Two-axis actuator with large stage

• US 7,142,077 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2004
• Issued: 11/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Hong, Seung-bum, Jung, Ju-hwan, Park, Hong-sik, Min, Dong-ki, Baeck, Kyoung-lock, Jun, Jong-up
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RODRIGUEZ, PAUL L
• Application Number:
  US10/922,140
• Publication Number:
  US 20050040919A1
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• Field of Search: 335/78, 335220-229, 200/181
• US Class Current: 335/78
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 2201/18 Machines moving with multiple degrees of freedom
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 1/008 Laterally driven motors, e.g. of the comb-drive type

Abstract

A two-axis actuator having a large stage area and including includes a substrate, an anchor unit having sides approximately in a rectangular shape, fixed on the substrate, a plurality of first actuating parts actuating in a first direction and separated from the substrate within regions of both sides of the anchor unit, a plurality of second actuating parts actuating in a second direction between the first actuating parts, a rectangular shaped stage that actuates in the second direction, disposed above the second actuating parts, a third actuating part formed on the first actuating part, and elevated at a predetermined distance from the stage and the anchor unit, first direction deformable springs that support the first actuating part in inner parts of the anchor unit, and second direction deformable springs formed to fix the second actuating part in an inner part of the third actuating part.

Claims

1. A two-axis actuator comprising:

a substrate;

an anchor unit fixed on the substrate, the anchor unit comprising approximately rectangular sides, including first sides facing each other and extending in a first direction, the first sides having a plurality of corresponding discrete portions;

first actuating parts disposed in regions adjacent to second sides of the anchor unit extending in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, the first actuating parts moveable in the first direction;

second actuating parts disposed a predetermined distance above the substrate and formed between the first actuating parts in a region adjacent to the first sides of the anchor unit extending in the first direction, the second actuating parts moveable in the second direction;

a stage of a rectangular shape disposed on the second actuating parts so as to be movable in the second direction;

a third actuating part separately disposed between the stage and the anchor unit, wherein the third actuating part is disposed on the first actuating parts as one body to move the stage in the first direction by a movement of the first actuating parts;

first direction deformable springs disposed at inner faces of the anchor unit for enabling the first actuating parts to move in the first direction; and

second deformable springs disposed at inner faces of the third actuating part for enabling the second actuating parts to move in the second direction.

2. The two-axis actuator of claim 1, wherein the first actuating part comprises:

a plurality of first actuating frames disposed at a predetermined distance above the substrate, wherein upper parts of the first actuating frames are connected to the third actuating part, and the first actuating frames are disposed in parallel to the second sides of the anchor unit extending in the second direction;

a plurality of first fixed frames disposed alternately with and parallel to the first actuating frames;

a plurality of first actuating comb electrodes extending from the first actuating frames toward corresponding first fixed frames; and

a plurality of first fixed comb electrodes disposed alternately with and parallel to the actuating comb electrodes and extending from the first fixed frames.

3. The two-axis actuator of claim 2, wherein the first direction deformable springs connect the ends of the first actuating frames to the first sides of the anchor unit extending in the first direction.

4. The two-axis actuator of claim 2, wherein the first direction deformable springs connect the first sides of the anchor unit extending in the first direction to outer sides of the third actuating part.

5. The two-axis actuator of claim 2, further comprising first main frames connecting centers of the first actuating frames adjacent to the second sides of the anchor unit extending in the second direction, wherein the first fixed frames are disposed on both sides of the first main frames.

6. The two-axis actuator of claim 5, wherein the second actuating part comprises:

a plurality of second fixed frames disposed in parallel to the first sides of the anchor extending in the first direction;

second main frames connecting centers of the second fixed frames, wherein an end of each of the second main frames is extended toward the first sides of the anchor unit extending in the first direction;

first fixing beams connected to ends of the second main frame, wherein an upper part of each of the first fixing beams is connected to the third actuating part;

a plurality of second actuating frames disposed alternately with and in parallel to the second fixed frames on both sides of the second main frames, wherein an upper part of each of the second actuating frames is connected to the stage;

third main frames, connected to outer ends of the second actuating frames;

a plurality of second actuating comb electrodes extending from the second actuating frames toward the second fixed frames; and

a plurality of fixed comb electrodes extending from the second fixed frames and disposed alternately with and in parallel to the second actuating comb electrodes.

