Abstract: A vibration drive device that suppresses an increase in the number of component parts and can be easily downsized. Vibration is excited in a vibration element in pressure contact with a driven element to thereby rotationally move the driven element relative to the vibration element. A bearing rotatably supports the driven element. A first and a second bearing portions are joined to the driven element. The second and a third bearing portions are pressed against each other via rolling elements in a direction along the axis of the bearing. The rolling elements are brought into pressure contact with the first raceway surface of the first bearing portion, the second raceway surface of the second bearing portion, and the third raceway surface of the third bearing portion. One of the second and third bearing portions is integrally formed with the driven element from the same material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a vibration-type driving apparatus including a vibrator including an electro-mechanical transducer; a driven body disposed in pressure-contact with the vibrator; a supporting portion extending from the vibrator; a base to which the vibrator is fixed with the supporting portion interposed therebetween; a vibration absorber disposed between the supporting portion and the base; and a compressive-force adjusting device capable of adjusting a compressive force to be applied to the vibration absorber between the supporting portion and the base.

Abstract: A driving apparatus comprises a movable portion having movable side guide portions; a base portion having fixed side guide portions; a vibrator having a piezoelectric element; a friction member provided at one of the movable portion and the base portion; a pressing portion, provided at the other of the movable member and the base portion, for applying a pressing force to the vibrator; and rolling portions sandwiched between the movable side guide portions and the fixed side guide portions. The movable side guide portions and the fixed side guide portions extend with a predetermined length in a moving direction in which the movable portion is moved with respect to the base portion, and one of movable side guide portions is positioned within spacing in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction of a pair of movable side guide portions of the movable side guide portions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a piezoelectric device. A piezoelectric device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes a piezoelectric member and a connection member which are coupled to each other, wherein the piezoelectric member includes a polycrystalline member made of a polycrystalline piezoelectric material, a single crystal member made of a single crystal piezoelectric material and coupled to the connection member, and a textured member provided between the polycrystalline member and the single crystal member and having intermediate properties of the polycrystalline piezoelectric material and the single crystal piezoelectric material.

Abstract: Provided is a method of producing a vibrating body for a vibration wave drive device using a vibrator in which an electromechanical energy conversion element is joined to a vibrating body having a plurality of protruding portions, the method including a first step and a second step. In the first step, an elastic material having a plurality of protruding portions is produced. In the second step, a pressure in a direction opposite to a protruding direction of the protruding portions of the elastic material is applied to press at least parts of the protruding portions to reduce slits between the protruding portions adjacent to each other.

Abstract: Provided is an ultrasonic motor, comprising: a vibrator including a piezoelectric element and a contact surface to be brought into contact with a member to be driven, the vibrator driving the member to be driven by an ultrasonic vibration excited by the piezoelectric element; a holding part configured to hold the vibrator; a pressurization unit configured to apply a bias force for biasing the holding part toward the member to be driven so as to impress the contact surface against the member to be driven; and a fixing unit configured to support the pressurization unit, in which the holding part holds the vibrator on both sides of the contact surface in a driving direction of the member to be driven.

Abstract: An ultrasonic motor includes a vibrator configured to generate an elliptical vibration, a driven member configured to be driven by the vibrator, wherein the driven member is driven according to the elliptical vibration of the vibrator, a holding unit configured to hold the vibrator, and a pressure unit configured to press the vibrator against the driven member, wherein the holding unit includes a first holding member configured to hold the vibrator, and a second holding member configured to press the vibrator against the driven member, and wherein the first holding member and the second holding member are relatively movable in a direction perpendicular to a contact surface of the driven member with the vibrator.

Abstract: A vibration type actuator providing a satisfactory actuator performance even when an increase in speed is achieved and having a contact spring. The actuator includes a vibrator equipped with an electrical-mechanical energy conversion element, an elastic member to which the electrical-mechanical energy conversion element is fixed, and a protrusion provided on the elastic member. The vibrator can generate an elliptic movement in the protrusion. A driven body is configured to come into contact with the protrusion and to make a relative movement with respect to the vibrator. The protrusion includes a contact portion having a contact surface contacting the driven body, a continuous side wall portion protruding with respect to one end surface of the elastic member and forming a hollow structure, and a connection portion connecting the contact portion and the side wall portion and exhibiting flexibility in a direction normal to the contact surface.

