1. A piezo-driven parts feeder that conveys parts by generating vibration with a vibration generator including an elastic member having a piezoelectric element mounted thereto to align the parts, comprising:
a moving table having or supporting the parts conveying member;
a fixed table disposed below the moving table, for supporting the moving table so as to freely vibrate the moving table through the vibration generator;
the vibration generator including a first elastic member and a piezoelectric element mounted to the first elastic member, one end of the first elastic member being fixed to the moving table and the other end of the first elastic member being fixed to the fixed table; and
a support member including a second elastic member different from the first elastic member, one end of the second elastic member being fixed to the moving table and the other end of the second elastic member being fixed to the fixed table,
wherein the parts conveying track includes a spiral part, the first elastic member is formed approximately in L-shape and arranged almost horizontally between the upper moving table and the lower fixed table, and
wherein a first side of the L-shape extends toward the center of the fixed table, the end of the extending side being fixed to the fixed table, and a second side of the L-shape is fixed to the moving table.
2. A piezo-driven parts feeder according to claim 1, wherein the width of the first side of the L-shape extending toward the center of the moving table is inclined approximately at an angle relative to the vertical direction equal to that of the second elastic member relative to the vertical direction.
3. A piezo-driven parts feeder that conveys parts by generating vibration with a vibration generator including an elastic member having a piezoelectric element mounted thereto to align the parts, comprising:
a moving table having or supporting the parts conveying member;
a fixed table disposed below the moving table, for supporting the moving table so as to freely vibrate the moving table through the vibration generator;
the vibration generator including a first elastic member and a piezoelectric element mounted to the first elastic member, one end of the first elastic member being fixed to the moving table and the other end of the first elastic member being fixed to the fixed table; and
a support member including a second elastic member different from the first elastic member, one end of the second elastic member being fixed to the moving table and the other end of the second elastic member being fixed to the fixed table, wherein:
the fixed table is supported by a base through a third elastic member, wherein
the spring constant of the third elastic member is smaller than either of the spring constants of the first elastic member and the second elastic member.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A volumetric liquid crystal display for producing a three-dimensional image, comprising:
a volumetric image space comprising at least two layers of LCD sheeting, each layer of LCD sheeting selectively energized to form image slices, the volumetric image space having a central longitudinal axis;
at least one projection system providing at least one array of electromagnetic energy of one or more wavelengths; and,
at least one mirror reflecting the array of electromagnetic energy towards a rotating mirror mounted along the central longitudinal axis of the volumetric image space, the rotating mirror providing the intersection of the array of electromagnetic energy with the energized layer of LCD sheeting to illuminate image slices, wherein illumination of image slices on the layers of LCD sheeting provides the appearance of a three-dimensional image.
2. The display of claim 1, wherein each layer LCD sheeting comprises polymer-dispersed liquid crystal between transparent conductive sheets.
3. The display of claim 1, wherein the projection system includes at least one digital light processing projector having a digital micro-mirror device containing an array of micromechanical mirrors.
4. The display of claim 3, wherein the micro-mirror device is used in dithering the array of electromagnetic energy.
5. The display of claim 1, wherein the projection system includes at least one grating light valve projector providing the at least one array of electromagnetic energy.
6. The display of claim 1, wherein the layers of LCD sheeting are provided in a circular cylindrical formation within the volumetric image space.
7. The display of claim 6, wherein the array of electromagnetic energy of one or more wavelengths is rotatingly provided outward from the central longitudinal axis.
8. The display of claim 1, wherein the layers of LCD sheeting are provided in a hemispherical formation within the volumetric image space, the hemispherical formation having a radial center.
9. The display of claim 8, wherein a second projector providing electromagnetic energy to the image space is located adjacent the radial center.
10. The display of claim 9, wherein the hemispherical formation is comprised of about nineteen to about one hundred layers of LCD sheeting.
11. The display of claim 1, further comprising a control system synchronizing the illumination of image slices on the layers of LCD sheeting to provide the appearance of the three-dimensional image.
12. The display of claim 11, wherein the illumination of image slices on the layers of LCD sheeting is sequential.
13. The display of claim 11, wherein the control system is in communication with an external source for downloading images.
14. The display of claim 1, wherein the illuminated three-dimensional image is polychromatic.
15. The display of claim 1, wherein power of the projection system is modulated to vary the intensity of electromagnetic energy of the wavelengths.
16. The display of claim 1, wherein at least one side of the rotating mirror includes an absorptive material.
17. The display of claim 1, further comprising a housing supporting the volumetric image space.
18. The display of claim 17, wherein the housing includes an electromagnetic radiation filter.
19. The display of claim 1, wherein illumination of image slices on the layers of LCD sheeting is sequential.
20. A volumetric liquid crystal display for producing a three-dimensional image, comprising:
a volumetric image space comprising at least two layers of LCD sheeting in a formation, each layer of LCD sheeting selectively energized to form image slices;
a first projector providing electromagnetic energy of one or more wavelengths rotatingly reflected outwardly from a first location within the volumetric image space;
a second projector providing electromagnetic energy of one or more wavelengths from a second location, wherein electromagnetic energy from the first projector and the second projector intersect the energized layer of LCD sheeting to illuminate image slices, wherein illumination of image slices on sequential layers of LCD sheeting provides the appearance of a three-dimensional image.
21. The display of claim 20, wherein the second location is within the volumetric image space.
22. The display of claim 20, wherein the second location is external to the volumetric image space.
23. The display of claim 20, wherein the formation is rectangular.
24. A method of fabricating a three-dimensional image, comprising:
forming a volumetric image space comprising at least two non-planar layers of LCD sheeting, the LCD sheeting selectively energized to form image slices; and,
positioning a projector to illuminate image slices on the LCD sheeting to provide the appearance of a three-dimensional image.
25. The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of synchronizing the illumination of image slices on layers of LCD sheeting to provide the appearance of the three-dimensional image.
26. The method of claim 24, wherein the illumination of image slices on layers of LCD sheeting is sequential.
27. A method of controlling a volumetric liquid crystal display, the volumetric liquid crystal display comprising at least two non-planar layers of LCD sheeting, each layer of LCD sheeting selectively energized to form image slices, comprising:
forming, selectively, image slices of pixel elements in a scattering state on the LCD sheeting; and,
synchronizing an illumination of the image slices on the LCD sheeting to provide the appearance of the three-dimensional image.