Patent ID: 7218035

Claim:
A micro-positioning device adapted for movement along a guideway, the device comprising: a frame comprising first and second opposing ends and a middle portion positioned therebetween; at least three actuators, two of said at least three actuators being attached to the frame at the first and second ends thereof respectively, one of said at least three actuators being positioned in the middle portion of the frame, said at least three actuators being adapted for activation and de-activation in synchronism to achieve a linear displacement of the device in a direction of travel along the guideway; at least two clamps, each of said at least two clamps being positioned respectively at the first and second ends of the frame and operably connected respectively to the actuators positioned at the opposing ends, each of said at least two clamps being adapted for clamping to the guideway upon activation of the actuator connected thereto respectively and for releasing upon de-activation thereof; and at least one hydraulic booster attached to the frame and connected to said middle actuator, said at least one hydraulic booster being adapted for converting mechanical energy into hydraulic energy when the middle actuator is activated and converting said hydraulic energy into mechanical energy to modify the displacement.