Magnetic attachment system and method of using same

Abstract

A magnetic attachment system is developed that includes a permanent electromagnet, a sensing unit, and a processor for processing attachment of an article to the magnetic attachment system. The processor is configured to perform a method comprising the steps of: partially attenuating a magnetic field from an initial magnetic field of the permanent electromagnet by applying a current to the permanent electromagnet; detecting a pre-stage magnetic field via a magnetism detection unit and a pre-stage compression force via a compression detection unit when a user temporarily attaches an article to the permanent electromagnet; after receiving the user's instruction, the application of the current is terminated to fully attach the article.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a magnetic attachment system and a method of using the same, wherein the magnetic attachment system comprises a permanent electromagnet, a sensing unit and a processor for processing the attachment of an item to the magnetic attachment system. Background Art

[0002] The walls of any house or building are usually made of bricks and / or concrete. Walls can also be decorated with various items such as tiles, wood, wall cabinets or paintings for interior design purposes. The installation and / or removal of these items on the walls requires professional technicians to carry out such activities, which consumes a lot of time and costs. Sometimes, human errors may occur when installing items on the walls, such as the installation location is different from the design, which may be difficult to solve. In addition, when the owner needs to renovate the house, sometimes walls need to be removed, and these walls cannot be recycled and reused. The dust generated by the removal of walls is also considered as contaminated waste.

[0003] Nowadays, in addition to decorative functions, walls are also integrated with items that have specific functions. For example, sensors, touch screen displays, speakers and / or Internet of Things (IoT) devices are installed on the wall to provide specific functions to users. These items can be mounted on the wall by fixing them with screws and wiring them to a power source. This traditional installation method brings inconvenience to residents because holes need to be drilled in the wall for installation, leaving unsightly internal marks on the wall that cannot be hidden. If residents want to remove these devices, they must fill and repaint the holes. In addition, when installing heavy items, it is necessary to first determine the type of wall and the weight of the item, and then choose the appropriate hanging technology to ensure the safety of the mounted items.

[0004] Therefore, it is necessary to develop a panel system for replacing the conventional wall, floor or ceiling to solve the problem that the items can be connected without skilled technicians, and the items can also be disassembled, reinstalled and reused without skills, use of any hand tools and safety issues.

[0005] The use of magnets is a technique for attaching items to a structure, such as a panel system, without the use of any hand tools. Magnets can also help the homeowner by attaching / pulling items to the panel, however, the safety of the items being mounted needs to be ensured. If the compression force and magnetic field between the mounted item and the magnet are insufficient, for example, if the magnet is aged and the magnetic field weakens over time, the item may become unlocked and fall off. Therefore, the use of magnets requires a specific system to facilitate the mounting of items thereon and monitor the attachment performance between the item and the magnet, thereby providing safety for the attached items and the user. Therefore, there is a need to develop a magnetic attachment system that is integrated with the panel system to ensure the safety of the attached items and the user.

[0006] Document US 9,202,616 B2 discloses a magnetic system having a plurality of sensors for detecting changes in magnetic force between two metal structures in a robotic application, wherein the magnetic system is used to pick up a metal plate. The magnetic system comprises a structural element, a magnetic structure attached to the structural element by an adhesive, an item formed of a ferromagnetic material, wherein the magnetic structure can be magnetically attached to and detached from the item, and a force sensor for measuring the magnetic force between the magnetic structure and the item. In addition, the system also comprises a Hall sensor placed at a predetermined position relative to the magnetic structure to determine any changes in the magnetic field. These sensors provide data to the control system to determine whether the structural element will be detached from the item. However, the document fails to teach the integration of these sensors into a unit for verifying the safety of the attached item and the user. In addition, it does not suggest the use of a permanent electromagnet that can be demagnetized to no longer support the weight of the item, thereby facilitating the adjustment of the position of the item.

[0007] Document US 9,619,678 B2 discloses a radio frequency identification (RFID) probe for reading RFID tags in disposable containers. The RFID probe includes: an annular housing whose maximum thickness is less than the innermost diameter of the housing; a support leg attached to the annular housing; a ring antenna integrated in the annular housing; and an RFID reader module integrated in the annular housing, wherein the RFID reader module is communicatively connected to the antenna for transmitting a coded radio signal to the RFID tag in the container. The container includes an RFID tag having an RF transmitter and an RF receiver. After receiving an interrogation signal from the RFID probe, the RFID tag transmits identification data of the container to the reader. The device according to the present disclosure is only a device for RFID reading, and there is no mention of integrating RFID with other types of sensors (e.g., Hall sensors and force sensors) for sensing the security of items. In addition, it does not suggest using a permanent electromagnet with RFID to become a magnetic attachment system for sensing the identity of an item.