Abstract: A vibrating body is accommodated in a vibrating body case in a state where both sides of the vibrating body containing a piezoelectric material are sandwiched between buffer portions from a direction intersecting a bending direction of the vibrating body, and the buffer portions are pressed against the vibrating body using a pressing lid through elastic portions. Pressing plates are provided between the buffer portions and the elastic portions to restrict the movement of the pressing plates in a vibration direction of the vibrating body.

Abstract: A vibrational wave motor includes a motor main body and pressing member. The motor main body includes an electromechanical conversion element, elastic body and relative motion member. The elastic body joined to the electromechanical conversion element generates an oscillating wave. The relative motion member in pressure contact with the elastic body is rotationally driven relative to the elastic body. The pressing member generates a pressing force between the elastic body and relative motion member. The pressing member includes a pressure applying portion, extension portion and pressing main body. The pressure applying portion presses one of the elastic body and the relative motion member towards the other, along a rotation axis. The extension portion extends outward from the pressure applying portion in a radial direction centered about the rotation axis. The pressing main body is disposed more outward in the radial direction than the motor main body at the extension portion.

Abstract: Apparatus for coupling a piezoelectric motor to a moveable body, the motor having a coupling surface for coupling to the moveable body, the apparatus comprising: at least one elastic element that provides at least a portion of a coupling force for pressing the coupling surface of the piezoelectric motor to the moveable body; and at least one shape memory component that is controllable to change shape and/or phase; wherein the at least a portion of the coupling force provided by an elastic element of the at least one elastic element changes responsive to changes in shape and/or phase of the at least one memory component.

Abstract: A vibration actuator includes a roller, a vibrating element having a contact portion that is in contact with the roller, a vibrator for vibrating the vibrating element, a pressing device for pressing the roller against the vibrating element, and a lubricator disposed close to the contact portion and in contact with the roller.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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 ar

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A vibration actuator 10 comprises an elastic body 12 that generates vibration waves in accordance with driving of an element 13, and a relative movement member that is in pressure contact with the body 12 and is relatively moved with respect to the body 12 by the vibration waves. A plurality of groove 30s are formed at the relative movement member side of the body 12, and depths of the groove 30s in a direction orthogonal to a relative movement direction of the relative movement member vary along the relative movement direction of the relative movement member.

Abstract: An ultrasonic motor mechanism includes an ultrasonic vibrator that includes a piezoelectric element; a driven member that is driven relative to the ultrasonic vibrator because of a frictional force generated between the ultrasonic vibrator and the driven member; a coupling member that is coupled to the driven member; a first urging member that urges the ultrasonic vibrator with the driven member; a base member that movably supports the driven member; and a spherical rolling member that movably supports the driven member with respect to the base member. By interposing a second urging member between the driven member and the coupling member, the driven member is urged in a longitudinal direction. The driven member and the coupling member are coupled to each other by causing the driven member to abut the coupling member.

Abstract: An ultrasonic motor includes a vibrator, a mobile unit, a holding mechanism, and a pressing mechanism. The vibrator generates elliptical vibration by degenerating different vibration modes and having a phase difference between the different vibration modes. The mobile unit is configured to be movable relative to the vibrator. The holding mechanism holds and fixes the vibrator in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of the relative movement of the mobile unit. The pressing mechanism presses the vibrator against the mobile unit. The holding mechanism includes an adjustment unit for adjusting the resonant frequencies of the different vibration modes of the vibrator to substantially match each other when the ultrasonic motor is driven.

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 vibrating element of an ultrasonic motor includes a vibrating member, and a piezoelectric body to produce a traveling wave thus to vibrate the vibrating member when electric power is applied to the piezoelectric body. The piezoelectric body includes a first piezoelectric layer attached to the vibrating member and in which positive poles and negative poles are alternately polarized, a second piezoelectric layer attached to the first piezoelectric layer and in which positive poles and negative poles are alternately polarized, a plurality of electrodes formed on opposite surfaces of the first and second piezoelectric layers, and an electrode connecting part formed on outer circumferential surfaces of the first and second piezoelectric layers to selectively connect the plurality of electrodes to one other.

