US5903085A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Piezoelectric nanopositioner
Assignee: Phase Metrics Inc
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Filing: 1997-06-18
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Granted: 1999-05-11
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Expires: 2017-06-18
Abstract
Abstract A positioner which can move an object such as a magnetic recording head. The positioner includes a housing with an inner opening. The housing is located within a coordinate system that includes an x axis, a y axis and a z axis. An electrical/mechanical transducer is coupled to the inner opening of the housing by at least two flexure joint inserts. Expansion or contraction of the transducer creates a movement of the housing along the x or y axis. The flexure joint inserts allow the transducer to be adjusted within the inner opening during assembly to minimize the out of plane movement of the housing along the z axis.
Inventors
- 👤 Raymond Karam
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 03:39
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01Q; G01Q10/00; G01Q10/04; G11; G11B; G11B5/00; G11B5/48; G11B5/4806; G11B5/4826; G11B5/483; G01B; G01B5/00; G01B5/004; G11B21/00; G11B21/02; G11B5/10; G11B5/102; G11B5/127; G11B5/1272; G11B5/455; H; H02; H02N; H02N2/00; H02N2/02; H02N2/028; H02N2/04; H02N2/043; H02N2/22; G11B2220/00; G11B2220/20; G11B2220/25; G11B2220/2508; G11B2220/2516; G11B27/00; G11B27/36; G11B33/00; G11B33/10; G11B5/54; G11B5/55; G11B5/5521; H01; H01J; H01J2237/00; H01J2237/20; H01J2237/202; H01J2237/20264
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
136 words
A tester for testing a recording head, comprising: a disk; a spindle that rotates said disk; a fixture that supports the recording head; a first positioner that moves the recording head adjacent to said disk; a second positioner that is coupled to said first positioner and which moves the recording head relative to said disk, said second positioner including; a housing that is coupled to said fixture and has a first inner opening; a first electrical/mechanical transducer that is located within said first inner opening; at least two first flexure joint inserts that couple said first electrical/mechanical transducer to said housing; a driver circuit that provides an electric field to said first electrical/mechanical transducer to induce a movement of said housing; a tester circuit that is coupled to the recording head to test the recording head.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
136 words
A tester for testing a recording head, comprising: a disk; a spindle that rotates said disk; a fixture that supports the recording head; a first positioner that moves the recording head adjacent to said disk; a second positioner that is coupled to said first positioner and which moves the recording head relative to said disk, said second positioner including; a housing that is coupled to said fixture and has a first inner opening; a first electrical/mechanical transducer that is located within said first inner opening; at least two first flexure joint inserts that couple said first electrical/mechanical transducer to said housing; a driver circuit that provides an electric field to said first electrical/mechanical transducer to induce a movement of said housing; a tester circuit that is coupled to the recording head to test the recording head.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The tester as recited in claim 1, wherein said first electrical/mechanical transducer has a longitudinal axis and said first flexure joint inserts each have a pivot point that is offset from the longitudinal axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The tester as recited in claim 1, wherein said housing is constructed from an aluminum material and said first flexure joint inserts are constructed from a steel material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The tester as recited in claim 3, further comprising an adhesive that is located within a plurality of grooves of said housing to attach said first flexure joint inserts to said housing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
The tester as recited in claim 3, wherein each first flexure joint insert includes a coupling portion that is attached to said first electrical/mechanical transducer and adjoined to a base portion by a gimbal, said coupling portion being separated from said base portion by a slit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The tester as recited in claim 1, wherein said housing includes a second opening, and a second electrical/mechanical transducer that is mounted to said housing within said second opening by at least two second flexure joint inserts.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-05-10 | 2002-11-09 | 2003-05-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-05-10 | 2006-11-09 | 2007-05-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-05-10 | 2010-11-09 | 2011-05-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |