Abstract: A lens device comprises: at least one driven member including an optical system and a lens frame holding the optical system; a plurality of guides that guide the driven member in a direction of an optical axis; a driving frictional member frictionally engaged with the driven member; and an electro-mechanical conversion member connected to the driving frictional member.

Abstract: An actuator comprises: an electro-mechanical conversion element; a driving frictional member that is mounted onto one side in an extension/contraction direction of the electro-mechanical conversion element; a driven member that is frictionally engaged with the driving frictional member; a fixed frame; an elastic supporting member that is mounted onto the other side in the extension/contraction direction of the electro-mechanical conversion element and displaceably supports the other side of the electro-mechanical conversion element with respect to the fixed frame; and a pressing member that presses the elastic supporting member in the extension/contraction direction to maintain the elastic supporting member in an elastically deformed state.

Abstract: A driving apparatus comprises: an electro-mechanical conversion element; a driving member, provided on one end side of the electro-mechanical conversion element, that moves in response to extension and contraction of the electro-mechanical conversion element; and a driven member frictionally engaged with the driving member, so as to cause the driven member to travel along the driving member, wherein the electro-mechanical conversion element and the driving member are connected to each other by an adhesive; and wherein a treatment for intensifying adhesive force is applied to an adhesive surface, which is to be attached to the adhesive, on at least one of the electro-mechanical conversion element and the driving member.

Abstract: An actuator is provided and has an electro-mechanical conversion element; a driving frictional member attached at one end of the electro-mechanical conversion element with respect to a direction of expansion and contraction thereof; a plurality of driven members frictionally engaged with the driving frictional member; a plurality of biasing units, each biasing one of the plurality of driven members to be frictionally engaged with the driving frictional member; and a biasing-force adjusting unit that adjusts respective biasing-forces of the plurality of biasing units.

Abstract: A lens device comprises: at least one driven member including an optical system and a lens frame holding the optical system; a plurality of guides that guide the driven member in a direction of an optical axis; a driving frictional member frictionally engaged with the driven member; and an electromechanical conversion member connected to the driving frictional member.

Abstract: A circumferential surface of a lens holder is provided with a reflection member having different reflectance relative to a surrounding portion thereof. An opening is formed in an upper cover at a position confronting the reflection member at a time when the lens holder is kept in an original position being as a close-end position. The upper cover is provided with an optical position detector disposed so as to be adjacent to the opening. The optical position detector optically detects the reflection member via the opening when the lens holder is kept in the original position. Consequently, an original position of a taking lens held by the lens holder is detected.

Abstract: A driving mechanism comprises: (i) an actuator comprising: an electro-mechanical conversion element; and a driving member which moves according to elongation and contraction of the electro-mechanical conversion element; (ii) a driven member frictionally engaged with the driving member; and (iii) a case, wherein the actuator allows the driven member to move along the driving member, and the actuator is supported by the case laterally in elongating and contracting directions of the electro-mechanical conversion element.

Abstract: An actuator of the present invention comprises a piezoelectric element, one end face of the piezoelectric element in a displacement direction being supported by a fixing member, a block shaped driving member attached to the other end face of the piezoelectric element in the displacement direction, and a driven member frictionally engaged with at least one end face of the driving member in a direction orthogonal to the displacement direction, the driven member being extended along the displacement direction.

Abstract: An actuator comprises: an electro-mechanical conversion element; a driving frictional member that is mounted onto one side in an extension/contraction direction of the electro-mechanical conversion element; a driven member that is frictionally engaged with the driving frictional member; a fixed frame; an elastic supporting member that is mounted onto the other side in the extension/contraction direction of the electro-mechanical conversion element and displaceably supports the other side of the electromechanical conversion element with respect to the fixed frame; and a pressing member that presses the elastic supporting member in the extension/contraction direction to maintain the elastic supporting member in an elastically deformed state.

Abstract: An actuator comprises: an electromechanical conversion element; a driving frictional member mounted onto one side in an extension/contraction direction of the electromechanical conversion element; a driven member frictionally engaged with the driving frictional member; and a weight member affixed to the other side in the extension/contraction direction of the electromechanical conversion element and extending along sides of the electromechanical conversion element.

Abstract: An actuator comprises: an electromechanical conversion element; a driving frictional member mounted onto one side in an extension/contraction direction of the electromechanical conversion element; a driven member frictionally engaged with the driving frictional member; an urging section that urges the driven member to frictionally engage the driven member with the driving frictional member; and an urging force adjusting section that adjusts an urging force of the urging section.

