Motorized optical component positioning stage

Claim 1

In an optical positioning stage comprising in combination: a. a first end plate having a parallel opposed first pair of grooves disposed therein; b. a second end plate spaced a selected distance from said first plate, said second plate having a parallel opposed second pair of grooves disposed therein, said grooves spaced apart a distance equivalent to the distance between said first pair of grooves; c. a pair of rails, one each disposed in one of said first and one of said second pairs of grooves and adhesively attached to the surfaces of said first and second pairs of grooves; and d. a work piece mounting table slideably disposed between said end plates and said rails, the improvement which comprises: i. a mounting plate disposed between said rails spaced a selected distance from said second plate; ii. a motor assembly mounted on said mounting plate between said rails, said assembly comprising: aa. an electric motor; bb. speed reducing gear means driven by said motor for reducing the output speed of said motor assembly; and cc. an encoder for sensing the revolutions of said motor; and iii. a threaded rod operationally connected between said gear means and said work piece mounting table whereby the rotation of said motor effects the lateral movement of said table.