Steering apparatus for controllably displacing a structure relative to a frame member

Abstract

A steering mechanism (17) in which axial motion of an optical structure (12) is constrained electrically through a closed loop servo control system. The steering mechanism includes three magnetic actuators (19a, 19b, 19c) each having a push rod (20a, 20b, 20c) magnetically coupled thereto for being translated by the magnetic actuator along a translation axis (A). Each of the push rods has an end coupled to a peripheral region (1a, 1b, 1c) of the optical structure for exerting a displacing force thereon in response to the push rod being translated along the translation axis. A non-contact displacement sensor (10c) provides a feedback signal for the closed loop servo control system.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.