[0008] In view of the limitations of the disclosure of magnetic attachment systems and the shortcomings of the above-mentioned existing panel systems, the present invention has developed a magnetic attachment system having a permanent electromagnet, a sensing unit, and a processor for processing the attachment of items to the magnetic attachment system. Through the cooperation of the permanent electromagnet with the sensing unit and the processor, it will be convenient for the user to support the weight of the items to be attached to the magnetic attachment system. This will help the user to install items on the panel (e.g., wall, floor or ceiling) to increase safety. The magnetic attachment system can be applied to light and / or small items (e.g., household or office equipment) or heavy and / or large items (e.g., metal plates, pipes, industrial equipment, etc.) used in manufacturing facilities or industrial plants so that users can install such items more safely. Summary of the invention

[0009] The present invention provides a magnetic attachment system (100) that facilitates a user to support the weight of an item to be attached to the magnetic attachment system with greater safety. The magnetic attachment system (100) can be applied to light and / or small items (e.g., household or office equipment) or heavy and / or large items (e.g., metal sheets, pipes, industrial equipment, etc.) used in manufacturing facilities or industrial plants so that users can more safely install such items.

[0010] The magnetic attachment system (100) comprises a permanent electromagnet (200), a sensing unit (300) and a processor for processing the attachment of an item to the magnetic attachment system. The processor is configured to perform a method comprising the following steps:

[0011] i) partially weakening the magnetic field from the initial magnetic field of the permanent electromagnet (200) by applying a current to the permanent electromagnet (200);

[0012] ii) when a user temporarily attaches an object to the permanent electromagnet (200), the magnetic field of the previous stage is detected via the magnetic detection unit (304), and the compression force of the previous stage is detected via the compression detection unit (306);

[0013] iii) upon receiving a command from the user, terminating the application of the current to fully attach the item;

[0014] wherein, in step i), an electric current is applied to weaken the magnetic field of the permanent electromagnet (200) to at least 70% of the weight capable of temporarily attaching the item;

[0015] Wherein, in step ii), if the previous stage compression force is not within the preset value of the preset previous stage compression force, the processor will send a notification to the user.

[0016] In another aspect of the present invention, the present invention relates to a method for attaching and sensing an object using a magnetic attachment system (100). The method comprises the following steps:

[0017] i) partially weakening the initial magnetic field of the permanent electromagnet (200) by applying a current to the permanent electromagnet;

[0018] ii) when a user temporarily attaches an object to the permanent electromagnet (200), the magnetic field of the previous stage is detected via the magnetic detection unit (304), and the compression force of the previous stage is detected via the compression detection unit (306);

[0019] iii) upon receiving a command from the user, terminating the application of the current to fully attach the item;

[0020] wherein, in step i), an electric current is applied to weaken the magnetic field of the permanent electromagnet (200) to at least 70% of the weight allowing temporary attachment of the item;

[0021] Wherein, in step ii), if the compression force in the previous stage is not within the preset value of the compression force in the previous stage, the processor will send a notification to the user. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] For a more complete understanding of the present invention, examples of embodiments and advantages thereof, please refer to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like features. The following drawings show perspective views of example embodiments.

[0023] Figure 1 A magnetic attachment system (100) according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0024] Figure 2 A perspective view of a sensing unit (300) according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0025] Figure 3 A top view and a bottom view of a sensing unit (300) according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention are shown.

[0026] Figure 4 A flow chart of a method of attaching and sensing an item using a magnetic attachment system (100) according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0027] Although like reference numerals may be used for convenience to refer to like elements in the figures, each of the various example embodiments may be considered a different variation. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] The present invention relates to a magnetic attachment system and a method for using the same. The magnetic attachment system according to the present invention comprises a permanent electromagnet, a sensing unit, and a processor for processing items attached to the magnetic attachment system. Through the coordinated operation of the permanent electromagnet with the sensing unit and the processor, it will be convenient for users to support the weight of items attached to the magnetic attachment system with greater safety in their daily work (for example, attaching household or office equipment to wall panels). In addition, the magnetic attachment system according to the present invention can also be used to facilitate users to support heavy and / or large items (for example, metal plates, pipes, industrial equipment, etc.) used in manufacturing facilities or industrial plants.

[0029] Unless otherwise stated, any aspect shown herein is intended to include application to other aspects of the invention.

[0030] Unless otherwise specified, technical or scientific terms used herein have the definitions known to those skilled in the art.

[0031] Any tools, equipment, methods or chemicals mentioned herein refer to tools, equipment, methods or chemicals commonly used by ordinary technicians in the field, unless it is explicitly stated that they are tools, equipment, methods or chemicals specific only to the present invention.

[0032] In the claims or description, the word "comprising" when used with a singular noun or pronoun means "a", but may also mean "one or more", "at least one" and "one or more".

[0033] All components and / or methods disclosed in this application and the claims are intended to cover any embodiments of actions, performances, modifications or adjustments made without any experimentation, which are significantly different from the present invention, which will result in articles with the same utility or will be considered to be substantially similar to the present embodiment according to the opinions of ordinary technicians in the field, regardless of whether such changes are explicitly stated in the claims. Therefore, articles similar to or that can replace the present embodiment, including articles with minor modifications or adjustments that can be clearly thought of by those skilled in the art, should be interpreted as being within the spirit, scope and concept of the present invention as appearing in the appended claims.

[0034] Throughout this application, the term "about" means that any number recited herein may vary or deviate due to any error in the equipment, method, or person using the equipment or method.

