Patent ID: 7726452

Claim:
A system for damping vibration from a supported payload, the system comprising: a supporting spring extending at one end from an isolated platform on which the payload is supported to an opposing end attached to a base platform opposite the isolated platform for supporting static forces from the payload; an active damper extending between the isolated platform and the base platform in parallel to and spaced relation from the supporting spring for damping dynamic forces from the payload, the active damper including: an actuator having first and second opposing ends and being variable in length between the first and second ends, the second end being coupled to the base platform, the actuator being statically decoupled from the payload, so as to avoid transference of static forces from the payload to the actuator; an intermediate mass having a body portion and in axial alignment atop the first end of the actuator, the intermediate mass providing a stability point to which dynamic forces can be isolated from the payload and can be dampened; and a passive damper having a piston coupled to the isolated platform at one end and extending toward the intermediate mass at an opposite end to the stability point; and a motion sensor coupled to the intermediate mass of the active damper to generate a signal which is a function of movement of the intermediate mass to provide feedback to the actuator, so as to permit the actuator to generate the stability point on the intermediate mass.