A motor includes a vibrator, a plurality of pressing members that presses the vibrator onto a contacting member in contact with the vibrator, a transmission member that transmits pressing force, which is applied by the plurality of pressing members, to the vibrator, a first holding member that holds the vibrator, a second holding member that holds the transmission member, and a coupling member that couples the first holding member to the second holding member. The vibrator and the contacting member move relatively by vibrations that occur in the vibrator. The vibrator includes a protruding part that is provided on a surface opposite to a surface on a transmission member side. The pressing members are arranged separately to surround the protruding part. The coupling member is arranged at a position closer to the protruding part than the pressing members.

A vibration actuator that is capable of bringing a vibration body into pressure contact with a driven body stably during long time while reducing obstruction of excitation of vibration in the vibration body by the pressure force. The driven body is in contact with the vibration body by pressure force given by a pressing member. A vibration isolation member is arranged between the vibration body and the pressing member. The vibration body and the driven body move relatively by vibrations in first and second vibration modes that are excited in the vibration body by applying alternating voltage to a piezoelectric device on the vibration body. Face pressure that acts to the piezoelectric device by the pressure force from the pressing member in first and second areas that respectively include nodal lines in the first and second vibration modes and their vicinities is higher than that in the other area.

Apparatus for transmitting motion to a moveable body comprising: a first bar having ends; two articulated arms, each comprising first and second arms connected at a joint having an axis about which the first and second arms rotate, wherein the first arms are of equal length, the second arms are of equal length and the second arm of each articulated arm is connected to a different end of the bar at a joint having an axis about which second arm and bar rotate; a mount connected to the first arm of each articulated arm at a joint having an axis about which first arm rotates; a second bar coupled to each articulated arm at a joint having an axis about which the second bar rotates; and a piezoelectric motor coupled to the first bar controllable to apply a force selectively in either direction along the bar's length; wherein, the joints are configured so that all the axes are substantially parallel and the first arms are parallel and the second arms are parallel for all rotations about the axes.

A vibration-type drive apparatus which increases productivity and also prevents undesired vibration from occurring during operation. The vibration-type drive apparatus has an elastic body, a vibrating body having an electro-mechanical energy conversion element mounted on the elastic body, a driven body that is brought into pressure contact with the vibrating body, and a pressurizing member that brings the driven body into pressure contact with the vibrating body. Relative positions of the vibrating body and the driven body change due to vibrations excited in the vibrating body. The pressurizing member has a positioning portion, and the driven body has a fitting-receiving portion that is to be fitted onto the positioning portion. During operation, the positioning portion and the fitting-receiving portion are not in contact with each other.

A method for operating an electromechanical element, comprising the following steps:

by controlling a first control section (A1) which is deformable by an electrical voltage by a first voltage signal (S10) generation of adjusting movements of a friction element which is arranged on the electromechanical element and which is provided for frictional contact with an element (90) to be driven,

controlling of a second control section (A2) which is deformable by an electrical voltage by a second voltage signal (S20), which comprises a signal section (S21), the frequency of which compared to the first voltage signal (S10) is by a factor,

an actor, a drive device with an actor and a motor with a drive device and an element to be driven.

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 actuator includes 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.

An actuator (100) powered by photonic energy comprises a rotor including a material (101) which deforms from a first underformed state when exposed to electromagnetic radiation to a second deformed state and begins to return to the first state when the electromagnetic radiation is removed. A stationary element (102) is affixed to the rotor. A moving element (105) engaging the stator at least when the rotor is in the second deformed state. Deformation of the deformable material in response to applied electromagnetic radiation is transmitted by the stator to the moving element by friction between the stationary element and the moving element for causing motion of the moving element.

A piezoelectric drive device includes a vibrator having a vibrating portion including a piezoelectric element, and a convex portion placed in the vibrating portion, an urging member including a base, a holding portion holding the vibrator, and a spring portion coupled to the base at one end and coupled to the holding portion at another end and urging the convex portion toward a driven unit, wherein d1>d2 in a natural state in which the vibrator is not urged by the urging member, where a separation distance between the one end and the convex portion along directions of the longitudinal direction is d1 and a separation distance between the other end and the convex portion is d2, and |d1−d2| in an urging state in which the vibrator is urged toward the driven unit by the urging member is smaller than |d1−d2| in the natural state.

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.