Abstract: A slide fastener is provided which has two sliders arranged to be slidable on a pair of interlocking stringers so as to open the fastener when separated and close the fastener when brought together, at least one receiving portion disposed on one of the sliders, at least one latching member disposed on one of the sliders and engageable with the receiving portion. The sliders engage and are separated by deformation of the receiving portion and/or the latching member. The slider body portion is formed separately to the latch body portion so that different materials may be used. A two part slider having a decorative surface body portion, in place of the latch body portion, is also disclosed.

Abstract: A stacked electro-mechanical energy conversion element includes a plurality of layers having a circular shape each of which is formed of a material having an electro-mechanical energy conversion function and has a through-hole in the center thereof, a plurality of electrode portions formed at least on one surface of the layers and separated from each other by a plurality of first non-electrode portions, a plurality of wiring conductors which penetrate the plurality of layers and electrically connect electrode portions of the different layers, and a plurality of second non-electrode portions formed in the periphery of the wiring conductors so as to prevent the wiring conductors from being rendered conductive to the electrode portions, wherein the wiring conductors are formed at least on or in the vicinity of an edge of an outer diameter of each layer, and the electrode portions are formed over the edge of the outer diameter except for portions at which the second non-electrode portions are formed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a vibration wave driving apparatus including a vibration element having an electro-mechanical energy conversion element that is disposed between a first elastic member and a second elastic member, characterized in that the vibration element can have a plurality of vibration modes which are different in relative displacement ratio between respective ends of the vibration element. Specifically, a third elastic member is disposed between the first elastic member and the second elastic member, and the vibration element is allowed to have two portions which are different in dynamic stiffness from each other and are arranged in the axial direction thereof with the third elastic member interposed therebetween. According to this structure, the length of the vibration wave driving apparatus in the axial direction can be reduced and internal loss of vibration energy can be suppressed to be small.

Abstract: A vibration-wave drive motor incorporating a multilayer piezoelectric element having reduced vibration damping as well as a design lending itself to reduced manufacturing costs and miniaturization. The multilayer piezoelectric element includes a piezoelectric active part formed by a plurality of piezoelectric layers having an internal electrode, and a piezoelectric inactive part formed by an integrated piezoelectric layer with no internal electrodes. The vibration-wave drive motor consists of a vibration body including the multilayer piezoelectric element, and a contact body press contacting the vibration body.

Abstract: A vibration wave driving element includes a vibration element and a moving element. The vibration element includes a member joined with an electro-mechanical energy conversion element. The moving element is in contact with a surface of the vibration element. The vibration element is in contact with the moving element through the surface opposite to a surface with which the electro-mechanical energy conversion element is joined, and a projection portion inside the moving element is formed on the surface of the vibration element that is in contact with the moving element. When a frequency of alternating signal applied to the electro-mechanical energy conversion element is varied, a ratio of vibration displacements in the same direction, each of which is generated on one of both ends of the vibration element, is varied.

Abstract: A vibration wave driving device that may be manufactured in a short time and with high accuracy includes a vibrating member which has an elastic member and an electro-mechanical energy conversion element and which causes vibration when a drive signal is applied to the electro-mechanical energy conversion element, and a moving member coming into contact with the vibrating member and driven by the vibration, where contact portions of the vibrating member and the moving member are formed such that at least one contact portion protrudes toward the other contact portion and that the vibrating member or the moving member having the protruding contact portion has in a same plane as an end surface of the protruding contact portion a surface of a part other than the protruding contact portion.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide a stacked type electro-mechanical energy conversion element comprising a stack of superimposed layers with an electro-mechanical energy conversion function having an electrode film formed on a superimposed surface so as to improve the driving efficiency thereof. A part of the electrode film is connected to an electrode film formed on an edge portion of a layer, and on a side face of the stacked electro-mechanical energy conversion element, there are provided a connection terminal connectable to an external power supply, and a wiring portion connecting the connection terminal to the electrode film formed on the edge portion of the layer.

Abstract: The invention discloses a stacked piezoelectric element comprising a plurality of piezoelectric layers and electrode layers stacked alternately in which the electrode layers are electrically connected by a penetrating electrode formed in a conductive hole formed in a direction of the thickness of the piezoelectric layers, and in which the penetrating electrode formed in a piezoelectric layer of a first layer is so positioned as to overlap with the penetrating electrode formed in a piezoelectric layer of a first layer in the direction of thickness.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a friction member used for a vibration wave driving apparatus including a vibration member, a contact member which is brought into frictional contact with the vibration member and relatively moved by vibrations produced in the vibration member, and the friction member formed on one of friction portions of the vibration member and contact member, a molded member is formed by compression molding of a fluoroplastic powder and an additive, a sintered member is formed by sintering the molded member, a sheet is formed by cutting the sintered member in the form of a sheet, and a modified layer formed by cutting is removed from the friction surface of the sheet.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a friction member used for a vibration wave driving apparatus including a vibration member, a contact member which is brought into frictional contact with the vibration member and relatively moved by vibrations produced in the vibration member, and the friction member formed on one of friction portions of the vibration member and contact member, a molded member is formed by compression molding of a plastic powder and an additive, a sintered member is formed by sintering the molded member, a sheet is formed by cutting the sintered member in the form of a sheet, and a modified layer formed by cutting is removed from the friction surface of the sheet.

