Active isolation module

Abstract

A vibration isolator for isolating a load from a floor. The vibration isolator may have an active isolator assembly that isolates the load in a first direction and a passive isolator assembly that isolates the member in a second direction or directions. The active isolator assembly may include a single actuator that is coaxially aligned with a sensor. The sensor and actuator can be connected to a controller which together provide active isolation of the load. The passive isolator assembly may include a pendulum that is coupled to a dashpot. Providing a system with just one actuator significantly reduces the cost of the vibration isolator with respect to isolators of the prior art.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A vibration isolator which isolates a load that is separated from a floor, comprising: 
 an active isolator assembly that provides active isolation of the load in a first direction; and,    a passive isolator assembly that provides passive isolation of the load in a second direction.    
     
     
         2 . The vibration isolator of  claim 1 , wherein the first direction is parallel with a vertical axis and the second direction is parallel with a horizontal axis of the load.  
     
     
         3 . The vibration isolator of  claim 1 , wherein said passive isolator assembly includes a pendulum assembly.  
     
     
         4 . The vibration isolator of  claim 3 , wherein said pendulum assembly includes a cable that is coupled to the load.  
     
     
         5 . The vibration isolator of  claim 4 , wherein said passive isolator assembly includes a dashpot that is coupled to said pendulum assembly and the floor.  
     
     
         6 . The vibration isolator of  claim 1 , wherein said active isolator assembly includes an actuator that is coupled to the load and the floor.  
     
     
         7 . The vibration isolator of  claim 6 , wherein said active isolator assembly includes a sensor that senses a movement of a point between the load and the housing, and a controller which is coupled to said actuator and said sensor and which provides a drive signal to said actuator in response to a feedback signal from said sensor.  
     
     
         8 . The vibration isolator of  claim 7 , wherein said drive signal is a function of a transfer function and said transfer function is selectable from a plurality of different transfer functions.  
     
     
         9 . The vibration isolator of  claim 7 , wherein said sensor has a center axis that is coaxial with a center axis of said actuator.  
     
     
         10 . The vibration isolator of  claim 1 , further comprising a filter assembly that is coupled to said active isolator assembly and the load.  
     
     
         11 . The vibration isolator of  claim 10 , wherein said filter assembly includes a profiled elastomer that is located within a profiled cavity of a coupler plate, so that a resonant frequency of said filter assembly is essentially constant for a predetermined range of loads applied to said filter assembly.  
     
     
         12 . The vibration isolator of  claim 11 , wherein said profiled elastomer and profiled cavity each have a conical shape.  
     
     
         13 . The vibration isolator of  claim 1 , further comprising a docking assembly that secures the load relative to the housing.  
     
     
         14 . The vibration isolator of  claim 13 , wherein said docking assembly includes a pin that can be inserted into an aperture of a plate that supports the load.  
     
     
         15 . The vibration isolator of  claim 1 , further comprising a foot that supports said active and passive isolator assemblies and which has a cleat that can be embedded into the floor surface.  
     
     
         16 . A method for isolating a load from a floor, comprising: 
 a) actively isolating the load in a first direction; and,    b) passively isolating the load in a second direction.    
     
     
         17 . A vibration isolator which isolates a load that is separated from a floor, comprising: 
 an actuator that is coupled to the load and the floor, said actuator having a center axis; and,    a sensor that is coupled to said actuator and the load, said sensor having a center axis that is coaxial with the center axis of said actuator.    
     
     
         18 . The vibration isolator of  claim 17 , further comprising a controller which is coupled to said actuator and said sensor and which provides a drive signal to said actuator in response to a feedback signal from said sensor.  
     
     
         19 . The vibration isolator of  claim 18 , wherein said drive signal is a function of a transfer function and said transfer function is selectable from a plurality of different transfer functions.  
     
     
         20 . The vibration isolator of  claim 17 , further comprising a filter assembly that is coupled to said sensor and the load.  
     
     
         21 . The vibration isolator of  claim 20 , wherein said filter assembly includes a profiled elastomer that is located within a profiled cavity of a coupler plate, so that a resonant frequency of said filter assembly is essentially constant for a predetermined range of loads applied to said filter assembly.  
     
     
         22 . The vibration isolator of  claim 21 , wherein said profiled elastomer and profiled cavity each have a conical shape.  
     
     
         23 . The vibration isolator of  claim 17 , further comprising a docking assembly that secures the load relative to the floor.  
     
