X, Y, θ alignment mechanism

Claim 2

Positioning apparatus for positioning an object with respect to a fixed base comprising: four links (240, 254, 256, 258; 300, 332, 330, 334) pivotally interconnected at points (253, 255, 257, 259; 338, 340, 337, 336) located at the corners of a parallelogram, a first link (240, 300) of said parallelogram supporting an object to be moved; means to rotate a second link (254, 332) that is opposite said first link in said parallelogram and that is coupled to the base (204, 202); means to translate said second link (254, 332) of said parallelogram; and means to rotate a third link (258, 334) in said parallelogram, said links being interconnected with said second link (254, 332) so that rotation of said second link in said parallelogram rotates said object, so that translation of said second link in said parallelogram translates said object in a first direction and so that rotation of said third link in said parallelogram translates said object in a direction substantially normal to said first direction.

Claim 3

Positioning apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said second link (254, 332) is coupled to said base (204) through a first gear sector (266) having one end pivotally connected by a pin (274) to said second link and the other end pivotally connected to said base, said first gear sector engaging a first pinion (282) said first pinion and first gear sector being the means to translate said second link, said apparatus further including: a second gear sector (268) having a first end pivotally coupled to said base and a second end pivotally coupled to said second link by means of a pin (276) engaging an elongated slot (278) therein; second pinion (284) engaging said second gear sector (268) said second pinion and second gear sector being the means to rotate said second link; and a third gear sector (264) having one end pivoted to said base and another end pivotally coupled to said third link (258) through a pin (270) engaging an elongated slot (272) therein, a third pinion (280) engaging said third gear sector, said third pinion and third gear sector being said means to rotate said third link.

Claim 4

Positioning apparatus according to claim 2 and further including first, second and third position sensing means (288, 290, 292) coupled to said first, second and third gear sectors (266, 268, 264) respectively.

Claim 5

Positioning apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said gear sectors are coupled to said position sensing means through flexure couplings.

Claim 6

Positioning apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first link (300) is coupled to said third link (334) and said third link is coupled to said second link (332) by pivots in the form of crossed flexure blades (338, 340); said first link and said second link being coupled by a fourth link (330) in the form of a flexure bar having first and second flexure pivots (336, 337) adjacent first one and said second links respectively; said second link being coupled to said base (202) through a second flexure bar (342) having flexure pivots (346, 348) at its end adjacent said second link and said base respectively; a first bell crank (354) pivoted to said base, and a third flexure bar (352) having flexure pivots on each end coupling one end of said first bell crank to said third link (334); first driving means (360), and a first rod (356) coupling the other end of said first bell crank (354) to said first driving means; the arrangement comprising said first bell crank (354), said third flexure bar, said first rod and said first driving means being said means to rotate said third link; a second bell crank (372) pivoted to said base, and a fourth flexure bar (368) having flexure pivots on both ends coupling one end of said second bell crank (372) to said second link (332); second driving means (376), and a second rod (374) having a flexure pivot on its one end coupling the other end of said second bell crank to said second driving means; said second bell crank, fourth flexure bar, second rod and second driving means being said means to rotate said second link; a third rod (364) and a third driving means (366), said third rod coupling said second link (332) to said third driving means, said third rod and third driving means being said means to translate said second link.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said first and second links (300, 332) are essentially horizontal, while said third and fourth links (334, 330) are substantially vertical; said third flexure bar (352) being arranged substantially horizontal and being coupled to a vertical extension (334') of said third link, with the other end of said first bell crank (354) being coupled to a substantially vertical first rod (356); said second flexure bar (342) being substantially horizontal, and said fourth flexure bar (368) being substantially horizontal and coupling a vertical extension (370) of said second link to said second bell crank (372), with the other end of said second bell crank being coupled to said second driving means by a substantially vertical second rod (374); and said third rod (364) coupling said second link (332) to said third driving means (366) being substantially vertical.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said second flexure bar (342) is attached to said second link (332) essentially near the center of said second link.

Claim 9

Positioning apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said first, second and third driving means (360, 376, 366) comprise first, second and third motors coupled for applying a substantially linear motion to said first second and third rods (356, 374, 364) respectively.

Claim 10

Positioning apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the spacing between said crossed flexure blades (338, 340) coupling the third link (334) to the first and second links (300, 332) is substantially equal to the spacing of the flexure pivots (336, 337) at the ends of the fourth link (330), and the spacing between said crossed flexure blade (338) coupling said first linke (300) and said third link (334) and the flexure pivot (336) coupling said fourth link (330) to said first link (300) is substantially equal to the distance between the cross flexure blade (340) coupling said second and third links (332, 334) and the flexure pivot (337) coupling the fourth link (330) to said second link (332).

Claim 11

Positioning apparatus according to claim 9 and further including a first spring (362) parallel to said first rod (356) biasing said first bell crank (354) downward, a second spring (380) parallel to said second rod (374) biasing said second bell crank (372) downward and a third spring (378) parallel to said third rod (364) biasing said second link (332) downward.