Adjusting Device with Spring-Counteracted Lever Platform
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing adjusting devices for optical elements have a limited range of actuating movement, which restricts their precision and effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
An adjusting device with a movable platform driven by multiple piezo actuators through a lever translation device and solid-state joints, combined with a spring element to counteract parasitic movements, allowing for a larger adjustment range with high accuracy and low mechanical stress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If a lever transmission device is used to amplify small drive movements into larger platform movements, then the adjustment range is increased, but the mechanical stress on components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The platform is divided into two separate sections (upper and lower platform sections) that can move independently. This segmentation allows the spring element to be positioned in a recess in the lower section, creating a distributed support system that reduces mechanical stress while maintaining the lever amplification effect for increased adjustment range.
Solution Approach 2:
A spring element is introduced to counteract parasitic movements and balance forces in the system. The spring element compensates for gravitational effects and unwanted movements, reducing the mechanical stress on the lever transmission device while allowing the platform to achieve larger adjustment ranges through lever amplification.
2Stress or pressure
If the platform is made two-part with spring element in recess to reduce mechanical stress, then mechanical stress is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spring element is integrated into a recess in the lower platform section, merging the spring support function with the platform structure itself. This integration reduces the need for separate external support components, thereby reducing mechanical stress while minimizing the increase in device complexity through functional consolidation.
3Manufacturing precision
If joint elements are used to transmit movement smoothly, then positioning accuracy is improved, but parasitic movements occur
Solution Approach 1:
The spring element actively counteracts parasitic movements generated by the joint elements during platform positioning. By providing a compliant support that absorbs unwanted movements, the spring element maintains the positioning accuracy achieved by the joint elements while eliminating the harmful parasitic effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the mechanical parameters of the support structure by introducing a spring element with specific elasticity characteristics. This parameter change allows the system to maintain high positioning accuracy through joint elements while the spring's compliance absorbs parasitic movements, transforming rigid constraints into flexible, controlled support.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device achieves a significant increase in actuating movement range while maintaining high precision and dynamic performance, enabling large tilt angles and translational movements with minimal mechanical load, suitable for applications in compact optical devices like tilting mirror units.
Implementation Method 1
Connected to the platform is a spring element that guides the adjusting movement. This spring element is also connected to the base body and counteracts a parasitic translational movement in the platform plane and/or a parasitic rotational movement of the platform about a rotational axis perpendicular to the platform plane
Implementation Method 2
The lever transmission device makes it possible to convert the very small drive movements of commonly used drive elements - e.g. drive elements in the form of piezo actuators - into a comparatively large resulting movement
Implementation Method 3
drive elements in the form of piezo actuators
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an adjusting device comprising a main part, at least two drive elements which implement a drive movement, and a platform which can be moved relative to the main part. Each of the drive elements rests against a lever conversion device paired with same, and the drive movement of a drive element, said drive movement being converted by the lever conversion device, can be transmitted to the platform via a joint element connected to the lever conversion device and the platform such that the platform can carry out a defined adjustment movement relative to the main part in the form of a tilting movement about an axis running through the platform and/or in the form of a translational movement parallel to an axis which is perpendicular to a platform plane defined by the platform. The joint element allows a tilting movement of the platform solely about the at least one tilt axis. The platform is additionally equipped with a spring element which is used to guide the adjustment movement and is rigidly connected to the main part, and the spring element counteracts a parasitic translational movement on the platform plane and/or a parasitic rotational movement of the platform about a rotational axis which is perpendicular to the platform plane on the basis of the adjustment movement. The invention further relates to the use of such an adjustment device in a tilting mirror unit.