Abstract: A vibration type actuator comprises an electro-mechanical energy conversion element, a plurality of elastic members sandwiching the conversion element therebetween, a fastening member for fastening the plurality of elastic members, a movable member contacting with at least one of the plurality of elastic members and rotated by vibration created in the elastic members, an output shaft rotated by the rotation of the movable member, and a case covering the elastic members and the movable member. The fastening member is formed with a through-hole through which the output shaft extends, and the output shaft extends through the through-hole and is rotatably supported at the positions of the axial end portions of the case.

Abstract: A plastic encapsulated semiconductor device comprises a die pad, die pad support pins suspending the die pad, a semiconductor chip mounted on the die pad, thin metal wires for connecting the electrode of the semiconductor chip to leads, and a sealing resin sealing the foregoing components, while the respective bottom faces of the leads forming terminal portions are exposed. An upset process is performed with respect to the die pad support pins of a lead frame to form stepped portions such that the die pad is positioned higher in level than the leads. Since the lower portion of the sealing resin also underlies the die pad, enhanced adhesion is achieved between the die pad and the sealing rein, resulting in higher reliability. With the die pad positioned higher in level than the leads, there is no possibility of interference between the leads and the semiconductor chip even when the size of the semiconductor chip is freely changed.

Abstract: A vibration actuator includes a vibration member; and a plurality of electromechanical energy conversion elements for vibrating the vibration member. The electromechanical energy conversion elements include a plurality of first energy conversion elements each having at least four divided electrodes. The first energy conversion elements are stacked, and electrodes, which are in phase with each other, of each energy conversion element are connected in respective regions of the energy conversion element to attain electrical connections.

Abstract: There is disclosed vibration wave motor comprising: a movable member; a molded elastic member having a surface for urging the movable member; and a piezoelectric member arranged in contact with the elastic member to apply vibration to the elastic member and produce a travelling vibration wave in the surface of the elastic member.

Abstract: A vibration wave driving apparatus relatively moves a contact member and a vibration member by a vibration generated in the vibration member. The vibration member has a plurality of projections for magnifying the vibration displacement. At least the projections are formed on the vibration member by a press work.

Abstract: A plastic encapsulated semiconductor device comprises a die pad, die pad support pins suspending the die pad, a semiconductor chip mounted on the die pad, thin metal wires for connecting the electrode of the semiconductor chip to leads, and a sealing resin sealing the foregoing components, while the respective bottom faces of the leads forming terminal portions are exposed. An upset process is performed with respect to the die pad support pins of a lead frame to form stepped portions such that the die pad is positioned higher in level than the leads. Since the lower portion of the sealing resin also underlies the die pad, enhanced adhesion is achieved between the die pad and the sealing rein, resulting in higher reliability. With the die pad positioned higher in level than the leads, there is no possibility of interference between the leads and the semiconductor chip even when the size of the semiconductor chip is freely changed.

Abstract: A vibration driven motor or actuator including a vibration member, having a contact portion, for generating a vibration therein, and a contact member including a contact portion which is in contact with the contact portion of said vibration member, the vibration causing relative movement between the vibration member and the contact member, and means for shifting a neutral plane of a vibration generated in the contact member in a direction toward the contact portion of the vibration member.

Abstract: There is disclosed vibration wave motor comprising: a movable member; a molded elastic member having a surface for urging the movable member; and a piezoelectric member arranged in contact with the elastic member to apply vibration to the elastic member and produce a travelling vibration wave in the surface of the elastic member.

Abstract: A stack type energy conversion element includes a first electro-mechanical energy conversion element having a plurality of driving electrodes as a first group, all of which are polarized in a first direction, and a second electro-mechanical energy conversion element having a plurality of driving electrodes as a second group, all of which are polarized in a second direction in which an inverse characteristic to that in the first direction is obtained, wherein the first and second energy conversion elements are stacked on each other such that phases of the electrodes of the first group are shifted from those of the electrodes of the second group.

Abstract: A strain element which can realize shear distortion along the shearing direction includes a plurality of first electrodes provided on the surface of an electric-mechanical or mechanical-electrical energy conversion member, and second electrodes provided inside the conversion member. The combination of the electrodes used for polarization is different from that for driving or detection.

