Device for driving a light receiving element to track a light source
AssigneeThe Technology Partnership PLC
InventorsAndy Tomlinson, John-Paul Szczepanik
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A light tracking device comprising first and second support members and at least one light receiving element supported on each support member by one or more resilient flexible beams which deform upon relative translational displacement of the first and second support members. The first and second support members are arranged such that relative translational displacement of the members generates rotational displacement of the element. One or more resilient flexible beams may comprise spiral arms extending from the first to the second support members.
Claims10
A light tracking device comprising:
- first and second support members;
- and
- at least one light receiving element supported on each support member by one or more resilient flexible beams which elastically deform upon relative translational displacement of the first and second support members,
- wherein the first and second support members and the resilient flexible beams are arranged such that relative translational displacement of the support members elastically deforms the resilient flexible beams and generates rotational displacement of the elements,
- wherein the one or more resilient flexible beams comprise spiral arms extending from the element to the first and second support members.
A method of manufacturing first and second support members of a light tracking device, said light tracking device comprising:
- the first and second support members provided in two separate and substantially parallel planes;
- and
- at least one light receiving element supported on each support member across a gap between the two planes by one or more resilient flexible beams which elastically deform upon relative translational displacement of the first and second support members,
- wherein the first and second support members and the resilient flexible beams are arranged such that relative linear translational displacement of the support members elastically deforms the resilient flexible beams and generates rotational displacement of the elements,
- the method comprising the step of:
- cutting the resilient flexible beams and/or the first and second support members from single pieces of sheet material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.