Miniature grating device

Claim 2

A drive device comprising: a base member; a first movable member positioned relative to the base member; a second movable member positioned relative to the base member and the first movable member, said second movable member being selectively movable between a first location, a second location and a third location relative to the base member; a first piezoelectric actuator rigidly secured to the first movable member and positioned relative to the second movable member, wherein the first piezoelectric actuator includes a first piezoelectric laminate having first and second piezoelectric layers, said first and second piezoelectric layers being of different piezoelectric materials so as to expand differently under the first voltage potential, said first piezoelectric actuator being responsive to a first voltage potential to cause the first piezoelectric actuator to position the second movable member from the first location to the second location; and a second piezoelectric actuator rigidly secured to the base member and positioned relative to the first movable member, wherein the second piezoelectric actuator includes a second piezoelectric laminate having third and fourth piezoelectric layers, said third and fourth piezoelectric layers being of different piezoelectric materials to expand differently under the second voltage potential, said second piezoelectric actuator being responsive to a second voltage potential to cause the second piezoelectric actuator to move the first movable member, wherein movement of the first movable member causes movement of the second movable member such that when the first voltage potential is applied to the first piezoelectric actuator and the second voltage potential is applied to the second piezoelectric actuator the second movable member is positioned in the third location.

Claim 3

A drive device comprising: a base member; a first movable member positioned relative to the base member; a second movable member positioned relative to the base member and the first movable member, said second movable member including a grating associated with a projection Moire topography system, said grating being selectively movable and positionable between a first location, a second location and a third location relative to the base member so as to provide Moire topography measurements of an object, wherein the second movable member includes; a first piezoelectric actuator rigidly secured to the first movable member and positioned relative to the second movable member, said first piezoelectric actuator being responsive to a first voltage potential to cause the first piezoelectric actuator to position the second movable member from the first location to the second location; and a second piezoelectric actuator rigidly secured to the base member and positioned relative to the first movable member, said second piezoelectric actuator being responsive to a second voltage potential to cause the second piezoelectric actuator to move the first movable member, wherein movement of the first movable member causes movement of the second movable member such that when the first voltage potential is applied to the first piezoelectric actuator and the second voltage potential is applied to the second piezoelectric actuator the second movable member is positioned in the third location.

Claim 4

A drive device comprising: a base member; a first movable member positioned relative to the base member; a second movable member positioned relative to the base member and the first movable member, said second movable member including a grating associated with a projection Moire topography system, said grating being selectively movable and positionable between a first location, a second location and a third location relative to the base member so as to provide Moire topography measurements of an object, wherein the second movable member includes; a first piezoelectric actuator rigidly secured to the first movable member and positioned relative to the second movable member, said first piezoelectric actuator being responsive to a first voltage potential to cause the first piezoelectric actuator to position the second movable member from the first location to the second location; and a second piezoelectric actuator rigidly secured to the base member and positioned relative to the first movable member, said second piezoelectric actuator being responsive to a second voltage potential to cause the second piezoelectric actuator to move the first movable member, wherein movement of the first movable member causes movement of the second movable member such that when the first voltage potential is applied to the first piezoelectric actuator and the second voltage potential is applied to the second piezoelectric actuator the second movable member is positioned in the third location.

Claim 5

The drive device according to claim 2 wherein the Moire topography system is part of an otoscope that measures the contour of a tympanic membrane.

Claim 6

The drive device according to claim 2 wherein the first and second piezoelectric actuators position the object from the first location to the second location and from the second location to the third location in less than 1/60 of a second.

