Abstract: The present invention relates to a vibration type actuator apparatus, and is aimed to provide an apparatus capable of determining a phase with which a driving voltage is applied to a piezo-electric member particularly relative to a phase of vibration displacement of a vibration member, shifting to a high-speed driving state in a short time, and abruptly stopping.

Abstract: A control system for a probe, including a transmission member, comprises a power source for supplying a constant power to a transmission member and a transducer for coupling the constant power to the transmission member and for providing a mechanical output to the transmission member at a frequency. A frequency measuring device is also provided for constantly measuring the frequency of the mechanical output of the transducer. A current monitoring device for measuring current forwarded to the transducer which monitors the current while the frequency of said mechanical output is varied until it is determined at what frequency the current is at a maximum is also provided. A method for implementing this apparatus is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a control apparatus for a vibration type actuator, and particularly to a control apparatus which improves controllability by providing a control circuit of adjusting a voltage to be applied to the actuator so that a tilt of a frequency-speed characteristic of the actuator becomes approximately a constant tilt.

Abstract: The invention relates to a regulating device for an unbalanced mass vibration generator, comprising at least two pairs of partial unbalanced mass bodies that can be driven around an allocated axis whose vectorially added partial centrifugal force vectors form the resulting centrifugal force vector. Adjustment is carried out between a resulting minimal unbalance moment (amplitude of oscillation=minimal) and a resulting maximal unbalance moment (amplitude of oscillation=maximal) without any intermediate positions, whereby both allocated limiting phase angles are regulated using two stops. The regulating device also enables acceleration and stopping of the vibrator with a regulated minimal unbalance moment. The regulating device selectively utilizes one or two drive motors for regulating the phase angle. Due to the utilization of stops in adjusting the phase angle, it is no longer necessary to use complicated control means and a compact structure is made possible.

Abstract: In a driving apparatus for a vibration type motor which obtains a driving force by applying a periodic signal to an electromechanical energy conversion element portion, when the driven amount of the vibration type motor is small, the vibration type motor is driven by a high voltage in a frequency range with a high lower limit as compared with a case wherein the driven amount is not small. This makes it possible to realize high-speed focusing and suppress electric power consumption low.

Abstract: The present invention relates to apparatus achieving improvement in operation characteristics in the operation of stopping or reversing the direction of or decelerating movement of a vibrating wave actuator constructed to apply an alternating voltage to an electro-mechanical energy conversion element to vibrate a vibration member to obtain a driving force. In the operation of stopping the vibrating wave actuator, it is necessary to cancel the vibration to stop the actuator, in order to stop the actuator in good response. The present invention has achieved the above object by applying an excitation signal, which excites vibration in a direction to cancel free vibration in the vibration member, to the electro-mechanical energy conversion element in the stop operation or the like.

Abstract: A dual sided self-oscillation circuit for driving an oscillatory actuator with high efficiency and high response speed. The actuator has a winding to receive a periodical supply current from a power source and oscillates in a predetermined resonant frequency. The self-oscillation circuit includes a bandpass filter for receiving a back electromotive force voltage (Vbemf) developed across the winding and producing a sine wave output signal, a comparator for comparing the sine wave output signal with a threshold voltage and producing two drive pulses per cycle of the resonant frequency, and a switch connected in series with the winding to connect or disconnect the power source to the winding in response to the drive pulses, thereby flowing electric current in two directions at each cycle.

Abstract: A miniature vibration motor structure includes a housing having a hole for receiving and positioning one end of a shaft whose other end is positioned in a fixing plate. A rotor includes a bearing integrally combined with an annular permanent magnet. The bearing of the rotor is supported and rotated on the shaft. The bearing or the annular permanent magnet is provided with a recess or protruding block, so that the center of gravity and the center of rotation of the rotor are not in concert with each other. A stator seat is wound with a coil and has a power inlet for supplying an electric power into the stator seat. The stator seat has poles which may be induced with the permanent magnet of the rotor.