Abstract: A calibration method for inertial drive actuator of driving a target moving body among a plurality of moving bodies to move by inertia between a first movement limit position and a second movement limit position in relation to an oscillating plate that is moved to reciprocate by a moving member, and detecting positions of the moving bodies based on electrostatic capacitances includes detecting electrostatic capacitances of opposing parts of a moving body side electrode provided in a target moving body and an oscillating plate electrode provided in the oscillating plate is detected at the first movement limit position and the second movement limit position, respectively; and calculating a ratio of a difference between the electrostatic capacitances at the first movement limit position and the second movement limit position to a movement limit distance that is a distance between the first movement limit position and the second movement limit position.

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: The invention concerns an element to be driven, a driving element designed to be urged into engagement with the element to be driven and an actuating element adapted to move the driving element so that it drives the element to be driven in step-by-step displacement, the driving element and the actuating element being formed by etching in a semiconductor material wafer. The invention is characterized in that it comprises elastic prestressing means for maintaining the driving element in contact with the element to be driven.

Abstract: A driving apparatus comprises: an electromechanical conversion element that expands and contracts in an extending direction of a given fiducial line; a driving shaft mounted on one end of the electromechanical conversion element in the extending direction; a driven member frictionally engaged with the driving shaft; a holder that supports the electromechanical conversion element from lateral sides with respect to extending direction; and an urging member that urges the electromechanical conversion element in the extending direction.

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 vibrator (3) is sandwiched between a base block (1) and a stator (2), and a substantially lower half of a substantially spherical rotor (6) is received in a recess (5) of the stator (2). A support member (7) is placed on an upper portion of the stator (2). A preload portion (10) is supported at an end of an angle portion (9) of the support member (7). A spherical member (11) rotatable about multiple axes of the preload portion (10) abuts against a top portion of the rotor (6) to apply a preload to the rotor (6). Driving the vibrator (3) rotates the rotor (6), whereby an output shaft (12) is moved between the preload portion (10) and an annular portion (8) of the support member (7) as a movable range.

Abstract: An ultrasonic motor produces elliptical vibration by inducing longitudinal vibration and flexural vibration at the same time and drives a driven body by obtaining a drive power from the elliptical vibration. The ultrasonic motor includes a piezoelectric device, reinforcing members which are provided at the antinodes of the flexural vibration on the top side of the piezoelectric device, friction contact members which are provided at the antinodes of the flexural vibration on the bottom side of the piezoelectric device so as to transmit the driving force to the driven body, a holding member which is provided on the piezoelectric device and positioned and held by a case, and a pressure member which presses the holding member so that the friction contact members are brought into a pressure contact with the driven body such that the driven body can be driven by friction.

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: A piezo drive system includes an elastic fixing frame, a drive element, a rod, and a rotor. A vamplate portion is formed on the outer surface of the rod. One end of the rod is secured to around the center of a face of the drive element. The rotor consists of a cylindrical portion and a disk portion, and can rotate relative to the rod. Protrusions are formed on the inside of a top surface portion of the fixing frame to push against the disk portion. Using the drive element, the rod rotates while tilting and makes a surface contact with the vamplate portion, producing friction. Consequently, the rotor is rotated.

Abstract: Provided is a vibration actuator comprising a drive unit that generates a drive force; a vibrating component that vibrates according to the drive force from the drive unit; a rotating body that receives the vibration of the vibrating component to rotate; and a converting section that changes a contact force between the vibrating component and the rotating body according to size of a load acting on the rotating body.

Abstract: A piezoelectric ultrasonic motor includes a piezoelectric stator including a hollow metal tube having a quadrangular cross section and four piezoelectric elements each installed in each outer face of the metal tube; a rotary shaft including a rotation bar inserted into an inner space of the metal tube, an upper rotation member provided around the rotation bar in contact with an upper surface of the piezoelectric stator, the rotation member rotating in response to the strain of the piezoelectric stator, a lower rotation member adapted to restrain the rotation of the rotation bar and contacting a lower surface of the piezoelectric stator and a power transmission member provided at one portion of the rotation bar to transmit the rotation of the rotation member to an object to be transported; and a power supply to apply a supply voltage necessary for the actuation of the piezoelectric stator.

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: 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: 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 micromotion mechanism having an ultrasonic motor includes: a fixing base; a moving element supported to be movable in the moving axis direction with respect to the fixing base; an oscillation element having a rectangular geometry including a first plane parallel to the moving axis direction and provided with a plurality of projections and a second plane parallel to the first plane for exciting a plurality of oscillation modes by applying a high frequency voltage signal, and a holding mechanism for holding the oscillation element with respect to the fixing base. The holding mechanism is fixed to a part of the second plane of the oscillation element, and is incorporated with a high rigidity material not including high nonlinearity elements including at least one of a friction sliding unit and a rubber member.

