Actuator
US7915787B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 8, 2008 |
| Grant date | Mar 29, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 11, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02N2/08
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A cylindrical piezoelectric element is arranged to share an axis with a cylindrical vibrator having different diameters at central and end portions to fix the vibrator forming a gap at the central portion. Vibration voltages are applied across first electrodes on the piezoelectric element and the vibrator, namely, a second electrode, to vibrate the vibrator and bring a wave front of a traveling wave into contact with a tubular member, i.e., a supporting member fitted to the vibrator. Friction at a contact portion of the vibrator moves a mover including the vibrator and the piezoelectric element in an axial direction of the tubular member. By amplifying the vibration amplitude using the vibrator provided separately from the piezoelectric element, a small actuator capable of performing high-speed driving is realized.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.