Abstract: A versatile rotary encoder that reduces the processing required for a microcomputer. The rotary encoder is equipped with a mechanical angle-electric angle signal converter and a non-volatile memory. The mechanical angle-electric angle signal converter converts a mechanical angle output information, of a MR sensor unit, into an incremental signal for generating a DC motor drive signal, and converts output information of the MR sensor unit into an absolute signal for generating a DC motor drive signal. The non-volatile memory has signal conversion data as initial setting data for converting the output information of the MR sensor unit into the DC motor drive signal, which corresponds to the type of the DC motor to which the rotary encoder is mounted. The mechanical angle-electric angle signal converter converts the output information from the MR sensor unit into signals for generating the DC motor drive based on the signal conversion data.

Abstract: Uses a generic sensor to provide a rotary encoder with high accuracy, excellent environmental resistance, and low cost that is equivalent to having a precision sensor.

Abstract: A control device for a brushless DC servo motor which uses a MR sensor unit and controls the motor with high precision by a closed loop. The motor control device comprises a control unit for controlling power supplied to three pairs of stator coils of U, V and W phases. The control unit generates phase information for each of the U, V and W phases and obtains an absolute origin position of the rotary shaft with respect to the driving signal, when the brushless DC servo motor is driven, based on the synchronization relationship of: a driving signal rising phase from zero; an integrated value peak phase of counter electromotive force to the phase stator coil obtained by driving the motor; and a rising phase of the output signal of the A phase or the B phase output from the MR sensor unit corresponding to zero of the driving signal.

Abstract: A control device for a brushless DC servo motor which uses a MR sensor unit and controls the motor with high precision by a closed loop. The motor control device comprises a control unit for controlling power supplied to three pairs of stator coils of U, V and W phases. The control unit generates phase information for each of the U, V and W phases and obtains an absolute origin position of the rotary shaft with respect to the driving signal, when the brushless DC servo motor is driven, based on the synchronization relationship of: a driving signal rising phase from zero; an integrated value peak phase of counter electromotive force to the phase stator coil obtained by driving the motor; and a rising phase of the output signal of the A phase or the B phase output from the MR sensor unit corresponding to zero of the driving signal.

Abstract: The electric parking brake device comprising a resolver which has a base arranged in a housing so as to face a rotating plate fixed to a rotation axis of an electric motor, wherein a first sheet coil comprising a detecting coil and a second sheet coil comprising a primary coil of an output transformer coupled to a detecting coil are arranged on the opposite face of the rotating plate, and wherein a third sheet coil comprising a excitation coil opposite to the detecting coil and a fourth sheet coil comprising a secondary coil of an output transformer opposite to the primary coil of the output transformer are arranged on the opposite face of the base.

Abstract: The electric parking brake device comprising a resolver which has a base arranged in a housing so as to face a rotating plate fixed to a rotation axis of an electric motor, wherein a first sheet coil comprising a detecting coil and a second sheet coil comprising a primary coil of an output transformer coupled to a detecting coil are arranged on the opposite face of the rotating plate, and wherein a third sheet coil comprising a excitation coil opposite to the detecting coil and a fourth sheet coil comprising a secondary coil of an output transformer opposite to the primary coil of the output transformer are arranged on the opposite face of the base.

Abstract: A rotation angle detecting device and an electric motor provided with the rotation angle detecting device. The rotation angle detecting device has both a reduced thickness and outer diameter and is easily fixed to a small-sized electric motor. The rotation angle detecting device has a first sheet coil, provided with an excitation coil, mounted on a base fixed to a fixed body, a second sheet coil, provided with a detecting coil, mounted on a surface of a rotating plate opposite the base, the rotating plate is fixed to a rotating shaft, a third sheet coil, provided with a primary coil of an output transformer, mounted on another surface of the rotating plate opposing to a cover, and a fourth sheet coil, provided with a secondary coil of the output transformer, mounted on a facing surface of the cover opposite the rotating plate.

