Direct Mechanical Coupling Patents (Class 310/323.01)
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Patent number: 7973450Abstract: The present invention provides a multi-dimensional micro-actuator comprising a stator having a plurality of symmetrically arranged electrode piezoelectric plates, a rotator disposed near the stator, and a plurality of contacting elements. Each of the symmetrically arranged electrode piezoelectric plates comprises a piezoelectric plate, a first electrode, and a second electrode. The first and second electrodes are symmetrically arranged on a first surface of the piezoelectric plate. A second surface of the piezoelectric plate is coupled to the ground. The contacting elements are disposed on the electrode piezoelectric plates for rotation of the rotator.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2009Date of Patent: July 5, 2011Assignee: Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology Armaments Bureau, Ministry of National DefenseInventors: Ta-Ching Li, Sheng-Chih Shen, Jiun-Cheng Huang
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Publication number: 20110156533Abstract: Energy converters and associated methods are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, an energy converter includes a first structural member spaced apart from a second structure member, a first piezoelectric element and a second piezoelectric element individually coupled to the first structural member and the second structural member, and a deflection member tensionally suspended between the first and second piezoelectric elements. The deflection member is substantially rigid.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2011Publication date: June 30, 2011Applicant: WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITYInventors: Dylan J. Morris, David F. Bahr, Michael J. Anderson, John M. Youngsman
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Publication number: 20110143146Abstract: Provided are a piezoelectric thin film including a lead-free ferroelectric material and exhibiting high piezoelectric performance comparable to that of lead zirconate titanate (PZT), and a method of manufacturing the piezoelectric thin film. The piezoelectric thin film of the present invention comprises: a LaNiO3 film having a (001) orientation; a NaNbO3 film having a (001) orientation; and a (Bi, Na, Ba) TiO3 film having a (001) orientation. The LaNiO3 film, the NaNbO3 film, and the (Bi, Na, Ba)TiO3 film are laminated in this order.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2010Publication date: June 16, 2011Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATIONInventors: Takakiyo HARIGAI, Hideaki Adachi, Eiji Fujii
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Publication number: 20110140574Abstract: A vibratory device includes an elastic plate and a piezoelectric diaphragm. The elastic plate includes a fixable portion, a vibratory portion, and a connection portion. The fixable portion is fixed to a fixation member. The vibratory portion is spaced away from a fixable surface of the fixable portion that faces the fixation member and arranged substantially in parallel with the fixable surface. The connection portion connects a first end of the fixable portion in its planar direction and a first end of the vibratory portion in its planar direction. The piezoelectric diaphragm is disposed on a surface of the vibratory portion that is adjacent to the fixable portion. In a direction N normal to the surface of the vibratory portion adjacent to the fixable portion, at least part of the second piezoelectric diaphragm does not overlap the fixable portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2011Publication date: June 16, 2011Inventors: Kenji Kagayama, Toshihiko Unami
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Patent number: 7960895Abstract: A vibratory actuator includes a piezoelectric element, a driver element provided on the piezoelectric element and a movable body supported by the driver element. A control unit supplies a first voltage and a second voltage at the same frequency to the piezoelectric element. By supplying the first voltage and the second voltage having a difference phase from a phase of the first voltage by 90°, the piezoelectric element is lead to composite vibration of stretching and bending, thereby causing the driver to make an elliptical motion by the vibration and move the movable body. The control unit switches, during a fine mode, a phase difference between the first voltage and the second voltage between 90° and 0°.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2008Date of Patent: June 14, 2011Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Yusuke Adachi, Hideaki Mukae, Masaru Higashionji, Eiichi Nagaoka, Kenichi Honjo
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Patent number: 7960896Abstract: A piezoelectric motor includes: a base; first and second piezoelectric elements that are provided symmetrically on the base to face with each other, the first and second piezoelectric elements actuating in opposite directions; first and second displacement enlarging mechanisms that respectively enlarge actuating displacements of the first and second piezoelectric elements through first and second levers that rotate around first and second fulcrums fixed to the base; first and second leaf springs that are respectively coupled to action points of the first and second levers at one ends thereof; and an actuating portion that is coupled to the other ends of the first and second leaf springs and swings in accordance with actuation of the first and the second piezoelectric elements, the actuating portion being urged against a driven member to actuate the driven member with a frictional force.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2008Date of Patent: June 14, 2011Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Hiroshi Takahashi, Toshikatsu Akiba