Abstract: It is an object to provide a small ultrasonic actuator whose voltage control is easy. The ultrasonic actuator acts on a rotatable rotor to rotate the rotor, the ultrasonic actuator includes: a plate vibrator having one end which contacts the rotor, a corner portion bent at a midpoint in the vibrator, and the other end which is fixed; and a piezoelectric device which contacts a part of the vibrator between the one end and the corner portion, and transmits a vibration to the vibrator by vibrating in response to application of an alternating voltage between one of electrodes provided respectively on both surfaces or the plate vibrator serving as the one of the electrodes and the other of the electrodes.

Abstract: A piezoelectric ultrasonic motor and a method of manufacturing the piezoelectric ultrasonic motor. The piezoelectric ultrasonic motor includes: a piezoelectric body that generates a traveling wave according to an applied voltage signal; a vibrator that is attached to the piezoelectric body and vibrates; and a rotator that contacts the vibrator and is rotated by friction with the vibrating vibrator, wherein the rotator includes a plate spring member having a contact portion that contacts the vibrator, a support member that is coupled to the plate spring member and supports the plate spring member, and a buffer space defined by the plate spring member and the support member.

Abstract: An assembly mechanism is provided to press an inner stator into a receiving space of an outer stator. The assembly mechanism includes a pressing unit and a first positioning plate. The pressing unit includes a supporting device to support the outer stator, and a pressing device movable relatively to the supporting device. The first positioning plate is attached to a top of the outer stator. The first positioning plate defines an opening forming a clearance fit with the inner stator. The opening receives the inner stator and guides the inner stator to move into the receiving space of the outer stator under a pressing action of the pressing device. An assembly method is also provided.

Abstract: To provide an inertial drive actuator that is easy to assemble and achieves high accuracy in position detection, the actuator has a fixed member, a vibration substrate, a piezoelectric element (movement unit), first and second moving bodies that moves relative to the vibration substrate by inertia, a first electrode provided on the surface of each of the first and second moving bodies, a second electrode provided on a surface of the vibration substrate, an insulating film provided between the first electrode and the second electrode, a drive unit, and a position detection unit that detects the position of the moving body with respect to the vibration substrate based on capacitance of the portion in which the first electrode and the second electrode are opposed to each other.

Abstract: The invention relates to an ultrasound linear piezoelectric motor comprising an ultrasound oscillator (1) embodied in the form of a piezoelectric plate (4) or a cylinder shell part (3), acoustic oscillation generators (5) and a friction element (6) which frictionally interacts with a driven element (8) and is disposed in a holder. The inventive holder is embodied in the form of an elastic clamp (13) which embraces a driven element, is fixed to the ultrasound oscillator and made of a sound-conducting material.

Abstract: An ultrasonic motor is provided with an ultrasonic transducer having a piezoelectric element, a holding member fixed to the ultrasonic transducer and holding the ultrasonic transducer, a pressing member pressing the holding member, and a member to be driven which is driven by frictional force between the member to be driven and the ultrasonic transducer. The pressing member has a hole portion and the holding member has a protruding portion engaged with the hole portion in a direction of pressing conducted by the pressing member. The hole portion and the protruding portion abut on each other so that the pressing member presses the member to be driven via the holding member and the ultrasonic transducer, thereby driving the member.

Abstract: In a friction drive actuator 1 according to the invention, a rotor 2 and a stator 4 are held in contact at a plurality of positions by a plurality of vibrators 3, and at least one of the vibrators 3 vibrates to rotate the rotor 2 relative to the stator 4. Accordingly, the rotor 2 is supported without using a bearing and, hence, the rotor 2 can be more easily elastically deformed as compared with the case where the rotor 2 and the stator 4 are held in contact over the entire circumference. Therefore, a frictional force between the stator 4 and the rotor can be stabilized.

