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:
Nov. 28, 2000
Filed:
Nov. 09, 1998
Minolta Co., Ltd., Osaka, JP;
Abstract
A drive unit 20, comprising a moving body 24 and a friction drive member 26 fixedly attached at each end of a piezoelectric element 22 in the layer direction, is disposed between a pair of fixed friction members 14 having a plurality of divided contact parts 15 divided by notches 14s formed at equal spacing along the movement path of the friction drive member 26. The divided contact parts 15 are arrayed so as to be slightly inserted into the movement path of the friction drive member 26, and become elastically deformed when in contact with the friction drive member 26 so as to exert a force on friction drive member 26 in reaction thereto. This exerted force remains uniform regardless of the relative position of the friction drive member 26.