[0035] Example aspects will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which form part of the present disclosure and illustrate example embodiments that may be used. As used in the present disclosure and the appended claims, the terms "example embodiment", "exemplary embodiment" and "this embodiment" do not necessarily refer to a single embodiment, although they may refer to a single embodiment, and various example embodiments may be easily combined and / or interchanged without departing from the scope or spirit of the example embodiments. In addition, as used in the present disclosure and the appended claims, the terms are used only to describe the example embodiments and are not intended to limit interpretation. In this regard, as used in the present disclosure and the appended claims, the term "in" may include "in" and "on", and the terms "a", "an" and "the" may each refer to the singular and the plural. In addition, as used in the present disclosure and the appended claims, the term "by" may also mean "from" depending on the context; the term "if" may also mean "when" or "on" depending on the context; the term "and / or" may refer to and cover any and all possible combinations of one or more related listed items.

[0036] The terms "contacting," "connecting," "connected to," "connected to," "connected to," "attached," "attached to," "attached to," "attached to," "attached to," "mounted," "mounted to," "mounted to," and / or similar terms may be used interchangeably to refer to or indicate a direct electronic connection or a physical connection or connection through one or more elements, whether or not power and / or signals are transmitted between those elements, wherein the connecting component may be any type of electrical connector and / or physical mechanism.

[0037] The term "article" as used herein refers to at least one object or at least one component to be directly or indirectly attached to a magnetic attachment system, including its components and / or its accessories, such as decorative materials (e.g., tiles, metal plates, wood boards), decorative accessories (e.g., wall cabinets, bathroom accessories, kitchen appliances), protective materials (e.g., insulating materials, sound-absorbing materials), IoT, and / or electronic devices (e.g., display devices, televisions, touch screen displays, video projectors, audio systems, closed-circuit televisions (CCTV), surveillance cameras, solar cells, solar panels, chargers, water dispensers, air purifiers, lamps, light meters, controllers, air conditioners, fans, kitchen equipment, any electrical equipment, etc.), mounting accessories (e.g., instrument mounting brackets, hangers, brackets, fixtures and clamps) or combinations thereof.

[0038] As used herein, the terms "temporarily attached," "temporarily attached to," "temporarily attached to," "temporarily attached with," and / or similar terms refer to a temporary attachment between an article and a permanent electromagnet while the magnetic field of the permanent electromagnet (200) decreases in proportion to the amount of current applied.

[0039] As used herein, the terms "fully attached," "fully attached to," "fully attached to," "fully attached with," and / or similar terms refer to full attachment between an item and a permanent electromagnet while the permanent electromagnet is in a fully magnetized stage and no current is applied. Although the magnetic field weakens as the magnetism degrades over time, the permanent electromagnet is still considered fully attached to the item if there is no applied current.

[0040] The term "initial magnetic field" refers to the magnetic field of the permanent electromagnet detectable during one or more detection cycles before a current is applied to the permanent electromagnet to partially weaken the magnetic field of the permanent electromagnet. The initial magnetic field is detected when a user begins to use the magnetic attachment system (100). The initial magnetic field may be equivalent to / equal to the capability of the permanent electromagnet provided by the manufacturer.

[0041] The term "preliminary magnetic field" refers to the magnetic field of the permanent electromagnet detectable in one or more detection cycles when the permanent electromagnet is in a state where the magnetic field is partially weakened from the initial magnetic field in proportion to the amount of current applied.

[0042] The term “latter stage magnetic field” refers to the magnetic field of the permanent electromagnet detectable in one or more detection cycles when the permanent electromagnet is in a fully magnetized stage and no current is applied or insufficient current is applied.

[0043] The term "preliminary compressive force" refers to the compressive force between the article and the permanent electromagnet, which can be detected in one or more detection cycles when the permanent electromagnet is in a state where the magnetic field is partially weakened from the initial magnetic field in proportion to the amount of current applied.

[0044] The term "late stage compressive force" refers to the compressive force between the article and the permanent electromagnet, which can be detected in one or more detection cycles when the permanent electromagnet is in the fully magnetized stage and no current is applied or the applied current is insufficient.

[0045] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below by way of illustrative examples to show the details of the present invention. The breadth and scope of the present invention should be defined only by the claims and their equivalents derived from this disclosure.

[0046] In one embodiment of the present invention, the present invention relates to a magnetic attachment system (100), comprising:

[0047] - a permanent electromagnet (200);

[0048] - a sensing unit (300) configured to sense an object attached to the permanent electromagnet (200) and comprising:

[0049] - at least one magnetic detection unit (304);

[0050] - at least one compression detection unit (306);

[0051] - a processor in communication with the permanent electromagnet (200) and the sensing unit (300);

[0052] The processor is configured to execute a method comprising:

[0053] i) By applying current to the permanent electromagnet, the permanent

[0054] a magnetic field of the initial magnetic field of the electromagnet (200);

[0055] ii) when a user temporarily attaches an object to the permanent electromagnet (200), the magnetic field of the previous stage is detected via the magnetic detection unit (304), and the compression force of the previous stage is detected via the compression detection unit (306);

[0056] iii) upon receiving a command from the user, terminating the application of the current to fully attach the item;

[0057] wherein, in step i), an electric current is applied to the permanent electromagnet (200)

[0058] The magnetic field is weakened to at least 70% of the weight of the object capable of being temporarily attached;

[0059] Wherein, in step ii), if the compression force in the previous stage is not within the preset value of the compression force in the previous stage, the processor will send a notification to the user.

