Abstract: An apparatus including a base configured to slidably engage a driven element, a piezoelectric element interposing the base and the driven element and attached to the base proximate a first piezoelectric element end, and a friction element attached proximate a second piezoelectric element end and configured to selectively engage the driven element.

Abstract: A piezoelectric drive that is used to create a relative movement between a first and a second body on a plane of movement. The drive includes a flat metal sheet (1) that forms, or is secured to, the first body and that is arranged parallel to the plane of movement. The metal sheet (1) has a rest region (3) and at least one resonator area (4). An elastic spring area (5), which is parallel to the plane of the metal sheet, is disposed between the rest region (3) and the resonator area (4). A flat, rectangular piezoelement (6), which can be excited in a 3,1 mode, is coupled to a longitudinal axis (A) such that the longitudinal axis of the piezoelement (6) lies essentially on a longitudinal axis of the resonator area (4). The resonator area (4) protrudes above the piezoelement (6) in the direction of the longitudinal axes (A), and forms a tapered horn shape (7).

Abstract: The present invention comprises a first vibrator comprising a piezoelectric unit and at least one driving contacting part which vibrates by applying a predetermined voltage thereto, a second vibrator which comprises a piezoelectric unit and a plurality of driving contacting parts which vibrate by applying a predetermined voltage thereto, a pressing component which relatively presses the opposing parts of both the first vibrator and the second vibrator, and a driven component which is sandwiched between the first and second vibrators, in contact with the driving contacting part of the first and second vibrators which are pressed by the pressing component, and supported to enable movement with respect to the first and second vibrators in the long-side direction perpendicular to the direction relative to the opposing part.

Abstract: The vibration wave linear motor of the present invention is structured comprising a driven component, a first vibrator having two or more driving contacting parts for driving the driven component in a certain predetermined direction, a second vibrator having one or more driving contacting parts for driving the driven component in the same direction as the drive by the first vibrator, a first supporting part for fixing and holding either one of the first or second vibrators, a second supporting part for holding the other of either the first or second vibrator such that swinging is possible, and a pressing component for pressing the first or second vibrator which is held by the second supporting part, such as to enable swinging, to the driven component.

Abstract: A driving apparatus has at least two driving members and at least one driven member. Each of the driving members is frictionally engaged to the at least one driven member to move the driven member. The friction between each driven member and each driving member is such that the driven member moves when, over half of the driving members being in frictional engagement with the driven member, are moved, simultaneously between first and second positions. Further, the friction between each driven member and each driving member is such that the driven member substantially remains stationary when, less than half of the driving members being in frictional engagement with the driven member, are moved.

Abstract: A vibration-type driving device comprises a vibration element including a driving member and an electro-mechanical energy conversion element having an electrode and arranged to displace the driving member with a driving signal supplied to the electrode, and a driven element that is kept in contact with the driving member of the vibration element. According to the driving signal supplied to the electrode of the electro-mechanical energy conversion element, the vibration element excites vibrations in two flexural vibration modes in which a direction of generation of a node in one mode is perpendicular to that in the other mode.

Abstract: The piezoelectric motor (6) comprises a stator (1) and a runner (4) which form a gap (7) as well as comprising a piezoelectric transducer (3) which is connected to the stator (1) or the runner (4) and which with the stator (1) or the runner (4) forms a resonator (1,3;4,3), wherein the resonator (1,3; 4,3) may be excited in a main oscillation direction (H), characterised in that the stator (1) comprises an engagement surface (1a) facing the runner (4), or the runner (4) an engagement surface which faces the stator (1), and that the stator (1) or the runner (4) comprises an elastic advance element (5) which bridges the gap (7) between the stator (1) and the runner (4) in a manner such that the advance element (5) at least temporarily lies on the engagement surface (1a). The advance element (5) comprises a first part-section (5c) as well as a second part-section (5d), wherein the part-sections (5c, 5d) have a different resonant frequency.

