Non-Contact Constrained Drive Stage for Long-Stroke Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing driving apparatuses that use elastic members for supporting objects face challenges in achieving a wide movable range in the driving direction while maintaining high rigidity in non-driving directions, leading to increased driving errors and reduced position stability due to limitations in directional rigidity adjustment.
Innovation Solution
The driving apparatus incorporates a holding member, a support member, and a plurality of actuators, along with a non-contact constrainer that constrains the holding member's position in non-driving directions, allowing for increased rigidity in non-driving directions without compromising driving accuracy, thereby enhancing the movable range and reducing errors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the rigidity of the elastic member is decreased in the driving direction to achieve a longer stroke, then the movable range is improved, but the rigidity in the non-driving direction also decreases, causing an increase in driving error
Solution Approach 1:
The support function is segmented into two independent components: the elastic member handles driving direction support, while the constrainer handles non-driving direction support. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently for its specific function.
Solution Approach 2:
The constrainer acts as an intermediary component that provides the missing non-driving direction support. It mediates between the elastic member's driving function and the system's overall positional stability requirement.
2Manufacturing precision
If the rigidity in the non-driving direction is increased to reduce driving error, then the position stability is improved, but the movable range in the driving direction is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The support function is segmented into two independent parts: the elastic member provides flexibility for driving direction movement, while the constrainer provides rigidity for non-driving direction stability. This enables both large movable range and high position stability simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
Different rigidity characteristics are applied locally to different directions: the elastic member provides low rigidity in the driving direction for large stroke, while the constrainer provides high rigidity in the non-driving direction for positional stability.
3Length of moving object
If the thrust is increased to achieve a longer stroke with the elastic member, then the movable range is improved, but the device complexity and required actuator capacity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The constrainer acts as a mediator that takes over the burden of maintaining positional stability, allowing the elastic member to operate with lower thrust requirements while achieving the same effective stroke length.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between elastic deformation for driving motion and constrainer contact for stability maintenance, optimizing the force distribution and reducing the required actuator capacity.
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
This configuration increases the rigidity ratio in non-driving to driving directions, reducing driving errors and position instability, while allowing for a longer drive stroke without increased thrust, and ensures high position reproducibility even without applied force.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic member 4 having a first direction along which a thrust of the actuator 5 acts and a second direction different from the first direction; a support member 3 configured to support the holding member 2 via the elastic member 4
Data Source
AI summary
A driving apparatus includes a holding member configured to hold an object to be driven, a support member configured to support the holding member via an elastic member, a plurality of actuators configured to drive the holding member holding the object, and a constrainer configured to constrain, in a non-contact manner, a position of the holding member with respect to the support member in anon-driving direction different from a drivable direction which is a direction in which the holding member can be driven by the plurality of actuators.