Actuators for converting rotational input to axial output
AssigneeDanbury Mission Technologies, LLC
InventorJesse W. Booker
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An actuator system includes a frame configured to remain stationary relative to a carriage within the frame and connected to the frame by a flexure assembly configured to constrain the carriage for only linear motion along an axis of the actuator system. A rotary base is configured to receive rotational input. Cross-blade flexures operatively connect the carriage to the rotary base, the cross-blade flexures including a plurality of blade flexures and being oriented at an oblique angle to the rotary base and to the axis of the actuator system. A rotary flexure operatively connects the rotary base to the frame. The cross-blade flexures and the rotary flexure are configured to convert rotary motion of the rotary base into linear motion of the carriage and to maintain axial and lateral stiffness.
Claims15
An actuator system, comprising:
- a frame;
- a rotary base;
- a rotary flexure connecting the rotary base to the frame, the rotary flexure extending along an axis of the system;
- a carriage positioned within the frame so that the carriage can undergo independent translational motion relative to the frame along the axis, but cannot rotate independently of the frame about the axis;
- and
- a plurality of cross-blade flexures connecting the carriage to the rotary base, the cross-blade flexures comprising a plurality of blade flexures and being oriented at an oblique angle to the rotary base and to the axis of the actuator system so that when the rotary base rotates about the axis, the cross-blade flexures transmit force to the carriage to translate the carriage along the axis relative to the frame.
A method of positioning an optical element in an optical system, the method comprising:
- rotating a rotary base about an axis;
- and
- coupling a force from the rotary base to a carriage positioned within a frame through a plurality of cross-blade flexures, wherein the rotary base is connected to the frame by a rotary flexure extending along the axis, and wherein the carriage is positioned in the frame so that the carriage can undergo independent translational motion relative to the frame along the axis, but cannot rotate independently of the frame about the axis,
- wherein coupling the force causes translational movement of the carriage in an axial direction relative to the frame, thereby positioning an optical element coupled to the carriage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.