Abstract: A driving apparatus (100p, 100s) is provided with: a base portion (110); a stage portion (130) on which a driven object (12) is mounted and which can be displaced; an elastic portion (120) which has elasticity to displace the stage portion in one direction (Y axis); a first applying device (151-2, 152-2, 22) for applying an excitation force for displacing the stage portion such that the stage portion is resonated in the one direction at a resonance frequency determined by the stage portion and the elastic portion; and a second applying device (151-1, 152-1, 22) for applying a driving force for displacing, in a stepwise manner or in a continuous manner, the stage portion or the driven object mounted on the stage portion in other direction (X axis), wherein the stage portion or another stage portion mounted on the stage portion as the driven object is divided into a plurality of stage fractions.

Abstract: A driving apparatus including a transducer, a fixing member, and a mobile body is provided. The transducer generates elliptical vibration in a driving part when voltage of a predetermined frequency is applied. The fixing member includes a retaining part which retains the transducer. The mobile body, which is driven by the elliptical vibration of the transducer to move with respect to the fixing member, includes a first mobile body part formed in a desired size; and a second mobile body part which has a sliding part to which the driving part is pressed and contacted, and a guide-receiving part which is provided opposite the sliding part and whose moving direction is guided in engagement with a guiding part of the fixing member, the second mobile body part being of higher rigidity, formed in a smaller size than the first mobile body part, and fixed to the first mobile body part.

Abstract: There is provided a linear drive ultrasonic motor of which, a size can be made small, and in which, it is possible to guide assuredly while reducing a transfer resistance and a frictional resistance of a driven member.

Abstract: There is provided a linear drive ultrasonic motor of a small size in which, it is possible to achieve a stable thrust, and in which, there are fewer constraints regarding a connection with an external apparatus. The linear drive ultrasonic motor includes at least an ultrasonic vibrator having a piezoelectric element, a driven member which is driven by a frictional force between the driven member and the ultrasonic vibrator, a pressing member which presses the ultrasonic vibrator such that a frictional force is generated between the ultrasonic vibrator and the driven member, a first case member in which, a first accommodating recess is formed, and the ultrasonic vibrator and the pressing member are accommodated inside the first accommodating recess, a guiding means which movably supports the driven member, and a second case member in which, a second accommodating recess is formed, and the guiding means is accommodated inside the second accommodating recess.

Abstract: There is provided a linear drive ultrasonic motor which is capable of achieving a stable thrust, and which has fewer restrictions regarding a relationship with an external apparatus. The linear drive ultrasonic motor includes at least an ultrasonic vibrator having a piezoelectric element, a driven member which is driven by a frictional force between the driven member and the ultrasonic vibrator, a pressing member which presses the ultrasonic vibrator such that a frictional force is generated between the ultrasonic vibrator and the driven member, a case member which accommodates the ultrasonic vibrator and the pressing member, and a base member which movably supports the driven member, and the case member is assembled with the base member, in a state of a central portion of the pressing member making a contact with the ultrasonic vibrator, and two end portions sandwiching at least the central portion, from among the end portions of the pressing member making a contact with the case member.

Abstract: A driving apparatus has a piezoelectric element as a driver. The driving apparatus includes a first vibrator which generates an elliptical vibration when a voltage of a predetermined frequency is applied; a first member which holds the first vibrator; a second member which includes a first sliding member to which the first vibrator is pressed and makes a relative displacement with respect to the first member by being driven by the elliptical vibration of the first vibrator; and a first resonance preventive member which is provided to the second member and prevents a resonance in the second member from being generated by the elliptical vibration of the first vibrator.

Abstract: An ultrasonic motor includes a stator and a rotor. In the stator, an n number of piezoelectric elements (wherein n is a natural number) are affixed to one surface of a vibrating member, whose outer circumferential edge is circular or polygonal, along a direction in which the outer circumferential edge extends. Each of the piezoelectric elements has a size corresponding to ??/2 in terms of center angle, and the piezoelectric elements that are adjacent to each other are disposed so as to be separated by an interval corresponding to ??/4 in terms of the center angle along a circumferential direction of the vibrating member. The piezoelectric elements are polarized in opposite directions in a thickness direction. The rotor is disposed so as to contact the stator, and is rotated by receiving vibration resulting from a 3n-wave traveling wave generated by the stator.

