Motor Producing Continual Motion Patents (Class 310/323.02)
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Patent number: 8836200Abstract: Apparatus (5,50) for generating torsional-mode ultrasonic vibrations comprises a stack of axially-polarized piezo-electric ceramic rings (10) having a torsional converter (1,51,53) mounted coaxially to either one face of the stack or to two opposite faces thereof. Each torsional converter (1,51,53) has a cross-sectional inhomogeneity comprising a plurality of helically-extending grooves (2,55) extending substantially from end to end of the converter. The grooves (2,55) each have a length, measured axially along the converter (1,51,53), of approximately half the wavelength of ultrasonic vibrations therein. When the stack is energized, the stack and the converter (1) or converters (51,53) resonate together in a purely torsional-mode vibration. The apparatus (5,50) is compact and axisymmetric, and is straightforward to incorporate into a simple tool handpiece. The ultrasonic vibrations may be transmitted along a conventional elongate waveguide (3) of a tool to a distal operative tip (35).Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2009Date of Patent: September 16, 2014Assignee: SRA Developments LimitedInventors: Michael John Radley Young, Stephen Michael Radley Young, James Anton Slipszenko, Michael James Ede
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Patent number: 8827428Abstract: A piezoelectric motor includes a piezoelectric element having a piezoelectric layer, and a first and a second electrodes, the first electrode provided on one surface side of the piezoelectric layer, and the second electrode provided on the other surface side of the piezoelectric layer; a piezoelectric actuator having a vibrating member anchored to the first electrode of the piezoelectric element; and a rotational shaft with which the vibrating member makes contact and is rotated thereby.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2010Date of Patent: September 9, 2014Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Osamu Miyazawa, Yasuharu Hashimoto, Akihito Matsumoto, Akira Matsuzawa
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Publication number: 20140239771Abstract: A piezoelectric rotary drive for a shaft, is disclosed which can include a piezoelectric actuator and a coupling portion for driving the shaft as a stick-slip drive. To transmit greater contact forces between the frame and the shaft, at least one piezoelectric actuator and an adjustable and/or deformable frame with at least one coupling portion can be coupled to the shaft in a force-locked manner so as to accomplish a stick-slip drive, wherein the frame translates a piezoelectric deformation of the actuator mechanically such that the coupling portion rotates about the axis of the shaft over at least a part of the circumference of the shaft.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 1, 2012Publication date: August 28, 2014Applicant: PHYSIK INSTRUMENTE (PI) GMBH & CO. KGInventors: Reinhard Hübner, Harry Marth
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Patent number: 8810109Abstract: A motor includes a vibrating plate having a projection part to be pressed against a driven member and a piezoelectric material provided on the vibrating plate, wherein a Young's modulus EL in the pressing direction of the vibrating plate and a Young's modulus ES in a direction crossing the pressing direction are different.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2013Date of Patent: August 19, 2014Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Koichi Kamijo, Osamu Miyazawa, Akihiro Sawada, Reiko Nagahama
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Publication number: 20140225478Abstract: A vibration element includes: a substrate; a ceramic layer containing molten glass and provided on the substrate; and a piezoelectric element fixed to the substrate with the ceramic layer therebetween, wherein the piezoelectric element includes a first electrode layer provided in contact with the ceramic layer, a second electrode layer, and a piezoelectric layer provided between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer, and the first electrode layer has a thickness larger than that of the second electrode layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 6, 2014Publication date: August 14, 2014Inventor: Yutaka Maruyama
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Publication number: 20140225479Abstract: An aspect of the present invention relates to a vibration element comprising: a substrate; a ceramic layer containing glass and provided on the substrate; and a piezoelectric element comprising an electrode layer fixed to the substrate with the ceramic layer therebetween and a piezoelectric layer, wherein the piezoelectric layer, the electrode layer, the substrate, and the ceramic layer are integrated by the piezoelectric layer, the electrode layer, the substrate, and the ceramic layer being sintered together at a sintering temperature of from 800° C. or higher to 940° C. or lower.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 7, 2014Publication date: August 14, 2014Inventor: Yutaka Maruyama
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Publication number: 20140218815Abstract: To reduce the length of the lens barrel, a vibration actuator has a vibrating element, a rotor, a pressing portion, a rotor holder that restricts a position of the rotor in the thrust and radial direction, and a bearing of which a rotation axis is coaxial with the axis of the vibrating element. The rotor holder includes an outer flange to receive the pressure force from the rotor portion, and an inner flange to serve as a first track face of the bearing.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2012Publication date: August 7, 2014Applicant: NIKON CORPORATIONInventor: Mitsuteru Hino