[0060] In another exemplary embodiment, in step i), the processor further performs detecting magnetic degradation by detecting the initial magnetic field of the permanent electromagnet (200) via a magnetic detection unit (304) before partially weakening the initial magnetic field.

[0061] In another exemplary embodiment, in step ii), the processor further monitors whether there is a change in the compression force in the previous stage, and if there is no change within a preset time, the processor sends a notification to the user whether the item is fully attached.

[0062] In another exemplary embodiment, the processor further verifies whether the identity of the item is accurate via the identity detection unit (302) in step ii).

[0063] In another exemplary embodiment, the processor further performs step v): monitoring magnetic degradation by detecting a later stage magnetic field of the permanent electromagnet (200) via a magnetic detection unit (304).

[0064] In another exemplary embodiment, if the post-stage magnetic field of the permanent electromagnet (200) is 20% lower than the maximum magnetic field of the permanent electromagnet (200), the processor will send a notification to the user.

[0065] In a preferred exemplary embodiment, if the later stage magnetic field of the permanent electromagnet (200) is 10% lower than the maximum magnetic field of the permanent electromagnet (200), the processor will send a notification to the user.

[0066] In another exemplary embodiment, the processor further performs step v): monitoring the attachment performance by detecting a post-stage compression force between the article and the permanent electromagnet (200) via a compression detection unit (306).

[0067] In another exemplary embodiment, if the post-stage compression force between the article and the permanent electromagnet (200) is 20% lower than a preset value of the compression force, the processor will send a notification to the user.

[0068] In a preferred exemplary embodiment, if the post-stage compression force between the article and the permanent electromagnet (200) is 10% lower than a preset value of the compression force, the processor will send a notification to the user.

[0069] In another exemplary embodiment, the processor further performs step v): monitoring the compression strength by detecting a post-stage compression force between the article and the permanent electromagnet (200) via a compression detection unit (306).

[0070] In another exemplary embodiment, if the post-stage compression force between the article and the permanent electromagnet (200) is 20% higher than a preset value of the compression force, the processor will send a notification to the user.

[0071] In a preferred exemplary embodiment, if the post-stage compression force between the article and the permanent electromagnet (200) is 10% higher than a preset value of the compression force, the processor will send a notification to the user.

[0072] In another exemplary embodiment, the preset value of the compressive force is an initial value of the post-stage compressive force when the article is fully attached to the permanent electromagnet (200).

[0073] In another exemplary embodiment, in step v), the processor further detects environmental factors by utilizing an environment detection unit.

[0074] In another aspect of the present invention, the present invention relates to a method of attaching and sensing an item using a magnetic attachment system (100), the method comprising the steps of:

[0075] i) partially weakening the magnetic field from the initial magnetic field of the permanent electromagnet (200) by applying a current to the permanent electromagnet (200);

[0076] ii) when a user temporarily attaches an object to the permanent electromagnet (200), the magnetic field of the previous stage is detected via the magnetic detection unit (304), and the compression force of the previous stage is detected via the compression detection unit (306);

[0077] iii) upon receiving a command from the user, terminating the application of the current to fully attach the item;

[0078] wherein, in step i), an electric current is applied to weaken the magnetic field of the permanent electromagnet (200) to at least 70% of the weight allowing temporary attachment of the item;

[0079] Wherein, in step ii), if the compression force in the previous stage is not within the preset value of the compression force in the previous stage, the processor will send a notification to the user.

[0080] In another exemplary embodiment, step i) further comprises the following step: detecting the initial magnetic field of the permanent electromagnet (200) via a magnetic detection unit (304) to detect magnetic degradation before partially weakening the initial magnetic field.

[0081] In another exemplary embodiment, step ii) further comprises the following steps: monitoring whether there is a change in the compression force in the previous stage, and if there is no change within a preset time, the processor notifies the user whether the item is fully attached.

[0082] In another exemplary embodiment, step ii) further comprises the following step: verifying whether the identity of the item is accurate via an identity detection unit (302).

[0083] In another exemplary embodiment, the method further comprises step v): monitoring magnetic degradation by detecting a later stage magnetic field of the permanent electromagnet (200) via a magnetic detection unit (304).

[0084] In another exemplary embodiment, if the post-stage permanent electromagnet (200) magnetic field is 20% lower than the permanent electromagnet (200) maximum magnetic field, the processor will send a notification to the user.

[0085] In a preferred exemplary embodiment, if the later stage magnetic field of the permanent electromagnet (200) is 10% lower than the maximum magnetic field of the permanent electromagnet (200), the processor will send a notification to the user.

[0086] In another exemplary embodiment, the method further comprises step v): monitoring the attachment performance by detecting a post-stage compression force between the article and the permanent electromagnet (200) via a compression detection unit (306).

[0087] In another exemplary embodiment, if the post-stage compression force between the article and the permanent electromagnet (200) is 20% lower than a preset value of the compression force, the processor will send a notification to the user.

[0088] In a preferred exemplary embodiment, if the post-stage compression force between the article and the permanent electromagnet (200) is 10% lower than a preset value of the compression force, the processor will send a notification to the user.

[0089] In another exemplary embodiment, the method further comprises step v): monitoring the compression strength by detecting a post-stage compression force between the article and the permanent electromagnet (200) via a compression detection unit (306).