Claim 7

A drive device comprising: a base member; a first movable member positioned relative to the base member; a second movable member positioned relative to the base member and the first movable member, said second movable member being selectively movable between a first location, a second location and a third location relative to the base member; a first piezoelectric actuator rigidly secured to the first movable member and positioned relative to the second movable member, said first piezoelectric actuator being responsive to a first voltage potential to cause the first piezoelectric actuator to position the second movable member from the first location to the second location; and a second piezoelectric actuator rigidly secured to the base member and positioned relative to the first movable member, said second piezoelectric actuator being responsive to a second voltage potential to cause the second piezoelectric actuator to move the first movable member, wherein movement of the first movable member causes movement of the second movable member such that when the first voltage potential is applied to the first piezoelectric actuator and the second voltage potential is applied to the second piezoelectric actuator the second movable member is positioned in the third location; wherein the first piezoelectric actuator includes a first piezoelectric layer, a first limit stop and a second limit stop, said first piezoelectric layer being positioned against the first limit stop under no voltage potential, and being positioned against the second limit stop under the first voltage potential so as to accurately position the second movable member; and wherein the second piezoelectric actuator includes a second piezoelectric layer, a third limit stop and a fourth limit stop, said second piezoelectric layer being positioned against the third limit stop under no voltage potential, and being positioned against the fourth limit stop under the second voltage potential so as to accurately position the first and second movable members.

Claim 8

A drive device comprising: a base member; a first movable member positioned relative to the base member; a second movable member positioned relative to the base member and the first movable member, said second movable member being selectively movable between a first location, a second location and a third location relative to the base member; a first piezoelectric actuator rigidly secured to the first movable member and positioned relative to the second movable member, said first piezoelectric actuator being responsive to a first voltage potential to cause the first piezoelectric actuator to position the second movable member from the first location to the second location; and a second piezoelectric actuator rigidly secured to the base member and positioned relative to the first movable member, said second piezoelectric actuator being responsive to a second voltage potential to cause the second piezoelectric actuator to move the first movable member, wherein movement of the first movable member causes movement of the second movable member such that when the first voltage potential is applied to the first piezoelectric actuator and the second voltage potential is applied to the second piezoelectric actuator the second movable member is positioned in the third location; wherein the first piezoelectric actuator includes a first piezoelectric layer, a first limit stop and a second limit stop, said first piezoelectric layer being positioned against the first limit stop under no voltage potential, and being positioned against the second limit stop under the first voltage potential so as to accurately position the second movable member; and wherein the second piezoelectric actuator includes a second piezoelectric layer, a third limit stop and a fourth limit stop, said second piezoelectric layer being positioned against the third limit stop under no voltage potential, and being positioned against the fourth limit stop under the second voltage potential so as to accurately position the first and second movable members.

Claim 9

A drive device comprising: a base member; a first movable member positioned relative to the base member; a second movable member positioned relative to the base member and the first movable member, said second movable member being selectively movable between a fast location, a second location and a third location relative to the base member; a first piezoelectric actuator rigidly secured to the first movable member and positioned relative to the second movable member, said first piezoelectric actuator being responsive to a first voltage potential to cause the first piezoelectric actuator to position the second movable member from the first location to the second location; and a second piezoelectric actuator rigidly secured to the base member and positioned relative to the first movable member, said second piezoelectric actuator being responsive to a second voltage potential to cause the second piezoelectric actuator to move the first movable member, wherein movement of the first movable member causes movement of the second movable member such that when the first voltage potential is applied to the first piezoelectric actuator and the second voltage potential is applied to the second piezoelectric actuator the second movable member is positioned in the third location; wherein the first piezoelectric actuator includes a first limit stop, a second limit stop and a first piezoelectric laminate positioned therebetween, said first piezoelectric laminate being rigidly secured to said first limit stop at a first end of the first piezoelectric laminate and a second end of the first piezoelectric laminate being free to move under the influence of the first voltage potential, said first piezoelectric actuator further including a first tab member rigidly secured to the second movable member and positioned between the first limit stop and the second limit stop adjacent the second end of the first piezoelectric laminate; and wherein the first voltage potential causes the second end of the first piezoelectric laminate to apply pressure against the first tab member to move the first tab member towards the second limit stop so as to contact the second limit stop and position the second movable member at the second location.

