arrangement of hard magnetic structures is magnetized in an opposite direction by a magnetic field exhibiting a field strength H.sub.2, which falls below the first coercive field strength H.sub.CA but exceeds the second coercive field strength H.sub.CB, said magnetization of the second arrangement of hard magnetic structures including exposure of the first and second arrangements of hard magnetic structures to the second magnetic field.

(27) FIG. 1B shows a schematic representation of an alternative method 100B of producing a magnetic structure having oppositely magnetized arrangements of hard magnetic structures. The steps of the method are shown in FIG. 1B a) to FIG. 1B f).

(28) FIG. 1B a) shows a planar substrate material 110, the starting point of the method, comprising a first surface 113 and a second surface 116 located opposite the first surface 113. It is readily possible for the substrate material to contain silicon and/or glass material and/or plastic and/or ceramic.

(29) FIG. 1B b) shows the first step of the method 100B, wherein a plurality of cavities 120 are produced within the substrate 110. The cavities 120 extend from the first surface 113 toward the second surface 116.

(30) In FIG. 1B c), a first number of cavities 120 is filled with a first hard magnetic material 130 exhibiting a first coercive field strength H.sub.CA so as to produce a first arrangement of hard magnetic structures. Filling of the cavities is explained in more detail in FIG. 2.

(31) In FIG. 1B d), a second number of cavities 120 are filled with a second hard magnetic material 140 exhibiting a second coercive field strength H.sub.CB so as to produce a second arrangement of hard magnetic structures. The first coercive field strength H.sub.CA is ideally more than 50% higher than the second coercive field strength H.sub.CB.

(32) In FIG. 1B e), the first and second arrangements of hard magnetic structures made of first and second materials 130, 140 are magnetized, in a first direction, by a magnetic field exhibiting a field strength H.sub.1, which exceeds the first and second coercive field strengths H.sub.CA, H.sub.CB.

(33) In FIG. 1B f), only the second arrangement of hard magnetic structures is magnetized in an opposite direction by a magnetic field exhibiting a field strength H.sub.2, which falls below the first coercive field strength H.sub.CA but exceeds the second coercive field strength H.sub.CB, said magnetization of the second arrangement of hard magnetic structures including exposure of the first and second arrangements of hard magnetic structures to the second magnetic field.

(34) In other words, FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B describe production of a magnetic structure consisting of oppositely magnetized arrangements of hard magnetic structures within or on one and the same substrate, on the basis of using two different magnetic materials 130, 140.

(35) Using arrangements of hard magnetic structures or microstructures made of different hard magnetic materials facilitates opposite magnetization.

(36) Initially, hard magnetic structures or microstructures are produced from a first hard magnetic material 130 having the coercive field strength H.sub.CA.

(37) Subsequently, hard magnetic structures or microstructures made of a second hard magnetic material 140 exhibiting the coercive field strength H.sub.CB are produced, in the same manner, on other areas of the substrate 110. H.sub.CB is smaller than H.sub.CA.

(38) Subsequently, the hard magnetic structures or microstructures of both types are magnetized in parallel in one step by a magnetic field of the strength H.sub.1, which exceeds H.sub.CA and H.sub.CB.

(39) Finally, the hard magnetic structures or microstructures of the material 140 are remagnetized in one step by applying an opposite magnetic field of the strength H.sub.2, which is larger than H.sub.CB but smaller than H.sub.CA. The original magnetization of the hard magnetic structures or microstructures made of the material 130 is maintained in the process. A result of the method 100A and/or 100B is depicted in FIG. 3 or in FIG. 7.

(40) In FIG. 2, filling 200 of the cavities 120, shown in FIG. 1A b), c) and FIG. 1B c), d), respectively, is explained in more detail.

(41) In FIG. 2 a) to FIG. 2 c), production of solidified porous hard magnetic structures or microstructures 240 on a substrate by agglomerating loose particles 230 by means of ALD is schematically depicted step by step.

(42) FIG. 2a is similar to FIG. 1B b) and shows a planar substrate material 110 comprising first and second surfaces 113, 116 and cavities 120 extending from the first surface 113 of the substrate material toward a second surface 116 located opposite the first surface.

(43) In FIG. 2b, the cavities 120 are filled with loose particles 230 and/or material powder of hard magnetic materials, such as NdFeB, SmCo and/or PtCo materials.

