Patents Assigned to Physik Instrumente (PI) GmbH & Co. KG
  • Patent number: 12206309
    Abstract: A biaxial positioning device is described. The positioning device includes: a stationary base element; a first positioning element movably mounted relative to the base element along a first direction by means of a first guide device; a second positioning element movably mounted relative to the first positioning element along a second direction, which is different to the first direction, by means of a second guide device; a first drive for adjusting the first positioning element along the first direction of movement; and a second drive for adjusting the second positioning element along the second direction of movement. The stationary base element and the second positioning element each have a printed circuit board, and the first positioning element is a metal support element and is disposed between the base element and the second positioning element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: PHYSIK INSTRUMENTE (PI) GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Haase, Eric Kohler
  • Patent number: 12146551
    Abstract: Disclosed is a linear adjuster, comprising: a spindle-and-spindle-nut mechanism, a first adjustment part, and a second adjustment part. The first adjustment part comprises a first main body and a first stop device. The second adjustment part comprises a second main body and a second stop device. The first adjustment part and the second adjustment part may be moved relative to each other by means of the spindle-and-spindle-nut mechanism which comprises a spindle longitudinal axis (L3). The first stop device and the second stop device come to a stop state when the linear adjuster performs a retraction travel movement or an extension travel movement and the first adjustment part and the second adjustment part are in a predefined stop travel position relative to each other. A positioning device, a positioning assembly and a method for repairing a linear adjuster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: PHYSIK INSTRUMENTE (PI) GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Simon Hammer
  • Patent number: 12134186
    Abstract: A 6-axis positioning system, comprising a base, a movable unit and six variable-length actuators, one end of each actuator being connected to the base and the other end of each actuator being connected to the movable unit. At least one additional variable-length component is provided, one end of which is connected to the base and the other end of which is connected to the movable unit. The 6-axis positioning system can be releasably locked at least in certain positions of the movable unit by means of this additional component. The additional component has a releasable locking brake, and the variable-length component is designed such that its length can be varied passively by means of the movement of the six driven actuators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2024
    Assignee: PHYSIK INSTRUMENTE (PI) GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Christian Sander, Christian Rudolf
  • Patent number: 12134185
    Abstract: A 6-axis positioning system features a base, a movable unit, and six variable-length actuators divided into two groups of three actuators each. The actuators of the first group are positioned within a region bounded by the second group on both the base and the movable unit. Each end of the actuators is connected via pivot fastening systems, allowing precise movement. Specifically, the first group's actuators can move within an angular range of ±30° relative to a virtual line running perpendicular from the base, while the second group's actuators can move within an angular range of 0° to 45° relative to a plane spanned by the base. This arrangement ensures a compact, precise, and flexible positioning system, ideal for applications requiring high accuracy and load-bearing capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2024
    Assignee: PHYSIK INSTRUMENTE (PI) GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Christian Sander, Rainer Gloess, Christian Rudolf
  • Patent number: 12106824
    Abstract: A positioning system includes a body, a flexible band disposed at least partially in the body, and a plurality of rollers in contact with the flexible band, wherein at least one of the rollers is constrained from translation both axially and radially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: Physik Instrumente (PI) GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Scott Jordan
  • Patent number: 12083049
    Abstract: The invention relates to an assembly for the positioning and position detection of a deformable load-bearing plate, having a driving parallel kinematics system with a plurality of drive legs, wherein the load-bearing plate forms a constituent part of the driving parallel kinematics system or is fixed rigidly on a platform thereof, a reference parallel kinematics system with a substantially deformation-free reference plate which is formed by the platform of the reference parallel kinematics system or is fixed rigidly thereto and which is positioned underneath the load-bearing plate, and a plurality of reference legs, a sensor assembly which comprises a plurality of leg length measurement devices arranged in the reference legs and also a plurality of distance sensors arranged on the reference plate for point-wise or region-wise detection of the distance of the reference plate from the load-bearing plate, and a position-calculating unit which is connected at the input side to the leg length measurement devices a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: PHYSIK INSTRUMENTE (PI) GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Erik Mankin
  • Patent number: 12074540
    Abstract: A method is provided of controlling at least two interacting piezoelectric actuators for commonly displacing an object attached thereto. The method comprises the following steps: a. Step A: applying a first cyclic drive voltage signal with a constant frequency to the first piezoelectric actuator, b.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: PHYSIK INSTRUMENTE (PI) GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Koc Burhanettin
