Actuator for controlling rotation about two axes using a single motor

1. An actuator assembly coupled to a motor and mirror adapted to rotate about a first axis and a second axis, the assembly comprising:

a first member fixedly attached to the motor; and

a second member rotatably affixed to the first member and the mirror;

wherein the second member and mirror are configured to rotate together about the first axis in response to the motor; and

wherein the mirror incrementally rotates about the second axis each time the second member rotates a predetermined angle relative to the first member; and

wherein the mirror rotates about the second axis if and only if the second member completes rotation of the predetermined angle relative to the first member; and

wherein the mirror does not rotate about the second axis until the second member completes rotation of the predetermined first member.

2. The actuator assembly of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined angle is 360 degrees.

3. The actuator assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first member comprises a protrusion and the second member comprises a paddle wheel configured to incrementally rotate the mirror about the second axis each time the protrusion and paddle wheel engage one another.

4. The actuator assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first axis is substantially vertical and the second axis is substantially horizontal.

5. An aiming system coupled to an actuator and an object, the system comprising:

a base fixedly attached to the actuator; and

a frame rotatably affixed to the base and the object;

wherein the frame and object rotate together about a first axis in response to activation of the actuator; and

wherein the object discretely rotates relative to the frame about a second axis different than the first axis each time the frame rotates a predetermined angle relative to the base; and

wherein the object rotates about the second axis if and only if the frame completes rotation of a predetermined angle relative to the base; and

wherein the object does not rotate about the second axis until the frame completes rotation of the predetermined angle relative to the base.

6. The aiming system of claim 5 , wherein the object discretely rotates a second predetermined angle.

7. The aiming system of claim 6 , wherein the object rotates the second predetermined angle each time the frame rotates 360 degrees.

8. The aiming system of claim 7 , wherein the base and frame comprise components that interfere each time the frame rotates 360 degrees.

9. The aiming system of claim 8 , wherein said components comprise a protrusion and a paddle wheel.

10. The aiming system of claim 8 , wherein the object is an optical element.

11. The aiming system of claim 10 , wherein the object is a mirror.

12. The aiming system of claim 10 , wherein the aiming system further comprises a tracking controller configured to aim the optical element to direct sunlight to a receiver.

13. The aiming system of claim 12 , wherein the receiver is selected from the group consisting of a: tower with a solar heat receptor, heat engine, and photovoltaic cell.

14. The aiming system of claim 5 , wherein the first axis is substantially vertical and the second axis is substantially horizontal.

15. An aiming system coupled to an actuator and an object, the system comprising:

a base fixedly attached to the actuator; and

a frame rotatably affixed to the base and the object;

wherein the frame and object are configured to rotate together about a first axis in response to the actuator; and

wherein the object rotates relative to the frame about a second axis different than the first axis in response to said actuator; and

wherein the object rotates about the second axis if and only if the frame completes rotation of a predetermined angle relative to the base; and

wherein the object does not rotate about the second axis until the frame completes rotation of the predetermined an e relative to the base.

16. The aiming system of claim 15 , wherein the frame is connected to the actuator with a first gear; and the object is connected to the actuator with a second gear.

17. The aiming system of claim 16 , wherein a second gear is low gear relative to the first gear.

18. The aiming system of claim 15 , wherein the object is an optical element.

19. The aiming system of claim 18 , wherein the optical element sweeps out a spiral path.

20. The aiming system of claim 15 , wherein the first axis is substantially vertical and the second axis is substantially horizontal.