Pivotal mechanism upon which tracking mirrors and the like used in optical systems may be mounted

• US 4,497,465 A
• Filed: 03/31/1983
• Issued: 02/05/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1983
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Stuff Technology Partners-Ii
• Original Assignee: Storage Technology Partners II (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Yeakley, Lester M., Fitzgerald, Karen M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schultz, William H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ramirez, Ramon O.
• Application Number:
  US06/481,045
• Time in Patent Office: 677 Days
• Field of Search: 248/274, 248/466, 248/479, 248/480, 248/476, 248/467, 308/2 A, 267/160, 29/173, 29/436, 350/6.6
• US Class Current: 248/466
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 11/12 incorporating flexible connections, e.g. leaf springs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/1821 for rotating or oscillating mirrors

Abstract

Disclosed is a low cost flexural mechanism upon which tracking mirrors and the like used in optical systems may be mounted. The flexural mechanism is made from a single sheet of metal by placing a desired shape or pattern in the metal. The resulting shape is then formed into a base, mounting surface, and flex arms. The mechanism is stiff in directions other than rotation, has low noise, has low thermal sensitivity, and can be made in any practical size. The flexural mechanism can be designed to place the pivot axis at the center of gravity of the mass being rotated, even when the center of gravity is outside the flexural mechanism.

Claims

1. An improved flexural mechanism for pivoting a first object a few degrees plus or minus about an axis of rotation comprising:

a plurality of spaced-apart base sections lying in a first plane;

a mounting surface lying in a second plane; and

a plurality of flex arm pairs coupling said base sections to said mounting surface, each of said pairs comprising a first flex arm extending from a first of said base sections to said mounting surface, and a second flex arm extending from a second of said base sections to said mounting surface, said axis of rotation passing through a point where said first and second flex arms, or the extensions thereof, appear to cross when said mechanism is viewed from an end thereof;

said base sections, mounting surface, and flex arm pairs being characterized as initially forming part of an integral sheet of flexible material, which material has a pattern placed therein that defines the size, shape, and location of said base sections, mounting surface, and flex arm pairs;

said base sections being affixed to a suitable base material, and said first object being affixed to said mounting surface;

whereby if one of said base material or first object is held stationary, the other of said base material or first object may be selectively pivoted a few degrees plus or minus about said axis of rotation.

2. The flexural mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein said flex arms smoothly bend away from said base sections and mounting surface without any sharp creases or folds existing in said flex arms at the junction where said flex arms joint the edges of said base sections and mounting surface.

3. The flexural mechanism as defined in claim 2 wherein said axis of rotation is located on a line lying between said first and second planes.

4. The flexural mechanism as defined in claim 2 wherein said axis of rotation is located on a line lying above said second plane.

5. The flexural mechanism as defined in claim 2 wherein said first object is a mirror used in an optical system.

6. The flexural mechanism as defined in claim 5 further including means for selectively pivoting said mirror about said axis of rotation.