[0090] In another exemplary embodiment, if the post-stage compression force between the article and the permanent electromagnet (200) is 20% higher than a preset value of the compression force, the processor will send a notification to the user.

[0091] In a preferred exemplary embodiment, if the post-stage compression force between the article and the permanent electromagnet (200) is 10% higher than a preset value of the compression force, the processor will send a notification to the user.

[0092] In another exemplary embodiment, the preset value of the compressive force is an initial value of the post-stage compressive force when the article is fully attached to the permanent electromagnet (200).

[0093] In another exemplary embodiment, step v) further comprises the following step: detecting environmental factors by using an environmental detection unit.

[0094] It should be understood that the examples of the present invention described below are presented only as illustrative and exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Therefore, the breadth and scope of the present invention should be defined only by the claims and their equivalents derived from this disclosure.

[0095] Example Embodiments

[0096] These example embodiments of the present invention will now be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this disclosure.

[0097] according to Figure 1 and Figure 2, a magnetic attachment system (100) of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: a permanent electromagnet (200) configured to be fully magnetized when no current is applied; and a sensing unit (300) configured to sense an item attached to the permanent electromagnet (200). The sensing unit (300) includes at least one identity detection unit (302) for detecting an identity of the item, at least one magnetic detection unit (304) for detecting a magnetic field, and at least one compression detection unit (306) for detecting a compression force. The magnetic attachment system (100) also includes a processor that communicates with the permanent electromagnet (200), the identity detection unit (302), the magnetic detection unit (304), and the compression detection unit (306), which will be described in detail later.

[0098] The permanent electromagnet (200) is a magnet that is always in a fully magnetized state when no current is applied. However, when the user partially applies current to the permanent electromagnet (200), the amount of magnetic field is partially weakened. Utilizing this characteristic of the permanent electromagnet (200), it can be used to temporarily attach an item or temporarily hold an item when the item is mounted on the permanent electromagnet (200). When the item is temporarily attached, the permanent electromagnet (200) supports part of the weight of the item for a period of time, wherein the user can conveniently adjust the item by rotating or moving the item with less force. When the user has adjusted the position of the item, the user can stop applying current to allow the permanent electromagnet (200) to be fully magnetized, thereby fully attaching the item.

[0099] The permanent electromagnet (200) may be configured to receive input of a user instruction to weaken the magnetic field. For example, a user may input instructions to allow the permanent electromagnet (200) to temporarily attach at least 70% of the weight of an item, wherein the processor may automatically determine the amount of current applied to the permanent electromagnet (200) by calculation based on the size of the magnet and the weight of the item. The permanent electromagnet (200) may be designed to have a holding capacity of 5 to 100 kg for attaching the item. The permanent electromagnet (200) may also be used to facilitate a user to support heavy and / or large items (e.g., metal sheets, pipes, industrial equipment, etc.) used in a manufacturing facility or industrial plant. The permanent electromagnet (200) may be designed to have a holding capacity of up to 15,000 kg depending on the item, but is not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

[0100] The sensing unit (300) may be covered by a housing (320). The housing (320) may be formed into a geometric shape selected from a ring, a triangle, a circle, a trapezoid, a hexagon, etc. The housing (320) may be a rigid shell for protecting the identity detection unit (302), the magnetic detection unit (304), the compression detection unit (306), and the processor from damage. The sensing unit (300) according to the example embodiment may be designed in an annular housing (320) having a thickness in the range of 5 to 30 mm and a diameter in the range of 20 to 100 mm.

[0101] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the identity detection unit (302) of the sensing unit (300) is arranged inside the sensing unit (300) for detecting the identity of the item and transmitting the identity of the item to the processor. The identity is the basic information of the item, including the design location, product name, size, type, model, weight, shipping track, production date, etc. When a user buys and / or sells an item, the basic information indicates the identity of the item. The user can ensure that the item is exactly the same as its design or is a genuine product certified by the manufacturer. For example, the identity detection unit (302) may include a radio frequency identification (RFID) unit, and the radio frequency identification unit has an RFID antenna (303) for receiving the identity of the RFID tag inside the item. After the identity detection unit (302) detects the identity of the item, the processor connected to the identity detection unit (302) verifies the identification result by comparing the identity of the item with the identity data. The verification of the identity is performed in a true (accurate) or false (inaccurate) manner. If the identification result is false, the processor will send a notification to the user to check the item. Identity data is data (e.g., product name, product model, manufacturer-generated identity data (e.g., production date, expiration date, batch number, lot number, size, dimensions, weight, color, material, or a combination thereof). This information may be collected into a cloud system for use in an online platform. The processor may be designed to connect and retrieve identity data in an online mode and / or an offline mode.

