Abstract: There is provided an ultrasonic motor whose vibration loss is suppressed, whose structure is miniaturized, whose production process is simplified and which is capable of utilizing electrical energy very efficiently. The inventive ultrasonic motor comprises a first piezoelectric body having a first polarized portion excited when voltage is applied and a second piezoelectric body that is laminated with the first piezoelectric body in a body in the longitudinal direction parallel to the polarizing direction and having a first polarized portion at position separated from the first polarized portion of the first piezoelectric body in the transverse direction vertical to the polarizing direction and moves a moving body by vibration obtained by combining stretching vibration and bending vibration caused by distortion in the polarizing direction of the first polarized portion of the first piezoelectric body and the first polarized portion of the second piezoelectric body.

Abstract: An ultrasonic motor is provided that is improved in reliability of a self-oscillator circuit constituted by the ultrasonic motor itself and high in efficiency. In a case of driving with one standing wave, the resonant point of a vibration mode used for driving is made lower than a resonant point of another vibration mode that is same in form as this vibration mode but different in node position. Furthermore, oscillation is caused between two resonant points. Where using two standing waves, oscillation is caused at a higher frequency than any of the two resonant points.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for moving an optical functioning element at sufficient accuracy over a long period of use or in a case where the temperature changes, in which a voltage is applied only when moving an optical functioning element, wherein a moving member 4, which moves forward and rearward in one direction by a guiding member 5, and one end of an optical filter main body 41, which is fixed at the moving member 4, are brought into contact with the circumferential surface of a disk-shaped eccentric cam 3 that rotates by an ultrasonic motor 2, and a coil spring 6 is brought into contact with the other end of the optical filter main body 41, whereby pressing the moving member 4 to the eccentric cam 3 side.

Abstract: A compact multifunctional optical communication device and its control method is provided which having good responsibility. An optical communication device has an input section and an output section for propagating a light beam through a space; plural optical parts movable to an interrupting position of the light beam between the input section and the output section, and arranged in a series direction with the light beam; driving means for separately driving these optical parts; and driving control means for controlling an operation of this driving means.

Abstract: A long-life ultrasonic motor is provided which increases the output and efficiency and reduces the wear on a moving body. By mounting such an ultrasonic motor on an electronic apparatus, the electronic apparatus is improved in performances including the size-reduction, thickness-reduction, power saving, etc. By configuring a stable self-excited oscillation circuit between first and third electrodes of a piezoelectric element and applying a drive signal to a second electrode through a phase selection circuit for changing the phase of a self-excited oscillation signal, two signals different in phase are supplied to the ultrasonic motor while using the self-excited oscillation circuit.

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: There is provided a method of manufacturing a piezoelectric actuator, which has high production efficiency and is available to miniaturize the piezoelectric actuator. Also, piezoelectric actuators are packed simply and a quality examination before shipment is performed easily. In this manufacturing method, various part sheets except for piezoelectric bodies of the piezoelectric actuators are joined to a piezoelectric material sheet having a size that a plurality of piezoelectric actuators can be formed, so as to from the plurality of piezoelectric actuators, and the piezoelectric material sheet is formed with a predetermined poling structure. Then, the piezoelectric material sheet is divided to manufacture the plurality of piezoelectric actuators. Also, dividing of the piezoelectric material sheet may be performed in a place where the piezoelectric actuator is to be used.

Abstract: A small, efficient and stable ultrasonic motor is provided, wherein force is prevented from varying before and after assembly and can be adjusted after assembly without requiring troublesome operations. An electronic apparatus with such a ultrasonic motor is also provided. The ultrasonic motor has a force applying device for applying a force to a vibrating member to be vibrated and to a moving member placed in abutment against the vibrating member to cause a frictional force therebetween so that the moving member is driven by the frictional force. The force applying device comprises a main force applying device for applying a main force and a force adjusting elements for adjusting the force applied by the main force applying device. In one embodiment, the main force applying device is a leaf spring and the force applying elements are slits formed in the leaf spring and strips formed between the slits. Adjustment of the force applied by the leaf spring is performed by removing one or more of the strips.

Abstract: An ultrasonic motor is obtained that reduces the resonant frequency of a vibrating body and efficient if made smaller. Also, a structure is provided that batch process is possible enabling mass production.

Abstract: An ultrasonic motor driven by a self-oscillation circuit which can be mounted in an electronic device without imposing structural restrictions on the electronic device and can thus be used easily. Among an oscillating member for generating an oscillatory wave, a pressing mechanism for causing a moving body to make pressing contact with the oscillating member, a moving body frictionally driven by the oscillatory wave, and outputting means for transmitting an output from the moving body to the outside, at least one member is made of an insulating material, and when in particular the moving body is provided with outputting means for transmitting an output torque this outputting means is made of an insulating material and no restrictions are imposed on the shapes and the materials of the oscillating member and the moving body, which closely relate to the output performance of the ultrasonic motor.

Abstract: A stage comprises a first moving body mounted on a support base for movement in a first direction (e.g., X direction) relative to the support base. A second moving body is mounted on the first moving body for movement in the first direction and in a second direction (e.g., Y direction) relative to the support base and the first moving body. A first piezoelectric actuator is in contact with the first moving body for moving the first moving body in the first direction. A second piezoelectric actuator is in contact with the second moving body for moving the second moving body in the second direction.

