An optical element driving mechanism is provided. The optical element driving mechanism includes a fixed portion, a movable portion, a first driving assembly, and a positioning element. The movable portion is movably disposed on the fixed portion and comprising an optical element. The optical element moves in a first direction. The first driving assembly is at least partially disposed on the fixed portion. The positioning element is rotatably disposed on the fixed portion or the movable portion. When the first driving assembly is not activated, the positioning element is used to limit the position of the movable portion relative to the fixed portion to a limit position, and the positioning element comprises a main body and a limiting portion extending from the main body in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction. The limiting portion passes through the optical element.

A wearable device that is capable of harvesting kinetic energy from wrist motions using piezoelectric and/or electromagnetic energy harvesters is disclosed. A first part of the device is worn on the user and second part of the device is movable against the second part to accentuate the frequency of movements.

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.

An optical system is provided. The optical system includes a first optical module. The first optical module includes a first fixed portion, a first movable portion, a first driving assembly, and a circuit assembly. The first movable portion is used for connecting to a first optical element, and the first movable portion is movably connected to the fixed portion. The first driving assembly is used for driving the first movable portion to move relative to the first fixed portion. The circuit assembly is electrically connected to the first driving assembly.

A vibration-type actuator, which achieves high accuracy and durability, includes a vibrating body, a contact body, a supporting member, and at least one positioning and holding member. The vibrating body includes an elastic body with grooves and projecting portions alternately formed in a direction of relative movement of the vibrating body and the contact body, and further includes an electromechanical transducer mounted on the elastic body. The at least one positioning and holding member restrains movement of the vibrating body with respect to the supporting member in the relative movement direction, and includes an interposing portion interposed between a plurality of the projecting portions and a mounting portion mounted on the supporting member. The supporting member includes a receiving portion onto which the mounting portion is mounted with a clearance formed between the mounting portion and the receiving portion in the relative movement direction.

A drive unit for driving a passive element relative to an active element includes a resonator and excitation device, at least a first arm including, at an outer end of the arm, a first contact element that is movable by way of oscillating movements of the first arm, thereby driving the passive element relative to the active element. The passive element includes a first contact area, arranged to be in contact with a first contact element of the first arm. A magnetic element is arranged to exert a magnetic force causing a relative force between the active element and passive element, whereby the first contact area is pressed against the first contact element with a pre-stress force.

A power generation device is provided. A weight may vibrate in one direction as an axial direction in response to an external vibration. A beam may be arranged in at least one side with respect to the weight in the axial direction of the weight, and vibrate together with the weight. A piezoelectric element may be mounted on the beam. A guide may include a hollow guiding a movement of the weight in the axial direction. A stopper may be included in the weight. The stopper may restrict an amount of the movement of the weight in the axial direction within a predetermined amount. A stopper wall may stop the movement of the weight in the axial direction by contacting with the stopper.

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.

A vibration wave motor includes a vibrator including an electrical-mechanical energy conversion element and an elastic member, a contact member in contact with the elastic member, and a supporting member that supports the vibrator, wherein the supporting member supports an outer periphery portion of the vibrator so as to be movable along a direction in which the vibrator is pressed toward the contact member, and selectively supports a node of a vibration of the vibrator.

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.