Abstract: A method, computer readable medium, and system for controlling velocity of at least partially resonant actuator system includes obtaining at an actuator controller computing system a selected operating velocity within an operational velocity range for at least one of one or more at least partially resonant actuator devices. A width of one or more pulses of a driving signal for the at least one of one or more at least partially resonant actuator devices is adjusted with the actuator controller computing system based on the selected operating velocity. The driving signal with the adjusted width of the one or more pulses is provided with the actuator controller computing system to obtain the selected operating velocity at the at least one of the one or more at least partially resonant actuator devices.

Abstract: A vibratory driving device (1) comprising an electromechanical transducer (3) which causes mechanical displacement according to an applied voltage, a driving shaft (4) which is held so as to be displaced in its axial direction by the electromechanical transducer and which is provided on its surface with two resistive bodies (8) extending in the axial direction and connected to the electromechanical transducer at one end, a movable member (5) which slidably engages on the driving shaft so as to contact with the two resistive bodies to connect electrically the contacted points of the resistive bodies each other, a driving circuit (13) which applies a periodical driving voltage to the electromechanical transducer, and a measuring circuit (15) which measures electric resistance between the two resistive bodies can determine a position of the movable member and has a simplified wiring (7) with low risk of disconnection.

Abstract: The invention relates to an ultrasonic linear drive unit comprising a driving element as an ultrasonic oscillator with two generators for ultrasonic vibrations and a driven element that forms a frictional contact with the driving element, and an electrical excitation source for the driving element. According to the invention, the ultrasonic oscillator is designed as a hollow thin-walled piezoelectric cylinder, the height H of which is identical to or smaller than the mean diameter D thereof. The generators for ultrasonic vibrations are symmetrically disposed on both sides relative to the sectional plane S that extends through the center of the height of the ultrasonic oscillator, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L thereof. The cylinder surface of the driving element is in contact with the driven element, and the electrical excitation source is connected to the ultrasonic linear drive unit in such a way that the drive unit excites only the first or the second generator for ultrasonic vibrations.

Abstract: An ultrasonic actuator includes an actuator body; and driver elements for outputting drive force, which are provided to the actuator body. The ultrasonic actuator further includes a holder which is provided to the actuator body, and which protrudes outwardly beyond principal surfaces in a direction crossing the principal surfaces of the actuator body; two supports for supporting the holder; contact rubber blocks limiting displacement of the actuator body by contacting the principal surfaces of the actuator body. The actuator body is biased toward a movable body side. A long hole extending in a biasing direction of the actuator body and into which the holder is fitted is formed in the support. At least two contact rubber blocks contact the principal surfaces of the actuator body at different positions in a longitudinal direction of the actuator body.

Abstract: A piezoelectric generator includes a piezoelectric ring having upper and lower plane surfaces and a first quality factor (Q-factor), a sound-wave conducting gasket acoustically coupled to the upper plane surface, a metal resonator ring positioned acoustically coupled to the conducting gasket, the metal resonator ring having a second Q-factor substantially greater than the first Q-factor, and at least one bent elastic pusher extending from a periphery of the metal resonator ring. In the generator, an external diameter of the conducting gasket is less than half of an external diameter of the metal resonator ring and the piezoelectric ring, the conducting gasket, and the metal resonator ring are concentrically aligned with respect to a rotational axis.

Abstract: There is provided a piezoelectric element/electrostrictive element having little decease of Qm even in a high electric field in the case of a piezoelectric element. The piezoelectric body/electrostrictive body is characterized in that the rate of Qm in an electric field of 10 V/mm is 30% or more with respect to Qm in an electric field of 1 V/mm.

Abstract: A driving apparatus includes a piezoelectric element which expands and contracts when a voltage is applied thereto, a driving shaft fixed to one end of the piezoelectric element in an expanding-and-contracting direction, a friction part frictionally engaged with the driving shaft, a lens holder moved along a direction of an optical axis of a lens, and a direction-changing unit which reciprocates the lens holder in the front-rear direction along the optical axis. The direction-changing unit includes a translation cam mechanism including a moving member and a moved member, and converts a linear movement along the expanding-and-contracting direction into a linear movement along the direction of the optical axis.

