Mechanical amplifier
First Claim
1. A mechanical amplifier receiving an input displacement and providing an output displacement proportional to the input displacement comprising:
- a displacement beam having a longitudinal axis, a first side, a second opposite side, a load end and a driven end;
said driven end of said displacement beam receiving the input displacement at said first and second sides;
a mechanical ground;
a first flexure arm having a longitudinal axis and connecting said mechanical ground to said first side of said beam;
a second flexure arm having a longitudinal axis and connecting said mechanical ground to said second opposite side of said beam;
said flexure arms and said driven end defining a virtual pivot point about which said beam pivots; and
said load end of said displacement beam providing the output displacement about the virtual pivot point proportional to the input displacement.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A mechanical amplifier has an elongated beam rotatable about a virtual pivot point in an amount proportional to the displacement of an actuator connected to the amplifier. A pair of ceramic multilayer piezoelectric actuators apply forces to opposite sides of the elongated beam causing rotation of the beam about the virtual pivot point in an amount proportional to the displacement of the actuators. In addition, a pair of flexures are connected to the opposite sides of the beam and to a frame. The frame functions as a substantially non-vibrating mechanical ground. The shape of the mechanical amplifier elements including the flexures, the beam and connectors for the flexures and actuators are designed to substantially maintain the virtual pivot point of the beam under load conditions within or near an area defined by the intersection of the axes of the flexures and the actuator forces.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. A mechanical amplifier receiving an input displacement and providing an output displacement proportional to the input displacement comprising:
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a displacement beam having a longitudinal axis, a first side, a second opposite side, a load end and a driven end; said driven end of said displacement beam receiving the input displacement at said first and second sides; a mechanical ground; a first flexure arm having a longitudinal axis and connecting said mechanical ground to said first side of said beam; a second flexure arm having a longitudinal axis and connecting said mechanical ground to said second opposite side of said beam; said flexure arms and said driven end defining a virtual pivot point about which said beam pivots; and said load end of said displacement beam providing the output displacement about the virtual pivot point proportional to the input displacement. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 44)
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18. A control device for receiving an input signal and providing an output displacement proportional to at least one characteristic of the input signal comprising:
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a mechanical amplifier having an elongated beam with a longitudinal axis, a first side, a second opposite side, a load end and a driven end; a first and second displacement actuator, each receiving a portion of the input signal;
said first displacement actuator applying a first displacement force to said first side of said beam at said driven end and said second displacement actuator applying a second displacement force to said second side of said beam at said driven end;first and second flexure arms connected between a mechanical ground and said first and second sides respectively of said beam; and said beam in response to said first and second displacement forces and said flexure arms pivoting about a virtual pivot point and producing at said load end an output displacement proportional to at least one characteristic of the input signal. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A flow control system comprising:
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a mechanical amplifier having an elongated beam having a longitudinal axis, a first side, a second opposite side, a load end and a driven end; first and second displacement actuators disposed respectively on and connected to said first and second sides of said beam;
first and second flexure arms connected to said beam at said first and second sides and to a mechanical ground;
said flexure arms being connected to said beam at a position axially spaced from said actuators;
said actuators applying displacement forces to said beam driven end to pivot said beam driven end about a virtual pivot point;
said beam producing at its load end a proportional displacement of said driven end movement; anda fluid flow control device operatively connected to said beam driven end. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34)
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35. A method for mechanically converting an input displacement into an output displacement proportional to the input displacement, comprising the steps of:
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a) applying a first portion of the input displacement to a first side of a displacement beam; b) applying a second portion of the input displacement to a second side of the beam opposite said first side; c) using a pair of flexure arms to connect the beam on opposite sides thereof to a mechanical ground; and d) using said first and second portions of the applied input displacements to pivot the beam about a virtual pivot point to produce an output displacement proportional to the input displacement.
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36. A system receiving an input signal and providing an output for controlling the position of or force applied to an object, comprising:
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a mechanical amplifier receiving an input displacement and providing an output displacement about a virtual pivot point proportional to the input displacement and having an elongated beam with a longitudinal axis, a first side, a second opposite side, a load end and a driven end; a first and second displacement actuator, each having a longitudinal axis and receiving at least a portion of the input signal;
said first displacement actuator applying a first input displacement proportional to at least one characteristic of the input signal to said first side of said beam at said driven end and said second displacement actuator applying a second displacement proportional to at least one characteristic of the input signal to said second side of said beam at said driven end;a mechanical ground and a pair of flexure arms connecting said mechanical ground to said first and second sides of said beam; said beam in response to said first and second displacements which form said input displacement producing at said load end said output displacement; and a control device connected to said load end of said beam and responsive to said output displacement for controlling the portions of or the force applied to an object. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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Specification