Claim 10

A drive device comprising: a base member; a first movable member positioned relative to the base member; a second movable member positioned relative to the base member and the first movable member, said second movable member being selectively movable between a fast location, a second location and a third location relative to the base member; a first piezoelectric actuator rigidly secured to the first movable member and positioned relative to the second movable member, said first piezoelectric actuator being responsive to a first voltage potential to cause the first piezoelectric actuator to position the second movable member from the first location to the second location; and a second piezoelectric actuator rigidly secured to the base member and positioned relative to the first movable member, said second piezoelectric actuator being responsive to a second voltage potential to cause the second piezoelectric actuator to move the first movable member, wherein movement of the first movable member causes movement of the second movable member such that when the first voltage potential is applied to the first piezoelectric actuator and the second voltage potential is applied to the second piezoelectric actuator the second movable member is positioned in the third location; wherein the first piezoelectric actuator includes a first limit stop, a second limit stop and a first piezoelectric laminate positioned therebetween, said first piezoelectric laminate being rigidly secured to said first limit stop at a first end of the first piezoelectric laminate and a second end of the first piezoelectric laminate being free to move under the influence of the first voltage potential, said first piezoelectric actuator further including a first tab member rigidly secured to the second movable member and positioned between the first limit stop and the second limit stop adjacent the second end of the first piezoelectric laminate; and wherein the first voltage potential causes the second end of the first piezoelectric laminate to apply pressure against the first tab member to move the first tab member towards the second limit stop so as to contact the second limit stop and position the second movable member at the second location.

Claim 11

The drive device according to claim 6 wherein the second piezoelectric actuator includes a third limit stop, a fourth limit stop and a second piezoelectric laminate positioned therebetween, said second piezoelectric laminate being rigidly secured to said third limit stop at a first end of the second piezoelectric laminate and a second end of the second piezoelectric laminate being free to move under the influence of the second voltage potential, said second piezoelectric actuator further including a second tab member rigidly secured to the second movable member and positioned between the third limit stop and the fourth limit stop adjacent the second end of the second piezoelectric laminate, wherein the second voltage potential causes the second end of the second piezoelectric laminate to apply pressure against the second tab member to move the second tab member towards the fourth limit stop so as to contact the fourth limit stop and position the second movable member at the third location.

Claim 12

A drive device comprising: a base member; a first movable member positioned relative to the base member; a second movable member positioned relative to the base member and the first movable member, said second movable member being selectively movable between a first location, a second location and a third location relative to the base member; a first piezoelectric actuator rigidly secured to the first movable member and positioned relative to the second movable member, said first piezoelectric actuator being responsive to a first voltage potential to cause the first piezoelectric actuator to position the second movable member from the first location to the second location; a second piezoelectric actuator rigidly secured to the base member and positioned relative to the first movable member, said second piezoelectric actuator being responsive to a second voltage potential to cause the second piezoelectric actuator to move the first movable member, wherein movement of the first movable member causes movement of the second movable member such that when the first voltage potential is applied to the first piezoelectric actuator and the second voltage potential is applied to the second piezoelectric actuator the second movable member is positioned in the third location; and at least one inner leaf spring and at least one outer leaf spring, said at least one inner leaf spring being rigidly secured to the first movable member and the second movable member, and said at least one outer leaf spring being rigidly secured to the first movable member and the base member, wherein actuation of the first piezoelectric actuator causes the second movable member to be positioned in the second position against the bias of the inner leaf spring, and actuation of the second piezoelectric actuator causes the first movable member to move the second movable member against the bias of outer leaf spring.

Claim 13

A drive device comprising: a base member; a first movable member positioned relative to the base member; a second movable member positioned relative to the base member and the first movable member, said second movable member being selectively movable between a first location, a second location and a third location relative to the base member; a first piezoelectric actuator rigidly secured to the first movable member and positioned relative to the second movable member, said first piezoelectric actuator being responsive to a first voltage potential to cause the first piezoelectric actuator to position the second movable member from the first location to the second location; a second piezoelectric actuator rigidly secured to the base member and positioned relative to the first movable member, said second piezoelectric actuator being responsive to a second voltage potential to cause the second piezoelectric actuator to move the first movable member, wherein movement of the first movable member causes movement of the second movable member such that when the first voltage potential is applied to the first piezoelectric actuator and the second voltage potential is applied to the second piezoelectric actuator the second movable member is positioned in the third location; and at least one inner leaf spring and at least one outer leaf spring, said at least one inner leaf spring being rigidly secured to the first movable member and the second movable member, and said at least one outer leaf spring being rigidly secured to the first movable member and the base member, wherein actuation of the first piezoelectric actuator causes the second movable member to be positioned in the second position against the bias of the inner leaf spring, and actuation of the second piezoelectric actuator causes the first movable member to move the second movable member against the bias of outer leaf spring.

