US 5,229,679 AGranted

Microdrive apparatus

AssigneePrima Meat Packers, Ltd.

InventorsToshiro Higuchi, Ken-ichi Kudoh, Atsushi Mimatsu

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Abstract

A microdrive apparatus of a micromanipulator according to the present invention is such that a piezoelectric/electrostrictive element having an inertial member mounted at its tip is attached to a moving member supported on a frictional surface of a support member, and a miniature instrument for manipulation is attached to the moving member. By applying an electric field to the piezoelectric/electrostrictive element, the miniature instrument for manipulation is controlled for fine movement by utilizing this kinetic energy, the inertial effect of the inertial member, and the reaction force acting upon the moving member. In addition, the miniature instrument for manipulation can be controlled to assume a predetermined position and predetermined attitude by a micropositioning device having an articulated portion in which an inertial member is attached to an arm via a piezoelectric/electrostrictive element.

Claims8

Dependent claims

A micromanipulator for microbiological applications involving manipulation within a cell comprising:

(a) a fixed support member having a channel defining a linear path traversing one dimension of said support member;
(b) a movable member slidably mounted in said linear path for sliding movement in frictional contact with said support member;
(c) at least one elongated electrostrictive/piezoelectric element fixed at one end to said movable member and extending from said movable member along a longitudinal axis parallel to said linear path;
(d) an inertial body fixed to the end of said electrostrictive/piezoelectric element opposite said movable member, said inertial body being suspended by said electrostrictive/piezoelectric element free of contact with said support member;
(e) a miniature instrument for micromanipulation fixed to said movable member;
(f) spring means for increasing the frictional force between said movable member and said support surface and for adjusting the increased frictional force;
(g) means for reversibly micro-driving said miniature instrument by applying a voltage to said one electrostrictive/piezoelectric element;
and
(h) means for varying said applied voltage to provide both coarse movement for positioning and fine movement for cell manipulation.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 07/697,499Filed 3 May 1991 · continuation
Priority: JP 63-33373928 Dec 1988
Granted: 20 Jul 1993
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

H02N 2/025
Using intermittent driving, e.g. step motors, piezoleg motors: inertial sliding motors
B23Q 5/50
Feeding other members supporting tools or work, e.g. saddles, tool-slides, through mechanical transmission: feeding step-by-step
B25J 7/00
Micromanipulators
G02B 7/005
Alignment of optical elements: motorised alignment