High-agility reflector support and drive system

Claim 1

Apparatus for mounting a device defining a mounting plane so as to be selectively rotatable about mutually perpendicular axes with respect to a base defining a base plane and so as to be capable of being pointed with extreme accuracy and moved with high velocity or rapid acceleration, comprising: four suspension points lying in and defining each of the base and mounting planes, the suspension points in each of the planes arranged in like geometric symmetry and defining rhombi lying in each of the planes; four support-arm members joining the base and mounting planes and terminated at opposed pairs of suspension points in the planes, each support-arm member including a linear actuator and having first and second joints at its respective ends; a gimbal having a longitudinal rotation axis; means for rotatably mounting the gimbal to the mounting plane such that the longitudinal rotation axis of the gimbal passes through the first joints associated with one pair of diagonally opposite support-arm members; a pin fitted transversely to the gimbal and having a longitudinal rotation axis; and means for rotatably mounting the pin to the base lane such that the longitudinal rotation axis of the pin passes through the first joints associated with the other pair of digonally opposite support-arm members when the base and mounting planes are parallel.