Control circuit for a vibration wave motor

Claim 2

A control circuit for a vibration wave motor comprising: an electro-mechanical energy transducing element arranged on a vibration member; application means for applying periodic signals to said energy transducing element, said vibration member generating a driving force comprising a travelling vibration wave upon application of the periodic signals to said energy transducing element; a level adjuster for adjusting a level of the periodic signals; a frequency adjuster for adjusting a frequency of the periodic signals; and a switching circuit for switching the level of said level adjuster from a first level to a second level and for switching the frequency of said frequency adjuster from a first frequency to a second frequency when the frequency of said frequency adjuster has reached the first frequency during a period in which the level of said level adjuster is at the first level.

Claim 3

A control circuit for a vibration wave motor according to claim 1, wherein said frequency adjuster is frequency-variable at least between the first frequency and the second frequency, and in the course of frequency change from the second frequency to the first frequency for changing a motor speed, said frequency adjuster switches the frequency to the second frequency when the frequency reached the first frequency, and then changes the frequency from the second frequency to the first frequency.

Claim 4

A control circuit for a vibration wave motor according to claim 1 wherein, in a motor acceleration mode, said frequency adjuster gradually changes the frequency from a frequency near the second frequency to a frequency near the first frequency, and when the frequency reaches the first frequency, said switching circuit switches the frequency from the first frequency to the second frequency, and then the frequency is again changed from the second frequency to a frequency near the first frequency.

Claim 5

A control circuit for a vibration wave motor according to claim 1 wherein, in a motor deceleration mode, said frequency adjuster gradually changes the frequency from a frequency near the second frequency to a frequency near the first frequency, and when the frequency reaches the first frequency, said switching circuit switches the frequency from the first frequency to the second frequency, and then the frequency is again changed from the second frequency to a frequency near the first frequency.

Claim 6

A control circuit for a vibration wave motor according to claim 3 wherein the first frequency is at or near a resonance frequency when the periodic signal is at the first level.

Claim 7

A control circuit for a vibration wave motor according to claim 4 wherein the second frequency is at or near a resonance frequency when the periodic signal is at the second level.

Claim 8

A control circuit for a vibration wave motor according to claim 5 wherein said switching circuit detects a drive state of the motor and switches the frequency when the drive state of the motor is a resonance or near-resonance state.

Claim 9

A control circuit for a vibration wave motor according to claim 1 wherein said electromechanical energy transducing element is a piezoelectric element.

Claim 10

A control circuit for a vibration wave motor according to claim 1 wherein said electromechanical energy transducing element is an electrostrictive element.

Claim 11

A control circuit for a vibration wave motor comprising: an electro-mechanical energy transducing element arranged on a vibration member; application means for applying periodic signals to said energy transducing element, said vibration member generating a driving force comprising a travelling vibration wave upon application of the periodic signals to said energy transducing element; a frequency adjuster for adjusting a frequency of the periodic signals; said frequency adjuster changing the frequency within a range between a first frequency and a second frequency when a motor speed is to be changed within a range between a first speed and a second speed and changing the frequency within a range between a third frequency shifted from the second frequency toward the first frequency, and a fourth frequency when the motor speed is to be changed within a range between the second speed and a third speed; and a level adjuster for adjusting a level of the periodic signals; said level adjuster changing the level to a first level when the motor speed is to be changed within the range between the first speed and the second speed, and changing the level to a second level when the motor speed is to be changed within the range between the second speed and the third speed.

