Optical element positioning devices

1 - 21 . (canceled)

22 . An optical element positioning arrangement, comprising a reflective optical element, actuators, flexures located between the actuators and said optical element, whereby when a first actuator is actuated any displacement generated is transmitted via a flexure to said optical element and provided that a second actuator's displacement differs from the displacement of said first, said optical element is caused to swing, wherein said actuators are spaced relative to one another and placed substantially parallel to one another.

23 . An optical element positioning arrangement, comprising an optical element, at least two actuators acting in the Z direction, at least two flexures located between at least two actuators and said optical element, whereby when a first actuator is actuated any displacement generated is transmitted via a flexure to said optical element and provided that a second actuator's displacement differs from the displacement of said first, said optical element is caused to swing; wherein said actuators are spaced one relative to another and said flexures extending from said actuators are located inwards from the central axis of said actuators, whereby the achievable swing is greater than when said flexures are located along the central axis.

24 . An optical element positioning arrangement, comprising an optical element, actuators acting in the Z direction, flexures located between the actuators and said optical element, whereby when a first actuator is actuated any displacement generated is transmitted via a flexure to said optical element and provided that a second actuator's displacement differs from the displacement of said first, the optical element is caused to swing; wherein the arrangement employs two actuators only.

25 . An optical element positioning arrangement, comprising an optical element, actuators acting in the Z direction, flexures located between the actuators and said optical element, whereby when a first actuator is actuated any displacement generated is transmitted via a flexure to said optical element and provided that a second actuator's displacement differs from the displacement of said first, said optical element is caused to swing; wherein the actuators are of rectangular cross-section.

26 . An optical element positioning arrangement, comprising an optical element, actuators, flexures located between the actuators and said optical element, whereby when a first actuator is actuated any displacement generated is transmitted via a flexure to said optical element and provided that a second actuator's displacement differs from the displacement of said first, the optical element is caused to swing, wherein the arrangement incorporates a display unit and said optical element projects a beam onto said display unit.

27 . A laser marking system, comprising an optical element for directing the light beam used for marking a substrate; and an actuator for displacing the optical element; wherein the system comprises a connection between said actuator and said optical element to transmit movement from said actuator to said optical element and a flexure for supporting the optical element whereby when an actuator is actuated the optical element is caused to swing.

28 . A laser marking system according to claim 27 , wherein the optical element directs light onto a divergent lens located between the substrate to be marked and the optical element.

29 . A laser marking system according to claim 27 , wherein the optical element directs light onto a convergent lens located between the substrate to be marked and the optical element.

30 . A laser marking system according to claim 27 , comprising a post-spot camera for monitoring the marking and means for comparing the values obtained by the camera with pre-determined levels and adjusting the marking parameters if necessary.

31 . A laser marking system according to claim 27 , comprising a photo-detector set to monitor the marking.

32 . A laser marking system according to claim 27 , comprising means for measuring the marking distance and adjusting the marking parameters of the system in accordance with the distance.

33 . A laser marking system according to claim 27 , comprising means for measuring the relative values of combustion light and beam power.

34 . A laser marking system according to claim 27 , comprising an arrangement of claim 1 .

35 . A laser marking system according to claim 27 , wherein the actuator incorporates no galvanometer.

36 . A laser marking system according to claim 27 , wherein the actuator is a monolithic 2D actuator.

37 . A laser marking system according to claim 36 , wherein the actuator is connected to the optical element via a flexure.

38 . A laser marking system according to claim 27 , comprising a first optical element positioning arrangement using piezoelectric actuation to displace a first optical element in a first one dimensional direction and a second optical element positioning arrangement using piezoelectric actuation to displace a second optical element in a second one dimensional direction, the first and the second arrangement being arranged in series.

39 . A laser marking system according to claim 27 , comprising an optical element positioning arrangement using piezoelectric actuators for displacing the element in two dimensions.

40 . A laser marking system, according to claim 27 , wherein the actuator is a thermoelectric actuator.

41 . A laser marking system, according to claim 27 , comprising means for changing scanning speed in order to provide gaps in between characters.

42 . A laser marking system, according to claim 27 , comprising a fiber laser incorporating a fiber for transmitting light onto an optical element for directing the light onto a reflector equipped with means for positioning said reflector in order to direct light onto a substrate to be marked.