Ultrasonic motor drive apparatus

Abstract

An ultrasonic motor drive apparatus comprises a piezoelectric elementhaving a plurality of piezoelectrically active regions, in which longitudinal vibration and flexural vibration are induced with application of alternate signals to the plurality of piezoelectrically active regions, a piezoelectric element holderthat is fixedly attached to the piezoelectric element, covering the neighborhood of a common node of the longitudinal vibration and the flexural vibration induced in the piezoelectric element all along the circumference of the central portion of the piezoelectric element with respect to the longitudinal direction, a vibrator holderhaving a plurality of openings, a driven memberhaving a substantially spherical shape, an output shaftattached to the driven member, through which power output of the driven member is transmitted, a pressing memberthat brings the driven memberand the piezoelectric member into pressure contact with each other along the third direction, a caphaving an opening, a link memberone end of which is connected with the pressing memberalong the third direction and the other end of which can be connected with another apparatus, and a control sectionthat applies an alternate signal to the piezoelectric member.