Patent ID: 7515359

Claim:
Support device for positioning an optical element, comprising: a first frame unit and a plurality of support units for supporting said optical element, each of said support units having a first end for fixedly engaging a part of said first frame unit and a second end for supporting said optical element; said support units being arranged for positioning said optical element along a first direction, a second direction and a third direction in the manner of parallel kinematics, said first direction, said second direction and said third direction being translatory directions arranged mutually transverse to each other, characterized in that there are provided three support units, wherein each of said support units provides for restriction of a first degree of freedom and a second degree of freedom to support said optical element in an isostatic manner, and one of said support units comprises a movable part bearing an entire fraction of a load to be taken by said one of said support units when supporting said optical element.