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Publication number: 20140210311Abstract: An electromechanical motor (1) comprises an object (2) to be moved, a vibrator beam (10), at least two protruding portions (12) attached to the vibrator beam, a normal force providing arrangement (40) applying a normal force (F) between the object and actuating ends (11) of the protruding portions for interaction with the object. The vibrator beam has vibrator beam electrodes (18A, 18B) for exciting at least one vibrator beam active volume (14) of electromechanically active material, enabling bending the vibrator beam perpendicular to a main extension direction of the vibrator beam and along the protruding portions (12). Control electronics (50), connected to the vibrator beam electrodes, is configured for providing resonance electrical signals causing the vibrator beam active volume to induce a resonant bending vibration and is further configured for providing quasi-static electrical signals causing a quasi-static motion of the actuating ends, superimposed on motion caused by the resonant bending vibration.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2011Publication date: July 31, 2014Applicant: PIEZOMOTOR UPPSALA ABInventors: Niklas Snis, Stefan Johansson
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Patent number: 8791623Abstract: An aspect of a piezoelectric actuator according to the present invention comprises: a plate-like piezoelectric element (20); a sheet (30); and a movable body (50). The piezoelectric element is provided to the sheet (30) in such a manner that the upper surface of the plate-like piezoelectric element is parallel to the upper surface of the sheet. The sheet includes a movable body driving section (40) formed on one of the upper and the lower surfaces of the sheet. A movable body includes a contact section (51) contacting with the sheet at the movable body driving section. The actuator moves the movable body driving section in a direction parallel to the upper surface of the sheet by using expansion and contraction of the piezoelectric element in a direction parallel to the upper surface of the piezoelectric element to move the movable body.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2012Date of Patent: July 29, 2014Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.Inventor: Makoto Tani
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Publication number: 20140203685Abstract: An electric motor device includes a rotor, a stator, and electrical means for driving rotation of the rotor relative to the stator, the device being characterized in that the stator includes a substantially spherical cavity receiving the rotor, which is itself substantially spherical, and in that the electrical means are arranged to drive the rotor in rotation about at least two axes. A control instrument including such a motor device.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2012Publication date: July 24, 2014Applicant: SAGEM DEFENSE SECURITEInventors: Yann Vandenba Viere, Francois Guillot
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Publication number: 20140198626Abstract: A piezoelectric motor includes a piezoelectric element having a piezoelectric layer, and a first and a second electrodes, the first electrode provided on one surface side of the piezoelectric layer, and the second electrode provided on the other surface side of the piezoelectric layer; a piezoelectric actuator having a vibrating member anchored to the first electrode of the piezoelectric element; and a rotational shaft with which the vibrating member makes contact and is rotated thereby.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2014Publication date: July 17, 2014Applicant: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Osamu Miyazawa, Yasuharu Hashimoto, Akihito Matsumoto, Akira Matsuzawa
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Patent number: 8779637Abstract: The present invention relates to a magnetic actuation method according to which a magnetized mobile (4) is directed by means of at least one magnetic element (2, 2a, 2b) placed opposite said magnetized mobile, characterized in that the preferred direction (or easy axis) of magnetization is made to turn at every point of said element by applying at least one mechanical constraint to said magnetic element(s) (2, 2, 2b), causing anisotropy within said element and thus moving the magnetized mobile in a preferred linear direction or causing the same to rotate.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2009Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignees: Institut Polytechnique de Grenoble, Centre National de la Recherche ScientifiqueInventors: Daniel O'Brien, Jérôme Delamare, Orphée Cugat, Olivier Geoffroy
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Patent number: 8760036Abstract: A vibration wave driving apparatus includes a vibrator for driving a driven body and a member for supporting the vibrator. The construction can restrain increases in the number of components and in necessary space and can maintain a stable contact state of frictional surfaces of the vibrator and the driven body.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2012Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Nobuyuki Kojima
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Publication number: 20140160583Abstract: A driving mechanism includes a first piezoelectric element that vibrates in a thickness-shear vibration mode in a first direction, a first member that is driven to vibrate in the first direction by the first piezoelectric element, a second piezoelectric element that is supported by the first member and that vibrates in the thickness-shear vibration mode in a second direction, and a second member that is driven to vibrate in the second direction by the second piezoelectric element.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2014Publication date: June 12, 2014Applicant: NIKON CORPORATIONInventors: Kunihiro KUWANO, Hiromoto KANEMITSU
