Patent ID: 9400378
Filing Date: 2016-07-26
CPC Classification: F16M,G02B

Claim Text:
1. A stage assembly for supporting articles, the stage assembly comprising: a base positioned at a first radius; one or more intermediate stage modules, comprising a first intermediate stage module positioned at a second radius positioned radially displaced from the first radius; a first plurality of compound radial flexures (CRFs) supporting the first intermediate stage module from a base, with the CRFs extending radially displaced from the base to the first intermediate stage module and allowing rotational movement of the intermediate stage module about a center axis; a second stage module located substantially at the second radius; a second plurality of CRFs supporting the second stage module from the first stage module and allowing rotational movement of the second stage module with respect to the first intermediate stage module about the center axis, wherein the CRFs each have a flat profile comprising a short side of the profile aligned planarly in a direction of the rotation of the stage modules and a long side aligned perpendicularly to the direction of rotation of the stage modules such that the CRFs have more flexibility in the direction of rotation than obliquely to the direction of rotation, and wherein movement of a last of the stage modules results in deflection of the CRFs between each successive stage module, with partial movement of each stage module between the base and the last of the stage modules, the last of the stage modules provided as a primary stage module.