| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20080272672 | DRIVE UNIT - A drive unit includes a control unit for controlling an ultrasonic actuator. The control unit performs switching between a normal operation mode in which the piezoelectric element unit vibrates at a frequency close to a resonance frequency of longitudinal vibration in the lengthwise direction of the piezoelectric element unit and a resonance frequency of bending vibration to let the ultrasonic actuator output a driving force and a heating mode in which the piezoelectric element unit vibrates at a frequency close to a resonance frequency of longitudinal vibration in the thickness direction of the piezoelectric element unit to heat the piezoelectric element. | 11-06-2008 |
| 20080278032 | DRIVE UNIT - A vibratory actuator includes a piezoelectric element, a driver element provided on the piezoelectric element and a movable body supported by the driver element. A control unit supplies a first voltage and a second voltage at the same frequency to the piezoelectric element. By supplying the first voltage and the second voltage having a difference phase from a phase of the first voltage by 90°, the piezoelectric element is lead to composite vibration of stretching and bending, thereby causing the driver to make an elliptical motion by the vibration and move the movable body. The control unit switches, during a fine mode, a phase difference between the first voltage and the second voltage between 90° and 0°. | 11-13-2008 |
| 20080278033 | PIEZOELECTRIC ELEMENT, VIBRATORY ACTUATOR AND DRIVE UNIT - A piezoelectric element is formed by stacking piezoelectric layers and internal electrode layers. The internal electrode layers are positive and negative electrode layers. The positive electrode layers are first and second positive electrode layers. The negative electrode layers are first and second negative electrode layers. Each of the first positive and negative electrode layers includes four divided electrodes and a connecting electrode for connecting a pair of the four divided electrodes formed on diagonally opposite two areas along a first diagonal direction on a principle surface of the associated one of the piezoelectric layers. Each of the second positive and negative electrode layers includes four divided electrodes and a connecting electrode for connecting a pair of the four divided electrodes formed on diagonally opposite two areas along a second diagonal direction on a principle surface of the associated one of the piezoelectric layers. | 11-13-2008 |
| 20080278035 | VIBRATION ACTUATOR - An ultrasonic actuator includes: an actuator body using a piezoelectric element and generating a plurality of vibrations of different vibration directions; a driver element provided in the actuator body and operated in accordance with the vibration of the actuator body to output a driving force in a predetermined driving direction; a case containing the actuator body; at least one support rubber provided between the actuator body and the case to elastically support the actuator body along the driving direction with respect to the case; and at least one stopper provided between the actuator body and the case which comes into contact with at least one of the actuator body and the case when the actuator body is displaced in a direction opposite the driving direction such that the displacement of the actuator body in the direction opposite the driving direction is limited. | 11-13-2008 |
| 20080278037 | DRIVE UNIT - A drive unit includes a guide, a stage which is movable relative to the guide, an ultrasonic actuator for moving the movable body and a control unit for controlling the ultrasonic actuator. The ultrasonic actuator includes a driver element in contact with the stage and is fixed to the guide. A surface of the stage in contact with the driver element is an undulating surface. The control unit detects the position of the stage based on a change in contact pressure on the driver element due to the undulating surface. | 11-13-2008 |
| 20090002857 | Prism and Optical Device | 01-01-2009 |
| 20090116123 | CAMERA - It is an object of the present invention to provide a camera realizing simultaneously a high magnification zoom lens system and the miniaturization of the device. The digital camera ( | 05-07-2009 |
| 20090122421 | IMAGING DEVICE AND CAMERA - The present invention aims to provide an imaging device and a camera realizing simultaneously a high magnification zoom lens system and the miniaturization of the device. The imaging device ( | 05-14-2009 |
| 20090129764 | IMAGE BLUR CORRECTING DEVICE AND CAMERA - It is an object of the present invention to provide an image blur correcting device having a dimension reduced in any one direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the incident light, and a camera equipped with this device. The image blur correcting device | 05-21-2009 |
