IP Library Granted Patent US 7,316,072
Granted Patent B2
US 7,316,072 · App. 11/546,240 · Granted Jan 8, 2008

XY stage module, storage system employing the same and method for fabricating the XY stage module

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,316,072
App. No.
11/546,240
Granted
Jan 8, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

An XY stage module, a storage system including the same and a method for facating the XY stage module are provided. The XY stage module includes: a base; an XY stage horizontally moving above the base in a first direction and a second direction that is orthogonal to the first direction; a supporting unit disposed at the base for elastically supporting the XY stage; a stiffener for preventing the XY stage from being rotated; and a position sensor having a movable comb-shaped structure disposed at one side of the stiffener and having at least one movable comb and a fixed comb-shaped structure fixed on the base and having at least one fixed comb meshed with the movable comb to be separated at a predetermined gap for measuring a movement of the XY stage in the first direction and the second direction.

Claims (72)

1. An XY stage module comprising:

a base;

an XY stage horizontally moving above the base in a first direction and a second direction wherein the second direction is orthogonal to the first direction;

a supporting unit disposed on the base which elastically supports the XY stage;

a stiffener which prevents the XY stage from rotating; and

a position sensor comprising:

a movable comb-shaped structure disposed at one side of the stiffener comprising at least one movable comb; and

a fixed comb-shaped structure fixed on the base comprising at least one fixed comb,

wherein the at least one fixed comb is meshed with the at least one movable comb separated by a predetermined gap for measuring a movement of the XY stage in the first direction and the second direction according to a meshing degree of the at least one movable comb and the at least one fixed comb.

2. The XY stage module of claim 1 , wherein the supporting unit comprises:

a supporting member disposed on the base; and

an elastic beam connecting the XY stage and the supporting member;

wherein the elastic beam comprises:

a first inner elastic beam;

a first outer elastic beam;

a second inner elastic beam; and

a second outer elastic beam;

wherein the first inner elastic beam and the first outer elastic beam extend toward the first direction, and the second inner elastic beam and the second outer elastic beam extend toward the second direction.

3. The XY stage module of claim 2 , wherein the stiffener comprises:

a first stiffener which moves in the first direction according to the movement of the XY stage by being elastically supported by the second outer elastic beam connected to the supporting member and being connected to the first inner elastic beam connected to the XY stage; and

a second stiffener which moves in the second direction according to the movement of the XY stage by being elastically supported by the first outer elastic beam connected to the supporting member and being connected to the second inner elastic beam connected to the XY stage.

4. The XY stage module of claim 3 , wherein the movable comb-shaped structure comprises a first movable comb-shaped structure disposed at the first stiffener for moving in the first direction and a second movable comb-shaped structure disposed at the second stiffener for moving in the second direction,

wherein the fixed comb-shaped structure comprises a first fixed comb-shaped structure and a second fixed comb-shaped structure which are meshed with the first movable comb-shaped structure and the second movable comb-shaped structure, respectively,

wherein the movement of the XY stage in the first direction is measured according to a first meshing degree of the first movable comb-shaped structure and the first fixed comb-shaped structure, and wherein the movement of the XY stage in the second direction is measured according to a second meshing degree of the second movable comb-shaped structure and the second fixed comb-shaped structure.

5. The XY stage module of claim 1 , further comprising a sensor electrode pad disposed on one side of the fixed comb-shaped structure.

6. The XY stage module of claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the at least one movable comb and the at least one fixed comb is identical to the thickness of the stiffener.

7. The XY stage module of claim 1 , wherein the movable comb-shaped structure and the fixed comb-shaped structure are made of a conductive material.

8. The XY stage module of claim 1 , wherein the movable comb-shaped structure is electrically insulated from the fixed comb-shaped structure.