Abstract: A linear pulse motor includes primary stators (1) in which a plurality of excitation units (3a-3d) and excitation coils (5a-5d) wound on the excitation coils are lined up in a row, and a secondary movable element (12) arranged at a predetermined gap from the stators (1) to face side surfaces of the stators (1). The stators (1) are arranged in a traveling direction of the movable element (12), and the stators (1) and the movable element (12) are supported to be movable relative to each other in the traveling direction of the movable element (12). A plurality of pole teeth (16) arranged on the movable element (12) are partitioned and integrally connected to each other by a nonmagnetic member (17). The secondary movable element is made lightweight and the response performance is improved.

Abstract: A DC brushless vibration motor is disclosed to comprise of a stator, a rotor, a drive circuit and a casing. The stator has an upper magnetic pole piece, a lower magnetic pole piece and a stator field winding. The stator field winding is contained inside a ring-shaped space formed by the upper and lower magnetic pole pieces. The internal rotor has a center of mass offset from the center axis of rotation and comprises a ring magnet and an eccentric weight. The eccentric weight has a structural configuration of a ring body, and the ring magnet is securely fixed to the external peripheral surface of the eccentric weight. The drive circuit has a drive integrated circuit for controlling the rotation of the rotor by receiving an externally-supplied electric power. The casing securely encloses the stator and rotor while maintaining an air gap therebetween for generating mechanical vibration when the rotor is propelled to rotate by the stator.

Abstract: A reciprocating rotary action actuator consisting of a rotor and stator that can be added to a bi-directional rotary motor or galvanometer scanner, where the stator has a ring magnet and a pair of soft iron pole pieces that concentrate the flux of the ring magnet into a concentric set of narrow, uniformly spaced, axially oriented, magnetic flux fields intersecting the rotor's field of travel. The rotor has small permanent magnets embedded in the periphery of a nonconductive, nonmagnetic rotor core. The rotor magnets have the same number and spacing as the stator's magnetic flux fields. The magnet poles are oriented opposite the flux fields of the stator pole pieces, so that upon rotation, the rotor magnets encounter the stator flux fields at each end of rotor travel, creating an opposing force that reverses the angular direction of the rotor with minimal requirement for actuator current and generation of thermal losses.

Abstract: This invention relates to an arrangement for detecting the driven state of a vibration wave actuator apparatus and provides an apparatus in which a waveform signal having an amplitude corresponding to a vibration state is generated by a monitor circuit, and this waveform signal is level-detected by a comparing circuit having a predetermined threshold so as to form a signal having a pulse width corresponding to the amplitude of the waveform signal, thereby detecting a vibration state from the pulse width.

Abstract: A vibration motor obtains a FAST signal when r.p.m. of the motor is faster than reference speed, whereby an output-driving circuit is controlled by the FAST signal to omit parts of the powering periods of respective phases. The motor thus controls the r.p.m. and increases torque ripple generated from the motor. As a result, vibration magnitude increases and insufficient vibration due to downsizing of the motor can be compensated by the control system.

Abstract: A reference pulse signal P is produced which is synchronized in frequency with a pulse signal S derived from a vibration source and has a predetermined duty ratio. Then, a control signal C is produced by providing at least one or more off intervals &agr;, &bgr; . . . at a random timing and random width predetermined for the reference pulse signal P to have the control amplitude correlated with the amplitude of the vibrations at the vibration source. This control signal C is used for controlling the switching action of the electromagnetic valve to have a desired level of pressure change in an air chamber 35 of a pneumatic vibrator which in turn develops a vibrating force on a mass member 20. The vibrations of the mass member can thus offset the vibrations of the chassis of a vehicle. Also, an electromagnetic vibrator can produce a similar control signal for eliminating the vibrations of the chassis.

Abstract: Vibrating linear actuator and method of operating same. The actuator of the invention includes a stator, a spring vibration system having a moving portion with a magnet and further having a spring configured to support the moving portion. The actuator further includes an electromagnetic coil configured to receive an electrical current, whereupon the coil moves the moving portion against a load supplied by the spring to reciprocally move the moving portion, a frequency detector configured to detect a natural frequency of the spring vibration system, and a frequency controller configured to determine a frequency of an electrical current pulse, the pulse to be received by the coil, in accordance with a detection result of the detector.