Abstract: An actuator is provided and includes: an electro-mechanical conversion element; a driving frictional member attached at one end of the electromechanical conversion element with respect to a direction of expansion and contraction of the electromechanical conversion element; and a driven member frictionally engaged with the driving frictional member. The driving frictional member has a rod-like shape, and a cross section of the driving frictional member orthogonal to a longitudinal direction thereof is changed along the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: An actuator is provided and includes: an electro-mechanical conversion element; a driving frictional member attached at one end of the electro-mechanical conversion element with respect to a direction of expansion and contraction of the electro-mechanical conversion element; a driven member frictionally engaged with the driving frictional member; and a biasing unit attached to the driven member and biasing the driven member and the driving frictional member in a direction of engagement thereof. The biasing unit includes at least one slide member sliding over the driving frictional member, and the driving frictional member and the driven member is frictionally engaged with each other through the at least one slide member.

Abstract: An actuator comprises: an electromechanical conversion element; a driving frictional member mounted onto one side in an extension/contraction direction of the electromechanical conversion element; a driven member frictionally engaged with the driving frictional member; and a weight member that comprises an adhesive agent and is attached to the other side in the extension/contraction direction of the electromechanical conversion element.

Abstract: A driving mechanism comprises: (i) an actuator comprising: an electro-mechanical conversion element; a driving member which is connected to one end of the electro-mechanical conversion element and moves in accordance with elongation or contraction of the electro-mechanical conversion element; and a weight member provided on the other end of the electro-mechanical conversion element; and (ii) a driven member frictionally engaged with the driving member, wherein the actuator allows the driven member to move along the driving member, and the weight member comprises a member which reduces a resonance frequency of the actuator.

Abstract: A circumferential surface of a lens holder is provided with a reflection member having different reflectance relative to, a surrounding portion thereof. An opening is formed in an upper cover at a position confronting the reflection member at a time when the lens holder is kept in an original position being as a close-end position. The upper cover is provided with an optical position detector disposed so as to be adjacent to the opening. The optical position detector optically detects the reflection member via the opening when the lens holder is kept in the original position. Consequently, an original position of a taking lens held by the lens holder is detected.

Abstract: An actuator of the present invention comprises a piezoelectric element, one end face of the piezoelectric element in a displacement direction being supported by a fixing member, a block shaped driving member attached to the other end face of the piezoelectric element in the displacement direction, and a driven member frictionally engaged with at least one end face of the driving member in a direction orthogonal to the displacement direction, the driven member being extended along the displacement direction.

Abstract: An actuator which drives a lens frame in an optical axis direction is constructed by piezoelectric elements, driving members, and a pressing spring. The piezoelectric elements are placed at opposite sides with a driven plate therebetween, and the driving members are fixed to the respective piezoelectric elements. The driving members are pressed against the driven plate from both sides by the pressing spring.

Abstract: A lens barrel device includes a lens mounted in a lens frame that is threaded into an annular adjusting ring. The adjusting ring is coupled using a bayonet to a lens barrel. The lens barrel includes first and second flanges on the inner periphery of the lens barrel that define grooves for receiving bayonet projections on the annular adjusting ring. The bayonet coupling structure of the annular adjusting ring includes semispherical projections for elastically engaging inner walls of the grooves and also includes a rotation regulating stopper for engaging an end wall of an opening in one of the inner flanges so as to regulate rotation of the annular adjusting ring, and hence the lens, relative to the lens barrel. The end wall includes a groove for receiving a jig that can release the bayonet coupling structure of the annular adjusting ring from the lens barrel.

Abstract: A mount for optical elements includes a frame and a holder for holding optical elements such as lenses and/or an image detecting element such as a CCD. The frame and holder are cylindrical. The diameter of an interior screw of the holder is smaller than the diameter of a mating exterior screw of the frame so that backlash between the frame and the holder at the screw connection is substantially eliminated as the frame is rotated relative to said holder to tighten the inner surface of the holder against the outer surface of the frame. In one embodiment, at least one notch extends in a longitudinal direction of the holder to assist in elastic deformation of the holder. In another embodiment, a tightening ring formed in a C-shape is mounted around the exterior surface the holder to constrain elastic deformation outwardly when the screw connection is tightened.