Patent ID: 7037012
Filing Date: 2006-05-02
Classification: F16F

Abstract:
1. A scanning mechanism for moving a carriage across a substrate for inspecting or writing on the substrate, the scanning mechanism comprising: (a) a base; (b) a countermass structure slidingly mounted relative to said base so as to be slidable along a linear path; (c) a linear track associated with one of said base and said countermass structure, said linear track being parallel to said linear path; (d) a carriage cooperating with said linear track so as to be freely movable along said linear track; and (e) an actuator system configured to apply movement-actuating forces directly between said carriage and said countermass so as to generate acceleration of said carriage relative to said countermass structure, wherein said carriage and said countermass structure together form an isolated inertial system which is substantially isolated from externally applied forces parallel to said track.