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Patent number: 8749117Abstract: Provided is a vibrating body for a vibratory drive unit, including: a piezoelectric element including a piezoelectric layer and an electrode layer; and a plate-shaped elastic member bonded to the piezoelectric element, wherein the vibrating body drives a body to be driven, which is in contact with the plate-shaped elastic member, by a vibration generated in the plate-shaped elastic member through an application of a drive voltage to the piezoelectric element, and the plate-shaped elastic member has a front surface and a back surface each provided with one or a plurality of the piezoelectric elements to generate at least two different vibration modes through the application of the drive voltage to the one or the plurality of the piezoelectric elements.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2011Date of Patent: June 10, 2014Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Yutaka Maruyama
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Patent number: 8749118Abstract: A vibrating actuator assembly includes a diaphragm, at least one vibrator at the diaphragm and that vibrates when an electric signal is applied thereto, a vibration shaft having one end connected to the diaphragm, a rotor on an outer side of the vibration shaft to contact an outer surface of the vibration shaft and that moves by vibration of the vibration shaft, and an elastic presser at another end of the vibration shaft and that elastically presses the rotor toward the diaphragm.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2011Date of Patent: June 10, 2014Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Cheol-eun Jang, Chan-young Moon, Sung-wook Choi, Woo-jong Cho
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Publication number: 20140152149Abstract: A vibration-type driving device according to the present invention includes a plurality of vibrators in which contact portions perform an elliptical motion using a combination of vibrations in different vibration modes; and a driven object having contact regions that come into contact with the contact portions and move relative to the plurality of vibrators, wherein the contact regions for the individual vibrators differ in position so as not to overlap.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 6, 2014Publication date: June 5, 2014Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Nobuyuki Kojima
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Patent number: 8736143Abstract: A vibration wave driving apparatus can match the vibration direction of a projecting portion of a vibrator to the displacement direction of a contacting portion of a driven body so that the projecting portion of the vibrator and the contacting portion of the driven body can be brought into contact and driven with stability. The vibration direction of the projecting portion is affected by selecting the position of the projecting portion relative to the nodes of vibration.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2012Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yasuyuki Araki, Takayuki Tsukimoto
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Patent number: 8729773Abstract: A drive unit includes an actuator main body configured to vibrate to output a driving force, a movable body, which is contacted by the actuator main body and is movable relative to the actuator main body in a predetermined moving direction, and an opposing member positioned to face the actuator main body with the movable body interposed therebetween and hold the movable body together with the actuator main body so that the movable body is sandwiched therebetween. A portion of the movable body, which contacts the opposing member, has an elastic modulus lower than that of the opposing member.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2011Date of Patent: May 20, 2014Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Eiichi Nagaoka, Hideaki Mukae
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Patent number: 8716919Abstract: A drive apparatus according to an embodiment includes: a movable unit configured to include a first sliding surface, and slide along the first sliding surface; a vibration generating unit configured to generate vibrations; a vibration transmitting unit configured to include a second sliding surface in contact with the first sliding surface of the movable unit, and transmit the vibrations generated by the vibration generating unit to the movable unit via the first and second sliding surfaces; a pre-pressure applying unit configured to apply pre-pressure to the movable unit via the vibration transmitting unit; and a driving force generating unit configure to generate a driving force for driving the movable unit in a predetermined direction, the driving force being greater than a friction force between the first sliding surface and the second sliding surface when the vibrations are being transmitted to the vibration transmitting unit, the driving force being smaller than the friction force when the vibrations arType: GrantFiled: July 25, 2011Date of Patent: May 6, 2014Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventor: Hiroshi Takahashi
