Stage system with onboard linear motor

• US 6,552,449 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2002
• Issued: 04/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nippon Thompson Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nippon Thompson Company Limited
• Inventors: Ohno, Masaki, Tsuboi, Takaaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Nestor
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mohandesi, Iraj A.
• Application Number:
  US10/116,754
• Publication Number:
  US 20020163257A1
• Time in Patent Office: 382 Days
• Field of Search: 310/12
• US Class Current: 310/12.06
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 1/4866 followed perpendicularly by a single sliding pair
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 2201/18 Machines moving with multiple degrees of freedom
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 41/031 of the permanent magnet type

Abstract

Here is disclosed a stage system enabling position control of a tiny angle by virtue of a linear motor and becoming greater in response ability, with even slimness and small size in construction. The stage system has a first stage lying on a base stage for linear movement in an X-direction relatively to the base stage, a second stage lying on the first stage for linear movement relatively to the first stage in a Y-direction, a turning stage lying on the second stage to be supported through rolling bearing means on the second stage, and a turning linear motor for driving the turning stage over a tiny amount of angle in either direction of rotation. The turning linear motor is comprised of a primary side of more than one armature winding arranged in juxtaposition in straight line on the second stage, and a secondary side of field magnets arranged in juxtaposition in opposition to the armature winding on the turning stage, with magnetic poles alternating in polarity in straight line.

Claims

1. A stage system with onboard linear motor, comprising an anti-turning stage kept against rotation, a turning stage lying on the anti-turning stage for rotation relatively to the anti-turning stage, a rolling bearing means interposed between the anti-turning stage and the turning stage to support the turning stage for free rotation, and a turning linear motor for driving the turning stage over a tiny amount of angle in either direction of rotation, wherein the turning linear motor is comprised of a primary side of more than one armature winding arranged in juxtaposition in straight line on either one of the turning stage and the anti-turning stage, and a secondary side of field magnets arranged in juxtaposition in opposition to the armature winding on another of the turning stage and the anti-turning stage, with magnetic poles alternating in polarity in straight line.

2. A stage system with onboard linear motor, constructed as defined in claim 1, wherein the turning linear motor is oriented so as to extend in line with a tangent of an arc depicted by the turning stage.

3. A stage system with onboard linear motor, constructed as defined in claim 1, wherein the turning linear motor has a means for sensing a position of the turning stage in turning direction with respect to the anti-turning stage, the sensing means being composed of a linear scale graduated lengthwise in fine pitches and attached on the arched periphery of the turning stage, and a sensor element installed in opposition to the linear scale to read graduations on the linear scale.

4. A stage system with onboard linear motor, constructed as defined in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the rolling bearing means is constituted with a cross-roller bearing that is composed of an inner ring, an outer ring arranged around the inner ring for rotation with respect to the inner ring, and roller interposed between the inner ring and outer ring, with their rolling axes being crossed alternately one another.

5. A stage system with onboard linear motor, constructed as defined in claim 4, wherein the anti-turning stage is made at central area thereof with an aperture in which the outer ring of the rolling bearing means is fitted, while the turning stage is provided with an annular boss having an outside periphery around which the inner ring of the rolling bearing means fits over the annular boss, and the turning stage is also made at a center thereof with a rectangular window that is in alignment with the aperture in the anti-turning stage.

6. A stage system with onboard linear motor, constructed as defined in claim 1, wherein the anti-turning stage is composed of a first stage lying on a base stage for linear movement in an X-direction relatively to the base stage, and a second stage lying on the first stage for linear movement relatively to the first stage in a Y-direction crossing the X-direction, and the turning stage lies on the second stage to be supported through the rolling bearing means on the second stage.

7. A stage system with onboard linear motor, constructed as defined in claim 1, wherein a first linear motor is provided to move the first stage to a desired position in the X-direction, and a second linear motor is provided to move the second stage to a desired position in the Y-direction.

8. A stage system with onboard linear motor, constructed as defined in claim 7, wherein the turning, first and second linear motors equally have one set of three armature windings, each of which carries any one phase of three-phase conduction system, and the first, second and turning stages are each propelled to their desired positions by virtue of electromagnetic force that will be generated when three-phase current in the armature windings interacts electromagnetically with field flux created by the field magnets.

9. A stage system with onboard linear motor, constructed as defined in claim 8, wherein the field magnets are made of rare-earth magnet and five pieces of field magnets are arrayed in straight line in opposition to each set of three armature windings.

10. A stage system with onboard linear motor, constructed as defined in claim 1, wherein linear movement of the first stage in the X-direction relatively to the base stage is guided through a first linear motion guide unit that is composed of an elongated track rail lying on the base stage in the X-direction and a first slider mounted to the first stage and supported on the track rail for linear movement, while linear movement of the second stage in the Y-direction relatively to the first stage is guided through a second linear motion guide unit that is composed of a second track rail lying on the first stage in the Y-direction and a second slider mounted to the second stage and supported on the track rail for linear movement.

11. A stage system with onboard linear motor, constructed as defined in claim 1, wherein the first, second, and turning stages are equally made with transparent windows, which parallel each other.

12. A stage system with onboard linear motor, constructed as defined in claim 6, wherein first sensing means for determining a relative position of the first stage to the base stage is constituted with an optical encoder that is made up of an optical linear scale attached to the first stage and a sensor element mounted to the base stage in opposition to the optical linear scale, while second sensing means for determining a relative position of the second stage to the first stage is another optical encoder made up of an optical linear scale installed on the second stage and a sensor element mounted to the first stage in opposition to the optical linear scale.

13. A stage system with onboard linear motor, constructed as defined in claim 6, wherein all the first, second and turning stages are made in a form of rectangular plate.