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US 11,499,597 B2Granted
Piezoelectric braking device
AssigneeThorlabs, Inc.
InventorsJeffrey S. Brooker, Shane Patton, Munkhtsooj Saikhanchimeg
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A braking device including: a piezoelectric element; and a braking portion. The braking portion is configured to be fixed to a member when the piezoelectric element is in a first state, and to be slidable along the member when the piezoelectric element is in a second state. The piezoelectric element changes from one state to another state when a voltage is applied.
Claims16
A braking device comprising:
- a piezoelectric element;
- and
- a braking portion comprising a split ring configured to surround a member,
- wherein the split ring is a ring that is split at a location on the ring such that a gap is formed between a first split end of the rind and a second split end of the ring, with the first and second split ends facing each other, and a distance of the gap between the facing surfaces of the first and second ends varies while the piezoelectric element changes from one state to another state;
- wherein the braking portion is configured to clamp the member when the piezoelectric element is in a first state, and to release the member when the piezoelectric element is in a second state;
- wherein the piezoelectric element changes from the first state to the second state when a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric element.
3 more elements
A braking device comprising:
- a piezoelectric element;
- and
- a braking portion surrounding a member about an axis of the member;
- wherein the braking portion of the braking device comprises a first ring and a second ring stacked above the first ring, a part of the first ring and a part of the second ring being connected via a flexure, and a gap is formed between the respective unconnected parts of the first and second rings;
- wherein the piezoelectric element is configured to move the first ring relative to the second ring about the flexure;
- wherein in the braking portion is configured to fix to the member when the piezoelectric element is in the first state and to release the member when the piezoelectric element is in the second state;
- wherein when the piezoelectric element is in the second state, the axes of the first ring and the second ring are aligned with the axis of the member;
- wherein when the piezoelectric element is in the first state, at least one of the axes of the first ring and the second ring is not aligned with the axis of the member.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.