High speed, low mass, movable probe and/or instrument positioner, tool and like items suitable for use in a controlled environment chamber
First Claim
1. A high speed, low mass positioning apparatus for positioning a test probe at any desired point within an x-y plane comprising a first axis of movement means for positioning the probe along one axis of movement and a second axis of movement means for positioning the probe along the remaining transverse axis of movement, both of said axis of movement means comprising motor driven pulley wheel and drive cable arrangements arrayed around the outer periphery of the x-y planar area within which it is desired to position the test probe, one of said axis of movement means being arranged to move a set of spaced-apart movable trucks in either direction along two spaced-apart parallel boundaries defining the opposite side of the x-y planar area, a light inflexible track member secured between and carried by said two spaced-apart movable trucks and movable therewith in either direction along said one axis of movement, a small lightweight movable carrier movably supported by said track member and movable therealong in either direction transverse to said one axis of movement, the other of said axis of movement means being arranged to move said small lightweight movable carrier back and forth in either direction along the second axis of movement on said track member, a respective pulley wheel mounted on each of said movable trucks and movable therewith, said truck mounted pulley wheels supporting a movable conductive fine wire endless loop therebetween which extends along the same axial direction as the track member, one side of the movable fine wire loop being secured to and moved by the small lightweight movable carrier, means for electrically insulating said conductive fine wire endless loop from the truck mounted pulley wheels and said movable carrier, and an electrically conductive test probe secured to and movable with the other side of the movable conductive fine wire loop whereby the electrical test probe can be positioned at any desired point within the planar x-y area.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A high speed, low mass positioning apparatus is provided for positioning a test probe or other like item at any desired point within an x-y plane. The apparatus comprises a first axis of movement mechanism for positioning the item along one axis of movement and a second axis of movement mechanism for positioning the item along the remaining transverse axis of movement. Both of the axis of movement mechanisms comprise motor driven pulley wheel and drive cable arrangements arrayed around the outer periphery of the x-y planar surface area within which it is desired to position a test probe, tool or other like item. A light inflexible track member is secured between and carried by two spaced-apart movable trucks and is movable therewith in either direction along the said one axis of movement. A small lightweight movable carrier is movably supported on the track member and is movable therealong in either direction. The remaining axis of movement mechanism is arranged to move the small lightweight movable carrier back and forth in either direction along the track member. One side of a movable fine wire loop is secured to and moved by the small lightweight movable carrier and a test probe or other like item is secured to and movable with the other side of the movable fine wire loop whereby the test probe or other item can be positioned at any desired point within the planar x-y surface area. The apparatus is designed to be mounted within the interior of a substantially airtight, environmentally controlled test chamber.
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Citations
9 Claims
- 1. A high speed, low mass positioning apparatus for positioning a test probe at any desired point within an x-y plane comprising a first axis of movement means for positioning the probe along one axis of movement and a second axis of movement means for positioning the probe along the remaining transverse axis of movement, both of said axis of movement means comprising motor driven pulley wheel and drive cable arrangements arrayed around the outer periphery of the x-y planar area within which it is desired to position the test probe, one of said axis of movement means being arranged to move a set of spaced-apart movable trucks in either direction along two spaced-apart parallel boundaries defining the opposite side of the x-y planar area, a light inflexible track member secured between and carried by said two spaced-apart movable trucks and movable therewith in either direction along said one axis of movement, a small lightweight movable carrier movably supported by said track member and movable therealong in either direction transverse to said one axis of movement, the other of said axis of movement means being arranged to move said small lightweight movable carrier back and forth in either direction along the second axis of movement on said track member, a respective pulley wheel mounted on each of said movable trucks and movable therewith, said truck mounted pulley wheels supporting a movable conductive fine wire endless loop therebetween which extends along the same axial direction as the track member, one side of the movable fine wire loop being secured to and moved by the small lightweight movable carrier, means for electrically insulating said conductive fine wire endless loop from the truck mounted pulley wheels and said movable carrier, and an electrically conductive test probe secured to and movable with the other side of the movable conductive fine wire loop whereby the electrical test probe can be positioned at any desired point within the planar x-y area.
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8. In a method for the high speed positioning of a low mass test electric probe at any desired point within an x-y planar surface utilizing motor driven pulley wheel and drive cable arrangements, an elongated lightweight inflexible track supported between two spaced-apart movable trucks and a small lightweight carrier movably supported on the track;
- the improvement comprising arraying respective x and y axis movement motor driven pulley wheel and drive cable arrangements around the outer periphery of the x-y planar surface, driving the spaced-apart movable trucks in either direction along two spaced-apart parallel boundaries of the x-y planar surface defining one axis of movement with one of the motor driven pulley wheel and drive cable arrangements, supporting the elongated lightweight inflexible track between the spaced-apart movable trucks at substantially right angles to the direction of movement of the trucks to define the remaining transverse axis of movement, driving the small lightweight carrier in either direction along a second axis of movement on the track with the remaining motor driven pulley wheel and drive cable arrangements, mounting respective additional pulley wheels on each of said spaced-apart trucks and supporting a fine movable electrically conductive wire loop therebetween with the loop of the wire extending along the track on either side thereof, electrically insulating the loop of wire from other components of the high speed positioning arrangement including the movable carrier, securing the portion of the loop on the underside of the track to the small, lightweight movable carrier and securing an electrical test probe to the remaining side of the fine wire loop for movement back and forth along the second axis of movement by said small lightweight carrier to thereby position the electrical test probe at any desired point within the planar x-y area.
- View Dependent Claims (9)
Specification