Inchworm actuator
US9450469B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 22, 2011 |
| Grant date | Sep 20, 2016 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 24, 2033 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02K99/20
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An inchworm actuator which can move a movable body relative to a stationary body while selectively giving priority to displacement speed or displacement resolution in accordance with the conditions of use is provided. An inchworm actuator 100 includes a movable body 110 supported between first and second guides 101 and 102 which are made of a magnetic material and which extend parallel to each other. In the movable body 110, a voice coil motor 115 is supported by first and second support legs 111 and 112 through toggle mechanisms 116a and 116b. The first and second support legs 111 and 112 are made of a magnetic material and have magnetic field-forming coils 113 and 114. The toggle mechanisms 116a and 116b convert the amount of displacement input from the voice coil motor 115 using a reducing conversion ratio corresponding to the amount of the displacement and transmit a resultant displacement to the first and second support legs 111 and 112. The first and second guides 101 and 102 are connected together by upper and lower frames 103 and 104 which are made of a magnetic material and which have permanent magnets 105a and 105b.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.