Patent ID: 6463664
Filing Date: 2002-10-15
Classification: G03F

Abstract:
A planar X-Y positioning mechanism for moving an object in an X-Y plane, said mechanism comprising:a support base; a platform, having four sides and slidably supported by said support base, for supporting the object; an X-axis master disk having a circumference in contact with a first side of said platform, said X-axis master disk being mounted to said base for eccentric rotation about a first axis of rotation; wherein said first axis of rotation is substantially perpendicular to said X-axis of motion; an X-axis slave disk having a circumference in contact with an opposing second side of said platform, said X-axis slave disk being mounted to said base for eccentric rotation about a second axis of rotation; wherein said second axis of rotation is substantially perpendicular to said X-axis of motion; a Y-axis master disk having a circumference in contact with a third side of said platform, said Y-axis master disk being mounted to said base for eccentric rotation about a third axis of rotation; wherein said third axis of rotation is substantially perpendicular to said Y-axis of motion; a Y-axis slave disk having a circumference in contact with an opposing fourth side of said platform, said Y-axis slave disk being mounted to said base for eccentric rotation about a fourth axis of rotation; wherein said fourth axis of rotation is substantially perpendicular to said Y-axis of motion; X-axis driving means for rotating the X-axis master and slave disks in the same direction, comprising a first stepper motor rotatably attached to the X-axis master disk and a second stepper motor rotatably attached to the X-axis slave disk; Y-axis driving means for rotating the Y-axis master and slave disks in the same direction, comprising a third stepper motor rotatably attached to the Y-axis master disk and a fourth stepper motor rotatably attached to the Y-axis slave disk; means for coordinating the rotation of the X-axis master disk with the X-axis slave disk so as to effect a smooth translational motion of said object along the X-axis of motion, comprising means for electronically synchronizing the first and second stepper motors; and means for coordinating the rotation of the Y-axis master disk with the Y-axis slave disk so as to effect a smooth translational motion of said object along the Y-axis of motion, comprising means for electronically synchronizing the third and fourth stepper motors.