Electromagnetic action toy system

Abstract

The present invention is typically configured as toy racecars and tracks, or model train sets but other toy and non-toy configurations are possible. It has a power supply, controller, track, and moveable object(s) such as a racecar or train. The moveable object(s) is a permanent magnet, or contains one or more permanent magnets, or one or more electrical conductors acting as electromagnets, positioned so as to travel general parallel to the surface of the track. The controller has operator interfaces such as switches and/or a potentiometer(s) for speed/motion input. The track is preferably one or more printed circuit boards with conductive traces configured such that the controller can power them. Current passes through the traces in a repetitive sequential order that causes the magnet/moveable object to be propelled along the track due to the Lorentz force generated by the electromagnetic field(s) acting on the conducting traces and the magnet(s).

1 . A method of propelling a moveable toy object containing a permanent magnet along a track having a series of electrical conductors spaced along a desired path for said moveable object to be propelled along said track, said conductors extending transversely across said desired path, said method comprising
 supplying electrical current to said multiple conductors to produce electromagnetic fields that extend above said track to interact with said permanent magnet in said moveable object,   controllably adjusting the supply of electrical current to said conductors so that said electromagnetic fields change sequentially along said track to propel said permanent magnet, and thus said moveable object, along said desired path when said moveable object is placed on the surface of said track.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  in which said electrical current supplied to each of said conductors is an alternating current that is out of phase with said electrical current supplied to the next successive conductor. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  in which said electrical current supplied to each of said conductors is an alternating current with a variable frequency to permit the speed of said toy object to be varied by varying said frequency. 
     
     
         4 . The toy of  claim 1  in which the movable object does not require brushes or pick-up shoes. 
     
     
         5 . A method of propelling a moveable toy containing a permanent magnet along a track having multiple electrical conductors, each with segments formed by electrically conductive traces of a printed circuit board and alternately extending transversely across a desired path for a moveable object along said track, said method comprising
 supplying multiple phases of alternating current to said multiple conductors so that said conductor segments alternately extending transversely across said desired path sequentially produce alternating polarity electromagnetic fields extending above the surface of said track, along said desired path, and   placing said moveable toy in proximity to the surface of said track so that said permanent magnet in said toy interacts with said alternating polarity electromagnetic fields to move said toy along said desired path by magnetic attraction and repulsion.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  in which said toy includes an electrically conductive coil that interacts with said electromagnetic fields to induce an electrical current in said coil for powering electrical components on said moveable object. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5  wherein each of said conductor segments comprises multiple adjacent conductive traces of said printed circuit board to collectively produce a common electromagnetic field around said multiple conductive traces. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5  wherein said moveable object contains multiple magnetic elements. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said multiple magnetic elements comprise a Halbach array. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 5  wherein said electrical current is reversibly supplied to said conductors in an alternative sequence so that said toy can be moved along said path in either direction. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 5  wherein at least portions of said track include conductive guardrails extending along the sides of said path, and supplying electrical power to said guardrails to produce electromagnetic fields around said guardrails to repel said toy from said guardrails. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 5  in which said electrical current supplied to each of said conductors is an alternating current that is out of phase with said electrical current supplied to the next successive conductor. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 5  in which said electrical current supplied to each of said conductors is an alternating current with a variable frequency to permit the speed of said toy object to be varied by varying said frequency.