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Patent number: 7952258Abstract: A vibration-type actuator having a vibrating body adapted to be deformed for driving and mounted with a contact member having a spring function. The contact member is comprised of a protruding portion adapted to be in contact with a driven body and fixing portions fixed to the vibrating body, and is provided with converting portion disposed between the projecting portion and the fixing portions. The converting portions each have an inclined surface obliquely extending relative to a contact surface provided in the protruding portion for contact with the driven body and extending to a side opposite from the contact surface. The converting portions convert a change in relative distance between the fixing portions caused by deformation of the vibrating body into a displacement of the contact surface.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2007Date of Patent: May 31, 2011Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Takao Mori
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Patent number: 7948149Abstract: A stator and a piezo ultrasonic motor including the same are provided. The piezo ultrasonic motor includes a stator including an elastic body having a flat portion at its outer surface and a central hole penetrating the center of the stator with a predetermined size, and a piezoelectric body including a first internal piezoelectric body and a second internal piezoelectric body integrally disposed parallel to each other in a longitudinal direction of the flat portion and providing an external force deforming the elastic body when an AC voltage is applied, a rotor inserted in the central hole and including a contact frictionally contacting an inner surface of the central hole, an elastic part providing an elastic force maintaining close attachment of the contact to the stator. Accordingly, the manufacturing cost decreases by reducing the number of elements and simplifying a structure, and a stable driving characteristic can be achieved.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2008Date of Patent: May 24, 2011Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.Inventor: Burhanettin Koc
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Patent number: 7944129Abstract: Provided are ultrasonic actuators and magnetic recording apparatuses that are stably equipped with superior driving performance without making the apparatus complex or raising cost. By providing an approximately equilateral triangular shaped vibrating member provided with piezoelectric deformation members that expand and contract upon the application of a driving signal, and a moving member that is in pressure contact with the three vertices of the vibrating member to cause relative movement with respect to the vibrating member. The moving member is caused to move relative to the vibrating member due to elliptical vibrations in the same rotational direction in basically the three vertices of the vibrating member due to a deformation vibration of the piezoelectric deformation parts.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2008Date of Patent: May 17, 2011Assignee: Konica Minolta Opto, Inc.Inventor: Takeshi Matsuo
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Publication number: 20110095649Abstract: A vibrating device that includes a small number of components and that has a high vibration transmission efficiency is provided. The vibrating device is fixed to a fixing member. The vibrating device includes a single elastic plate and piezoelectric vibrating plates. The elastic plate includes a fixing portion, a vibrating portion, and a connecting portion. The fixing portion is attached to the fixing member. The vibrating portion is arranged to be substantially parallel to and spaced from a fixing surface at which the fixing portion is fixed to the fixing member. The connecting portion connects an end part of the fixing portion and an end part of the vibrating portion to each other. The piezoelectric vibrating plates are provided on surfaces of the vibrating portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2010Publication date: April 28, 2011Inventors: Kenji Kagayama, Toshihiko Unami
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Publication number: 20110096397Abstract: Provided is a vibrating device including: a vibrator including multiple electromechanical energy converting elements; a power supply for applying an alternating voltage to the multiple electromechanical energy converting elements; and a control circuit for controlling the alternating voltage to be applied by the power supply, the vibrating device generating, by the control circuit, a first standing wave and a second standing wave in the vibrator with a predetermined time phase difference, the first standing wave and the second standing wave having multiple nodal lines aligned in the same direction and being different in terms of an order, in which the vibrator includes at least one of the multiple electromechanical energy converting elements disposed in the same direction as the multiple nodal lines, and also includes at least another one of the multiple electromechanical energy converting elements disposed in a direction in which the multiple nodal lines are aligned.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 5, 2010Publication date: April 28, 2011Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kaishi Ohashi, Takayuki Tsukimoto
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Patent number: 7932660Abstract: An ultrasonic motor has a cylindrical rotor for performing a mechanical output, a plurality of ultrasonic vibrators each having two points in internal contact with the rotor, and a preload mechanism for pressing the ultrasonic vibrators from an inside toward an outside of the rotor, and the ultrasonic vibrators are provided to be rotatable relative to the preload mechanism. With this configuration, an internal contact type ultrasonic motor capable of performing efficient drive by using a plurality of ultrasonic vibrators each in contact with a cylindrical rotor at two points and allowing contact at all contact points without requiring a high machining accuracy can be provided.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2009Date of Patent: April 26, 2011Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masaki Hamamoto, Teruhisa Kotani
