Abstract: A product maintenance method according to the present invention includes: receiving access regarding a repair request for a product from a terminal of a user who uses the product via the Internet; transmitting screen information with regard to repair conditions set for repairing the product to the terminal of the user via the Internet; and receiving an agreement to the repair conditions and a repair request for the product from the terminal of the user via the Internet.

Abstract: A vibration actuator includes a vibration element, which simultaneously generates a radial symmetric expansion vibration mode in which it expands and contracts in the radial direction and a non-axisymmetric planar vibration mode in which it bends to and fro in a non-axisymmetric manner within a single plane, and thereby drives a relative movement member, and a base member to which the vibration element is fixed. The vibration element includes at least one superimposed layer structure comprising a pair of electrical energy to mechanical energy conversion elements and an elastic member sandwiched between the pair of electrical energy to mechanical energy conversion elements. The elastic member includes a ring shaped portion to both the sides of which the pair of electrical energy to mechanical energy conversion elements are stuck, and a cylindrical shaped support portion, formed integrally with the ring shaped portion, which fixes the vibration element to the base member.

Abstract: A product maintenance method according to the present invention includes: receiving access regarding a repair request for a product from a terminal of a user who uses the product via the Internet; transmitting screen information with regard to repair conditions set for repairing the product to the terminal of the user via the Internet; and receiving an agreement to the repair conditions and a repair request for the product from the terminal of the user via the Internet.

Abstract: An ultrasonic motor includes a vibrator vibrating in conformity with a frequency voltage. A relative motion member effects relative vibration in conformity with the vibration of the vibrator. The vibrator is adapted to vibrate in a first vibration mode and a second vibration mode vibrating in a direction differing from the first vibration mode. The resonance frequency of the first vibration mode is higher than the resonance frequency of the second vibration mode.

Abstract: A driving device is equipped with a vibration actuator. The vibration actuator includes a roller element, an elastic member and electro-mechanical converting elements, which contact the elastic member. The electro-mechanical converting elements generate a vibration to drive the elastic member. Additionally, the roller element transfers relative movement to at least one element to be moved by contacting a driving part of the vibration actuator and by rotating. The roller element comprising a first part contacting the at least one driving section of the elastic member and a second part, separate from the first part, contacting the at least one element. In operation, the at least one electro-mechanical converting element vibrates the at least one driving section of the elastic member. The at least one driving section transfers the vibration to the first part of the roller element to rotate the roller element and the least one element is moved by rotation of the second part of the roller element.

Abstract: A vibration actuator drive device using a linear type of ultrasonic actuator to drive a rotary member with high accuracy and good efficiency. The vibration actuator drive device includes an ultrasonic actuator which, by applying drive signals, produces longitudinal vibration and bending vibration to generate a drive force, and a rotary member in contact with the ultrasonic actuator. The combination of longitudinal vibration and bending vibration in the ultrasonic actuator generates relative motion in the rotary member having a circular locus of predetermined width. A compression mechanism causes compressive contact of the ultrasonic actuator with the rotary member. The longitudinal vibration vibrates in a direction about parallel to the direction of the drive force, and the bending vibration vibrates in a direction intersecting the longitudinal vibration.

Abstract: An ultrasonic motor has a stator having a piezoelectric member vibrated by a drive signal, and an elastic member for generating traveling vibration wave in a drive surface thereof upon vibration of the piezoelectric member, a rotor which is urged against the drive surface of the elastic member and is driven by the generated traveling vibration wave, a support member integrally molded on the elastic member, and a fixing member for holding the support member. In the ultrasonic motor, one end face of the support member is formed at the same level as the drive surface or the junction surface of the elastic member, an electrode of the piezoelectric member is grounded through the support member, a plurality of holes are regularly formed in the circumferential direction of the support member, or the support member is fixed to the fixing member by an adhesive, thereby improving drive efficiency.

Abstract: A drive device includes a base and a driven member placed on the base. The driven member is capable of rotation on the base and has a circular surface following the direction of rotation. A roller member contacts the outside or inside of the circular surface of the driven member and is supported to be capable of rotation together with the driven member. A vibration actuator contacts the roller member and drives the roller member to rotate. A pressing member presses the vibration actuator in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the driven member. The pressing member presses the vibration actuator against the roller member, which in turn is pressed against the driven member.

Abstract: A drive control device for ultrasonic motors (actuators), including a driving unit for driving the ultrasonic motors, a detecting device for detecting the characteristics of each of two ultrasonic motors and generating a signal indicating the difference in the characteristics, and an output difference controlling unit for controlling the driving unit based on the signal from the detecting device, thereby regulating the difference in the outputs of the two ultrasonic motors.

Abstract: A vibration motor having an elastic body which is conductive, first and second piezoelectric elements which are joined with the elastic body, which harmonically cause a longitudinal vibration mode and a bending vibration mode to be generated on the elastic body, and which produce elliptical movement on the output take off position of the elastic body, and a third piezoelectric element which is joined with the elastic body, and which converts the vibrations produced on the elastic body to electric signals.