Abstract: An ultrasonic motor and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The ultrasonic motor includes an active layered section including a piezoelectric material; an inactive section disposed below the active layered section, which has a contact portion profile as a lowest layer; a first lower layer positioned one layer below an uppermost layer of the active layered section; a second lower layer formed with separated electrodes in an upper surface thereof and positioned two layers below the uppermost layer; and a repeated structure in the active layered section having a same structure as a combination structure comprising the first lower layer and the second lower layer, the repeated structure being downwardly layered from the combination structure.

Abstract: The present invention provides a multi-dimensional micro-actuator comprising a stator having a plurality of symmetrically arranged electrode piezoelectric plates, a rotator disposed near the stator, and a plurality of contacting elements. Each of the symmetrically arranged electrode piezoelectric plates comprises a piezoelectric plate, a first electrode, and a second electrode. The first and second electrodes are symmetrically arranged on a first surface of the piezoelectric plate. A second surface of the piezoelectric plate is coupled to the ground. The contacting elements are disposed on the electrode piezoelectric plates for rotation of the rotator.

Abstract: 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. In one preferred embodiment, the travel direction is a linear. In another preferred embodiment the travel direction is rotational.

Abstract: It is an subject of the present invention to provide a vibration actuator in which a plurality of rotors can be driven by a single vibration unit. When a composite vibrator (2) is driven to generate a composite vibration combining a plurality of vibrations, a first stator (3) and a second stator (4) vibrate, thereby causing elliptical movements in corner portions (8) and (9) of the first stator (3) and the second stator (4), respectively. As a result, a first rotor (A) abutting onto and pressurized against the corner portion (8) of the first stator (3) and a second rotor (B) abutting onto and pressurized against the corner portion (9) of the second stator (4) are rotated at the same time. Further, in this case, by selecting vibration modes of the plurality of vibrations constituting the composite vibration, the two rotors (A) and (B) can be rotated in the same direction or in opposite directions with respect to each other.

Abstract: A supporting structure for an actuator body, which can prevent reduction of vibration of an actuator body and maintain a contact state of a driver element with an abutment body in a stable manner even when the driver element receives reactive force from the abutment body is realized. An ultrasonic actuator (2) includes an actuator body (4) for generating vibration, driver elements (8), provided on a mounting surface (40a) of the actuator body (4), for outputting driving force, a pressing rubber (62) for pressing the actuator body (4) to a stage (11), a case (5) to which the actuator body (4) is coupled, and a plate spring (61) for elastically supporting the actuator body (4) relative to the case (5). The plate spring (61) supports the mounting surface (40a) of the actuator body (4) on which the driver elements 8 are provided.

Abstract: A vibratory driving device 1 comprising a shaft-like driving member 7, a electromechanical transducer 6 which can incline the driving member 7 and which can also displace the driving member 7 in the axial direction of the driving member, a movable member 8 which slidably engages on the driving member 7, a driving circuit 3 which can apply to the electromechanical transducer 6 a periodical frictional driving voltage to displace slidingly the movable member with respect to the driving member and an inclination driving voltage inclining the driving member, a waveform determiner 4 which determines a rising condition of a voltage or a current of the electromechanical transducer 6 when the inclination driving voltage is applied, and a position estimator which estimates a position of the movable member 8 based on the rising condition of a voltage or a current.

Abstract: A motor which includes two 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. Two tension-compression bars, which are parallel to an effective direction, are connected to the drive ring, have respective joints at their ends and are connected to the ends of a diagonal bar, relative to which the ring can be displaced in the other effective direction. The diagonal bar itself can be displaced relative to fixing elements to an effective direction via a diagonal suspension. The drive, having actuators that are non-radially hinged to the ring.

Abstract: A drive apparatus for an ultrasonic motor is provided wherein a diphase alternating drive signal having a predetermined phase difference and a predetermined drive frequency is applied to an ultrasonic vibrator equipped with a driver to be in contact with a driven member, such that longitudinal vibration and bending vibration are simultaneously generated in the ultrasonic vibrator to generate elliptical vibration, and drive force is obtained from the elliptical vibration to drive the driven member by the ultrasonic vibrator. The drive apparatus for the ultrasonic motor includes drive unit for generating the alternating drive signal and applying the alternating drive signal to the vibrator to drive the driven member, and burst drive unit for performing burst drive by applying, to the vibrator, a burst signal to inhibit residual vibration in the driven member after the driving of the driven member by the drive unit has been stopped.