Abstract: To carry out speed control of an ultrasonic motor driven by a self-excited oscillation circuit utilizing the ultrasonic motor per se as a vibrating body and promote reliability of the self-excited oscillation circuit, an instruction signal for controlling a state of the self-excited oscillation circuit constituting a drive circuit, is set in a range capable of stably driving the ultrasonic motor in an aimed state. The self-excited oscillation circuit can be controlled to be brought into a drive state or a stop state in accordance with a drive command signal or a stop command signal from a control signal generating circuit and the control signal generating circuit is set such that a length (TD) of the drive command signal becomes longer than a time period (t1) from when the drive command signal is applied to the self-excited oscillation circuit until oscillation is started.

Abstract: An ultrasonic motor comprises first piezoelectric oscillators alternately arranged with first polarized regions having a first direction of polarization and second polarized regions having a second direction of polarization opposite to the first direction of polarization. The first piezoelectric oscillators undergo bending vibration in a first direction upon input of drive signals having a same phase to the first polarized regions and the second polarized regions to thereby excite the first and second polarized regions. Second piezoelectric oscillators are laminated to the first piezoelectric oscillators in a second direction generally perpendicular to the first direction for undergoing elongation and contraction vibration in the first direction.

Abstract: An ultrasonic motor has a vibrating member vibrationally driven for undergoing periodic vibration by the application of a high-frequency voltage. A moving body is frictionally driven by the periodic vibration of the vibrating member. A node supporting/pressurizing member supports a vibration node of the vibrating member and presses the vibrating member on the moving body.

Abstract: An ultrasonic motor has a piezoelectric element having an electrode pattern and driven by a voltage signal to undergo expansion and compression. An oscillator is connected to the piezoelectric element and is vibrationally driven by the expansion and compression movement of the piezoelectric vibrator. A rotor is disposed on the oscillator to be frictionally driven by expansion and compression movement of the piezoelectric element. A pivot member is connected to a central portion of the rotor. A pressing member is in pressure contact with the pivot member for urging the rotor into pressure contact with the oscillator. The pressing member and the pivot member are comprised of different materials, and the material of the pivot member has a hardness greater than that of the pressing member.

Abstract: An ultrasonic motor has a piezoelectric element, a driver circuit for creating an excitation signal based on information about the excitation of the piezoelectric element, and a power supply for supplying a voltage to the driver circuit. This motor includes a voltage-adjusting circuit for adjusting the voltage supplied from the power supply to the driver circuit. The motor further includes a voltage comparison means for comparing the voltage detected by the voltage-detecting means with data about a preset voltage of the power supply and a circuit constant control means for controlling the voltage-adjusting circuit to optimize the voltage supplied to the driver circuit, for example, if the comparison made by the voltage-comparing means indicates that the detected voltage is not coincident with the data about the voltage of the power supply.

Abstract: An ultrasonic motor has a piezoelectric element driven by application of a voltage thereto to undergo expansion and contraction. A vibrating body is vibrationally driven by the expansion and contraction movement of the piezoelectric element to thereby produce standing waves. A moving body is frictionally driven by the standing waves of the vibrating body. Power transmission projections apply a frictional force to the moving body to thereby frictionally drive the moving body in accordance with the standing waves. The power transmission projections are disposed only every preselected number of wavelengths at intermediate positions between loops and nodes of the standing waves, the preselected number being a natural number.

Abstract: An ultrasonic motor has at least one piezoelectric flexing vibration member driven by application of a voltage thereto to undergo flexing vibration. A piezoelectric stretching vibration member is integrally laminated in a lamination direction on the piezoelectric flexing vibration member and is driven by application of a voltage thereto to undergo stretching vibration in a direction generally perpendicular to the lamination direction. A movable body is vibrationally driven by a combination of the flexing vibration of the piezoelectric flexing vibration member and the stretching vibration of the piezoelectric stretching vibration member.

Abstract: An ultrasonic motor capable of being accurately step-driven comprises a vibrating member piezoelectrically vibrated for driving and halting a movable member. A driving wave is generated for vibrating the vibrating member to drive the movable member, and a halting wave is generated for vibrating the vibrating member to halt the movable member. The driving wave can be either a travelling wave or a standing wave, and the halting wave is a standing wave. The movable member is divided into a plurality of portions, and when the vibrating member is driven by the halting wave, the portions of the movable member become centered at respective nodal portions of the standing halting wave, causing the movable member to stop rotating so that the ultrasonic motor can be accurately step-driven.

Abstract: An ultrasonic wave motor device comprises an oscillating body having a piezo-electric element and a driving circuit for applying an exciting signal to the piezo-electric element to oscillate the oscillating body in self-excited oscillation. The driving circuit has an amplifying circuit for amplifying the exciting signal and a phase setting circuit for setting a phase of the exciting signal amplified by the amplifying circuit. A measuring device measures a characteristic of the driving circuit or a characteristic of the oscillating body. A phase adjusting circuit corrects a shift of the phase of the exciting signal in accordance with a measurement by the measuring device.