Abstract: Provided is a vibration wave motor, including: a vibrator; a friction member, which is in friction contact with the vibrator; a pressurizing unit, which is configured to pressurize the vibrator against the friction member; and a guiding unit, which is configured to guide relative movement between the vibrator and the friction member, wherein the relative movement between the vibrator and the friction member is caused by vibration generated by the vibrator, and wherein the guiding unit holds the friction member and has fixing portions, and the fixing portions are formed in the guiding unit in vicinities of both ends of the guiding unit sandwiching the friction member.

Abstract: In a linear driving apparatus including a vibration wave motor, a sliding guide method is used as a guiding method for a moving member. The apparatus further includes a driving target body movable in a moving direction, a transmission member configured to engage with the driving target body, abut against the abutment part of the moving member, and transmit the driving force of the vibration wave motor to the driving target body, and a biasing member configured to apply a biasing force between the transmission member and the abutment part. The direction of a frictional contact force that the vibrator receives from the friction member and the direction of a biasing contact force that the abutment part receives from the biasing member are parallel and opposite, and the load center of the distribution load of the biasing contact force exists in the range of the outside shape of the vibrator.

Abstract: A vibration wave motor includes a vibrator, a pressing member configured to press the vibrator against a friction member, a holding member configured to hold the vibrator, and a buffering member provided between the vibrator and the holding member. The vibrator and the friction member are moved relatively to each other in a relative movement direction by vibration of the vibrator, and the holding member holds the vibrator in such a manner that an extending part extending in a pressing direction of the pressing member sandwiches the vibrator and the buffering member.

Abstract: An oscillatory wave drive device has an oscillatory wave driving unit having an electromechanical energy conversion element having drive phases and a detection phase, a diaphragm, and a rotor, in which a traveling wave is generated on the surface of the diaphragm of the electromechanical energy conversion element to drive the rotor, and the driving speed of the rotor is controlled based on a signal of the phase difference detecting unit. In the oscillatory wave drive device, a detection phase voltage step-down unit and a drive phase voltage step-down unit each containing a resistance voltage dividing circuit having at least two resistors are provided and the voltage dividing ratio in the resistance voltage dividing circuit of the detection phase voltage step-down unit is lower than 1/1 and higher than 1/20.

Abstract: A focus detecting apparatus includes a first image sensor configured to receive a light beam that has passed through an optical system and to output a first signal to be used for a focus detection by a phase difference detection method, a second image sensor configured to receive, by a masking device, a light beam narrower than that received by the first image sensor, which has passed through the optical system and to output a second signal to be used for the focus detection by the phase difference detection method, and a calculating circuit configured to calculate the focus detection by the phase difference detection method. In the focus detection calculation, a search range for an in-focus position using the first signal is wider than that using the second signal.

Abstract: An acoustic transducer has a substrate having a cavity, a vibrating electrode plate disposed above the substrate and having a void portion that allows pressure to escape, a fixed electrode plate disposed above the substrate opposite the vibrating electrode plate, a plurality of sensing portions configured by the vibrating electrode plate and the fixed electrode plate, at least one of the vibrating electrode plate and the fixed electrode plate being divided into a plurality of regions, and a sensing portion being configured by the vibrating electrode plate and the fixed electrode plate in each of the divided regions, and a leak pressure regulation portion that hinders leakage of air pressure passing through the void portion when the vibrating electrode plate is not undergoing deformation.

Abstract: An acoustic transducer has a substrate having a cavity, a vibrating electrode plate disposed above the substrate and having a void portion that allows pressure to escape, a fixed electrode plate disposed above the substrate opposite the vibrating electrode plate, and a leak pressure regulation portion that hinders leakage of air pressure by passing through the void portion when the vibrating electrode plate is not undergoing deformation, and that becomes separated from the void portion and allows pressure to escape by passing through the void portion when the vibrating electrode plate undergoes deformation from being subjected to pressure.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a television apparatus includes a housing, a vibration module attached to the housing, a supporting portion which is secured to the housing and supports the vibration module for vibration, and an oscillation unit which causes the vibration module to vibrate. In addition, the television apparatus includes a plurality of first projections protruding from one of the vibration module and the housing toward the other, a sheet spanning between respective distal end portions of the first projections, and a plurality of second projections provided on the other of the vibration module and the housing and abutting the sheet at positions between the first projections.