Abstract: An ultrasonic linear motor includes a substrate; a vibrator disposed on the substrate having an oblique or curved face at two sides thereof; and a slider having clamping portions at two sides thereof for correspondingly contacting with the two side faces of the vibrator and the substrate surfaces, wherein the vibrator is for generating a driving force to the slider while connecting with a power supply, such that the clamping portions of the slider slides with respect to the two side surfaces of the vibrator and with respect to the substrate surface, thereby generating a linear translation. The present invention adopts a simple structure having few elements that enables easy manufacturing and integration with other elements, thus reducing manufacturing cost.

Abstract: A linear drive ultrasonic motor includes at least an ultrasonic vibrator having a piezoelectric element, a driven member which is driven by a frictional force between the ultrasonic vibrator and the driven member, a pressing member which presses the ultrasonic vibrator such that a frictional force is generated between the ultrasonic vibrator and the driven member, a rolling member having a spherical shape, which makes a contact with the driven member, and a base member which movably supports the driven member via the rolling member. The rolling member makes a contact with the base member at a first contact point, and makes a contact with the driven member at two second contact points. Lengths of two straight lines which connect the first contact point and the two second contact points are substantially same.

Abstract: The invention relates to a linear ultrasound piezoelectric motor comprising a mobile element that is in frictional contact with a plate-like rectangular resonance plate, wherein the frictional surface is embodied by means of at least one of the longitudinal narrow sides of the resonance plate, and electrodes for producing acoustic vibrations which are arranged on the longitudinal wide sides of the resonance plate. According to the invention, the generator for producing acoustic vibrations is asymmetrically arranged in relation to a plane which symmetrically cross-cuts the resonance plate, and comprises two opposing electrodes generating a stationary asymmetrical space wave when excited.

Abstract: An ultrasonic actuator includes: an actuator body using a piezoelectric element and generating a plurality of vibrations of different vibration directions; a driver element provided in the actuator body and operated in accordance with the vibration of the actuator body to output a driving force in a predetermined driving direction; a case containing the actuator body; at least one support rubber provided between the actuator body and the case to elastically support the actuator body along the driving direction with respect to the case; and at least one stopper provided between the actuator body and the case which comes into contact with at least one of the actuator body and the case when the actuator body is displaced in a direction opposite the driving direction such that the displacement of the actuator body in the direction opposite the driving direction is limited.

Abstract: A driving device capable of multidimensional positioning by the single device has a shaft-like driving member 4, an electromechanical transducer 3 which has a plurality of expandable portions 11, 12 and which holds one end of the driving member 4, the expandable portions being provided in parallel so that each of the expandable portions can separately expands and contracts in a axial direction of the driving member 4, and a movable member 5 which frictionally engages on the driving member 4 and which can displace slidingly on the driving member 4, and a drive circuit which applies to some of the expandable portions 11, 12 a low change rate of direct-current voltage component different from that applied to other expandable portions 11, 12, and which applies to all the expandable portions 11, 12 a common alternating voltage component fluctuating with a common period.

Abstract: An actuator capable of attaining two-dimensional positioning with a simple configuration includes an electromechanical transducer 11 which makes mechanical displacement in accordance with a voltage applied thereto, a driving shaft 12 which is axially displaced and inclined by the mechanical displacement of the electromechanical transducer 11, a movable member 13 which frictionally engages on the driving shaft 12, and a driving circuit for superposing a direct-current driving voltage leading to an inclination of the driving shaft 12 at a desired angle at a low rate of change preventing slide displacement of the movable member 13 relative to the driving shaft 12 and an alternating driving voltage for causing axial vibrations of the driving shaft 12 so as to cause slide displacement of the movable member 13 relative to the driving shaft 12 and applying the superposed voltages to the electromechanical transducer 11.

Abstract: An ultrasonic linear motor includes a substrate; a vibrator disposed on the substrate having an oblique or curved face at two sides thereof forming concave receiving portions with the surfaces of the substrate; and a slider having clamping portions at two sides thereof for correspondingly clamping to the receiving portions, wherein the vibrator is for generating a driving force to the slider while connecting with a power supply, such that the clamping portions of the slider move within the receiving portions, thereby generating a linear translation. The present invention adopts a simple structure having few elements that enables easy manufacturing and integration with other elements, thus reducing manufacturing cost.

