Patent ID: 6817104
Filing Date: 2004-11-16
Classification: B23Q

Abstract:
An X-Y stage apparatus comprising:a stationary base; and a moving table being able to be displaced in an XY plane relative to a stationary base, provided that an X-axis and a Y-axis are at right angles to each other, wherein the X-Y stage apparatus further comprises a plurality of elastic hinges of one or more kind, having characteristics with flexibility only in one direction among an X-axis direction and a Y-axis direction, and rigidity in the direction of the other axis, the plurality of elastic hinges being able to allow a relative displacement between members connected to both sides of the hinge only in the flexible direction by being arranged along the rigid direction, the moving table is supported within the XY plane relative to the stationary base, with slight displacement made possible, by utilizing an elastic deformation of each of the elastic hinges in the flexible direction, the X-Y stage apparatus further comprises a linear motor in the flexible direction having a stator portion arranged directly on the stationary base and a moving portion directly on the moving table, respectively, and being able to move the moving table in the flexible direction relative to the stationary base, so that the moving table is displaced slightly in the flexible direction within the XY plane relative to the stationary base by the flexible direction linear motor.