Abstract: A drive control device 100, which controls driving of a vibration type actuator 200 including a vibrator 214 that includes a piezoelectric element 203, and a rotor 207, includes amplifier circuits 11 and 12 amplifying a power supply voltage to generate a drive voltage to be applied to the piezoelectric element 203, and a microcomputer unit 1. The microcomputer unit 1 performs a control to increase the amplitude of the drive voltage to perform acceleration from when the vibration type actuator 200 is started to when a target speed of the rotor 207 is reached, decrease the frequency of the drive voltage without changing the amplitude of the drive voltage when power supplied to the piezoelectric element 203 exceeds a first power limit P-Lim1, and increase the amplitude of the drive voltage when the power falls below a second power limit P-Lim2 during an operation of decreasing the frequency.

Abstract: A vibration actuator controller is configured to control a vibration actuator that includes a vibrating member having an electromechanical energy conversion element and that includes a contact member in contact with the vibrating member. The contact member is configured to move relative to the vibrating member in response to a plurality of pulse signals. The vibration actuator controller includes a processor configured to control a relative movement speed, which is a speed at which the contact member moves relative to the vibrating member, by changing a pulse width of the plurality of pulse signals while maintaining a frequency of the plurality of pulse signals. When the relative movement speed is controlled, the frequency is shifted such that the pulse width and the relative movement speed satisfy a predetermined relationship.

Abstract: A vibratory actuator control apparatus includes a vibrating member, having an electro-mechanical energy conversion element, and a contact member that contacts the vibrating member. In a second case where the vibrating member and the contact member are brought from a stationary state to a stopped state, an operation sequentially passes through a third stage and a fourth stage. The third stage is for decelerating a relative movement driving speed by applying a driving voltage to the electro-mechanical energy conversion element while maintaining a control parameter of the driving voltage constant and increasing a driving frequency. The fourth stage is for decelerating the driving speed by applying the driving voltage to the electro-mechanical energy conversion element while maintaining the driving frequency constant and decreasing the control parameter of the driving voltage. A start frequency is set based on the driving frequency corresponding to a predetermined driving speed in the third stage.

Abstract: A control apparatus to control a vibration motor includes a control unit. The vibration motor includes a vibration body and a contact body contacting the vibration body. The control apparatus applies alternating voltages, generated based on pulse width and frequency of pulse signals, to an electro-mechanical energy conversion element of the vibration motor to cause relative movement between the vibration and contact bodies at a target velocity. The pulse width and the frequency are (i) set such that a first steady velocity exceeds the target velocity, before the relative movement starts, and (ii) changed such that a second steady velocity is less than the first steady velocity, after the relative movement starts, and before an actual velocity at a time of the relative movement exceeds the target velocity. The pulse width or the frequency is controlled such that the relative movement is performed at the target velocity.

Abstract: A drive control device includes: a vibration wave drive device that includes an elastic body, a vibration body including an electro-mechanical energy conversion element, and a contact body in contact with the vibration body, and a control unit of the vibration wave drive device. The drive control device includes: a first detector configured to detect an electric current that is supplied to the vibration wave drive device or consumed electric power, and a second detector configured to detect relative positions or relative speed of the vibration body and the contact body. A control mode in which the vibration wave drive device is decelerated on a basis of a detection result obtained by the first and/or the second detector is included.

Abstract: A vibration drive device that is capable of preventing instability when the speed control is switched between frequency control and pulse width control includes a controller that controls driving of a vibration actuator by applying an alternating voltage to an electromechanical energy conversion element. A switching pulse is generated by switching a DC voltage. A maximum duty ratio of the switching pulse is determined based on a driving condition of the vibration actuator. The driving of the vibration actuator is controlled by switching between frequency control and pulse width control. A gain for frequency control and a gain for pulse width control are set according to the maximum duty ratio so as to prevent electric power or electric current from exceeding an electric power limit or an electric current limit set in advance.