  • Publication number: 20240238992
    Abstract: A 6-axis positioning system, comprising a base, a movable unit and six variable-length actuators, one end of each actuator being connected to the base and the other end of each actuator being connected to the movable unit. At least one additional variable-length component is provided, one end of which is connected to the base and the other end of which is connected to the movable unit. The 6-axis positioning system can be releasably locked at least in certain positions of the movable unit by means of this additional component. The additional component has a releasable locking brake, and the variable-length component is designed such that its length can be varied passively by means of the movement of the six driven actuators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2021
    Publication date: July 18, 2024
    Applicant: PHYSIK INSTRUMENTE (PI) GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Christian SANDER, Christian RUDOLF
  • Patent number: 12025196
    Abstract: The invention relates to a brake device having a frame, at least one pair of mutually opposing braking elements, at least one actuation element in operative connection with each braking element, and a spring device, wherein each braking element has three joint sections which are arranged in a row and are connected to one another via flexure bearings, and the middle joint section of which has a contact section, and the two joint sections adjoining the middle joint section are each connected integrally to the frame via a flexure bearing, wherein a force is exerted on each braking element by means of the spring device, by means of which force the respective contact section can be pressed with a defined force against an element to be braked, and a force which counteracts the force exerted on the braking elements by the spring device acts on the braking elements by means of a continuous energy input into the actuation elements and, when the energy input into the actuation elements is absent, the force exerted by t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: PHYSIK INSTRUMENTE (PI) GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Christian Sander, Philipp Mahl
  • Patent number: 11988249
    Abstract: The invention relates to a joint, in particular for use in a parallel kinematic positioning device, which has at least three rotational degrees of freedom, and which has a rigid carrier element and at least two elastically deformable joint devices arranged overlapping one another at least in sections on the carrier element, wherein each of the joint devices comprises two joint elements, and each of the joint elements has an elongated connecting section and a securing section arranged at one end of the connecting section for securing the joint device to a higher level unit, and the two connecting sections of each joint device extend in a direction pointing away from the carrier element in such a way that they cross over one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: PHYSIK INSTRUMENTE (PI) GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Reinhard Hübner
  • Publication number: 20240151275
    Abstract: A drive system as disclosed includes an input shaft, an output shaft, and at least two coupling elements respectively coupled to the input shaft and the output shaft. In order to absorb assembly and manufacturing tolerances with respect to the shafts, the coupling elements and their attachment to the shafts and thereby prevent jamming of the drive system, at least one coupling element has an elastically deformable section, the elastically deformable section having a different material or a different cross-section than an adjacent section of the coupling element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Publication date: May 9, 2024
    Applicant: Physik Instrumente (PI) GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Michael EBERT, Christian RUDOLF, Christian SANDER
  • Patent number: 11951041
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a positioning device for positioning an object in a positioning plane. To minimize the position error (contouring error) in a continuous orbital travel in contrast to two linear adjusters (X and Y) arranged at a right angle to each other, the positioning device includes two rotation drives having different diameters and an object receiver for receiving the object. The object receiver is coupled to a first of the two rotation drives, which in turn is coupled to the second of the two rotating drives so that the object receiver is rotatable about the axes of rotation (A2, A3) of both rotation drives that are offset in parallel, and is thereby adjustable in the positioning plane. A light processor having such a positioning device, and a method for laser eye surgery using such a light processor are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: PHYSIK INSTRUMENTE (PI) GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Mathias Rosenkranz
  • Patent number: 11949312
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a magnetic guiding device having a stator and a slide movable along a guiding direction relative to the stator, the stator and the slide being magnetized or magnetizable such that a magnetic field extending through the stator and the slide generates a magnetic supporting force on the slide acting along the guiding direction. To improve the running properties of the slide by avoiding differential slip, jerking and varying friction, according to the invention, the magnetic field extending through the stator and the slide simultaneously generates a magnetic pretensioning force which urges the slide and the stator against each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: PHYSIK INSTRUMENTE (PI) GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Bernhard Guddei, Michael Hohmann, Daniel Göll
  • Patent number: 11927213
