Levitating Disk With Centrifugal Switch and Distributed Batteries
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing levitation illusions using invisible threads face challenges in maintaining balance and stability, especially when incorporating LED lights, as they are difficult to spin and prone to losing axis due to battery placement and distribution.
Innovation Solution
A levitating disk with evenly distributed batteries and a centrifugal force-operated switch, integrated with a microprocessor for patterned lighting, provides rotational stability and easy actuation, using a disk-shaped housing and micro-thread for the illusion of levitation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a battery is positioned in the center of the card, then the LED's can be operated, but the card comes off axis easily and loses balance
Solution Approach 1:
The single central battery is segmented into multiple batteries distributed around the perimeter of the disk. This segmentation moves the weight distribution from a central concentration to a distributed arrangement, preventing the disk from coming off-axis while maintaining power supply capability through multiple battery contacts.
Solution Approach 2:
The battery arrangement transitions from a one-dimensional central point to a two-dimensional perimeter distribution. By positioning batteries around the outer edge of the disk rather than at the center, the design achieves both functional power supply and rotational stability through dimensional redistribution.
2Ease of operation
If a lightweight card is used for the Flying Card trick, then the card can be spun, but it is difficult to accomplish and requires precise balance
Solution Approach 1:
The design changes the mass distribution parameter by adding batteries around the perimeter rather than concentrating weight at the center. This parameter change increases the moment of inertia and provides better balance during spinning, making the trick more reliable while maintaining ease of operation.
3Illumination intensity
If LED lights are added to the card edges, then the levitation illusion is enhanced, but the card becomes more complex and harder to spin
Solution Approach 1:
The batteries serve dual functions: they power the LED lights and simultaneously act as weight distribution elements that stabilize the spinning disk. By merging the power supply function with the balance function, the design reduces overall complexity while achieving both illumination and rotational stability.
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
The solution enables the disk to be spun easily while maintaining its spin axis, ensuring stability and creating a convincing levitation illusion with evenly distributed weight and automatic lighting activation.
Implementation Method 1
a centrifugal force operated switch is electrically connected with the circuit board. The centrifugal force switch is operable for activating the lights upon rotation of the levitating disk.
Implementation Method 2
the lights are light emitting diodes (LEDs)
Data Source
AI summary
Described is a levitating disk for performing illusions of levitation. The disk includes a disk-shaped housing, with a circuit board, microprocessor, and batteries encased within the housing. A series of LEDs are connected with the housing and are activated via a centrifugal force switch. The circuit board and batteries are positioned within the housing such that they distribute the weight evenly from a central axis toward the periphery of the housing. A micro-thread is included for attaching with the disk. Thus, in operation, a user can hang the disk with the micro-thread and spin the disk about the central axis to cause the lights to illuminate and cause the disk to appear as if it is levitating.