A piezoelectric driving device includes a supporting section, a first moving section movable in a first direction relative to the supporting section, a second moving section movable in a second direction relative to the first moving section, a first driving section configured to drive a first piezoelectric actuator to move the first moving section relative to the supporting section and stop the first piezoelectric actuator to hold the first moving section on the supporting section, and a second driving section configured to drive a second piezoelectric actuator to move the second moving section relative to the first moving section and stop the second piezoelectric actuator to hold the second moving section on the first moving section. A first holding force for holding the first moving section on the supporting section and a second holding force for holding the second moving section on the first moving section are different from each other.

A system for controlled motion of circuit components to create reconfigurable circuits comprising: a support; a substrate operatively associated with the support; actuators operatively associated with the support configured to physically move circuit components and to move the circuit components into physical and electrical contact with the substrate; the substrate comprising at least one conductive segment arranged to electrically connect circuit components when electrical contacts of circuit components are placed in contact with at least one conductive segment; and control circuitry configured to control the first and second actuators to thereby position the circuit components relative to the substrate; whereby circuit function is determined by the selection of circuit components and the location and orientation of circuit components relative to the substrate and conductive segments to create a reconfigurable circuit.

A positioning apparatus comprises a base element provided for fastening to a robot, a base movably supported at the base element, and a piezoactuator by which the base is movable in a direction relative to the base element. A second piezoactuator is provided by which a counterweight is simultaneously movable in an opposite direction.

A multi-axis transducer is provided. The transducer includes: a stationary member; at least two connecting members and two or more energy-conversion elements disposed on each connecting member. Each connecting member is attached at one location thereof to one of the stationary member or a second connecting member and, in response to a stimuli, is free to move along any of three geometric axes that are perpendicular to each other. Each energy-conversion element operates to convert motion of the connecting member to electrical energy or vice versa. A common geometric plane passes through each of the at least two connecting members and the stationary member, and the two largest dimensions of each connecting member defines a geometric plane that is parallel with the common geometric plane.

The invention relates to an ultrasonic motor, comprising a piezoelectric ultrasonic actuator (1) having four friction elements (4) disposed thereon, a friction surface (6) which is in frictional contact with the friction elements, and an electrical excitation device (16), wherein the ultrasonic actuator is in the shape of a ring or hollow cylinder, having an inner circumferential surface (14), an outer circumferential surface (12) and two planar end surfaces (5) connecting the inner and the outer circumferential surfaces. The four friction elements are disposed on one of the end surfaces of the ultrasonic actuator so as to be spaced equidistantly with respect to the circumferential direction, such that in each case two of the friction elements lie diametrically opposite, and the ultrasonic actuator comprises twelve identical circumferential sections (10), each of which has a generator for an acoustic standing wave to be formed in the ultrasonic actuator and the deformations of the ultrasonic actuator caused by the standing wave lead to deflections of the friction elements on a movement path inclined with respect to the end surface and/or a movement path substantially perpendicular to the end surface. Each generator has at least one excitation electrode (11), at least one general electrode (13) or a section of a general electrode and a layer of piezoceramic (15) disposed between the excitation electrode and the general electrode or the section of the general electrode.

Drive device (1) for driving a spindle (90) with a spindle axis A90, which is accommodated in a spindle space (39) extending along a longitudinal axis of the spindle space, the drive device (2) comprising a first actuator device (10, 210) and a second actuator device (20, 220) which can be reversibly varied when actuated along a first actuator axis L.sub.1 or a second actuator axis L.sub.2, an actuating device (40, 140, 240), a frame device (30, 130, 230), the arrangement comprising the frame device (30, 130, 230) and the actuating device (40, 140, 240) comprising at least two contact surface sections (51, 52, 151, 152, 254, 264) provided for contact with two different contact areas (91, 92) of the spindle (90) to rotate the spindle (90), wherein the frame device (30, 130, 230) is designed as a structurally continuous component which completely surrounds the spindle space (39), the first actuator device (10) and the second actuator device (20), drive motor and method for driving a spindle (90).

Provided is an active positioning encoder, comprising: a display device, said display device being used for displaying at least a first pattern; a reading device, said reading device comprising at least a first read head, the first read head being used for reading the first pattern in order to obtain an image signal; a signal processing device, said signal processing device performing signal processing on the image signal of the first read head in order to determine the single-dimensional positioning of the first read head relative to the display device.

Provided is a friction drive actuator that is resistant to contamination of, for example, extraneous matter. An ultrasonic actuator according to an aspect of the present invention drives a columnar insertion section and includes a columnar vibrating body (40), whose distal end is pressed against a side surface of the insertion section, and a piezoelectric element (44), an upper electrode (44a), and a lower electrode (44b) that are provided at one side surface of the vibrating body.

A driving apparatus which reduces power consumption as compared to conventional driving apparatuses. A voltage amplitude of first AC voltages is controlled based on a relative angle between a moving direction of a moving body, which is indicated by a driving command for moving the moving body, and a driving direction of a first vibrator, and a voltage amplitude of second AC voltages is controlled based on a relative angle between the moving direction and a driving direction of a second vibrator. Each of the first vibrator and the second vibrator is controlled based on a deviation between the driving command and a detected position of the moving body while the first AC voltages and the second AC voltages are being controlled. The driving direction of the first vibrator and the driving direction of the second vibrator cross each other.

Disclosed is a stage system comprising at least one flexure frame having a fixed center and movable distal ends configured to displace a tabletop operatively connected thereto along at least one axis of movement and at least two actuators comprising a first actuator and a second actuator positioned within the at least one flexure frame. The first actuator is positioned within the at least one flexure frame at a first angle of deflection from at least one beam of the at least one flexure frame and the second actuator is positioned within the at least one flexure frame at a second angle of deflection from the at least one beam. The at least two actuators are configured to produce a compensating displacement to offset yaw error as the at least two actuators expand from a contracted first position to an expanded second position.