Abstract: An ultrasonic motor has a piezoelectric vibrator driven by a voltage signal to undergo expansion and compression movement. At least two elastic bodies are connected to opposite ends of the piezoelectric vibrator and are vibrationally driven by the expansion and compression movement of the piezoelectric vibrator. Each of the elastic bodies has at least one groove formed in a surface thereof for converting the expansion and compression movement of the piezoelectric vibrator into torsional vibration so that the elastic bodies generate a combination of longitudinal vibration and torsional vibration. A movable member is connected to the elastic bodies to be frictionally driven by the combination of longitudinal and torsional vibrations generated by the elastic bodies.

Abstract: An electronic equipment has a movable body and a position detecting device having an incremental-type encoder and an incremental-type counter. The position detecting device detects a position of the movable body by setting a starting point of position detection by the incremental-type encoder to a position that the movable body passes through most frequently during movement thereof.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus has a motor and a disc-shaped readable member rotationally driven by the motor and having at least one first slit therein and an optical amount adjusting slit having an arcuate shape with a radius of curvature identical to that of a rotational path of the readable member. A detecting device detects rotation of the readable member and has a light emitting element and a light receiving element sandwiching therebetween the readable member so that light is projected through the at least one first slit once for each revolution of the readable member.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a piezoelectric actuator there are provided a piece of piezoelectric material having piezoelectric bodies, a first piece of material having vibrational bodies, a second piece of material having movable bodies, and a third piece of material having pressurizing members. The first, second and third pieces of materials are superimposed over the piece of piezoelectric material to form a multilayered structure having piezoelectric actuators. The multilayered structure is cut to separate each of the piezoelectric actuators from one another.

Abstract: An optical switch has an input section for inputting a light beam and movable optical members each comprised of a piezoelectric actuator for inputting the light beam from the input section and for individually switching an optical path of the light beam. Each of the piezoelectric actuators has a piezoelectric body for undergoing oscillating movement and a movable body frictionally driven by oscillating movement of the piezoelectric body. A driving control device drives the piezoelectric bodies of the piezoelectric actuators and controls positions of the piezoelectric bodies to switch the optical path of the light beam. An output section outputs the light beam from the piezoelectric actuators.

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 piezoelectric actuator comprises a plurality of piezoelectric elements stacked in a thickness direction thereof for undergoing expansion/contraction movement to vibrationally drive the piezoelectric actuator in accordance with a driving signal applied to the piezoelectric elements. Each of the piezoelectric elements has a length extending in a direction generally perpendicular to the stacking direction. The length of each of at least two of the piezoelectric elements being different from the length of at least one other of the piezoelectric elements.

Abstract: A control portion always monitors a present-position signal from a position sensor and monitors whether the present position of a moving body is a desired position, or not (Step 101). In the case where the control portion detects that the present position of the moving body reaches the desired position, the control portion generates a stop command signal and gives the stop command signal to an oscillation drive circuit (S102). Then, the control portion checks whether overshooting occurs, or not (S103), and in the case where the control portion judges that overshooting occurs, the control portion retains a stop command signal as it is for a stop command retaining time t (S104). After the stop command retaining time t elapses, the control portion gives a reverse command signal to the oscillation drive circuit to conduct reverse operation (S105). After Step S105, the control is returned to Step S101 and the above operation is repeated.

Abstract: By obtaining a support structure capable of performing a stable support by means of a simple constitution and without suppressing vibration of a vibrating body, there are aimed at improvements in positioning precision and positioning controllability and a positioning stability, thereby providing a piezoelectric motor whose dispersion of performance is made small. In a piezoelectric motor operating, by vibration of a vibrating body having a piezoelectric element, a contact member contacting with the vibrating body or a friction member provided in the vibrating member or the vibrating body itself, there are possessed plural concave portions provided in the vibrating body, and a support member having plural convex portions engaging with the concave portions.

Abstract: An ultrasonic motor has a vibrating body and a piezoelectric element disposed on the vibrating body for generating a vibration wave to vibrate the vibrating body. The vibration wave has a vibration node disposed on a diagonal line of the vibrating body. At least one protrusion is connected to the vibrating body for vibration therewith. The protrusion is disposed on the vibrating body at a position which does not correspond to the position of the vibration node. A moving body is disposed in contact with and driven by the protrusion during vibration thereof.