Abstract: A system and method for damping of resonant peaks in an electric motor which is operated using a converter with an intermediate voltage circuit, by means of a matched impedance to ground at the motor star point, and a corresponding electric motor is disclosed. In a converter system having an intermediate voltage circuit which operates with a mains system input inductor in the step-up converter mode or has other input-side inductances, there is a risk of natural system oscillations being formed via discharge capacitances in conjunction with motors. If the motor now has an amplitude/frequency response with a pronounced resonant frequency in the region of such natural system oscillations, then there is a risk of higher voltages occurring at the motor star point than in the motor phases.

Abstract: The flux producing current limit of the motor control is adjusted to control the vibration of a motor. The flux producing current may be profiled in relation to the speed of the motor to compensate for excessive motor vibration.

Abstract: A waveform control unit of a vibrating table comprises: an off-line compensation wave generator which generates an off-line compensation wave on the basis of the inverse characteristic of the vibrating table determined before performing an excitation and a target wave; and an on-line compensation wave generator which generates an on-line compensation wave on the basis of the inverse characteristic of the vibrating table during the excitation determined on the basis of the data of an excitation wave and a reproduced wave during the excitation and the target wave, and it switches the excitation wave to a mixed compensation wave based on the on-line compensation wave from the off-line compensation wave, during the excitation.

Abstract: In a portable device for driving a vibration actuator by means of a battery, a power supply circuit equipped with a boosting circuit for converting a voltage of a built-in battery 1 into a high voltage and a pulse generating circuit for intermittently supplying power to the vibration actuator is provided, and a boosted DC or AC voltage is impressed on the vibration actuator continuously intermittently or discontinuously.

Abstract: The invention concerns a rotating electric motor system capable of vibrating and a method for operating a rotary electric motor capable of vibrating. The system comprises an electric motor having a rotor and a stator, the rotor and the stator forming a unit vibrating within an audio frequency range; a power amplifier powering the electric motor, the power amplifier having a passband including at least the audio frequency range; and a signal generator generating a signal controlling the power amplifier. The signal generator comprises at least the audio frequency range. The control signal has a continuous component for rotating the rotor with respect to the stator, and an alternating component for inducing mechanical vibration in the unit capable of vibrating.

Abstract: A vibration damping system for a drive system of a motor vehicle includes an electric machine controllable by a control device for exerting a counter-torque on a rotating constructional group. A deflection mass arrangement is arranged at the rotating constructional group having at least one deflection mass and a deflection path associated with the at least one deflection mass and along which the deflection mass can move. The deflection path associated with the at least one deflection mass has a vertex area and deflection areas proceeding from the vertex area. The vertex area is an area with the greatest radial distance of the deflection path from an axis of rotation of the rotating constructional group.

Abstract: A speaker vibrating plate having a voice coil secured thereto is provided in a frame, a rotor having an annular side yoke is rotatably supported in the frame, and a stator having poles is provided in the frame. A first permanent magnet is provided on the rotor at a central portion thereof, and an annular second permanent magnet is mounted on the rotor outside the side yoke for forming a magnetic circuit passing through the rotor and the stator, and a stator coil is provided in the stator. A driving circuit is provided for energizing the stator coil for rotating the rotor.

Abstract: A vibration control device of a vibration type motor stops motor driving when the actual driving speed, does not come close to a target speed though the frequency of a driving periodic signal is feedback-controlled to the target speed, to prevent an error when the driving circuit fails.

Abstract: In a vibration motor assembly for use in, e.g., a portable phone, a weight is mounted on the output shaft of a motor and has a hermetically closed bore filled with a magnetic fluid. A magnetic body is disposed in the bore in the vicinity of the center of rotation of the weight. When the motor is not energized, the weight is held in a halt together with the shaft of the motor. In this condition, magnetic particles included in the magnetic fluid adhere to the magnetic body due to a magnetic force acting between the particles and the body. That is, all the magnetic particles are positioned in the vicinity of the center of rotation of the weight. Consequently, even a small torque, i.e., a small current can cause the motor to start rotating.

Abstract: The invention relates to a circuit for the control of a piezoelectric drive (1).

