Positioning device for microscopic motion

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a base configured to slidably engage a driven element;

a piezoelectric element interposing the base and the driven element and attached to the base proximate a first end of the piezoelectric element; and

a friction element attached proximate a second end of the piezoelectric element and configured to selectively engage the driven element as a function of velocity of the friction element relative to the driven element.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a biasing element configured to bias the piezoelectric element against the driven element.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a vibration dampening element interposing the biasing element and the piezoelectric element.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the dampening element comprises VITON.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a wear plate coupled to the driven element and configured to be selectively engaged by the friction element.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the wear plate comprises a material selected from the group consisting of:

silicon;

sapphire; and

ceramic.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a low friction restraint adjacent a portion of at least one of a top or bottom surface of the piezoelectric element.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the piezoelectric element includes a counterweight proximate the first piezoelectric element end.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the piezoelectric element comprises a plurality of piezoelectric members.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein each of the plurality of piezoelectric members are substantially reed-shaped.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein each of the plurality of piezoelectric members are laminated to an adjacent one of the plurality of piezoelectric members.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the piezoelectric element includes first and second piezoelectric members each parallel to the base and angularly offset relative to each other, wherein the friction element is proximate a junction of the first and second piezoelectric members.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the driven element is rotatably attached to the base such that the piezoelectric element imparts rotational motion to the driven element.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein:

the driven element includes first and second substantially coaxial rotatable members coupled to the base;

the piezoelectric element includes first and second piezoelectric members coupled to the base;

the friction element includes first and second friction members coupled to the first and second piezoelectric elements, respectively; and

the first and second friction members frictionally engage the first and second rotatable elements, respectively.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the base includes a slide bed having a recess therein;

the driven element includes a slide table having a wear plate on an inner surface; and

the piezoelectric element is a piezoelectric reed;

wherein the piezoelectric reed is mounted in the slide bed recess and frictionally engages the wear plate via the friction element.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the friction element comprises a material selected from the group consisting of:

sapphire;

quartz;

ceramic;

aluminum-bronze;

phosphor-bronze; and

copper-beryllium.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the driven element is one of first and second driven elements, wherein the piezoelectric element is configured to slidably engage the first driven element, and wherein the first and second driven elements are each coupled to one another via a continuous flexible band supported by at least one roller.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of the base, the driven element, the piezoelectric element and the friction element substantially has feature dimensions that are greater than about 1000 microns.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of the base, the driven element, the piezoelectric element and the friction element substantially has feature dimensions that are less than about 1000 microns.

20. An apparatus, comprising:

a base configured to slidably engage a driven element;

a piezoelectric element interposing the base and the driven element and attached to the base proximate a first end of the piezoelectric element; and

a friction element attached proximate a second end of the piezoelectric element and configured to selectively engage the driven element as a function of velocity of the friction element relative to the driven element;

wherein the driven element is attached to a counterweight by a looped flexible band, the band being stabilized by at least one tensioner.