Abstract: A rotary ultrasonic piezoelectric motor is provided and a method of exciting a flexure traveling wave to drive the motor. The motor includes a stator having a piezoelectric ceramic disc polarized in the radial direction and bounded by a top electrode and a segmented bottom electrode. The motor also includes a power source for applying two pairs of alternating voltages to the bottom electrode segments to excite a shear-shear mode vibration in the stator, resulting in a shear-shear mode flexure traveling wave in the stator. The motor further includes a rotor operatively connected to the stator, and the stator is driven to rotate through a frictional force between the rotor and the stator due to the traveling wave deformation of the stator. A linear ultrasonic piezoelectric motor and method of exciting a flexure traveling wave to linearly drive the motor is provided. The motor includes a stator having a rectangular piezoelectric ceramic plate that is polarized in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: An electromechanical actuator 10 is disclosed, having drive elements (14a–d) movable in two dimensions and connected to an actuator backing (12). The actuator backing (12) is made of a material being ferromechanically inactive. Furthermore, the joint between the drive element (14a–d) and the actuator backing (12) is stiff and highly stable. This is achieved by use of an irreversible joint made e.g. by thermoset plastic glues, diffusion bonding or co-sintering. Co-sintering is to prefer. The actuator backing (12) material is selected to be stiff, preferably having a stiffness above 70 GPa and more preferably above 100 GPa, and having a high heat conductivity, preferably above 5 W/mK and more preferably above 10 W/mK, Electrodes (22) are preferably integrated in the actuator backing to increase stiffness as well as improving the heat conductivity. The drive elements (14a–d) are preferably covered (28, 26), at least at the driving surface, by heat-conducting material.

Abstract: A vibration type driving apparatus, which is capable of increase of output torque and rotational speed without increasing the size of a vibration body, is described. The apparatus comprises a vibration body which generates vibration by supplying a driving signal to an electro-mechanical energy converting element and a contact body which contacts this vibration body and is moved by vibration received from the vibration body. The vibration body comprises a base portion having the electro-mechanical energy converting element and a plurality of vibration amplification portions for amplifying vibration generated at this base portion. Neighboring vibration amplification portions of the plurality of vibration amplification portions are connected at a position different from a connecting position of each vibration amplification portion with the base portion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a vibration wave driving apparatus including: a vibration member which has an electro-mechanical energy conversion element having a plurality of electrode regions that are fixed to an elastic member and polarized in the same direction, and which generates a travelling wave that is obtained by synthesizing a plurality of standing waves different in phase on a surface of the elastic member by supplying an ac signal to the electro-mechanical energy conversion element; and a moving member which is in contact with the vibration member and driven by the travelling wave.

Abstract: The present invention has been devised in order to raise driving efficiency of the vibration wave driving apparatus. A vibration member of a vibration wave driving apparatus of the present invention comprises the vibration member constituted of an elastic member and an electro-mechanical energy conversion element, and a rotor contacting the vibration member, and the vibration member generates a travelling wave in the elastic member when an alternating signal is applied to the electro-mechanical energy conversion element, in which an electrode film provided on a surface of the electro-mechanical energy conversion element of the vibration member is divided into a plurality of circular areas with different radiuses and each circular area is divided into a plurality of electrodes along its peripheral direction.

Abstract: A mover assembly (16) that moves or positions an object (12) includes a mover output (226), an actuator (230), and a measurement system (20). The mover output (226) is connected to the object (12), and the actuator (230) causes the mover output (226) to rotate about a first axis and move along the first axis. In this embodiment, the measurement system (20) directly measures the movement of the mover output (226) and provides feedback regarding the position of the mover output (226).

Abstract: A thermoacoustic engine-generator that converts waste heat into electrical power. Thermal energy is converted to useful work via temperature-pressure amplification of periodic acoustic traveling waves in a compressible working fluid which cause the armature of a linear alternator to reciprocate and produce alternating current electrical energy. An external oscillator initiates reciprocating motion in the armature of a linear alternator. The armature is a combination fluid pump and fluid motor as well as the induction armature of a linear alternator. The pump end of the armature generates an acoustic traveling wave with each cycle of the armature. The traveling wave enters a waveguide-heat exchanger and is amplified in temperature, pressure and propagation velocity by thermal conduction of energy through the wall of the waveguide.

