Piezoelectric Inertia Driver for Compact Optical Mounts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing adjustable optical mounts are cumbersome and expensive due to the need for bulky stepper motors and complex gearing, and they often disturb other adjustments when manually manipulated, lacking precision control, especially in compact designs.
Innovation Solution
The use of piezoelectric inertia drivers with rigid and flexible resilient members to provide compact, precise control over optical mounts, allowing for adjustable degrees of freedom without the need for bulky motors, and maintaining positional stability even when powered off.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual adjustment screws are used for optical element positioning, then fine adjustment capability is achieved, but disturbance to other adjustments and lack of precision control occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical adjustment screws with a piezoelectric actuator that converts electrical signals to mechanical displacement. This substitution eliminates the mechanical coupling between adjustment screws, allowing independent control of each degree of freedom without mutual interference, while maintaining fine adjustment capability through precise electrical control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a dynamically controllable adjustment mechanism using piezoelectric materials that can be actively controlled via electrical signals. This allows real-time adjustment of positional parameters with high precision and eliminates the static, interconnected mechanical adjustment system where changing one parameter affects others.
2Extent of automation
If stepper motors with complex gearing are used for remote electric adjustment, then automated precision control is achieved, but device bulkiness and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces bulky stepper motors and complex reduction gearing with compact piezoelectric actuators that directly generate mechanical displacement from electrical input. This substitution eliminates the need for mechanical transmission components, significantly reducing device size, complexity, and cost while maintaining automated precision control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental operating principle from rotational motor-driven mechanical gearing to direct piezoelectric deformation. By utilizing the piezoelectric effect where electrical voltage directly induces mechanical strain, the system achieves automated adjustment without intermediate mechanical stages, reducing complexity and improving precision.
3Volume of moving object
If compact adjustment mechanisms are designed to reduce size, then device compactness is achieved, but adjustment range and precision may be limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the piezoelectric effect to achieve large strain output from a compact actuator volume. By applying high voltage signals to piezoelectric ceramics, the material undergoes significant dimensional changes despite its small size, enabling compact design while maintaining adequate adjustment range and precision for optical mounting applications.
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
Enables compact, cost-effective, and precise adjustment of optical elements with reduced angular range limitations and positional stability, suitable for various optical mounts, including rotary and translation stages, without the need for complex gearing or bulky motors.
Implementation Method 1
a piezoelectric member disposed between and secured to the first and second mount surfaces
Implementation Method 2
a continuous and flexible resilient member made from a single piece of resilient material
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~4B
AI summary
Embodiments include optic mounts that may be adjustably positioned with a piezoelectric inertia driver. Position data feedback may be provided to embodiments of a piezoelectric inertia driver controller from an encoder, such as an optical encoder.