Granted Patent B2

US 9,868,071 · App. 14/980,925 · Granted Jan 16, 2018

Abstract

Claims (72)

1. A method for controlling a swing comprising a seat driven along a swing path by an electromagnetic drive system including a first magnetic component and a second magnetic component, wherein at least one of the first and second magnetic components comprises an electromagnet and wherein the method comprises the steps of:

generating a first magnetic force between the first magnetic component and second magnetic component that drives the seat along the swing path in a first direction;

generating a second magnetic force between the first magnetic component and second magnetic component that drives the seat along the swing path in a second direction;

sensing an amplitude of the seat's motion along the swing path;

comparing the sensed amplitude with a value indicative of a goal amplitude for the swing; and

repeating the steps of sensing the amplitude of the seat's motion, comparing the sense amplitude with the value indicative of the goal amplitude, generating the first magnetic force, and generating the second magnetic force in order to drive the seat along the swing path with a substantially constant amplitude that is substantially equal to the goal amplitude;

wherein the first magnetic force and the second magnetic force cause the seat to swing with an amplitude nearer to the goal amplitude.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first magnetic force comprises a first attractive magnetic force between the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component; and

wherein the second magnetic force comprises a second attractive magnetic force between the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first magnetic force comprises a first repulsive magnetic force between the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component; and

wherein the second magnetic force comprises a second repulsive magnetic force between the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first magnetic force comprises an attractive magnetic force between the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component; and

wherein the second magnetic force comprises a repulsive magnetic force between the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of generating the first magnetic force comprises generating a first electrical signal that causes electric current to be supplied to the electromagnet thereby generating the first magnetic force between the first magnetic component and second magnetic component; and wherein the step of generating the second magnetic force comprises generating a second electrical signal that causes electric current to be supplied to the electromagnet thereby generating the second magnetic force between the first magnetic component and second magnetic component.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the first electrical signal and second electrical signal correspond to a duration of electric current transmitted to the electromagnet.

7. A method for controlling a swing comprising a seat driven along a swing path by an electromagnetic drive system including a first magnetic component and a second magnetic component, wherein at least one of the first and second magnetic components comprises an electromagnet and wherein the method comprises the steps of:

generating a first magnetic force between the first magnetic component and second magnetic component that drives the seat along the swing path in a first direction;

generating a second magnetic force between the first magnetic component and second magnetic component that drives the seat along the swing path in a second direction;

sensing an amplitude of the seat's motion along the swing path; and

comparing the sensed amplitude with a value indicative of a goal amplitude for the swing;

wherein the step of generating the first magnetic force comprises generating a first electrical signal that causes electric current to be supplied to the electromagnet thereby generating the first magnetic force between the first magnetic component and second magnetic component; and wherein the step of generating the second magnetic force comprises generating a second electrical signal that causes electric current to be supplied to the electromagnet thereby generating the second magnetic force between the first magnetic component and second magnetic component;

wherein the first electrical signal and second electrical signal correspond to a duration of electric current transmitted to the electromagnet;

wherein the first magnetic force and the second magnetic force cause the seat to swing with an amplitude nearer to the goal amplitude; and

wherein the first electrical signal and second electrical signal are generated based on the comparison.

8. A method for controlling a swing comprising a seat driven along a swing path by an electromagnetic drive system including a first magnetic component and a second magnetic component, wherein at least one of the first and second magnetic components comprises an electromagnet and wherein the method comprises the steps of:

generating a first magnetic force between the first magnetic component and second magnetic component that drives the seat along the swing path in a first direction;

generating a second magnetic force between the first magnetic component and second magnetic component that drives the seat along the swing path in a second direction; and

determining the position of the first magnetic component in relation to a center point of the seat's swing path; and timing the generation of at least the first magnetic force based, at least in part, on the position of the first magnetic component in relation to the center point.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first magnetic force is an attractive magnetic force between the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component.