Abstract: A piezoelectric motor including a base member; a stator disposed on the base member and comprising at least one piezoelectric element; a rotor configured to rotate by a wave motion of the stator, the wave motion being generated by the piezoelectric element; a cover member attached to the base member; a bearing arranged between the cover member and the rotor; and an elastic member configured to press the rotor toward the stator.

Abstract: A piezoelectric motor including a rotor and a piezoelectric actuator positioned relative to the rotor in such manner that a working end of the actuator is in linear, frictional, resilient and forced contact with a working surface of the rotor. The actuator includes a piezoelectric a longitudinal prism shaped resonator with a trapezoidal cross-section and the working end of the actuator is a flat pusher insert set at an angle to the plane of the resonator base. An electronic generator is connected to electrodes of the piezoelectric actuator to excite periodic mechanical oscillations in the actuator wherein the electrodes are applied onto the longitudinal lateral trapezoidal surfaces of the resonator and the piezoelectric resonator is polarized across its width and the electronic generator outputs an alternating electrical voltage signal at a frequency matching the frequency of the first-order natural longitudinal mode of mechanical oscillation along the length of the resonator.

Abstract: An oscillatory wave motor includes an oscillator having an oscillation body and an electro-mechanical energy-converting element, and a flexible heat-conducting member configured to dissipate heat generated by the oscillatory wave motor. The oscillatory wave motor drives a moving body in contact with a contact portion formed in the oscillation body by an elliptical movement of the oscillator, and the heat-conducting member is provided in addition to a heat-conducting path that conducts heat generated by the oscillatory wave motor through an oscillator supporting member that supports the oscillator or a heat-conducting path that conducts heat through the moving body.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a television apparatus includes a housing, a vibration module attached to the housing, a supporting portion which is secured to the housing and supports the vibration module for vibration, and an oscillation unit which causes the vibration module to vibrate. In addition, the television apparatus includes a plurality of first projections protruding from one of the vibration module and the housing toward the other, a sheet spanning between respective distal end portions of the first projections, and a plurality of second projections provided on the other of the vibration module and the housing and abutting the sheet at positions between the first projections.

Abstract: A piezoelectric motor (100) includes a stator (2) having a stator shaft (9). The motor also includes an annular piezoelement (4) having upper and lower surfaces and inner and outer rims retained on the stator. The motor further includes an annular wave shell (6) on an outer rim of the piezoelement and a rotor coupled to the stator shaft, where the rotor has a rotor inner circumferential surface (20). The motor additionally includes elastic pushers (8), each having an end coupled to the wave shell and another end extending to and contacting the rotor inner circumferential surface. In the motor, a radius of the outer rim is at least twice the radius of the inner rim and an annular width of the piezoelement is at least twice its thickness.

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: 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.

Abstract: A piezoelectric motor including a base member; a stator disposed on the base member and comprising at least one piezoelectric element; a rotor configured to rotate by a wave motion of the stator, the wave motion being generated by the piezoelectric element; a cover member attached to the base member; a bearing arranged between the cover member and the rotor; and an elastic member configured to press the rotor toward the stator.

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 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 guiding mechanism which movably supports the driven member, and a case member which accommodates the ultrasonic vibrator, the pressing member, and the guiding means. The case member includes a first opening portion for making the driven member pass through, and a second opening portion which opens in a direction different from a direction in which the first opening portion opens and a direction of pressing by the pressing member.

Abstract: An ultrasonic motor has a cylindrical rotor for performing a mechanical output, a plurality of ultrasonic vibrators each having two points in internal contact with the rotor, and a preload mechanism for pressing the ultrasonic vibrators from an inside toward an outside of the rotor, and the ultrasonic vibrators are provided to be rotatable relative to the preload mechanism. With this configuration, an internal contact type ultrasonic motor capable of performing efficient drive by using a plurality of ultrasonic vibrators each in contact with a cylindrical rotor at two points and allowing contact at all contact points without requiring a high machining accuracy can be provided.