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Publication number: 20140117813Abstract: An inertial drive actuator includes a shift unit that generates a small shift, a vibration base plate that moves to and fro with the small shift of the shift unit, a mover having a first magnetic field generating unit, a first yoke, and a second yoke. The first yoke and an end portion of the second yoke are opposed to each other at a position outside the vibration base plate, thereby restricting movement of the mover with respect to the direction perpendicular to the driving direction. The frictional force acting between the mover and the vibration base plate is controlled by controlling a magnetic field generated by the first magnetic field generating unit to drive the mover.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 8, 2014Publication date: May 1, 2014Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATIONInventor: Masaya TAKAHASHI
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Patent number: 8704426Abstract: A vibration-type driving device according to the present invention includes a plurality of vibrators in which contact portions perform an elliptical motion using a combination of vibrations in different vibration modes; and a driven object having contact regions that come into contact with the contact portions and move relative to the plurality of vibrators, wherein the contact regions for the individual vibrators differ in position so as not to overlap.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2011Date of Patent: April 22, 2014Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Nobuyuki Kojima
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Publication number: 20140104711Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator includes: a plurality of first piezoelectric elements; a first member that is interposed between the plurality of first piezoelectric elements and that is driven in a first direction by the plurality of first piezoelectric elements; a second piezoelectric element that is disposed on the first member; and a second member that is disposed in contact with the second piezoelectric element and that is driven in a second direction intersecting the first direction by the second piezoelectric element.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 26, 2013Publication date: April 17, 2014Applicant: NIKON CORPORATIONInventors: Kunihiro KUWANO, Hiromoto KANAMITSU
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Patent number: 8698375Abstract: A vibration wave driving apparatus including: a vibrator in which a first elastic body, a second elastic body and an electrical-mechanical energy converting element provided between the first and the second elastic bodies are arranged in a direction of a rotation axis; a rotor performing a rotational motion due to the vibration excited to the first elastic body by applying a driving signal to the electrical-mechanical energy converting element; an output transmitter rotating synchronously with the rotor; and a shaft passing through the vibrator, the rotor and the output transmitter in the direction of the rotation axis, wherein the output transmitter has a fitting portion to which the shaft or a flange fixed to the shaft is fitted, and wherein a portion of the fitting portion of the output transmitter and a portion of the first elastic body are overlapped in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2013Date of Patent: April 15, 2014Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Akira Shimada
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Publication number: 20140097723Abstract: A device may comprise a flexure formed of a first semiconductor material. A first trench may be formed in the flexure. The first trench may separate the first semiconductor material into a first portion and a second portion thereof. An oxide layer may be formed in the first trench. The oxide layer may extend over a top portion of the first semiconductor material. A second semiconductor material may be formed on the oxide layer. The first trench and the oxide layer may cooperate to electrically isolate the first portion and the second portion from one another.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2013Publication date: April 10, 2014Applicant: DigitalOptics Corporation MEMSInventors: Roman C. Gutierrez, Ankur Jain
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Patent number: 8680746Abstract: Provided is a small-size thin piezoelectric actuator which can be mounted on a mobile electronic device and operate with a low power consumption also provided is an electronic device which uses the piezoelectric actuator to provide a function to give a contact feeling of a three dimensional movement to a users hand palm. The piezoelectric actuator (1) includes: a piezoelectric ceramic oscillator having a piezoelectric ceramic thin plate (5) bonded to at least one surface of a shim member (6); at least one holder (7) for holding the shim member (6); and a sheet-shaped elastic body (2). Vibration generated by the piezoelectric ceramic oscillator is transmitted via the holder (7) and the sheet-shaped elastic body (2) to a case (3) of the electronic device.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2008Date of Patent: March 25, 2014Assignee: NEC CorporationInventors: Masatake Takahashi, Yasuhiro Sasaki, Yasuharu Onishi
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Publication number: 20140078219Abstract: A vibration case includes a first side portion and a second side portion provided on the both sides of a vibrator in a bending direction and a coupling portion configured to couple the first side portion and the second side portion. In this configuration, stiffness of the vibrator in the bending direction is increased, and the deformation of the vibration case may be suppressed. This structure contributes to reduction in size of the vibration case as long as the same stiffness is secured, and hence the size of the vibration case may be reduced while securing high stiffness. Therefore, a piezoelectric motor having a driving accuracy secured sufficiently may be realized while suppressing increase in size of the piezoelectric motor.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2013Publication date: March 20, 2014Applicant: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Yoshiteru NISHIMURA
