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. 25, 2008
Filed:
Aug. 11, 2006
Taketo Namikawa, Kyoto, JP;
Tomoyuki Yuasa, Sakai, JP;
Haruyuki Nakano, Sakai, JP;
Yasuhiro Okamoto, Tondabayashi, JP;
Taketo Namikawa, Kyoto, JP;
Tomoyuki Yuasa, Sakai, JP;
Haruyuki Nakano, Sakai, JP;
Yasuhiro Okamoto, Tondabayashi, JP;
Konica Minolta Opto, Inc., Hachioji-Shi, JP;
Abstract
A drive unit being characterized in that a movable object can be prevented from being tilted when the movable object is stopped using a restricting member. The drive unit comprises a piezoelectric element; a rod provided at an end of the piezoelectric element; a movable object, which is frictionally engaged with the rod and the movable range of which is restricted using the restricting members; and drive pulse generating means for applying drive signals to the piezoelectric element, wherein the drive pulse generating means apply a first wave drive signal for vibrating the rod so that the movable object moves toward the restricting member when the movable object is moved to a position where the movable object is close to the restricting member, and temporarily apply a second wave drive signal for vibrating the rod so that the movable object is moved in a direction of movement away from the restricting member after the movable object is made contact with the restricting member, and then stop the application of the drive signal.