Abstract: An ultrasonic-motor control system includes an ultrasonic motor, a controller which starts the ultrasonic motor by changing a drive frequency of the ultrasonic motor from an initial drive frequency, a calculation device which calculates an initial drive frequency data based on a drive frequency at the commencement of rotation of the ultrasonic motor, and a setting device which sets the initial drive frequency based on the initial drive frequency data at a subsequent commencement of driving of the ultrasonic motor.

Abstract: A vibration wave driving apparatus for obtaining driving force in 3D directions comprises a vibration member having a shape that is line-symmetrical with respect to two orthogonal axes, electro-mechanical energy conversion elements which can selectively excite in the vibration member three different types of bending vibrations, which each displace in a direction perpendicular to the two axes, and a driven member which is brought into contact with driving portions of the vibration member and driven by vibration excited in the vibration member.

Abstract: A vibration wave driving apparatus includes an electro-mechanical energy conversion element that is sandwiched and fixed between elastic members, in which a flange-shaped elastic member is provided between the electro-mechanical energy conversion element and one of the elastic members. When a driving vibration is applied to the electro-mechanical energy conversion element, bending vibrations are excited in a vibration element and those bending vibrations allow out-of-plane bending vibrations to be excited in the flange-shaped elastic member. A rotor is brought into contact with the third elastic member sandwiched between the elastic member and the electro-mechanical energy conversion element. A travelling wave produced by the bending vibration of the vibration element and a travelling wave produced by the out-of-plane bending vibration of the third elastic member are generated at the frictional surface of the vibration element.

Abstract: A linear motion mechanism comprises a supersonic motor having a rotor which is rotationally driven by vibration of a vibrating body having a piezoelectric element. A transmission mechanism is disposed on the rotor for rotation therewith. A moving body undergoes linear movement in a direction crosswise to a longitudinal axis of a rotational shaft of the rotor in accordance with rotation of the transmission mechanism. A pressurizing mechanism presses the moving body into pressure contact with the transmission mechanism.

Abstract: A vibration type driving apparatus which is capable of increase of output torque and rotational speed without increasing the size of a vibration body, is described. The apparatus comprises a vibration body which generates vibration by supplying a driving signal to an electro-mechanical energy converting element and a contact body which contacts this vibration body and is driven by vibration received from the vibration body. The vibration body comprises a base portion having the electro-mechanical energy converting element and a plurality of vibration amplification portions for amplifying vibration generated at this base portion. The plurality of vibration amplification portions are connected between neighboring vibration amplification portions in the driving direction of the contact body.

Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator is formed in a manner which enhances the identifying function of markings provided thereon, and minimizes the influence on the markings when an electrode pattern on the piezoelectric actuator is shifted. The piezoelectric actuator has a piezoelectric element, an electrode pattern formed thereon, and at least one identifying marking formed on the electrode pattern, each identifying marking having a shape comprising multiple sides and being formed at a specific location of the electrode pattern for use in identifying a characteristic of the electrode pattern.

Abstract: The invention relates to a vibration wave driving apparatus which comprises a vibration member in which an electro-mechanical energy conversion element is fixed to the elastic member, and a contact member pressed against a sliding part provided in the vibration member, so as to be kept in contact therewith, and which is configured to supply alternating signals in a predetermined driving frequency band to the electro-mechanical energy conversion element, thereby generating a predetermined natural vibration mode in the elastic member to drive the contact member. In the apparatus, the natural vibration mode is generated in the elastic member, a natural frequency of another vibration mode different from the natural vibration mode is detected, and a stiffness of the support member is altered if the natural frequency of the other vibration mode detected is included in the driving frequency band.

Abstract: A drive mechanism has an ultrasonic motor having a rotor which is rotationally driven by vibration of a vibrating member having a piezoelectric element. The rotor has a projecting portion for rotation therewith. A driven member is connected to the rotor for undergoing movement along a surface extending in a radial direction of the rotor. A guide member restricts movement of the driven member and guides movement of the receiving member in a given direction. A receiving member contacts the projecting portion of the rotor to limit a range of rotation of the rotor and limit a range of movement of the driven member.

