Patent ID: 8582080

Claim:
A stage assembly that positions a work piece along a first axis, along a second axis that crosses the first axis, and along a third axis that crosses the first axis and the second axis, the stage assembly comprising: a first stage; a first mover assembly that moves the first stage along the first axis, and along the second axis; a second stage that retains the work piece, the second stage being supported by the first stage; a second mover assembly that moves the second stage relative to the first stage along the third axis, the second mover assembly including a first mover component and a dampener that reduces the transmission of a disturbance of the first stage from being transferred to the second stage; wherein the dampener and the first mover component act in series along the third axis on the second stage; and a control system that directs power to the first mover component to compensate for the disturbance that is transmitted through the dampener.