Abstract: A modulation control type of AC motor includes a modulator and a modulation motor. The modulation motor has the structure in which a DC field power source of a two-phase synchronous motor is replaced by a load and a DC main magnetic flux is replaced by an alternate main magnetic flux. There is no interference between the frequency of an AC power source and the frequency of a modulation signal. Therefore, the synchronous torque and the rotation speed can be controlled separately and independently. The controllable range is wide.

Abstract: A vibration motor comprising at least one stationary part and one part driven to move relative to said fixed part, together with excitation means suitable for exerting forces that tend to move rigid contact sectored presented by said fixed part and/or said moving part and to cause said rigid sectors to vibrate in vibration modes that combine tangential vibration and normal vibration, thereby driving the movement of the moving part, said motor presenting for the tangential vibration or the normal vibration a main resonant mode and at least one secondary resonant mode, wherein the secondary resonant mode is at a frequency that is substantially equal to a harmonic frequency of the main resonant mode.

Abstract: In a control device for a vibration wave motor, in the case where the device executes an operation involving a large variation in the load while the motor is controlled at a target speed by the driving frequency using a feedback system, such feedback control is inhibited or the response of the feedback control is restricted in order to avoid the drawback resulting from feedback control at the time of generation of the variation in the load.

Abstract: The invention concerns a rotating electric motor system capable of vibrating and a method for operating a rotary electric motor capable of vibrating. The system comprises an electric motor having a rotor and a stator, the rotor and the stator forming a unit vibrating within an audio frequency range; a power amplifier powering the electric motor, the power amplifier having a passband including at least the audio frequency range; and a signal generator generating a signal controlling the power amplifier. The signal generator comprises at least the audio frequency range. The control signal has a continuous component for rotating the rotor with respect to the stator, and an alternating component for inducing mechanical vibration in the unit capable of vibrating.

Abstract: A vibration generator comprises a first vibrator having a permanent magnet and supported by a first spring body on a fixing member, and a second vibrator having a coil so disposed as to intersect the magnetic flux of the permanent magnet and supported by a second spring body on the fixing member. One of the first vibration system and the second vibration system serves as a sound source for producing sound waves of audio-frequency for propagation to the outside, and the other vibration system serves as a vibration source for transmitting vibration to the fixing member and vibrating a device.

Abstract: A flat-shaped vibration motor is described. The vibration motor has a base plate at its bottom. A cover is mounted on the base plate so as to define a space for installing elements therein. A shaft is vertically and rotatably mounted between the center of the base plate and the center of the cover. A lower PCB is mounted on the upper surface of the base plate. A magnet is positioned outside the lower PCB and has poles of 2n (n: a positive integer). An upper plate is fitted around the shaft and unbalanced in weight. A commutator is positioned on the central lower portion of the upper PCB and consists of multiple segments. A pair of brushes are mounted between the lower PCB and the commutator with their lower ends respectively and electrically connected to the lower PCB and their upper ends in contact with the commutator, an interval angle between the brushes being greater than an electric angle of Π/2 and less than an electric angle of 3Π/2.

Abstract: A vibration generator which is durable, provides strong thrust and is capable of being reduced in size, cost and weight includes a movable element (50) having a permanent magnet (60) attached thereto; a stationary element (10) having end faces (23), (25) which oppose, across prescribed gaps, respective ones of end faces (53), (54) of the movable element, with the stationary element being excited by passing a current through an attached coil (30) to form a magnetic path with the movable element; and resilient support members (80) for supporting the movable element so that the movable element can vibrate in a direction in which the stationary element is magnetized by the coil.

Abstract: The invention concerns a rotating electric motor system capable of vibrating and a method for operating a rotary electric motor capable of vibrating. The system comprises an electric motor having a rotor and the stator, the rotor and the stator forming a unit vibrating within an audio frequency range; a power amplifier powering the electric motor, the power amplifier having a passband including at least the audio frequency range; and a signal generator generating the signal controlling the power amplifier. The signal generator comprises at least the audio frequency range. The control signal has a continuous component for rotating the rotor with respect to the stator, and an alternating component for inducing mechanical vibration in the unit capable of vibrating.

