Patent ID: 7538470
Filing Date: 2009-05-26
Classification: F03G,F05B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An apparatus, comprising: an actuator configured for controllable deflection; and a piezoresistive element integral to the actuator and having first and second piezoresistive portions and a plurality of contacts, wherein one of the plurality of contacts is configured to pass a received feedback signal through the first and second piezoresistive portions, and wherein detection of the actuator deflection is indicated by comparison of the feedback signal as detected via at least one of the plurality of contacts that are interposed by at least one of the first and second piezoresistive portions; wherein the actuator is a first actuator, the apparatus further comprising a nanopositioner that includes: an anchored portion; an end effector; the first actuator interposing the anchored portion and the end effector and controllably positionable in a first degree-of-freedom (DOF); a second actuator interposing the first actuator and the end effector and controllably positionable in a second DOF, wherein the first and second actuators are collectively configured to cooperate to position the end effector with sub-micron precision in each of the first DOF and the second DOF; and at least one dedicated electrical path extending between the anchored portion and the end effector via the first and second actuators, the at least one dedicated electrical path being electrically isolated from other electrically conductive portions of the first and second actuators.