(44) In FIG. 2c, the loose particles 230 are solidified, or agglomerated, by means of physical and/or chemical solidification, e.g., by means of ALD. The solidified porous structures 240 are thus prepared for magnetization, described in FIG. 1A d), e) and in FIG. 1B e), f), respectively.

(45) The cavities produced in FIG. 1B b) and having different depths and/or cross-sections may simply be filled with loose, powdery materials. The powdery materials are solidified within the cavities and are thus prepared for magnetization, described in FIG. 1A d), e) and in FIG. 1B e), f), respectively.

(46) FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of a magnetic structure 300 comprising a planar substrate 110 having hard magnetic structures 350 of equal size. The hard magnetic structures 350 are oppositely magnetized and extend from the first surface 113 toward the second surface 116.

(47) In other words, FIG. 3 is schematic representation of permanent-magnetic microstructures or hard magnetic structures 350 with opposite magnetization, integrated on a planar substrate 110. These permanent-magnetic microstructures or hard magnetic structures 350, or the magnetic structure 300, may be used, e.g., within a rotating MEMS element and/or for magnetic contact-free support and may be produced, e.g., by the method 100A in FIG. 1A.

(48) Since the magnets or micromagnets consist of a magnetic structure having arrangements of hard magnetic structures made of two different magnetic materials exhibiting different properties, and since magnetization of the magnets or micromagnets made of the second hard magnetic material 140 is incomplete, see FIG. 5, hard magnetic structures having identical dimensions will indeed generate fields having opposite signs but different strengths. This effect may be compensated for, e.g., via the dimensions of the magnets or micromagnets of both types.

(49) FIG. 4 shows an overview of the respective remanence and coercive field strength of the most important magnetic materials that may be used, e.g., in the method 100A in FIG. 1A. In accordance with FIG. 4, the coercive field strengths H.sub.C of the most common hard magnetic materials such as NdFeB, SmCo and/or PtCo, for example, differ from one another by factors.

(50) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Remanence, Coercive Field Strength and Curie Temperature of Several NdFeB Powders by Magnequench [10]. Designation Coercive Field Curie of Remanence Strength Temperature No. Material B.sub.r (mT) H.sub.c (kA/m) T.sub.c (° C.) 1 MQP-A-10179 780-820 1030-1350 305 2 MQP-14-12-20000 850-860 950-1030 300 3 MQP-14-9-20061 835-865 690-770 302 4 MQP-12-5-20092 840-870 420-480 272

(51) The coercive field strength H.sub.C may vary strongly even for one and the same material. Table 1 shows, by way of example, the properties of different NdFeB-based powders by one suppler (“Magnequench”) of the starting materials for producing permanent magnets. However, it is also to be taken into account that complete magnetization, e.g., in the method 100A in FIG. 1A, involves a magnetic field which by far exceeds the coercive field strength H.sub.C of the corresponding material.

(52) FIG. 5 shows a diagram on the degree of magnetization of materials No. 2 and No. 4 in Table 1 as a function of a magnetic field that may be used for magnetization, e.g., in the method 100A in FIG. 1A, in accordance with the supplier's data sheet. The dotted lines in the diagram illustrate the degree of magnetization of material No. 4 across a field of 800 kA/m.

(53) In other words, FIG. 5 presents a diagram on the degree of magnetization as a function of the applied magnetic field in accordance with a data sheet of the manufacturer.

(54) When it is assumed that for parallel magnetization of an arrangement of oppositely magnetized magnets or micromagnets in accordance with FIG. 1B e), materials No. 2 and No. 4 of Table 1 are used, a field of 2500 kNm would be sufficient for almost completely magnetizing the magnets or micromagnets of both types.

(55) If, subsequently, a reverse field of 800 kNm in accordance with FIG. 1B f) is applied, the micromagnets made of material No. 4 will be oppositely magnetized to a degree of more than 80%. The magnets or micromagnets of material No. 2, however, will hardly be influenced since their coercive field strength H.sub.C of at least 950 kNm is clearly above the field applied. In this manner it is possible to obtain, by means of the method of FIG. 1A or

(56) FIG. 1B, a magnetic structure comprising arrangements of hard magnetic structures, e.g., in accordance with FIG. 3.

(57) FIG. 6 depicts a diagram on the normalized axial magnetic flux density B.sub.z at a distance of 100 μm above the front end of a bar magnet as a function of the ratio of its length L to its diameter d for different diameters d of between 25 and 400 μm.

