An actuator apparatus includes an actuator rod with an interior cavity and a set of rod holes. Each rod hole extends through the actuator rod to the cavity. The set of rod holes is positioned in a straight line. The apparatus includes a light assembly that is positioned to light the cavity. The apparatus includes an actuator block that includes an opening extending through the actuator block sized to conform to an outer surface of the actuator rod and a set of block holes in the opening. Spacing between the block holes matches spacing between the rod holes. The actuator block includes a light sensor positioned in a block hole to sense light coming through a rod hole aligned with the block hole and a ball bearing for each block hole of the set of block holes without a light sensor and extending partially through the corresponding block hole.

A flexural pivot can include a plurality of flexure support members, each flexure support member having a plurality of flexure openings and a plurality of wells each in fluid communication with a respective flexure opening. The flexural pivot can also include at least one flexure to rotatably couple the plurality of flexure support members to one another. The at least one flexure can have first and second flexible blades arranged in a cross configuration. The first and second flexible blades can be disposed in the flexure openings of the flexure support members, and coupling material deposited in the flexure openings can couple the first and second flexible blades to the flexure support members.

A ball joint holder with limiting element includes a lower base, an upper base covered to the lower base, a ball shaft and a limiting element. The ball shaft has a rotation rod, and a ball body located around a lower end of the rotation rod. A lower end of the rotation rod protrudes outward to form a limiting block. Two opposite ends of the limiting element are pivotally connected with the lower base and the upper base. The limiting element opens a limiting groove. One of inner surfaces of a front wall and a rear wall of the limiting groove is defined as a limiting surface. The lower end of the rotation rod and the limiting block are received in the limiting groove. The limiting block is capable of abutting against the limiting surface.

A clamping mechanism embodying the invention may be disposed between a swivel ball and a housing overlying the ball for selectively locking or unlocking the swivel ball relative to the housing. The clamping mechanism includes first and second gears mounted on a compression screw with rotational forces being selectively applied to the first and second gears via respective first and second gear-pawl assemblies. The rotational forces cause vertical (up/down) motion along the screw which increases or decreases the pressure exerted between the housing and the swivel ball which effectively may be used to lock (clamp) or unlock (unclamp) the swivel ball relative to the housing.

Systems and methods for limiting rotation of a supported object about an axis of rotation are provided. A system as disclosed includes a stop system that engages at a selected amount of rotation about an axis of rotation to provide a balanced force countering further rotation. The stop system includes one or more pairs of stop mechanisms, with one stop mechanism in a pair disposed to act from a first side of the axis of rotation, and a second stop mechanism in the pair disposed to act from a second side of the axis of rotation. Each stop mechanism can include stops that engage a flexure at a selected amount of rotation.

A camera module includes a housing, a carrier, a frame, a lens holder, an autofocusing (AF) ball bearing, and an optical image stabilization (OIS) ball bearing. The carrier is coupled to the housing and configured to move in an optical axis direction. The frame is coupled to the carrier and configured to move in a first axis direction, perpendicular to the optical axis direction. The lens holder is coupled to the frame and configured to move in a second axis direction, perpendicular to the optical axis and the first axis. The AF ball bearing is disposed between the housing and the carrier. The OIS ball bearing is disposed on either one or both of the carrier and the frame, and the frame and the lens holder. Either one or both of the AF ball bearing and the OIS ball bearing have an elastic modulus of 20 GPa or less.

An actuator includes a swing portion swingable about a first axis orthogonal to a central axis extending vertically and about a second axis orthogonal to the first axis and intersecting the central axis. An angle detector includes a pair of first angle detection elements above a non-magnetic structure and extending in the second axis direction with the first axis interposed therebetween when viewed from the central axis direction, and a pair of second angle detection elements extending in the first axis direction with the second axis interposed therebetween. Each of the first angle detection elements and each of the second angle detection elements include a columnar magnetic structure between the swing portion and the non-magnetic structure in the central axis direction, and a detection coil along the outer periphery of the magnetic structure.

A blade flexure assembly that includes first and second mounting structures. Two or more flexure blades are connected to and extend between the first and second mounting structures. Clamping blocks clamp the flexure blades to the mounting structures. The modular design of the assembly provides for replacing one or more of the flexure blades to adjust one or more functional aspects of the assembly.

Kinematic mounts disclosed in this application are made from three main components: a housing, a footing, and a tightening mechanism. The tightening mechanism includes three parts: a top portion, a bottom portion, and a locking interface mechanism. When the top portion, which includes a hollow tip with interior threading, is screwed down onto the bottom portion, which includes a threaded tip, the locking interface component is pressed against at least one interior surface of the housing that causes the housing to be pressed against the footing. This action holds the housing in place relative to the footing while simultaneously preventing unwanted movement of the housing during tightening.

A substrate positioning device for radially positioning a substrate including a first mounting frame, and a plurality of centering devices coupled to the first mounting frame and spaced apart from one another. Each of the plurality of centering devices including a mount, a flexure element coupled to the mount and having a radial edge, and an adjustment member coupled to the mount. The adjustment member is adjusting between a retracted state and an extended state for pivoting the flexure element between a first position and a second position with respect to the mount. Each centering device is separately actuatable to move the flexure element of a respective centering device with respect to an edge of the substrate thereby radially positioning the substrate with respect to the first mounting frame.