Patent ID: 7071595

Claim:
A positioning apparatus for positioning an object having a curved outer surface, comprising: first deformation means for deforming in a first direction parallel to said outer surface and for deforming in a second direction parallel to said outer surface; second deformation means for deforming in the first direction and in the second direction; third deformation means for deforming in the first direction and in a third direction parallel to said outer surface; fourth deformation means for deforming in the first direction and in the third direction; a first bearing that is fixed coupled to the first deformation means; a second bearing that is fixedly coupled to the second deformation means; a third bearing that is fixedly coupled to the third deformation means; a fourth bearing that is fixedly coupled to the fourth deformation means; pressure exerting means; and a fifth bearing that is coupled to the pressure exerting means, wherein the first through fifth bearings are disposed around and against the object to be positioned, to provide for positioning of the object in at least one of a linear direction and a rotational direction.