(58) In other words, FIG. 6 presents a diagram on the dependence of the magnetic flux density on the aspect ratio of a magnet.

(59) Since the magnets or micromagnets consist of a magnetic structure having arrangements of hard magnetic structures in accordance with FIG. 1B f) that are made of two different magnetic materials exhibiting different properties, hard magnetic structures having identical dimensions will indeed generate fields having opposite signs but different strengths.

(60) Since the coercive field strength H.sub.C generally does not depend on the dimensions or on the porosity of the magnets or micromagnets but depends only on the material used, this effect may be compensated for, e.g., via the dimensions of the magnets or micromagnets of both types.

(61) The approach, described in FIG. 1A or 1B, to producing magnetic structures having arrangements of oppositely magnetized structures or microstructures, wherein the structures or cavities of different arrangements have specific mutual aspect ratios, may therefore be considered as being feasible, in principle.

(62) FIG. 7 shows a schematic representation of a magnetic structure 700 which comprises a planar substrate material 110 comprising cavities 120.

(63) The cavities extend from the first surface 113 of the substrate material toward a second surface 116 located opposite the first surface.

(64) A first number of cavities having a first depth are filled with a first material 130 so as to produce a first arrangement of hard magnetic structures. A second number of cavities having a second depth are filled with a second material 140 so as to produce a second arrangement of hard magnetic structures. The alternatingly arranged structures of the first and second arrangements of hard magnetic structures made of the first and second hard magnetic materials 130, 140 are oppositely magnetized.

(65) In other words, two-dimensional arrangements of hard magnetic structures comprising magnetic fields of equal strengths may be produced from hard magnetic structures or microstructures having opposite magnetization within or on planar substrates, e.g., made of silicon and/or glass and/or plastic and/or ceramic.

(66) FIG. 7 presents, e.g., utilization of cavities with different depths for producing magnetic structures comprising arrangements of oppositely magnetized magnets or micromagnets, which generate opposite magnetic fields of equal strength.

(67) The method 100A in FIG. 1A and 100B in FIG. 1B, respectively, are improved by magnetic-field strength compensation between the microstructures. Since two different magnetic materials having different properties generate different magnetic field strengths, this effect is compensated for via the dimensions of the magnets or micromagnets of both types.

(68) FIG. 8 shows a schematic representation of a magnetic structure 800 which comprises a planar substrate material 110 on a plate 800 comprising arrangements of hard magnetic structures 350. The hard magnetic structures 350 extend from the first surface 113 of the substrate material toward a second surface 116 located opposite the first surface.

(69) The first and/or second arrangements of hard magnetic structures extend at random from the first surface as far as a predetermined depth of the substrate material or even as far as the plate 810 and/or the second surface 116 of the substrate material.

(70) Instead of a plate 810, the surface 116 may be covered with a thin layer on which etching of the continuous cavities stops. In this case, the plate 810 would be integrated on the substrate.

(71) Alternatively, a continuous hard magnetic structure may be produced by performing the steps of FIG. 2 one after the other on both sides 113 and 116 of the substrate.

(72) The first and/or second arrangement(s) of hard magnetic structures may have any depth, depending on the application, and may even extend as far as the second surface of the substrate material.

(73) By using a continuous structure, one achieves a particularly high magnetic field strength thanks to a higher (maximum) aspect ratio, see also FIG. 6. As of a specific value, e.g., 7:1, however, the magnetic field generated will exhibit only a slight increase.

(74) FIG. 9 shows a schematic representation of a magnetic structure 900 comprising a planar substrate material 110 having arrangements of hard magnetic structures 350. The hard magnetic structures extend from the first surface 113 toward a second surface 116.

(75) The first and second arrangements comprise first and second hard magnetic structures. The first and second hard magnetic structures made of the first and second hard magnetic materials are arranged in any manner desired, not only in an alternating manner.

(76) This magnetic structure 900, which has been established by the method 100A in FIG. 1A and 100B in FIG. 1B, respectively, allows a multitude of two-dimensional magnetic structures comprising arrangements made of hard magnetic microstructures or magnets with opposite magnetization within or on planar substrates.

(77) FIG. 10 shows a three-dimensional magnetic structure 1000 comprising two different arrangements 1140a, 1140b within or on different substrates 110a, 110b, which are firmly connected to each other by means of bonding at the substrate level.