Abstract: A rotation angle detecting device and an electric motor provided with the rotation angle detecting device. The rotation angle detecting device has both a reduced thickness and outer diameter and is easily fixed to a small-sized electric motor. The rotation angle detecting device has a first sheet coil, provided with an excitation coil, mounted on a base fixed to a fixed body, a second sheet coil, provided with a detecting coil, mounted on a surface of a rotating plate opposite the base, the rotating plate is fixed to a rotating shaft, a third sheet coil, provided with a primary coil of an output transformer, mounted on another surface of the rotating plate opposing to a cover, and a fourth sheet coil, provided with a secondary coil of the output transformer, mounted on a facing surface of the cover opposite the rotating plate.

Abstract: The electric parking brake device comprising a resolver which has a base arranged in a housing so as to face a rotating plate fixed to a rotation axis of an electric motor, wherein a first sheet coil comprising a detecting coil and a second sheet coil comprising a primary coil of an output transformer coupled to a detecting coil are arranged on the opposite face of the rotating plate, and wherein a third sheet coil comprising a excitation coil opposite to the detecting coil and a fourth sheet coil comprising a secondary coil of an output transformer opposite to the primary coil of the output transformer are arranged on the opposite face of the base.

Abstract: An autofocus camera is provided which restrains and corrects any tilt that may occur in the optical axis direction without the need of providing any additional new sensors for that purpose. The autofocus camera includes an image sensor for receiving light from an object and converting the light into corresponding electrical signals, a lens driving device having a lens for focusing the light from the object upon said image sensor, and a control portion for causing said lens driving device to adjust any tilt that may occur in the optical axis in response to the electrical signals received from said image sensor. The control portion is operated to cause the lens driving device to adjust any tilts of the optical axis with respect to the image sensor in the orthogonal directions with each other, so that the resolution signals at the predetermined positions of said image sensor can be maximized.

Abstract: The vibration producing device includes a driving shaft being placed under slight rapid vibratory movements in its axial direction, a slight rapid vibratory movements producing member coupled with one end of the driving shaft for causing the driving shaft to be vibrated with the slight rapid vibratory movements, a casing for supporting at least either the driving shaft or the slight rapid vibratory movement producing member in such a manner that the driving shaft can be vibrated with the slight rapid vibratory movements in its axial direction, and a weight member to be coupled with the driving shaft in order to permit the weight member to move in its axial direction under the slight rapid vibratory movements of the driving shaft, wherein the casing is vibrated by allowing the weight member to be moved forwards and backwards alternately along the driving shaft in its axial direction.

Abstract: A linear driving device includes a slight rapid vibratory movements producing member coupled with one end of a driving shaft which causes said driving shaft to be moved in said an axial direction, a casing for supporting at least either said driving shaft or said slight rapid vibratory movements producing member so that said driving shaft can be moved in said axial direction; and a moving body to be coupled with said driving shaft so that said moving body can be moved in the axial direction. When said moving body moves from one end side toward the other end side of said driving shaft, a part of said moving body which forms the surface facing the other end side opposite to said one end of said moving body may hit against a component which stops said moving body from moving further toward the other end side of said driving shaft.

Abstract: A driving member, a linear driving device using the driving member, a camera device and an electronic device are provided. The driving member (10) includes a deformable thin plate (16) having a flexible thin plate (12) capable of expanding and contracting itself under the applied voltage and an elastic thin plate (14) having at least one side thereof rigidly fixed to the flexible thin plate (12) and a driving shaft (30) having its one axial end rigidly fixed to the deformable thin plate (16) and being capable of undergoing displacements that are operatively associated with the deformation of the deformable thin plate (16), wherein the driving shaft (30) has the lateral side portion (32) of the one axial end thereof rigidly fixed to the corresponding inner side portion of a through hole formed on the deformable thin plate (16).

