Patent ID: 7475484
Filing Date: 2009-01-13
Classification: G02B,G03B,H04N

Abstract:
1. A lock mechanism for a stage apparatus, said stage apparatus having at least one stationary support board and a movable stage, wherein said movable stage is movable relative to said stationary support board in a plane parallel to said stationary support board, said lock mechanism comprising: a lock member positioned immediately one of in front of and behind said movable stage, said lock member being movable toward and away from said movable stage by moving in a direction substantially orthogonal to a direction of movement of said movable stage; a plurality of lock holes formed in opposed portions of one of said lock member and said movable stage; a plurality of lock pins formed on said opposed portions of the other of said lock member and said movable stage, wherein ends of said plurality of lock pins which are smaller in diameter than other portions thereof are capable of being engaged in and disengaged from said plurality of lock holes, respectively; and a driving device which moves said lock member toward said movable stage to engage said plurality of lock pins with said plurality of lock holes, respectively, upon said movable stage entering a non-operational state, and moves said lock member away from said movable stage to disengage said plurality of lock pins from said plurality of lock holes, respectively, upon said movable stage entering an operational state.