Abstract: An inertial drive actuator includes a fixed member, a vibration substrate which is disposed on the fixed member, a displacement generating unit which causes a reciprocating movement of the vibration substrate with respect to the fixed member, a moving body which is disposed on the vibration substrate, and which is made of a magnetic body which moves with respect to the vibration substrate due to inertia with respect to the reciprocating movement of the vibration substrate, a coil which is provided on the moving body, and a driving unit which applies a voltage for causing a reciprocating movement of the moving body, and which controls a frictional force generated between the vibration substrate and the moving body by making an electromagnetic force act by applying an electric current to the coil.

Abstract: Provided is a vibration actuator comprising an elastic body; an electromechanical transducer that causes the elastic body to vibrate; and a rotating body that rotates in response to a drive force received from contact with the elastic body at a vibrational antinode thereof, wherein the rotating body contacts the elastic body at a prescribed position along a direction in which an axis of the rotation extends. In the vibration actuator, the elastic body includes an elastic body contact member that is arranged in a region that includes the vibrational antinode of the elastic body, the rotating body includes a rotating body contact member that receives a drive force by contacting the elastic body contact member, and one of the elastic body contact member and the rotating body contact member has a contact surface that is oriented diagonally to the axis of rotation and contacts the other of the elastic body contact member and the rotating body contact member.

Abstract: In a piezoelectric actuator (8) comprising a layered piezoelectric element (14) which consists of alternately stacked expansion and contraction layers (14a) and electrode layers (14b), a driving shaft (15) of which one end is fixed to one end of the piezoelectric element (14) in expansion and contraction direction, a movable member (15) frictionally engaging with the driving shaft (15) and a collar (17) bonded to the circumference of the piezoelectric element (14), by bonding the collar (17) to the circumference of the plurality of the expansion and contraction layers (14a) with an adhesive (G) so that fastening force of the collar (17) to the expansion and contraction layers (14a) is imbalanced with reference to the center of the cross section of the piezoelectric element (14) so that the piezoelectric element (14) expands and contracts in an imbalanced manner to incline the driving shaft (15) to displace minutely the movable member (16).

Abstract: A drive unit which generates less heat may be provided. The drive unit includes a piezoelectric element (P1) having a piezoelectric layer (1), a drive power supply (14) configured to apply a driving voltage at a predetermined frequency to the piezoelectric element (P1) such that vibration including stretching vibration and bending vibration is generated in the piezoelectric element (P1), and a movable element (9) which is movable relative to the piezoelectric element (P1) according to the vibration of the piezoelectric element (P1). The difference between the resonance frequency of the bending vibration of the piezoelectric element (P1) and the anti-resonance frequency of the stretching vibration of the piezoelectric element (P1) is smaller than the difference between the resonance frequency of the bending vibration of the piezoelectric element (P1) and the resonance frequency of the stretching vibration of the piezoelectric element (P1).

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 method includes an electrostatic capacitance detecting step of detecting electrostatic capacitances of opposing parts of a moving body side electrode and an oscillating plate electrode; an electrostatic capacitance storing step of storing the electrostatic capacitances at the first movement limit position and the second movement limit position detected at the electrostatic capacitance detecting step; a ratio calculating step of calculating a ratio of the electrostatic capacitances at the first movement limit position and the second movement limit position stored at the electrostatic capacitance storing step to a movement limit distance that is a distance between the first movement limit position and the second movement limit position; and an absolute position calculating step of calculating an absolute position of the moving body between the first movement limit position and the second movement limit position from the ratio.

Abstract: An ultrasonic actuator may be provided in which generation of a stress is prevented in the connection face of the piezoelectric element between the electrodes and the conductive members. The ultrasonic actuator includes a piezoelectric element (P1) and flexible cables (F1). The piezoelectric element (P1) includes: a piezoelectric layer (1); a power supply electrode (2) provided on a principal surface of the piezoelectric layer (1); a counter electrode (3) provided to face the power supply electrode (2) with the piezoelectric layer (1) interposed therebetween; a power supply external electrode (4) which is provided on a short-side surface of the piezoelectric element (P1), and is electrically coupled to the power supply electrode (2); and a counter external electrode (5) which is provided on a short-side surface of the piezoelectric element (P1), and is electrically coupled to the counter electrode (3).

