A thin film actuator having transversely oriented structural stiffeners that serve to increase actuation stroke that results from longitudinal curvature. The thin film actuator may be deployed within electromechanical devices such that an actuatable deflection of a tip of the actuator plate produces the actuation stroke. The thin film actuator may include an actuator plate affixed to a substantially rigid frame structure. The actuator plate protrudes along a longitudinal axis away from the frame structure such that the actuator plate is cantilevered from the frame structure by some distance along this longitudinal axis. The thin film actuator includes a piezoelectric film on a surface of the actuator plate. Activation of the piezoelectric film generates tensile stress or compressive stress at the surface, thereby inducing a bending moment that causes the actuator plate to undergo longitudinal curvature and some lesser degree of transverse curvature.

A parallel position manipulator includes a top plate, a baseplate and a plurality of prismatic joint actuators. Each actuator includes an actuator joint having five Degrees of Freedom (DOF) at either the base plate or the top plate. When one or more of the actuators extends or contracts, the pivot points, or five DOF actuator joint, of the remaining actuators are allowed to shift in any axis other than that actuator's primary axis of motion.

A fine-displacement adjusting device is constructed to have a first base portion and a second base portion spacedly encircled therewithin. The fine-displacement adjusting device further includes a first retractable element biased between the first and second base portions, and a first resilient element biased between the first and second base portions. The first retractable element is configured to extend and retract its length along a first axis to move the second base portion in a reciprocating manner. When the second base portion is moved by the first retractable element, the first resilient element moves the second base portion along the first axis to restore the second base portion. Therefore, the second base portion is fine-moved along the first axis in a reciprocating manner for adjusting the fine-displacement of an optical lens relative to an optical light source of a light engine in the first axis.

Head-mounted virtual and augmented reality display systems include a light projector with one or more emissive micro-displays having a first resolution and a pixel pitch. The projector outputs light forming frames of virtual content having at least a portion associated with a second resolution greater than the first resolution. The projector outputs light forming a first subframe of the rendered frame at the first resolution, and parts of the projector are shifted using actuators, such that physical positions of light output for individual pixels occupy gaps between the old locations of light output for individual pixels. The projector then outputs light forming a second subframe of the rendered frame. The first and second subframes are outputted within the flicker fusion threshold. Advantageously, an emissive micro-display (e.g., micro-LED display) having a low resolution can form a frame having a higher resolution by using the same light emitters to function as multiple pixels of that frame.

A three-degrees-of-freedom adjustment device driven by piezoelectric ceramics includes a Z-direction deflection mechanism at a bottom, an X-direction deflection mechanism mounted at the bottom, a Y-direction deflection mechanism mounted on the X-direction deflection mechanism, and a stage mounted on a deflect block of a deflection mechanism angle output; wherein the Z-direction deflection mechanism is located at the bottom, including a mounting substrate and two pre-compressed piezoelectric stacks; the piezoelectric stacks in the Z-direction deflection mechanism deflect in a Z direction under equal voltages; the X-direction deflection mechanism is similar to the Y-direction deflection mechanism in principle, including a deflection mechanism frame and a pair of piezoelectric stacks, wherein the X-direction deflection mechanism and the Y-direction deflection mechanism are vertically mounted, and are perpendicular to the Z-direction deflection mechanism plane as a whole.

A driving element includes: a base; a movable part spaced apart from the base in a direction parallel to a rotation axis; a connection part connecting the base and the movable part; a pair of first arm parts extending in a first direction parallel to the rotation axis with the rotation axis located therebetween; a pair of second arm parts extending in a second direction opposite to the first direction, with the rotation axis located therebetween; a coupling part coupling the pair of first arm parts and the pair of second arm parts to the connection part; and a piezoelectric driver disposed on at least either the pair of first arm parts or the pair of second arm parts.

A piezoelectric device comprises a fixed frame and a mirror carrier defining several support points securing a mirror. The mirror carrier is mounted rotatable. Several piezoelectric actuators are fixed to the support and deform independently in translation in a first direction. Each piezoelectric actuator moves the support area of the mirror carrier. The mirror carrier defines several attachment points. Each attachment point connects the mirror carrier mechanically with a piezoelectric actuator. The support points and attachment points are distinct from one another. The mirror carrier defines a plurality of flexion areas. The support points are movable with respect to one another. The piezoelectric actuators supplied in push-pull mode drive the support points making the mirror rotate perpendicularly to the first direction.

A vibration wave motor includes a vibrator; a first holding member configured to hold the vibrator; a second holding member; an elastic coupling member configured to couple the first holding member and the second holding member to each other; a friction member; and a pressurizing unit, wherein the vibrator and the friction member relatively move due to vibration of the vibrator, wherein the elastic coupling member includes a first coupling portion and a second coupling portion, and wherein one of the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion is arranged on a straight line that is parallel to a direction of the relative movement and passes through a pressurizing gravity center and another of the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion is arranged on a straight line that is orthogonal to the direction of the relative movement and passes through the pressurizing gravity center.

A vibration type actuator including vibrating elements and a contact element that is brought into contact with each other in a first direction. The vibration of the vibrating elements includes vibration in a first vibration mode in the first direction and vibration in a second vibration mode in a second direction intersecting the first direction. In the vibrating elements, a minimum value of a resonance frequency in the second vibration mode is greater than or equal to a maximum value of a resonance frequency in the first vibration mode, and a ratio of a difference between the maximum value and the minimum value of the resonance frequency in the second vibration mode to the minimum value of the resonance frequency in the second mode is less than or equal to a predetermined value.

A piezoelectric element includes a lower electrode layer, an upper electrode layer, an orientation control layer disposed between the lower electrode layer and the upper electrode layer, and a piezoelectric layer formed on an upper surface of the orientation control layer. The piezoelectric layer is oriented in a (001) plane or a (100) plane and has a perovskite structure including Pb(Zn.sub.1/3, Nb.sub.2/3)O.sub.3. The orientation control layer has a perovskite structure, is oriented in the (001) plane or the (100) plane, and contains a part of components forming the piezoelectric layer, as an additive.