7. The two-axis actuator of claim 6 wherein the second direction deformable springs are disposed between the stage and the third actuating part.

8. The two-axis actuator of claim 6, further comprising second fixing beams disposed at a predetermined distance outward from the third main frames, wherein an upper part of each of the second fixing beams is connected to the third actuating part, and the second direction deformable springs are disposed between the second fixing beams and the third main frames.

9. The two-axis actuator of claim 6, further comprising first direction deformable springs disposed between the first fixing beams and the corresponding first sides of the anchor unit extending in the first direction.

10. The two-axis actuator of claim 6, further comprising second direction deformable springs to connect ends of the first main frames to the third main frames.

11. The two-axis actuator of claim 1, wherein a plurality of openings are formed in the third actuating part.

12. The two-axis actuator of claim 1, wherein the first actuating part comprises:

a plurality of first fixed frames disposed on the substrate in parallel to the second sides of the anchor unit extending in the second direction;

a plurality of first actuating frames disposed at a predetermined distance above the substrate, wherein upper parts of the first actuating frames are connected to the third actuating part, and the first actuating frames are disposed alternately with and in parallel to the first fixed frames;

a plurality of actuating comb electrodes extending from the first actuating frames toward the first fixed frames; and

a plurality of fixed comb electrodes disposed alternately with and in parallel to the actuating comb electrodes extending from the first fixed frames.

13. The two-axis actuator of claim 12, wherein the first direction deformable springs connect ends of the first actuating frames to the first sides of the anchor unit extending in the first direction.

14. The two-axis actuator of claim 12, wherein the first direction deformable springs connect the first sides of the anchor unit extending in the first direction to outer sides of the third actuating part.

15. The two-axis actuator of claim 12, further comprising first main frames connecting centers of the first fixed frames, wherein the first actuating frames are disposed on both sides of the first main frames.

16. The two-axis actuator of claim 15, wherein the second actuating part comprises:

a plurality of second fixed frames disposed in parallel to the first sides of the anchor unit extending in the first direction;

second main frames connecting centers of the second fixed frames, and wherein an end of each of the second main frames is extended toward the first sides of the anchor unit extending in the first direction;

first fixing beams connected to ends of the second main frames, wherein an upper part of each of first fixing beams is connected to the third actuating part;

a plurality of second actuating frames disposed alternately with and in parallel to the second fixed frames on both sides of the second main frames, wherein an upper part of each of the second actuating frames is connected to the stage;

third main frames extending in the second direction and separated at a predetermined distance from the outer ends of the second actuating frames, wherein an upper part of each of the third main frames is connected to the third actuating part;

a plurality of second actuating comb electrodes extending from the second actuating frames toward the second fixed frames; and

a plurality of second fixed comb electrodes disposed alternately with and in parallel to the second actuating comb electrodes and extending from the second fixed frames.

17. The two-axis actuator of claim 16, further comprising second fixing beams connected to outer ends of the second fixed frames under the third actuating part.

18. The two-axis actuator of claim 16, wherein the second direction deformable springs are disposed between the stage and the third actuating part.

19. The two-axis actuator of claim 16, wherein the second direction deformable springs connect ends of the second actuating frames facing the second sides of the anchor unit extending in the second direction to corresponding sides of the third main frame.

20. The two-axis actuator of claim 16, further comprising first direction deformable springs disposed between ends of the third main frames and the first sides of the anchor unit extending in the first direction.

21. The two-axis actuator of claim 12, wherein a plurality of openings are formed in the third actuating part.