Abstract: A drive control device 100, which controls driving of a vibration type actuator 200 including a vibrator 214 that includes a piezoelectric element 203, and a rotor 207, includes amplifier circuits 11 and 12 amplifying a power supply voltage to generate a drive voltage to be applied to the piezoelectric element 203, and a microcomputer unit 1. The microcomputer unit 1 performs a control to increase the amplitude of the drive voltage to perform acceleration from when the vibration type actuator 200 is started to when a target speed of the rotor 207 is reached, decrease the frequency of the drive voltage without changing the amplitude of the drive voltage when power supplied to the piezoelectric element 203 exceeds a first power limit P-Lim1, and increase the amplitude of the drive voltage when the power falls below a second power limit P-Lim2 during an operation of decreasing the frequency.

Abstract: A vibration actuator includes an elastic body on which at least one projection is formed and a vibrating body including an electromechanical conversion device, and drives a driven member that is in contact with a contact portion of the projection by causing an end portion of the projection to perform an ellipsoidal movement in response to a combination of two vibration modes generated in the vibrating body when an alternating driving voltage is applied. The elastic body is formed integrally with the projection and a bonding portion between the projection and the electromechanical conversion device. A space is provided between the contact portion and the electromechanical conversion device to which the projection is bonded. The spring portion is provided between the bonding portion and the contact portion and causes the projection to exhibit a spring characteristic when the contact portion is pressed by the driven member.

Abstract: A control apparatus to control a vibration motor includes a control unit. The vibration motor includes a vibration body and a contact body contacting the vibration body. The control apparatus applies alternating voltages, generated based on pulse width and frequency of pulse signals, to an electro-mechanical energy conversion element of the vibration motor to cause relative movement between the vibration and contact bodies at a target velocity. The pulse width and the frequency are (i) set such that a first steady velocity exceeds the target velocity, before the relative movement starts, and (ii) changed such that a second steady velocity is less than the first steady velocity, after the relative movement starts, and before an actual velocity at a time of the relative movement exceeds the target velocity. The pulse width or the frequency is controlled such that the relative movement is performed at the target velocity.

Abstract: A drive control device includes: a vibration wave drive device that includes an elastic body, a vibration body including an electro-mechanical energy conversion element, and a contact body in contact with the vibration body, and a control unit of the vibration wave drive device. The drive control device includes: a first detector configured to detect an electric current that is supplied to the vibration wave drive device or consumed electric power, and a second detector configured to detect relative positions or relative speed of the vibration body and the contact body. A control mode in which the vibration wave drive device is decelerated on a basis of a detection result obtained by the first and/or the second detector is included.

Abstract: A drive device for a vibration actuator, which makes it possible to perform low-speed and stable driving and expand a dynamic range of driving speed, includes first and second switching circuits, a position detection sensor, and a microprocessing unit (MPU). The first switching circuit and the second switching circuit apply a first drive signal and a second drive signal, for exciting vibration, to an electromechanical energy conversion element of a vibrating body. The position detection sensor acquires information on a relative position between the vibrating body and a driven body in press contact with each other. The MPU switches the first and second drive signals to third drive and fourth drive signals, respectively, based on the acquired information, to thereby change a position at which a highest one of peaks of amplitude of vibration excited in the vibrating body is formed.

Abstract: A driving apparatus of a vibration-type actuator includes a driving circuit configured to drive a vibration unit including a plurality of vibrators, a detection unit configured to detect a sum of power consumption consumed by the plurality of vibrators, and a driving frequency setting unit configured to set a driving frequency within a frequency range depending on the sum of power consumption detected by the detection unit.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a vibration actuator includes forming an elastic body integrally with a projection protruding from a surface of the elastic body, by press working. Forming the elastic body includes forming a bonding portion surrounding the projection, forming a contact portion at a top portion of the projection, forming a spring portion between the contact portion and the bonding portion, and forming a standing portion having a hollow structure, between the spring portion and the contact portion, so that the standing portion has a ring shape in a cross-sectional view in a direction parallel to the surface of the elastic member and that a space surrounded by the contact portion, the spring portion, and the standing portion. The spring portion is formed by press working, and the bonding portion is formed by press working.

