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Thursday, April 19, 2007

"ENERGY: 'Negative stiffness' used to damp vibrations"

Angstrom-level accuracy is needed to stabilize platforms used in applications like microelectromechanical system testing, nanoscale metrology and semiconductor fabrication tools. One company is developing products based on a mechanism called negative stiffness to cancel vibrations. Since the 1960s, the best way to isolate precise instruments like atomic-force and scanning-tunneling microscopes along with fab tools from vibration was passive air tables that support weight on a cushion of air. A recent alternative is using active electronic feedback to send cancelling forces that damp out oscillations in springs. Paltus claimed his patented negative stiffness mechanism outperforms active systems while undercutting the price of passive systems.
Text: http://www.eetimes.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=199100913