An optical device actuator comprises a movable frame (33) including a focus lens (L11); a main shaft guide (40); a piezoelectric element (36a); a weight (36b); a fixed frame (30); a guide holding frame (35); and a spring (36c). The piezoelectric element (36a) imparts vibration to a first end (40a) side of the main shaft guide (40). The fixed frame (30) supports the piezoelectric element (36a) and the weight (36b) disposed on the first end (40a) side of the main shaft guide (40). The guide holding frame (35) supports, in a fixed state, the main shaft guide (40) on a second end (40b) side on the opposite side from the first end (40a) side. The spring (36c) is provided on the first end (40a) side of the main shaft guide (40), and presses the piezoelectric element (36a) along the axial direction with respect to the first end (40a) of the main shaft guide (40) via the weight (36b).

Disclosed is a method and device for electrically activating an electromechanical element (8) for positioning an element to be driven which is in contact at least intermittently with the electromechanical element (8). By temporal sequence or by the successive execution of a static friction phase and a slip phase, the element to be driven performs a discrete drive step in a first drive direction, while by temporal sequence or successive execution of a slip phase and a static friction phase the element to be driven performs a discrete drive step in a second drive direction which is oriented contrary to the first drive direction. By appropriate repetition, a plurality of discrete drive steps and thus a large travel can be realized, which is limited in principle only by the extent or length of the element to be driven.

A lens driving mechanism includes first and second piezoelectric rods that move a lens and first and second sensors that detect a position of the lens. An angle formed between a line (a first piezoelectric line) that extends from the first piezoelectric rod to be perpendicular to an optical axis and a line (a first sensor line) that extends from the first sensor to be perpendicular to the optical axis is smaller than 90°. An angle formed between a line (a second piezoelectric line) that extends from the second piezoelectric rod to be perpendicular to the optical axis and a line (a second sensor line) that extends from the second sensor to be perpendicular to the optical axis is smaller than 90°.

A drive device includes a piezoelectric element, a drive shaft that receives vibration of the piezoelectric element and vibrates along an optical axis direction of a first imaging optical system, an engagement member that is frictionally engaged with the drive shaft and is connected to the first imaging optical system, and a lens controller that controls vibration of the piezoelectric element, in which the first imaging optical system is provided to be movable in a range including at least a first position and a second position, and the lens controller performs control of moving the first imaging optical system from the first position to the second position in a case in which a signal for instructing a power of the drive device to be turned off is received.

A piezoelectric inertia actuator is disclosed herein, which includes an actuator body, a coupling body defining a receiver, a lock body positioned within the receiver, and a piezo body attached to the coupling body. At least one flexible frame configured to support an engaging body may extend from the piezo body. A spring blade configured to apply a preload force to the engaging body via a decoupling preload body may extend from the coupling body. A tension member may be positioned within the lock body and apply a preload force to the piezo body, thereby creating a net compressive stress therein. The piezoelectric inertia actuator may further include a piezo preload body configured to apply a reaction force to the piezo body in order to maintain the compressive stress therein. The preload applied to the piezo body may be substantially decoupled from the preload applied to the engaging body.

The present disclosure relates to an electromechanical linear drive having a housing, an electromechanical drive unit, a transmission element which is coupled to the electro-mechanical drive unit, and an element to be driven which is in frictional contact with the transmission element, where the transmission element is mounted on at least two bearing points with respect to the housing. Improved accessibility to the element to be driven and a longer adjustment path of the element to be driven can be achieved by placing the element to be driven in frictional contact with the transmission element at a point of engagement outside of all bearing points.

The present invention relates to a linear drive, comprising: an actuator unit with at least one actuator; two guide elements and a movement element, wherein the movement element is displaceable along both guide elements by a movement generated by the actuator unit as a result of a stick-slip effect. In order to allow a more accurate displacement of the movement element in a compact design of the linear drive, according to the invention, the movement element can be brought into engagement with each of the two guide elements by means of static friction in order to be displaced along the two guide elements as a result of the stick-slip effect.

Disclosed is a piezoelectric inertial drive stage including a piezoelectric inertial driver, a slider and a holder. The driver includes a mounting portion for the mounting on the holder, a friction portion coupling to the slider, a flexure portion between the mounting portion and friction portion, a piezoelectric element with a first end bonded to the mounting portion and a second end bonded to a movement portion, the movement portion transferring the motion of the piezoelectric element to the friction portion to drive the slider.

A motion control system and method for controlling a stick-slip piezo motor includes an electronic controller and an analog driver for moving a mechanical device. When operating in a digital circuit mode, an electronic controller controls a digital-to-analog converter for moving the stick-slip piezo motor at a low speed. When operating in a faster analog circuit mode, the electronic controller, via an analog driver, operates to control an analog hardware circuit to move the stick-slip piezo motor at a high speed. The electronic controller operates in the digital circuit mode at start-up of the piezo motor.

An optical element driving mechanism is provided, including a movable portion, a fixed portion, a driving assembly, and a support element. The movable portion is used for connecting to an optical element having a main axis. The movable portion is movable relative to the fixed portion. The driving assembly is used for driving the movable portion to move relative to the fixed portion. The movable portion moves relative to the fixed portion through the support element.