A tactile sensation providing apparatus includes an actuator and an object of vibration configured to provide a tactile sensation to a user by vibration of the vibration plate being transmitted to the object of vibration. The actuator includes a piezoelectric element, a vibration plate, and supports. The vibration plate has the piezoelectric element joined thereto and vibrates in accordance with displacement of the piezoelectric element. The supports support the vibration plate. The angles, when the actuator is not being driven, between the vibration plate and the supports are acute.

An actuator includes a piezoelectric element, a vibration plate, and a holder. The vibration plate has the piezoelectric element joined thereto and vibrates an object of vibration in accordance with expansion and contraction of the piezoelectric element. The holder is joined to the vibration plate and holds the object of vibration. The height of the holder is less than the maximum bending displacement at which the piezoelectric element is not damaged by an external force.

An actuator includes a piezoelectric element, a vibration plate, and a holder. The vibration plate has the piezoelectric element joined thereto and vibrates an object of vibration in accordance with expansion and contraction of the piezoelectric element. The holder is joined to the vibration plate and holds the object of vibration. The height of the holder is less than the maximum bending displacement at which the piezoelectric element is not damaged by an external force.

In an embodiment a mechanical reinforcing element includes two end regions, two angular regions, wherein the end regions are located at two opposite end faces of the reinforcing element, wherein each angular region connects to one of the end regions via a first joint, and wherein the angular regions have a stiffening structure, and a connecting portion interconnecting the two angular regions and connecting to the angular regions through second joints, wherein the mechanical reinforcing element is configured such that, upon a relative movement of the end regions with respect to each other, the connecting portion performs a movement perpendicular thereto.

Provided is a vibration wave motor, including: a vibrator including a piezoelectric element and a vibrating plate; a friction member, which includes a friction-contact surface to be brought into contact with the vibrator, and is configured to perform relative movement with respect to the vibrator by vibration generated by the vibrator; and a guide mechanism, which includes a first guide member, a second guide member, and a rolling member arranged between the first guide member and the second guide member, and is configured to guide the relative movement, wherein the first guide member includes a groove portion formed of a first surface and a second surface to be brought into contact with the rolling member, and wherein the first surface is longer than the second surface in a direction of the relative movement.

Provided is a vibration wave motor, including: a vibrator including a piezoelectric element and a vibrating plate; a friction member, which includes a friction-contact surface to be brought into contact with the vibrator, and is configured to perform relative movement with respect to the vibrator by vibration generated by the vibrator; and a guide mechanism, which includes a first guide member, a second guide member, and a rolling member arranged between the first guide member and the second guide member, and is configured to guide the relative movement, wherein the first guide member includes a groove portion formed of a first surface and a second surface to be brought into contact with the rolling member, and wherein the first surface is longer than the second surface in a direction of the relative movement.

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.

The invention discloses a differential compliant displacement reducer, and relates to three technical solutions with similar working principles. The three technical solutions have the following characteristics: firstly, the three technical solutions all relate to an outer frame and all belong to a differential compliant displacement reducer circumferentially formed by extending upward and downward along both ends of the driver, and the working principle is similar; secondly, the differential motion of the three technical solutions comes from the difference caused by deformation of the upper and lower or inclined upper and lower deformable parts of the driver in the differential compliant displacement reducer; thirdly, compared with a traditional displacement amplifier, the three technical solutions all belong to the displacement reducer, the structure is simpler than that of the existing displacement amplifier; and fourthly, the three technical solutions can be matched with a macro-motion platform.

The invention discloses a differential compliant displacement reducer, and relates to three technical solutions with similar working principles. The three technical solutions have the following characteristics: firstly, the three technical solutions all relate to an outer frame and all belong to a differential compliant displacement reducer circumferentially formed by extending upward and downward along both ends of the driver, and the working principle is similar; secondly, the differential motion of the three technical solutions comes from the difference caused by deformation of the upper and lower or inclined upper and lower deformable parts of the driver in the differential compliant displacement reducer; thirdly, compared with a traditional displacement amplifier, the three technical solutions all belong to the displacement reducer, the structure is simpler than that of the existing displacement amplifier; and fourthly, the three technical solutions can be matched with a macro-motion platform.

A light intensity modulator includes an input optical fiber; an output optical fiber; an optical arrangement having a lens, where the optical arrangement is configured to receive light from the input optical fiber, pass the light through the lens, and direct the light to the output optical fiber; and a piezoelectric device coupled to the lens, where the piezoelectric device is configured for moving the lens to alter overlap of the output optical fiber and the light directed to the output optical fiber to modulate intensity of light in the output optical fiber.