Abstract: There is provided optical devices capable of performing aberration corrections with high accuracy for light rays having plural wavelengths with a simple structure without involving a cost increase. An optical device 1 includes an actuator 8 for driving an optical member 40 in the direction of an optical axis and a guide member 46 for guiding the optical member 40 being driven. The optical member 40 includes plural functional portions 42 and 44 having different functions, and the optical axes of the respective functional portions 42 and 44 of the optical member 40 are brought into coincidence with a light ray through the guiding of the guide member 46.

Abstract: There is provided optical devices capable of performing aberration corrections with high accuracy for light rays having plural wavelengths with a simple structure without involving a cost increase. An optical device 1 includes an actuator 8 for driving an optical member 40 in the direction of an optical axis and a guide member 46 for guiding the optical member 40 being driven. The optical member 40 includes plural functional portions 42 and 44 having different functions, and the optical axes of the respective functional portions 42 and 44 of the optical member 40 are brought into coincidence with a light ray through the guiding of the guide member 46.

Abstract: A tube-shaped piezoelectric conversion element and a method of fabricating a tube-shaped piezoelectric conversion element are provided. The piezoelectric conversion element is formed either with two electroded piezoelectric sheet elements (two-layer type) rolled up in a tube-shaped member or with a single piezoelectric sheet element (single-layer type) electroded on two opposing surfaces and folded near its center and rolled up in a tube shaped member. A non-electrode surface portion without electrode material disposed thereon is provided on at least one electroded surface of at least one piezoelectric sheet element at an end of the piezoelectric sheet element in a direction intersecting a tube-axis direction. At lease one non-electrode surface portion may also be provided on a piezoelectric sheet element in a region encompassing the fold of single-layer type device. Short circuiting between electrode layers is thereby substantially avoided at ends of the piezoelectric sheet elements or in the fold region.

Abstract: There is provided an actuator utilizing a piezoelectric transducer that is structured in small size by feeding the electrical power to the internal surface to the piezoelectric transducer formed in the cylindrical shape. The electrodes are formed to both front and rear surfaces of a sheet type piezoelectric element and this element is wound in the cylindrical shape. The cylindrical material is normalized under the predetermined temperature and a voltage is applied across the electrodes for the polarization purpose. An electrode terminal having the contactors is inserted to the internal surface of the piezoelectric transducer formed in the cylindrical shape and the contactors are placed in contact with the electrodes exposed at the internal surface of the cylindrical shape for the purpose of power feeding.

Abstract: A driving apparatus that does not include a member between the piezoelectric element and the target object. The driving apparatus comprises a piezoelectric element, which is fixed to a stationary member via the ends, a target object, which is frictionally engaged with the ends of the piezoelectric element, and piezoelectric element driving devices that each apply a voltage to the piezoelectric element such that the speed of extension and the speed of contraction of the portion of the piezoelectric element between the respective are different.

Abstract: A tube-shaped piezoelectric conversion element and a method of fabricating a tube-shaped piezoelectric conversion element are provided. The piezoelectric conversion element is formed either with two electroded piezoelectric sheet elements (two-layer type) rolled up in a tube-shaped member or with a single piezoelectric sheet element (single-layer type) electroded on two opposing surfaces and folded near its center and rolled up in a tube shaped member. A non-electrode surface portion without electrode material disposed thereon is provided on at least one electroded surface of at least one piezoelectric sheet element at an end of the piezoelectric sheet element in a direction intersecting a tube-axis direction. At lease one non-electrode surface portion may also be provided on a piezoelectric sheet element in a region encompassing the fold of single-layer type device. Short circuiting between electrode layers is thereby substantially avoided at ends of the piezoelectric sheet elements or in the fold region.

Abstract: A piezoelectric element comprising a thin sheet piezoelectric element formed of a piezoelectric ceramic having PZT (PbZrO3.PbTiO3) as a main component with electrodes formed on the surfaces thereof, said thin sheet piezoelectric element being wrapped around a shaft to form a cylinder.

Abstract: A lens driving actuator comprises a lens barrel formed of piezoelectric material, an electrode pair comprising a pair of venetian blind-like electrodes opposed to the interior surface of the lens barrel in the axial direction, and a high frequency wave power source for exciting the electrodes of the electrode pair which are arranged so as to form a waveguide between the electrode pair on the interior surface of the lens barrel such that elastic surface waves travel this waveguide in the axial direction via the excitation of the electrodes of the electrode pair and a lens pressing against the waveguide.