Abstract: An ultrasonic rotary drive device includes an ultrasonic motor including an ultrasonic generating portion and a first rotary output portion, wherein the first rotary output portion is in contact with the ultrasonic generating portion to be rotatable relative to the ultrasonic generating portion and rotates by ultrasonic vibrations generated by the ultrasonic generating portion; and a one-way rotational transfer mechanism including a rotary input portion and a second rotary output portion. The rotary input portion rotates with the first rotary output portion. The second rotary output portion is rotatable independently of the rotary input portion. Rotation of the rotary input portion is transferred to the second rotary output portion when the rotary input portion is rotated. Rotation of the second rotary output portion is prevented from being transferred to the rotary input portion when the second rotary output portion is rotated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a drive system comprising at least one motor with at least one vibration generator each as well as at least one resonator each and a device driven by said motor, wherein the resonator comprises a contact area that cooperates with the surface of the device in order to drive said device.

Abstract: An optical assembly that contains an optical device movably attached to a apparatus for driving a threaded shaft assembly. The apparatus contains of a threaded shaft with an axis of rotation and, engaged therewith, a threaded nut. The assembly contains a device for subjecting the threaded nut to ultrasonic vibrations and thereby causing said the shaft to simultaneously rotate and translate in the axial direction.

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: A mover assembly (16) that moves or positions an object (12) along a first axis includes a motor (20) and a coupling assembly (22). The motor (20) includes a motor output (332) that is moved along the first axis and about the first axis. The coupling assembly (22) includes a stage (344) that couples the motor output (332) to the object (12) and a stage guide (346) that guides the motion of the stage (344) along the first axis. In one embodiment, the stage guide (346) is a linear bearing that allows for motion of the stage (344) along the first axis and inhibits motion of the stage (344) about the first axis, along a second axis and along a third axis. Additionally, the coupling assembly (22) can include a measurement system (28) that monitors the movement of the stage (344).

Abstract: An actuator includes a vibrating substrate having a first electrode on a surface thereof and configured to be reciprocally moved according to a minute displacement of a vibrator, a moving body arranged on the surface of a vibrating substrate and having a second electrode on a surface thereof which faces the first electrode with an insulating layer disposed therebetween, and a controller configured to move the moving body by applying voltage between the first and second electrodes to exert electrostatic adsorptive force therebetween and controlling frictional force between the vibrating substrate and the moving body. The actuator further includes an electric field reduction area configured to shield an electric field occurring between the first and second electrodes by the voltage applied therebetween in a portion which lies outside the first electrode on the surface of the vibrating substrate and faces the moving body.

Abstract: An oscillatory-wave actuator is provided capable of simplifying the structure of a driving circuit. Push-up vibration is formed in an oscillating body including three piezoelectrics and an elastic body by applying an AC voltage to the first piezoelectric. The second piezoelectric outputs a vibration-detecting voltage according to the amplitude of the push-up vibration, and the third piezoelectric receives the vibration-detecting voltage and generates torsional vibration in the oscillating body. As a result, a traveling oscillatory wave can be formed in the elastic body by use of a single-phase driving voltage (AC voltage).

Abstract: A frequency control circuit including a control circuit for setting a set value, an adding circuit for adding the set value per unit time and effecting counting based on the adding result, and a signal output circuit for outputting an alternating signal of a cycle corresponding to the time necessary for the count result by the adding circuit to reach a target value. The control circuit sets the set value as a value which does not correspond to a submultiple of the target value, and the adding circuit starts the counting of a next cycle when the count result reaches the target value. The control circuit further sets an initial value of the counting of the next cycle in accordance with a value of a portion of the adding results, exceeding the target value when the count result reaches the target value.

