Mechanism comprised of ultrasonic lead screw motor
First Claim
1. An apparatus for driving a threaded shaft assembly comprised of a threaded nut with an axis of rotation and, engaged therewith, a threaded shaft with an axial direction and a length, said assembly is comprised of means for subjecting said threaded nut to ultrasonic vibrations and thereby causing said threaded shaft to rotate and said threaded nut to translate in said axial direction over a portion of said length of said threaded shaft.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An optical assembly that contains an optical device movably attached to a apparatus for driving a threaded shaft assembly. The apparatus contains of a threaded shaft with an axis of rotation and, engaged therewith, a threaded nut. The assembly contains a device for subjecting the threaded nut to ultrasonic vibrations and thereby causing said the shaft to simultaneously rotate and translate in the axial direction.
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Citations
46 Claims
- 1. An apparatus for driving a threaded shaft assembly comprised of a threaded nut with an axis of rotation and, engaged therewith, a threaded shaft with an axial direction and a length, said assembly is comprised of means for subjecting said threaded nut to ultrasonic vibrations and thereby causing said threaded shaft to rotate and said threaded nut to translate in said axial direction over a portion of said length of said threaded shaft.
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30. An apparatus for driving a threaded shaft assembly comprised of
(a) an optical focusing assembly comprised of a first threaded nut with a first axis of rotation and, engaged therewith, a first threaded shaft with a first axial direction and a length, said focusing assembly is comprised of means for subjecting said first threaded nut to ultrasonic vibrations and thereby causing said first threaded shaft to rotate and said first threaded nut to translate in said first axial direction over a portion of said length of said first threaded shaft, said focusing assembly is connected to said first threaded nut, (b) an optical zoom assembly comprised of a second threaded nut with a second axis of rotation and, engaged therewith, a second threaded shaft with a second axial direction and a length, said zoom assembly is comprised of means for subjecting said second threaded nut to ultrasonic vibrations and thereby causing said second threaded shaft to rotate and said second threaded nut to translate in said second axial direction over a portion of said length of said second threaded shaft, said zoom assembly is connected to said second threaded nut.
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40. An apparatus for driving a threaded shaft assembly comprised of
(a) an optical focusing assembly comprised of a first threaded nut with a first axis of rotation and, engaged therewith, a first threaded shaft with a first axial direction and a length, said focusing assembly is comprised of means for subjecting said first threaded nut to ultrasonic vibrations and thereby causing said first threaded shaft to rotate about said first axis and said first threaded nut to translate in said first axial direction over a portion of said length of said first threaded shaft, said focusing assembly is connected to said first threaded nut through a first printed circuit board, wherein said translation in said axial direction occurs over a distance greater than the amplitude of any single amplitude of said ultrasonic vibration; -
(b) an optical zoom assembly comprised of a second threaded nut with a second axis of rotation and, engaged therewith, a second threaded shaft with a second axial direction and a length, said focusing assembly is comprised of means for subjecting said second threaded nut to ultrasonic vibrations and thereby causing said second threaded shaft to rotate about said second axis and said second threaded nut to translate in said second axial direction over a portion of said length of said second threaded shaft, said zoom assembly is connected to said second threaded nut through a second printed circuit board, wherein said translation in said axial direction occurs over a distance greater than the amplitude of any single amplitude of said ultrasonic vibration;
(c) wherein said first printed circuit board is comprised of a first piezoelectric plate for generating said ultrasonic vibrations in a first direction, and a second piezoelectric plate for generating said ultrasonic vibrations in a second direction, a third piezoelectric plate for generating said ultrasonic vibrations in said first direction, and a fourth piezoelectric plate for generating said ultrasonic vibrations in said second direction, wherein said first direction and said second direction are orthogonal. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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Specification