Abstract: An actuator includes a rotor, a stator containing the rotor, and a bearing to support the rotor to be rotatable with respect to the stator about the central axis of the rotor and an axis perpendicular to the central axis. The rotor includes rotor central magnetic poles, a rotor upper magnetic pole, and a rotor lower magnetic pole. The stator includes stator central magnetic poles larger in number than the rotor central magnetic poles, stator upper magnetic poles, stator lower magnetic poles, central coils to appropriately magnetize the stator central magnetic poles, upper coils to appropriately magnetize the stator upper magnetic poles, and lower coils to appropriately magnetize the stator lower magnetic poles. The length of each stator central magnetic pole along a central axis of the stator is larger than a length of each rotor central magnetic pole along the central axis of the rotor.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a metal disk discrimination apparatus including: two magnetic sensors configured to sandwich a target metal disk, the magnetic sensor including: a core having: leg portions exhibiting opposite magnetic polarities, the leg portion having an end face facing the target metal disk, and a connection portion magnetically connecting the leg portions; and coils respectively wound on the leg portions; an oscillation circuit that passes an alternating current through the coil; and a signal processing unit that determines a shape of the target metal disk by comparing an output signal of the magnetic sensors with a reference value, the output signal corresponding to a change in impedance of the coils. A radius of curvature of the end face in a part adjacent to another end face is not larger than a radius of the target metal disk.

Abstract: A piezoelectric motor includes: a base; first and second piezoelectric elements that are provided symmetrically on the base to face with each other, the first and second piezoelectric elements actuating in opposite directions; first and second displacement enlarging mechanisms that respectively enlarge actuating displacements of the first and second piezoelectric elements through first and second levers that rotate around first and second fulcrums fixed to the base; first and second leaf springs that are respectively coupled to action points of the first and second levers at one ends thereof; and an actuating portion that is coupled to the other ends of the first and second leaf springs and swings in accordance with actuation of the first and the second piezoelectric elements, the actuating portion being urged against a driven member to actuate the driven member with a frictional force.

Abstract: A piezoelectric motor includes: a driven member having a substantially spherical shape; a base; a support member provided on the base; a gimbal frame that is provided on a periphery of the driven member; a first bearing that couples the gimbal frame to the support member to be rotatable around a first rotation axis; a second bearing that couples the driven member to the gimbal frame to be rotatable around a second rotation axis that is orthogonal to the first rotation axis; a plurality of piezoelectric elements, each of which has one end fixed onto the base and the other end disposed to be in contact with an actuation portion that abuts the driven member; and an elastic portion that is formed on the gimbal frame, the elastic portion being displaceable in a direction orthogonal to the first rotation axis and the second rotation axis.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electrostatic actuator having a small power consumption and also provides a driving method thereof. The electrostatic actuator comprises first and second substrates having first and second stator electrodes formed thereon, respectively, and a movable section arranged between the first and second stator electrodes. The movable section has first and second surfaces that are positioned to face the first and second stator electrodes, respectively. In first and second moving modes, the movable section is slightly moved between the first and second substrates in response to the signal voltage from the driving circuit. Also, in the holding mode, the movable section is held by one of the first and second stator electrodes and, under this condition, at least one of the stator electrode holding the movable section and the movable section held by the stator electrode is left electrically floating.

Abstract: There is provided with command execution method, including; detecting a use situation of a non-volatile memory; selecting, when the use situation is low, the command which enables the disk head to be located at a start position of writing or reading most rapidly from among the write commands and the read commands assuming that the disk head performs the fast seek for the write command and the slow seek for the read command; selecting, when the use situation of the non-volatile memory is high, the command which enables the disk head to be located at the start position of writing or reading most rapidly from among the write commands and the read commands assuming that the disk head performs the slow seek.

Abstract: An actuator includes a rotor, a stator containing the rotor, and a bearing to support the rotor to be rotatable with respect to the stator about the central axis of the rotor and an axis perpendicular to the central axis. The rotor includes rotor central magnetic poles, a rotor upper magnetic pole, and a rotor lower magnetic pole. The stator includes stator central magnetic poles larger in number than the rotor central magnetic poles, stator upper magnetic poles, stator lower magnetic poles, central coils to appropriately magnetize the stator central magnetic poles, upper coils to appropriately magnetize the stator upper magnetic poles, and lower coils to appropriately magnetize the stator lower magnetic poles. The length of each stator central magnetic pole along a central axis of the stator is larger than a length of each rotor central magnetic pole along the central axis of the rotor.

Abstract: A piezoelectric motor includes: a plurality of piezoelectric units, respectively in contact with a driven target, disposed separately from each other, and configured to drive the driven target; and a magnet configured to apply a preload force to each of the plurality of piezoelectric units by magnetically attracting the driven target in the absence of direct contact with the driven target.