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Patent number: 7915788Abstract: The piezoelectric vibrator includes the piezoelectric bar having a plurality of piezoelectric plates alternately stacked and a plurality of vibration sectors divided vertically and horizontally with respect to the direction in which the piezoelectric plates are stacked. Electrode terminals are formed on each of surface regions of the piezoelectric plate, divided in a longitudinal direction thereof, and jump terminals corresponding to electrode terminals are formed on a surface of an adjacent one of the piezoelectric plates. On side surfaces of the piezoelectric plates, a plurality of side electrodes are formed, connecting the electrode terminals and the corresponding jump terminals to power the vibration sectors, by which a pair of the vibration sectors diagonally disposed from each other are simultaneously powered. The piezoelectric vibrator is small and easily manufactured and mass-produced with a simple structure.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2006Date of Patent: March 29, 2011Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Burhanettin Koc, Dong Kyun Lee, Byung Woo Kang
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Patent number: 7911112Abstract: An ultrasonic actuator includes: a piezoelectric element 1 for generating a bending vibration and a stretching vibration; and a driver element 2 attached to a surface of the piezoelectric element 1 facing the direction of the bending vibration in point contact with the piezoelectric element 1 and actuated in accordance with the vibration of the piezoelectric element 1 to output driving force.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2006Date of Patent: March 22, 2011Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Yusuke Adachi, Hiroshi Fukushima
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Patent number: 7851972Abstract: It is an subject of the present invention to provide a vibration actuator in which a plurality of rotors can be driven by a single vibration unit. When a composite vibrator (2) is driven to generate a composite vibration combining a plurality of vibrations, a first stator (3) and a second stator (4) vibrate, thereby causing elliptical movements in corner portions (8) and (9) of the first stator (3) and the second stator (4), respectively. As a result, a first rotor (A) abutting onto and pressurized against the corner portion (8) of the first stator (3) and a second rotor (B) abutting onto and pressurized against the corner portion (9) of the second stator (4) are rotated at the same time. Further, in this case, by selecting vibration modes of the plurality of vibrations constituting the composite vibration, the two rotors (A) and (B) can be rotated in the same direction or in opposite directions with respect to each other.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2007Date of Patent: December 14, 2010Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki, Tokyo Institute of TechnologyInventors: Masaki Takasan, Hirohiko Ishikawa, Kazuo Seiki, Kentaro Nakamura, Sadayuki Ueha
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Patent number: 7839053Abstract: A one-way rotational transfer mechanism includes a rotary input member; a holding member including an axially orthogonal surface to the axis; a hollow-cylindrical rotary output shaft positioned coaxially around the rotary input member to be rotatable relative to the rotary input member, and including a cylindrical inner peripheral surface; a circumferential guide groove formed on the rotary input member; and a torque transfer ball installed between the axially orthogonal surface, the cylindrical inner peripheral surface and the circumferential guide groove, to roll on and be held between the axially orthogonal surface and the circumferential guide groove. The circumferential guide groove is shaped to make the torque transfer ball revolve around the rotary input member in a same direction as the rotary input member while trailing therebehind and to make the torque transfer ball press against the cylindrical inner peripheral surface when the rotary input member rotates.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2008Date of Patent: November 23, 2010Assignee: Hoya CorporationInventors: Takuji Hamasaki, Takahiro Kobayashi
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Patent number: 7834516Abstract: A piezoelectric ultrasonic motor includes a piezoelectric stator including a hollow metal tube having a quadrangular cross section and four piezoelectric elements each installed in each outer face of the metal tube; a rotary shaft including a rotation bar inserted into an inner space of the metal tube, an upper rotation member provided around the rotation bar in contact with an upper surface of the piezoelectric stator, the rotation member rotating in response to the strain of the piezoelectric stator, a lower rotation member adapted to restrain the rotation of the rotation bar and contacting a lower surface of the piezoelectric stator and a power transmission member provided at one portion of the rotation bar to transmit the rotation of the rotation member to an object to be transported; and a power supply to apply a supply voltage necessary for the actuation of the piezoelectric stator.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2009Date of Patent: November 16, 2010Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Byung Woo Kang, Burhanettin Koc, Jung Ho Ryu, Sang Min On, Dong Kyun Lee
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Patent number: 7825564Abstract: A controller for a high-frequency agitation source includes a signal generator to generate a drive signal having a variable duty cycle. The drive signal is used to drive the high-frequency agitation source. The controller also includes a temperature detector to detect the temperature of the high-frequency agitation source. The controller is configured to vary the duty cycle of the drive signal in response to the temperature of the high-frequency agitation source. By varying the duty cycle of the drive signal, the average power supplied to the piezoelectric crystal can be varied while still maintaining a fixed amplitude of oscillation. This allows the temperature of a high-frequency agitator, for example, a piezoelectric crystal, to be controlled.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2007Date of Patent: November 2, 2010Assignee: Dyson Technology LimitedInventors: Nathan James Croft, Paul Graham Douglas