Abstract: An ultrasonic actuator includes: a piezoelectric element 10 producing stretching and bending vibrations; driver elements 2, 2 placed on the piezoelectric element 10 so as to be actuated in accordance with the vibrations of the piezoelectric element 10, thereby outputting a driving force; a case 12 for supporting the piezoelectric element 10; and wall-surface supporters 6A and 6B, top-surface supporters 7A and 7B and a bottom-surface supporting part 8 all placed between the case 12 and the piezoelectric element 10 to previously apply compressive forces to non-node parts of the vibrations of the piezoelectric element 10 along the directions of the vibrations.

Abstract: Provided is a vibration actuator in which a plurality of rotors can be driven by a single vibration unit. Two rotors (A) and (B) are attracted toward corresponding stators to be contacted with and pressurized against the corresponding stators (3) and (4), respectively, through a tension of a wire member (8). A composite vibration combining a plurality of vibrations is generated by a composite vibrator (2) to cause elliptical movements in corner portions of the stators (3) and (4). As a result, the two rotors (A) and (B) abutting onto and pressurized against the two stators (3) and (4) are rotated about rotation centers (C1) and (C2) thereof, respectively, at the same time.

Abstract: An ultrasonic motor comprises an ultrasonic vibrator having a piezoelectric stack, a press member which is securely connected in the vicinity of a node of a standing wave in the ultrasonic vibrator and which presses the ultrasonic vibrator, a driven member which is driven by frictional force between the driven member and the ultrasonic vibrator, and a case to which the press member is fixed. Here, the press member has holes, and the case has guide pins which engage with the holes provided in the press member. Further, the press member is fixed to the case in a state bent in a press direction.

Abstract: Contact pressures between a driven member and an ultrasonic vibrator are balanced, making the driving characteristics in the forward and reverse directions uniform, and the driven member is driven with high driving efficiency. The invention provides a pressing mechanism of an ultrasonic vibrator for pressing sliding members against a driven member, the sliding members being provided at two or more positions corresponding to antinodes of a standing wave vibration of the ultrasonic vibrator. The pressing mechanism includes a pressing member configured to make contact with the ultrasonic vibrator at two or more positions corresponding to nodes of the standing wave vibration of the ultrasonic vibrator; and pressing-force adjusting units configured to adjustably apply pressing forces, which press the sliding members against the driven member, to the pressing member at two or more separate positions in the direction of a gap between the two or more nodes of the standing wave.

Abstract: A driving device includes an electromechanical transducer that is extended and contracted by application of voltage, and a support member that slidably supports a movable body and that is displaced together with the electromechanical transducer to which the support member is connected, the movable body being driven along the support member with the extension and contraction of the electromechanical transducer. The movable body has a main element, a pinch member that is assembled on the main element so as to pinch and hold the support member, and a biasing member that biases the pinch member toward the support member. A part of the pinch member abuts on the support member and other part thereof is held on the main element in a cross section perpendicular to a movement direction of the movable body when the pinch member is biased by the biasing member.

Abstract: An ultrasonic motor includes a stator that includes a comb body with a plurality of circumferentially-arranged comb-like projections and a piezoelectric body integrally mounted on the comb body, a rotor rotatable with respect to the stator, the rotor establishing pressure contact with the stator, a resin film formed on at least one of pressure contact surfaces of the stator and rotor, and a pressure contact force controlling portion that includes, an elastic member configured to generate a pressure contact force between the stator and rotor with an elastic force thereof, and a compressing portion configured to compress and shorten the elastic member. The pressure contact force controlling portion controls the pressure contact force between the stator and rotor by varying the elastic force of the elastic member depending on temperature of the motor.

Abstract: An actuator comprises: an electro-mechanical conversion element; a driving frictional member mounted onto one side in an extension/contraction direction of the electro-mechanical conversion element; a driven member frictionally engaged with the driving frictional member; an urging section that urges the driven member to frictionally engage the driven member with the driving frictional member; and an urging force adjusting section that adjusts an urging force of the urging section.

Abstract: To provide a drive detection means for a piezoelectric actuator that can detect an amount driven without requiring adding an encoder or other component while also preventing increasing the load. A rotor is disposed eccentrically to the axis of rotation to change the pressure applied from the rotor to a contact part as the rotor is driven. When the pressure changes, the amplitude of the detection signal output from the detection electrode 18 of the piezoelectric element changes in conjunction with rotor rotation, and how much the rotor has been driven can be detected by detecting the amplitude change. Size and thickness can therefore be reduced because providing an encoder, switch, or other component is unnecessary, and current consumption can also be reduced.