Abstract: A vibratory driving device includes a shaft-like driving member, an electromechanical transducer which can incline the driving member and which also can displace the driving member in the axial direction of the driving member, a movable member which slidably engages on the driving member, a driving circuit which can apply to the electromechanical transducer a frictional driving voltage displacing the driving member back and forth with a speed varying asymmetrically in the axial direction to slidingly displace the movable member with respect to the driving member and a periodic inclination driving voltage oscillating the driving member, a resonance frequency meter which measures a resonance frequency of the inclining oscillation of the driving member, and a position estimator which estimates a position of the movable member based on the resonance frequency.

Abstract: An actuator capable of attaining two-dimensional positioning with a simple configuration includes an electromechanical transducer 11 which makes mechanical displacement in accordance with a voltage applied thereto, a driving shaft 12 which is axially displaced and inclined by the mechanical displacement of the electromechanical transducer 11, a movable member 13 which frictionally engages on the driving shaft 12, and a driving circuit for superposing a direct-current driving voltage leading to an inclination of the driving shaft 12 at a desired angle at a low rate of change preventing slide displacement of the movable member 13 relative to the driving shaft 12 and an alternating driving voltage for causing axial vibrations of the driving shaft 12 so as to cause slide displacement of the movable member 13 relative to the driving shaft 12 and applying the superposed voltages to the electromechanical transducer 11.

Abstract: A driving device capable of multidimensional positioning by the single device has a shaft-like driving member 4, an electromechanical transducer 3 which has a plurality of expandable portions 11, 12 and which holds one end of the driving member 4, the expandable portions being provided in parallel so that each of the expandable portions can separately expands and contracts in a axial direction of the driving member 4, and a movable member 5 which frictionally engages on the driving member 4 and which can displace slidingly on the driving member 4, and a drive circuit which applies to some of the expandable portions 11, 12 a low change rate of direct-current voltage component different from that applied to other expandable portions 11, 12, and which applies to all the expandable portions 11, 12 a common alternating voltage component fluctuating with a common period.

Abstract: A small imaging apparatus (1) implementing an optical image stabilizing function has a vibratory driving device (3) which comprises a driving shaft (7), an electromechanical transducer (6) consisting of a plurality of elongatable portions capable of elongating and contracting in an axial direction of the driving shaft (7) respectively and integrated with each other, and a driving member (8) slidably engaging on the driving shaft (7); a axially movable optical member (10) of which position is restrained in the axial direction by the driving member (8); and a vertically movable optical member (9, 11) of which position is restrained in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction by the driving shaft (7), the elongatable portions uniformly elongating and contracting repeatedly to displace the driving member (8) slidingly on the driving shaft (7), and unequally elongating or contracting to incline the driving shaft (7) to displace the driving member (8).

Abstract: In a piezoelectric actuator (8) comprising a layered piezoelectric element (14) which consists of alternately stacked expansion and contraction layers (14a) and electrode layers (14b), a driving shaft (15) of which one end is fixed to one end of the piezoelectric element (14) in expansion and contraction direction, a movable member (15) frictionally engaging with the driving shaft (15) and a collar (17) bonded to the circumference of the piezoelectric element (14), by bonding the collar (17) to the circumference of the plurality of the expansion and contraction layers (14a) with an adhesive (G) so that fastening force of the collar (17) to the expansion and contraction layers (14a) is imbalanced with reference to the center of the cross section of the piezoelectric element (14) so that the piezoelectric element (14) expands and contracts in an imbalanced manner to incline the driving shaft (15) to displace minutely the movable member (16).

Abstract: A laser-radar distance measurement apparatus for measuring the distance between two arbitrary points on a measurement target in a non-contact fashion has a light emitter, a light receiver, a scanner, and a calculation controller. The light emitter emits laser light. The scanner deflects the laser light from the light emitter to irradiate with the laser light the two arbitrary points on the measurement target one after the other, and performs one-dimensional scanning along a straight line including the two arbitrary points. The light receiver receives the laser light reflected from the two arbitrary points to output signals respectively. The calculation controller calculates the distance between the two arbitrary points based on the signals output from the light receiver and operation information on the scanner.

Abstract: There is provided a driving device with less wiring and of which driving circuit is simplified. A driving device comprising: a plurality of vibratory actuators 6, 7 respectively having a vibration generating portion which transform an electric power into a vibration and a driven portion which engages with the vibration generating portion; and a driving circuit to which the plurality of vibratory actuators are connected in parallel, wherein the vibration generating portion of at least one of the vibratory actuators has a different frequency characteristic from that of other vibratory actuators, and the driving circuit is capable of outputting a plurality of driving voltages each having a different waveform.

