Provided is a vibration wave motor including: a vibrator; a friction member configured to be brought into frictional contact with the vibrator; a first holding member holding the vibrator; a second holding member holding the first holding member; and a third holding member holding the second holding member, wherein the vibrator and the friction member move relative to each other, and wherein one side of the second holding member is configured to connect to the first holding member or the third holding member at a position where the second holding member overlaps the rectangular shape portion in a direction of the relative movement, and another side of the second holding member is configured to connect to the first holding member or the third holding member at a position where the second holding member overlaps the rectangular shape portion in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the relative movement.

A vibration energy harvester includes: a fixed electrode unit having a plurality of comb-tooth electrodes; a movable electrode unit having a plurality of comb-tooth electrodes; a weight fixed to the movable electrode unit; and an adjusting weight mounting structure capable of mounting an adjusting weight for additionally adjusting a mass of the weight.

Provided is a vibration wave motor including: a vibrator; a friction member; a pressurizing mechanism; a first holding mechanism; and a second holding mechanism, wherein the vibrator and the friction member are configured to perform relative movement with respect to each other, wherein the first holding mechanism includes a first holding portion and a second holding portion which is longer than the first holding portion in a direction of the relative movement, wherein the friction member is arranged between the first holding portion and the second holding portion, wherein the first holding portion includes a first restriction portion, wherein the second holding portion includes a second restriction portion, and wherein the first restriction portion and the second restriction portion are brought into abutment against the second holding mechanism to restrict movement in directions other than the direction of the relative movement of the vibrator and the first holding mechanism.

An optical driving mechanism is provided, configured to force an optical element, including a base, a movable portion, and a driving portion. The movable portion is disposed and connected to the base. The movable portion includes a holder configured to sustain the optical element, a magnetic element, and a fixing member. The magnetic element and the fixing member are affixed to the holder, wherein the fixing member has a permeable material. The driving portion is configured to force the movable portion to move relative to the base, wherein the driving portion includes a piezoelectric element and a support member connecting thereto. The piezoelectric element and the support member are disposed on the base and connected to the movable portion. The fixing member makes contact with the support member via a magnetic attraction force between the magnetic element and the fixing member.

A method for manufacturing a vibration actuator includes forming an elastic body integrally with a projection protruding from a surface of the elastic body, by press working. Forming the elastic body includes forming a bonding portion surrounding the projection, forming a contact portion at a top portion of the projection, forming a spring portion between the contact portion and the bonding portion, and forming a standing portion having a hollow structure, between the spring portion and the contact portion, so that the standing portion has a ring shape in a cross-sectional view in a direction parallel to the surface of the elastic member and that a space surrounded by the contact portion, the spring portion, and the standing portion. The spring portion is formed by press working, and the bonding portion is formed by press working.

A vibration type actuator includes a first member that has a vibrator; a second member that extends in a predetermined direction and has a friction sliding surface where the vibrator is press-contacted; a third member that rotatably holds the second member with respect to an axis parallel to the predetermined direction; and a pressing unit that generates a first force for rotating the second member with respect to the axis relative to the third member. The first member is sandwiched between the second member and the third member by the first force. The first member is driven in a driving direction parallel to the predetermined direction relative to the second member by the vibration of the vibrator.

An oscillation actuator of the present disclosure includes an oscillation body, a contact body configured to be in contact with the oscillation body, a holding member configured to hold the oscillation body, the holding member having a through hole, a pressing member configured to press the oscillation body through the through hole, and an oscillation damping member configured to be in contact with the holding member and the pressing member between the holding member and the pressing member.

The invention comprises a piezo motor with a U-shaped housing lower part and a mounted cover. The piezo actuator is mounted between two clamping jaws. Planar guide tracks are formed in the housing lower part to both sides of the piezo actuator. Bearing elements of circular cross-section are arranged between the clamping jaws and the guide tracks. Thrust pieces are braced between the housing cover and the bearing elements, which thrust pieces press the bearing elements against the clamping jaws. Here, the thrust pieces together with the guide tracks of the housing lower part form V-shaped guides.

A vibration driven actuator includes a vibrator, a vibrator holder, a friction member, a pressing member that enables the vibrator to compressively contact the friction member in a first direction, and a pressure transmitting member disposed between the vibrator and the pressing member. The vibrator and the friction member relative move in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction due to the vibration. A first contact portion disposed to one of the vibrator holder and the pressure transmitting member contacts a second contact portion disposed to the other of the vibrator holder and the pressure transmitting member so as to restrict a relative displacement between the vibrator holder and the pressure transmitting member in the second direction, and to allow a relative rotation between the vibrator holder and the pressure transmitting member on a plane parallel to the first direction and the second direction.

A vibration energy harvester, a power accumulator and a power supplier, including: a multi-stable shell with one or more bistable regions and at least one piezoelectric element fixed on a surface of the multi-stable shell. Each of the bistable regions has two different stable configurations, and different combinations of the stable configurations of the one or more bistable regions make the multi-stable shell have a plurality of different stable configurations. The one or more bistable regions are switched between the two stable configurations thereof when being excited by vibration energy, so that the multi-stable shell is switched between the plurality of stable configurations to deform the piezoelectric element to generate electric energy.