Abstract: A piezoelectric element expands and contracts when a pulse voltage is applied. A fixing body is fixed to one end of the piezoelectric element in an expansion-contraction direction. A driving shaft is fixed to the other end of the piezoelectric element in the expansion-contraction direction. A movable body is supported to the driving shaft slidably. When a pulse voltage is applied to the piezoelectric element, the piezoelectric element contracts and expands. Accordingly, the driving shaft oscillates, and the movable body slides along the driving shaft. A material of the driving shaft is fiber reinforced resin complex. A synthetic resin material composing the fiber reinforced resin complex is liquid crystal polymer or polyphenylene sulfide.

Abstract: An optical assembly that contains an optical device movably attached to a apparatus for driving a threaded shaft assembly. The apparatus contains of a threaded shaft with an axis of rotation and, engaged therewith, a threaded nut. The assembly contains a device for subjecting the threaded nut to ultrasonic vibrations and thereby causing said the shaft to simultaneously rotate and translate in the axial direction.

Abstract: A motion actuator comprises a cylindrical movable shaft and a stage that contains an expansible/contractible device and two clamps. The expansible/contractible device can be controlled to drive the axial motion of the movable shaft, and the two clamps can be controlled to grip/release the shaft. The two clamps and the expansible/contractible device are each controlled by a bimorph structure, which comprises a cut cylindrical piezoelectric tube section in a hole enclosed by a thin wall in the stage. By sequentially activating the three piezoelectric tube sections, axial motions of the movable shaft relative to the stage in small steps are made. Each of the two clamps can be adjusted by a screw, which presses a spring structure that makes contact with the top surface of the movable shaft, so that the clamps can grip the movable shaft firmly when actuated, but not when not actuated. The flat top surface of the movable shaft is designed to inhibit the possible rotation along its axis during its axial motion.

Abstract: The invention relates to an inserting and extracting device for rotatable data carrier plates which mechanically moves the data carrier plate (1) from an inserting position into a playing position before playing and back into the inserting position again after playing, with parallel guide rails (2) which extend over the full range of movement for insertion and extraction and which guide the data carrier plate (1) in grooves (5) at diagonally mutually opposed edge regions, wherein at least one of the guide rails (2) transmits to the data carrier plate (1) motion pulses in one of its directions of movement, by means of which pulses the data carrier plate (1) is moved in the insertion or extraction direction.

Abstract: A drive apparatus for a piezoelectric actuator prevents locking drive frequency in a state of resonance due to harmonics. There is no need to provide external components to filter, and circuitry can easily be reduced in size. The drive apparatus has a phase difference-DC conversion circuit to detect vibrating state of the vibrating body, a comparison circuit, a harmonics detection circuit to detect that the vibrating body is resonating due to harmonics and outputting a harmonics detection signal, an integration circuit to control the frequency of the drive signal supplied to the piezoelectric element of the vibrating body, a variable frequency oscillation circuit, and a drive circuit.

Abstract: A digital camera is constructed with multiple lenses mounted in a pair of tubular elements which are nested together for relative axial movement. Movement is provided by piezoelectric actuators mounted externally to a support tube on flexible printed circuit board elements. Each lens tube is provided with a drive rail which extends at least partially over the length of the lens tube and projects radially outward from the periphery of each of the tubes. The rails are accessible to the engagement pads of the piezoelectric actuators to allow the transmission of drive forces to each of the tubes.

Abstract: Ultrasonic devices having transducer assembly including a stack of alternating electrodes and piezoelectric elements. A mounting device having a first and second end is adapted to receive ultrasonic vibration from the stack and transmit it from the first to the second end. A bolt including a head and shaft is configured to threadedly engaged the mounting device. The transducer assembly includes a deformable pressure element having a central opening that permits insertion of the shaft therethrough, and has a convex side facing the bolt head and a concave side facing the stack in a non-deformed state, but, in a deformed state, applies compression forces to the stack based on the deformation. The deformable pressure element may alternately include a surface area, in its deformed state, substantially equivalent to the surface area of a piezoelectric element and/or a first and second beveled surface defining the concave side.