[0102] A magnetic detection unit (304) is provided at the bottom of the sensing unit (300) for detecting a magnetic field between the permanent electromagnet (200) and an object. The magnetic detection unit (304) detects an initial magnetic field when the magnetic attachment system (100) is executed. When the user partially weakens the initial magnetic field of the permanent electromagnet (200) in order to temporarily attach an object, the magnetic detection unit (304) detects the magnetic field in the form of a previous stage magnetic field. Since the permanent electromagnet (200) partially supports the weight of the object (e.g., supports at least 70% of the weight of the object), the user can easily move the object without applying a large force. Thereafter, if the user stops applying current to the permanent electromagnet (200) so that the object is completely attached to the permanent electromagnet (200), the magnetic detection unit (304) detects a later stage magnetic field for monitoring the magnetic degradation of the permanent electromagnet (200). If the post stage magnetic field of the permanent electromagnet (200) is 20% below the maximum magnetic field of the permanent electromagnet (200), preferably 10% below the maximum magnetic field, the processor will send a notification to the user that the permanent electromagnet (200) has degraded and may need to be replaced.

[0103] The magnetic detection unit (304) may be a sensor for detecting a magnetic field, such as a Hall sensor. The Hall sensor may be designed to detect a magnetic field within a range of 2,000 to 10,000 Gauss (G). However, the range of the magnetic field detected by the magnetic detection unit (304) may be adjusted depending on the capacity of the permanent electromagnet (200) and the weight of the item.

[0104] The compression detection unit (306) disposed on top of the sensing unit (300) is configured to detect the compression force applied between the permanent electromagnet (200) and the article. When the user temporarily attaches the article to the permanent electromagnet (200), the compression detection unit (306) detects the compression force in the form of the previous stage compression force. Since part of the weight of the article is supported by the magnetic field from the permanent electromagnet (200), the user can easily move the article without applying a large force. However, if the previous stage compression force is not within the preset value of the previous stage compression force, the processor will send a notification to the user. If the article is attached incorrectly (e.g., wrong position, wrong alignment and / or inaccurate angle) or there is interference between the article and the permanent electromagnet (200) (e.g., a plastic sheet as a barrier), the previous stage compression force may not be within the preset value. The preset value of the previous stage compression force can be determined based on the weight of the article, the shape of the article, the angle between the article and the permanent electromagnet (200), the vertical or horizontal installation of the article, or a combination thereof. Additionally, the processor may monitor whether there is a change in the compression force from the previous stage, and if there is no change within a preset time, the processor will send a notification to the user whether the item is fully attached.

[0105] When the user instructs the system to stop applying current to the permanent electromagnet (200) so that the article is fully attached to the permanent electromagnet (200), the compression detection unit (306) will detect the post-stage compression force to monitor the attachment performance and monitor the compression strength on the article. In terms of attachment performance, if the post-stage compression force between the article and the permanent electromagnet (200) is 20% lower than the preset value of the compression force, preferably 10% lower than the preset value of the compression force, the processor will send a notification to the user: the attachment performance is poor and the article may fall off. On the other hand, in terms of compression strength, if the post-stage compression force between the article and the permanent electromagnet (200) is 20% higher than the preset value of the compression force, preferably 10% higher than the preset value of the compression force, the processor will send a notification to the user: the article is highly compressed and the article may be damaged. The preset value of the compression force can be the initial value of the post-stage compression force when the article is fully attached to the permanent electromagnet (200). In some cases, the preset value of the compression force may be determined by the manufacturer and calculated based on the weight of the object, the shape of the object, the angle between the object and the permanent electromagnet (200), and whether the object is mounted vertically or horizontally.

[0106] The compression detection unit (306) may be a sensor for detecting the compressive force, such as a force sensor or a strain gauge. The force sensor may be designed to detect the compressive force in the range of 20 to 1,000 Newtons (N). However, the range of the compression force detected by the compression detection unit (306) may be adjusted depending on the capacity of the permanent electromagnet (200) and the weight of the object.

[0107] The sensing unit (300) further comprises a connection unit (not shown here) located on one side of the sensing unit (300) for electrical connection between the sensing unit (300) and the object. This can provide data communication, power supply or Internet connection to the object. In addition, the sensing unit (300) can also be integrated with at least one environmental detection unit for measuring environmental factors (e.g., temperature, pressure, humidity) in the space. The environmental detection unit can include at least one environmental detection sensor selected from a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, a humidity sensor, a vibration sensor, a flame sensor, a smoke sensor, etc., for detecting or measuring other physical characteristics in the space according to user needs.

[0108] Figure 4 A flow chart of a method for attaching and sensing an item using a magnetic attachment system (100) according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown. The method comprises the following steps:

[0109] a) detecting magnetic degradation by detecting the initial magnetic field of the permanent electromagnet (200) via a magnetic detection unit (304), and notifying a user via a processor if any degradation of the permanent electromagnet (200) occurs before partially weakening the magnetic field;

[0110] b) partially weakening the magnetic field from the initial magnetic field of the permanent electromagnet (200) by applying a current to the permanent electromagnet. The current may be applied to weaken the magnetic field of the permanent electromagnet (200) to enable temporary attachment of at least 70% of the weight of the item;

[0111] c) when a user temporarily attaches an item to the permanent electromagnet (200), the magnetic field of the previous stage is detected via the magnetic detection unit (304), the compression force of the previous stage is detected via the compression detection unit (306), and the identity is detected via the identity detection unit (302);

[0112] - In terms of identity, the processor compares the identity of the item with the identity data

[0113] To verify the recognition results:

[0114] oIf the recognition result is false, the processor will send a notification to the user;

[0115] oIf the recognition result is true, the processor will record the recognition result to update the identity data;

[0116] -When the pre-compression force is a certain value, the processor monitors whether the pre-compression force is within the preset value range of the pre-compression force and sends a notification to the user. In addition, the processor also monitors whether the pre-compression force changes. If there is no change within a predetermined time, the processor will send a notification to the user whether the item is fully attached;

[0117] d) After receiving the user's instruction, terminate the application of current to fully attach the item. When the user inputs the instruction to terminate the current to the processor, the item will be stably attached to the fully magnetized permanent electromagnet (200). The processor will then verify the security between the item and the permanent electromagnet (200) by:

[0118] - monitoring magnetic degradation by detecting the post-stage magnetic field, and if the post-stage magnetic field is 20% below the maximum magnetic field, the processor will send a notification to the user that the permanent electromagnet (200) has degraded and may need to be replaced;

[0119] -Monitoring the attachment performance by detecting the post-stage compression force. If the post-stage compression force is 20% lower than the preset value of the compression force, the processor sends a notification to the user: Attachment performance

[0120] Poor, and items may fall off;

[0121] -By detecting the post-stage compression force and monitoring the compression strength, if the post-stage compression force is 20% higher than the preset value of the compression force, the processor will send a notification to the user: the item is subjected to high compression and may be damaged.

[0122] One advantage of the magnetic attachment system (100) is that it can also detect and monitor the forces acting on the items. For example, in a facility, if the magnetic attachment system (100) is mounted on a floor with pipes (considered as items), and if forces are applied to the pipes (e.g. due to people walking around or instruments being stacked on top of them), the post-stage compression forces will be higher. The compression detection unit (306) will detect the increased compression forces and then transmit the detection results to the processor to notify the workers to check if there is any pipe damage. This provides more safety and reliability to the facility.

[0123] If desired, the user can use multiple magnetic attachment systems (100) in combination, preferably for attaching large or heavy items. The multiple magnetic attachment systems (100) can be assembled to simultaneously contribute magnetic fields and compression forces to the assembled system. In this case, these magnetic attachment systems (100) can be configured to work as a system integration or work separately.

[0124] All examples of the magnetic attachment system (100) may be applied to constructing walls, partitions, ceilings and floors of houses, offices, conference rooms, educational facilities, game or entertainment rooms, VR rooms, hologram rooms, hospitals, operating rooms, robotics rooms, testing / laboratories, containers, manufacturing facilities or industrial plants, any type of building, or any structure of any type involving the construction of walls, ceilings and floors, but are not intended to limit the scope of the invention for any purpose.

[0125] The materials of any component of the magnetic attachment system (100) can be adjusted / modified to suit the environment and atmosphere of the area, whether it is used in normal atmosphere, or used at sea level where corrosion resistant materials are required, or used in outer space (extremely high vacuum) where lightweight and very strong materials are required. Although the properties of the materials may change and are contemplated by a person of ordinary skill in the art, the components and functions will not depart from the scope of the present invention.

[0126] While embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

[0127] Although various embodiments according to the disclosed principles have been described above, it should be understood that these embodiments are presented by way of example only and are not limiting. Therefore, the breadth and scope of the example embodiments described in this disclosure should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the claims issued in this disclosure and their equivalents. In addition, the above-described advantages and features provided in the described embodiments should not limit the application of these issued claims to the process and structure for achieving any or all of the above-described advantages.

[0128] Best Mode or Preferred Embodiment of the Invention

[0129] The best mode or preferred embodiment of the present invention is provided in the description of the present invention.

Claims

1. A magnetic attachment system (100), comprising: - a permanent electromagnet (200); - a sensing unit (300) configured to sense an object attached to the permanent electromagnet (200) and comprising: - at least one magnetic detection unit (304); - at least one compression detection unit (306); - a processor in communication with the permanent electromagnet (200) and the sensing unit (300); The processor is configured to perform a method comprising the steps of: i) partially weakening the magnetic field from the initial magnetic field of the permanent electromagnet (200) by applying a current to the permanent electromagnet; ii) when a user temporarily attaches an object to the permanent electromagnet (200), the magnetic field of the previous stage is detected via the magnetic detection unit (304), and the compression force of the previous stage is detected via the compression detection unit (306); iii) upon receiving a command from the user, terminating the application of the current to fully attach the item; wherein, in step i), an electric current is applied to weaken the magnetic field of the permanent electromagnet (200) to at least 70% of the weight capable of temporarily attaching the item; Wherein, in step ii), if the compression force in the previous stage is not within the preset value of the compression force in the previous stage, the processor will send a notification to the user.

2. The magnetic attachment system (100) according to claim 1, wherein: In step i), the processor further performs detecting magnetic degradation by detecting the initial magnetic field of the permanent electromagnet (200) via a magnetic detection unit (304) before partially weakening the initial magnetic field.

3. The magnetic attachment system (100) of claim 1, wherein: In step ii), the processor also monitors whether there is a change in the compression force in the previous stage, and if there is no change within a preset time, the processor sends a notification to the user whether the item is fully attached.

4. The magnetic attachment system (100) of claim 1, wherein: In step ii), the processor also verifies whether the identity of the item is accurate via the identity detection unit (302).

