Driving device for vibration wave driven motor

Claim 2

A driving device for a vibration wave driven motor in which a relative movement is generated between a vibration member and a friction member by a travelling vibration wave generated in said vibration member, comprising: (a) drive state detection means for detecting the drive state of said motor and generating an output in the event that said motor is in a resonance drive state or in a state close thereto; (b) varying means for varying the frequency of periodical signals to be supplied to electromechanical converting elements provided on said vibration member, from a first frequency to a second frequency; (c) prohibiting means for prohibiting said varying means from varying the frequency toward said second frequency in response to the output from said drive state detecting means, wherein said prohibiting means prohibits the frequency of said periodical signal from varying toward said second frequency beyond a frequency corresponding to the resonance state of said motor; (d) discrimination means for discriminating whether the frequency of the periodical signal varied by said varying means is in a frequency region distant from the frequency corresponding to the resonance state of the motor; and (e) control means for disabling said prohibiting means in the event that said discrimination means discriminates that said frequency is in said distant frequency region.

Claim 3

A driving device according to claim 1, wherein said drive state detecting means compares a phase of an amplitude of the vibration wave generated by said vibration member with a phase of a signal corresponding to said periodic signal and produces said output in the event that the difference between said two phases becomes a predetermined value.

Claim 4

A driving device according to claim 1, wherein said varying means varies the frequency of said periodical signals from high frequency to low frequency.

Claim 5

A driving device according to claim 1, wherein said discrimination means discriminates the frequency region on the basis of a rotation speed of the motor and the frequency of said periodic signals.

Claim 6

In a driving device for a vibration wave driven motor provided with a vibration member, a friction member in friction engagement with said vibration member, plural electromechanical energy converting elements provided in different positions on said vibration member, and means for supplying some of said converting elements with a first periodical signal and supplying the remainder of said converting elements with a second periodical signal different in electrical phase from the first periodical signal, whereby a relative movement is generated between said vibration member and said friction member by a travelling vibration wave generated in said vibration member when said first and second periodical signals are applied to said converting elements, and improvement comprising: (a) drive state detection means for detecting the drive state of said motor and generating an output in the event that said motor is in a resonance drive state or in a state close thereto; (b) varying means for varying the frequency of the first and second periodical signals supplied to the electromechanical energy converting element provided on said vibration member from a first frequency to a second frequency; (c) prohibiting means for prohibiting said varying means from varying the frequency toward said second frequency in response to the output from said drive state detecting means, wherein said prohibiting means prohibits the frequency of said periodical signal from varying toward said second frequency beyond a frequency corresponding to the resonance state of said motor; (d) discrimination means for discriminating whether the frequency of the periodical signal varied by said varying means is in a frequency region distant from the frequency corresponding to the resonance sate of the motor; and (e) control means for disabling said prohibiting means in the event that said discrimination means discriminates that said frequency is in said distant frequency region.

Claim 7

In a driving device for a vibration wave driven motor provided with a vibration member, a friction member in friction engagement with said vibration member, plural electromechanical energy converting elements provided in different positions on said vibration member, and means for supplying some of said converting elements with a first periodical signal and supplying the remainder of said converting elements with a second periodical signal different in electrical phase from the first periodical signal, whereby a relative movement is generated between said vibration member and said friction member by a travelling vibration wave generated in said vibration member when said first and second periodical signals are applied to said converting elements, and improvement comprising: (a) drive state detection means for detecting the drive state of said motor and generating an output in the event that said motor is in a resonance drive state or in a state close thereto; (b) varying means for varying the frequency of the first and second periodical signals supplied to the electromechanical energy converting element provided on said vibration member from a first frequency to a second frequency; (c) prohibiting means for prohibiting said varying means from varying the frequency toward said second frequency in response to the output from said drive state detecting means, wherein said prohibiting means prohibits the frequency of said periodical signal from varying toward said second frequency beyond a frequency corresponding to the resonance state of said motor; (d) discrimination means for discriminating whether the frequency of the periodical signal varied by said varying means is in a frequency region distant from the frequency corresponding to the resonance sate of the motor; and (e) control means for disabling said prohibiting means in the event that said discrimination means discriminates that said frequency is in said distant frequency region.

Claim 8

A driving device according to claim 5, wherein said drive state detecting means includes a sensor fixed to said vibration member for detecting the amplitude of the vibration wave generated by said vibration member.

Claim 9

A driving device for a vibration wave driven motor in which a relative movement is generated between a vibration member and a friction member by a travelling vibration wave generated in said vibration member, comprising: (a) drive state detection means for detecting the drive state of said motor and generating an output in the event that said motor is in a resonance drive state or in a state close thereto; (b) varying means for varying the frequency of periodical signals to be supplied to electromechanical energy converting elements provided on said vibration member, from a first frequency to a second frequency; (c) prohibiting means for prohibiting said varying means from varying the frequency toward said second frequency in response to the output from said drive state detecting means, wherein said prohibiting means prohibits the frequency of said periodical signal from varying toward said second frequency beyond a frequency corresponding to the resonance state of said motor; (d) discrimination means for detecting the rotating speed of said motor and generating an output in the event that said rotating speed is lower than a predetermined speed; and (e) control means for disabling said prohibiting means in response to the output of said discriminating means.

