The present disclosure relates to a piezoelectric device, and more particularly, to a piezoelectric device including: a piezoelectric actuator; a displacement transmission structure disposed on the piezoelectric actuator; and a displacement amplification structure disposed between the piezoelectric actuator and the displacement transmission structure. Here, the displacement amplification structure includes: a first displacement amplification structure and a second displacement amplification structure, which cross each other; and a fixing pin that passes through the first displacement amplification structure and the second displacement amplification structure to connect the first displacement amplification structure and the second displacement amplification structure. Also, each of one end of the first displacement amplification structure and one end of the second displacement amplification structure may be fixed on the piezoelectric actuator.

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.

The invention relates to a stroke transmitter for an actuator device. The stroke transmitter comprises a first and a second conversion unit, which are mechanically connected to one another in series, wherein the first conversion unit is designed as a hydraulic conversion unit, it can be connected to an actuator on its drive side and it is connected to the drive side of the second conversion unit on its output side, wherein the second conversion unit is designed as a cable system and has an output element on its output side. The invention also relates to an actuator device comprising an actuator and a stroke transmitter mechanically connected in series with the actuator.

A control apparatus for a vibration type actuator that moves a vibrating body in which vibrations are excited by an electromechanical energy conversion element, and a contact body contacting the vibrating body relative to each other includes a generation unit configured to generate multi-phase driving signals having a phase difference applied to the electromechanical energy conversion element, and a detection unit configured to detect an actual position of a movable unit including the vibrating body or the contact body. The generation unit sets the phase difference based on a deviation of the actual position from a target position of the movable unit. The generation unit makes larger a change rate of the phase difference against the deviation from when the movable unit stops to when the movable unit starts moving as the target position changes than that after the movable unit starts moving.

An actuator includes a piezoelectric element, a vibration plate, a support, a holder, and first and second fixing portions. The vibration plate has the piezoelectric element joined thereto and bends and vibrates in accordance with expansion and contraction of the piezoelectric element. The support supports the vibration plate on a base to allow bending and vibration of the vibration plate. The holder holds an object of vibration to the vibration plate. The first fixing portion is coupled to the support and fixes the support to the base. The second fixing portion is coupled to the holder and fixes the object of vibration to the holder. The first and second fixing portions are each displaceable in a direction intersecting the direction of the expansion and contraction of the piezoelectric element.

An actuator includes a piezoelectric element, a vibration plate, a support, a holder, and first and second fixing portions. The vibration plate has the piezoelectric element joined thereto and bends and vibrates in accordance with expansion and contraction of the piezoelectric element. The support supports the vibration plate on a base to allow bending and vibration of the vibration plate. The holder holds an object of vibration to the vibration plate. The first fixing portion is coupled to the support and fixes the support to the base. The second fixing portion is coupled to the holder and fixes the object of vibration to the holder. The first and second fixing portions are each displaceable in a direction intersecting the direction of the expansion and contraction of the piezoelectric element.

A piezoelectric drive device includes a vibrating part, and a control unit that controls vibration of the vibrating part, wherein the vibrating part includes a piezoelectric material having a first surface and a second surface in a front-back relation, a drive electrode having a first electrode arranged at the first surface and a second electrode arranged at the second surface, and vibrating the piezoelectric material when a drive signal from the control unit is input to the second electrode, and a detection electrode having a third electrode arranged at the first surface and a fourth electrode arranged at the second surface, and outputting a detection signal according to the vibration of the piezoelectric material to the control unit via the fourth electrode, and the first electrode and the third electrode are separated on the first surface, and the second electrode and the fourth electrode are separated on the second surface.

A piezoelectric drive device includes a vibrating part, and a control unit that controls vibration of the vibrating part, wherein the vibrating part includes a piezoelectric material having a first surface and a second surface in a front-back relation, a drive electrode having a first electrode arranged at the first surface and a second electrode arranged at the second surface, and vibrating the piezoelectric material when a drive signal from the control unit is input to the second electrode, and a detection electrode having a third electrode arranged at the first surface and a fourth electrode arranged at the second surface, and outputting a detection signal according to the vibration of the piezoelectric material to the control unit via the fourth electrode, and the first electrode and the third electrode are separated on the first surface, and the second electrode and the fourth electrode are separated on the second surface.

A camera includes a camera focus adjustment device, a lens, and an image sensor coupled to the camera focus adjustment device. The camera focus adjustment device includes a flexure structure. The flexure structure includes an outer framework of structural members continuously interconnected by flexure notch hinges. The flexure structure also includes two inner structural members oriented in parallel and extending from the outer framework of structural members. A gap is between the two inner structural members. The camera focus adjustment device also includes a piezoelectric material within the gap and a pair of wedges within the gap. The pair of wedges is affixed to the piezoelectric material and to one inner structural member of the two inner structural members. Based on temperature-based piezoelectric activity associated with the piezoelectric material, the camera focus adjustment device is operable to move the image sensor relative to the lens.

A vibration type actuator capable of reducing a change in force generated between a contact body and a vibrating body. The vibration type actuator comprising a vibrating body unit including a vibrating body and a holding portion that holds the vibrating body, a pressurizing unit, a contact body that contacts with the vibrating body by a pressurizing force by the pressurizing unit, and a connecting portion, wherein when predetermined vibration is excited in the vibrating body, the contact body and the vibrating body unit move relative to each other in a first direction, and wherein the connecting portion connects the holding portion to a connection object in the first direction, such that the vibrating body unit is displaced at least in a pressurizing direction by the pressurizing unit when the contact body and the vibrating body unit move relative to each other in the first direction.