US 7,321,175 B2
Low cost precision linear actuator and control system
William Culpi, Lake Forest, Calif. (US); Thomas K. Rigney, Silverado, Calif. (US); Karl R. Honigmann, Irvine, Calif. (US); and Aziz A. Mahmoud, Fountain Valley, Calif. (US)
Assigned to Newport Corporation, Irvine, Calif. (US)
Filed on Jan. 24, 2005, as Appl. No. 11/43,001.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/539402, filed on Jan. 26, 2004.
Prior Publication US 2005/0184599 A1, Aug. 25, 2005
Int. Cl. H02K 41/00 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 310—12  [310/15; 310/80] 34 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A position control system, comprising:
a linear actuator including a motor with a shaft having a splined portion and a threaded portion, a threaded rotor having a threaded portion engaged with the threaded portion of the shaft, a splined boss having a splined portion engaged with a splined portion of the shaft and a torsion spring coupled between the shaft and the boss and configured to apply a rotational torque to the shaft relative to the splined boss; and
a controller coupled to the linear actuator by an information conduit.