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Patent number: 7825566Abstract: Provided are an ultrasonic actuator and a method for manufacturing an piezoelectric deformation portion in which wiring a drive circuit can be easily processed, and in which productivity can be increased. The ultrasonic actuator comprises: a triangular vibrating member which has a piezoelectric deformation portion which is deformed by driving signals; a moving member that is pressure-contacted to at least one of the vertices of the vibrating member and generates a movement relative to the vibrating member; and a plurality of external electrodes integrally provided on one side surface of the vibrating member; wherein the piezoelectric deformation portion is formed by alternately laminating piezoelectric layers made of piezoelectric material and internal electrode layers including internal electrodes, and the plurality of external electrodes interconnect the internal electrodes in a prescribed combination.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2008Date of Patent: November 2, 2010Assignee: Konica Minolta Opto, Inc.Inventor: Takashi Matsuo
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Patent number: 7821181Abstract: The piezoelectric vibrator includes the piezoelectric bar having a plurality of piezoelectric plates alternately stacked and a plurality of vibration sectors divided vertically and horizontally with respect to the direction in which the piezoelectric plates are stacked. Electrode terminals are formed on each of surface regions of the piezoelectric plate, divided in a longitudinal direction thereof, and jump terminals corresponding to electrode terminals are formed on a surface of an adjacent one of the piezoelectric plates. On side surfaces of the piezoelectric plates, a plurality of side electrodes are formed, connecting the electrode terminals and the corresponding jump terminals to power the vibration sectors, by which a pair of the vibration sectors diagonally disposed from each other are simultaneously powered. The piezoelectric vibrator is small and easily manufactured and mass-produced with a simple structure.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2006Date of Patent: October 26, 2010Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., LtdInventors: Burhanettin Koc, Dong Kyun Lee, Byung Woo Kang
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Patent number: 7795782Abstract: The invention relates to a miniaturizable motor (1) comprising a rotor (12) that is driven by a hollow cylindrical piezo oscillator (2). Said rotor is effectively connected to a frictional face (13) of the piezo oscillator while a main electrode or counter electrode (3) and excitation electrodes (4, 5, 6) are disposed on the surface of the hollow cylinder. The hollow cylindrical piezo oscillator is made of a monocrystalline material with a trigonal crystal system which is provided with three main electrical axes that are placed at a 120° angle relative to each other as well as an optical axis. Said optical axis encloses a 90° angle along with the point of intersection of the electrical axes while coinciding with the longitudinal axis of the hollow cylindrical piezo oscillator. Furthermore, the axial axis of symmetry of the respective excitation electrode intersects one of the main electrical axes while said axial axis of symmetry extends parallel to the optical axis.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2005Date of Patent: September 14, 2010Assignee: Physik Instrumente (PI) GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Wladimir Wischnewskij, Alexej Wischnewskij
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Patent number: 7786648Abstract: A driving system in accordance with embodiments of the present invention includes a structure and a vibration system. The structure has at least one point to frictional couple to and drive a movable element in one of at least two directions. The structure also has at least two bending modes which each have a different resonant frequency. The vibration system applies two or more vibration signals which are at a vibration frequency to each of the bending modes of the structure. The vibration frequency is substantially the same as one of the resonant frequencies. At the vibration frequency one of the bending modes of the structure is vibrating substantially at resonance and the other of the bending modes of the structure is vibrating at partial resonance. The vibration system adjusts a phase shift between the two or more applied vibration signals to control which one of the at least two directions the moveable element is moved.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2008Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: New Scale TechnologiesInventors: Qin Xu, David Henderson
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Patent number: 7786650Abstract: Provided is an ultrasonic motor capable of realizing high torque. When two terminals are selected from a first terminal (31t), a second terminal (32t), and a third terminal (33t) of a vibrator (3), and AC voltages whose phases are shifted by 90 degrees relative to each other are respectively applied through both of those two terminals, vibration is generated in the stator vibration body (S), and elliptical vibration in a plane corresponding to the selected two terminals is generated at each of a step (9) of a first stator (2) and a corner (11) of a second stator (10), which are in contact with a rotor (6). Since the first stator (2) and the second stator (10) form the single stator vibration body (S), the step (9) of the first stator (2) and the corner (11) of the second stator (10) vibrate in the same vibration mode, rotational force is transmitted from both the step (9) of the first stator (2) and the corner (11) of the second stator (10), and the rotor (6) rotates with high torque.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2006Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota JidoshokkiInventors: Masaki Takasan, Tsuyoshi Kodera, Hirohiko Ishikawa, Koji Maeda, Kazuo Seiki
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Patent number: 7772744Abstract: It is an object to provide a small ultrasonic actuator whose voltage control is easy. The ultrasonic actuator acts on a rotatable rotor to rotate the rotor, the ultrasonic actuator includes: a plate vibrator having one end which contacts the rotor, a corner portion bent at a midpoint in the vibrator, and the other end which is fixed; and a piezoelectric device which contacts a part of the vibrator between the one end and the corner portion, and transmits a vibration to the vibrator by vibrating in response to application of an alternating voltage between one of electrodes provided respectively on both surfaces or the plate vibrator serving as the one of the electrodes and the other of the electrodes.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2007Date of Patent: August 10, 2010Assignee: Fujinon CorporationInventors: Minoru Ishiguro, Shinichi Yamamoto, Manabu Aoyagi
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Patent number: 7759840Abstract: When a piezoelectric ceramic sheet is divided into two equal parts in a longitudinal direction and two equal parts in a width direction to form four regions, internal electrodes are disposed over each region and are disposed so that surface areas occupied in each region are substantially the same, and a longitudinal vibration is detected based on a potential difference between the internal electrodes.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2007Date of Patent: July 20, 2010Assignee: Olympus CorporationInventors: Tomoki Funakubo, Nagahide Sakai, Junji Okada
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Patent number: 7755252Abstract: A driving device includes an electro-mechanical transducer having first and second end portions opposite to each other in an expansion/contraction direction, a stationary member coupled to the first end portion of the electro-mechanical transducer, a vibration friction portion mounted to the second end portion of the electro-mechanical transducer, and a rod-shaped moving portion frictionally coupled to the vibration friction portion, whereby moving the moving portion in the expansion/contraction direction of the electro-mechanical transducer. The stationary member consists essentially of a base alloy which consists of, by weight, 88 to 97% tungsten, 2 to 11% nickel as a binder, and, as the balance, 0.1 to 2% at least one metal having an ionization tendency which is higher than that of tungsten. The stationary member has a surface without nickel plating.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2008Date of Patent: July 13, 2010Assignee: Mitsumi Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tsukasa Yamada, Toyoki Tanaka, Takahiko Nishiyama, Soumei Takahashi
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Publication number: 20100165794Abstract: Provided is a small-size thin piezoelectric actuator which can be mounted on a mobile electronic device and operate with a low power consumption also provided is an electronic device which uses the piezoelectric actuator to provide a function to give a contact feeling of a three dimensional movement to a users hand palm. The piezoelectric actuator (1) includes: a piezoelectric ceramic oscillator having a piezoelectric ceramic thin plate (5) bonded to at least one surface of a shim member (6); at least one holder (7) for holding the shim member (6); and a sheet-shaped elastic body (2). Vibration generated by the piezoelectric ceramic oscillator is transmitted via the holder (7) and the sheet-shaped elastic body (2) to a case (3) of the electronic device.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2008Publication date: July 1, 2010Inventors: Masatake Takahashi, Yasuhiro Sasaki, Yasuharu Onishi
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Patent number: 7737610Abstract: Provided is a self-propelled drive apparatus that enables stable drive and low cost, the apparatus includes: a movable member which has an electromechanical transducer whose one end is fixed to the movable member and the other end is fixed to a drive friction member, which is movably supported by the movable member movably in the first direction, which represents a extension-contraction direction A-B of the electromechanical transducer, where the movable member is supported movably in the first direction; a pair of plate springs which extend in a belt shape in the first direction and sandwich the drive friction member; a base member holding the plate springs in a cantilever manner in the direction of the short sides of the plate springs; and auxiliary springs disposed on the outside of the plate springs to apply elastic force only to both ends of each of the plate springs.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2007Date of Patent: June 15, 2010Assignee: Konica Minolta Opto, Inc.Inventors: Ryuichi Yoshida, Shuichi Fujii, Hirohisa Sueyoshi
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Patent number: 7737605Abstract: The invention relates to an ultrasound linear piezoelectric motor comprising an ultrasound oscillator (1) embodied in the form of a piezoelectric plate (4) or a cylinder shell part (3), acoustic oscillation generators (5) and a friction element (6) which frictionally interacts with a driven element (8) and is disposed in a holder. The inventive holder is embodied in the form of an elastic clamp (13) which embraces a driven element, is fixed to the ultrasound oscillator and made of a sound-conducting material.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2005Date of Patent: June 15, 2010Assignee: Physik Instrumente (PI) GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Wladimir Wischnewskij, Alexej Wischnewskij
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Patent number: 7737606Abstract: To provide an inertial drive actuator that is easy to assemble and achieves high accuracy in position detection, the actuator has a fixed member, a vibration substrate, a piezoelectric element (movement unit), first and second moving bodies that moves relative to the vibration substrate by inertia, a first electrode provided on the surface of each of the first and second moving bodies, a second electrode provided on a surface of the vibration substrate, an insulating film provided between the first electrode and the second electrode, a drive unit, and a position detection unit that detects the position of the moving body with respect to the vibration substrate based on capacitance of the portion in which the first electrode and the second electrode are opposed to each other.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2008Date of Patent: June 15, 2010Assignee: Olympus CorporationInventor: Kaoru Matsuki