Claim 12

A control circuit for a vibration wave motor comprising: an electro-mechanical energy transducing element arranged on a vibration member; application means for applying periodic signals to said energy transducing element, said vibration member generating a driving force comprising a travelling vibration wave upon application of the periodic signals to said energy transducing element; a frequency adjuster for adjusting a frequency of the periodic signals; said frequency adjuster changing the frequency within a range between a first frequency and a second frequency when a motor speed is to be changed within a range between a first speed and a second speed and changing the frequency within a range between a third frequency shifted from the second frequency toward the first frequency, and a fourth frequency when the motor speed is to be changed within a range between the second speed and a third speed; and a level adjuster for adjusting a level of the periodic signals; said level adjuster changing the level to a first level when the motor speed is to be changed within the range between the first speed and the second speed, and changing the level to a second level when the motor speed is to be changed within the range between the second speed and the third speed.

Claim 13

A control circuit for a vibration wave motor according to claim 10 wherein the third frequency is equal to the first frequency.

Claim 14

A control circuit for a vibration wave motor according to claim 11 wherein the first speed is lower than the second speed, the third speed is higher than the second speed, the first frequency is higher than the second and fourth frequencies, and the first level is lower than the second level.

Claim 15

A control circuit for a vibration wave motor according to claim 12 wherein the first frequency corresponds to the first speed, the second and third frequencies correspond to the second speed, and the fourth frequency corresponds to the third speed.

Claim 16

A control circuit for a vibration wave motor according to claim 10 wherein said electromechanical energy transducing element is a piezoelectric element.

Claim 17

A control circuit for a vibration wave motor according to claim 10 wherein said electromechanical energy transducing element is an electrostrictive element.

Claim 18

A control circuit for a vibration wave motor according to claim 10 wherein said frequency adjuster includes frequency change means for gradually changing the frequency toward a low frequency when a motor speed is to be increased, and shift means for shifting the frequency to a third frequency when the frequency has reached the second frequency, and after the frequency has been shifted to the third frequency by said shift means, said frequency change means gradually changes the frequency from the third frequency toward a low frequency.

Claim 19

A control circuit for a vibration wave motor comprising: (a) an electro-mechanical energy transducing element arranged on a vibration member; (b) application means for applying periodic signals to said energy transducing element, said vibration member generating a travelling vibration wave upon application of the periodic signals to said energy transducing element, to relatively drive a contact member contacted to said vibration member by the vibration wave; (c) a frequency information setting circuit; (d) a signal forming circuit for forming the periodic signals having the frequency determined by the frequency information set by said frequency information setting circuit; (e) update means for repeatedly updating the frequency information set by said frequency information setting circuit from a first frequency toward a second frequency to vary a motor speed; (f) shift means for shifting the frequency information set by said information setting circuit from the current setting toward the first frequency by a predetermined amount when the frequency of the periodic signals has reached the second frequency; the setting value of said information setting circuit being changed from the shifted setting value toward the second frequency by said update means after the shifted setting value has been set; and (g) a level switching circuit for switching a level of the periodic signals between a first level and a second level; said level switching circuit setting the periodic signals to the first level before the frequency is shifted by said shift means, and switching the level to the second level after the frequency has been shifted.

Claim 20

A control circuit for a vibration wave motor comprising: (a) an electro-mechanical energy transducing element arranged on a vibration member; (b) application means for applying periodic signals to said energy transducing element, said vibration member generating a travelling vibration wave upon application of the periodic signals to said energy transducing element, to relatively drive a contact member contacted to said vibration member by the vibration wave; (c) a frequency information setting circuit; (d) a signal forming circuit for forming the periodic signals having the frequency determined by the frequency information set by said frequency information setting circuit; (e) update means for repeatedly updating the frequency information set by said frequency information setting circuit from a first frequency toward a second frequency to vary a motor speed; (f) shift means for shifting the frequency information set by said information setting circuit from the current setting toward the first frequency by a predetermined amount when the frequency of the periodic signals has reached the second frequency; the setting value of said information setting circuit being changed from the shifted setting value toward the second frequency by said update means after the shifted setting value has been set; and (g) a level switching circuit for switching a level of the periodic signals between a first level and a second level; said level switching circuit setting the periodic signals to the first level before the frequency is shifted by said shift means, and switching the level to the second level after the frequency has been shifted.