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Publication number: 20140077659Abstract: A piezoelectric actuating device includes a carrier, at least a piezoelectric unit, at least a linked component and a moving component. The piezoelectric unit is disposed on the carrier and includes at least a piezoelectric buzzer. The linked component is disposed corresponding to the piezoelectric unit. One end of the linked component is attached to the piezoelectric buzzer. The moving component is connected with the linked component. When the piezoelectric buzzer is actuated, it can carry the linked component to move correspondingly so as to move the moving component. The piezoelectric actuating device has the advantage of low cost and can achieve the sub-nanometer scale actuating resolution.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2013Publication date: March 20, 2014Applicant: ACADEMIA SINICAInventor: ACADEMIA SINICA
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Patent number: 8674585Abstract: A microstepper motor which comprises two electromechanical drive elements, especially piezoelectric bending actuators, having effective directions that are perpendicular to each other. These actuators act upon a drive ring to thereby rotate a shaft. The actuators are non-radially hinged to the drive ring via an approximately square shear-flexible and torsion-proof frame structure, the drive ring being arranged inside said frame. The drive according to the invention is compact, the frame and the drive ring being configured as a single injection-molded drive module.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2008Date of Patent: March 18, 2014Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbHInventors: Heinrich-Jochen Blume, Bernhard Gottlieb, Andreas Kappel, Robert Wolfgang Kissel, Karl-Heinz Mittenbühler, Tim Schwebel, Carsten Wallenhauer
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Patent number: 8669723Abstract: Provided is a control apparatus of a vibration-type actuator for generating an elliptical motion of contact portions by a common alternating current signal including a frequency determining unit for setting a frequency of the alternating current signal. The frequency determining unit sets the frequency of the alternating current signal for changing an ellipticity of the elliptical motion, within a frequency range such that ellipticity changing frequency ranges set for the vibrators are overlapped, and the ellipticity changing frequency ranges are set for the vibrators as frequency ranges between an upper limit and a lower limit, such that the lower limit is a maximum resonant frequency at a time of changing the ellipticity, and the upper limit is larger than the lower limit and is a maximum frequency for the relative movement of the driving member.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2011Date of Patent: March 11, 2014Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Shinya Kudo
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Patent number: 8664829Abstract: The invention relates to a piezo drive, in particular for use in geodesic devices, having at least one piezoelectric motor element that includes an advancing component, a running surface component, and a receptacle for the running surface component, wherein said receptacle is to be connected to a component to be driven, wherein the piezoelectric motor element has a window of operation of the motor as a frequency range of the movement of the advancing component. The running surface component and the receptacle are sized and connected to one another such that the natural resonances of the running surface component lie outside the window of operation of the motor.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2010Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Leica Geosystems AGInventors: Marc Thelen, Claudio Iseli, Heinz Bernhard
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Patent number: 8643252Abstract: A vibration wave actuator includes a vibrator having at least an electro-mechanical energy conversion element and an elastic body to which the electro-mechanical energy conversion element is joined, with the elastic body including a contact portion formed therein, and a driven element that is in pressure contact with the contact portion of the vibrator and includes a magnetic substance. In addition, a vibrator holding portion holds the vibrator via a first elastic member having a stiffness lower than that of the vibrator, and a magnet is arranged on the vibrator holding portion such that the vibrator is placed between the driven element and the magnet.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2011Date of Patent: February 4, 2014Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yuki Oda, Nobuyuki Kojima
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Patent number: 8638024Abstract: The invention provides an actuator for an electric motor and an electric motor including said actuator. The actuator includes one or more body formed from a dielectric elastomer, each body having at least one active region that is directly or indirectly coupled to a drive means. The active regions are arranged such that, in use, actuation thereof causes driven means to move with components in at least first and second directions, preferably within a plane of the body.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2009Date of Patent: January 28, 2014Assignee: Auckland UniServices, LimitedInventors: Iain Alexander Anderson, Benjamin Marc O'Brien, Thomas Gregory McKay, Todd Alan Gisby, Emilio Patricio Calius, Scott Hayden Walbran, Thomas Swithun Hale
