To make it possible to freely move a moving body between level surfaces located at different heights that are not connected by a vertical member. A moving body includes a movable moving part, an expansion/contraction part disposed in the moving part and configured to expand and contract in a vertical direction, a first engagement part disposed at a tip of the expansion/contraction part and configured to engage with a member located in a surrounding environment, and a control unit configured to control the moving part and the expansion/contraction part. The control unit moves the moving part to a target height position by engaging the first engagement part with a member located at the target height position and then expanding or contracting the expansion/contraction part.

A linear or rotary step motor for moving an object comprising: one or more beam actuators; and one or more auxiliary actuators. Each beam actuator comprises: (a) a flexible beam; (b) two holders holding the flexible beam from the beam edges; and (c) an actuator for moving the said at least one holder in order to bent the beam toward the object or to pull the beam away from the object. The axillary actuators are connected to the one or more beam actuators. The beam actuators configured to grip or release the object, and the one or more beam actuators perform a movement step to the object by first grip the object by the one or more beam actuators then push the object by activating the auxiliary actuator.

A method of fabricating an apparatus for piercing an object, the apparatus comprises: a substrate; one or more needles; one or more anchors and one or more piezoelectric actuators. The method comprises the steps of deposit sacrificial layer over the substrate; deposit conducting layer over the sacrificial layer; deposit piezoelectric layer over the conducting layer; etch a geometry of the one or more piezoelectric actuators using a first mask created by lithography process; deposit the one or more needle and one or more anchors using a second mask created by lithography process and a lift-off process; etch the sacrificial layer under the needle and the one or more piezoelectric actuators, wherein the anchors are configured to connect the substrate to the piezoelectric actuators and the one or more piezoelectric actuators are configured to move the one or more needles.

The motion control mechanism comprises a rotor mounted rotating around an axis. The rotor has a first threaded part and a second threaded part separated by a central part placed in contact with a stator excited by an oscillator. A frame defines a first threaded part collaborating with the first threaded part of the rotor. The second threaded part of the rotor collaborates with an output shaft. Rotation of the rotor with respect to the frame results in movement of the output shaft along the axis. The oscillator comprises an oscillating mass excited by an angular actuator formed by piezoelectric actuators arranged around a star-shaped support. The oscillator is fitted inside the rotor configured in the form of a bell and comprising several stressed sectors.

Disclosed is a piezoelectric inertial drive stage including a piezoelectric inertial driver, a slider and a holder. The driver includes a mounting portion for the mounting on the holder, a friction portion coupling to the slider, a flexure portion between the mounting portion and friction portion, a piezoelectric element with a first end bonded to the mounting portion and a second end bonded to a movement portion, the movement portion transferring the motion of the piezoelectric element to the friction portion to drive the slider.

A stick-slip piezo motor. At least one voltage source is connected to a piezo motor. The piezo motor has at least one oscillating piezo element and at least one moving friction element connected to the oscillating piezo element. The moving friction element moves in a desired travel direction. A computer is programmed to control the voltage source to deliver voltage to the piezo motor at a predetermined frequency and amplitude to control the speed of the piezo motor. The computer is programmed to hold the frequency constant while varying the amplitude to adjust the speed of the piezo motor. In a preferred embodiment the computer is programmed to hold the frequency constant at an ultrasonic frequency. In another preferred embodiment the computer is programmed to hold the frequency constant at a value of 15 kHz or higher.

The disclosure relates to a drive means for non-resonant linear and/or rotary positioning of an object, comprising at least two piezoelectric or electrostrictive actuator groups, where-in a first actuator group moves a first runner portion relative to a stationary base of the drive means according to the principle of an inertia drive, and by means of the second actuator group a second runner portion is moved relative to the first runner portion with a limited range of movement in the high-resolution scan mode, wherein a common electrical control signal is applied to the first and second actuator groups.

An optical element driving mechanism is provided that includes a fixed assembly, a movable assembly, a driving assembly, and a circuit assembly. The movable assembly is configured to be connected to an optical element, and the movable assembly is movable relative to the fixed assembly. The driving assembly is configured to drive the movable member to move relative to the fixed assembly. The circuit assembly is electrically connected to the driving assembly, and the circuit assembly includes an electrical connection element having a resin material.

An optical element driving mechanism is provided. The optical element driving mechanism includes a fixed portion, a movable portion, and a driving assembly. The fixed portion includes a main axis. The movable portion is movably disposed on the fixed portion. The movable portion is connected to an optical element. The driving assembly is used for driving the movable portion to move relative to the fixed portion.

An optical element driving mechanism is provided. The optical element driving mechanism includes a movable portion, a fixed portion, a driving assembly, and a support element. The movable portion is used for connecting to an optical element having a main axis. The movable portion is movable relative to the fixed portion. The driving assembly is disposed on the fixed portion or the movable portion. The driving assembly is used to drive the movable portion to move relative to the fixed portion. The movable portion is connected to the fixed portion through the support element.