Abstract: When a piezoelectric ceramic sheet is divided into two equal parts in a longitudinal direction and two equal parts in a width direction to form four regions, internal electrodes are disposed over each region and are disposed so that surface areas occupied in each region are substantially the same, and a longitudinal vibration is detected based on a potential difference between the internal electrodes.

Abstract: The invention provides an ultrasonic motor including internal electrodes provided in an ultrasonic vibrator and disposed in regions where electrical charges of the same sign are generated in one vibration mode and where electrical charges of opposite sign and substantially the same amount are generated in another vibration mode; and a control unit configured to detect a phase difference between a vibration detection signal detected on the basis of electrical signals from the internal electrodes and any one of driving AC voltages, and to set a driving frequency such that the phase difference becomes a reference phase difference. Each driving AC voltage with the driving frequency set by the control unit is applied to the ultrasonic vibrator.

Abstract: In an ultrasonic vibrator in which ultrasonic elliptical vibration is caused at a friction-projection by the simultaneous generation of a first vibration mode and a second vibration mode in a piezoelectric element, the friction-projection is formed by burning so as to be integrated with the piezoelectric element.

Abstract: With the invention, both a longitudinal vibration mode and a flexural vibration mode are independently detected, or only the longitudinal vibration mode is detected, without using a special device. The invention provides an ultrasonic motor including electromechanical transducers for driving, electromechanical transducers for vibration detection, and an ultrasonic vibrator in which, by supplying two-phase alternating voltages with a predetermined phase difference and predetermined driving frequency to the electromechanical transducers for driving, two different vibration modes are simultaneously generated to produce a substantially elliptical vibration at an output. It is possible to independently detect both the longitudinal vibration mode and the flexural vibration mode with the electromechanical transducers for vibration detection.

Abstract: A vibrator of a vibration wave linear motor comprises two and one driving contacting parts respectively on top and bottom surfaces. A first guide member contacts the two driving contacting parts on the top surface, and both ends of a second guide member are pressed upward by spiral springs, and pressing forces are applied respectively between the driving contacting parts and the first and the second guide members. The three driving contacting parts convert elliptical vibrations, which are generated by applying a voltage to a vibrator unit, into driving force, whereby the vibrator self-runs in a direction indicated by a bidirectional arrow d with reference to the first and the second guide members. The self-running of the vibrator is conveyed, via a pin member and an engaging protruding part, to the lens frame, which then slides.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer in which internal electrodes and piezoelectric elements are alternately layered includes outer electrodes, each being connected to the corresponding internal electrodes. The ultrasonic transducer has a first layered part, a second layered part, a first outer-electrode group, and a second outer-electrode group. The first layered part includes at least the internal electrodes, each being divided in half in a second direction orthogonal to a layering direction, which is a first direction. The second layered part includes at least the internal electrodes, each being divided in half in a third direction orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction. The first outer-electrode group is provided so as to be connected to predetermined internal electrodes in the first layered part. The second outer-electrode group is provided so as to be connected to predetermined internal electrodes in the second layered part.

Abstract: An ultrasonic linear motor according to the present invention has a configuration wherein driving elements are glued at portions on faces of an ultrasonic transducer, facing one another, where rotational directions of elliptic vibrations generated on the faces are reverse one to another, a pair of guides are provided for being pressed into against the driving elements so as to hold the ultrasonic transducer therebetween, and leaf springs serving as pressing part are provided so as to narrow a spacing between the one pair of guides, whereby the ultrasonic transducer is configured as an self-moving ultrasonic linear motor which can drive by itself. Thus, driving properties of the ultrasonic transducer itself is improved, and also the size of the ultrasonic linear motor can be reduced.

Abstract: An ultrasonic-motor driving apparatus includes an ultrasonic motor, a driving unit, and a characteristic storage. The driving unit is detachable from the ultrasonic motor and has a driving circuit for driving the ultrasonic motor. The characteristic storage provided in the ultrasonic motor stores driving characteristic values of a resonant frequency and a drive voltage signal specific to the ultrasonic motor. The driving circuit drives and controls the ultrasonic motor based on the driving characteristic values stored in the characteristic storage.

Abstract: An ultrasonic motor capable of simultaneously generating a plurality of vibration modes efficiently generates each vibration mode so as to stably obtain high motor power. The ultrasonic motor an ultrasonic vibrator and a pressing unit. The ultrasonic vibrator includes an electromechanical converting element that generates a substantially elliptic vibration at an output end of the ultrasonic vibrator by simultaneously generating two different vibration modes by applying a first alternating-current voltage of a first phase and a second alternating-current voltage of a second phase to the electromechanical converting elements, wherein the first and second alternating-current voltages have a predetermined phase difference and predetermined driving frequencies. The pressing unit is configured to press the output end of the ultrasonic vibrator against a driven body.

Abstract: An ultrasonic vibrator includes a piezoelectric laminated-section; a frictional contact-section serving as a driving point upon coming into contact with a moving-table serving as a driven body; and a pin serving as a projection and disposed at a node of a generated vibration. When alternating voltages are applied on external electrodes of the piezoelectric laminated-section, an ultrasonic elliptical vibration is generated at the frictional contact-section. The pin is composed of a resin member such as polyether-ether-ketone.

Abstract: A vibrator of a vibration wave linear motor comprises two and one driving contacting parts respectively on top and bottom surfaces. A first guide member contacts the two driving contacting parts on the top surface, and both ends of a second guide member are pressed upward by spiral springs, and pressing forces are applied respectively between the driving contacting parts and the first and the second guide members. The three driving contacting parts convert elliptical vibrations, which are generated by applying a voltage to a vibrator unit, into driving force, whereby the vibrator self-runs in a direction indicated by a bidirectional arrow d with reference to the first and the second guide members. the self-running of the vibrator is conveyed, via a pin member and an engaging protruding part, to the lens frame, which then slides.

