Actuator assembly for tilting a mirror or like object

An actuator for tilting an object, comprising:

• a base;
• a coil-object assembly that includes first and second pairs of coils each of which is rigidly attached to the object, the first pair of coils being arranged along a longitudinal axis, and the second pair of coils being arranged along a transverse axis substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis;
• a gimbal having an attachment section, a mounting section, and a plurality of beams, the coil-object assembly being attached to the attachment section, with the attachment section being connected via a plurality of beams to the mounting section, the mounting section being attached to the base;
• a plurality of magnets, each magnet being positioned adjacent a corresponding one of the coils such that when a first current flows through the first pair of coils a first rotational force is generated that causes the coil-object assembly to rotate about the transverse axis, and when a second current flows through the second pair of coils a second rotational force is generated that causes the coil-object assembly to rotate about the longitudinal axis.

An actuator for tilting an object, comprising:

• a base;
• a coil-object assembly that includes first and second pairs of coils each of which is rigidly attached to the object, the first pair of coils being arranged along a longitudinal axis, and the second pair of coils being arranged along a transverse axis substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis;
• a gimbal that includes:
• an attachment section bonded to the coil-object assembly;
• first and second pairs of beams extending along the longitudinal axis, the first and second pairs of beams being respectively connected to opposite ends of the attachment section;
• third and fourth pairs of beams extending along the transverse axis, the third and fourth pairs of beams being respectively disposed on opposite sides of the attachment section;
• a first one of the third pair of beams being connected with a first one of the first pair of beams, a second one of the third pair of beams being connected with a first one of the second pair of beams, a first one of the fourth pair of beams being connected with a second one of the first pair of beams, and a second one of the fourth pair of beams being connected with a second one of the second pair of beams;
• and
• first and second mounting sections bonded to the base, the first and second mounting sections being connected to the third and fourth pairs of beams, respectively;
• a plurality of magnets, each magnet being positioned adjacent a corresponding one of the coils such that when a first current flows through the first pair of coils a first rotational force is generated that causes the coil-object assembly to rotate about the transverse axis, and when a second current flows through the second pair of coils a second rotational force is generated that causes the coil-object assembly to rotate about the longitudinal axis.

An actuator for tilting an object, comprising:

• a base;
• a coil-object assembly that includes first and second pairs of coils each of which is rigidly attached to the object, the first pair of coils being arranged along a longitudinal axis, and the second pair of coils being arranged along a transverse axis substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis;
• a gimbal comprising first, second, third, and fourth pieces of substantially planar material, each of the pieces including:
• a first beam that extends along a longitudinal axis having first and second ends;
• an attachment pad bonded to the object, the attachment pad being connected to the first end of the first beam;
• a second beam that extends along a transverse axis, the second beam having first and second ends, the first end of the second beam being coupled with the second end of the first beam;
• a mounting member bonded to the base, the mounting member being connected to the second end of the second beam;
• and
• a plurality of magnets, each magnet being positioned adjacent a corresponding one of the coils such that when a first current flows through the first pair of coils a first rotational force is generated that causes the coil-object assembly to rotate about the transverse axis, and when a second current flows through the second pair of coils a second rotational force is generated that causes the coil-object assembly to rotate about the longitudinal axis, the first current flowing through the first pair of coils via at least the first piece of conductive material and the second current flowing through the third piece of conductive material.

An actuator for tilting a mirror, comprising:

• a base;
• coil-mirror assembly that includes a plurality of coils each of which is rigidly attached to the mirror;
• a gimbal having one or more mounting sections bonded to the base, and an attachment section bonded to the coil-mirror assembly, the attachment section being supported by a plurality of beams that flex when the coil-mirror assembly tilts;
• a plurality of magnets, each of which is positioned adjacent one of the coils such that when a current is made to flow through the coils, a force is generated that causes the coil-mirror assembly to tilt.