Abstract: A method for producing a stacked piezoelectric element alternately stacks a plurality of layers of an electrode material and piezoelectric layers having an electric mechanical energy converting function and provided with penetrating electrodes, obtained by forming through holes in each piezoelectric layer and filling the through holes with the electrode material, to be connected at a contact portion with a layer of the electrode material and sinters the stacked layers. The method includes the step of forming, on a layer of the electrode material, a second layer of electrode material by screen printing at a peripheral area of the contact portion between the layer of the electrode material and the penetrating electrodes.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a friction member used for a vibration wave driving apparatus including a vibration member, a contact member which is brought into frictional contact with the vibration member and relatively moved by vibrations produced in the vibration member, and the friction member formed on one of friction portions of the vibration member and contact member, a molded member is formed by compression molding of a plastic powder and an additive, a sintered member is formed by sintering the molded member, a sheet is formed by cutting the sintered member in the form of a sheet, and a modified layer formed by cutting is removed from the friction surface of the sheet.

Abstract: A stacked electro-mechanical energy conversion element includes a plurality of layers made of a material having an electro-mechanical energy conversion function on which a plurality of electrode areas are formed, a first layer having an electro-conductive portion formed from the electrode area to a side face which is a non-stacked surface area, a second layer having a through-hole formed therein by an electro-conductive member, a third layer having an electro-conductive film which communicates the electro-conductive portion of the first layer and the through-hole of the second layer, and an external electro-conductive film formed on the side surface of the first layer so as to communicate with the electro-conductive portion.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a friction member used for a vibration wave driving apparatus including a vibration member, a contact member which is brought into frictional contact with the vibration member and relatively moved by vibrations produced in the vibration member, and the friction member formed on one of friction portions of the vibration member and contact member, a molded member is formed by compression molding of a fluoroplastic powder and an additive, a sintered member is formed by sintering the molded member, a sheet is formed by cutting the sintered member in the form of a sheet, and a modified layer formed by cutting is removed from the friction surface of the sheet.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide a stacked type electro-mechanical energy conversion element comprising a stack of superimposed layers with an electro-mechanical energy conversion function having an electrode film formed on a superimposed surface so as to improve the driving efficiency thereof. A part of the electrode film is connected to an electrode film formed on an edge portion of a layer, and on a side face of the stacked electro-mechanical energy conversion element, there are provided a connection terminal connectable to an external power supply, and a wiring portion connecting the connection terminal to the electrode film formed on the edge portion of the layer.

Abstract: In order to manufacture a vibration wave driving device in a short time and with high accuracy, the device of the invention comprises:

Abstract: A stacked electro-mechanical energy conversion element includes a plurality of layers having a circular shape each of which is formed of a material having an electro-mechanical energy conversion function and has a through-hole in the center thereof, a plurality of electrode portions formed at least on one surface of the layers and separated from each other by a plurality of first non-electrode portions, a plurality of wiring conductors which penetrate the plurality of layers and electrically connect electrode portions of the different layers, and a plurality of second non-electrode portions formed in the periphery of the wiring conductors so as to prevent the wiring conductors from being rendered conductive to the electrode portions, wherein the wiring conductors are formed at least on or in the vicinity of an edge of an outer diameter of each layer, and the electrode portions are formed over the edge of the outer diameter except for portions at which the second non-electrode portions are formed.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a vibration type driving apparatus comprising an elastic member which, in use, is excited with a vibration that sets a moving member into motion relative to the vibrating elastic member. The method includes providing a friction member on at least one of the elastic member and the moving member, and pressing the friction member between a mold and the at least one of the elastic member and the moving member forming a smooth contacting surface on the friction member.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a vibration wave driving apparatus including a vibration element having an electro-mechanical energy conversion element that is disposed between a first elastic member and a second elastic member, characterized in that the vibration element can have a plurality of vibration modes which are different in relative displacement ratio between respective ends of the vibration element. Specifically, a third elastic member is disposed between the first elastic member and the second elastic member, and the vibration element is allowed to have two portions which are different in dynamic stiffness from each other and are arranged in the axial direction thereof with the third elastic member interposed therebetween. According to this structure, the length of the vibration wave driving apparatus in the axial direction can be reduced and internal loss of vibration energy can be suppressed to be small.

Abstract: In order to achieve both of securing the effective area of the activation portion and maintaining process accuracy of electrodes of piezoelectric element, a stacked electro-mechanical energy conversion element of the present invention is configured by stacking a plurality of layers made of a material having an electro-mechanical energy conversion function in which a plurality of electrode areas are formed, and comprises a first layer having an electro-conductive electrode portion formed from the electrode area to a side face which is a non-stacked area, a second layer having a through-hole formed by an electro-conductive member being pierced, a third layer having a connection electro-conductive film which communicates the electro-conductive electrode portion of the first layer and the through-hole of the second layer, and an external electro-conductive film formed in the side surface of the first layer so as to communicate with the electro-conductive electrode portion.