Abstract: A lens drive device is provided with a first fixed part, a first movable part, a first supporting part, and a Z-direction drive unit which moves the first movable section in an optical axis direction (the Z-direction) relative to the first fixed part and is constituted by an ultrasonic motor that converts vibration motion into rotational motion. The lens drive device further has a rotating body which rotates around the optical axis in response to rotational motion of the Z-direction drive unit, and a mechanical element which converts the rotational motion of the rotating body into linear motion in the optical axis direction, the first movable part being moved in the optical axis direction by rotation of the rotating body.

Abstract: A lens driving device includes: a movable part for accommodating a lens; and an ultrasonic motor having a resonance part configured to move the movable part by motion of the resonance part of the ultrasonic motor. The resonance part has a pair of arms, and is disposed such that only one of the arms is in contact with the movable part.

Abstract: A driving-unit operation method includes: generating pulse blocks on the basis of driving pulses; and modifying a driving signal in accordance with a position error signal. In the modifying the driving signal, when the position error signal is in a first range, the shape of the driving pulses is modified so as to form a first driving-pulse shape, and the pulse-block duty cycle is set to a first pulse-block duty cycle value, whereas when the position error signal is in a second range, the shape of the driving pulses is modified so as to form a second driving-pulse shape, and the pulse-block duty cycle is set to a second pulse-block duty cycle value.

Abstract: A method for operating a drive unit having an active element with a resonator and an excitation structure for exciting oscillations in the resonator and thereby driving a passive element. The method includes driving the excitation structure with a driving signal, the driving signal being a periodic signal having driving pulses repeated with an excitation frequency. Depending on a control signal, modifying the driving signal, if the control signal is within a first range, by modifying the excitation frequency or modifying the shape of the driving pulses and, if the control signal is within a second range, repeatedly omitting driving pulses.

Abstract: A lens drive device is provided with a first fixed part, a first movable part, a first supporting part, and a Z-direction drive unit which moves the first movable section in an optical axis direction (the Z-direction) relative to the first fixed part and is constituted by an ultrasonic motor that converts vibration motion into rotational motion. The lens drive device further has a rotating body which rotates around the optical axis in response to rotational motion of the Z-direction drive unit, and a mechanical element which converts the rotational motion of the rotating body into linear motion in the optical axis direction, the first movable part being moved in the optical axis direction by rotation of the rotating body.

Abstract: A drive unit for driving a passive element relative to an active element includes a resonator and excitation device, at least a first arm including, at an outer end of the arm, a first contact element that is movable by way of oscillating movements of the first arm, thereby driving the passive element relative to the active element. The passive element includes a first contact area, arranged to be in contact with a first contact element of the first arm. A magnetic element is arranged to exert a magnetic force causing a relative force between the active element and passive element, whereby the first contact area is pressed against the first contact element with a pre-stress force.

Abstract: A lens driving device includes: a movable part for accommodating a lens; and an ultrasonic motor having a resonance part configured to move the movable part by motion of the resonance part of the ultrasonic motor. The resonance part has a pair of arms, and is disposed such that only one of the arms is in contact with the movable part.

Abstract: An oscillating drive unit for driving a passive element relative to an active element includes a resonator with at least two arms extending in parallel to a reference plane, one of the arms including a contact element, movable by way of oscillating movements, for driving the passive element relative to the active element. Two of the arms extend in a substantially symmetric manner, and an other one of the arms is arranged not to come into contact with the passive element.

Abstract: A power metering circuit includes a current input path for receiving an analog current input at a first analog to digital converter; a voltage input path for receiving an analog voltage input at a second analog to digital converter; a multiplier configured to multiply an output of the current input path and the voltage input path; a notch filter configured to receive an output of the multiplier, the notch filter having a stop band based on a line frequency; and a control circuit for setting a sampling frequency of the first analog to digital converter and the second analog to digital converter to a multiple of the line frequency.

Abstract: A power metering circuit includes a current input path for receiving an analog current input at a first analog to digital converter; a voltage input path for receiving an analog voltage input at a second analog to digital converter; a multiplier configured to multiply an output of the current input path and the voltage input path; a notch filter configured to receive an output of the multiplier, the notch filter having a stop band based on a line frequency; and a control circuit for setting a sampling frequency of the first analog to digital converter and the second analog to digital converter to a multiple of the line frequency.