A piezoelectric drive unit is configured for driving a passive element relative to an active element, wherein the active element includes a resonator with two arms, each extending in parallel to a reference plane and ending in a contact element, which is movable by oscillating movements of the arms and thereby drives the passive element. A pre-stress element is arranged to exert a relative force between the active element and passive element, pressing them against one another with pre-stress forces that are normal to the reference plane.

A vibration wave motor includes a vibrator including a piezoelectric element; a friction member with which the vibrator comes into contact by receiving pressurizing force; and a guide member that holds the vibrator. The guide member includes an input portion on one end portion, the input portion receiving force from outside, and a pressurizing portion on another end portion positioned on an opposite side of the one end portion, the pressurizing portion providing the pressurizing force to the vibrator. A guide portion extending in a direction of relative movement of the vibrator and the friction member is formed between the input portion and the pressurizing portion.

An ortho-planar spring/flexure, a suspension assembly having such a flexure, and a vibration energy harvester including such a suspension assembly, suitable for long term usage in harsh vibrational environments. The flexure provides one or more slots to thereby create parallel springs with a smaller width that will have much lower stress levels when subjected to longitudinal vibrations or shock waves creating large shear forces, and still have a one piece flexure for easy mounting.

A high-precision linear actuator (1) comprises: a first straight-guide mechanism (11A, 11B, 11C), which guides movements of an actuator element (4) and a working device (6) relative to an actuator housing (3); a pressing mechanism (7, 8, 9), which in a pressing-contact condition presses the actuator frame (2) and the actuator housing (3) with a predetermined force against one another; and a second straight-guide mechanism (12A, 12B), which guides movements of the actuator housing relative to the actuator frame between said pressing-contact condition and released-contact conditions in which the pressing mechanism presses the actuator frame and the actuator housing towards one another. The invention provides a safety mechanism which automatically reinstates negative consequences of unforeseen collisions in the working environment. In addition the invention allows for a compact and light-weight design of the actuator element and the working device, which improves operational speed and effectivity of the linear actuator.

Provided is a vibration actuator including: a vibrator including an elastic body and an electro-mechanical energy conversion element; a contact body provided so as to be brought into contact with the vibrator; a flexible printed board configured to feed power to the electro-mechanical energy conversion element; and a temperature detection unit provided on a region of the flexible printed board, in which the flexible printed board and the electro-mechanical conversion element overlap each other.

Provided is a vibration wave motor including: a vibrator; a contact body to be brought into contact with the vibrator; a shaft fixed to the contact body; and a fixing member configured to fix the contact body and the shaft from the shaft side.

A haptic feedback device includes a mechanical ground and a haptic surface. A plurality of connection points is connected to the mechanical ground and a plurality of connection points is connected to the haptic surface. An electroreactive wire extends around the plurality of connection point connected to the mechanical ground and the plurality of connection points connected to the haptic surface.

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.

A vibration actuator capable of adjusting the position of a vibration element with respect to a contact body. The vibration actuator includes a vibration element unit and a contact body capable of relative movement to each other. The vibration element unit includes a first vibration element in contact with the contact body, an urging unit that brings the first vibration element and the contact body into contact with each other with predetermined pressure force, a first holding member that holds the first vibration element, a base, a first supporting member that slidably supports the first holding member in a direction in which the first vibration element is pressed against the contact body, and a first connection member that is rotatably connected to the first supporting member and rotatably connected to the base about an axis parallel to a direction of the relative movement.

A vibration actuator that is reduced in the change of posture of a vibration element with respect to a contact body. The vibration element unit and the contact body are movable relative to each other. The vibration element unit includes a vibration element in contact with the contact body, a first holding member that holds the vibration element, a base, a first supporting member that is fixed to the base, and movably supports the first holding member in a direction orthogonal to a friction sliding surface of the contact body in slide contact with the vibration element, while maintaining the vibration element in a predetermined posture with respect to the contact body, and an urging unit that is arranged on the base independently of the first supporting member and presses the vibration element in a direction orthogonal to the friction sliding surface of the contact body.