A high-precision linear actuator is described that includes a first straight-guide mechanism that guides movements of an actuator element and a working device relative to an actuator housing. A pressing mechanism that, in a pressing-contact condition, presses the actuator frame and the actuator housing with a predetermined force against one another. A second straight-guide mechanism that guides movements of the actuator housing relative to the actuator frame between the pressing-contact condition and released-contact conditions in which the pressing mechanism presses the actuator frame and the actuator housing towards one another. The high-precision linear actuator provides a safety mechanism automatically reinstates negative consequences of unforeseen collisions in the working environment. In addition the high-precision linear actuator 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 wave motor including: a vibrator; a friction member; a pressurizing mechanism; a first holding mechanism; and a second holding mechanism, wherein the vibrator and the friction member are configured to perform relative movement with respect to each other, wherein the first holding mechanism includes a first holding portion and a second holding portion which is longer than the first holding portion in a direction of the relative movement, wherein the friction member is arranged between the first holding portion and the second holding portion, wherein the first holding portion includes a first restriction portion, wherein the second holding portion includes a second restriction portion, and wherein the first restriction portion and the second restriction portion are brought into abutment against the second holding mechanism to restrict movement in directions other than the direction of the relative movement of the vibrator and the first holding mechanism.

A vibration wave motor includes a vibrator including an electrical-mechanical energy conversion element and an elastic member, a contact member in contact with the elastic member, and a supporting member that supports the vibrator, wherein the supporting member supports an outer periphery portion of the vibrator so as to be movable along a direction in which the vibrator is pressed toward the contact member, and selectively supports a node of a vibration of the vibrator.

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.

An oscillating drive unit for driving a passive element relative to an active element includes a resonator with at least two arms extending in parallel to a reference plane, one of the arms including a contact element, movable by way of oscillating movements, for driving the passive element relative to the active element. Two of the arms extend in a substantially symmetric manner, and an other one of the arms is arranged not to come into contact with the passive element.

A sound generator includes a piezoelectric device, a first weight member disposed at a first portion of the piezoelectric device, a second weight member disposed at a second portion of the piezoelectric device, a first elastic member disposed at a third portion between the first portion and the second portion of the piezoelectric device, and a protection member configured to cover the piezoelectric device, the first weight member, the second weight member, and the first elastic member.

A vibration actuator suppressed in generating abnormal noise while realizing size reduction. The vibration actuator includes a vibration element having a piezoelectric element and an elastic member, and a contact body in contact with the vibration element. The contact body has a direction in which the vibration element and the contact body move relative to each other as a longitudinal direction and a square bar shape substantially uniform in width and thickness in the longitudinal direction, and includes a first section and a second section which are formed with respective R surfaces different in curvature radius on an edge extending in the longitudinal direction, in an area where the contact body performs frictional sliding on the vibration element.

Provided is a vibration wave motor, including: a vibrator; a friction member, which is in friction contact with the vibrator; a pressurizing unit, which is configured to pressurize the vibrator against the friction member; and a guiding unit, which is configured to guide relative movement between the vibrator and the friction member, wherein the relative movement between the vibrator and the friction member is caused by vibration generated by the vibrator, and wherein the guiding unit holds the friction member and has fixing portions, and the fixing portions are formed in the guiding unit in vicinities of both ends of the guiding unit sandwiching the friction member.

An electromechanical motor (1) comprises a stator (2) and a translator (10). The stator has two electromechanical actuators (20) having electromechanically active material (26) and means (35) for providing exciting signals. The translator is arranged between, and in driving contact with, driving portions (22) of the electromechanical actuators. The stator has a spring element (30) arranged for holding the driving portions against the translator. The electromechanical actuators are arranged for providing a vibration, which gives rise to a driving action, directed in a driving direction (X) perpendicular to the direction of the normal force,against the surface of the translator. The electromechanical motor further comprises a guiding means (50) having a circular hole (52). The translator has a cylindrically shaped guidance part (16) arranged at least partly in the circular hole.A tunable high-frequency filter comprising such a motor is also disclosed.

A piezoelectric drive device includes a vibrating part which has a piezoelectric element, and drives a driven part using the piezoelectric element, and a first plate spring part configured to bias the vibrating part in a first direction from the vibrating part toward the driven part. The first plate spring part extends toward a second direction crossing the first direction, the first plate spring part is disposed so as to be opposed to the vibrating part in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction, and when dividing the first plate spring part into a first portion and a second portion farther from the vibrating part than the first portion so that a length along the third direction is equally divided, a volume of the second portion is larger than a volume of the first portion.