Patent ID: 7239107
Filing Date: 2007-07-03
Classification: H02N,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An apparatus, comprising: a base including a first base portion; a stage including a first stage portion, the first stage portion being positioned opposite the first base portion and being spaced apart therefrom along a first reference axis; a first positioning mechanism coupled between the base and the stage to move the stage in translation along a first reference axis, the first mechanism including a first actuator and a first flexure structure engaged by the first actuator, the flexure structure including two base links each with a base flexure hinge connection to the first base portion, two stage links each with a stage flexure hinge connection to the first stage portion, and a first intermediate link coupled to the base links and the stage links by corresponding flexure hinge connections; and a control device operable to generate a control signal to change position of the stage along the first reference axis, the first actuator being responsive to the control signal to provide a force to elastically deform the first flexure structure and correspondingly move the first intermediate link transverse to the first axis, pivot each of the base links relative to the first base portion, and pivot the stage links relative to the first stage portion.