Abstract: A pulse forming circuit for a vibration type actuator apparatus. This circuit forms pulses by shifting an output from a frequency dividing circuit while changing the shift amount of a time delaying circuit using a ring oscillator for shifting an output from the frequency dividing circuit every time an output is generated by a frequency dividing circuit. With this arrangement, the actuator can be driven by using high-resolution pulse signals.

Abstract: A bearing arrangement for a vibrating component having a bearing supported on a carrier for the vibrating component and having a damper which interacts with the carrier and has an inertial mass that is movable relative to the carrier by a damper drive. The damper drive being provided with a drive circuit which includes at least one first sensing element of the vibrating component and a downstream signal generator which generates two harmonic, out-of-phase first signals, whose frequencies correspond to each other and to vibrations of a machine part, as well as a second signal characterizing this frequency. The second signal is supplied to characteristic curve elements whose output signals are multiplied by the first signals of the signal generator, and the third signals obtained in this manner are added up in pairs. The signals obtained in this manner each are multiplied by a fourth signal, generated by a second sensing element, characterizing the relative movements of the carrier.

Abstract: Driving power for a vibrating device is provided at less than full level when the device is initially used. Power is gradually increased in successive steps after a selected number of uses in each step until full power is achieved. Also, a battery-energized driving signal for a vibrating device has a selected characteristic, such as duty cycle, which is set initially at less than an optimum value, when the battery is at full strength. As the battery discharges, the selected characteristic is adjusted toward optimum so as to compensate for reduction in the battery voltage and ensure full power output.

Abstract: The invention concerns a system for active reduction of radial vibrations of a rotating shaft (4), especially the drive shaft of an internal combustion engine (1), with at least one active electromagnetic device (7; 10; 15, 16), which is configured and controlled such that it applies radial forces to the shaft (4), which counteract the radial vibrations of the shaft (4).

Abstract: An actuator driving circuit is provided for a positive feedback amplification, through an amplifier, of a counter electromotive force generated in a stator coil of a linear actuator, for continuating a reciprocating movement of a moving element by self-oscillation of the linear actuator, and for an application of a periodic voltage to the stator coil, while the voltage is made sinusoidal if required, so as to render the driving circuit to be high in the driving efficiency and small in dimensions.

Abstract: An apparatus and system are provided for controlling the operating frequency of an electromagnetic vibratory feeder at a submultiple of the power line frequency. The apparatus is couplable to a terminal of an electromagnetic coil of the electromagnetic vibratory feeder, to control the current through the electromagnetic coil and thereby control power delivered to the electromagnetic vibratory feeder. The apparatus includes a quadrac coupled to the alternating current source; a capacitor coupled to the AC current power source and coupled through a first diode to a gate electrode of the quadrac; and a resistive network coupled through a second diode to the capacitor and to the first diode. The capacitance value of the capacitor and the resistive value of the resistive network form an RC time constant, which is predetermined to provide a selected operating frequency for triggering the quadrac and thereby providing power to the electromagnetic vibratory feeder at a submultiple of the power line frequency.

Abstract: A motor control apparatus, which can control the speeds of a plurality of motors with nearly no speed variations until the final target speed is reached, includes a target speed setting circuit for dividing the speed range of the motors up to the final target speed into n steps (n is an integer and n.gtoreq.2) to set a target speed, and setting the next divided target speed after all the motors have reached the current divided target speed.

Abstract: This invention relates to a driving device for a vibration wave motor and, more particularly, to a driving device for setting the level of a driving periodic signal to a low level in driving within a predetermined range of high driving frequencies, and to a high level in driving within a predetermined range of low driving frequencies, thereby reducing the power consumption.

Abstract: A vibratory device having a drive circuit for providing a highly regulated drive voltage/current to the vibrator. A DC voltage is derived from line voltage. A DC-to-DC converter steps up the voltage to at least the desired voltage for vibration. The stepped up DC voltage is provided to the vibratory coils through a path containing a switch. The switch is controlled by an oscillator which turns the switch on and off at a desired vibration frequency so as to provide an alternating current through the coil for generating the vibratory force.