Abstract: A harmonic motor includes a first annular member, a second member, and device for flexing the first annular member. The first annular member has a longitudinal axis and is flexible. The second member is substantially coaxially aligned with the first annular member. One of the first annular and second members is rotatable about the longitudinal axis, and the other of the first annular and second members is nonrotatable about the longitudinal axis. The flexing device flexes the first annular member into at least two spaced-apart points of contact with the second member and sequentially flexes the first annular member to rotate the at least two points of contact about the longitudinal axis which rotates the rotatable one of the first annular and second members about the longitudinal axis. The flexing device is nonrotatable about the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: In a moving mechanism, a contact is disposed on a moving body, and the contact is in contact with a positioning member so as to move the moving body by 180 degrees. With this structure, the accurate regulation of the position of the moving body can be realized with only a slight improvement in the conventional moving mechanism, and the object can be inexpensively realized. Also, since the position detecting means, the signal processing means, etc., are not required other than the moving mechanism, necessary and sufficient functions can be realized with the minimum structure without requiring excessive energy and space.

Abstract: An actuator includes at least two piezoelectric devices arranged for crossing displacing directions thereof at a predetermined angle, a chip member provided at a coupling point of the piezoelectric devices, and a spring for contacting the chip member to a rotor driven by the actuator. The piezoelectric device is driven for moving the chip member trailing an elliptical trail. The rotation velocity or the driving torque of the rotor is controlled by varying at least one of a length of a major axis or a minor axis of the elliptical trail and an inclination angle of the major axis or the minor axis with respect to a normal at a contacting point of the chip member and the rotor.

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: This invention relates to a vibration wave driving apparatus including an electro-mechanical energy conversion element that is sandwiched and fixed between elastic members, in which a flange-shaped elastic member is provided between the electro-mechanical energy conversion element and one of the elastic members. When a driving vibration is applied to the electro-mechanical energy conversion element, a vibration element excites bending vibrations and those bending vibrations allow out-of-plane bending vibrations to be excited in the flange-shaped elastic member. Since a rotor is brought into contact with the third elastic member sandwiched between the elastic member and the electro-mechanical energy conversion element, the size of the vibration wave driving apparatus can be reduced.

Abstract: An ultrasonic motor capable of producing a high output and a method of fabricating the same are disclosed. The ultrasonic motor has a drive source 100 including a piezoelectric device 1 and a transducer 21, in close contact with each other, in which the product of the piezoelectric constant d31, the admittance Ym and the mechanical quality factor Qm measured under the conditions of the drive source 100 is not less than 63×1031 10 m·S/V.

Abstract: A traveling wave ultrasonic motor includes a ring-shaped stator (2) and two groups of electromechanical transducers (3 to 6). Each group comprises a pair of diametrically opposed longitudinal transducers, polarized in opposite directions, disposed perpendicularly to the stator (2). The transducers are in permanent contact with the stator (2) and excited by an alternating current with a &pgr;/2 phase shift between the groups so as to produce a traveling wave-like deformation on the surface of the stator (2). The motor comprises at least one rotor (1) held elastically in contact with the stator (2) for the rotational driving thereof by the traveling wave produced on the stator. The stator is in contact with the rotor only via two or four equal and diametrically opposed segments (9, 10) whose aggregate span is at most equal to a wavelength of the traveling wave produced in the stator.

Abstract: A piezoelectric motor having a stator and a rotor. The stator and the rotor are in mechanical contact with one another along at least one cylindrical friction surface by means of curved, elastic and longitudinally elongated pusher plates, the pusher plates being held against the friction surface at a first end of the pusher plates, and arranged at an angle to the friction surface. A piezoelectric element is connected to either the rotor or the stator. The piezoelectric element has electrodes placed on opposing surfaces of the piezoelectric element, and is connectable to an alternating current source via the electrodes for providing longitudinal oscillations in the piezoelectric element. A first ring plate and a second ring plate are arranged on opposite sides of the piezoelectric element, so that at least a portion of surfaces of the piezoelectric element are pressed against surfaces of the first ring plate and the second ring plate, respectively, by a clamping device.

