Electro-mechanical energy conversion element and a vibration wave actuator using the electro-mechanical energy conversion element

Claim 2

A stack type energy conversion element comprising: a first electro-mechanical energy conversion element having a plurality of driving electrodes as a first group, all areas of said first electro-mechanical energy conversion element corresponding to said plurality of driving electrodes being polarized in a first direction; and a second electro-mechanical energy conversion element having a plurality of driving electrodes as a second group, all areas of said second electro-mechanical energy conversion element corresponding to said plurality of driving electrodes being polarized in a second direction inverse to the first direction, said first and second electro-mechanical energy conversion elements being stacked such that phases of said plurality of driving electrodes of said first group are shifted relative to phases of said plurality of driving electrodes of said second group.

Claim 3

A stack type element according to claim 1, wherein the number and pitch of said plurality of driving electrodes of said first group are equal to the number and pitch of said plurality of driving electrodes of said second group.

Claim 4

A stack type element according to claim 1, further comprising a third electro-mechanical energy conversion element having a plurality of driving electrodes as a third group, all areas of said third electro-mechanical energy conversion element corresponding to said plurality of driving electrodes being polarized in the first direction, said second electro-mechanical energy conversion element being stacked between said first and third electro-mechanical energy conversion elements such that phases of said plurality of driving electrodes of said third group coincide with phases of said plurality of driving electrodes of said first group.

Claim 5

A stack type element according to claim 3, wherein the number and pitch of said plurality of driving electrodes of said first group are equal to the number and pitch of said plurality of driving electrodes of said third group.

Claim 6

A stack type element according to claim 3, wherein specific driving electrodes of said plurality of driving electrodes of said first group and said plurality of driving electrodes of said third group which are in phase are electrically connected to each other via respective conductors formed in respective through holes, such that each conductor is not electrically connected to said plurality of driving electrodes of said second group.

Claim 7

A stack type element according to claim 5, wherein each through hole is located between adjacent electrodes of said plurality of driving electrodes of said second group.

Claim 8

A stack type element according to claim 5, further comprising a signal supplying element stacked on said first, second, and third electro-mechanical energy conversion elements, said signal supplying element being disposed at an exposed surface position, and having a plurality of signal supplying electrodes, respective electrodes of said signal supplying electrodes being electrically connected to said conductors.

Claim 9

A vibration wave actuator comprising: (a) a stack type energy conversion element comprising: a first electro-mechanical energy conversion element having a plurality of driving electrodes as a first group, all areas of said first electro-mechanical energy conversion element corresponding to said plurality of driving electrodes being polarized in a first direction, and a second electro-mechanical energy conversion element having a plurality of driving electrodes as a second group, all areas of said second electro-mechanical energy conversion element corresponding to said plurality of driving electrodes being polarized in a second direction inverse to the first direction, said first and second electro-mechanical energy conversion elements being stacked on each other such that phases of said plurality of electrodes of said first group are shifted relative to the phases of said plurality of electrodes of said second group; (b) a vibration member to which said energy conversion element is functionally attached; and (c) a contact member which contacts said vibration member, said vibration member and said contact member being relatively moved by vibration generated in said vibration member.

Claim 10

A vibration wave actuator comprising: (a) a stack type energy conversion element comprising: a first electro-mechanical energy conversion element having a plurality of driving electrodes as a first group, all areas of said first electro-mechanical energy conversion element corresponding to said plurality of driving electrodes being polarized in a first direction, and a second electro-mechanical energy conversion element having a plurality of driving electrodes as a second group, all areas of said second electro-mechanical energy conversion element corresponding to said plurality of driving electrodes being polarized in a second direction inverse to the first direction, said first and second electro-mechanical energy conversion elements being stacked on each other such that phases of said plurality of electrodes of said first group are shifted relative to the phases of said plurality of electrodes of said second group; (b) a vibration member to which said energy conversion element is functionally attached; and (c) a contact member which contacts said vibration member, said vibration member and said contact member being relatively moved by vibration generated in said vibration member.

Claim 11

An actuator according to claim 8, further comprising a third electro-mechanical energy conversion element having a plurality of driving electrodes as a third group, all areas of said third electro-mechanical energy conversion element corresponding to said plurality of driving electrodes being polarized in the first direction, said second electro-mechanical energy conversion element being stacked between said first and third electro-mechanical energy conversion elements such that phases of said plurality of driving electrodes of said third group coincide with phases of said plurality of driving electrodes of said first group.