Abstract: To provide a control system provided with a positioning mechanism including plural ultrasonic motors in the device, which can keep good operational stability as compared with a conventional system with a servo mechanism, is of an energy saving type suppressing power consumption and is compact in structure including the motor and a control circuit therefor. A control circuit in a control system of the present invention uses a common drive control circuit for a plurality of ultrasonic motors among the positioning mechanisms in which when the drive control circuit inputs a signal that specifies any ultrasonic motor and a desired-position designation signal, the drive control circuit conducts control operation that transmits an on signal to a driver of the subject motor to start the driving, and stops the driving when the motor reaches a desired position while receiving a position detection signal.

Abstract: A low cost portable dosing apparatus enables the dispensing rate to be changed while enabling solution to be continuously dispensed to the body. The solution to be dispensed into the body is stored in a tank unit. A pump unit pumps the solution from the tank unit into the body of the patient. A controller controls pump unit operation. The tank unit, pump unit, and controller are attached to a wrist strap so that they can be easily connected and disconnected from each other. A compact, thin ultrasonic motor with high output per unit size drives the pump unit. A smaller pump unit is thus available, improving the portability of the apparatus. The ultrasonic motor is also substantially free of misoperation resulting from exposure to magnetic fields because the ultrasonic motor is not magnetically driven. Reliability is therefore improved.

Abstract: A highly reliable optical communications equipment is offered, which can control light more accurately than heretofore (i.e., less restrictions are imposed on the amount of attenuation and on the resolution) and which is equipped with a latching function. The optical communications equipment includes a piezoelectric actuator, a moving body moved by the piezoelectric actuator as a drive source, a multi-coating filter for controlling light that is a signal medium by movement of the moving body, a drive circuit for controlling the position of the multi-coating filter via the actuator, and a control circuit. The piezoelectric actuator uses bending vibrations produced in a piezoelectric vibrating body as a power source. If the moving body is not moved for a given time, the control circuit sends a function keeping signal to drive the actuator to such an extent that the moving body does not move. Thus, the function of the actuator is maintained.

Abstract: To provide an actuator that has a compact structure and a large driving force and is not affected by a disturbance such as vibrations and environmental conditions such as temperature or humidity. A piezoelectric actuator according to the present invention uses a piezoelectric element which is small in size and large in generative force as a driving source so that a bending displacement is generated, and a member to be driven is supported at a point where an angular displacement thereof is maximum, or a force couple is given to a support point of the member to be driven to obtain a large displacement. In addition, the driving mechanism is structured by a combined mechanism that can be rotatably driven with respect to two axes that cross each other, to realize a mechanism that is capable of directing the member to be driven in a desired direction.

Abstract: In frequency-admittance characteristics of a stator, the frequency with a resonance point at which the admittance value is minimum and that with a resonance point adjacent thereto are set to be apart from each other and thereby an ultrasonic motor having less variations and high output power is provided. In addition, an ultrasonic motor is provided in which support and pressing structures and a conduction structure are improved for the purpose of achieving a size reduction. Two elastic bodies are disposed in upper and lower positions and have grooves at their respective surfaces. These grooves are provided at regions corresponding to nodes of standing waves that are stress concentration zones so as to cause large torsional displacement. The grooves are provided in places other than the upper and lower surfaces of the elastic members. In addition, these grooves have a smaller angle than 90 degrees.

Abstract: In a self-excited oscillator circuit, a buffer is connected to an electrode or electrodes, and a buffer and an inverter are connected to an electrode or electrodes. Each of the inverters and and the buffer has a tri-state configuration and is capable of setting an output terminal in a high-impedance state, i.e., turning off an output signal, according to a signal input to a control terminal. Therefore, it is possible to turn off a drive circuit and the ultrasonic motor by setting the inverter in the high-impedance state. It is also possible to change the direction of movement of the moving member by setting one of the buffer and the inverter in the high-impedance state.

Abstract: Pluralities of electrode groups are formed on one face of a piezoelectric element, and a common electrode is formed on another face. The common electrode is connected to a booster circuit for boosting a voltage signal obtained from an amplifier circuit. The pluralities of electrode groups are connected to selection circuits for switching a signal path of a signal output from here.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an ultrasonic motor and an electronic appliance equipped with the ultrasonic motor, wherein an input signal to a control circuit which is a command signal for driving a moving body of the ultrasonic motor or a driven body driven in response to the moving body is restricted by a signal processing circuit. The frequency component of the input signal equal to or exceeding a specified frequency is cut by means of a filter circuit or an output from a control circuit is controlled in response to a fluctuation width thereof.

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: The optical spatial switch of the present invention is has a small size and a large capacity to switch optical signals between a plurality of optical fibers in the field of optical communications.