Patent ID: 6849989

Claim:
A positioning apparatus for positioning an object, comprising: a first piezo stack which includes a first piezo-electric plate and a second piezo-electric plate that are disposed against each other and that are capable of movement in different directions; a second piezo stack which includes a third piezo-electric plate and a fourth piezo-electric plate that are disposed against each other and that are capable of movement in different directions; a first bearing that is disposed against the first piezo stack; a second bearing that is disposed against the second piezo stack; a third piezo stack which includes a fifth piezo-electric plate and a sixth piezo-electric plate that are disposed against each other and that are capable of movement in different directions; a fourth piezo stack which includes a seventh piezo-electric plate and an eighth piezo-electric plate that are disposed against each other and that are capable of movement in different directions; a third bearing that is disposed against the third piezo stack; and a fourth bearing that is disposed against the fourth piezo stack; a spring element; and a fifth bearing that is disposed against the spring element, wherein the first through fifth bearings are disposed around and against the object to provide for positioning of the object in at least one of a linear direction and a rotational direction.