GNSS Receiver Magnetic Battery Attachment for Precise Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current survey systems face challenges with power management, particularly with the need for easy battery pack swapping while maintaining alignment, as existing quick-release mechanisms are complex, costly, and prone to misalignment, which affects positioning accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A detachable battery pack system utilizing a pair of encoded magnets for secure alignment and easy swapping, ensuring proper connection and disconnection with a magnetic quick-release mechanism that provides a strong attraction force only when aligned, and a reduced or repulsive force when misaligned.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional quick-release mechanism is used for battery pack swapping, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases and manufacturing precision deteriorates due to alignment issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical quick-release mechanisms with a magnetic field-based attachment system. The battery pack contains a magnet that magnetically attaches to the receiver housing, eliminating the need for mechanical latches, springs, and moving parts. This substitution maintains ease of operation while significantly reducing device complexity and improving alignment precision through the inherent guidance of magnetic field lines.
2Reliability
If a threaded connection is used for battery pack attachment, then reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to mis-threading issues and time-consuming assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces threaded mechanical connections with a magnetic field-based attachment system. The magnet in the battery pack creates a magnetic field that attracts to the receiver housing, providing reliable connection stability without requiring precise threading or rotation. This eliminates mis-threading issues and significantly improves ease of operation through simple magnetic attachment and detachment.
3Ease of operation
If existing quick-release mechanisms are used, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to excessive play and misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical quick-release mechanisms with a magnetic field-based system where the magnet's field lines provide inherent alignment guidance. The magnetic attraction force naturally guides the battery pack into correct alignment with the receiver housing, eliminating excessive play and misalignment issues. This maintains ease of operation while significantly improving manufacturing precision and alignment accuracy.
4Measurement precision
If a magnetic quick-release mechanism with encoded magnets is used, then positioning accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetrically encoded magnets with specific polarity patterns that create unique magnetic field configurations. This asymmetry in the magnetic encoding provides precise positioning information and alignment guidance, improving measurement precision for positioning accuracy. The asymmetric design allows the system to distinguish between different angular positions and orientations, achieving high precision without requiring complex mechanical structures.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution simplifies battery pack replacement in the field, ensures accurate alignment for robust data integration, and enhances positioning accuracy, allowing for integration with virtual and augmented reality systems.
Implementation Method 1
a pair of magnets each encoded with a polarity pattern to generate an attraction force when the pair of magnets are positioned with mating faces parallel and substantially proximate to each other and with the polarity patterns aligned
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A receiver assembly or top unit (110) for use in a survey system. A quick release assembly or interface, which is designed for simple construction and no moving parts, is provided in the receiver housing (230) and battery pack (114) that includes a pair of magnets (235, 245) such that the receiver housing is attached to the battery pack via magnetic attraction or forces rather than with threaded connections or a more complex disconnect with multiple moving parts. Each magnet is a permanent magnet that is programmed or encoded with multi-poles or patterns. The magnets are affixed to or within the receiver housing and battery pack such that an attractive magnetic force is generated between the two magnets only when the two housings are properly aligned. A small amount of rotation from this aligned configuration causes the two magnets to generate repelling or repulsion forces that facilitate ready disassembly or removal of the battery pack.