Multi-stage flexural pivot

A multi-stage flexural pivot, comprising:

• a first support member and a second support member rotatably coupled to one another via a coupler and a plurality of flexures, each flexure having a pair of flexible members arranged substantially perpendicular to one another and laterally offset from one another, and each of the flexible members having a support end and a coupler end,
• wherein a first flexure of the plurality of flexures is coupled between the first support member and the coupler to form a first stage and provide for relative rotational movement between the first support member and the coupler,
• wherein a second flexure of the plurality of flexures is coupled between the second support member and the coupler to form a second stage and provide for relative rotational movement between the first support member and the coupler,
• wherein a third flexure of the plurality of flexures is coupled between the first support member and the coupler, and a fourth flexure of the plurality of flexures is coupled between the second support member and the coupler,
• wherein the second flexure is disposed between the first flexure and the third flexure to intermingle components of the first stage and the second stage and increase bending stiffness of the flexural pivot, and
• wherein relative rotational movement between the first support member and the second support member about the axis is a sum of the relative rotational movements of the first stage and the second stage.

A method for configuring a multi-stage flexural pivot, comprising:

• obtaining a first support member, a second support member, a coupler rotatable about an axis relative to the first support member and the second support member, and a plurality of flexures, each flexure having first and second flexible members arranged substantially perpendicular to one another and laterally offset from one another, and each of the first and second flexible members having a support end and a coupler end;
• disposing a first flexure of the plurality of flexures between the first support member and the coupler to form a first stage and to provide for relative rotational movement between the first support member and the coupler about the axis;
• and
• disposing a second flexure of the plurality of flexures between the second support member and the coupler to form a second stage and provide for relative rotational movement between the second support member and the coupler about the axis, wherein the first stage further comprises a third flexure of the plurality of flexures coupled between the first support member and the coupler, and the second stage further comprises a fourth flexure of the plurality of flexures coupled between the second support member and the coupler,
• wherein the second flexure is disposed between the first flexure and the third flexure along the axis to intersperse components of the first stage and the second stage and increase off-axis bending stiffness of the flexural pivot, and wherein relative rotational movement between the first support member and the second support member about the axis is a sum of the relative rotational movements of the first stage and the second stage.

A multi-stage flexural pivot, comprising:

• a first support member;
• a second support member rotatable about an axis relative to the first support member;
• a coupler rotatable about the axis relative to the first support member and the second support member;
• and
• a plurality of flexures, each flexure having first and second flexible members arranged substantially perpendicular to one another and offset from one another along the axis,
• wherein a first flexure of the plurality of flexures is coupled between the first support member and the coupler to form a first stage and to provide for relative rotational movement between the first support member and the coupler about the axis,
• wherein a second flexure of the plurality of flexures is coupled between the second support member and the coupler to form a second stage and provide for relative rotational movement between the second support member and the coupler about the axis,
• wherein the first stage further comprises a third flexure of the plurality of flexures coupled between the first support member and the coupler, and the second stage further comprises a fourth flexure of the plurality of flexures coupled between the second support member and the coupler,
• wherein the third flexure is disposed between the second flexure and the fourth flexure along the axis to intermingle components of the first stage and the second stage and increase off-axis bending stiffness of the flexural pivot, and
• wherein relative rotational movement between the first support member and the second support member about the axis is a sum of the relative rotational movements of the first stage and the second stage.