Patent ID: 7946029
Filing Date: 2011-05-24
Classification: B29C,B82Y,G01N,G01Q,G03F,Y10T

Abstract:
1. Apparatus for aligning a first article with a second article, said first article having at least one surface relief marking and said second article having at least one flexible structure having a sensing tip; means adapted for positioning said second article adjacent to said first article with a provision for at least restricted relative movement between said first and second articles; a detector for detecting deflection of said at least one flexible structure due to an interaction with said at least one surface relief marking and for providing detection signals related to said interaction; a memory containing stored information related to a topology of said surface relief marking; means for comparing said detection signals with the stored information to generate position control signals relating to a desired alignment; and steering means for steering a movement of at least one of said first and second articles relative to the other to achieve said desired alignment: wherein said second article includes a template and wherein said detector is adapted to detect deflection of said flexible structure by the sensing tip of the flexible structure touching the surface, wherein an actuator is integrated with the flexible structure to permit deflection of the flexible structure between at least a first advanced position in which the sensing tip is disposed in front of a front face of said template and a second retracted position in which its the sensing tip is disposed behind said front face of said template.