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.

Abstract: An inclination adjusting device for a light controlling element used in an optical scanner of a laser printer etc. includes an ultrasonic motor including a stator with a piezoelectric element and a rotor rotated by a traveling wave generated in the stator and a light controlling element having an inclination adjusted according to rotation of the rotor.

Abstract: An ultrasonic motor 1 comprises a stator-side elastic member 30 having a rotationally symmetrical shape, a rotor-side elastic member 40 having a rotationally symmetrical shape, a stator-side piezoelectric element 31 for imparting vibrations to the elastic member 30, a rotor-side piezoelectric element 41 for imparting vibrations to the elastic member 40, an output shaft 10 rotating integrally with the elastic member 40, a rotary transformer 60 for supplying power to the piezoelectric element 41 in non-contacting fashion, and housings 21 and 22 for accommodating therein the above-enumerated elements, wherein of three transformer circuits in the rotary transformer 60, a middle transformer circuit C2 and an outermost transformer circuit C3 are used as a two-phase drive power transformer circuit. This construction achieves stable power supply to the rotor side.

Abstract: A piezoelectric motor has peak performance at a specific frequency f1 that may vary over a range of frequencies. A drive system is disclosed for operating such a motor at peak performance without feedback. The drive system consists of the motor and an ac source connected to power the motor, the ac source repeatedly generating a frequency over a range from f1−&Dgr;x to f1+&Dgr;y.

Abstract: In a control device for a vibration wave motor, in the case where the device executes an operation involving a large variation in the load while the motor is controlled at a target speed by the driving frequency using a feedback system, such feedback control is inhibited or the response of the feedback control is restricted in order to avoid the drawback resulting from feedback control at the time of generation of the variation in the load.

Abstract: An ultrasonic motor is obtained that reduces the resonant frequency of a vibrating body and efficient if made smaller. Also, a structure is provided that batch process is possible enabling mass production.

Abstract: To provide an actuator which can achieve a reduction in size and weight of a device in which the actuator is mounted by amplifying and outputting displacement of a movable end of a vibrating plate as vibration in an in-plane direction, and to provide a timepiece and a notification device using the same, in an actuator (10), when a voltage is applied to a piezoelectric element (21) formed on a vibrating plate (12), the vibrating plate (12) generates bending vibrations in an out-of-plane direction, and one end portion (125) repeats displacement in an in-plane direction as a movable end. The displacement is transmitted to a lever (32) whose base end side (321) is connected to the end portion (125) of the vibrating plate (12) and an elastically deformable constricted portion (31), and a free end (322) of the lever (32) vibrates in the in-plane direction to drive a follower member (500).

Abstract: A control apparatus for driving a vibration wave motor, in which localized fixation between a vibration member and a contact member in contact with the vibration member is peeled off by shifting the frequency of an applied frequency signal from a frequency higher than the resonant frequency to a lower frequency.

Abstract: A vibrating type driving device is constructed by a vibration member in which a vibration is excited, a moving member which is brought into contact with the vibration member and is rotated thereby, an output shaft which is coupled to the moving member and is rotated thereby, pressurizing means for making the vibration member and the moving member come into pressure contact with each other, and a plurality of bearings which are separately arranged in an axial direction for rotatably supporting the output shaft, wherein the plurality of bearings are arranged so as to separately receive a reactive force of pressure applied by the pressurizing means.

Abstract: A vibration wave apparatus includes a plurality of vibration member groups. Each vibration member group includes a plurality of vibration members having respective driving portions in which driving vibration waves are generated, where the respective driving portions are arranged at axially opposite sides of the vibration member group and the said plurality of vibration members are disposed coaxially with one another, and a holding member disposed between the respective driving portions of the plurality of vibration members, and arranged to support the vibration member group at a peripheral portion of the holding member.