9. A storage system comprising:

an XY stage module; and

a probe array disposed above a medium mounted on the XY stage module which records and reads information on each cell of the medium,

wherein the XY stage module comprises:

a base;

an XY stage horizontally moving above the base to a first direction and a second direction wherein the second direction is orthogonal to the first direction;

a supporting unit disposed on the base which elastically supports the XY stage;

a stiffener which prevents the XY stage from being rotated;

a position sensor comprising:

a movable comb-shaped structure disposed at one side of the stiffener comprising at least one movable comb; and

a fixed comb-shaped structure fixed on the base comprising at least one of fixed comb;

wherein the at least one fixed comb is meshed with the at least one movable comb separated by a predetermined gap for measuring a movement of the XY stage in the first direction and the second direction according to a meshing degree of the at least one movable comb and the at least one fixed comb.

10. The storage system of claim 9 , wherein the supporting unit comprises

a supporting member disposed on the base; and

an elastic beam connecting the XY stage and the supporting member, wherein the elastic beam comprises:

a first inner elastic beam;

a first outer elastic beam;

a second inner elastic beam; and

a second outer elastic beam;

wherein the first inner elastic beam and the first outer elastic beam extend toward the first direction, and a second inner elastic beam and a second outer elastic beam extend toward the second direction.

11. The storage system of claim 10 , wherein the stiffener comprises:

a first stiffener which moves in the first direction according to the movement of the XY stage by being elastically supported by the second outer elastic beam connected to the supporting member and being connected to the first inner elastic beam connected to the XY stage; and

a second stiffener which moves in the second direction according to the movement of the XY stage by being elastically supported by the first outer elastic beam connected to the supporting member and being connected to the second inner elastic beam connected to the XY stage.

12. The storage system of claim 11 , wherein the movable comb-shaped structure comprises a first movable comb-shaped structure disposed at the first stiffener for moving in the first direction and a second movable comb-shaped structure disposed at the second stiffener for moving in the second direction,

wherein the fixed comb-shaped structure comprises a first fixed comb-shaped structure and a second fixed comb-shaped structure which are meshed with the first movable comb-shaped structure and the second movable comb-shaped structure,

wherein the movement of the XY stage in the first direction is measured according to a first meshing degree of the first movable comb-shaped structure and the first fixed comb-shaped structure, and the movement of the XY stage in the second direction is measured according to a second meshing degree of the second movable comb-shaped structure and the second fixed comb-shaped structure.

13. The storage system of claim 9 , further comprising a sensor electrode pad disposed on one side of the fixed comb-shaped structure.

14. The storage system of claim 9 , wherein the thickness of the at least one movable comb and the at least one fixed comb is identical to the thickness of the stiffener.

15. The storage system of claim 9 , wherein the movable comb-shaped structure and the fixed comb-shaped structure are made of a conductive material.

16. The storage system of claim 9 , wherein the movable comb-shaped structure is electrically insulated from the fixed comb-shaped structure.

17. A method of fabricating an XY stage module comprising:

preparing a first board sectored into a center area as an XY stage, a first peripheral area and a second peripheral area corresponding to a fixed comb-shaped structure and a supporting member, respectively, and a connecting area corresponding to a supporting unit connected to the center area and the second peripheral area;

preparing a second board corresponding to a base;

forming a groove in the center area and the connecting area on a bottom of the first board;

bonding the bottom of the first board to the second board;

forming a sensor electrode pad on the first peripheral area on a top of the first board; and

forming a supporting structure between the center area and the second peripheral area and a comb-shaped structure having combs meshed with one another between the center area and the first peripheral area by etching the first board.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:

forming a coil at the center area of the top of the first board before forming the sensor electrode pad; and

forming a driving electrode pad to be connected to the coil when the sensor electrode pad is formed.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the forming of the coil comprises:

forming a trench in the first board before forming the groove in the first board;

depositing a seed layer on top of the first board after bonding the first board and the second board, and filling the trench with a metal layer on the seed layer; and

eliminating the metal that is above the trench by polishing.

Assignments (2)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REMOVE ERRONEOUSLY FILED NO. 7255478 FROM SCHEDULE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 028153 FRAME: 0689. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Oct 5, 2016
From: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
To: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 040001/0920 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 3, 2012
From: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
To: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL
Reel/Frame 028153/0689 →