Abstract: An autofocus camera is provided which restrains and corrects any tilt that may occur in the optical axis direction without the need of providing any additional new sensors for that purpose. The autofocus camera includes an image sensor for receiving light from an object and converting the light into corresponding electrical signals, a lens driving device having a lens for focusing the light from the object upon said image sensor, and a control portion for causing said lens driving device to adjust any tilt that may occur in the optical axis in response to the electrical signals received from said image sensor. The control portion is operated to cause the lens driving device to adjust any tilts of the optical axis with respect to the image sensor in the orthogonal directions with each other, so that the resolution signals at the predetermined positions of said image sensor can be maximized.

Abstract: An autofocus camera is provided which restrains and corrects any tilt that may occur in the optical axis direction without the need of providing any additional new sensors for that purpose. The autofocus camera includes an image sensor for receiving light from an object and converting the light into corresponding electrical signals, a lens driving device having a lens for focusing the light from the object upon said image sensor, and a control portion for causing said lens driving device to adjust any tilt that may occur in the optical axis in response to the electrical signals received from said image sensor. The control portion is operated to cause the lens driving device to adjust any tilts of the optical axis with respect to the image sensor in the orthogonal directions with each other, so that the resolution signals at the predetermined positions of said image sensor can be maximized.

Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator, a linear driving device, and an electronic apparatus that are able to be miniaturized are provided. The piezoelectric actuator includes a vibration member in which a planar piezoelectric element and an electrode plate are affixed each other with their planar surfaces being stuck together and a driving shaft fixed to the vibration member. The vibration member has an outline having a plurality of vertexes and a plurality of sides connecting the neighboring vertexes, and the electrode plate has a connecting member for electric current which protrudes from at least one sides of the vibration member.

Abstract: A linear driving device includes a slight rapid vibratory movements producing member coupled with one end of a driving shaft which causes said driving shaft to be moved in said an axial direction, a casing for supporting at least either said driving shaft or said slight rapid vibratory movements producing member so that said driving shaft can be moved in said axial direction; and a moving body to be coupled with said driving shaft so that said moving body can be moved in the axial direction. When said moving body moves from one end side toward the other end side of said driving shaft, a part of said moving body which forms the surface facing the other end side opposite to said one end of said moving body may hit against a component which stops said moving body from moving further toward the other end side of said driving shaft.

Abstract: The vibration producing device includes a driving shaft being placed under slight rapid vibratory movements in its axial direction, a slight rapid vibratory movements producing member coupled with one end of the driving shaft for causing the driving shaft to be vibrated with the slight rapid vibratory movements, a casing for supporting at least either the driving shaft or the slight rapid vibratory movement producing member in such a manner that the driving shaft can be vibrated with the slight rapid vibratory movements in its axial direction, and a weight member to be coupled with the driving shaft in order to permit the weight member to move in its axial direction under the slight rapid vibratory movements of the driving shaft, wherein the casing is vibrated by allowing the weight member to be moved forwards and backwards alternately along the driving shaft in its axial direction.

Abstract: A driving member, a linear driving device using the driving member, a camera device and an electronic device are provided. The driving member (10) includes a deformable thin plate (16) having a flexible thin plate (12) capable of expanding and contracting itself under the applied voltage and an elastic thin plate (14) having at least one side thereof rigidly fixed to the flexible thin plate (12) and a driving shaft (30) having its one axial end rigidly fixed to the deformable thin plate (16) and being capable of undergoing displacements that are operatively associated with the deformation of the deformable thin plate (16), wherein the driving shaft (30) has the lateral side portion (32) of the one axial end thereof rigidly fixed to the corresponding inner side portion of a through hole formed on the deformable thin plate (16).

Abstract: An autofocus camera is provided which restrains and corrects any tilt that may occur in the optical axis direction without the need of providing any additional new sensors for that purpose. The autofocus camera includes an image sensor for receiving light from an object and converting the light into corresponding electrical signals, a lens driving device having a lens for focusing the light from the object upon said image sensor, and a control portion for causing said lens driving device to adjust any tilt that may occur in the optical axis in response to the electrical signals received from said image sensor. The control portion is operated to cause the lens driving device to adjust any tilts of the optical axis with respect to the image sensor in the orthogonal directions with each other, so that the resolution signals at the predetermined positions of said image sensor can be maximized.