Patent ID: 7117724

Claim:
A flexure-beam, motion-reducing actuator comprising a flexible beam, which is affixed rigidly to a solid object near the midpoint of said beam, wherein said rigid affixment precludes lateral and vertical displacement and pivoting of said beam at the location of said affixment with respect to a stationary frame of reference, and wherein the remainder of said beam is substantially free to bend and move with respect to said stationary frame of reference; further comprising an U-shaped input element which is substantially free to move with respect to said stationary frame of reference, wherein said U-shaped input element is connected to both ends of said flexible beam, and said connections of said input element to said beam ends are comprised of flexible material or flexural-hinged members, and said input element provides a means for connecting to a drive mechanism, wherein said drive mechanism moves said U-shaped input element in a controlled manner; further comprising an output element which is substantially free to move with respect to said stationary frame of reference, wherein said output element is connected to two locations along said flexible beam, and said connections of said output element are comprised of flexible material or flexural-hinged members, and said output element also provides a means for connecting with any object for which controlled motion is desired; wherein said connections of said output element are located on said flexible beam so as to provide substantial reduction of motion of said output element with respect to motion of said U-shaped input element, and further provide motion of said output element in substantially the same direction as motion of said U-shaped input element.