What’s Inside An M3 Module?
The M3 platform
Smart modules and microstages built on the M3 (micro-mechatronics) platform incoporate:
- A SQUIGGLE or UTAF piezoelectric micro motor
- A motor driver ASIC
- A position sensor (encoder)
- An on-board microprocessor for PID control
- A customized motion guide assembly and housing to suit your OEM application
You provide simple motion commands over a standard serial interface. It’s all inside!
Complete motion systems, developed fast
With our M3 (micro-mechatronic) smart module design platform, we can quickly develop closed-loop microstages and other motion modules for your OEM application. Building on our miniature piezoelectric motor and position sensor technology, this design platform yields complete closed-loop motion modules with high precision and tiny footprint.
These “all in-one” smart modules require no separate electronics and are ready to plug-and-play directly with your system processor and power supply. You achieve the fastest time to market with the lowest total cost.
No external control board!
No external control board is necessary. You supply simple serial commands to drive an on-board PID controller using a standard I2C or SPI interface. Modules have low power consumption and 3.3V input voltage for battery-powered operation.
Simple integration
M3 smart modules are extremely simple for OEM designers to integrate into their products. Electrical integration is as easy as sending serial commands to the module. Mechanical integration is customized to the application: possibilities include integrating a lens within the module, pushing a lever external to the module, or nearly any application.
Each custom module is a drop-in drive system for your miniature product. These micro-mechatronic modules are smaller, more powerful, more precise – and now even easier to integrate – than traditional electromagnetic motor systems.
M3 smart modules are ideal for high-resolution positioning in miniature optical instrumentation, lasers and photonics systems, aerospace controls and biomedical systems.
Embedded Motion Modules Make Great Products Smaller
Start new designs with all-in-one positioning modules to achieve smallest system size
Embedded motion modules are a new option for product design teams. Combining mechanical and electrical functions in one optimized, easy-to-integrate device, they speed the design process and ensure smallest system size. To avoid adding needless space and complexity for motion components, product designers should consider embedded motion modules at the beginning of the design process.
LEARN MORE
About Micro Motion Modules
- M3-LS linear smart stage details
- M3-RS rotary smart stage details
- M3-FS and M3-F focus module details
- M3-L linear smart actuator details
- Contact us to discuss your micro-mechatronics requirements.
About The Technology Used In The M3 Platform
- Discover the innovations behind the development of the M3 platform in this article from Design World (330Kb PDF)
- Learn more about the SQUIGGLE RV micro motor
- Learn more about the UTAF ultra-thin actuator family