Abstract: A motor controller for regulating the application of current to the windings of a motor in order to both control the actuation of the motor rotor and the braking of the rotor. The motor controller includes a speed control circuit regenerating a signal representative of the user-selected speed, a direction controller to signal if the motor is to be driven in the forward, reverse or oscillatory motion and a speed override circuit. There is also a current sensor for monitoring the current drawn by the motor, a brake controller and an energization circuit. The energization circuit regulates the application of a current to the motor to cause the rotation or braking of the rotor. When the motor is to be oscillated, each time the direction controller circuit transitions a FORWARD/REVERSE signal, the speed override circuit causes the energization circuit to momentarily apply energization signals to the motor based on the application of a zero-speed, user-speed signal.

Abstract: A vibrational acoustic unit comprises a dynamic force motor, a power take-off spring having one end attached to the dynamic force motor and the other end attached to a fluid filled acoustic resonator. The motor oscillates the entire acoustic resonator so as to excite a resonant mode of the acoustic resonator.A method of delivering power to an acoustic resonator comprises resiliently connecting a motor to the resonator, and driving the motor to oscillate the entire acoustic resonator so as to excite a resonant mode of the acoustic resonator.

Abstract: Driving power for a vibrating device is provided at less than full level when the device is initially used. Power is gradually increased in successive steps after a selected number of uses in each step until full power is achieved. Also, a battery-energized driving signal for a vibrating device has a selected characteristic, such as duty cycle, which is set initially at less than an optimum value, when the battery is at full strength. As the battery discharges, the selected characteristic is adjusted toward optimum so as to compensate for reduction in the battery voltage and ensure full power output.

Abstract: Provided is a mechanical-vibration detecting apparatus in which not only adjustment is easy but also mechanical vibration can be taken out with high accuracy, and a vibration-reduction control apparatus by which reduction of mechanical vibration can be achieved. In a motor control apparatus for controlling the torque of a motor, provided are an equivalent rigid body model 103; a proportional operation means 104; a high-pass filter 105; and means for adding a torque signal and an output of the proportional operation means to supply a resulting addition signal to the equivalent rigid body model, and for subtracting an output of the equivalent rigid body model from a velocity signal of the motor control apparatus to supply a resulting difference signal to the proportional operation means and to the high-pass filter so that an output of the high-pass filter is used as a mechanical vibration control signal.

Abstract: A position control device for driving a movable member by a motor to a target position prevents a re-start of the motor by the vibration after stopping of the movable member. A re-start operation is forcedly inhibited during a predetermined period after a stopping operation of the movable member at the target position, and is permitted, only after the predetermined period, is entered by the position of the movable member is different from the target position.

Abstract: A fluid sealed type vibration insulating device which is interposed between a vibrating object and a structural member and generates controlled vibrations for reducing vibrations of the structural member caused by the vibrating object. The vibration insulating device includes a controller which judges whether the device goes abnormal according to signals from sensors and executes a counter process for meeting with the generated abnormality.

Abstract: Apparatus for reducing vibration on three axes and which can be used at normal temperatures includes two masses (49 and 50, FIG. 10) suspended by a flexible rod (48) itself suspended by two resilient suspensions (57 and 58). An electrodynamic motor constituted by two electromagnets acts along axis YY', two electromagnets act along axis ZZ', and eight electromagnets act along axis XX', the motor being servo-controlled to the vibration which is to be reduced, and generating motion of the two masses (49 and 50) along three orthogonal axes to oppose the vibrations that are to be reduced. The simpler example has two masses capable of moving in a plane and disposed at the ends of two flexible structures coupled together via a cylindrical plate.

Abstract: The system disclosed herein controls the vibratory energy radiated from a structure subject to excitation from an outside disturbance by enforcing a preselected mechanical impedance upon at least one point in the structure using an electromechanical transducer connected to the structure at that point. The transducer is energized in response to the output of an adjustable or adaptable filter. Sensors provide signals representing the force applied by the transducer and the resultant velocity. The force and velocity signals are applied as inputs to the adaptable filter through circuit means including a component providing an electrical analog of the preselected mechanical impedance. The adaptable filter is then controlled to reduce the amplitude of the input signal applied to the filter, i.e. the error between the measured mechanical impedance and the desired impedance.