Abstract: A piezoelectric motor has an actuator which drives a slider. The actuator has a rectangular steel core of square cross-section with an axially projection driving tip. A ceramic piezoelectric element is bonded to each of the four faces of the core. Each piezoelectric element has four quadrants covered by quadrant electrodes on one side and a common or earth electrode on the other side contacting the core which electrically joins the common electrodes. By selective excitation of corresponding diagonally opposite quadrants of opposite piezoelectric elements, the actuator is made to drive the tip in either the X direction or the Y direction. The preferred slider is a spherical ball held captive within arms extending from a housing of the actuator. The driving tip is pressed against the ball by a preload spring acting on the actuator.

Abstract: A mover assembly (16) that moves or positions an object (12) includes a mover output (226), an actuator (230), and a measurement system (20). The mover output (226) is connected o the object (12), and the actuator (230) causes the mover output (226) to rotate about a first axis and move along the first axis. In this embodiment, the measurement system (20) directly measures the movement of the mover output (226) and provides feedback regarding the position of the mover output (226).

Abstract: A driving device of the disclosure has an electromechanical transducer that extends and contracts upon application of voltage thereto and a support member that slidably supports a movable body and is displaced with the electromechanical transducer to which the support member is connected. The disclosed device includes a drive circuit that applies the voltage to the electromechanical transducer is such that the voltage which increases or decreases from a first voltage to a last voltage in a stepped manner and in which at least three values sequentially circulate. A period of time for which the first voltage is applied is changeable. By this method, the movable body is moved with respect to the support member by making a difference between an extension velocity and a contraction velocity.

Abstract: An ultrasonic motor includes an annular stator, a rotor, a rectangular parallelepiped multilayer piezoelectric transducer, a support shaft, three transducers with drivers, a holder for holding the transducers with an elastic plate therebetween, and a leaf spring for urging the holder. The holder having the transducers is inserted into transducer attaching holes arranged at positions where the circumference of the stator is divided into three parts in a state wherein the holder is urged by the leaf spring from the back of the holder. The leaf spring abuts and urges the drivers of the transducer against a hardwearing ring fixed to the outer circumference of the rotor on the side of the internal circumference of the stator. When the transducer is driven so as to excite an elliptical movement produced in the drivers by combining a bending standing-wave vibration with a longitudinal vibration, the rotor is rotated relative to the stator.

Abstract: A driving device according to the present invention includes an electromechanical transducer secured at its one end to a stationary body, a driving frictional member secured to the other end of the electromechanical transducer, and a moving body which frictionally engage with the driving frictional member. The moving body has a length smaller than the total length of the stationary body, the electromechanical transducer 5 and the driving frictional member. The moving body moves such that it extends beyond the lengthwise end portions of the driving frictional member.

Abstract: A vibration wave linear motor is a vibration wave linear motor that can drive a plurality of driving targets with a simple and small configuration. In the linear motor, two guide members sandwich two vibrators, which are individually and electrically connected to a driving circuit by a flexible board and an electrode connecting part, and individually driven with an independent operation. Two lens frames are individually driven by the two vibrators via a pin member, a board spring, and an engagement protruding part. For example, in a lens apparatus, one of the two lens frames holds a lens unit in the third group, which is involved in focus achievement, whereas the other lens frame holds a lens unit in the second group, which is involved in zooming.

Abstract: The vibration wave motor of the present invention comprises a body to be driven, and a plurality of vibrators each of which is provided with a drive contact part contacting the outer surface of the body to be driven, is connected to a base and is disposed around the body to be driven. The base and the body to be driven are reciprocally driven linearly in a state where the longitudinal direction of the vibrator and the driven direction of the body to be driven are matched.