     
         24 . The vibration isolator of  claim 23 , wherein said docking assembly includes a pin that can be inserted into an aperture of a plate that supports the load.  
     
     
         25 . A vibration isolator which isolates a load that is separated from a floor, comprising: 
 an active isolator assembly that provides active isolation of the load; and,    a docking assembly that secures the load relative to the floor.    
     
     
         26 . The vibration isolator of  claim 25 , wherein said docking assembly includes a pin that can be inserted into an aperture of a plate that supports the load.  
     
     
         27 . The vibration isolator of  claim 26 , wherein said docking assembly includes a stepper motor which moves said pin into said aperture.  
     
     
         28 . The vibration isolator of  claim 26 , wherein said active isolator assembly includes an actuator that is coupled to the load and the floor, a sensor that senses a movement of a point between the load and the floor, and a controller which is coupled to said actuator and said sensor and which provides a drive signal to said actuator in response to a feedback signal from said sensor.  
     
     
         29 . The vibration isolator of  claim 28 , wherein said drive signal is a function of a transfer function and said transfer function is selectable from a plurality of different transfer functions.  
     
     
         30 . The vibration isolator of  claim 28 , wherein said sensor has a center axis that is coaxial with a center axis of said actuator.  
     
     
         31 . A method for isolating and securing a load to a floor, comprising: 
 a) actively isolating the load from the floor; and,    b) activating a pin which couples and secures the load to the floor.    
     
     
         32 . The method as recited in  claim 31 , wherein the pin in inserted into an aperture of a plate that supports the load.  
     
     
         33 . A vibration isolator which isolates a load that is separated from a floor, comprising: 
 an actuator that is coupled to the load and the floor;    a sensor that senses a movement of a point between the load and the floor; and    a controller which is coupled to said actuator and said sensor and which provides a drive signal to said actuator in response to a feedback signal from said sensor, said drive signal being a function of a transfer function that is selectable from a plurality of different transfer functions.    
     
     
         34 . The vibration isolator of  claim 33 , further comprising a passive isolator assembly that passively isolates the load.  
     
     
         35 . The vibration isolator of  claim 34 , wherein said passive isolator assembly includes a pendulum assembly.  
     
     
         36 . The vibration isolator of  claim 35 , wherein said pendulum assembly includes a cable that is coupled to the load.  
     
     
         37 . The vibration isolator of  claim 35 , wherein said passive isolator assembly includes a dashpot that is coupled to said pendulum assembly and the floor.  
     
     
         38 . The vibration isolator of  claim 33 , wherein said sensor has a center axis that is coaxial with a center axis of said actuator.  
     
     
         39 . The vibration isolator of  claim 33 , further comprising a damper assembly that is coupled to said sensor and the load.  
     
     
         40 . The vibration isolator of  claim 39 , wherein said filter assembly includes a profiled elastomer that is located within a profiled cavity of a coupler plate, so that a resonant frequency of said filter assembly is essentially constant for a predetermined range of loads applied to said filter assembly.  
     
     
         41 . The vibration isolator of  claim 40 , wherein said profiled elastomer and profiled cavity each have a conical shape.  
     
     
         42 . The vibration isolator of  claim 33 , further comprising a docking assembly that secures the load relative to the floor.  
     
     
         43 . The vibration isolator of  claim 42 , wherein said docking assembly includes a pin that can be inserted into an aperture of a plate that supports the load.  
     
     
         44 . The vibration isolator of  claim 39 , further comprising a foot that supports said actuator and said sensor and which has a cleat that can be embedded into the floor.  
     
     
         45 . A method for isolating a load from a floor, comprising: 
 a) selecting a transfer function from a plurality of different transfer functions;    b) sensing a motion between the load and an inertial reference; and    c) driving an actuator with a drive signal that is a function of the selected transfer function.    
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the transfer function is selected by storing the transfer function in a memory device.  
     
     
         47 . A foot for a vibration isolator that isolates a load from a floor, comprising: 
 a plate; and,    a cleat that extends from said plate and can be embedded into the floor.    
     
     
         41 . A vibration isolator which isolates a load that is separated from a floor, comprising: 
 an active isolator assembly that provides active isolation of the load; and,    a plate that is coupled to said active isolator assembly; and,    a cleat that extends from said plate and can be embedded into the floor.    
     
     
         49 . The vibration isolator of claim  48 , further comprising a passive isolator assembly that provides passive isolation of the load.