Permanent Magnet Assembly for Passive Device Tracking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for determining and tracking the location of passive user-borne devices with magnetic objects are inefficient due to the complexity and cost of aligning magnetization directions, leading to reduced accuracy in location determination and tracking.

Innovation Solution

A permanent magnet assembly comprising at least two sub-magnets with inclined magnetic moment vectors, arranged coaxially and rotationally oriented to minimize the inclination of the assembly magnetic moment vector relative to the main body longitudinal axis, improving alignment and accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If current approaches are used to align magnetization direction with body axis (less than 0.5° angular deviation), then location determination accuracy is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocation determination accuracyVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The permanent magnet is divided into multiple magnetization sections along its body axis. Each section can be magnetized independently with different magnetic moment orientations. This segmentation allows the magnetic moments to be distributed such that their vector sum creates an assembly magnetic moment that is highly aligned with the body axis, even though individual sections may have deviations. This resolves the contradiction by achieving high alignment accuracy through distributed magnetization rather than requiring perfect alignment of a single magnetization direction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the magnetization parameter from a single uniform direction to multiple discrete directions distributed along the body axis. By controlling the distribution and orientation of magnetic moments in different sections, the assembly magnetic moment can be precisely controlled to align with the body axis. This parameter change approach achieves high alignment accuracy without requiring complex manufacturing processes for single-direction magnetization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If sorting and recycling methods are used to achieve perfect alignment, then location determination accuracy is improved, but production time and energy consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocation determination accuracyVSAvoidproduction efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of sorting individual magnets based on their magnetization alignment, the invention segments the magnet into multiple sections that are deliberately magnetized in different directions. This eliminates the need for time-consuming sorting and recycling processes, as the multi-section design inherently achieves the desired alignment characteristics through controlled magnetization distribution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention performs preliminary magnetization of different sections in specific directions during the manufacturing process itself, rather than requiring post-manufacturing sorting and alignment adjustments. By pre-establishing the distributed magnetization pattern, the assembly achieves high alignment accuracy directly from production, improving productivity while maintaining measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of manufacture

If magnetization direction deviates from body axis, then manufacturing complexity is reduced, but location determination accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidlocation determination accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the magnetization approach from requiring single-direction alignment to using multi-directional distributed magnetization. Individual sections can be magnetized in directions that are easier to manufacture, and their vector sum produces an assembly magnetic moment that is highly aligned with the body axis. This parameter transformation maintains manufacturing simplicity while achieving high measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The permanent magnet assembly functions as a composite magnetic structure where multiple magnetization sections with different orientations are combined. This composite approach allows each section to be manufactured with simpler alignment requirements, while the combined effect achieves the desired high-precision magnetic field characteristics for accurate location determination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 enhances the accuracy and cost-effectiveness of location determination and tracking of user-borne devices by aligning the magnetic moment vector with the main body axis, reducing angular deviation and improving the magnetic field symmetry.

Implementation Method 1

a magnetic object arranged in or coupled to the user-borne device... The magnetometer measurements enable determining and/or tracking of the location of the magnetic object

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic field: Magnetic Field

Implementation Method 2

a plurality of magnetometers allows to measure a magnetic field associated with a magnetic object

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetometer measurement: Magnetometer

Data Source

PatentEP4390636A1Permanent magnet assemblies for passive accessories
Publication Date: 2024.06.26 ADVANCED MAGNETIC INTERACTION (AMI)
  • EP4390636A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4390636A1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP4390636A1 patent drawingFigure 3a~4b

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a permanent magnet assembly for a user-borne device is provided. The permanent magnet assembly comprises at least two sub-magnets. The at least two sub-magnets each have a magnet body defining a respective longitudinal axis. Each sub-magnet creates a magnetic field and has a respective magnetic moment vector associated to the respective sub-magnet. At least one magnetic moment vector is inclined relative to the respective longitudinal axis. Two adjacent sub-magnets of the at least two sub-magnets are attached together to form a main body of the permanent magnet assembly. The main body has a main body longitudinal axis and defines an assembly magnetic moment vector. The at least two sub-magnets are arranged coaxial to each other and are rotationally oriented relative to each other such that the assembly magnetic moment vector is less or equally inclined relative to the main body longitudinal axis than a weighted average inclination of the magnetic moment vectors of the at least two sub-magnets.