Abstract: Provided is an ultrasonic motor capable of realizing high torque. When two terminals are selected from a first terminal (31t), a second terminal (32t), and a third terminal (33t) of a vibrator (3), and AC voltages whose phases are shifted by 90 degrees relative to each other are respectively applied through both of those two terminals, vibration is generated in the stator vibration body (S), and elliptical vibration in a plane corresponding to the selected two terminals is generated at each of a step (9) of a first stator (2) and a corner (11) of a second stator (10), which are in contact with a rotor (6). Since the first stator (2) and the second stator (10) form the single stator vibration body (S), the step (9) of the first stator (2) and the corner (11) of the second stator (10) vibrate in the same vibration mode, rotational force is transmitted from both the step (9) of the first stator (2) and the corner (11) of the second stator (10), and the rotor (6) rotates with high torque.

Abstract: A linear planar servomotor having at least one spare-mover standby area is characterized in at least one spare-mover receiving element attached to an edge of a planar stator of the linear planar servomotor for providing an upper surface of the spare-mover receiving element as the spare-mover standby area, wherein the spare-mover standby area is level with an upper surface of the stator. Thus, at least one spare mover of the linear planar servomotor can be placed on the spare-mover standby area for immediately replacing a working mover on the planar stator of the linear planar servomotor.

Abstract: A piezoelectric motor that includes a rotor and a stator having a surface on which a driving member that is in contact with the rotor for rotating the rotor is disposed. The stator includes a stator body, a plurality of piezoelectric elements disposed on a surface of the stator body, and an electrode wiring plate integrally formed with the stator body. The piezoelectric elements are electrically connected to a plurality of electrodes formed on the electrode wiring plate through a plurality of wiring lines. The wiring lines are constituted by an electroconductive film extending from a surface of the stator body to the electrodes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a piezoelectric motor comprising a piezoelectric component that is connected to a resonator and a two-dimensional resonator that interacts with a movable. element, the resonator having principal surfaces that are parallel to each other and that are also identical in shape and size. The invention further relates to methods for producing such piezoelectric motors, wherein the resonators are manufactured by cutting a profiled, extruded bar into lengths or by cutting, preferably by punching, from sheet metal having constant thickness. Finally, this invention relates to a method for exciting such a piezoelectric motor, wherein the excitation frequency or frequencies is/are generated by the control electronics as a function of time in response to the respective peak current and/or in response to the respective phase minimum between current and voltage and/or in response to the change in phase.

Abstract: An electromechanical motor includes a rail to be moved, a dry, non-lubricated, sliding bearing for the rail, and driving members imposing a mechanical driving force on the rail. The bearing has two rail contacting portions. A first portion contacts the rail for obstructing displacements of the rail in a first direction transverse to a main extension of the rail. The first portion also obstructs rotation of the rail around an axis parallel to the main extension. The second portion is arranged for obstructing displacements of the rail in the first direction transverse to the main extension, while allowing at least a minor movement of at least one of rotation of the rail. The motor allows for mechanical flexibility at certain selected positions and ensures immobility at other selected positions, in order to reduce the impact of externally induced displacements, torques and rotations at critical places in the motor.

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: An electromechanical actuator 10 is disclosed, having drive elements (14a–d) movable in two dimensions and connected to an actuator backing (12). The actuator backing (12) is made of a material being ferromechanically inactive. Furthermore, the joint between the drive element (14a–d) and the actuator backing (12) is stiff and highly stable. This is achieved by use of an irreversible joint made e.g. by thermoset plastic glues, diffusion bonding or co-sintering. Co-sintering is to prefer. The actuator backing (12) material is selected to be stiff, preferably having a stiffness above 70 GPa and more preferably above 100 GPa, and having a high heat conductivity, preferably above 5 W/mK and more preferably above 10 W/mK, Electrodes (22) are preferably integrated in the actuator backing to increase stiffness as well as improving the heat conductivity. The drive elements (14a–d) are preferably covered (28, 26), at least at the driving surface, by heat-conducting material.