Abstract: A piezoelectric vibrator includes: a flat plate piezoelectric element, the piezoelectric vibrator vibrating in a mixed mode of stretching vibration that generates a displacement in a first direction within a plane of the piezoelectric element and a bending vibration that generates a displacement in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction; a vibrating member provided with the piezoelectric element and vibrated by applying voltage on the piezoelectric element; a support member provided on the vibrating member to support the vibrating member in a vibratable manner the support member being provided on an outer edge of the vibrating member at a position adjacent to anti-node other than free end of the bending vibration, the support member including a first support section extending in a direction approximately orthogonal to the first direction and a second support section extending in a direction approximately orthogonal to the direction in which the first support section extends; and a fixing portion

Abstract: A rectangular vibrating plate 10 in which a piezoelectric element and a reinforcing plate are stacked is supported on a main plate by a support member 11, and is urged toward the rotor 100 by an elastic force of the support member 11. This brings a projection 36 provided on the vibrating plate 10 into abutment with an outer peripheral surface of the rotor 100. In this construction, when the vibrating plate 10 vibrates in the horizontal direction in the figure by an applied voltage from a driving circuit (not shown), the rotor 100 is rotated in a clockwise direction in accordance with the displacement of the projection 36 due to the vibration.

Abstract: A driving apparatus of the invention is arranged to drive an optical lens according to expansion and contraction of an electromechanical transducer. The driving apparatus comprises a fixed member connected to one end of the electromechanical transducer in a direction of expansion and contraction; a friction drive shaft connected to the other end of the electromechanical transducer; a hinge fixedly provided relative to the optical lens; a first frictional connecting part fixedly provided relative to the optical lens; a second frictional connecting part which is movably provided relative to the hinge and grasps the frictional drive shaft in cooperation with the first frictional connecting part from a direction perpendicular to the expansion and contraction direction of the electromechanical transducer; and a spring mounted extending around the optical lens and pinch the first and the second frictional connecting parts between both ends of the spring.

Abstract: A frequency of a drive signal supplied to a piezoelectric element is swept within a specific range, a detection signal indicating the vibrating state of a vibrating member is detected, and the sweep speed of the drive signal frequency supplied to the piezoelectric element is controlled based on this detection signal. Thus, even if nonuniformities occur in the drive frequency of the piezoelectric element due to fluctuations in the surrounding temperature or the load, such nonuniformities can be overcome without any adjustments, and the piezoelectric element can be reliably driven. Also, since the sweep speed of the drive signal frequency is at a high speed when the vibrating member is in a non-drive state, needless drive signal output time during which the piezoelectric element cannot be driven can be reduced, needless power consumption can be curtailed, and nonuniformities in the drive speed of the driven object can also be reduced.

Abstract: An ultrasonic motor includes rotors and an annular stator, which are integrated in the rotational direction, a rectangular parallelepiped multilayer piezoelectric transducer, a support shaft, and a transducer with drivers. The support shaft is attached to the outer circumference of the stator and arranged along the radial direction, and the drivers are abutted by a spring urging force to the rotors arranged on both sides of the stator in the axial direction, and are clamped with the rotors. When the transducer is driven so as to excite an elliptical movement produced by combining a bending standing-wave vibration with a longitudinal vibration with the drivers, the rotors are rotated relatively to the stator. Since the drivers are clamped with the integrated rotors, the ultrasonic motor can be driven with small frictional loss and improved conversion efficiency.

Abstract: A vibration-wave drive motor incorporating a multilayer piezoelectric element having reduced vibration damping as well as a design lending itself to reduced manufacturing costs and miniaturization. The multilayer piezoelectric element includes a piezoelectric active part formed by a plurality of piezoelectric layers having an internal electrode, and a piezoelectric inactive part formed by an integrated piezoelectric layer with no internal electrodes. The vibration-wave drive motor consists of a vibration body including the multilayer piezoelectric element, and a contact body press contacting the vibration body.

