A method includes producing a first surface acoustic wave (SAW) on a magnetic head slider using a first interdigitated transducer (IDT), wherein the SAW has a first set of wave characteristics. The method also includes receiving the first SAW at a second IDT on the magnetic head slider. The method also includes analyzing the SAW for a second set of wave characteristics. The method also includes determining, based on the analyzing, that a substance having at least one characteristic is located in a path of the SAW on the magnetic head slider.

An ultrasonic motor and method are disclosed with an element to be driven and a plate-shaped ultrasonic actuator made of polarized electromechanical material with at least two friction elements arranged on one of its side. The ultrasonic actuator can include at least two generators for acoustic standing waves and each of the generators can include two cooperating and spaced sub-generators, and one respective sub-generator of a generator is located between the sub-generators of an adjacent generator, and the sub-generators of one generator are arranged in mirror image to the sub-generators of an adjacent generator. A polarization direction of the electromechanical material of one of the two sub-generators of one generator differs from the polarization direction of the electromechanical material of the other sub-generator of the same generator.

Provided is a method of manufacturing an oscillator, including: arranging an electrode on a piezoelectric ceramics free from being subjected to polarization treatment, to thereby provide a piezoelectric element; bonding the piezoelectric element and a diaphragm to each other at a temperature T1; bonding the piezoelectric element and a power supply member to each other at a temperature T2; and subjecting the piezoelectric ceramics to polarization treatment at a temperature T3, in which the temperature T1, the temperature T2, and the temperature T3 satisfy a relationship T1>T3 and a relationship T2>T3.

Provided is a method of manufacturing an oscillator, including: arranging an electrode on a piezoelectric ceramics free from being subjected to polarization treatment, to thereby provide a piezoelectric element; bonding the piezoelectric element and a diaphragm to each other at a temperature T1; bonding the piezoelectric element and a power supply member to each other at a temperature T2; and subjecting the piezoelectric ceramics to polarization treatment at a temperature T3, in which the temperature T1, the temperature T2, and the temperature T3 satisfy a relationship T1>T3 and a relationship T2>T3.

Provided is a vibration wave motor, including: a vibration body; a friction member; a press member configured to pressurize the vibration body against the friction member; a base member configured to fix the friction member; and a damping member configured to damp vibration, wherein the vibration body and the friction member are configured to move relative to each other, wherein the friction member includes: a first surface having a first region held in abutment against the vibration body; and a second surface, which is a back surface of the first surface, and has a second region held in abutment against the base member, wherein at least one of the first surface and the second surface has a third region held in contact with the damping member, and wherein positions of the first region and the third region in a pressurizing direction of the press member are different from each other.

Provided is a vibration wave motor, including: a vibration body; a friction member; a press member configured to pressurize the vibration body against the friction member; a base member configured to fix the friction member; and a damping member configured to damp vibration, wherein the vibration body and the friction member are configured to move relative to each other, wherein the friction member includes: a first surface having a first region held in abutment against the vibration body; and a second surface, which is a back surface of the first surface, and has a second region held in abutment against the base member, wherein at least one of the first surface and the second surface has a third region held in contact with the damping member, and wherein positions of the first region and the third region in a pressurizing direction of the press member are different from each other.

A linear piezoelectric motor and a slider drive system thereof are disclosed. The linear piezoelectric motor includes a piezoelectric ceramic element and a base structure. The piezoelectric ceramic element includes a first region, a second region and an interval region located between the first and the second region, wherein the first and the second region may be formed by a first and a second power signal supplied by a power supply to form a first and a second standing wave, respectively. The interval region is a quarter wavelengths. The first and the second standing wave have a phase difference so as to form a traveling wave. The base structure disposes the piezoelectric ceramic element and has a pectinate structure to increase the amplitude of the first and the second standing wave, thereby enabling the piezoelectric motor to be driven.

A linear piezoelectric motor and a slider drive system thereof are disclosed. The linear piezoelectric motor includes a piezoelectric ceramic element and a base structure. The piezoelectric ceramic element includes a first region, a second region and an interval region located between the first and the second region, wherein the first and the second region may be formed by a first and a second power signal supplied by a power supply to form a first and a second standing wave, respectively. The interval region is a quarter wavelengths. The first and the second standing wave have a phase difference so as to form a traveling wave. The base structure disposes the piezoelectric ceramic element and has a pectinate structure to increase the amplitude of the first and the second standing wave, thereby enabling the piezoelectric motor to be driven.

A vibration-wave motor includes a vibrator, a first holding member configured to hold the vibrator, a second holding member configured to hold the first holding member, a plurality of pressing members arranged around the vibrator and configured to press the vibrator against a contacting member that contacts the vibrator, a movable plate disposed opposite to the vibrator with respect to the contacting member, and a coupling part configured to couple the second holding member and the movable plate with each other. The vibrator and the contacting member move relatively to each other due to a vibration generated by the vibrator. One of the second holding member and the movable plate includes a transmitting part configured to transmit a driving force of the vibration-wave motor to a driven member.

A vibration-wave motor includes a vibrator, a first holding member configured to hold the vibrator, a second holding member configured to hold the first holding member, a plurality of pressing members arranged around the vibrator and configured to press the vibrator against a contacting member that contacts the vibrator, a movable plate disposed opposite to the vibrator with respect to the contacting member, and a coupling part configured to couple the second holding member and the movable plate with each other. The vibrator and the contacting member move relatively to each other due to a vibration generated by the vibrator. One of the second holding member and the movable plate includes a transmitting part configured to transmit a driving force of the vibration-wave motor to a driven member.