Other

Government of the United States of America, As Represented by the Secretary of Commerce

Fredric E Scire

E Clayton Teague

An improved flexure hinge permits both angular pivoting and longitudinal expansion and contraction and is made of a body member of solid material which is normally not flexible or expandable. A first recess is defined part-way through the body member at one longitudinally extending edge opposite second and third recesses defined through the opposite longitudinally-extending edge of the body member. The first recess is separated from each of the second and third recesses by web-like portions which are sufficiently thin to permit flexure of the body member about respective first and second axes extending through the first and second web portions, respectively. A stage, moveable along a single axis, employs four such body members, each body member having two double web hinge devices, one double web device being located at each end of the body member. The four body members are disposed symmetrically about the axis along which the stage is moved, and symmetrically about a transverse axis. The body members extend to the stage member from a surrounding frame.

Flexure hinge

A micropositioning stage is described which may be monolithic and which comprises a first structure which is mounted coplanar with and concentrically within a second structure. Both structures consist essentially of frames and pivoting lever arms which respond to linear force from piezoelectric transducers to move an object mounted on a platform in two different directions one of which may be at right angles to the other. The invention is particularly characterized by permitting biaxial movement of an object in a planar, essentially flat unit. In one embodiment, the present invention is monolithic in the sense that it is a single unitary structure except for the piezoelectric transducer elements.

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Frederick, MD, United States of America

Fredric E Scire