Abstract: An operating apparatus 1 of the present invention has a driven element 5, a frame 4 having a contacted element 51 and rotatably supporting the driven element 5, and an ultrasonic motor. The ultrasonic motor includes a vibrating element 6. The vibrating element 6 includes a first piezoelectric element 62 that undergoes extension and contraction by application of an AC voltage, a reinforcing plate 63 having a contact portion 66 and an arm portion 68, and a second piezoelectric element 64 that undergoes extension and contraction by application of an AC voltage. The first piezoelectric element 62, the reinforcing plate 63, and the second piezoelectric element 64 are laminated in this order. The vibrating element 6 is fixedly mounted on the driven element 5 in a state where the contact portion 66 abuts on the contacted element 51.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a piezoelectric motor having a stator in the form of a hollow-cylindrical oscillator, the at least one front side of which has frictional contact with a rotor and which comprises standing wave generators. According to the invention the hollow cylinder is set into a coupled tangential-axial oscillation mode so that the cylinder mainly has tangential and axial oscillatory components. The oscillatory speed maximums of the tangential components are formed on the front sides of the hollow cylinder and those of the axial components directly underneath thereof, wherein the components decrease towards the center of the cylinder height and, in the center of the cylinder height, substantially parallel to the front sides, a nodal line is formed on which the axial oscillatory component adopts the value zero and the tangential components adopt a minimum.

Abstract: An ultrasonic motor constructed so as to have improved driving force, reduced vibrational loss and smaller dimensions as compared with the conventional art. A piezoelectric vibrator generates a vibrational driving force in response to a received drive signal. A drive signal generator generates the drive signal. The drive signal is transmitted along leads to support members. The support members support, and are in electrical connection with, the piezoelectric vibrator on the substrate. Thus, the support member is effective for both supporting the piezoelectric member and for transmitting the drive signal from the drive signal generator to the piezoelectric vibrator. A moving member is in communication with the piezoelectric vibrator and moves in response to the vibrational driving force. The support member may be comprised of an elastic material so that it is effective for urging the piezoelectric vibrator against the moving member.

Abstract: A digital camera is constructed with multiple lenses mounted in a pair of tubular elements which are nested together for relative axial movement. Movement is provided by piezoelectric actuators mounted externally to a support tube on flexible printed circuit board elements. Each lens tube is provided with a drive rail which extends at least partially over the length of the lens tube and projects radially outward from the periphery of each of the tubes. The rails are accessible to the engagement pads of the piezoelectric actuators to allow the transmission of drive forces to each of the tubes.

Abstract: A method for accelerating or decelerating a moveable body which body is moved by urging a piezoelectric micromotor to the body in a first direction so that a contact region of the piezoelectric motor is pressed to the body and exciting vibrations in the piezoelectric micromotor at the contact region in the first direction and in a second direction along a direction of motion of the body, said vibrations having a first amplitude in the first direction and a second amplitude in the second direction, the method comprising: a) for acceleration, gradually changing a ratio between the second amplitude relative to the first amplitude from substantially zero to a desired non-zero value; or b) for deceleration, gradually changing the ratio between the second amplitude relative to the first amplitude from a non-zero value to substantially zero.

Abstract: In manufacturing electromechanical drive elements, vibration properties are defined in a test environment. These properties are found to give a good operation when being arranged in a motor. Two flexural vibration modes are defined. One is an s-mode connected to an element being strapped at two supports at respective outer portions. The s-mode have three nodal points. The other vibration mode is an ?-mode connected to an element being strapped at the supports and at a drive pad arranged at a middle portion. The ?-mode has one nodal point at each side of the middle portion and the middle portion has a stroke amplitude that is smaller than stroke amplitudes at portions between the middle portion and the nodal points. An average of the resonance frequencies of the s-mode strapped at two and three points, respectively, differs from and the ?-mode resonance frequency by less than 25%.