| 20090153985 | LENS BARREL, IMAGE PICKUP DEVICE, AND LENS BARREL MANUFACTURING METHOD - A lens barrel includes a fourth lens, a prism, and a sixth lens. The fourth lens receives a light flux incident along a first optical axis. The prism includes a reflecting surface reflecting the light flux passing through the fourth lens to a direction along a second optical axis intersecting with the first optical axis. The sixth lens receives the light flux reflected by the prism. A second group frame includes an opening portion, a prism retaining frame that is arranged in a more inner position than the opening portion and in which the prism is contained, and a plurality of adhesive pockets arranged on an area around the prism retaining frame and being open to the side of the opening portion. Adhesive agent is filled in the adhesive pockets. | 06-18-2009 |
| 20090224630 | ULTRASONIC ACTUATOR - An ultrasonic actuator includes: an actuator body ( | 09-10-2009 |
| 20090322927 | CAMERA - The present invention has an object in providing a camera with which further miniaturization is realized, in a camera having the bending optical system. A digital camera ( | 12-31-2009 |
| 20100066205 | DRIVE UNIT - A drive unit includes a vibration actuator for controlling the piezoelectric element. A control section controls the vibration actuator switchably between a normal operation mode in which the piezoelectric element vibrates at a predetermined frequency to let the vibration actuator output a driving force, and a heating mode in which the piezoelectric element vibrates in a direction perpendicular to a direction of the driving force at a frequency different from the frequency in the normal operation mode to heat the piezoelectric element. | 03-18-2010 |
| 20100176687 | VIBRATORY ACTUATOR AND DRIVE UNIT INCLUDING THE SAME - Damage of a piezoelectric element due to deformation of a piezoelectric element beyond an elastic limit is prevented. | 07-15-2010 |
| 20100176690 | VIBRATORY ACTUATOR AND DRIVE DEVICE USING THE SAME - A vibratory actuator is provided in which a movable body can be stably driven even when a groove is formed in an abutment body by the friction between the driver element and the abutment body. An ultrasonic actuator ( | 07-15-2010 |
| 20100181870 | VIBRATORY ACTUATOR AND DRIVE UNIT INCLUDING THE SAME - The drive efficiency of a vibratory actuator is improved without increasing a weight of a driver element. | 07-22-2010 |
| 20100188551 | LENS BARREL, IMAGE PICKUP DEVICE, LENS BARREL INSPECTING METHOD, AND LENS BARREL MANUFACTURING METHOD - A lens barrel includes a fourth lens, a prism, and a sixth lens. The fourth lens receives a light flux incident along a first optical axis. The prism includes a reflecting surface reflecting the light flux passing through the fourth lens to a direction along a second optical axis intersecting with the first optical axis. The sixth lens receives the light flux reflected by the prism. A second group frame includes an opening portion, a prism retaining frame that is arranged in a more inner position than the opening portion and in which the prism is contained, and a plurality of adhesive pockets arranged on an area around the prism retaining frame and being open to the side of the opening portion. Adhesive agent is filled in the adhesive pockets. | 07-29-2010 |
| 20100213882 | DRIVE UNIT - A drive unit includes an ultrasonic actuator having an actuator body formed using a piezoelectric element, and a driving element provided on the actuator body and configured to output a driving force by moving according to the vibration of the actuator body, and a control section configured to induce the vibration in the actuator body by applying a first and a second AC voltages having a same frequency and different phases to the piezoelectric element. The control section adjusts the first AC voltage and the second AC voltage so that the first AC voltage and the second AC voltage have different voltage values from each other. | 08-26-2010 |
| 20100301704 | VIBRATORY ACTUATOR - A supporting structure for an actuator body, which can prevent reduction of vibration of an actuator body and maintain a contact state of a driver element with an abutment body in a stable manner even when the driver element receives reactive force from the abutment body is realized. | 12-02-2010 |
| 20110075278 | LENS BARREL, IMAGE PICKUP DEVICE, AND LENS BARREL MANUFACTURING METHOD - A lens barrel includes a fourth lens, a prism, and a sixth lens. The fourth lens receives a light flux incident along a first optical axis. The prism includes a reflecting surface reflecting the light flux passing through the fourth lens to a direction along a second optical axis intersecting with the first optical axis. The sixth lens receives the light flux reflected by the prism. A second group frame includes an opening portion, a prism retaining frame that is arranged in a more inner position than the opening portion and in which the prism is contained, and a plurality of adhesive pockets arranged on an area around the prism retaining frame and being open to the side of the opening portion. Adhesive agent is filled in the adhesive pockets. | 03-31-2011 |
