Abstract: A plate-shaped ultrasonic motor for use in an auto-focus driving part or an OIS driving part of a lens drive apparatus, includes: a plate-shaped resonant part disposed in parallel to an optical axis; a pair of plate-shaped piezoelectric elements laminated to the plate-shaped resonant part from both sides thereof in a plate-thickness direction; and a single electrode having a pair of plate-shaped terminal parts sandwiching the pair of piezoelectric element from both sides in the plate-thickness direction to distribute electric power to the pair of plate-shaped piezoelectric elements.

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 lens driving device, a camera module, and a camera-mounted device are provided, which are capable of reducing the effect of external magnetism and of being reduced in size and profile thereof. The lens driving device includes an AF driving part configured to move, with respect to an AF fixing part, an AF movable part in a Z-direction extending along an optical axis, and an OIS driving part configured to move, with respect to an OIS fixing part, an OIS movable part in an X-direction and a Y direction each orthogonal to optical axis. The OIS driving part and the AF driving part are each composed of an ultrasonic motor. In a rectangle defined by two sides where the OIS driving part is disposed, the AF driving part is disposed along a side different from the two sides.

Abstract: A piezoelectric drive unit is configured for driving a passive element relative to an active element, wherein the active element includes a resonator with two arms, each extending in parallel to a reference plane and ending in a contact element, which is movable by oscillating movements of the arms and thereby drives the passive element. Each of the arms has, at the outer end of the arm, a protrusion extending inward, toward the other arm, and on at least one of the arms, the respective contact element, arranged at the arm's outer end, extends outward, away from the other arm.

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 lens driving device, a camera module, and a camera-mounted device are provided, which are capable of reducing the effect of external magnetism and of being reduced in size and profile thereof. The lens driving device includes an AF driving part configured to move, with respect to an AF fixing part, an AF movable part in a Z-direction extending along an optical axis, and an OIS driving part configured to move, with respect to an OIS fixing part, an OIS movable part in an X-direction and a Y direction each orthogonal to optical axis. The OIS driving part and the AF driving part are each composed of an ultrasonic motor. In a rectangle defined by two sides where the OIS driving part is disposed, the AF driving part is disposed along a side different from the two sides.