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: A piezoelectric motor comprising: a piezoelectric vibrator having an axis of symmetry and a first vibration mode, which when excited generates oscillatory motion of mass points in the vibrator parallel to the axis of symmetry; and at least one friction nub having a center of mass displaced from the axis of symmetry, as a result of which displacement, when the vibration mode is excited, torque is generated on the vibrator that excites a second vibration mode of the vibrator.

Abstract: An apparatus including a base configured to slidably engage a driven element, a piezoelectric element interposing the base and the driven element and attached to the base proximate a first piezoelectric element end, and a friction element attached proximate a second piezoelectric element end and configured to selectively engage the driven element.

Abstract: A rod is sawtooth-like vibrated by cyclically applying, to a piezoelectric element, voltage values which are stepwise and sequentially increased or decreased, so that a moving unit is driven along the rod in one direction or the opposite direction. The sequentially increased or decreased voltage values are generated by controlling of turning “on” or “off” of a plurality of switching elements, which are disposed in a circuit arrangement, wherein the piezoelectric element, and 1st and 2nd capacitors are arranged between a positive power supply and a negative power supply. When the 1st capacitor has a parallel positional relationship with the piezoelectric element and the 2nd capacitor serially connected, a switching element serially connected to the 1st capacitor is opened. When the 2nd capacitor has a parallel positional relationship with the piezoelectric element and the 1st capacitor serially connected, a switching element serially connected to the 2nd capacitor is opened.

Abstract: To provide a driving device, utilizing an electromechanical conversion element, having a driving pulse generating means capable of generating a sawtooth waveform driving voltage with a simple circuit configuration. The driving device includes: an electromechanical conversion element which is connected to the driving pulse generating means and extends and contracts, and one end of which in an extension/contraction direction is fixed; a rod, one end of which is fixed to the other end in an extension/contraction direction of the electromechanical conversion element; and a moving body, frictionally coupled to the periphery of the rod, moving along the rod corresponding to the vibration of the rod due to the extension/contraction of the electromechanical conversion element.

Abstract: A piezoelectric system has a piezoelectric motor (20) driving a driven element (22) so as to move the driven element (822) in response to an electric signal (25). The motor (20) has at least a first optimal operating frequency at which the motor (20) moves the driven element (22) an amount that meets predetermined criteria. The motor (20) and driven element (22) have a desired performance criteria when operated at that first operating frequency. A plurality of concatenated sinusoidal sweeping frequencies are repeatedly supplied to the piezoelectric motor (20) with at least one of the sweeping frequencies being sufficiently close to the first operating frequency to cause detectable motion of the driven element (22). The frequencies are varied in response to movement of at least one of the motor (20) and the driven element (22) to produce an average performance of the motor (20) and driven element (22) for a time corresponding to the time for one sweep of frequencies.

Abstract: A vibration-type driving device comprises a vibration element including a driving member and an electro-mechanical energy conversion element having an electrode and arranged to displace the driving member with a driving signal supplied to the electrode, and a driven element that is kept in contact with the driving member of the vibration element. According to the driving signal supplied to the electrode of the electro-mechanical energy conversion element, the vibration element excites vibrations in two flexural vibration modes in which a direction of generation of a node in one mode is perpendicular to that in the other mode.

Abstract: A piezoelectric drive that is used to create a relative movement between a first and a second body on a plane of movement. The drive includes a flat metal sheet (1) that forms, or is secured to, the first body and that is arranged parallel to the plane of movement. The metal sheet (1) has a rest region (3) and at least one resonator area (4). An elastic spring area (5), which is parallel to the plane of the metal sheet, is disposed between the rest region (3) and the resonator area (4). A flat, rectangular piezoelement (6), which can be excited in a 3,1 mode, is coupled to a longitudinal axis (A) such that the longitudinal axis of the piezoelement (6) lies essentially on a longitudinal axis of the resonator area (4). The resonator area (4) protrudes above the piezoelement (6) in the direction of the longitudinal axes (A), and forms a tapered horn shape (7).