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Patent number: 7732982Abstract: A driving device includes an electro-mechanical transducer having first and second end portions opposite to each other in an expansion/contraction direction, a stationary member coupled to the first end portion of the electro-mechanical transducer, a vibration friction portion mounted to the second end portion of the electro-mechanical transducer, and a rod-shaped moving portion frictionally coupled to the vibration friction portion, whereby moving the moving portion in the expansion/contraction direction of the electro-mechanical transducer. A frictionally coupled portion has a height (a length of the vibration friction portion in a sliding direction in contact with the moving portion) which is not more than 1.15 mm.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2008Date of Patent: June 8, 2010Assignee: Mitsumi Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tsukasa Yamada, Soumei Takahashi
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Patent number: 7714481Abstract: An ultrasonic treatment apparatus includes an ultrasonic transducer that generates ultrasonic vibrations, a probe that includes a proximal end connected with the ultrasonic transducer, and transmits ultrasonic vibrations generated by the ultrasonic transducer from the proximal end to a distal end thereof, and a treatment portion that is formed at the distal end of the probe, and utilizes the transmitted ultrasonic vibrations to treat a living tissue. The treatment portion includes two or more protrusions.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2006Date of Patent: May 11, 2010Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corp.Inventor: Ryoji Sakai
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Patent number: 7692359Abstract: A driving apparatus comprises: an electromechanical conversion element that expands and contracts in an extending direction of a given fiducial line; a driving shaft that is fixed to one end of the electromechanical conversion element in the extending direction; a driven body that is frictionally engaged with the driving shaft; a holder that holds, through an adhesive, the electromechanical conversion element from lateral sides with respect to the extending direction; and a flange member that is provided on the driving shaft between (i) a moving region of the driven body on the driving shaft and (ii) the electromechanical conversion element.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2008Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Assignee: Fujinon CorporationInventor: Ryota Sasaki
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Patent number: 7692362Abstract: An actuating device is provided, which includes a deformable membrane, walls formed on the membrane to define cavities, rods formed within the cavities, and on the surface of the membrane on one side with reference to a cavity center, to move in association with the deformation of the membrane, and an actuating unit formed on a lower side of the membrane to be piezoelectrically driven to deform the membrane. The actuating device is applicable to miniaturized electronic devices and can actuate the function modules appropriately.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2008Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hwa-sun Lee, Sung-hee Lee, Seung-mo Lim, Hee-moon Jeong
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Patent number: 7683522Abstract: A composite mode transducer for dissipating heat generated by a heat generating element is disclosed. The composite mode transducer includes a transducing module and connection elements. The transducing module includes first and second transducing elements connected in parallel. The connection elements are connected to resonance nodes of the first and second transducing elements. The first and second transducing elements are driven by a multiple-frequency resonance circuit, to produce resonance vibration of composite modes at resonance vibration frequencies of the system. The resulting advantages by using the composite mode transducer are: elimination of local stress concentration, and enhancement of efficiency, endurance and stability of the system. Accordingly, drawbacks of the prior art are overcome. The present invention further provides a cooling device with the composite mode transducer.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2008Date of Patent: March 23, 2010Assignee: Industrial Technology Research InstituteInventors: Syh-Yuh Cheng, Yun-Tien Chen, Ra-Min Tain, Shu-Jung Yang
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Patent number: 7679269Abstract: First and second piezoelectric thin layers are arranged on an upper surface of a vibration plate which covers a pressure chamber. An individual electrode is formed on an upper surface, of the second piezoelectric thin layer, at a portion facing the pressure chamber, and a connecting terminal to be connected to a FPC wire via solder is arranged to be separated from the individual electrode at a portion not facing the pressure chamber. A common electrode is formed on a lower surface of the first piezoelectric thin layer to face the pressure chamber. A connecting portion which faces the individual electrode and the connecting terminal and does not face the common electrode is formed between the first and the second piezoelectric thin layers. The individual electrode, the connecting terminal, and the connecting portion are connected via an electroconductive material filled in communicating passages formed in the second piezoelectric thin layer.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2008Date of Patent: March 16, 2010Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Masatomo Kojima
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Patent number: 7671516Abstract: An ultrasonic actuator includes: a piezoelectric element 10 for generating various kinds of vibrations having different vibration directions; a driver element provided on the piezoelectric element 10 and actuated in accordance with the vibration of the piezoelectric element 10 to output driving force toward a certain driving direction; feeding electrodes 8 provided on the piezoelectric element 10 and electrically connected to the piezoelectric element 10; and feeding-supporting parts 6A, 6B, 7A, 7B and 9A abutting the feeding electrodes to elastically support the actuator body and serving as feeding terminals for supplying a voltage to the feeding electrodes 8.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2006Date of Patent: March 2, 2010Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Yusuke Adachi, Hiroshi Fukushima