Abstract: A piezoelectric motor has a vibrating body for undergoing vibrational movement in accordance with a vibration wave, a contact member disposed in contact with and driven by the vibrating body during vibration thereof, and a support member for supporting the vibrating body in the vicinity of a vibration node of the vibration wave. A pressurization member applies pressure to the support member along a pressurization axis to maintain the vibrating body in pressure contact with the contact member so that during vibration of the vibrating body, the support member regulates movement of the vibrating body in a direction of rotation about the pressurization axis.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a piezoelectric motor of the type including: a stator (2); a rotor (20) capable of moving in rotation in a plane (Pdm) called the mean movement plane perpendicular to a geometrical rotational axis (X1) on which the rotor (20) is centred; coupling means (8) for driving the rotor (20) arranged between the stator (2) and said rotor (20); piezoelectric means (12) capable of being electrically excited to impart a vibratory movement onto the coupling means (8); transmission means (40) able to transmit the vibratory movement from the coupling means (8) to the rotor (20) in order to drive said rotor (20) in rotation about its axis (X1), and holding means (44) for applying the rotor (20) onto the coupling means (8), characterised in that the coupling means (8) are arranged freely about the geometrical rotational axis (X1) on which they are centred, and in that the coupling means (8) rest on the stator (2) via support means (10) shaped to convert the vibratory movement of the point

Abstract: An ultrasonic motor includes a stator having a piezoelectric element and a rotor facing the stator. The piezoelectric element is annular and is polarized into segments in the circumferential direction. A flexible plate is fixed to the piezoelectric element with an electrode plate in between. The flexible plate includes a flexible substrate, a conductor, and a reinforcement. The conductor is located on a part of the flexible substrate to be electrically connected to the electrode plate. The reinforcement is located on the flexible substrate at a position that is off the conductor. The reinforcement suppresses vibration generated at a part of the piezoelectric element that is off the conductor, thereby stabilizing vibration of the piezoelectric element in the circumferential direction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a vibration wave driving apparatus including: a vibration member which has an electro-mechanical energy conversion element having a plurality of electrode regions that are fixed to an elastic member and polarized in the same direction, and which generates a travelling wave that is obtained by synthesizing a plurality of standing waves different in phase on a surface of the elastic member by supplying an ac signal to the electro-mechanical energy conversion element; and a moving member which is in contact with the vibration member and driven by the travelling wave.

Abstract: The conductor pattern on an ultrasonic motor lead board is prevented from being stripped off an ultrasonic motor lead board main body. An ultrasonic motor support member 124 for an ultrasonic motor 130 is firmly fixed on an ultrasonic motor shaft 132. A piezoelectric element 802 is firmly fixed to an ultrasonic stator main body 122b. The ultrasonic stator 122 is firmly fixed on the ultrasonic motor shaft 132. An ultrasonic motor lead board 136 is firmly fixed onto a backside of the ultrasonic motor support member 124. A conductor pattern 136b at its tip portion 136e and a conductor pattern 136b at its tip portion 136f are respectively welded to electrodes 803a, 803b of the piezoelectric element 802. An ultrasonic rotor 134 is arranged rotatable relative to the ultrasonic motor shaft 132. A pressurizing spring 138 puts the ultrasonic rotor 134 in pressure contact with the ultrasonic stator 122.

Abstract: A micro actuator driven load beam mechanism for use in a head suspension assembly is disclosed. The mechanism includes a load beam including a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, a hinge portion connecting the proximal and distal end portions of the load beam for permitting relative movement therebetween, and a piezoelectric beam connecting the proximal and distal end portions, the piezoelectric beam being selectively energizable to effect relative movement between the proximal and distal end portions. The load beam includes a pocket for holding at least one end of the piezoelectric beam. The piezoelectric beam and the pocket may be inclined relative to a hinge plane to control the load beam twist and minimize the altitude variations of the beam tip.

Abstract: A friction member is used in a friction portion in a vibration wave driving apparatus. The friction member comprises a composite resin which comprises polytetrafluoroethylene as a matrix and which further comprises at least an inorganic fiber substance and a heat-resistant resin. A ratio of a content Vf (vol %) of the inorganic fiber substance to a content Vr (vol %) of the heat-resistant resin satisfies the following relation: ⅓≦Vf/Vr≦3.

