The present disclosure relates to a piezoelectric device, and more particularly, to a piezoelectric device including: a piezoelectric actuator; a displacement transmission structure disposed on the piezoelectric actuator; and a displacement amplification structure disposed between the piezoelectric actuator and the displacement transmission structure. Here, the displacement amplification structure includes: a first displacement amplification structure and a second displacement amplification structure, which cross each other; and a fixing pin that passes through the first displacement amplification structure and the second displacement amplification structure to connect the first displacement amplification structure and the second displacement amplification structure. Also, each of one end of the first displacement amplification structure and one end of the second displacement amplification structure may be fixed on the piezoelectric actuator.

A vibration-type actuator includes a vibrator, a contact body, a pressure member, a holding member, and a base. The vibrator has an elastic member and an electro-mechanical energy conversion element fixed to the elastic member. The contact body contacts the vibrator. The pressure member presses the contact body and the vibrator in a first direction. The holding member holds the vibrator and includes a support portion and at least one fitting hole portion extending in the first direction. The support portion supports the vibrator movably in the first direction. The base holds the holding member. The contact body moves relative to the vibrator in a second direction intersecting the first direction. The base includes at least one fitting protrusion portion extending in the first direction and fits in the at least one fitting hole portion.

An actuator includes a piezoelectric element, a vibration plate, a support, a holder, and first and second fixing portions. The vibration plate has the piezoelectric element joined thereto and bends and vibrates in accordance with expansion and contraction of the piezoelectric element. The support supports the vibration plate on a base to allow bending and vibration of the vibration plate. The holder holds an object of vibration to the vibration plate. The first fixing portion is coupled to the support and fixes the support to the base. The second fixing portion is coupled to the holder and fixes the object of vibration to the holder. The first and second fixing portions are each displaceable in a direction intersecting the direction of the expansion and contraction of the piezoelectric element.

A piezo actuator comprises a piezo material having a first, top surface, a second, bottom surface, and a third, circumference surface. The piezo material has a polarity and the piezo material includes one or more mounting holes in the piezo material, the one or more mounting holes being positioned substantially central in at least the top surface or the bottom surface of the piezo material. The actuator also comprises at least one contact point for contacting a load to be actuated, the at least one contact point being positioned on the third, circumference, surface of the piezo material, and a set of electrodes being positioned on the top surface of the piezo material and at least one electrode being positioned at the bottom surface of the piezo material.

A device and method using the electromechanical properties of piezoelectric materials to generate and deliver electrical power to a high speed electrically powered rotatable shaft. The device has a stationary module that is connected to an electrical source; and has a rotatable module, which is mechanically connected to the electrically powered rotatable shaft. The rotatable module rotates relative to the stationary module. When the stationary module is electrically energized, the stationary piezoelectric component expands and causes the rotatable piezoelectric component to compress. When the rotatable piezoelectric component compresses, it generates electrical power transferred to the electrically powered rotatable shaft. Thus, electrical energy can be delivered to the electrically powered rotatable shaft without a direct electrical connection. The present invention is particularly useful in applications requiring large diameter through-hole dimensions.

An optical element driving mechanism is provided in the present disclosure, including a fixed portion, a movable portion, and a driving assembly. The movable portion is connected to an optical assembly. The driving assembly drives the movable portion to move relative to the fixed portion. The driving assembly includes a piezoelectric element.

A vibration wave motor includes a vibrator; a first holding member configured to hold the vibrator; a second holding member; an elastic coupling member configured to couple the first holding member and the second holding member to each other; a friction member; and a pressurizing unit, wherein the vibrator and the friction member relatively move due to vibration of the vibrator, wherein the elastic coupling member includes a first coupling portion and a second coupling portion, and wherein one of the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion is arranged on a straight line that is parallel to a direction of the relative movement and passes through a pressurizing gravity center and another of the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion is arranged on a straight line that is orthogonal to the direction of the relative movement and passes through the pressurizing gravity center.

An image pickup apparatus is capable of decreasing a space capacity occupied by component elements and being downsized compared to a case where an actuator is arranged independently of a supporting unit. The image pickup apparatus has an image pickup unit driven by the actuator, a base unit, and the supporting unit provided in a standing manner from the base unit and rotatably supports the image pickup unit. The actuator has a piezoelectric element and an oscillator including a transmission unit which transmits driving force caused by vibration excited by the piezoelectric element. The transmission unit is arranged in the supporting unit so that it is in pressure contact with the image pickup unit. The image pickup unit has a transmitted plane with which the transmission unit is brought into pressure contact, and the vibration excited by the oscillator causes the transmitted plane to move relatively to the oscillator.

A piezoelectric actuator includes a vibration portion, a support portion that is integrally configured with the vibration portion and supports the vibration portion, and a piezoelectric element that is disposed on the vibration portion. The piezoelectric element includes a piezoelectric film including columnar crystal grains extending in a thickness direction. When a thickness of the piezoelectric film is referred to as T [μm] and an average diameter of the crystal grains in the width direction is referred to as D [μm], T/D is within a range of 10 to 100. The thickness T of the piezoelectric film is larger than or equal to 2 μm. A standard deviation of diameters of the crystal grains in the width direction is less than or equal to 1.8 μm.

A motor includes a vibrator, a contact member that contacts the vibrator, a first pressing unit that applies a pressing force in a first direction to the vibrator to bring the vibrator into contact with the contact member, a first holding member that holds the vibrator, a second holding member that holds the first holding member, and a second pressing unit that applies to the first holding member a pressing force in a second direction in which the vibrator and the contact member are displaced relative to each other by generated thrust. The first and second holding members contact each other in the second direction due to the pressing force of the second pressing unit. The first and second holding members are movable relative to each other in the first direction by the pressing force of the first pressing unit.