Abstract: An SIDM device 1 is provided with a columnar piezoelectric element 2 which expands and contracts in the axial direction by the application of a voltage, a columnar-shaped driving rod 3 which is fixed to the end surface of the piezoelectric element 2 in the axial direction and is displaced by the expiation and contraction of the piezoelectric element 2, a supporting member 4 which has a fixed portion 40 fixed to the driving rod 3 and supports the piezoelectric element 2 and the driving rod 3 with the fixed portion 40 between the supporting member 4, and the piezoelectric element 2 and the driving rod 3, and a moving body 5 which is frictionally engaged with the driving rod 3 and moves in the axial direction of the driving rod 3. A central axis L2 of the piezoelectric element 2 and a central axis L3 of the driving rod 3 are offset to each other, and the central axis L3 of the driving rod 3 and a central axis L4 of the driving rod 3 in the axial direction in the entire fixed portion 40 are offset to each other.

Abstract: A vibratory driving device 1 comprising a shaft-like driving member 7, a electromechanical transducer 6 which can incline the driving member 7 and which can also displace the driving member 7 in the axial direction of the driving member, a movable member 8 which slidably engages on the driving member 7, a driving circuit 3 which can apply to the electromechanical transducer 6 a periodical frictional driving voltage to displace slidingly the movable member with respect to the driving member and an inclination driving voltage inclining the driving member, a waveform determiner 4 which determines a rising condition of a voltage or a current of the electromechanical transducer 6 when the inclination driving voltage is applied, and a position estimator which estimates a position of the movable member 8 based on the rising condition of a voltage or a current.

Abstract: A laser optical device, having: a laser light emitting section to emit laser signal light modulated by information; a laser light receiving section to receive the laser signal light emitted from the laser light emitting section; a light condensing optical unit to conduct the laser signal light emitted from the laser light emitting section to the laser light receiving section; an actuator to move the light condensing optical unit; a light intensity detecting section to detect an intensity of the laser signal light conducted to the laser light receiving section; and a control section to control drive of the actuator so as to align the laser signal light conducted by the light condensing optical unit to the laser light receiving section; wherein the control section drives the actuator in a predetermined period which synchronizes with a predetermined signal included in the laser signal light.

Abstract: A laser apparatus includes: a laser light source; an output member for receiving and transmitting a laser light flux generated by the laser light flux, and outputting a laser light flux; an optical aligning member for positioning the laser light flux generated by the laser light source to the output member; a drive for driving the optical aligning member; a drive controller; an output detector for outputting a detected output representing an intensity of a laser light flux outputted from the output member; and an output controller. The drive controller controls the drive to drive the optical aligning member and the output controller changes a power of the laser light flux generated by the light source, based on the detected output.

Abstract: A small imaging apparatus (1) implementing an optical image stabilizing function has a vibratory driving device (3) which comprises a driving shaft (7), an electromechanical transducer (6) consisting of a plurality of elongatable portions capable of elongating and contracting in an axial direction of the driving shaft (7) respectively and integrated with each other, and a driving member (8) slidably engaging on the driving shaft (7); a axially movable optical member (10) of which position is restrained in the axial direction by the driving member (8); and a vertically movable optical member (9, 11) of which position is restrained in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction by the driving shaft (7), the elongatable portions uniformly elongating and contracting repeatedly to displace the driving member (8) slidingly on the driving shaft (7), and unequally elongating or contracting to incline the driving shaft (7) to displace the driving member (8).

Abstract: A vibratory driving device 1 comprising a shaft-like driving member 8, a electromechanical transducer 6 which can incline the driving member 8 and which also can displace the driving member 8 in the axial direction of the driving member, a movable member 9 which slidably engages on the driving member 8, a driving circuit 3 which can apply to the electromechanical transducer 6 a frictional driving voltage displacing the driving member 8 back and forth with a speed varying asymmetrically in the axial direction to displace slidingly the movable member 9 with respect to the driving member 8 and a periodical inclination driving voltage inclinatory oscillating the driving member 8, a resonance frequency meter which measures a resonance frequency of the inclining oscillation of the driving member 8, and a position estimator which estimates a position of the movable member 9 based on the resonance frequency.

