New Focus, Inc.

Sherwin D Cabatic

David F Arnone

Khiem Ba Do

John Pease

Michael Brownell

Dennis E Melvin

A method and apparatus for controlling a piezo-electric actuator coupled to a driven member is disclosed. The piezo-electric actuator is responsive to waveforms with asymmetrical voltage/current profiles on the rising and falling edge to effect consistent and cumulative movement of the driven member in one of two directions throughout the reciprocations of the piezo-electric actuator. The waveforms are digitally generated from a stored set of numbers or a function for generating the set of numbers. The numbers correspond with the discrete digital values associated with the desired waveforms for moving the driven member in either of at least two directions. The controller may be used to drive more than one piezo-electric actuator. The controller may include responsiveness to a feedback of the position of the driven member to accurately position the driven member. The controller may also include the ability to update the function or values stored in memory so as to couple more efficiently with new or existing actuators. The controller exhibits a relatively smaller form factor and reduced complexity when compared with prior art analog drivers.

Method and apparatus for controlling a piezo actuator

Apparatus for controlling a piezoelectric assembly of a piezo actuator coupled with a driven member

An improved optical mounting apparatus permits a single kinematically adjustable surface to be presented in either a horizontal or vertical orientation with respect to a support. A three point fastening system allows cylindrical optical elements of various sizes to be fastened to the kinematically adjustable surface in a horizontal orientation. The three point fastening system is removable so that when the kinematically adjustable surface is placed in a horizontal orientation transparent optical elements such as prisms can be fastened to the surface with an unobstructed optical path for a full 360.degree. around the mounting surface. The apparatus for mounting optical elements comprises a support, base plate, a pivot member, two adjustable projections, a stage plate, and at least three removable fasteners. The base plate includes first and third opposing faces and a second face at right angles to the first and third faces. The base plate has on its first and second faces, respectively, a first and a second fastening member, for fastening the first and third opposing faces in a horizontal orientation or a vertical orientation with respect to the support. The pivot member extends from the third face of the base plate. The two adjustable projections extend from the third face of the base plate. The two adjustable projections are arcuately separated by an angle of approximately 90.degree. with respect to the pivot member. The stage plate includes first and second opposing faces. The first face of the stage plate is spaced apart from the base plate by the pivot member and is arcuately disposed with respect to the base plate by the two adjustable projections. To lock the cylindrical optical elements of different diameters to the second face of the stage plate, at least three removable fasteners are provided.

Wide range cylindrical mirror mount with radial clamp

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Mountain View, CA, United States of America

Sherwin D Cabatic