Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
222 words
A vibration driven motor comprising: (a) a vibration member; (b) a first electro-mechanical energy conversion member including a first section polarized in a predetermined direction and a second section polarized in a direction differing from said predetermined direction, said first energy conversion member being functionally coupled to said vibration member; and (c) a second electro-mechanical energy conversion member including a first section polarized in a predetermined direction and a second section polarized in a direction differing from said predetermined direction, said second energy conversion member being located with a spatial phase difference with respect to said first energy conversion member and being functionally coupled to said vibration member; wherein said first energy conversion member generates a first flexural vibration having a first direction in said vibration member in response to an applied first electrical signal and said second energy conversion member generates a second flexural vibration having a second direction differing from said first flexural vibration in response to an applied second electrical signal, whereby a combined vibration of the first flexural vibration and the second flexural vibration is caused in said vibration member, and said first energy conversion member and said second energy conversion member are located at a predetermined position whereat the sum totals of strains created in respective ones of said conversion members are substantially equal to each other.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
26 words
A vibration driven motor according to Claim 1, wherein said second electrical signal has a phase difference in time with respect to said first electrical signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
A vibration driven motor according to Claim 2, wherein said phase difference in time is 90°.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
A vibration driven motor according to Claim 1, wherein said spatial phase difference is 90°.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A vibration driven motor according to Claim 1, wherein said first energy conversion member includes a linear insulation portion for insulating said first section and said second section.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A vibration driven motor according to Claim 1, wherein said second energy conversion member includes a linear insulation portion for insulating said first section and said second section.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
A vibration driven motor according to Claim 2, wherein said first energy conversion member and said second energy conversion member each are disposed with the position at which the distribution of the strain of the vibration comprising the first flexural vibration combined with the second flexural vibration is substantially maximum or substantially minimum as a boundary surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
156 words
A vibration driven motor comprising: (a) a vibration member; (b) a first electro-mechanical energy conversion member functionally coupled to said vibration member for generating a first flexural vibration having a first direction in said vibration member in response to an applied first electrical signal; (c) a second electro-mechanical energy conversion member located with a spatial phase difference with respect to said first energy conversion member and functionally coupled to said vibration member for generating a second flexural vibration having a second direction differing from said first flexural vibration in response to an applied second electrical signal, whereby a combined vibration of the first flexural vibration and the second flexural vibration is caused in said vibration member; and (d) said first energy conversion member and said second energy conversion member each being located at a predetermined position whereat the sum totals of strains created in respective ones of said conversion members are substantially equal to each other.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
A vibration driven motor according to Claim 8, wherein said second electrical signal has a phase difference in time with respect to said first electrical signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
A vibration driven motor according to Claim 9, further comprising a contact member to be driven by said combined vibration.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
165 words
A vibration device for a vibration driven actuator comprising: (a) a vibration member elongated in a first direction; (b) a first electro-mechanical energy conversion member functionally coupled to said vibration member for generating a first flexural vibration having a first direction in said vibration member in response to an applied first electrical signal; (c) a second electro-mechanical energy conversion member located with a spatial phase difference with respect to said first energy conversion member and functionally coupled to said vibration member for generating a second flexural vibration having a second direction differing from said first flexural vibration in response to an applied second electrical signal, whereby a combined vibration of the first flexural vibration and the second flexural vibration is caused in said vibration member; and (d) said first energy conversion member and said second energy conversion member each being located at a predetermined position whereat the sum totals of strains created in respective ones of said conversion members are substantially equal to each other.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
140 words
A vibration driven motor comprising: (a) a vibration member; (b) a first electro-mechanical energy conversion member functionally coupled to said vibration member for generating a first flexural vibration having a first direction in said vibration member in response to an applied first electrical signal; (c) a second electro-mechanical energy conversion member located with a spatial phase difference with respect to said first energy conversion member and functionally coupled to said vibration member for generating a second flexural vibration having a second direction differing from said first flexural vibration in response to an applied second electrical signal, whereby a combined vibration of the first flexural vibration and the second flexural vibration is caused in said vibration member; and (d) said first energy conversion member and said second energy conversion member each being provided near the node position of the combined vibration.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
196 words
A system having a vibration driven motor as a drive source, said system comprising: (a) a vibration member; (b) a first electro-mechanical energy conversion member functionally coupled to said vibration member for generating a first flexural vibration having a first direction in said vibration member in response to an applied first electrical signal; (c) a second electro-mechanical energy conversion member located with a spatial phase difference with respect to said first energy conversion member and functionally coupled to said vibration member for generating a second flexural vibration having a second direction differing from said first flexural vibration in response to an applied second electrical signal, whereby a combined vibration of the first flexural vibration and the second flexural vibration is caused in said vibration member; (d) a contact member in contact with said vibration member in order to be driven by the combined vibration; (e) a load member driven by a force from the contact member; and (f) said first energy conversion member and said second energy conversion member each being located at a predetermined position whereat the sum totals of strains created in respective ones of said conversion members are substantailly equal to each other.