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Patent number: 8633632Abstract: A vibration actuator includes an elastic body on which at least one projection is formed and a vibrating body including an electromechanical conversion device, and drives a driven member that is in contact with a contact portion of the projection by causing an end portion of the projection to perform an ellipsoidal movement in response to a combination of two vibration modes generated in the vibrating body when an alternating driving voltage is applied. The elastic body is formed integrally with the projection and a bonding portion between the projection and the electromechanical conversion device. A space is provided between the contact portion and the electromechanical conversion device to which the projection is bonded. The spring portion is provided between the bonding portion and the contact portion and causes the projection to exhibit a spring characteristic when the contact portion is pressed by the driven member.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2011Date of Patent: January 21, 2014Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yuki Oda, Shinji Yamamoto, Akio Atsuta
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Publication number: 20140009667Abstract: Provided is a vibration actuator including: an electromechanical transduction member that transduces electric power to a mechanical vibration; a transmission member that transmits the vibration from the electromechanical transduction member as a driving force; and an abutting portion that abuts on the transmission member and moves relative to the transmission member in response to the driving force. One of the transmission member and the abutting portion includes pores in its surface contacting the abutting portion or the transmission member at an area occupancy of 2% or higher. In this vibration actuator, the average area of the pores may be 3 ?m2 or larger. The other of the transmission member and the abutting portion may include iron in its surface contacting the one.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2013Publication date: January 9, 2014Applicant: NIKON CORPORATIONInventors: Makoto NAKAZUMI, MASAAKI TANABE
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Publication number: 20140001922Abstract: An ultrasonic motor is described. The ultrasonic motor includes a plurality of plate-shaped piezoelectric ultrasonic actuators. Each of the ultrasonic actuators includes at least one friction element allocated thereto. Each ultrasonic actuator or each of one or more pairs of ultrasonic actuators is assigned an element to be driven. The ultrasonic motor also includes a housing. The ultrasonic motor also includes an electric excitation device. The elements to be driven are movable independently of each other, and each ultrasonic actuator or each of the one or more pairs of ultrasonic actuators is arranged in a holder. The holders are pressed against each other by housing side covers. The friction elements on the ultrasonic actuators are pressed against a friction layer of the corresponding element to be driven by an elastic interlayer that is in contact with edge surfaces of the ultrasonic actuators that are arranged opposite the friction elements.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2012Publication date: January 2, 2014Applicant: Physik Instrumente (PI) GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Wladimir Wischnewskiy, Alexej Wischnewskij
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Publication number: 20130335488Abstract: Provided is a piezoelectric material which has satisfactory insulation property and piezoelectric property and which does not contain lead and potassium. The piezoelectric material includes a perovskite-type metal oxide that is represented by the following general formula (1): (NaxBa1-y)(NbyTi1-y)O3??General formula (1) where relationships of 0.80?x?0.95 and 0.85?y?0.95 are satisfied, and y×0.05 mol % or more to y×2 mol % or less of copper with respect to 1 mol of the perovskite-type metal oxide.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2012Publication date: December 19, 2013Applicants: UNIVERSITY OF YAMANASHI, CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Takayuki Watanabe, Shunsuke Murakami, Nobuhiro Kumada
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Patent number: 8604667Abstract: An ultrasonic motor exhibits stable performances by suppressing irregularities of magnitudes of two standing waves excited by a piezoelectric element. A plurality of divided electrodes are mounted on one surface of the piezoelectric element and are equidistantly arranged in the circumferential and radial directions and have equal polarized areas. Alternate ones of the divided electrodes are short-circuited in the radial direction by inner electrodes arranged on the inner peripheral side of the divided electrodes, and the other alternate ones of the divided electrodes are short-circuited in the radial direction by outer electrodes arranged on the outer peripheral side of the divided electrodes.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2011Date of Patent: December 10, 2013Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.Inventors: Akihiro Iino, Yukio Akiyama, Satoshi Sakai, Takuo Oosaki, Masakazu Hirabayashi, Masatomo Moriko
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Publication number: 20130313945Abstract: A motor includes a vibrating plate having a projection part to be pressed against a driven member and a piezoelectric material provided on the vibrating plate, wherein a Young's modulus EL in the pressing direction of the vibrating plate and a Young's modulus ES in a direction crossing the pressing direction are different.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2013Publication date: November 28, 2013Applicant: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Koichi KAMIJO, Osamu MIYAZAWA, Akihiro SAWADA, Reiko NAGAHAMA