Abstract: A vibratory driving device 1 comprising a shaft-like driving member 7, a electromechanical transducer 6 which can incline the driving member 7 and which can also displace the driving member 7 in the axial direction of the driving member, a movable member 8 which slidably engages on the driving member 7, a driving circuit 3 which can apply to the electromechanical transducer 6 a periodical frictional driving voltage to displace slidingly the movable member with respect to the driving member and an inclination driving voltage inclining the driving member, a waveform determiner 4 which determines a rising condition of a voltage or a current of the electromechanical transducer 6 when the inclination driving voltage is applied, and a position estimator which estimates a position of the movable member 8 based on the rising condition of a voltage or a current.

Abstract: A driving device capable of multidimensional positioning by the single device has a shaft-like driving member 4, an electromechanical transducer 3 which has a plurality of expandable portions 11, 12 and which holds one end of the driving member 4, the expandable portions being provided in parallel so that each of the expandable portions can separately expands and contracts in a axial direction of the driving member 4, and a movable member 5 which frictionally engages on the driving member 4 and which can displace slidingly on the driving member 4, and a drive circuit which applies to some of the expandable portions 11, 12 a low change rate of direct-current voltage component different from that applied to other expandable portions 11, 12, and which applies to all the expandable portions 11, 12 a common alternating voltage component fluctuating with a common period.

Abstract: An actuator capable of attaining two-dimensional positioning with a simple configuration includes an electromechanical transducer 11 which makes mechanical displacement in accordance with a voltage applied thereto, a driving shaft 12 which is axially displaced and inclined by the mechanical displacement of the electromechanical transducer 11, a movable member 13 which frictionally engages on the driving shaft 12, and a driving circuit for superposing a direct-current driving voltage leading to an inclination of the driving shaft 12 at a desired angle at a low rate of change preventing slide displacement of the movable member 13 relative to the driving shaft 12 and an alternating driving voltage for causing axial vibrations of the driving shaft 12 so as to cause slide displacement of the movable member 13 relative to the driving shaft 12 and applying the superposed voltages to the electromechanical transducer 11.

Abstract: In a piezoelectric actuator (8) comprising a layered piezoelectric element (14) which consists of alternately stacked expansion and contraction layers (14a) and electrode layers (14b), a driving shaft (15) of which one end is fixed to one end of the piezoelectric element (14) in expansion and contraction direction, a movable member (15) frictionally engaging with the driving shaft (15) and a collar (17) bonded to the circumference of the piezoelectric element (14), by bonding the collar (17) to the circumference of the plurality of the expansion and contraction layers (14a) with an adhesive (G) so that fastening force of the collar (17) to the expansion and contraction layers (14a) is imbalanced with reference to the center of the cross section of the piezoelectric element (14) so that the piezoelectric element (14) expands and contracts in an imbalanced manner to incline the driving shaft (15) to displace minutely the movable member (16).

Abstract: A laser apparatus includes: a laser light source; an output member for receiving and transmitting a laser light flux generated by the laser light flux, and outputting a laser light flux; an optical aligning member for positioning the laser light flux generated by the laser light source to the output member; a drive for driving the optical aligning member; a drive controller; an output detector for outputting a detected output representing an intensity of a laser light flux outputted from the output member; and an output controller. The drive controller controls the drive to drive the optical aligning member and the output controller changes a power of the laser light flux generated by the light source, based on the detected output.

Abstract: An optical waveguide device includes: a channel waveguide which is positioned at a predetermined height relative to a bottom surface of a substrate; and a slab waveguide having a cross-sectional shape wider than that of the channel waveguide, being positioned at a predetermined height relative to the channel waveguide. Initially, an input end face of the optical waveguide device is vertically scanned with a light beam to achieve optical coupling with the slab waveguide, followed by transversely scanning to achieve optical coupling with the channel waveguide, hence, alignment of an optical axis with a minute channel waveguide can be effected easily and quickly.

Abstract: It is provided a drive unit 1 in which the displacement amount of the frictional engagement member 7 can be reduced without lowering the driving torque, having a drive circuit 4 comprised of a bridge circuit which includes charge switching elements Q1, Q3 for connecting the electrodes 5a, 5b of the piezoelectric element 5 to the power supply 2 and discharge switching elements Q2, Q4 for connecting the electrodes 5a, 5b to ground, and a switch circuit 9 for inserting a limiting resistor R2 in at least either one of an current path between the power supply 2 and the piezoelectric element 5 and an current path between the piezoelectric element 5 and the ground.