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a joint, which has at least three degrees of rotational freedom, having a rigid carrier element and at least two elastically deformable joint elements formed on the carrier element in an overlapping arrangement, at least in sections. Each joint element can include two rod-shaped web portions arranged on the carrier element and extending therefrom which are arranged either converging or diverging relative to each other, and at their end facing away from the carrier element are connected to each other by way of a contact portion. Two web portions connected to each other extend in a first common plane and two other web portions connected to each other extend in a second common plane, and the first common plane and the second common plane intersect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: PHYSIK INSTRUMENTE (PI) GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Reinhard Hübner
  • Patent number: 11885367
    Abstract: Spindle nut which can be brought into engagement with or engages with a corresponding spindle, wherein the spindle nut comprises an internal thread which is defined by three longitudinal grooves, which run in a direction parallel to a central thread axis A of the spindle nut, which is interrupted, as a result of which three spaced-apart internal thread segments are formed in the spindle nut, and, in case the spindle nut is in engagement with the spindle, the external thread of the spindle is in contact only with the internal thread segments, wherein the spindle nut, with respect to a cross section arranged perpendicular to its central thread axis A, comprises a cross section geometry with an inner cross-section curve K facing the central thread axis, wherein at least the inner thread segments each form a partial circle shaped section of the cross section curve K, wherein the diameter of each partial circle shaped section corresponds to the core diameter of the internal thread, and the partial circle shaped se
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: PHYSIK INSTRUMENTE (PI) GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Reinhard Hübner
  • Patent number: 11888415
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a piezoelectric stick-slip-motor and control method. An exemplary method to enable speed variation of the piezoelectric stick-slip-motor with a reduced noise generation, includes: applying a cyclic sawtooth-waveform drive voltage signal with a constant frequency in which the drive voltage (V) increases to and decreases from a peak voltage (Vp) for operating the motor with a constant speed; and changing the motor speed by gradually increasing or decreasing the gradient (dV/dt) of increasing the drive voltage (V) to the peak voltage (Vp) with each subsequent sawtooth-waveform drive voltage signal cycle (C) while keeping the frequency of the drive voltage signal constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: PHYSIK INSTRUMENTE (PI) GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: William Culpi, Jerome Kneipp
  • Patent number: 11843330
    Abstract: A method for operating an electromechanical element, comprising the following steps: by controlling a first control section which is deformable by an electrical voltage by a first voltage signal generation of adjusting movements of a friction element which is arranged on the electromechanical element and which is provided for frictional contact with an element to be driven, controlling of a second control section which is deformable by an electrical voltage by a second voltage signal, which comprises a signal section, the frequency of which compared to the first voltage signal is by a factor, an actuator, a drive device with an actuator and a motor with a drive device and an element to be driven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: PHYSIK INSTRUMENTE (PI) GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Burhanettin Koc
  • Patent number: 11841330
    Abstract: A sensor probe assembly includes a probe, and a sensor assembly coupled to the probe. The sensor assembly measures a physical or electrical characteristic of a surface that the probe is near to or in contact with. The sensor assembly is symmetrically disposed around a center axis of the probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Physik Instrumente (PI) GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Scott Jordan
  • Patent number: 11799397
    Abstract: An inertia drive motor is disclosed which includes an element to be driven, and a stator, the stator having: an elastic frame, at least one friction element arranged on the elastic frame and configured to be brought into frictional contact with the element to be driven, and a first electromechanical actuator and a second electromechanical actuator, which are configured to cause, by interaction, a deformation of the elastic frame, upon excitation with different excitation voltages having a sawtooth signal, so as to displace the at least one friction element for driving the element to be driven by stick-slip contact with the friction element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: PHYSIK INSTRUMENTE (PI) GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Koc Burhanettin
  • Patent number: 11793080
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an ultrasonic actuator formed of a plate having a base, a cover surface which is geometrically similar to the base, and a lateral surface which interconnects the base and the cover surface, wherein the plate includes an electromagnetic material. Electrodes for inciting periodic deformations of the plate are arranged on the base of the plate and on the cover surface of the plate opposite the base. The base includes at least two faces which are arranged in parallel with one another and form contact portions of the lateral surface, and the two faces of the base arranged in parallel with one another, together with connecting lines which interconnect the respective end points of the faces arranged in parallel, form a parallelogram inscribed in the base, in which parallelogram an angle different from 90° is enclosed between adjacent faces. A motor having such an ultrasonic actuator is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: PHYSIK INSTRUMENTE (PI) GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Reinhard Hübner