Patent ID: 7426340

Claim:
A stage apparatus in which a movable stage is guided in first and second directions orthogonal to each other on a stationary member, said stage apparatus comprising: a pair of first elongated holes formed on one of said movable stage and said stationary member, said pair of first elongated holes being aligned on a straight line extending in said first direction; a pair of link members having engaging pins at first ends thereof which are engaged in said pair of first elongated holes to be relatively movable therein along said first direction, respectively, one of second ends of said pair of link members being pivoted at the other of said movable stage and said stationary member, and the other of said second ends of said pair of link members being supported by said other of said movable stage and said stationary member; and a link-member support mechanism for moving said movable stage in said second direction by moving said pair of link members while maintaining a symmetrical shape thereof with respect to an imaginary axis which extends in said second direction.