A method is disclosed for controlling a linear or rotary multi-actuator drive device having a stationary and a movable part. Relative movement between the stationary and the movable parts is generated via actuators having limited strokes, which are in substantially continuous frictional contact with the movable part either directly or via a force-transmitting mechanism, wherein control signals having a timing offset are used therefor, which force alternation between the slip phase and the stick phase for each actuator. Speed variations and vibrations of the device are reduced or prevented by utilizing the elasticity in the drive components, by building up, between the points of friction of the actuators by means of control waveforms adapted to the respective situation for the various actuators, suitable mechanical tensions which prevent undesired variation in the force exerted by the actuators on the movable part, above all when an actuator transitions from the stick phase to the slip phase, or when one or more actuators reverse direction.

A system for contactless transmission of energy and control signals between a primary device and a secondary device. The primary device has a primary set with at least one primary coil and an electronic supply driver for supplying primary signals to the primary set of primary coils. A secondary device has a secondary set with at least one secondary coil, at least one piezoelectric actuator, and electronic components including a resonant circuit powered by the secondary set. The piezoelectric actuator is powered and controlled through the secondary set of secondary coils and the electronic components.

A piezoelectric element unit comprises an element body having an active part and an inactive part; and a first resin part bonding one end surface in the laminating direction of the element body to a mounting surface of a joint member placed to face the one end surface. The first resin part covers the mounting surface up to an outer side surface of the element body corresponding to an interface between the active part and the inactive part, a second resin part covers an outer surface of the first resin part covering the outer side surface of the element body at a position corresponding to the interface between the active part and the inactive part, and the second resin part also integrally covers the outer side surface of the element body corresponding to the active part.

The present invention provides a driving apparatus capable of suppressing the operation noise. A driving apparatus comprises a piezoelectric element expanding and contracting in accordance with a driving signal; a supporting shaft connected to said piezoelectric element; a movable body frictionally engaged with said supporting shaft and capable of moving along said supporting shaft; and a driving portion applying said driving signal including a first driving signal which moves said movable body towards a first direction to said piezoelectric element, wherein said driving portion can repeatedly apply said first driving signal against said piezoelectric element by taking a first time in between, and said first driving signal comprises a main driving waveform group which moves said movable body to said first direction, and a sub driving waveform group which is placed after said main driving waveform group by having a second rest time shorter than said first time in between.

An optical element driving mechanism is provided in the present disclosure, including a fixed portion, a movable portion that is connected to an optical assembly, and a driving assembly that drives the movable portion to move relative to the fixed portion and includes a piezoelectric element. The piezoelectric element includes a piezoelectric unit, a guiding element, and a counterweight element. A first end of the guiding element is connected to the piezoelectric unit, and a second end is connected to the fixed portion. The counterweight element is connected to the piezoelectric unit. The fixed portion comprises a bottom that has a first through hole and a second through hole. The first through hole corresponds to the piezoelectric unit and the counterweight element, accommodates a part of the piezoelectric unit and the counterweight element. The second through hole corresponds to the guiding element, accommodates the second end of the guiding element.

The aspects of the disclosed embodiments relate to a micromanipulator arrangement that includes at least one drive stem, at least one movable element arranged on the drive stem to move along the drive stem wherein the drive stem being arranged to cause a change in a position of the movable element with respect to the drive stem; wherein an additional factor exists having an effect in the change of the position of the movable element and the micromanipulator arrangement further comprises means for compensating said additional factor such that said effect is diminished.

In a linear driving apparatus including a vibration wave motor, when a sliding guide method is used as a guiding method for a moving member, a driving target body movable in a moving direction, a transmission member configured to engage with the driving target body, abut against the abutment part of the moving member, and transmit the driving force of the vibration wave motor to the driving target body, and a biasing member configured to apply a biasing force between the transmission member and the abutment part, the direction of a frictional contact force that the vibrator receives from the friction member and the direction of a biasing contact force that the abutment part receives from the biasing member are parallel and opposite, and the load center of the distribution load of the biasing contact force exists in the range of the outside shape of the vibrator.

In object to provide a unit of piezoelectric element having a preferable bending strength and preferably used as a part of a driving unit, a unit of piezoelectric element comprising: a multilayer piezoelectric element, having internal electrodes laminated having a piezoelectric body layer in-between and a pair of external electrodes formed on side surfaces extending along laminating direction and electrically connected to the internal electrodes, a wiring part connected to the external electrodes via a solder part, wherein a solder is solidified, a resin part, joining one end surface in the laminating direction of the multilayer piezoelectric element and a mounting surface of a connection member placed to face the one end surface, wherein the resin part is continuous from the one end surface and the mounting surface to the solder part; and the resin part covers the solder part, is provided.

An inertial drive actuator includes a displacement unit which generates a minute displacement in a first direction, and in a second direction, a coil which generates a magnetic flux, a movable object which has a surface facing at least one surface of the coil, and a first yoke which converges the magnetic flux generated by the coil, at a predetermined position, a detecting unit which detects an electric signal of the coil, reflecting a change in the magnetic flux near the coil based on a positional relationship of the movable object and the coil, and a judging unit which judges a position of the movable object, and the inertial drive actuator drives the movable object by controlling a frictional force acting on the movable object, by controlling the magnetic flux generated by the coil, and the coil carries out generation of the magnetic flux and detection of the magnetic flux.

An inertial drive actuator includes a shift unit that generates a shift in a first direction and in a second direction opposite to the first direction, a base plate that moves with the shift of the shift unit, and a mover disposed on a surface of the base plate and having a magnetic field generating unit. The mover has a first yoke that guides magnetic flux generated by the magnetic field generating unit such that the magnetic flux concentrates on a surface of the mover facing the base plate with respect to both S and N poles. Also included is a second yoke provided on a side of the base plate facing away from the mover. The frictional force acting between the mover and the base plate is controlled by controlling a magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generating unit to drive the mover.