Abstract: A piezoelectric motor having a stator in which piezoelectric elements are contained in slots formed in the stator transverse to the desired wave motion. When an electric field is imposed on the elements, deformation of the elements imposes a force perpendicular to the sides of the slot, deforming the stator. Appropriate frequency and phase-shifting of the electric field will produce a wave in the stator and motion in a rotor. In a preferred aspect, the piezoelectric elements are configured so that deformation of the elements in the direction of an imposed electric field, generally referred to as the d33 direction, is utilized to produce wave motion in the stator. In a further aspect, the elements are compressed into the slots so as to minimize tensile stresses on the elements in use.

Abstract: An ultrasonic motor includes a stator having a piezoelectric element and a rotor facing the stator. The piezoelectric element vibrates the stator to rotate the rotor. A lining member is located between the rotor and the stator. A spring is installed in the motor. The spring is deformed by a predetermined amount to press the rotor against the stator. The force of the spring pressing the rotor changes in accordance with the deformation of the spring. The spring is installed such that its deformation is in a predetermined range, so that, within the range, the urging force of the spring changes by a relatively small amount for a given change of deformation. Therefore, when deformation of the spring changes due to wearing of the lining member, the urging force of the disk spring scarcely changes. Accordingly, the rotation characteristics of the motor scarcely change over time.

Abstract: An ultrasonic motor includes a stator, which includes a piezoelectric element, and a rotor, which opposes the stator. The piezoelectric element vibrates the stator to rotate the rotor. The rotor has an annular thin section. An elastic ring is secured to the thin section. The mass of the elastic ring is selected from a predetermined range of masses. The motor speed at which a predetermined level of noise is produced by the motor is substantially constant for the range of the masses. This reliably damps undesirable vibration of the motor.

Abstract: An ultrasonic motor driven by a self-oscillation circuit which can be mounted in an electronic device without imposing structural restrictions on the electronic device and can thus be used easily. Among an oscillating member for generating an oscillatory wave, a pressing mechanism for causing a moving body to make pressing contact with the oscillating member, a moving body frictionally driven by the oscillatory wave, and outputting means for transmitting an output from the moving body to the outside, at least one member is made of an insulating material, and when in particular the moving body is provided with outputting means for transmitting an output torque this outputting means is made of an insulating material and no restrictions are imposed on the shapes and the materials of the oscillating member and the moving body, which closely relate to the output performance of the ultrasonic motor.

Abstract: The application seeks to eliminate errors introduced by bearings and supports. It does so by integrating the drive means, in the form of a piezoelectric actuator, into the bearing or support. Thus the bearing no longer acts against the drive means, eliminating errors. It also describes a drive mechanism for elongate prismatic objects (140). The mechanism uses piezoelectric drives (148) and achieves very high accuracy of positioning with minimal backlash etc, whilst occupying only a small volume. This makes it suitable for use in electro-discharge machining and electro-discharge texturing operations where one or more wire electrodes (140) need to be positioned accurately with respect to a workpiece and maintained in that relative position as the workpiece erodes and the electrode (140) is consumed.

Abstract: An ultrasonic motor includes a rotor and a rotor accommodated in a housing. The stator includes a piezoelectric element and the housing is secured to a base by screws. The rotor contacts the stator. The piezoelectric element vibrates the stator to rotate the rotor. An insulation plate is located between the stator and the base. An insulation washer is located between the stator and each screw. A rotary shaft is rotatably supported by the housing. The rotary shaft is coupled to the rotor with an insulation collar in between. Therefore, the stator and the rotor are electrically insulated from the housing and the rotary shaft. This arrangement reduces electromagnetic noise, which interferes with other electric devices, such as radios.

Abstract: A vibration wave apparatus includes a plurality of vibration member groups. Each vibration member group includes a plurality of vibration members having respective driving portions in which driving vibration waves are generated, where the respective driving portions are arranged at axially opposite sides of the vibration member group and the said plurality of vibration members are disposed coaxially with one another, and a holding member disposed between the respective driving portions of the plurality of vibration members, and arranged to support the vibration member group at a peripheral portion of the holding member.