Abstract: A vibration driven motor constituted by an elastic member and an electro-mechanical converting element connected to the elastic member is characterized in that the driving direction is changed by changing the frequency of a vibration produced by the electro-mechanical converting element. In this case, the driving direction preferably includes two orthogonal directions.

Abstract: A recording medium processing device which performs writing or readout of data with respect to a magnetic card. The recording medium processing device includes a conveying mechanism which conveys the magnetic card and the conveying mechanism has a vibration actuator which is the drive source of the conveying mechanism. The vibration actuator includes an elastic member and electromechanical converting elements located on the elastic member. Drive rollers are in compressive contact with the elastic member and drive the magnetic card between a first position of entry into an automatic device, such as a pachinko machine, automatic sales machine or automatic ticket machine, and a second position for writing or reading the data from the recording medium. The recording medium processing device also has an information processing mechanism to write the data onto or read the data from the recording medium when the recording medium is at the second position.

Abstract: A compact and lightweight image blur suppression device is shown and described that is superior in responsiveness and quietness, and has a reduced number of parts. In general, a lens frame with an image blur optical system is shifted in a direction opposite to the direction of vibration by a vibration motor. The image blur suppression device is for suppressing image blur in an image formed by a main optical system having an optical axis. The image blur suppression device has an image blur suppression optical system arranged to move within a plane substantially orthogonal to an optical axis of the main optical system and a vibration motor for providing a drive source to move the image blur suppression optical system so as to compensate for image blur.

Abstract: An ultrasonic vibration motor having an elastic body and piezo-electric elements which are joined to the elastic body to harmonically produce a longitudinal oscillation mode and a bending oscillation mode on the elastic body, and to produce elliptical movement of a specified part of elastic body. A rotational member contacts a specified part of the elastic body and is driven to rotate by the elliptical movement of the specified part of the elastic body. A relative movement member is driven by the rotational member. The relative movement member may be driven, even if it has a soft surface, by effectively transmitting oscillations of a micro-amplitude produced on the specified part of the elastic body.

Abstract: A vibration actuator is provided with a rectangular parallelepiped elastic member of which a surface bears electromechanical converting elements adhered thereto and a relative moving member maintained in pressure contact with the other surface of the elastic member. A driving voltage is applied to excite the electromechanical converting elements to generate, in the elastic member, a longitudinal vibration vibrating in a plane parallel to the surface of the elastic member contacting the relative moving member and a bending vibration vibrating in a direction crossing the contacting surface, thereby generating a relative motion between the elastic member and the relative moving member. The elastic member has working portions for adjusting the difference of the resonance frequencies of the longitudinal and bending vibrations.

Abstract: A vibration actuator is provided which is capable of generating a bending vibration having a sufficient amplitude to allow production of a large driving force in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the bending vibration. Specifically, the vibration actuator generates a primary mode longitudinal vibration and a fourth mode bending vibration harmonically in an elastic body, so that a portion of the elastic body having a driving protrusion moves cyclically along an elliptical path. The driving protrusion comes into contact with a relative moving body along a section of the elliptical path, and thus exerts a driving force on the relative moving body. Reduced rigidity portions formed in the elastic body preferably at positions corresponding to antinodes of the bending vibration allow the bending vibration, and therefore also the driving force, to have greater amplitudes.

Abstract: An ultrasonic motor has a vibrator for vibrating with a first vibration mode and a second vibration mode for vibration in a direction different from that of the first vibration mode; a relatively movable member for executing relative vibration in accordance with the vibration of the vibrator; and a drive control device for controlling the vibrator within a range higher than, among resonance frequencies of the first and second vibration modes, a higher resonance frequency.

Abstract: A control circuit generates a control signal which is of a low level during a certain period of time after the power supply of a solid state imager has been turned on or a power save mode thereof has been canceled, and of a high level after elapse of the period of time. Based on the control signal, a timing generator generates transfer clock signals having a high frequency than when the solid state imager is in a normal transfer mode, and applies the transfer clock signals to a CCD shift register to remove or transfer excessive invalid charges at a high rate therefrom. After the power supply has been turned on or the power save mode has been canceled, therefore, the time required to bring the solid state imager into a condition capable of imaging a subject is shortened.

Abstract: A vibration wave driven motor comprise a comparator for comparing a resonance frequency of the motor with a power supply frequency and a frequency setter for setting the power supply frequency according to a predetermined algorithm in response to the output of the comparator. The frequency setter is provided with an algorithm which, if the power supply frequency is identified lower than the resonance frequency by the comparator, brings the power supply frequency toward an optimum frequency through a predetermined frequency higher than the resonance frequency.

Abstract: An automatic light modulating camera effecting a preliminary light emission and a main light emission, extracts effective light metering areas from plural light metering areas based on the light metering signals obtained at the preliminary light emission and on lens signals indicating the states of a phototaking lens at the preliminary light emission, and terminates the main light emission based on the light metering signals obtained in the effective light metering areas.