Abstract: An ultrasonic motor includes a vibrator, a mobile unit, a holding mechanism, and a pressing mechanism. The vibrator generates elliptical vibration by degenerating different vibration modes and having a phase difference between the different vibration modes. The mobile unit is configured to be movable relative to the vibrator. The holding mechanism holds and fixes the vibrator in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of the relative movement of the mobile unit. The pressing mechanism presses the vibrator against the mobile unit. The holding mechanism includes an adjustment unit for adjusting the resonant frequencies of the different vibration modes of the vibrator to substantially match each other when the ultrasonic motor is driven.

Abstract: An ultrasonic motor includes a vibrator, a mobile unit, a holding mechanism, and a pressing mechanism. The vibrator generates elliptical vibration by degenerating different vibration modes and having a phase difference between the different vibration modes. The mobile unit is configured to be movable relative to the vibrator. The holding mechanism holds and fixes the vibrator in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of the relative movement of the mobile unit. The pressing mechanism presses the vibrator against the mobile unit. The holding mechanism includes an adjustment unit for adjusting the resonant frequencies of the different vibration modes of the vibrator to substantially match each other when the ultrasonic motor is driven.

Abstract: An ultrasonic piezoelectric transducer and an ultrasonic actuator for performing enhanced elliptical vibration comprise a first laminated piezoelectric element having a first fixed end, a resonator mounted to the opposite end of the first laminated piezoelectric element, a second laminated piezoelectric element having one end thereof fixedly mounted to the resonator in a direction other than a vibrating direction of the first laminated piezoelectric element, and a load mass fixedly mounted to the opposite end of the second laminated piezoelectric element. This structure permits the enhanced elliptical vibration of the transducer to have a large, controllable amplitude.

Abstract: An ultrasonic motor comprising an elastic body, at least two laminated piezoelectric bodies clamped by a portion of the elastic body, an ultrasonic oscillator for exciting simultaneously a plurality of shrunk and retreated oscillation modes on the elastic body, to generate ultrasonic elliptic oscillation, and an element to be driven urged against a portion of the ultrasonic oscillator and movable with respect to the ultrasonic oscillator.