Abstract: A vibration wave actuator having a vibrating member for generating a vibration wave therein and a contact member contacting the vibrating member so as to be movable relative to the vibrating member by a friction force caused by the vibration wave, as well as to a system using the actuator. Contact portions of the vibrating member and the contact member are made of iron or iron alloy.

Abstract: In a unit part of a lead frame for mounting a semiconductor chip, connecting leads and supporting leads extending from a lead frame main body toward a semiconductor chip mounting region are formed. Between each supporting lead and the lead frame main body, a movable part and a spring part for elastically supporting the movable part are disposed. The tip portion of the supporting lead connected with the movable part extends to the inside of the semiconductor chip mounting region in the natural state of the movable part, so that the tip portion butts against the side face of a semiconductor chip when the semiconductor chip is mounted. Thus, the semiconductor chip can be supported and fixed by using a bias force applied by the spring part. The base portions of the supporting leads, the movable part and the spring part do not remain in a package, and hence do not cause a stress in the package and do not increase the volume of the package.

Abstract: A vibration driven device includes a first vibration elastic member, a second vibration elastic member, an electro-mechanical energy conversion element clamped between the first and second vibration elastic members, and a first contact member contacting at least one of the first and second vibration elastic members. A projection region which does not overlap the conversion element is arranged on the one vibration elastic member, the first contact member contacts only the projection region, and the first contact member moves relative to the one vibration elastic member by a vibration of the one vibration elastic member.

Abstract: A vibration wave motor has a movable member; a molded elastic member having a surface with projections formed thereon for urging the movable member; and a piezoelectric member arranged in contact with the elastic member to apply vibration to the elastic member and produce a travelling vibration wave in the surface of the elastic member.

Abstract: A vibration wave device having a resilient member, and electro-mechanical energy conversion means for inducing a travelling vibration wave in the resilient member, the travelling vibration wave being used as a drive source, includes means provided on at least one member of the vibration wave device at a location integer times or approximately integer times 1/2 of the wavelength of a vibration wave which may produce noise and making the dynamic rigidity of the member non-uniform.

Abstract: A motor has at least a vibration rod parallel to the axis of a rotor, in which the vibration rod causes a rotary motion in the rotor. The motor is free from the annular stator showing a large attenuation of vibration and is not associated with the stator support. The motor is also provided with a higher efficiency of energy utilization in comparison with a conventional ultrasonic motor, and is free from the stopping or irregular rotation of the rotor. The vibration rod for rotating the rotor requires a smaller space in comparison with the annular stator in the conventional ultrasonic motor.

Abstract: A vibration wave driven motor includes a vibrating member for generating a travelling vibration wave in response to signals applied thereto a movable body having a frictional member contacting the vibrating member, a bearing member and a vibration damper member provided between the frictional member and the bearing member in order to absorb the vibration; and an adhering member for adhering at least either of an end of the damper member in contact with the frictional member or another end of the damper member in contact with the bearing member to the frictional member or the bearing member which is opposed to either of the ends.

Abstract: In a vibration wave motor disclosed in this specification, at least one straddling member is coupled to a vibration member along the direction of travel of a traveling vibration wave in such a manner as to straddle between two points having a spacing corresponding to (.lambda./2+n.lambda.) (n being an integer including zero), and the straddling member is rotatably coupled to a fixed member at the central position between the two coupling points of the straddling member.

Abstract: This specification discloses a linear type vibration wave motor in which travelling vibration waves are generated by vibratory members of endless structure to frictionally drive a moving member and the moving member is disposed at a location wherein the directions of travel of the travelling waves generated on the vibratory members are the same, thereby improving the drive force.

Abstract: In a vibration wave motor for driving a movable member which contacts with a vibration member which in turn contacts an electrostrictive element, by a travelling vibration wave generated in the vibration member by applying periodic voltages to the electrostrictive element, the periodic voltages are applied to the electrostrictive element in the same direction as the amplitude direction of the travelling vibration wave to obtain a longitudinal effect so that drive efficiency is improved.