Abstract: The invention relates to a miniaturizable motor (1) comprising a rotor (12) that is driven by a hollow cylindrical piezo oscillator (2). Said rotor is effectively connected to a frictional face (13) of the piezo oscillator while a main electrode or counter electrode (3) and excitation electrodes (4, 5, 6) are disposed on the surface of the hollow cylinder. The hollow cylindrical piezo oscillator is made of a monocrystalline material with a trigonal crystal system which is provided with three main electrical axes that are placed at a 120° angle relative to each other as well as an optical axis. Said optical axis encloses a 90° angle along with the point of intersection of the electrical axes while coinciding with the longitudinal axis of the hollow cylindrical piezo oscillator. Furthermore, the axial axis of symmetry of the respective excitation electrode intersects one of the main electrical axes while said axial axis of symmetry extends parallel to the optical axis.

Abstract: A driving device 1 includes an electromechanical transducer 3, a shaft-like vibrating member 4 vibrated in its axial direction by the electromechanical transducer 3, a movable member 5 which engaging frictionally with the vibrating member 4, a substrate 6 with a sensor 14 mounted thereon for detecting a position of the movable member 5, and a holding member 7 fixed to the substrate 6 and having a holding section 20 for holding the vibrating member 4 and a positioning section 27 for positioning the sensor.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide an actuator device that realizes improvements in impact resistance as well as size reduction and thickness reduction of the device. An actuator device according to the invention includes: a piezoelectric element; a weight secured to one end of the piezoelectric element along an expansion-contraction direction thereof; and a drive member secured to another end of the piezoelectric element. The piezoelectric element and the weight are in contact so as to have a spatial overlap with respect to the expansion-contraction direction of the piezoelectric element, and the center of gravity of the weight is positioned in the vicinity of a plane that contains a contact plane in which the piezoelectric element and the weight are in contact.

Abstract: A piezoelectric motor including a rotor, a stator including a piezoelectric material having axial polarization, the stator including at least three pairs of electrodes spaced from one another on a top end face thereof and a common electrode on a base end face thereof, and slabs affixed to the stator at spacings between the electrodes, wherein the rotor is pressed towards the slabs by a pre-load force, wherein when a positive charge is applied to a first of the electrodes and a negative charge is applied to a second of the electrodes and an electric common port is applied to the common electrode, D33 piezoelectric phenomenon is created, thereby causing the spacings between the electrodes to bend and the slabs to tilt, thus applying a frictional pushing side force against the rotor to cause the rotor to rotate.

Abstract: A vibration actuator driving device includes a plurality of wiring sections and a supply controller. The plurality of wiring sections are disposed correspondingly to a plurality of electrically independent electrodes of an electromechanical conversion element. The wiring sections input driving signals to drive the electromechanical conversion element. The supply controller is capable of independently supplying a driving signal for each respective wiring section.

Abstract: A piezoelectric drive unit and a piezoelectric drive element are provided, which are compact and lightweight, and able to be stably displaced and positioned, in addition, efficiently driven even at low voltage. One end of a rod is fixed to an approximate center of a main surface of a piezoelectric drive element (drive element). The drive element is in a configuration where two element structures are incorporated by dividedly forming part of internal electrodes being alternately layered with a plurality of pieces of piezoelectrics, and has two regions divided with the center of the element as an origin. When signal are inputted into the internal electrodes via terminal electrodes such that a phase is shifted by 90 degrees between the two regions, the rod is rotated. When a tip of the rod is biased to be disposed by a spring such that it is pressed to a side face of a shaft for guiding a sliding frame of a lens, the lens slides along the shaft with rotation of the rod.

