A piezoelectric motor with form-locked drive mechanism avoiding step losses and undefined step sizes caused by environmental conditions such as temperature, surface quality and air humidity by engaging actuator teeth interacting with the toothed structure of a driven rack.

A vibration-wave motor includes a vibrator, a first holding member configured to hold the vibrator, a second holding member configured to hold the first holding member, a plurality of pressing members arranged around the vibrator and configured to press the vibrator against a contacting member that contacts the vibrator, a movable plate disposed opposite to the vibrator with respect to the contacting member, and a coupling part configured to couple the second holding member and the movable plate with each other. The vibrator and the contacting member move relatively to each other due to a vibration generated by the vibrator. One of the second holding member and the movable plate includes a transmitting part configured to transmit a driving force of the vibration-wave motor to a driven member.

A first lever portion includes a first point-of-effort portion, a first fulcrum portion, and a first point-of-load portion. A second lever portion has a second point-of-effort portion, a second fulcrum portion, and a second point-of-load portion. A first point-of-effort portion is located between a first fulcrum portion and a first point-of-load portion in a direction orthogonal to an axis of a stem. A second fulcrum portion is located between a second point-of-effort portion and a second point-of-load portion in the direction orthogonal to the axis. A distance between the second fulcrum portion and the second point-of-load portion is configured longer than a distance between the second fulcrum portion and the second point-of-effort portion. The second point-of-load portion of the second lever portion is displaced toward the stem and moves the stem toward the piezoelectric element by means of displacement of the intermediate member to the second lever portion side.

A micro-displacement amplifying apparatus comprises two sets of asymmetrical amplifying structures; each set of asymmetrical amplifying structure comprises a plurality of asymmetrical amplifying units connected in series by flexible hinges; the asymmetrical amplifying unit is used for amplifying a micro-displacement; the two sets of asymmetrical amplifying structures are in opposite positions and overlap with each other; the input end and output end are coupled to the asymmetrical amplifying unit by a flexible hinge, respectively; the input end is used for inputting the micro-displacement to the asymmetrical amplifying unit, and the output end is used for outputting the amplified displacement; the two contacting input ends are fixed and coupled to each other, and the two contacting output ends are fixed and coupled to each other. The present disclosure further discloses an amplification method of the micro-displacement amplifying apparatus.

In an invention including: a piezoelectric element (13) which generates, as a displacement, a driving force necessary for an operation of a valve body (12) which is an operating body; a displacement enlarging mechanism (14) including at least a spring element so as to enlarge a displacement of the piezoelectric element (13) which acts on the valve body (12); and a driving device (15) which operates the valve body (12) by applying a voltage to the piezoelectric element (13) to extend the piezoelectric element (13), the driving device (15) includes a first filter processing unit (15x) having an inverse function characteristic of a mechanical resonance frequency when operating the displacement enlarging mechanism (14), and is configured to apply, a voltage which reduces the mechanical resonance, to the piezoelectric element (13) through this resonance suppression processing unit (15x).

An inertial piezoelectric actuator driven by symmetrical sawtooth wave is symmetrical in structure and includes a seat, a slider, a piezoelectric stack and an elliptical ring. A pair of leaf-shaped flexible beams are arranged at a front end of a base, and a guide rail is connected between the pair of leaf-shaped flexible beams. The slider is placed on the guide rail. The piezoelectric stack is arranged in the elliptical ring with an interference fit. A front end of the elliptical ring is in contact with the guide rail, and a pre-stressed contact force between the elliptical ring and the guide rail is controlled by adjusting a screw at a rear end of the elliptical ring. A method for method for actuating bi-directional motion of the inertial piezoelectric actuator is further provided.

A capacitive actuator motor according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a capacitive actuator having six actuator units and a motor output cam having a periodic shape portion. Each of the six actuator units includes a buckling displacement expansion mechanism configured to convert an output of a piezoelectric element and urge an output joint in a predetermined output direction and a preload adjustment spring configured to urge an output joint with a certain characteristic in a direction in which the periodic shape portion and the output joint come into contact with each other.

An displacement amplifying mechanism that enlarges an amount of displacement of an actuator includes an accommodation chamber in which a liquid is sealed, a first wall portion that forms a wall surface of the accommodation chamber and applies a pressure to the liquid in accordance with displacement of the actuator, and a second wall portion that forms the wall surface of the accommodation chamber and is displaced in a first direction which is a direction away from the accommodation chamber in a state where an elastic force acting in a second direction approaching the accommodation chamber is generated by a pressure of the liquid when the first wall portion applies the pressure to the liquid, in which an area of the second wall portion in contact with the liquid is smaller than an area of the first wall portion in contact with the liquid.

Exemplary practice of the present invention provides a magnetostrictive actuator characterized by linear force output and uniform magnetic biasing. A center bias magnet combined with a flux transfer tube produces a uniform magnetic bias down the length of a magnetostrictive component. Depending on the inventive embodiment, the magnetostrictive component may include one magnetostrictive element or a pair of collinear magnetostrictive elements. A center bias magnet, in combination with a flux transfer tube, drives magnetic flux through the magnetostrictive component (e.g., a series of magnetostrictive rods) in opposite directions, while surrounding drive coils apply flux in the same direction through the magnetostrictive component. The net response is substantially linear with respect to the drive coil current. The flux transfer tube applies distributed magnetic flux to the magnetostrictive component at a rate that ensures uniform magnetic flux density down the length of the magnetostrictive component.

A device and a method for producing haptic feedback are disclosed. In an embodiment a device includes at least one piezoelectric actuator having a plurality of piezoelectric layers and internal electrodes arranged therebetween, a first amplification element and a second amplification element, wherein the piezoelectric actuator is arranged between the amplification elements, wherein the piezoelectric actuator is configured to change its extension in a first direction upon application of an electrical voltage, and wherein the amplification elements are configured to deform as a result of the change in the extension of the piezoelectric actuator such that a subregion of a respective amplification element is moved relative to the piezoelectric actuator in a second direction, which is perpendicular to the first direction and a driver circuit configured to apply the electrical voltage to the piezoelectric actuator such that the amplification elements are deformed thereby producing the haptic feedback against an object pressing on the device, the haptic feedback imitating a jump in force.