Abstract: There are provided a drive device and the like that are capable of suppressing characteristic degradation according to ambient environment. The drive device includes one or a plurality of polymer actuator devices each configured using an ion-exchange resin, and the ion-exchange resin contains operating ions that have activation energy equal to or smaller than a predetermined threshold. Degradation in ion conductivity in the ion-exchange resin is suppressed even in environment with low humidity, high temperature, and the like.

Abstract: An actuator body and a throttle mechanism that are small and have a simple structure are provided. The actuator body comprises a polymer actuator 11 that bends and deforms by an electric driving source, an intermediate 12 that transmits the bending force of the polymer actuator, and an elastic body 13 to which the bending force is applied through the intermediate, wherein the dimension of a hole portion that is formed in the elastic body 13 changes when the bending force of the polymer actuator 11 is applied onto the elastic body 13 through the intermediate 12.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide an actuator body and a throttle mechanism that are small and have a simple structure. The present invention comprises a polymer actuator 11 that bends and deforms by an electric driving source, an intermediate 12 that transmits the bending force of the polymer actuator, and an elastic body 13 to which the bending force is applied through the intermediate, wherein the dimension of a hole portion that is formed in the elastic body 13 changes when the bending force of the polymer actuator 11 is applied onto the elastic body 13 through the intermediate 12.

Abstract: A driving mechanism comprises: (i) an actuator comprising: an electro-mechanical conversion element; a driving member which is connected to one end of the electro-mechanical conversion element and moves according to elongation or contraction of the electro-mechanical conversion element; and a weight member provided on the other end of the electro-mechanical conversion element; (ii) a driven member frictionally engaged with the driving member; and (iii) a driving circuit that drives the actuator, wherein the actuator allows the driven member to move along the driving member, and the driving circuit drives the electro-mechanical conversion element at a driving frequency f which gives f?21/2·f0 when resonance frequency of a 1-freedom system is f0 in which the electro-mechanical conversion element and the driving member are designated as a mass and the weight member is designated as a spring, and driving frequency of the electro-mechanical conversion element is f.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a lens apparatus employed in a video camera. The present invention provides a lens apparatus, suited to manipulation of an operator, using a vibratory wave motor as a driving source for driving a photographing lens of the lens apparatus, wherein on the occasion of change of a driving direction, application of cyclic signals to a piezoelectric device of the motor is suspended and thereafter application of cyclic signals to the piezoelectric device is restarted.

Abstract: A diaphragm control device for a camera comprises a diaphragm driving mechanism that drives the diaphragm, a diaphragm position detection device which calculates the opening diameter of the diaphragm from the standard opening diameter and transmits the opening diameter as a pulse, a diaphragm connection mechanism that fixes the opening diameter of the diaphragm, a recording device that records information concerning a change in the generation cycle, which has been measured in advance, and a control that controls the driving of the diaphragm driving mechanism and of the diaphragm connection mechanism, based on the output of the diaphragm position detection device. The control determines the change in the generation cycle from the total number of pulses generated up until the generation of the current pulse by referring to information in the recording device, and determines the time that indicates the connecting action in the diaphragm connection mechanism.

Abstract: An apparatus such as a camera, etc. incorporates at least first and second ultrasonic wave actuators driven at predetermined frequencies for driving the apparatus. The first and second ultrasonic wave actuators are drive-controlled at different frequencies by first and second actuator drive portions controlled by an apparatus control portion. The first and second ultrasonic wave actuators are constructed to satisfy a relationship such as .vertline.f1-f2.vertline.>4000, where f1 (Hz) is the drive frequency of the first ultrasonic wave actuator, and f2 (Hz) is the drive frequency of the second ultrasonic wave actuator. Prevented thus are drawbacks caused when simultaneously driving the plurality of ultrasonic wave actuators for driving the apparatus, i.e., a resonance in an apparatus structural body and a resultant "beat" phenomenon.