Claim 10

A driving device for a vibration wave driven motor in which a relative movement is generated between a vibration member and a friction member by a travelling vibration wave generated in said vibration member, comprising: (a) drive state detection means for detecting the drive state of said motor and generating an output in the event that said motor is in a resonance drive state or in a state close thereto; (b) varying means for varying the frequency of periodical signals to be supplied to electromechanical energy converting elements provided on said vibration member, from a first frequency to a second frequency; (c) prohibiting means for prohibiting said varying means from varying the frequency toward said second frequency in response to the output from said drive state detecting means, wherein said prohibiting means prohibits the frequency of said periodical signal from varying toward said second frequency beyond a frequency corresponding to the resonance state of said motor; (d) discrimination means for detecting the rotating speed of said motor and generating an output in the event that said rotating speed is lower than a predetermined speed; and (e) control means for disabling said prohibiting means in response to the output of said discriminating means.

Claim 11

A driving device for a vibration wave driven motor in which a relative movement is generated between a vibration member and a friction member by a travelling vibration wave generated in said vibration member, comprising: (a) drive state detection means for detecting the drive state of said motor and generating an output in the event that said motor is in a resonance drive state or in a state close thereto; (b) varying means for varying the frequency of periodical signals to be supplied to electrochemical energy converting elements provided on said vibration member, from a first frequency to a second frequency; (c) prohibiting means for prohibiting said varying means from varying the frequency toward said second frequency in response to the output from said drive state detecting means, wherein said prohibiting means prohibits the frequency of said periodical signal from varying toward said second frequency beyond a frequency corresponding to the resonance state of said motor; (d) monitor means for generating an output corresponding to the drive state of said motor; and (e) control means for disabling said prohibiting means in the event that the output of said monitor means is within a predetermined range.

Claim 12

A driving device for a vibration wave driven motor in which a relative movement is generated between a vibration member and a friction member by a travelling vibration wave generated in said vibration member, comprising: (a) drive state detection means for detecting the drive state of said motor and generating an output in the event that said motor is in a resonance drive state or in a state close thereto; (b) varying means for varying the frequency of periodical signals to be supplied to electrochemical energy converting elements provided on said vibration member, from a first frequency to a second frequency; (c) prohibiting means for prohibiting said varying means from varying the frequency toward said second frequency in response to the output from said drive state detecting means, wherein said prohibiting means prohibits the frequency of said periodical signal from varying toward said second frequency beyond a frequency corresponding to the resonance state of said motor; (d) monitor means for generating an output corresponding to the drive state of said motor; and (e) control means for disabling said prohibiting means in the event that the output of said monitor means is within a predetermined range.

Claim 13

A vibration driven motor, comprising: (a) a vibration member having an electromechanical energy converting element, said vibration member generating a vibration in response to a periodical signal to be supplied to the converting element; (b) a first detecting means for detecting a rotation speed of the motor and for generating a first control signal in the event that the rotation speed is lower than a predetermined level; (c) a second detecting means for detecting the drive state of the motor and for generating a second control signal in the event that the motor is in a resonance drive state or in a state close thereto; and (d) a frequency control means for dropping the frequency of said periodical signal in response to the first control signal and for maintaining the frequency of said periodical signal in response to the second control signal.

Claim 14

A vibration driven motor, comprising: (a) a vibration member having an electromechanical energy converting element, said vibration member generating a vibration in response to a periodical signal to be supplied to the converting element; (b) a first detecting means for detecting a rotation speed of the motor and for generating a first control signal in the event that the rotation speed is lower than a predetermined level; (c) a second detecting means for detecting the drive state of the motor and for generating a second control signal in the event that the motor is in a resonance drive state or in a state close thereto; and (d) a frequency control means for dropping the frequency of said periodical signal in response to the first control signal and for maintaining the frequency of said periodical signal in response to the second control signal.

Claim 15

A vibration driven motor, comprising: (a) a movable member; (b) a vibration member having an electromechanical energy converting element, said vibration member generating a vibration in response to a periodical signal to be supplied to the converting element, whereby a relative movement is generated between the vibration member and the movable members by the vibration generated in said vibration member; (c) a first detecting means for detecting a rotation speed of the motor and for generating a first control signal in the event that the rotation speed is lower than a predetermined level; (d) a second detecting means for detecting the driving state of the motor and for generating a second control signal in the event that the driving state of the motor is in a resonance state or in a state close thereto; and (e) a frequency control means for dropping the frequency of said periodical signal in response to said first control signal and for maintaining the frequency of said periodical signal in response to said second control signal.

Claim 16

A vibration driven motor, comprising: (a) a movable member; (b) a vibration member having an electromechanical energy converting element, said vibration member generating a vibration in response to a periodical signal to be supplied to the converting element, whereby a relative movement is generated between the vibration member and the movable members by the vibration generated in said vibration member; (c) a first detecting means for detecting a rotation speed of the motor and for generating a first control signal in the event that the rotation speed is lower than a predetermined level; (d) a second detecting means for detecting the driving state of the motor and for generating a second control signal in the event that the driving state of the motor is in a resonance state or in a state close thereto; and (e) a frequency control means for dropping the frequency of said periodical signal in response to said first control signal and for maintaining the frequency of said periodical signal in response to said second control signal.