Abstract: A piezo actuator system, is presented herein. A piezo actuator system comprises a number of piezo actuators which may lengthen and shear. Using the lengthening and shearing, the piezo actuator system grips and moves an object in response to a first and a second control signal, respectively. The possible displacement of the object is limited by the maximum shear of the piezo actuators. To increase the possible displacement, the piezo actuators may be controlled to perform a linear shear sequence or a shuffle sequence. During the linear shear sequence, the object is moved; during the shuffle sequence the object is substantially stationary, while the piezo actuators are repositioned with respect to the object, after which the object may be moved further using the linear shear sequence.

Abstract: A single piezoelectric is excited at a first frequency to cause two vibration modes in a resonator producing a first elliptical motion in a first direction at a selected contacting portion of the resonator that is placed in frictional engagement with a driven element to move the driven element in a first direction. A second frequency excites the same piezoelectric to cause two vibration modes of the resonator producing a second elliptical motion in a second direction at the selected contacting portion to move the driven element in a second direction. The piezoelectric is preloaded in compression by the resonator. Walls of the resonator are stressed past their yield point to maintain the preload. Specially shaped ends on the piezoelectric help preloading. The piezoelectric can send or receive vibratory signals through the driven element to or from sensors to determine the position of the driven element relative to the piezoelectric element or resonator.

Abstract: An optical assembly that contains an optical device movably attached to a apparatus for driving a threaded shaft assembly. The apparatus contains of a threaded shaft with an axis of rotation and, engaged therewith, a threaded nut. The assembly contains a device for subjecting the threaded nut to ultrasonic vibrations and thereby causing said the shaft to simultaneously rotate and translate in the axial direction.

Abstract: In a drive apparatus having a vibration-generator including a plurality of electromechanical conversion elements, a plurality of weights located between each of the electromechanical conversion elements, and a rod fixed to one end of an electromechanical conversion element, a mass and a spring constant of each component included in the vibration-generator are determined, so that a relationship of integral multiple is satisfied. Thus, highly efficient driving with taking advantage of the resonance frequencies can be realized, and thus the energy consumption can be saved.

Abstract: A peristaltic actuating element (30) is arranged against a body (20). The peristaltic actuating element (30) comprises volumes (34A–G) of electromechanical material and is arranged for selectively causing a dimension change in a main motion direction (90) of the peristaltic actuating element (30) within a limited peristaltic section (40). By changing voltage signals activating the volumes (34A–G), the peristaltic section (40) is caused to move along the peristaltic actuating element (30). The body (20) interacting with the peristaltic actuating element is thereby displaced relative to the peristaltic actuating element (30). Preferably, the length of the peristaltic section (40) is less than half the length of the entire peristaltic actuating element (30), more preferably much less. It is also preferred, if the peristaltic actuating element (30) is arranged so that the surface (32) interacting with the body (20) is removed therefrom within the peristaltic section (40).

Abstract: A motor includes a resonator and a vibration source coupled to the resonator. The vibration source can be a piezoelectric vibration source. A drive shaft is coupled to the resonator via a linkage. The vibration source(s) impart a vibration along the resonator such that a lateral displacement of the resonator is focused at a location coupled to the linkage. The lateral displacement is coupled to the drive shaft to provide rotational motion of the drive shaft.

Abstract: A rotation/displacement converting actuator has an actuator unit constituted by a displacing body and an actuator in which the displacing body can be linearly displaced. The actuator has a pair of plate-shaped bases, a rotor, a vibrating element that rotates the rotor, and a cam mechanism for converting rotary motion of the rotor to linear motion of the displacing body. The rotor is fixed to a shaft to which the rotor (cam rotor) is fixed. An outer circumferential surface of the rotor constitutes a cam surface of the cam mechanism. A roller is provided at a tip portion of the displacing body. The roller abuts on the outer circumferential surface (cam surface) of the rotor.