Date: May 15, 2013 Author: Scott Evans Source: 2013 SBIR National Conference
In 2008, Larry Fullerton made a fundamental discovery in magnetism: knowledge of wave interference, coding theory, and signal processing also apply to magnetic fields. His discovery and subsequent inventions have grown into technologies that include the ability to design and program the magnetization of permanent magnetic (PM) materials providing for high-precision, complex magnetic fields and tailored three-dimensional magnetic force profiles. Two or more of these programmed magnets can be designed to have desired 3D force profiles, including many types that cannot be made using conventional magnets.
As one example, two magnets can be programming with a magnetization pattern with a complex field that attracts its partner only when the two magnets are aligned in a specific orientation. Other CMR magnets can automatically align within single digit microns (and can go smaller). CMR “programs” magnets by precisely magnetizing small regions (called magnetic elements or “maxels”) to build up complex magnetic patterns in bulk-formed, commercially available PM materials. No material is moved and no chemical reactions occur during the magnetization process, which is performed rapidly and at room temperature. The CMR magnetization machines can mass-produce these “PolyMagnets™” for fractions of pennies per magnet.
