Tunable Lens with Actuator Brakes

An actuator comprising:

• a housing comprising first and second wedges;
• a main structure in the housing, wherein the main structure comprises opposing first and second surfaces;
• an actuating component in the housing that is configured to selectively rotate the main structure about a pivot axis;
• and
• a brake assembly in the housing that is configured to selectively fix a position of the main structure, wherein the brake assembly comprises:
• a first brake caliper that is configured to move along the first wedge of the housing to apply a first force to the first surface of the main structure in a first direction parallel to the pivot axis,
• a second brake caliper that is configured to move along the second wedge of the housing to apply a second force to the second surface of the main structure in a second direction parallel to the pivot axis,
• a spring that is configured to bias the first and second brake calipers toward the main structure to maintain the first and second forces on the main structure, and
• a spring actuation component configured to selectively engage the spring to move the first and second brake calipers along the first and second wedges and away from the main structure.

An actuator comprising:

• a housing;
• a structure in the housing, wherein the structure comprises opposing first and second surfaces;
• an actuating component in the housing is configured to selectively rotate the structure about a pivot axis;
• and
• a brake assembly in the housing that is configured to selectively fix a position of the structure, wherein the brake assembly comprises:
• a first brake pad that is configured to apply a first force to the first surface of the structure in a first direction parallel to the pivot axis,
• a second brake pad that is configured to apply a second force to the second surface of the structure in a second direction parallel to the pivot axis,
• a flexure to which the first and second brake pads are coupled, and
• a flexure actuation component that is configured to move at least a portion of the flexure to move the first and second brake pads away from the structure.