A vibration driving device that is capable of exciting a vibration of desired amplitude with a low voltage. A vibration body has a plate-like elastic body and an electro-mechanical energy conversion element that is joined to the elastic body. A control unit excites a vibration in a first vibration mode and a vibration in a second vibration mode in the vibration body by applying alternation voltages to the electro-mechanical energy conversion element. Orders or numbers of nodes of the vibrations in the first and second modes in a first direction that intersects perpendicularly with a thickness direction of the elastic body are mutually different by one. And orders or numbers of nodes of the vibrations in the first and second modes in a second direction that intersects perpendicularly with the thickness direction of the elastic body and the first direction are mutually different by one.

A vibration driving device that is capable of exciting a vibration of desired amplitude with a low voltage. A vibration body has a plate-like elastic body and an electro-mechanical energy conversion element that is joined to the elastic body. A control unit excites a vibration in a first vibration mode and a vibration in a second vibration mode in the vibration body by applying alternation voltages to the electro-mechanical energy conversion element. Orders or numbers of nodes of the vibrations in the first and second modes in a first direction that intersects perpendicularly with a thickness direction of the elastic body are mutually different by one. And orders or numbers of nodes of the vibrations in the first and second modes in a second direction that intersects perpendicularly with the thickness direction of the elastic body and the first direction are mutually different by one.

A power collector structure connected to a base is repetitively deformed or bent. The power collector structure is bar-like, and is connected to the base in an essentially rigid manner. A power collector for converting mechanical energy to electric power is connected to the power collector structure.

An apparatus for manipulating particles uses tunable standing surface acoustic waves includes a channel defined on a substrate and a pair of variable frequency interdigital transducers. The channel is disposed asymmetrically between the transducers such that the zero order node location is outside of a working region in the channel.

An apparatus for manipulating particles uses tunable standing surface acoustic waves includes a channel defined on a substrate and a pair of variable frequency interdigital transducers. The channel is disposed asymmetrically between the transducers such that the zero order node location is outside of a working region in the channel.

An actuator (100) powered by photonic energy comprises a rotor including a material (101) which deforms from a first underformed state when exposed to electromagnetic radiation to a second deformed state and begins to return to the first state when the electromagnetic radiation is removed. A stationary element (102) is affixed to the rotor. A moving element (105) engaging the stator at least when the rotor is in the second deformed state. Deformation of the deformable material in response to applied electromagnetic radiation is transmitted by the stator to the moving element by friction between the stationary element and the moving element for causing motion of the moving element.

An actuator (100) powered by photonic energy comprises a rotor including a material (101) which deforms from a first underformed state when exposed to electromagnetic radiation to a second deformed state and begins to return to the first state when the electromagnetic radiation is removed. A stationary element (102) is affixed to the rotor. A moving element (105) engaging the stator at least when the rotor is in the second deformed state. Deformation of the deformable material in response to applied electromagnetic radiation is transmitted by the stator to the moving element by friction between the stationary element and the moving element for causing motion of the moving element.

An actuator powered by photonic energy comprises a rotor including a material which deforms from a first undeformed state when exposed to electromagnetic radiation to a second deformed state and begins to return to the first state when the electromagnetic radiation is removed. A stationary element is affixed to the rotor. A moving element engaging the stator at least when the rotor is in the second deformed state. Deformation of the deformable material in response to applied electromagnetic radiation is transmitted by the stator to the moving element by friction between the stationary element and the moving element for causing motion of the moving element.

An actuator powered by photonic energy comprises a rotor including a material which deforms from a first undeformed state when exposed to electromagnetic radiation to a second deformed state and begins to return to the first state when the electromagnetic radiation is removed. A stationary element is affixed to the rotor. A moving element engaging the stator at least when the rotor is in the second deformed state. Deformation of the deformable material in response to applied electromagnetic radiation is transmitted by the stator to the moving element by friction between the stationary element and the moving element for causing motion of the moving element.