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising the steps of:

after generating the first magnetic force, detecting when the first magnetic component passes the second magnetic component; and

after detecting when the first magnetic component passes the second magnetic component, generating the second magnetic force.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein:

generating the first magnetic force comprises generating the first magnetic force for a first period of time; and

generating the second magnetic force comprises generating the second magnetic force for a second period of time;

wherein the first period of time is substantially equal to the second period of time.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein:

generating the first magnetic force comprises generating the first magnetic force for a first period of time; and

generating the second magnetic force comprises generating the second magnetic force for a second period of time;

wherein the first period of time is different from the second period of time.

13. A method for controlling a swing comprising a seat driven along a swing path by an electromagnetic drive system including a first magnetic component and a second magnetic component, wherein at least one of the first and second magnetic components comprises an electromagnet and wherein the method comprises the steps of:

generating a first magnetic force between the first magnetic component and second magnetic component that drives the seat along the swing path in a first direction; and

generating a second magnetic force between the first magnetic component and second magnetic component that drives the seat along the swing path in a second direction;

wherein the first magnetic force comprises a first attractive magnetic force between the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component;

wherein the second magnetic force comprises a second attractive magnetic force between the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component;

wherein the first magnetic component is secured relative to the seat and the second magnetic component is stationary; and wherein:

the first magnetic force is generated while the first magnetic component is positioned on a first side of the second magnetic component; and

the second magnetic force is generated while the first magnetic component is positioned on an opposite, second side of the second magnetic component.

14. A method for controlling a swing comprising a seat driven along a swing path by an electromagnetic drive system including a first magnetic component and a second magnetic component, wherein at least one of the first and second magnetic components comprises an electromagnet and wherein the method comprises the steps of:

generating a first magnetic force between the first magnetic component and second magnetic component that drives the seat along the swing path in a first direction; and

generating a second magnetic force between the first magnetic component and second magnetic component that drives the seat along the swing path in a second direction;

wherein the first magnetic force comprises a first repulsive magnetic force between the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component;

wherein the second magnetic force comprises a second repulsive magnetic force between the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component;

wherein the first magnetic component is secured relative to the seat and the second magnetic component is stationary; and wherein:

the first magnetic force is generated while the first magnetic component is positioned on a first side of the second magnetic component; and

the second magnetic force is generated while the first magnetic component is positioned on an opposite, second side of the second magnetic component.

15. A method for controlling a swing comprising a seat driven along a swing path by an electromagnetic drive system including a first magnetic component and a second magnetic component, wherein at least one of the first and second magnetic components comprises an electromagnet and wherein the method comprises the steps of:

generating a first magnetic force between the first magnetic component and second magnetic component that drives the seat along the swing path in a first direction; and

generating a second magnetic force between the first magnetic component and second magnetic component that drives the seat along the swing path in a second direction;

wherein the first magnetic force comprises an attractive magnetic force between the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component;

wherein the second magnetic force comprises a repulsive magnetic force between the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component; and

wherein the first magnetic component is secured relative to the seat and the second magnetic component is stationary; and wherein:

the first magnetic force is generated while the first magnetic component is positioned on a side of the second magnetic component; and

the second magnetic force is generated while the first magnetic component is positioned on the same side of the second magnetic component.

16. A method for controlling a swing comprising a seat driven along a swing path by an electromagnetic drive system including a first magnetic component and a second magnetic component, wherein at least one of the first and second magnetic components comprises an electromagnet and wherein the method comprises the steps of:

generating a first magnetic force between the first magnetic component and second magnetic component that drives the seat along the swing path in a first direction;

generating a second magnetic force between the first magnetic component and second magnetic component that drives the seat along the swing path in a second direction;

after generating the first magnetic force, detecting when the first magnetic component passes the second magnetic component; and

after detecting when the first magnetic component passes the second magnetic component, generating the second magnetic force;

wherein generating the second magnetic force comprises:

after detecting when the first magnetic component passes the second magnetic component, waiting a programmed firing delay time; and

after the programmed firing delay time elapses, generating the second magnetic force.

Assignments (10)