The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 02, 1999
Filed:
Jan. 09, 1997
Kazuyasu Oone, Urawa, JP;
Mina Kobayashi, Yokohama, JP;
Nikon Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A vibrator actuator provides a drive force by vibrating a vibration element in response to an input signal. The vibration element includes a piezoelectric element which imparts vibration to the vibration element in response to an electrical signal. The vibration element is in compressive contact with and moves with respect to a relative moving member. The relative moving member may be planar, circular or toroidal. The relative moving member has first and second surfaces with said first surface being an adherent material removal surface. The adherent material removal surface removes wear particles which become adhered to the vibration element and the relative moving member. The relative moving member may have a number of first and second alternating surfaces to increase effectiveness. The second surfaces may be non-perpendicular with respect to a movement trajectory of the vibration element to decrease resistance during contact with the vibration element.