Abstract: A vibration drive device that is capable of preventing the controllability from becoming unstable when the speed control is switched between frequency control and pulse width control. A controller controls driving of a vibration actuator by applying an alternating voltage to an electromechanical energy conversion element. A switching pulse is generated by switching a DC voltage. A maximum duty ratio of the switching pulse is determined based on a driving condition of the vibration actuator. The driving of the vibration actuator is controlled by switching between frequency control and pulse width control. A gain for frequency control and a gain for pulse width control are set according to the maximum duty ratio so as to prevent electric power or electric current from exceeding an electric power limit or an electric current limit, set in advance.

Abstract: A vibration actuator includes an elastic body on which at least one projection is formed and a vibrating body including an electromechanical conversion device, and drives a driven member that is in contact with a contact portion of the projection by causing an end portion of the projection to perform an ellipsoidal movement in response to a combination of two vibration modes generated in the vibrating body when an alternating driving voltage is applied. The elastic body is formed integrally with the projection and a bonding portion between the projection and the electromechanical conversion device. A space is provided between the contact portion and the electromechanical conversion device to which the projection is bonded. The spring portion is provided between the bonding portion and the contact portion and causes the projection to exhibit a spring characteristic when the contact portion is pressed by the driven member.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention relates to a driver of a vibrator including: a control section; and an alternating current signal generation section configured to generate an alternating current signal based on an output from the control section, and to apply the alternating current signal to the vibrator, wherein the control section is configured to lower a frequency of the alternating current signal, and to change, after the frequency change, at least one of a voltage ratio and a phase difference of the alternating current signal such that the ellipse ratio of the elliptical motion changes from a first ellipse ratio to a second ellipse ratio, the second ellipse ratio has a larger ratio of a component in a moving direction in the elliptical motion to a component in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction in the elliptical motion than the first ellipse ratio.

Abstract: A drive device for a vibration actuator, which makes it possible to perform low-speed and stable driving and expand a dynamic range of driving speed. A first switching circuit and a second switching circuit apply a first drive signal and a second drive signal for exciting vibration, to an electromechanical energy conversion element of a vibrating body. A position detection sensor acquires information on a relative position between the vibrating body and a driven body in pressure contact with each other. An MPU switches the first and second drive signal to a third drive signal and a fourth drive signal, respectively, based on the acquired information, to thereby change a position at which a largest one of peaks of amplitude of vibration excited in the vibrating body is formed.

Abstract: A driving apparatus of a vibration-type actuator includes a driving circuit configured to drive a vibration unit including a plurality of vibrators, a detection unit configured to detect a sum of power consumption consumed by the plurality of vibrators, and a driving frequency setting unit configured to set a driving frequency within a frequency range depending on the sum of power consumption detected by the detection unit.

Abstract: A correcting optical device according to an aspect of the present invention in which, when image shake is not corrected, a restricting member is caused to engage an engaging portion, to restrict translational movement of a movable member, and in which, when the image shake is corrected, the restricting member is caused to disengage the engaging portion, to cause the movable member to be in a state capable of the translational movement, the restricting member being provided at the rotary member, the engaging portion being provided at the movable member. A driving unit drives the movable member in a direction in which the movable member moves translationally with respect to a fixed member in a plane perpendicular to an optical axis of a correcting lens, so that the correcting lens corrects the image shake, and drives the rotary member in a direction in which the rotary member rotates around the optical axis.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention relates to a driver of a vibrator including: a control section; and an alternating current signal generation section configured to generate an alternating current signal based on an output from the control section, and to apply the alternating current signal to the vibrator, wherein the control section is configured to lower a frequency of the alternating current signal, and to change, after the frequency change, at least one of a voltage ratio and a phase difference of the alternating current signal such that the ellipse ratio of the elliptical motion changes from a first ellipse ratio to a second ellipse ratio, the second ellipse ratio has a larger ratio of a component in a moving direction in the elliptical motion to a component in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction in the elliptical motion than the first ellipse ratio.