Claim 14

A drive device comprising: a base member, wherein the base member is an outer cage defining an opening; a first movable member positioned relative to the base member, said first movable member being a platform positioned within the opening and being secured to the outer cage by a first resilient member; a second movable member positioned relative to the base member and the first movable member, said second movable member being positioned within the opening adjacent to the first movable member and being connected to the first movable member by a second resilient member, said second movable member being selectively movable between a first location, a second location and a third location relative to the base member; a first piezoelectric actuator rigidly secured to the first movable member and positioned relative to the second movable member, said first piezoelectric actuator being responsive to a first voltage potential to cause the first piezoelectric actuator to position the second movable member from the first location to the second location; and a second piezoelectric actuator rigidly secured to the base member and positioned relative to the first movable member, said second piezoelectric actuator being responsive to a second voltage potential to cause the second piezoelectric actuator to move the first movable member, wherein movement of the first movable member causes movement of the second movable member such that when the first voltage potential is applied to the first piezoelectric actuator and the second voltage potential is applied to the second piezoelectric actuator the second movable member is positioned in the third location.

Claim 15

A drive device comprising: a base member, wherein the base member is an outer cage defining an opening; a first movable member positioned relative to the base member, said first movable member being a platform positioned within the opening and being secured to the outer cage by a first resilient member; a second movable member positioned relative to the base member and the first movable member, said second movable member being positioned within the opening adjacent to the first movable member and being connected to the first movable member by a second resilient member, said second movable member being selectively movable between a first location, a second location and a third location relative to the base member; a first piezoelectric actuator rigidly secured to the first movable member and positioned relative to the second movable member, said first piezoelectric actuator being responsive to a first voltage potential to cause the first piezoelectric actuator to position the second movable member from the first location to the second location; and a second piezoelectric actuator rigidly secured to the base member and positioned relative to the first movable member, said second piezoelectric actuator being responsive to a second voltage potential to cause the second piezoelectric actuator to move the first movable member, wherein movement of the first movable member causes movement of the second movable member such that when the first voltage potential is applied to the first piezoelectric actuator and the second voltage potential is applied to the second piezoelectric actuator the second movable member is positioned in the third location.

Claim 16

A drive device comprising: a base member; a first limit stop including a first end portion and a second end portion, said first end portion of said limit stop being secured to the base member; a second limit stop including a first end portion and a second end portion, said first end portion of the second limit stop being secured to the base member adjacent to and spaced from the first end portion of the first limit stop; a payload positioned relative to and separated from the base member, said payload being movable relative to said base member; an elongated member rigidly secured to the payload and being positioned relative to the second end portion of the first limit stop; and an actuating mechanism including a first end portion and a second end portion, said first end portion of said actuating mechanism being rigidly secured to the base member and the second end portion of the actuating mechanism being positioned adjacent to the second end portion of the first limit stop and the elongated member, wherein the actuating mechanism is actuatable to apply pressure against the elongated member to move the payload relative to the base member, said second end portion of said second limit stop limiting the travel of the actuating mechanism and the payload.

Claim 17

A drive device comprising: a base member; a first limit stop including a first end portion and a second end portion, said first end portion of said limit stop being secured to the base member; a second limit stop including a first end portion and a second end portion, said first end portion of the second limit stop being secured to the base member adjacent to and spaced from the first end portion of the first limit stop; a payload positioned relative to and separated from the base member, said payload being movable relative to said base member; an elongated member rigidly secured to the payload and being positioned relative to the second end portion of the first limit stop; and an actuating mechanism including a first end portion and a second end portion, said first end portion of said actuating mechanism being rigidly secured to the base member and the second end portion of the actuating mechanism being positioned adjacent to the second end portion of the first limit stop and the elongated member, wherein the actuating mechanism is actuatable to apply pressure against the elongated member to move the payload relative to the base member, said second end portion of said second limit stop limiting the travel of the actuating mechanism and the payload.

