GB2493164A

GB2493164A - Apparatus for applying static or varying magnetic fields across electronic equipment

Info

Publication number: GB2493164A
Application number: GB201112824A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mervyn Stanley Curtis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-07-26
Filing date: 2011-07-26
Publication date: 2013-01-30
Also published as: GB201112824D0

Abstract

The apparatus seeks to improve the performance of audio, video and other electronic equipment by effecting magnetic and electromagnetic interactions between components within such equipment. The field may be sufficient to swamp residual magnetism in components of the equipment that may exist. The apparatus comprises two magnet assemblies 17, 27 able to be arranged on opposite sides of the equipment 29 (vertically fig 1, or horizontally fig 2) and aligned, with north and south poles facing, so that a magnetic field 18 crosses through the components 19, 30 and PCB 20, 28 which may be inside the equipment (26). One embodiment uses substantially planar assemblies which may comprise a single permanent magnet or an array (figures 4, 5) of magnets (21, 24) and may also use magnetic materials (25). Various shapes of magnetic material (35, 39) and magnets (34, 38) are provided (see figures 8 to 10) that spread and widen the magnetic field from the magnets. An alternative arrangement is shown in figure 6 where the magnetic assemblies are provided inside the equipment housing and the field may be arranged to effect only some of the components inside. Further embodiments use electro-magnets (33) in the place of permanent magnets (see figure 7) which may be driven with DC current or AC current at preferably above 50kHz.

Description

Magnetic apparatus for improving the performance of electronic equipment

Field of invention

The invention relates to a method and apparatus for improving the performance of audio, video and other electronic equipment or apparatus by controlling the magnetic and electromagnetic properties of such equipment and controlling and changing the magnetic and electromagnetic interactions between components within such equipment.

Background

Whenever an electrical current passes through a wire or component in an electrical system it creates a matching electromagnetic field around the wire or component.

Whenever this electromagnetic field intersects another electrically conducting wire or component an equivalent electrical current will be generated in that wire or component. If the original electric current was an alternating current such as an audio or video signal then a similar signal will be generated in the second wire or component. The level of the second, interference current will depend upon the distance between the two components and their physical construction and location.

This interference current or signal is normally unwanted and adds noise or distortion to the various electrical currents in a piece of electronic equipment or apparatus.

Such a piece of equipment may have hundreds of wires and components all of which are capable of generating interactions with multiple resulting interference currents.

Hitherto such effects could only be mitigated by the careful layout of printed circuit boards and wiring arrangements and the use of localised electromagnetic screening.

However as electrical equipment has become smaller and more crowded with components these palliatives have become less possible or effective.

A study of the magnetic and electromagnetic fields inside even a simple piece of electrical equipment or apparatus shows a field map of great complexity which is very difficult to analyse and improve. Thus there is a need for an invention that improves this situation.

Statements of invention

The need to control the magnetic and electromagnetic behaviour of an item of electrical equipment or apparatus is addressed by the apparatus and method of the current invention. The invention is typically utilised with a pair of powerful permanent magnets or electromagnets place above and below (or at either side) of the equipment so that the magnetic field flows through and across the equipment.

In a preferred embodiment a magnet is placed on the top surface of the equipment with another magnet placed on the bottom surface. The magnets are arranged with the opposite magnetic poles facing each other so that a powerful magnetic field crosses through the equipment or apparatus from one magnet to the other.

The invention utilises several effects to achieve on improvement in the performance of the electronic equipment or apparatus. One effect is that the new magnetic field is sufficient to overcome the influence of any residual magnetism in the electronic components and materials and aligns all magnetic domains in the same direction.

Another effect is that the magnetic field is sufficiently powerful to swamp any magnetic fields created by currents flowing through electronic components and so minimise their influence on the performance of the electronic equipment or apparatus.

It has been observed that a temporary application of the magnet assemblies used in the invention creates an improvement in the performance of the electronic equipment even after the assemblies and the magnetic field is removed. This improvement lasts for a time which is dependent upon the dimensions and materials of the electronic equipment.

Brief description of drawings

The invention is diagrammatically illustrated, with reference to the following drawings: Figure 1 is perspective view of the preferred embodiment showing the magnet assembly mounted above and below a piece of electronic apparatus.

Figure 2 shows the magnet assemblies mounted on either side of a piece of electronic apparatus.

Figure 3 shows a magnet mounted above and below an electronic circuit with the magnetic poles mounted to create lines of magnetic flux through the electronic circuits.

Figure 4 shows how permanent magnets can be mounted inside housings which can be placed above and below a piece of electronic apparatus.

Figure 5 shows how permanent magnets can be mounted on a sheet or black of magnetic material and placed above and below a piece of electronic apparatus.

Figure 6 shows how magnetic assemblies can be mounted inside a piece of electronic apparatus to create a magnetic field across components or electronic circuits.

Figure 7 shows one arrangement where the permanent magnet is replaced by an electromagnet.

Figure 8 shows how a single magnet can be used and the magnetic field spread wider using an additional component made of a magnetic material. Again one assembly is placed above the piece of electronic apparatus and one below.

Figure 9 shows an alternative design of additional components to spread the

magnetic field over a wider area.

Figure 10 shows multiple magnets and field spreading components within housings.

Again one complete assembly is placed above the piece of electronic apparatus and one below.

Detailed description of drawings and invention

Figure 1 is perspective view of the preferred embodiment showing the magnet assembly mounted above and below a piece of electronic apparatus. A magnet housing assembly 10 is placed above and below a piece of electronic apparatus 11.

Each magnet housing assembly 10 contains permanent magnets or electromagnets such that a magnetic field is created across the piece of apparatus 11. This is created by ensuring that the magnetic poles in the housings 10 above and below the apparatus 11 are aligned North to South or South to North.

