Patent ID: 7919901

Claim:
A stepping actuator comprising: a movable body comprising a geometrical structure having attached at opposite sides thereto a first shuttle arm having a first longitudinal direction and a second shuttle arm having a second longitudinal direction, at least one drive actuator co-operative with the geometrical structure to drive the stepping actuator, and at least two latch actuators operative to latch the stepping actuator, a first of the latch actuators being co-operative with the first shuttle arm and a second of the latch actuators being co-operative with the second shuttle arm, wherein the geometrical structure comprises at least two drive springs between the shuttle arms and the at least one drive actuator, wherein the total length of the drive springs in the first direction is larger than the total height of the drive springs in the second direction, and at least three rigid parts at the location of the two shuttle arms and the drive actuator, and has a displacement magnification ratio of between 0.15 and 2 at operating voltages of 15V or lower, the displacement magnification ratio being defined as the ratio of a displacement of the movable body in a first direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the first shuttle arm to a deformation of the geometrical structure causing the displacement of the movable body and being directed in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction.