A displacement magnifying mechanism, polishing device, actuator, electronic component processing apparatus, dispenser, and air valve which can easily control a drive system. The displacement magnifying mechanism includes a base; a piezoelectric element of which an end is attached to a mounting surface of the base, the piezoelectric element extending along a first longitudinal direction; a support member of which an end is attached to the mounting surface side by side with the piezoelectric element, the support member extending along a second longitudinal direction which intersects with the first longitudinal direction; an operating portion attached to each of other ends of the piezoelectric element and the support member to allow the operating portion to be displaced, in response to an expansion/contraction of the piezoelectric element, along a displacement direction; and a compression member attached to the base and the operating portion so as to compress the piezoelectric element.

There is provided a piezoelectric actuator apparatus capable of moving an object to be driven at high velocity by using a piezoelectric element to apply a force to a driving member coupled to the object to be driven by a predetermined frictional force.

A piezoelectric actuator apparatus 100 is controlled and driven by inputting a driving voltage having a PWM waveform to a piezoelectric element 101 to which an inductor 27 and a resistor 28 are connected in series. The piezoelectric actuator apparatus 100 increases the velocity of the object to be driven 106 by adjusting respective values of the inductance L.sub.0 and the resistance R.sub.0 to control damping ratios, amplitudes, and resonance frequencies of the respective vibrations of the piezoelectric mechanical resonance and the piezoelectric electrical resonance, and inducing a response of the driving member 102 closer to sawtooth waves.

A lens drive unit that prevents an actuator from being inclined is provided. In the lens drive unit, when a lens frame is displaced in a direction orthogonal to a direction in which the actuator extends and contracts with respect to a base member by, for example, impact from an outside of the lens drive unit, a drive shaft of the actuator abuts on a first lateral wall and a column, so that the actuator is prevented from being inclined with respect to the base member.

A lens drive unit that offers enhanced reliability in connection between an actuator electrode and an electric wire is provided. In the lens drive unit, an actuator has a weight housed in an holding portion of a base member and is thereby fixed in the base member. Electrodes on a lateral surface of the weight directly contact respective terminal electrodes on an inner lateral surface of the holding portion, so that an electrical connection is established therebetween. The arrangement enhances reliability in connection between the actuator electrodes and the terminal electrodes.

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.

This lens drive device is provided with: a first movable part; a second movable part; a first drive part; and a second drive part. The first drive part and the second drive part respectively have a first ultrasonic motor and a second ultrasonic motor. The first ultrasonic motor and the second ultrasonic motor are arranged on sides opposite to each other with respect an optical axis, and independently drive the first movable part and the second movable part in the optical axis direction.

A cartridge for a high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) device and a piezoelectric linear motor are disclosed. By using the cartridge for a HIFU device according to the present invention, a transducer module is coupled to a piezoelectric linear motor driveable in water and embedded in the cartridge, heat generated when a conventional step motor is driven is fundamentally removed, an additional cooling fan is not needed, ultra-low power consumption and ultra-precise transfer can be realized, and thus an effective procedure can be performed. A skin beauty device may include ultrasound and high frequency units, apply a high frequency to a skin to be treated so as to crack a stratum corneum, and apply ultrasound to the skin to be treated, and thus a medicament drug can easily penetrate the treated skin. In addition, the piezoelectric linear motor in which a piezoelectric actuator and a moving shaft are stably coupled is provided.

To make it possible to freely move a moving body between level surfaces located at different heights that are not connected by a vertical member. A moving body includes a movable moving part, an expansion/contraction part disposed in the moving part and configured to expand and contract in a vertical direction, a first engagement part disposed at a tip of the expansion/contraction part and configured to engage with a member located in a surrounding environment, and a control unit configured to control the moving part and the expansion/contraction part. The control unit moves the moving part to a target height position by engaging the first engagement part with a member located at the target height position and then expanding or contracting the expansion/contraction part.

A stick-slip piezo motor. At least one voltage source is connected to a piezo motor. The piezo motor has at least one oscillating piezo element and at least one moving friction element connected to the oscillating piezo element. The moving friction element moves in a desired travel direction. A computer is programmed to control the voltage source to deliver voltage to the piezo motor at a predetermined frequency and amplitude to control the speed of the piezo motor. The computer is programmed to hold the frequency constant while varying the amplitude to adjust the speed of the piezo motor. In a preferred embodiment the computer is programmed to hold the frequency constant at an ultrasonic frequency. In another preferred embodiment the computer is programmed to hold the frequency constant at a value of 15 kHz or higher.

An ultrasonic linear motor according to one embodiment is disclosed. The vibrating body includes an elastic body and a first piezoelectric element and a second piezoelectric element which are attached to two surfaces of the elastic body, a first weight and a second weight which are disposed on two side end portions of the vibrating body, a moving shaft which is coupled to a central portion of the vibrating body and moves according to a displacement of each of the piezoelectric elements, and a moving body which is fitted to the moving shaft and moves on the moving shaft.