(78) The two arrangements 1140a, 1140b contain micromagnets made of different hard magnetic materials.

(79) FIG. 10 presents production of a magnetic structure 1000 of oppositely magnetized arrangements of hard magnetic structures 1140a, 1140b within or on different substrates 110a, 110b by connecting two different substrates 110a and 110b, which contain only magnets or micromagnets of one material in each case.

(80) In other words, FIG. 10 shows a three-dimensional magnetic structure 1000 having arrangements of oppositely magnetized magnets or micromagnets which were produced within or on two different substrates. The substrates each contain magnets or micromagnets made of only one material and were firmly connected to each other by means of bonding at the substrate level prior to magnetization. During bonding, the substrate 110a may be aligned such that the permanent-magnetic arrangement 1140a is located on the inner side or outer side of the bonded wafer stack. The silicon technology has a number of established bonding processes available to it which are based, e.g., on printed glass frit, or galvanically deposited Au—Sn stacks for hermetic connection, or, while using patterned adhesives and polymers, for non-hermetic connections.

(81) The method 100A in FIG. 1A and 100B in FIG. 1B, respectively, may also generate 3D magnetic structures, for example. Since the geometries and positioning of the magnets or micromagnets within or on any of the substrates may vary as desired, a multitude of arrangements of mutually repelling or attracting magnets or micromagnets are produced in this manner.

(82) Following explanations of the embodiments of the present invention, known conventional methods will initially be presented.

(83) FIG. 11, for example, shows a schematic representation of a magnetic scale with a sub mm pitch, composed of several individually magnetized SmCo combs.

(84) A laser-based material processing has been allowing for a long time already to produce three-dimensional components of complex shapes with high precision. An oppositely magnetized scale with a period of 250 μm is implemented by interleaving of individually magnetized combs. Production of the individual combs is effected by means of laser processing of an SmCo film of a thickness of 300 μm.

(85) FIG. 12, a second example, is an illustration of the production of oppositely magnetized areas by means of thermomagnetic patterning. For a thin, hard magnetic layer, a template is used, see FIG. 12a. In the case of a very thick layer, the NdFeB pixels are separated from one another by sawing, see FIG. 12b.

(86) In so-called “thermomagnetic patterning”, a homogeneously pre-magnetized layer made of a hard magnetic material is locally heated up by means of laser, through a template and/or mask, and is oppositely magnetized in those areas by means of an opposite magnetic field applied at the same time, see FIG. 12a. In this manner, it was possible to produce a checkered pattern consisting of oppositely magnetized squares of a size of 50×50 μm.sup.2, e.g., in an NdFeB layer of a thickness of 4 μm on a Si substrate. Due to the heat conduction within the NdFeB layer itself, or across the substrate, the depth of the oppositely magnetized areas is limited to approx. 1 μm.

(87) One variant of thermomagnetic patterning is described in FIG. 12b. A thick NdFeB platelet is bonded onto a glass substrate, is sawn down to the glass in a predefined pattern and is thereafter magnetized on its entire surface.

(88) Subsequently, individual pixels or lines are oppositely magnetized by selective heating using laser. The magnetic field that may be used is provided by the directly adjacent NdFeB structures.

(89) FIG. 13 shows, e.g., production of oppositely magnetized areas within a hard magnetic layer while using a template and/or mask made of a soft magnetic material having high permeability.

(90) When using a template and/or mask of a soft magnetic material with high permeability, magnetic patterns may also be produced, within a hard magnetic layer, without heating.

(91) FIG. 13 illustrates said approach. The opposite magnetic field that is applied is amplified, within the mask ridges, to such an extent that the areas of the hard magnetic layer which are located underneath are oppositely magnetized. The method is restricted to layers comprising low remanence and coercive field strength.

(92) FIG. 14 shows magnetization of hard magnetic structures or microstructures, made of a hard magnetic material 130, by applying a magnetic field, which is homogenous across the entire substrate surface area and exhibits the magnetic field strength H, while using a corresponding device in accordance with conventional technology.

(93) While this invention has been described in terms of several embodiments, there are alterations, permutations, and equivalents which fall within the scope of this invention. It should also be noted that there are many alternative ways of implementing the methods and compositions of the present invention. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims be interpreted as including all such alterations, permutations and equivalents as fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.

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