Back to results
US 7,841,510 B2Granted
Method and apparatus providing fine alignment of a structure relative to a support
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsPeter A. Gruber, Philip Charles Danby Hobbs
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for fine positioning a component through the use of fusible elements having two or more melting points so as to establish intermediate displacements between totally melted fusible elements and unmelted fusible elements. Because of the use of non-eutectic fusible materials, fine adjustments in the displacement may be achieved.
Claims14
A method to position an object, comprising;
- applying a plurality of fusible elements between the object and a supporting base;
- heating the plurality of fusible elements to at least partially melt;
- as a result of the at least partial melt, moving the object relative to the supporting base to achieve a predetermined and reduced displacement between the object and the supporting base;
- determining that a displacement between the supporting base and the object is less than a predefined threshold;
- and
- resetting the displacement between the support base and the object, wherein the resetting comprises applying a lifting force from an apparatus to the object to increase the displacement between the object and the supporting base, wherein
- the apparatus comprises a thermally controlled activator configured to provide the lifting force to lift the object from the supporting base, wherein the thermally controlled activator is at least partially located between the object and the supporting base.
4 more elements
A method to position an object, comprising;
- applying a plurality of fusible elements between the object and a supporting base;
- heating the plurality of fusible elements to at least partially melt;
- and
- as a result of the at least partial melt, moving the object relative to the supporting base to achieve a predetermined displacement between the object and the supporting base;
- determining that a displacement between the supporting base and the object is less than a predefined threshold;
- and
- resetting, through a thermally activated bimetallic snap diaphragm, the displacement between the supporting base and the object.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.