Claim 18

The drive device according to claim 10 wherein the actuating mechanism is a piezoelectric bimorph including a first piezoelectric layer and a second piezoelectric layer, said first and second piezoelectric layers being of different piezoelectric materials such that when a voltage potential is applied to the piezoelectric bimorph, the first piezoelectric layer expands more than the second piezoelectric layer causing the piezoelectric bimorph to move towards the second limit stop.

Claim 19

The drive device according to claim 10 wherein the elongated member contacts the second limit stop under the influence of a driving pressure from the actuating mechanism.

Claim 20

The drive device according to claim 10 wherein the actuating mechanism contacts the second limit stop within 1/60 of a second after a voltage potential is applied to actuating mechanism.

Claim 21

A miniature drive device for driving an object comprising: an outer cage defining an opening; an inner cage positioned within the opening and being secured to the outer cage by a first resilient member, said inner cage being movable relative to the outer cage against a bias of the first resilient member; a platform positioned within the opening adjacent to the inner cage and being connected to the inner cage by a second resilient member, said platform being movable relative to the inner cage and the outer cage against a bias of the second resilient member; a first piezoelectric actuator rigidly secured to the outer cage and positioned relative to the inner cage, said first piezoelectric actuator including a first piezoelectric strip, a first limit stop and a second limit stop, said first piezoelectric strip being positioned against the first limit stop under no electrical potential and being positioned against the second limit stop under a first voltage potential, said first piezoelectric strip being responsive to the first voltage potential to cause the first piezoelectric actuator to position the inner cage against the bias of the first resilient member; and a second piezoelectric actuator rigidly secured to the inner cage and positioned relative to the platform, said second piezoelectric actuator including a second piezoelectric strip, a third limit stop and the fourth limit stop, said second piezoelectric strip being positioned against the third limit stop under no voltage potential and being positioned against the fourth limit stop under a second voltage potential, said second piezoelectric strip being responsive to the second voltage potential to cause the second piezoelectric actuator to position the platform against the bias of the second resilient member.

Claim 22

A miniature drive device for driving an object comprising: an outer cage defining an opening; an inner cage positioned within the opening and being secured to the outer cage by a first resilient member, said inner cage being movable relative to the outer cage against a bias of the first resilient member; a platform positioned within the opening adjacent to the inner cage and being connected to the inner cage by a second resilient member, said platform being movable relative to the inner cage and the outer cage against a bias of the second resilient member; a first piezoelectric actuator rigidly secured to the outer cage and positioned relative to the inner cage, said first piezoelectric actuator including a first piezoelectric strip, a first limit stop and a second limit stop, said first piezoelectric strip being positioned against the first limit stop under no electrical potential and being positioned against the second limit stop under a first voltage potential, said first piezoelectric strip being responsive to the first voltage potential to cause the first piezoelectric actuator to position the inner cage against the bias of the first resilient member; and a second piezoelectric actuator rigidly secured to the inner cage and positioned relative to the platform, said second piezoelectric actuator including a second piezoelectric strip, a third limit stop and the fourth limit stop, said second piezoelectric strip being positioned against the third limit stop under no voltage potential and being positioned against the fourth limit stop under a second voltage potential, said second piezoelectric strip being responsive to the second voltage potential to cause the second piezoelectric actuator to position the platform against the bias of the second resilient member.

Claim 23

The drive device according to claim 14 wherein the first and second piezoelectric strips are piezoelectric laminates including two piezoelectric layers of a different piezoelectric material.

Claim 24

The drive device according to claim 14 wherein the platform is a grating platform holding a grating associated with a projection Moire topography system, said grating being selectively positionable in a first, second and third location so as to provide Moire topography measurements of an object.

Claim 25

The drive device according to claim 16 wherein the Moire topography system is part of an otoscope that measures the contour of a tympanic membrane.

Claim 26

The drive device according to claim 16 wherein the first and second piezoelectric actuators position the grating from the first location to the second location and from the second location to the third location in less than 1/60 of a second.