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Patent number: 7671513Abstract: A motor (1) includes a stator (4) and a rotor (6), the stator including piezoelectric actuators (11,12,21) for maneuvering staples (30A, 30Z) maintaining the stator and its linear displacement (L) along a guide (2), the actuators serving to drive the rotor in rotation (R).Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2004Date of Patent: March 2, 2010Assignees: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut National Polytechnique de ToulouseInventors: Marc René Christian Budinger, Jean-Francois Roland Rouchon, Bertrand Nogarede
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Patent number: 7667370Abstract: A generating device (1) for generating a useful stream of a medium (2) comprises at least a medium stream source (14) for generating a high-frequency medium stream (15) and at least a medium stream diode (36, 37) for cooperating with the generated medium stream (15), and at least one medium stream sink (40, 41) for cooperating with the medium stream influenced by the medium stream diodes (36, 37), wherein the at least one medium stream sink (40, 41) suppresses high-frequency stream components in the medium stream such that a useful medium stream (2) in a low-frequency range is obtained.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2004Date of Patent: February 23, 2010Assignee: NXP B.V.Inventor: Josef Lutz
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Patent number: 7642696Abstract: An ultrasonic actuator includes an actuator body, a case and a support rubber. The support rubber is made of conductive rubber having alternately stacked insulating layers and conductive layers and arranged between the case and the actuator body such that an external electrode and an electrode is brought into conduction and applies in advance a compressive force in the direction of longitudinal vibration to the actuator body at a non-node part of the vibration of the actuator body. The support rubber is arranged such that the stacking direction of the conductive rubber intersects with a plane including the direction of longitudinal vibration and the direction of bending vibration of the actuator body.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2008Date of Patent: January 5, 2010Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventor: Hideaki Mukae
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Patent number: 7638926Abstract: A piezoelectric ultrasonic motor includes a piezoelectric stator including a metal tube with an inner space and piezoelectric elements mounted on the outer circumference of the metal tube, a rotary shaft including a rotation bar inserted into the inner space of the metal tube, and a rotation member provided around the rotation bar in contact with the piezoelectric stator. The piezoelectric stator strains with an electric field applied thereto, and the rotation member rotates in response to the strain of the piezoelectric stator. A power transmission member is provided at one portion of the rotation bar to transmit the rotation of the rotation member to an object to be transported. With face contact the motor achieves stable actuation together with enhanced force and sufficient strain, and a flexibility to be applied to various apparatuses such as a camera module.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2006Date of Patent: December 29, 2009Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Byung Woo Kang, Burhanettin Koc, Jung Ho Ryu, Sang Min On, Dong Kyun Lee
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Patent number: 7633209Abstract: A driving device includes an electro-mechanical transducer having first and second end portions opposite to each other in an expansion/contraction direction, a static member coupled to the first end portion of the electro-mechanical transducer, a vibration friction portion coupled to the second end portion of the electro-mechanical transducer, and a rod-shaped moving portion frictionally coupled to the vibration friction portion, whereby moving the moving portion in the expansion/contraction direction of the electro-mechanical transducer. The driving device is covered with a cabinet. An elastic member lies between the cabinet and the static member.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2008Date of Patent: December 15, 2009Assignee: Mitsumi Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Soumei Takahashi, Takahiko Nishiyama
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Patent number: 7633207Abstract: An ultrasonic motor comprises an ultrasonic vibrator having a piezoelectric stack, a press member which is securely connected in the vicinity of a node of a standing wave in the ultrasonic vibrator and which presses the ultrasonic vibrator, a driven member which is driven by frictional force between the driven member and the ultrasonic vibrator, and a case to which the press member is fixed. Here, the press member has holes, and the case has guide pins which engage with the holes provided in the press member. Further, the press member is fixed to the case in a state bent in a press direction.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2008Date of Patent: December 15, 2009Assignee: Olympus CorporationInventor: Tetsuyuki Sakamoto
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Publication number: 20090304534Abstract: An electric oscillating drive with at least one oscillating system (1), which is driven in an oscillating manner by an actuator, especially a piezo actuator (2) or an oscillating armature magnet generating periodic force pulses with a small motion amplitude with adapted natural frequency in a preset plane (31). At least one oscillating arm (30?) performing oscillating motions has a resonant mass (55?) and with a balance arm (60?), which is in mechanical driving connection with a working member (7) of a working device, especially of a pump (3), which working member is to be driven in an oscillating manner. The oscillating arm (30, 30?) is fastened to two levers of unequal length, namely a control arm (32?) and a driving lever (33?). At least one of these two levers, especially the control arm (32?), is flexurally elastic at least in some sections.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2009Publication date: December 10, 2009Inventor: Siegfried RICHTER
