Two-dimensional nanopositioner with crude and fine stages

A nanometric positioning device containing a foundation element attached to a crude positioning stage capable of backward and forward travel with regard to the foundation element, wherein:

• on top of the crude positioning stage is attached a fine positioning stage with an executing element and capable of backward and forward travel with regard to the crude positioning stage;
• the crude positioning stage is kinematically coupled to the foundation element as well as coupled to the fine positioning stage, allowing both the crude positioning stage and the fine positioning stage to move independently with respect to the foundation element;
• the kinematic coupling of the crude and fine positioning stages allows for autonomous movement of the executing element with regard to both crude positioning stage and, correspondingly, to the foundation element;
• the mounting of the crude positioning stage and fine positioning stage is such that it allows for the respective movement of the crude positioning stage and the fine positioning stage along both coordinate axes of a plane of the foundation element;
• the crude positioning stage is executed in the form of a rigid bearing plate carrying a rigidly fixed rectangular frame inside which the fine positioning stage's executing element is situated;
• the fine positioning stage can move and be fixed in a given position by means of pairs of nanometer range positioning elements, one pair of the nanometer range positioning elements on each one of the four sides of the rigidly fixed rectangular frame;
• the pairs of the nanometer range positioning elements comprising either i) four pairs of magnetostrictive transducers or ii) two pairs of magnetostrictive transducers and two pairs of springs;
• and
• positioning of the crude positioning stage margin of error is smaller than the range of fine stage positioning along either of the two coordinate axes.