Patent ID: 8556533

Claim:
A multi-stage flexural pivot, comprising: a first support member; a second support member rotatable about an axis relative to the first support member; a coupler rotatable about the axis relative to the first support member and the second support member; and a plurality of flexures, each flexure having first and second flexible members arranged substantially perpendicular to one another and offset from one another along the axis, wherein a first flexure of the plurality of flexures is coupled between the first support member and the coupler to form a first stage and to provide for relative rotational movement between the first support member and the coupler about the axis, wherein a second flexure of the plurality of flexures is coupled between the second support member and the coupler to form a second stage and provide for relative rotational movement between the second support member and the coupler about the axis, wherein the first stage further comprises a third flexure of the plurality of flexures coupled between the first support member and the coupler, and the second stage further comprises a fourth flexure of the plurality of flexures coupled between the second support member and the coupler, wherein the second flexure is disposed between the first flexure and the third flexure along the axis to intersperse components of the first stage and the second stage and increase off-axis bending stiffness of the flexural pivot, and wherein relative rotational movement between the first support member and the second support member about the axis is a sum of the relative rotational movements of the first stage and the second stage.