Claim 21

A control circuit for a vibration wave motor according to claim 17 wherein said shift means detects a drive state of the motor and shifts the frequency when the drive state is a resonance or near-resonance state, and the second frequency is equal to a frequency at the resonant or near-resonant state of the motor.

Claim 22

A control circuit for a vibration wave motor according to claim 18 wherein said electromechanical energy transducing element is a piezoelectric element.

Claim 23

A control circuit for a vibration wave motor according to claim 18 wherein said electromechanical energy transducing element is an electrostrictive element.

Claim 24

A control circuit for a vibration wave motor comprising: an electro-mechanical energy transducing element arranged on a vibration member; application means for applying periodic signals to said energy transducing element, said vibration member generating a driving force comprising a travelling vibration wave upon application of the periodic signals to said energy transducing element; a level adjuster for adjusting a level of the periodic signals; a frequency adjuster for adjusting a frequency of the periodic signals; and coordinating shifting means for shifting the level controlled by said level adjuster when the signal frequency adjusted by said frequency adjuster has become a predetermined value, and in coordination with the shifting of the signal level, for shifting the signal frequency adjusted by said frequency adjusters from said predetermined value.

Claim 25

A control circuit for a vibration wave motor comprising: an electro-mechanical energy transducing element arranged on a vibration member; application means for applying periodic signals to said energy transducing element, said vibration member generating a driving force comprising a travelling vibration wave upon application of the periodic signals to said energy transducing element; a level adjuster for adjusting a level of the periodic signals; a frequency adjuster for adjusting a frequency of the periodic signals; and coordinating shifting means for shifting the level controlled by said level adjuster when the signal frequency adjusted by said frequency adjuster has become a predetermined value, and in coordination with the shifting of the signal level, for shifting the signal frequency adjusted by said frequency adjusters from said predetermined value.

Claim 26

A vibration wave motor device, comprising: an electro-mechanical energy transducing element arranged on a vibration member; an application means for applying periodic signals to said energy transducing element, said vibration member generating a driving force comprising a travelling vibration wave upon application of the periodic signals to said energy transducing element; first adjusting means for adjusting the frequency of said periodic signals as a first factor; second adjusting means for adjusting the level of said periodic signals as a second factor; and shifting means for shifting, when value of one of said two factors adjusted by one of said adjusting means shows a predetermined value, another value of said factors by another adjusting means and for shifting the value of the one of said factor from the predetermined value simultaneously.

Claim 27

A vibration wave motor device, comprising: an electro-mechanical energy transducing element arranged on a vibration member; an application means for applying periodic signals to said energy transducing element, said vibration member generating a driving force comprising a travelling vibration wave upon application of the periodic signals to said energy transducing element; first adjusting means for adjusting the frequency of said periodic signals as a first factor; second adjusting means for adjusting the level of said periodic signals as a second factor; and shifting means for shifting, when value of one of said two factors adjusted by one of said adjusting means shows a predetermined value, another value of said factors by another adjusting means and for shifting the value of the one of said factor from the predetermined value simultaneously.

Claim 28

A vibration wave motor device according to claim 22, wherein said electro-mechanical energy transducing element including first and second element parts to which said periodic signals having different phases are applied respectively.

Claim 29

A vibration wave motor device according to claim 23, wherein said electro-mechanical energy transducing element is piezoelectric element.

Claim 30

A vibration wave motor device according to claim 23, wherein said electro-mechanical energy transducing element is electrostrictive element.

Claim 31

A vibration wave motor device according to claim 21, wherein said electro-mechanical energy transducing element including first and second element parts to which said periodic signals have different phases are applied respectively.

Claim 32

A vibration wave motor device according to claim 26, wherein said electro-mechanical energy transducing element is piezoelectric element.

Claim 33

A vibration wave motor device according to claim 26, wherein said electro-mechanical energy transducing element is electrostrictive element.