Abstract: In an ultrasonic vibrator in which ultrasonic elliptical vibration is caused at a friction-projection by the simultaneous generation of a first vibration mode and a second vibration mode in a piezoelectric element, the friction-projection is formed by burning so as to be integrated with the piezoelectric element.

Abstract: By bonding a conductive first matching layer 14 to the acoustic radiation surface side, which is the bottom side, of a belt-shape piezoelectric element on both faces with electrodes provided, and using a dicing machine to form divided grooves 16, an array of piezoelectric elements 6, 6, . . . , 6 is formed in the element array direction. By deepening the divided grooves 16, generation of cross talk can be prevented, and by filling the portions of the divided grooves 16 not in contact with the piezoelectric elements 6 with a conductive adhesive 17, a reduction in strength due to formation of the divided grooves 16 can be prevented, and a common connection between the ground electrode 13b on the bottom surface of each piezoelectric element 6 and the conductive first matching layer 14 can be reliably secured.

Abstract: An ultrasonic-motor driving apparatus includes an ultrasonic motor, a driving unit, and a characteristic storage. The driving unit is detachable from the ultrasonic motor and has a driving circuit for driving the ultrasonic motor. The characteristic storage provided in the ultrasonic motor stores driving characteristic values of a resonant frequency and a drive voltage signal specific to the ultrasonic motor. The driving circuit drives and controls the ultrasonic motor based on the driving characteristic values stored in the characteristic storage.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer includes a first outer-electrode group and includes a first outer-electrode group and a second outer-electrode group, in which the piezoelectric elements and the internal electrodes is alternately layered respectively, and that are connected to the corresponding internal electrodes. Upon alternating voltage being applied to the first outer-electrode group and/or the second outer-electrode group, a primary resonant mode and a secondary resonant mode are simultaneously excited to generate ultrasonic elliptical vibration. The ultrasonic transducer further includes conducting films for connecting outer electrodes, formed closely contacting with the surface of the ultrasonic transducer, so as to electrically connecting predetermined outer electrodes in the first outer-electrode group to predetermined outer electrodes in the second outer-electrode group.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer in which internal electrodes and piezoelectric elements are alternately layered includes outer electrodes, each being connected to the corresponding internal electrodes. The ultrasonic transducer has a first layered part, a second layered part, a first outer-electrode group, and a second outer-electrode group. The first layered part includes at least the internal electrodes, each being divided in half in a second direction orthogonal to a layering direction, which is a first direction. The second layered part includes at least the internal electrodes, each being divided in half in a third direction orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction. The first outer-electrode group is provided so as to be connected to predetermined internal electrodes in the first layered part. The second outer-electrode group is provided so as to be connected to predetermined internal electrodes in the second layered part.

Abstract: An ultrasonic linear motor according to the present invention has a configuration wherein driving elements are glued at portions on faces of an ultrasonic transducer, facing one another, where rotational directions of elliptic vibrations generated on the faces are reverse one to another, a pair of guides are provided for being pressed into against the driving elements so as to hold the ultrasonic transducer therebetween, and leaf springs serving as pressing part are provided so as to narrow a spacing between the one pair of guides, whereby the ultrasonic transducer is configured as an self-moving ultrasonic linear motor which can drive by itself. Thus, driving properties of the ultrasonic transducer itself is improved, and also the size of the ultrasonic linear motor can be reduced.

Abstract: By bonding a conductive first matching layer 14 to the acoustic radiation surface side, which is the bottom side, of a belt-shape piezoelectric element on both faces with electrodes provided, and using a dicing machine to form divided grooves 16, an array of piezoelectric elements 6, 6, . . . , 6 is formed in the element array direction. By deepening the divided grooves 16, generation of cross talk can be prevented, and by filling the portions of the divided grooves 16 not in contact with the piezoelectric elements 6 with a conductive adhesive 17, a reduction in strength due to formation of the divided grooves 16 can be prevented, and a common connection between the ground electrode 13b on the bottom surface of each piezoelectric element 6 and the conductive first matching layer 14 can be reliably secured.

Abstract: By bonding a conductive first matching layer 14 to the acoustic radiation surface side, which is the bottom side, of a belt-shape piezoelectric element on both faces with electrodes provided, and using a dicing machine to form divided grooves 16, an array of piezoelectric elements 6, 6, . . . , 6 is formed in the element array direction. By deepening the divided grooves 16, generation of cross talk can be prevented, and by filling the portions of the divided grooves 16 not in contact with the piezoelectric elements 6 with a conductive adhesive 17, a reduction in strength due to formation of the divided grooves 16 can be prevented, and a common connection between the ground electrode 13b on the bottom surface of each piezoelectric element 6 and the conductive first matching layer 14 can be reliably secured.

Abstract: By bonding a conductive first matching layer 14 to the acoustic radiation surface side, which is the bottom side, of a belt-shape piezoelectric element on both faces with electrodes provided, and using a dicing machine to form divided grooves 16, an array of piezoelectric elements 6, 6, . . . , 6 is formed in the element array direction. By deepening the divided grooves 16, generation of cross talk can be prevented, and by filling the portions of the divided grooves 16 not in contact with the piezoelectric elements 6 with a conductive adhesive 17, a reduction in strength due to formation of the divided grooves 16 can be prevented, and a common connection between the ground electrode 13b on the bottom surface of each piezoelectric element 6 and the conductive first matching layer 14 can be reliably secured.