Patent ID: 7141969

Claim:
A system for positioning a platen with respect to a coordinate system having an X axis, a Y axis, and a Z axis, said X, Y, and Z axes being orthogonal, the system comprising: a fixed base rigidly coupled to an essentially planar surface; an XY intermediate plate slidably coupled to the fixed base, wherein the XY intermediate plate is slidable in the X axis along the fixed base; an XY stage slidably coupled to the XY intermediate plate, wherein the XY stage is slidable in the Y axis along the XY intermediate plate; and a platen flexibly coupled to the XY stage, one or more flexure elements for flexibly attaching the XY stage and the platen; wherein the platen, with respect to the XY stage, is essentially constrained in the direction of the X and Y axes and moveable in the direction of the Z axis.