Abstract: An ultrasonic motor drive apparatus comprises a piezoelectric element 107 having a plurality of piezoelectrically active regions, in which longitudinal vibration and flexural vibration are induced with application of alternate signals to the plurality of piezoelectrically active regions, a piezoelectric element holder 108 that is fixedly attached to the piezoelectric element, covering the neighborhood of a common node of the longitudinal vibration and the flexural vibration induced in the piezoelectric element all along the circumference of the central portion of the piezoelectric element with respect to the longitudinal direction, a vibrator holder 103 having a plurality of openings, a driven member 104 having a substantially spherical shape, an output shaft 106 attached to the driven member, through which power output of the driven member is transmitted, a pressing member 102 that brings the driven member 104 and the piezoelectric member into pressure contact with each other along the third direction, a cap

Abstract: The invention relates to an electromechanical motor having a stator that has a drive unit and a frame component in which the drive unit is held, and a sliding element that is constructed such that, actuated by the drive unit, it performs a movement with respect to the stator in a direction of translation, wherein the drive unit has at least one electromechanical drive element that extends in the direction of translation and a power transmission element that is constructed so as to transmit a movement of the drive element to the sliding element. The sliding element has a supporting component and a drive rail, the drive rail extending in the direction of translation and interacting with the power transmission element and the drive rail being held at both its end faces in the supporting component, and between the supporting component and the frame component of the stator, there is a bearing for supporting the sliding element in the frame component.

Abstract: A driving device includes an electro-mechanical transducer having first and second end portions opposite to each other in an expansion/contraction direction, a stationary member coupled to the first end portion of the electro-mechanical transducer, a vibration friction portion mounted to the second end portion of the electro-mechanical transducer, and a rod-shaped moving portion frictionally coupled to the vibration friction portion, whereby moving the moving portion in the expansion/contraction direction of the electro-mechanical transducer. The stationary member consists essentially of a base alloy which consists of, by weight, 88 to 97% tungsten, 2 to 11% nickel as a binder, and, as the balance, 0.1 to 2% at least one metal having an ionization tendency which is higher than that of tungsten. The stationary member has a surface without nickel plating.

Abstract: An ultrasonic motor is provided having a first oscillating member and a second oscillating member. The first oscillating member vibrates with a given wavelength. The second oscillating member is separately provided to the first oscillating member, and vibrates with the given wavelength. An annulus is formed by the first oscillating member and the second oscillating member. Part of the first oscillating member overlaps with part of the second oscillating member in a radial direction of the annulus for one quarter of the given wavelength in a circumferential direction of the annulus.

Abstract: A motor device includes a rotor, a transmission member wound around at least a portion of an outer periphery of the rotor, a moving part connected to the transmission member to move the transmission member, and a control unit which makes the moving part perform the driving operation of moving the transmission member by a predetermined distance in a state where a torque transmission state is brought between the rotor and the transmission member, and the returning operation of returning the transmission member to a predetermined position in a state where the torque transmission state is released.

Abstract: A piezoelectric device includes a piezoresonator body (3) having opposing first and second surfaces and opposing third and fourth surfaces. The device also includes at least one common electrode (8) disposed on the second surface (15) and electrodes (4a, 4b) disposed on the first surface (14) in pairs along a first longitudinal axis. The device further includes contact elements (5) disposed on the third (16) and the fourth (17) surfaces at contact locations along the first longitudinal axis and aligned between each pair of excitation electrodes. In the device, the piezoelectric body has a first order natural resonance frequency (?1) along a second longitudinal axis and an even order natural resonance frequency (?2) along the first longitudinal axis, where a percent difference between ?1 and ?2 is greater than 0% and less than or equal to 20%.

Abstract: In order to achieve a low-profile driving device, the driving device includes: a bending displacement member (1A), partially fixed, which is excited by electrical control to be bent and displaced; a bending displacement member (1B), partially fixed, which is excited by electrical control to be bent and displaced; an elastic member (2) joined to the bending displacement members (1A, 1B); a friction member (3), joined to the elastic member (2), which is capable of partially making contact with a body tube (4); and a camera module housing (6) capable of housing the bending displacement members (1A, 1B), the elastic member (2), and the body tube (4). The bending displacement members (1A, 1B) are disposed along an inner wall of the camera module housing (6).

Abstract: An electromechanical actuator arrangement (50) comprises an electromechanical motor (10) and a rail arrangement (35). The rail arrangement (35) has a rail (30) relative which the electromechanical motor drives in a main displacement direction (3). The electromechanical motor has electromechanically active actuators attached to a motor block (20) and are arranged to provide an actuating action against the rail. The rail arrangement has further at least one guide member (31) provided parallel to the main displacement direction. The guide members have a guiding surface (36) facing the motor block. The motor block in turn has guidance surfaces (37) facing the guiding surface of the guide members. The guiding surface or the guidance surface has a tangent line parallel to the main displacement direction.