US 7,320,265 B2
Article transfer system
Eran Dvir, Ramat Gan (Israel); and Beniamin Shulman, Rehovot (Israel)
Assigned to Nova Measuring Instruments Ltd., Rehovot (Israel)
Filed on Aug. 25, 2003, as Appl. No. 10/647,123.
Claims priority of application No. 156330 (IL), filed on Jun. 05, 2003.
Prior Publication US 2004/0246012 A1, Dec. 09, 2004
Int. Cl. G05G 11/00 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 74—490.08  [74/490.09] 24 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for controlling a movement of an article, the system comprising:
a support stage assembly;
a spring suspension arrangement mounted on said support stage assembly and comprising first and second assemblies arranged in a coaxial relationship with respect to the axis of the article movement, and one inside the other, the first assembly being attached to said support stage assembly and the second assembly serving for supporting an article-carrying member and being driven for a movement along said axis of the article movement with respect to the first assembly, the outer one of the first and second assemblies being configured to define two spaced-apart parallel planes perpendicular to said axis of the article movement, said first and second assemblies being attached to each other by first and second membrane members arranged in a spaced-apart parallel relationship along said axis of the article movement; and
a motor operable for rotating said support stage assembly around said axis, said motor being located inside the inner one of said first and second assemblies.