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Patent number: 7626312Abstract: Disclosed herein are a surface acoustic wave linear motor that can be driven in opposite directions along a predetermined path, a package including the surface acoustic wave linear motor, and a lens actuator that is capable of performing an optical zoom function by adopting the surface acoustic wave linear motor package. The surface acoustic wave linear motor includes a substrate, through which a surface acoustic wave progresses, a movable part constructed such that the movable part can perform a translating movement in the opposite direction to the progressing direction of the surface acoustic wave, and electrodes for supplying the substrate with power to generate the surface acoustic wave in the substrate. According to the present invention, the surface acoustic wave linear motor is capable of performing a translating movement without the provision of an additional mechanism, unlike the conventional actuator using the rotary motor, the gear, and the lead screw.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2006Date of Patent: December 1, 2009Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Chang-Hyeon Ji, Jong-Uk Bu
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Patent number: 7605368Abstract: A vibration-type cantilever holder holds a cantilever opposed to a sample. The holder supports a main body part of the cantilever at only its base end so that a probe at the free end of the cantilever can contact the sample. The holder has a cantilever-attaching stand on which the main body part is placed and fastened such that the cantilever is tilted at a predetermined angle with respect to the sample. A first vibration source is fastened to the cantilever-attaching stand and vibrates with a phase and an amplitude depending on a predetermined waveform signal, and the first vibration source is fastened at a first location to a holder main body. A second vibration source is fastened at a second location, which is spaced from the first location, to the holder main body and generates vibrations to offset vibrations traveling from the first vibration source to the cantilever-attaching stand and holder main body.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2006Date of Patent: October 20, 2009Assignee: SII NanoTechnology Inc.Inventors: Masatsugu Shigeno, Masato Iyoki
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Patent number: 7598656Abstract: The invention relates to a piezoelectric ultrasound motor with an oscillator in the form of a piezoelectric plate of the length L and the height H as well as with one or two friction elements which are arranged at the oscillator and elastically pressed against the friction surface of the part to be moved. According to the invention, the piezoelectric plate is divided into two identical parts by a section plane extending vertically to the large surfaces, with at least one of these parts including an asymmetrical generator of an asymmetrical acoustic standing wave, which upon its activation generates an asymmetrical two-dimensional standing wave, so that the friction elements which are arranged in the center of the long end face of the plate carry out a movement with an inclination relative to the end face, so that the energy of motion is transferred to the element to be moved.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2005Date of Patent: October 6, 2009Assignee: Physik Instrumente (PI) GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Wladimir Wischnewskij, Alexej Wischnewskij
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Patent number: 7595947Abstract: A lens driving device including: a lens barrel having at least one lens therein; an actuator having a tip friction member provided at a leading end of a body thereof to be in contact with a friction member of the lens barrel, the actuator being flexed and bent upon application of power to provide a driving force necessary for driving the lens barrel in an optical axis direction; a preload member compressing the actuator against the lens barrel to keep the friction member and the tip friction member in contact with each other; and a guiding part guiding the lens barrel to move in the optical axis direction, wherein the friction member and the tip friction member are formed of a super-hard alloy.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2007Date of Patent: September 29, 2009Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Dong Kyun Lee, Byung Woo Kang
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Patent number: 7595579Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator module having a piezoelectric actuator, fastened between an actuator head and an actuator foot, and having a sheath, surrounding the piezoelectric actuator, for electrical passivation, is proposed in which the sheath is an insulation guard layer that is joined by nonpositive and/or positive engagement, by means of a mechanical attachment, to attachment components in the region of the end faces of the piezoelectric actuator or of the actuator head and/or of the actuator foot.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2007Date of Patent: September 29, 2009Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Rudolf Heinz, Dieter Kienzler, Roland Herwig, Udo Schaich
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Patent number: 7595582Abstract: A resonator 1 of the present invention includes: a vibrating member 13 holding an electronic component 12 and applying a vibration to the electronic component 12; and a depressing member 15 applying a depressing force for a side of a substrate 11 to the electronic component 12 through the vibrating member 13. The depressing member 15 includes: leg portions 15b which are disposed so as to leave spaces between the leg portions and both side faces 13a of the vibrating member 13 parallel with a vibration direction A; and supporting portions 15c through which the leg portions 15b and the side faces 13a of the vibrating member 13 are to be coupled to each other. With respect to a size of a cross section of each of the supporting portions 15c parallel with the side face 13a of the vibrating member 13, a length L2 along the vibration direction A of the vibrating member 13 is shorter than a length L1 along a depressing direction B of the depressing member 15.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2005Date of Patent: September 29, 2009Assignee: Fujitsu LimitedInventors: Yukio Ozaki, Toshinori Kasuga