Abstract: An image detecting device according to the invention is provided with an optical fiber array substrate 101, a circuit conductor layer 109 over it, an image sensor 106 arranged over the circuit conductor layer, first illuminating means 104 arranged so that the angle of incidence on the plane of incidence of the optical fiber be made greater than the critical angle and the direction of lights reflected by the plane of incidence relative to the direction of the optical axis of the optical fibers be made not greater than the critical angle of total reflection inside the optical fiber, second illuminating means 105 arranged so that the angle of incidence on the plane of incidence of the optical fiber be made smaller than the critical angle and the direction of lights reflected by the plane of incidence relative to the direction of the optical axis of the optical fibers be made not smaller than the critical angle of total reflection inside the optical fibers, and control means 110 which performs control for turning

Abstract: An acceleration sensor housed in a confined space can detect rotational acceleration with great accuracy. The acceleration sensor has first and second piezoelectric elements with electrodes for outputting a charge produced by strain deformation. Each of the first and second piezoelectric elements has at least one piezoelectric body and a support block for supporting the piezoelectric body. The electrodes are provided on opposite sides of the piezoelectric body. One surface of the first piezoelectric element and one surface of the second piezoelectric element are substantially parallel to each other.

Abstract: A piezoelectric element includes a piezoelectric substrate formed of a piezoelectric material and a pair of electrodes formed on a first principal plane and a second principal plane of the piezoelectric substrate, wherein thickness shear vibration occurs, and the vibration direction of the thickness shear vibration is nonparallel to the side walls of the piezoelectric substrate.

Abstract: A method for producing an acceleration sensor comprising an electromechanical transducer having a piezoelectric element includes providing at least two piezoelectric substrates where each has two opposing main surfaces. The piezoelectric element is formed by directly connecting one of the main surfaces of one of the at least two piezoelectric substrates with an opposing one of the main surfaces of another one of the at least two piezoelectric substrates. Supporters are provided to support the electromechanical transducer and are directly connected to the at least two piezoelectric substrates composing the piezoelectric element. Electrodes that extend continuously from the unconnected main surfaces of the at least two piezoelectric substrates composing the piezoelectric element to surfaces of the supporters are then formed.

Abstract: A small acceleration sensor which is highly sensitive over a large frequency region and which varies little in characteristics such as sensitivity. A piezoelectric element is formed by connecting two main faces of rectangular LiNbO3 piezoelectric substrates, in which the polarization axes are directed oppositely. Supporters comprising LiNbO3 are directly connected to one end of the piezoelectric element. Electrodes of chromium-gold being 0.2 &mgr;m thick are successively connected to the two main faces of the piezoelectric element and to the supporters, thus to produce a cantilever structure bimorph electromechanical transducer.

Abstract: An acceleration sensor housed in a confined space can detect rotational acceleration with great accuracy. The acceleration sensor has first and second piezoelectric elements with electrodes for outputting a charge produced by strain deformation. Each of the first and second piezoelectric elements has at least one piezoelectric body and a support block for supporting the piezoelectric body. The electrodes are provided on opposite sides of the piezoelectric body. One surface of the first piezoelectric element and one surface of the second piezoelectric element are substantially parallel to each other.

Abstract: A head actuator mechanism characterized has a head that records and reproduces data; a suspension that holds the head; a support arm; a drive means for moving the support arm; a coupling section for coupling the support arm and the suspension together in such a way that the head can move relatively to the support arm; and at least one piezoelectric element for coupling the support arm and the suspension together to move the head relatively to the support arm for fine tuning, the piezoelectric element being fixed to the support arm and suspension at both ends.

Abstract: An acceleration sensor has a piezoelectric element which includes a piezoelectric member layer in which a plurality of piezoelectric members are stacked and electrodes which are disposed in major opposed surfaces of the piezoelectric member layer; and a support member for supporting the piezoelectric element, wherein some piezoelectric members of the piezoelectric member layer are polarized. The electrodes are disposed in both surfaces of the polarized piezoelectric members. Capacitors which are formed by the polarized piezoelectric members and the electrodes in both surfaces of the polarized piezoelectric members are connected parallel to each other.

Abstract: An acceleration sensor includes: a piezoelectric vibrator including a piezoelectric element having a first principal surface and a second principal surface opposed each other, a first and a second electrode formed on the first and the second principal surface, and conductive protrusions made of a metal material or a ceramic material and formed by a thermal spraying process; and a holding body for holding the piezoelectric vibrator via the conductive protrusions.

Abstract: A small accelaration sensor which is highly sensitive over a large frequency region and which varies little in characteristics such as sensitivity. A piezoelectric element is formed by connecting two main faces of retangular LiNbO.sub.3 piezoelectric substrates, in which the polarization axes are directed oppositely. Supporters comprising LiNbO.sub.3 directly connected to one end of the piezoelectric element. Eletrodes of chromium-gold being 0.2 .mu.m are thick are successively connected to the two main faces of the piozoelectric element and to the supporters, thus to produce a cantilever structure bimorph electromechanical transducer.

Abstract: An acceleration sensor has a piezoelectric element which includes a piezoelectric member layer in which a plurality of piezoelectric members are stacked and electrodes which are disposed in major opposed surfaces of the piezoelectric member layer; and a support member for supporting the piezoelectric element, wherein some piezoelectric members of the piezoelectric member layer are polarized, the electrodes are disposed in the both surfaces of the polarized piezoelectric members, capacitors which are formed by the polarized piezoelectric members and the electrodes in the both surfaces of the polarized piezoelectric members are connected parallel to each other.

Abstract: Rectangular piezoelectric substrates each of which has main surfaces opposed to each other, measures 50 .mu.m thick by 1 mm wide by 8 mm long, and is made of lithium niobate (LiNbO.sub.3), are directly bonded on the main surfaces so that their axes of polarization are set in directions reverse to each other, thereby composing a piezoelectric element. Electrodes which are 0.2 .mu.m thick and made of chromium-nickel are formed on the two main surfaces of the piezoelectric element opposed to each other, thereby resulting in a precision displacement control actuator of a bimorph type mechanical-electrical converter element. This configuration makes it possible to provide a compact precision displacement control actuator which has a large displacement and extremely small variations of characteristics such as displacement and resonance frequency.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for driving an ultrasonic motor of the type which includes a vibrator for causing a flexural vibration wave in response to a pair of AC driving voltage signals, and a rotor in contact with the vibrator and moved by the flexural vibration wave. The rotational speed of the ultrasonic motor is controlled by using a feedback signal and a data table, the feedback signal indicating the current rotational speed of the ultrasonic motor, and the data table storing values of the feedback signal as a standard function of the rotational 21 speed. The method includes the step of sampling the feedback signal and detecting the rotational speed in a plurality of rotation states of the ultrasonic motor. The method obtains an approximate function representing the relationship between the sampled feedback signal and the detected rotational speed of the ultrasonic motor, and calculates correction coefficients for adjusting the approximate function to the standard function.