Patent ID: 9694455
Date: 2017-07-04
CPC Classifications: A61B,B23Q,B25J,Y10S,Y10T

Claim:
1. A tripod motion system, comprising: a bottom plate including three spaced-apart single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) hinges; a top plate including three spaced-apart three-degree-of-freedom (TDOF) joints, with the top plate configured to receive a workpiece; and three linear actuators, with each of the three linear actuators pivotally coupled to an associated one of the three SDOF hinges of the bottom plate and coupled to an associated one of the three TDOF joints of the top plate, and configured to change length over a linear actuation span, wherein each of the three linear actuators return the top plate to a predetermined set position after being displaced by an external force; a rotator component affixed to one of the top plate or the bottom plate, with the rotator component configured to rotate about a Z-axis of the tripod motion system; wherein the tripod motion system is configured to achieve a sub-micron positioning accuracy; wherein each of the three linear actuators comprises: a ball coupled to the associated one of the three TDOF joints; and a positioning actuator configured to move the ball to a predetermined set position prior to the return of the top plate to the predetermined set position of the top plate.