Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Fred B. Lewis
  • Patent number: 6463664
    Abstract: An apparatus for positioning an item that provides two-dimensional, independent orthogonal motion of a platform in a X-Y plane. A pair of master and slave disks engages opposite sides of the platform. Rotational drivers are connected to master disks so the disks rotate eccentrically about axes of rotation. Opposing slave disks are connected to master disks on opposite sides of the platform by a timing belt, or are electronically synchronized together using stepper motors, to effect coordinated motion. The coordinated eccentric motion of the pairs of master/slave disks compels smooth linear motion of the platform in the X-Y plane without backlash. The apparatus can be a planar mechanism implemented in a MEMS device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventor: Lothar F. Bieg