Levitating support and positioning system
US5267091A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 18, 1991 |
| Grant date | Nov 30, 1993 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 18, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S505/825
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A levitating support and positioning system (10) is provided for orienting an electromagnetic energy reflecting assembly (40). System (10) includes a reflective member (60) supported by an annular ring (50) having a plurality of superconductors (70) disposed thereon. Ring (50) is levitated above a base surface (20) by means of a plurality of electromagnetic assemblies (30), each of the electromagnetic assemblies (30) corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of superconductive elements (70), whereby the magnetic fields generated by the electromagnetic assemblies (30) are repelled by the respective superconductive elements. The orientation of the support ring (50), and the reflector therewith, is adjusted by changing the relative magnetic field strength between each of the electromagnetic assemblies (30), allowing the reflector to be directed in both elevation and azimuth.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.