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Patent number: 8593033Abstract: A stick-slip piezo motor. A piezo housing holds at least two piezo elements. The piezo elements are both rigidly connected to the piezo housing. At the end of each of the piezo elements is a piezo friction element. Each of the piezo friction elements is in friction contact with a moving friction element. While oscillating between a stick phase and a slip phase, both of the friction elements operate in conjunction to move the moving friction element in a desired travel direction. The piezo elements oscillate out of phase such that when one of the oscillating piezo elements is operating in the slip phase and moving in a direction opposite to the desired travel direction, the other oscillation piezo element is operating in the stick phase and is moving in the travel direction in order to counteract and overcome unwanted dragging of the moving piezo element.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2010Date of Patent: November 26, 2013Assignee: Micronix USAInventors: William Culpi, Manfred Schneider
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Patent number: 8575821Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator 10 according to each embodiment of the present invention comprises: a column-like piezoelectric body 31, whose bottom face is fixed to a base portion 20, and which stands from the base portion; and a driving power supply section for applying a driving voltage to the piezoelectric body. The piezoelectric body includes two sets (32, 33) of a pair of electrodes for providing electrical fields to the piezoelectric body. The two sets are formed so that each of the two sets is provided to each of two regions into which the piezoelectric body is divided by a virtual plane VPL1 parallel to the center axis CL of the piezoelectric body. The driving power supply section applies the driving voltage Vin having a “frequency between the second-order bending resonant frequency and the first-order expansion-contraction resonant frequency” to either one of the two sets, selectively.Type: GrantFiled: February 29, 2012Date of Patent: November 5, 2013Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.Inventor: Makoto Tani
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Patent number: 8569929Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator for driving a lens unit along an optical axis is disclosed. The piezoelectric actuator includes a fixed member, a movable member movably received in the fixed member, a magnet fixed on the fixed member, a metal sheet fixed on the movable member, a piezoelectric member and a circuit board. The movable member includes a contacting portion. The metal sheet is aligned with the magnetic along a direction substantially perpendicular to the optical axis. The metal sheet is made from a material that can be attracted by the magnet and lighter than the magnet. The piezoelectric member is fixed on the fixed member and contacts on the contacting portion of the movable member for driving the movable member to move along the optical axis. The circuit board provides voltages to the piezoelectric member.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2012Date of Patent: October 29, 2013Assignee: Wcube Co., Ltd.Inventor: Sung-Ching Wu
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Publication number: 20130278681Abstract: There is provided a lead-free piezoelectric ceramic having a high and stable piezoelectric constant and a high and stable mechanical quality factor in a wide operating temperature range. A method for manufacturing the lead-free piezoelectric ceramic is also provided. the general formula (1) (Ba1-xCax)a(Ti1-y-zSnyZrz)O3 (0.08?x?0.20, 0.01?y?0.04, 0?z?0.04)??(1) A piezoelectric ceramic includes a main component containing a perovskite type metal oxide having the following general formula (1); and Mn as a first auxiliary component. The amount b (mol) of Mn per mole of the metal oxide is in the range of 0.0048?b?0.0400, and the value a of the general formula (1) or (2) is in the range of 0.9925+b?a?1.0025+b.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 23, 2013Publication date: October 24, 2013Inventors: Hiroshi Saito, Kanako Oshima, Kaoru Miura, Hisato Yabuta, Jumpei Hayashi
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Patent number: 8558498Abstract: According to one embodiment, a drive device comprises a first generating unit which moves in straightly movable manner or rotatable manner and generates precharge pressure, a sliding guide unit which has a sliding guide surface that comes into contact with a sliding surface of the first generating unit and to which the precharge pressure is given, a vibration unit which gives vibration to the first generating unit, and a second generating unit. When the vibration is given to the first generating unit, the second generating unit generates driving force for driving the first generating unit in a predetermined direction so that the driving force is more than frictional force between the sliding surface and the sliding guide surface. When the vibration is not given to the first generating unit, the second generating unit generates the driving force so that the driving force is less than the frictional force.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2012Date of Patent: October 15, 2013Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Hiroshi Takahashi, Hideki Nukada
