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.

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 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 piezoelectric ultrasonic motor including: a columnar body having two opposite bottom surface portions and a plurality of side surface portions surrounding a region between the two bottom surface portions, and having a through hole that penetrates between the two bottom surface portions; a driving shaft inserted through the through hole of the columnar body; and a flexible printed circuits (FPC) on which a plurality of sheet-like piezoelectric elements are mounted, wherein the FPC has an FPC main body bringing the plurality of piezoelectric elements into contact respectively with the plurality of side surface portions of the columnar body and wound around the columnar body, and can supply driving electric power to the plurality of piezoelectric elements.

A contact body that makes it possible to easily verify whether or not the resin has been properly impregnated in the pores. A metallic sintered body having a plurality of pores, as a main body, is in contact with a vibration element in a vibration actuator. The contact body includes a sliding portion that has a sliding surface in contact with the vibration element, and a non-sliding portion adjacent to the sliding portion and not in contact with the vibration element. The non-sliding portion is provided with a resin lump containing hard particles and resin, and the resin lump is formed to be lower in height in a vertical direction than the sliding surface. In the sliding portion, part of hard particles and resin is exposed on the sliding surface.

A contact body that makes it possible to easily verify whether or not the resin has been properly impregnated in the pores. A metallic sintered body having a plurality of pores, as a main body, is in contact with a vibration element in a vibration actuator. The contact body includes a sliding portion that has a sliding surface in contact with the vibration element, and a non-sliding portion adjacent to the sliding portion and not in contact with the vibration element. The non-sliding portion is provided with a resin lump containing hard particles and resin, and the resin lump is formed to be lower in height in a vertical direction than the sliding surface. In the sliding portion, part of hard particles and resin is exposed on the sliding surface.

An optical mount including a first frame and a second frame; wherein the first frame includes a drive adjuster configured to move along a first direction and the drive adjuster is in contact with a ramp on a pusher piston, such that a movement of the drive adjuster causes the pusher piston to move along a second direction; wherein the pusher piston is configured to push kinematic contacts on the second frame resulting in a controlled movement of the second frame by the drive adjuster.

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 test system includes a frame. A hydraulic actuator is mounted to the frame and is configured to support a test specimen. A piezoelectric actuator is configured to apply a force to the test specimen. A controller is configured to excite the piezoelectric actuator and provide an indication of force generated by the piezoelectric actuator by measurement of current or charge provided to the piezoelectric actuator.

A test system includes a frame. A hydraulic actuator is mounted to the frame and is configured to support a test specimen. A piezoelectric actuator is configured to apply a force to the test specimen. A controller is configured to excite the piezoelectric actuator and provide an indication of force generated by the piezoelectric actuator by measurement of current or charge provided to the piezoelectric actuator.