Abstract: A camera unit includes a soft substrate on which electrode regions and an image pickup device region are disposed, a driving electrode group disposed on one of the electrode regions, an image pickup device disposed on the image pickup device region, stationary unit frame attaching portions disposed at positions surrounding the image pickup device region, a stationary unit frame attached to the stationary unit frame attaching portions, and movable units disposed in the stationary unit frame. The soft substrate is bent along bending positions between the electrode regions and the image pickup device region, the electrode regions are fixed on sides of the stationary unit frame inwardly thereof, and the image pickup device region is fixed on an end surface of the stationary unit frame toward the movable units.

Abstract: A camera unit includes a soft substrate on which electrode regions and an image pickup device region are disposed, a driving electrode group disposed on one of the electrode regions, an image pickup device disposed on the image pickup device region, stationary unit frame attaching portions disposed at positions surrounding the image pickup device region, a stationary unit frame attached to the stationary unit frame attaching portions, and movable units disposed in the stationary unit frame. The soft substrate is bent along bending positions between the electrode regions and the image pickup device region, the electrode regions are fixed on sides of the stationary unit frame inwardly thereof, and the image pickup device region is fixed on an end surface of the stationary unit frame toward the movable units.

Abstract: There is provided with command execution method, including; detecting a use situation of a non-volatile memory; selecting, when the use situation is low, the command which enables the disk head to be located at a start position of writing or reading most rapidly from among the write commands and the read commands assuming that the disk head performs the fast seek for the write command and the slow seek for the read command; selecting, when the use situation of the non-volatile memory is high, the command which enables the disk head to be located at the start position of writing or reading most rapidly from among the write commands and the read commands assuming that the disk head performs the slow seek.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes a stator frame, a driving electrode substrate patterned with a polyphase stator electrode and mounted to the stator frame, a holding electrode substrate patterned with a stator electrode and mounted to the stator frame oppositely to the driving electrode substrate, a plurality of movable sections movably provided between the driving electrode substrate and the holding electrode substrate, and a holder mounted so as to project out beyond an outer surface of at least one of the plural movable sections for holding a lens in the movable section.

Abstract: In a zoom lens unit, substrate are arranged to be faced to each other and are provided with first driving electrodes used to drive a first movable section and second driving electrodes used to drive a second movable section, respectively. A recessed portion is formed in the first movable section so as to face the second driving electrodes. A recessed portion is also formed in the second movable section so as to face the first driving electrodes. The first and second movable sections can be independently controlled to achieve a zoom operation.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electrostatic actuator having a small power consumption and also provides a driving method thereof. The electrostatic actuator comprises first and second substrates having first and second stator electrodes formed thereon, respectively, and a movable section arranged between the first and second stator electrodes. The movable section has first and second surfaces that are positioned to face the first and second stator electrodes, respectively. In first and second moving modes, the movable section is slightly moved between the first and second substrates in response to the signal voltage from the driving circuit. Also, in the holding mode, the movable section is held by one of the first and second stator electrodes and, under this condition, at least one of the stator electrode holding the movable section and the movable section held by the stator electrode is left electrically floating.

Abstract: In an electrostatic actuator, stoppers are provided on a driving electrode substrate. Stoppers are provided so that when a first movable section moves in the direction in which a penetrating portion penetrates a stator frame, a gap is created between driving electrodes and a movable-section driving electrode, with the stoppers lying opposite stoppers. This makes it possible to reduce the possibility of destroying the electrostatic actuator even if the movable section is deformed.

Abstract: In a zoom lens unit, substrate are arranged to be faced to each other and are provided with first driving electrodes used to drive a first movable section and second driving electrodes used to drive a second movable section, respectively. A recessed portion is formed in the first movable section so as to face the second driving electrodes. A recessed portion is also formed in the second movable section so as to face the first driving electrodes. The first and second movable sections can be independently controlled to achieve a zoom operation.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an electrostatic actuator that can be easily assembled and suitably mass-produced and that can implement requirements of both the steady, smooth and stable operation and the enhanced reliability. The present invention is also directed to a method of activating such an electrostatic actuator, and a camera module used with the same.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an electrostatic actuator that can be easily assembled and suitably mass-produced and that can implement requirements of both the steady, smooth and stable operation and the enhanced reliability. The present invention is also directed to a method of activating such an electrostatic actuator, and a camera module used with the same.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an electrostatic actuator that can be easily assembled and suitably mass-produced and that can implement requirements of both the steady, smooth and stable operation and the enhanced reliability. The present invention is also directed to a method of activating such an electrostatic actuator, and a camera module used with the same.

Abstract: An electrostatic actuator comprises first and second movable sections and a stator. The stator has a hollow frame into which the movable sections are arranged independently. Driving electrodes are provided on surfaces of the movable sections and holding electrodes are also provided on the opposite surfaces pf the movable section. A driving electrode section is provided on the inner surface of the stator facing the driving electrodes on the movable section. Also, holding electrode sections are provided on the inner surface of the stator facing the holding electrodes on the movable section. Stripes of the electrodes are arranged in a longitudinal direction and each strip is extended in a lateral direction crossing the longitudinal direction, and the holding electrodes are extended in the longitudinal direction.