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Publication number: 20130257225Abstract: A vibration type driving apparatus includes a vibrating body in which an electrical-mechanical energy converting element is provided between a first elastic body and a second elastic body; and a moving body that comes into contact with the vibrating body and moves relative to the vibrating body. The vibrating body has a third elastic body between the first elastic body and the electrical-mechanical energy converting element. The third elastic body includes a sliding surface. The vibrating body has natural vibration modes. A resonance frequency in a mode where the non-sliding surface side of the vibrating body in the axial direction mainly vibrates with the third elastic body is adapted so as to fall out of a frequency range between a multiple number of a maximum frequency of a driving signal applied to the electrical-mechanical energy converting element, and a multiple number of a minimum frequency of the driving signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2013Publication date: October 3, 2013Applicant: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Kiyoshi Nitto
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Publication number: 20130234560Abstract: A vibration wave driving apparatus including: a vibrator in which a first elastic body, a second elastic body and an electrical-mechanical energy converting element provided between the first and the second elastic bodies are arranged in a direction of a rotation axis; a rotor performing a rotational motion due to the vibration excited to the first elastic body by applying a driving signal to the electrical-mechanical energy converting element; an output transmitter rotating synchronously with the rotor; and a shaft passing through the vibrator, the rotor and the output transmitter in the direction of the rotation axis, wherein the output transmitter has a fitting portion to which the shaft or a flange fixed to the shaft is fitted, and wherein a portion of the fitting portion of the output transmitter and a portion of the first elastic body are overlapped in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2013Publication date: September 12, 2013Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Akira Shimada
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Patent number: 8531084Abstract: According to one embodiment, an ultrasonic motor unit includes a piezoelectric element, a holder member, a pressing member, a pressing auxiliary member, a driven member, an ultrasonic motor accommodation member, a power extraction member. The piezoelectric element has a rectangular cross-sectional shape. The holder member holds the piezoelectric element so as to cover an outer surface of a portion of the piezoelectric element. The pressing member applies a predetermined pressing force to the piezoelectric element. The pressing auxiliary member transfers a pressing force generated by the pressing member to the holder member. The driven member is in contact with one end face of the piezoelectric element. The power extraction member is coupled to the ultrasonic motor accommodation member to form a joint portion. The ultrasonic motor unit is formed by connecting a plurality of sections each formed by coupling the ultrasonic motor accommodation member to the power extraction member.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2011Date of Patent: September 10, 2013Assignee: Olympus CorporationInventor: Yasuaki Kasai
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Patent number: 8525388Abstract: A vibration wave driving apparatus according to the present invention includes a vibrator having at least a vibration body formed with a projecting portion having spring characteristics and an electro-mechanical energy conversion element, the vibration wave driving apparatus using motion of the projecting portion to drive a driven body in contact with the projecting portion, wherein the vibration body includes a base portion and the projecting portion, the projecting portion includes two wall portions formed in parallel to a direction orthogonal to a drive direction of the driven body extending in an out-of-plane direction with respect to the base portion and two wall portions formed in parallel to the drive direction of the driven body extending in an out-of-plane direction with respect to the base portion and a contact portion including a contact surface with the driven body formed by connecting the wall portions.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2012Date of Patent: September 3, 2013Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Yasuyuki Araki
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Patent number: 8525387Abstract: A motor includes a vibrating plate having a projection part to be pressed against a driven member and a piezoelectric material provided on the vibrating plate, wherein a Young's modulus EL in the pressing direction of the vibrating plate and a Young's modulus ES in a direction crossing the pressing direction are different.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2012Date of Patent: September 3, 2013Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Koichi Kamijo, Osamu Miyazawa, Akihiro Sawada, Reiko Nagahama
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Publication number: 20130222930Abstract: The present invention relates to a driving body and a driving device having a piezoelectric element mounted thereon, and more particularly, to a driving body and a driving device having a piezoelectric element mounted thereon for transferring a lens by actuating a lens holder in a vertical direction using the piezoelectric element.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2011Publication date: August 29, 2013Applicant: HYSONIC. CO., LTD.Inventors: He Won Jung, Jong Sik Seo, Min Gi Kim, Se Jun Chun