The present invention provides an optical detection system and a method capable of automatically removing foreign substances. The optical detection system comprises an optical sensing device including a housing, a transparent cover, an optical sensor, a lens module, a sealing material having flexibility and stiffness, and a piezoelectric component. The sealing material with an annular flake shape is provided between the transparent cover and the piezoelectric component, and extended and fixed to the housing to seal the internal space defined by the housing and the transparent cover. The piezoelectric component performs vibration, which is transmitted to the transparent cover through the sealing material to remove foreign substances from the transparent cover. Thereby, an excellent removing ability for foreign substances can be achieved by effective vibration transmission, and effects of reducing load and power consumption, prolonging service life, and preventing leakage of moisture or water can also be achieved.

A vibration type motor includes first and second vibrators, a friction member configured to contact the first and second vibrators, a pressure member configured to press the first and second vibrators against the friction member, and first and second guide members configured to guide a relative movement between the first and second vibrators and the friction member. The first and second vibrators are spaced in a direction different from a relative movement direction between the first and second vibrators and the friction member. The first and the second guide member are provided between the first vibrator and the second vibrator in a direction different from the relative movement direction. A pressure center of a pressure applied to the first vibrator and the second vibrator by the pressure member is located between the first guide member and the second guide member.

Included are a vibrator including a protruding portion that performs high frequency vibration; a friction member, the vibrator being pressed to cause the protruding portion to abut to the friction member; a fixing member to which either the vibrator or the friction member; a movable member that moves integratedly with either the vibrator or the friction member; a plurality of rotating members enabling relative movement between the friction member and the movable member; and a falling off restriction portion that prevents the rotating members provided in either the fixing member or the movable member from falling off, wherein the falling off restriction portion abuts to an opposed portion opposed to the falling off restriction portion to restrict a movable range of the movable member in a pressing direction and to prevent the rotating members from falling off.

A driving device includes a vibrator; a friction member; a first guide portion that guides the vibrator or the friction member in a first direction when the vibrator vibrates so that the vibrator and the friction member move relative to each other, the first guide portion enabling rotation of the vibrator and the friction member around an axis in the first direction; a moving member that moves when the vibrator and the friction member move relative to each other, the moving member being connected to the member to be driven; and a second guide portion that guides the member to be driven in a second direction when the moving member moves. The moving member is connected to the member to be driven such that the moving member is rotatable and movable in a direction orthogonal to the first direction with respect to the member to be driven.

In a vibration type motor, a vibrator unit including a vibrator configured to vibrate, and a friction member unit including a friction member which the vibrator contacts relatively moving in a first direction. The vibrator unit is displaceable relative to the friction member unit in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and presses the vibrator against the friction member in the second direction. The friction member unit includes a stopper that contacts the vibrator unit so as to restrict the vibration unit from displacing, by an amount exceeding a predetermined amount, in the second direction. The stopper extends in the first direction, a distance greater than a length, in the first direction, of an area of the friction member which the vibrator contacts, and the stopper projects from the friction member toward the vibrator in the second direction when viewed from the first direction.

A vibration-type actuator that can suppress variation in pressing force and reaction force on vibration bodies and contact bodies includes vibration body units, each including a vibration body including an elastic body and an electro-mechanical energy conversion element, and a contact body contacting with the vibration bodies, with the contact body and the vibration bodies moving relatively in a predetermined direction. A first vibration body unit, from among the vibration body units, includes a restriction unit configured to fix the first vibration body unit and restrict a degree of freedom in the predetermined direction, and a second vibration body unit, from among the vibration body units, includes a supporting guide unit configured to support the second vibration body unit while the second vibration body unit is movable in a direction orthogonal to the predetermined direction.

The present disclosure provides a biomimetic mobile legged robot, which includes a body formed to extend in one direction and having a piezoelectric element, and a leg connected to intersect the body and having a piezoelectric element. Here, a power is supplied to the body and the leg, respectively, and the piezoelectric elements of the body and the leg are operated with the supplied power to cause a full body motion so that the legged robot moves.

A rotating piezoelectric motor including a piezoelectric actuator including a resonator having a pair of arms connected at one of their ends in a connection area, the other two ends being free, a passive element including a cylindrical part extending substantially orthogonally to the resonator and passing between the free ends of the arms, the cylindrical part being rotatable by friction of the free ends, the passive element including: a lower and upper truncated cones, the small bases of the cones being arranged facing each other and on either side of the resonator, the cylindrical part of the passive element at least partly axially traversing the cones, the upper truncated cone being movable along the cylindrical part, and at least one of the cones being integral in rotation with the cylindrical part, a device for holding the lateral surfaces of the cones in contact with each of the free ends of the arms of the resonator.

A vibration actuator includes an elastic body on which at least one projection is formed and a vibrating body including an electromechanical conversion device, and drives a driven member that is in contact with a contact portion of the projection by causing an end portion of the projection to perform an ellipsoidal movement in response to a combination of two vibration modes generated in the vibrating body when an alternating driving voltage is applied. The elastic body is formed integrally with the projection and a bonding portion between the projection and the electromechanical conversion device. A space is provided between the contact portion and the electromechanical conversion device to which the projection is bonded. The spring portion is provided between the bonding portion and the contact portion and causes the projection to exhibit a spring characteristic when the contact portion is pressed by the driven member.

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.