Figure 2 shows a similar arrangement to that in Figure 1 but with magnet housing assemblies 13 placed on either side of a piece of electronic equipment or apparatus 14. The magnetic field is now created across the piece of electronic equipment or apparatus 14.

Figure 3 shows the operation of the invention in detail. Here a piece of electronic circuitry 20 with electronic components 19 is placed between two magnets 17. Lines of magnetic field 18 then pass between the magnets 17 and through the electronic circuit 20 and components 19. The magnetic poles 16 must be aligned so that North is facing South or South is facing North. As a function of their manufacture; the influence of the Earth's magnetic field and the hysteresis effects of the previous passage of electrical current; all electronic components and associated materials will exhibit a residual magnetism. The newly induced magnetic field may be sufficient to overcome the influence of any such residual magnetism in the electronic components and materials and it will align all magnetic domains in the same direction. If the newly induced magnetic field is sufficiently powerful it may also swamp any of the magnetic fields created by currents flowing through electronic components and so minimise the interactions caused by these multiple magnetic fields being generated inside the electronic equipment or apparatus.

Figure 4 shows one possible embodiment of the invention where magnets 21 are placed inside a housing 22 made of non-magnetic material. These housing assemblies can then be placed above and below a piece of electronic equipment or apparatus 23.

Figure 5 shows one possible embodiment of the invention where magnets 24 are placed on a plate or block 25 made of a magnetic material. These magnetic assemblies can then be placed above and below a piece of electronic equipment or apparatus 26.

Figure 6 shows one possible embodiment of the invention where magnets 27 are placed inside a piece of electronic equipment or apparatus 29 being positioned to be on either side of a piece of electronic circuitry 28 with components 30. Lines of magnetic field then pass between the magnets 27 and through the electronic circuit 28 and components 30.

Figure 7 shows one possible embodiment of the invention where an electromagnet 31 is mounted on a block or plate of magnetic material 33. The resulting magnetic assembly can then be placed above and below a piece of electronic equipment or apparatus 32. Every embodiment of the invention may use an electromagnet in place of a permanent magnet. Normally the electromagnet would be fed with an electrical direct current (DC) to create a constant magnetic field. However the electromagnet can be fed from a high-frequency electrical current (AC). Typically such a current would have a frequency above 50 kHz.

Figure 8 shows one possible embodiment of the invention where magnets 34 are placed onto a plate or block 35 made of a magnetic material and designed to spread the magnetic field over a wider area. These magnetic assemblies can be placed into housings 36. These magnetic assemblies can then be placed above and below a piece of electronic equipment or apparatus 37.

Figure 9 shows one possible embodiment of the invention where magnets 38 are placed onto plates or blocks 39 made of a magnetic material and designed to spread the magnetic field over a wider area. These magnetic assemblies can be placed into housings 40. These magnetic assemblies can then be placed above and below a piece of electronic equipment or apparatus 41.

Figure 10 shows one possible embodiment of the invention where magnets 42 are placed onto plates or blocks 43 made of a magnetic material and designed to spread the magnetic field over a wider area. Two or more such magnetic assemblies can be placed into housings 44. These magnetic assemblies inside housings can then be placed above and below a piece of electronic equipment or apparatus 45.

Although most of these drawings show the magnet assemblies or magnet assembly housings mounted above and below a piece of electronic equipment or apparatus they could equally be mounted at either side or at the front and rear. The most effective implementation of the invention may vary from apparatus to apparatus.

It has been observed that the temporary application of the magnet assemblies creates an improvement in the performance of the electronic equipment even after the assemblies are removed. This improvement lasts for a time which is dependent upon the dimensions of the electronic equipment and the materials used therein.

Whilst the present invention is described herein with reference to illustrative embodiments for particular applications in active audio or video components, it should be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. Those having ordinary skill in the art lying within the spirit and scope of the claims appended hereto will recognise additional modifications, applications and embodiments within additional fields such as digital electronics; radio frequency and medical fields in which the present invention would be of significant utility.

Claims

<claim-text>Magnetic apparatus for improving the performance of electronic equipment Claims Accordingly what is claimed is: 1. An apparatus for improving the performance of electronic equipment or apparatus by controlling the magnetic and electromagnetic properties of such equipment and controlling and changing the magnetic and electromagnetic interactions between components within such equipment corn p rising; a. two or more magnetic assemblies mounted on either side or above and below the piece of electronic equipment or apparatus to create a strong constant magnetic field passing through the said electronic equipment or equipment.b. the magnetic assemblies being mounted such that their facing magnetic poles are aligned North to South or South to North thereby ensuring that the poles are attracted together and create a magnetic field between the magnet assemblies.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the magnetic assemblies comprise one or more permanent magnets housed on a non-magnetic material.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the magnetic assemblies comprise one or more permanent magnets housed on a magnetic material.</claim-text> <claim-text>4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein where the magnetic assemblies comprise one or more permanent magnets attached to components made of magnetic material whose purpose is to spread the area of magneticfield.</claim-text> <claim-text>5. The apparatus of claims 1, 2, 3, and 4 wherein where the permanent magnets can be replaced by electromagnets powered by a direct electrical current.</claim-text> <claim-text>6. The apparatus of claims 1, 2, 3, and 4 wherein where the permanent magnets can be replaced by electromagnets powered by an alternating electrical current having a frequency of greater than 50 kHz.</claim-text> <claim-text>7. The apparatus of claims 1, 2, 3, and where the permanent magnets can be made of Alinco; ferrite materials; ceramic materials; Neodymium or any other magnetic material.</claim-text> <claim-text>8. The apparatus of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 when the application of the magnet assemblies is for a temporary period to give a subsequent improvement in the performance of the electronic equipment.* *** I ** * ** *S</claim-text>