Coupling element for a positioning device, positioning device having a coupling element, and method of manufacture

A positioning device comprising:

• a first linear guide configured to guide a first carriage along a first linear direction;
• a second linear guide configured to guide a second carriage along a second linear direction substantially perpendicular to the first linear direction;
• and
• a coupling element configured to create a coupling between the first carriage and the second linear guide, the coupling element comprising:
• a central part,
• a surrounding part spaced at a distance from and surrounding the central part, the surrounding part having a central portion surrounding the central part, and having two end portions adjoining the central portion in the first linear direction;
• a plurality of connecting flat springs creating the distance and connecting together the central part and the central portion of the surrounding part, the connecting flat springs lying in planes which intersect at a center of the central part;
• and
• a vertical flat spring disposed parallel to the first linear direction at each of the two end portions of the surrounding part.

A method for coupling a coupling element to a positioning device, the method comprising:

• providing the coupling element comprising:
• a central part;
• a surrounding part spaced at a distance from and surrounding the central part, the surrounding part having a central portion surrounding the central part, and having two end portions adjoining the central portion in a first linear direction;
• a plurality of connecting flat springs creating the distance and connecting together the central part and the central portion of the surrounding part, the connecting flat springs lying in planes which intersect at a center of the central part;
• and
• a vertical flat spring disposed parallel to the first linear direction at each of the two end portions of the surrounding part;
• and
• coupling the coupling element to a first carriage of the positioning device and to a second linear guide of the positioning device, the first carriage being guidable by a first linear guide along the first linear direction, and a second carriage being guidable by the second linear guide along a second linear direction substantially perpendicular to the first linear direction.