5. The magnetic attachment system (100) of claim 1, wherein: The processor further performs step v): monitoring magnetic degradation by detecting a later stage magnetic field of the permanent electromagnet (200) via a magnetic detection unit (304).

6. The magnetic attachment system (100) of claim 5, wherein: If the later stage magnetic field of the permanent electromagnet (200) is 20% lower than the maximum magnetic field of the permanent electromagnet (200), the processor will send a notification to the user.

7. The magnetic attachment system (100) of claim 6, wherein: If the later stage magnetic field of the permanent electromagnet (200) is 10% lower than the maximum magnetic field of the permanent electromagnet (200), the processor will send a notification to the user.

8. The magnetic attachment system (100) of claim 1, wherein: The processor also performs step v): monitoring the attachment performance by detecting a post-stage compression force between the article and the permanent electromagnet (200) via a compression detection unit (306).

9. The magnetic attachment system (100) of claim 8, wherein: If the post-stage compression force between the object and the permanent electromagnet (200) is 20% lower than the preset value of the compression force, the processor will send a notification to the user.

10. The magnetic attachment system (100) of claim 9, wherein: If the post-stage compression force between the article and the permanent electromagnet (200) is 10% lower than the preset value of the compression force, the processor will send a notification to the user.

11. The magnetic attachment system (100) of claim 1, wherein: The processor also performs step v): monitoring the compression strength by detecting the post-stage compression force between the article and the permanent electromagnet (200) via the compression detection unit (306).

12. The magnetic attachment system (100) of claim 11, wherein: If the post-stage compression force between the object and the permanent electromagnet (200) is 20% higher than the preset value of the compression force, the processor will send a notification to the user.

13. The magnetic attachment system (100) of claim 12, wherein: If the post-stage compression force between the article and the permanent electromagnet (200) is 10% higher than the preset value of the compression force, the processor will send a notification to the user.

14. The magnetic attachment system (100) according to claim 8 or 11, wherein: The preset value of the compressive force is the initial value of the later stage compressive force when the article is fully attached to the permanent electromagnet (200).

15. The magnetic attachment system (100) of claim 5, 8 or 11, wherein: In step v), the processor further detects environmental factors by utilizing an environmental detection unit.

16. A method of attaching and sensing an item using a magnetic attachment system (100), comprising the steps of: i) partially weakening the magnetic field from the initial magnetic field of the permanent electromagnet (200) by applying a current to the permanent electromagnet; ii) when a user temporarily attaches an object to the permanent electromagnet (200), the magnetic field of the previous stage is detected via the magnetic detection unit (304), and the compression force of the previous stage is detected via the compression detection unit (306); iii) upon receiving a command from the user, terminating the application of the current to fully attach the item; wherein, in step i), an electric current is applied to weaken the magnetic field of the permanent electromagnet (200) to at least 70% of the weight allowing temporary attachment of the item; Wherein, in step ii), if the compression force in the previous stage is not within the preset value of the compression force in the previous stage, the processor will send a notification to the user.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein: Step i) further includes the step of detecting magnetic degradation by detecting the initial magnetic field of the permanent electromagnet (200) via a magnetic detection unit (304) before partially weakening the initial magnetic field.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein: Step ii) further comprises the following steps: monitoring whether there is a change in the compression force in the previous stage, and if there is no change within a preset time, the processor will send a notification to the user whether the item is fully attached.

19. The method according to claim 16, wherein: Step ii) also includes the following step: verifying whether the identity of the item is accurate via an identity detection unit (302).

20. The method according to claim 16, wherein: The method further comprises step v): monitoring magnetic degradation by detecting a later stage magnetic field of the permanent electromagnet (200) via a magnetic detection unit (304).

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein: If the later stage magnetic field of the permanent electromagnet (200) is 20% lower than the maximum magnetic field of the permanent electromagnet (200), the processor will send a notification to the user.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein: If the later stage magnetic field of the permanent electromagnet (200) is 10% lower than the maximum magnetic field of the permanent electromagnet (200), the processor will send a notification to the user.

23. The method according to claim 16, wherein: The method further comprises step v) of monitoring the attachment performance by detecting a post-stage compression force between the article and the permanent electromagnet (200) via a compression detection unit (306).

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein: If the post-stage compression force between the object and the permanent electromagnet (200) is 20% lower than the preset value of the compression force, the processor will send a notification to the user.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein: If the post-stage compression force between the article and the permanent electromagnet (200) is 10% lower than the preset value of the compression force, the processor will send a notification to the user.

26. The method of claim 16, wherein: The method further comprises the step v) of monitoring the compression strength by detecting the post-stage compression force between the article and the permanent electromagnet (200) via a compression detection unit (306).

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein: If the post-stage compression force between the object and the permanent electromagnet (200) is 20% higher than the preset value of the compression force, the processor will send a notification to the user.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein: If the post-stage compression force between the article and the permanent electromagnet (200) is 10% higher than the preset value of the compression force, the processor will send a notification to the user.

29. The method according to claim 23 or 26, wherein: The preset value of the compressive force is the initial value of the later stage compressive force when the article is fully attached to the permanent electromagnet (200).

30. The method of claim 20, 23 or 26, wherein: Step v) further comprises the following step: detecting environmental factors by utilizing an environmental detection unit.

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