Ingeniously Small Motion Systems

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Custom engineering of ingeniously small motion systems

New Scale's engineering team creates disruptively small motion systems that enable design engineers to create smaller products.

 

We work with our OEM partners to develop custom motion modules and systems that meet your exact requirements - whether that means modifying one of our standard products or developing a full-custom motion module for a specific applications.

 

We also work with leading development partners to continuously advance the state of the art in miniature piezoelectric motion systems.

 

This page presents just a few examples. Contact our custom development team to learn more.

 

 


Integrated module for optical zoom

Our custom zoom module reference design for micro optics  incorporates two SQUIGGLE motors, two TRACKER position sensors and our dual motor drive ASIC in a custom housing that measures only 6.5 x 13 x 23 mm. This reference design features:

  • 4 mm optical zoom stroke
  • 0.5 µm position resolution
  • magnetic position sensor that needs no light source
  • absolute position sensing (with external flash memory) - no zero reference sensor needed

 

Read the application note.

 

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Custom autofocus module for board-mounted cameras

Our optical focus module demonstrates a customizable, precision focus system for board cameras using M6 to M12 lenses. A SQUIGGLE micro motor and a TRACKER position sensor are integrated into a compact housing that can be mounted on a PCB over a CCD or CMOS camera. Our driver ASIC controls the module. This customizable module shows: 

  • 2 mm stroke
  • 0.5 µm position resolution
  • magnetic position sensor that needs no light source
  • absolute position sensing over the 2  mm travel - no zero reference sensor needed

 

Read the application note

Request a proposal

 

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UTAF™ Ultra-Thin AutoFocus actuator

New Scale's new patent-pending UTAF™ (Ultra-Thin AutoFocus) actuators were created for phone camera applications. The UTAF saves space and height by combining the motor with the linear guide mechanism and enables overall camera thickness less than 5 mm. This invention is described in our technical paper, "Piezo Motor for Ultra-Thin Auto Focus Cameras." Contact us to request a copy.

 

 

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High-Torque Rotary SQUIGGLE motor

This custom rotary SQUIGGLE motor has twice the torque of similar-sized DC micro motors. It needs no gear reduction mechanism, delivering high peak torque at sustained speeds as well as high holding torque. The patented SQUIGGLE design uses friction to directly drive the stator and lock it in place with the power off. This rotary piezoelectric motor also offers higher precision than DC micro motors.

 

This design can be optimized for other design parameters including smaller size or higher speeds. It is scalable to less than 2 mm diameter. The chart below illustrates the general tradeoff between motor diameter and torque.

 

The high torque rotary micro motors were developed for NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory's "Cobra" fiber positioner to be commissioned on the Subaru Telescope on Mauna Kea, Hawaii in 2013.

 

 

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Cryogenic and UHV motors

Custom SQUIGGLE motors have been used for active alignment of cooled optics in cryogenic sensors (hyperspectral imaging systems) and in a cryostat at 6 Kelvins as part of a mechanism to accurately deform a cylindrical superconducting microwave resonator in order to change its resonant frequency (Cryogenics, Volume 46, Issue 9, September 2006, Pages 694-696.  (Free access to Elsevier subscribers, $30 to non-subscribers, or email us to receive a copy for personal use.

 

We have developed custom ultrahigh vacuum motors for operation down to to 10-10 Torr, in addition to our standard SQ-100V vacuum motor operating to 10-7 Torr. These motors offer precision in-vacuum alignment without mechanical feed-throughs.

 

 

 

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Motorized closed-loop micro stages

We incorporate our motors and position sensors into miniature positioning stages. One of our smallest examples uses an SQL-3.4-10 SQUIGGLE motor and a Hall-effect magnetic position sensor inside the stage body. A benefit of the Hall-effect sensor is that it acts as an absolute position sensor: working by measuring the field along a magnetic strip, it retains position information even after power-down cycles. The SQUIGGLE motor is mounted onto the bottom plate and the screw is pressed against the end of the top plate, which is spring loaded against the screw. Used with the MC-1100 controller, this closed-loop stage has 10 microns resolution over 2 mm of travel. A high-resolution controller with 16-bit A/D converter achieves a resolution of less than one micron.

 

 


 

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