Claim 12

An actuator according to claim 9, wherein specific driving electrodes of said plurality of driving electrodes of said first and third groups which are in phase are electrically connected to each other via respective conductors formed in respective through holes, such that each conductor is not electrically connected to said plurality of driving electrodes of said second group.

Claim 13

An actuator according to claim 10, further comprising a signal supplying element stacked on said first, second, and third electro-mechanical energy conversion elements, said signal supplying element being disposed at an exposed surface position and having a plurality of signal supplying electrodes, respective electrodes of said signal supplying electrodes being electrically connected to said conductors.

Claim 14

A driving system using said actuator defined in claim 8 as a driving source.

Claim 15

A vibration wave actuator comprising: (a) a stack type energy conversion element comprising: a first electro-mechanical energy conversion element having a plurality of driving electrodes as a first group, a second electro-mechanical energy conversion element having a plurality of driving electrodes as a second group, and a third electro-mechanical energy conversion element having a plurality of driving electrodes as a third group, wherein said first, second, and third electro-mechanical energy conversion elements are stacked with said second electro-mechanical energy conversion element sandwiched between said first and third electro-mechanical energy conversion elements, phases of said plurality of driving electrodes of said first group being shifted relative to phases of said plurality of driving electrodes of said second group, and phases of said plurality of driving electrodes of said second group being shifted relative to phases of said plurality of driving electrodes of said third group; (b) a signal supply device for supplying three-phase AC signals to respective electrodes of said plurality of driving electrodes of each of said first, second, and third groups; and (c) a vibration member to which said stack type energy conversion element is functionally attached, wherein a contact member which contacts said vibration member and said vibration member are relatively moved by vibrations of said vibration member.

Claim 16

A vibration wave actuator comprising: (a) a stack type energy conversion element comprising: a first electro-mechanical energy conversion element having a plurality of driving electrodes as a first group, a second electro-mechanical energy conversion element having a plurality of driving electrodes as a second group, and a third electro-mechanical energy conversion element having a plurality of driving electrodes as a third group, wherein said first, second, and third electro-mechanical energy conversion elements are stacked with said second electro-mechanical energy conversion element sandwiched between said first and third electro-mechanical energy conversion elements, phases of said plurality of driving electrodes of said first group being shifted relative to phases of said plurality of driving electrodes of said second group, and phases of said plurality of driving electrodes of said second group being shifted relative to phases of said plurality of driving electrodes of said third group; (b) a signal supply device for supplying three-phase AC signals to respective electrodes of said plurality of driving electrodes of each of said first, second, and third groups; and (c) a vibration member to which said stack type energy conversion element is functionally attached, wherein a contact member which contacts said vibration member and said vibration member are relatively moved by vibrations of said vibration member.

Claim 17

An actuator according to claim 13, wherein the number and pitch of said plurality of driving electrodes of said first group are equal to the number and pitch of said plurality of driving electrodes of each of said second and third groups.

Claim 18

An actuator according to claim 13, wherein said plurality of driving electrodes of said first and third groups are in phase.

Claim 19

An actuator according to claim 15, wherein specific driving electrodes of said plurality of driving electrodes of said first and third groups which are in phase are electrically connected to each other via respective conductors formed in respective through holes, such that each conductor is not electrically connected to said plurality of driving electrodes of said second group.

Claim 20

An actuator according to claim 16, wherein each through hole is located between adjacent electrodes of said plurality of electrodes of said second group.

Claim 21

An actuator according to claim 16, further comprising a signal supplying element stacked on said first, second, and third electro-mechanical energy conversion elements, said signal supplying element being disposed at an exposed surface position and having a plurality of signal supplying electrodes, respective electrodes of said signal supplying electrodes being electrically connected to said conductor.

Claim 22

A driving system using said actuator defined in claim 13 as a driving source.

Claim 23

A stack type energy conversion element comprising: a first electro-mechanical energy conversion element having three divided driving electrodes as a first group; a second electro-mechanical energy conversion element having three divided driving electrodes as a second group; and a third electro-mechanical energy conversion element having three divided driving electrodes as a third group, wherein said first, second, and third electro-mechanical energy conversion elements are stacked with said second electro-mechanical energy conversion element being sandwiched between said first and third energy conversion elements, phases of said electrodes of said first group are shifted from those of said electrodes of said second group, and the phases of said electrodes of said second group are shifted from those of said electrodes of said third group.

Claim 24

A stack type energy conversion element comprising: a first electro-mechanical energy conversion element having three divided driving electrodes as a first group; a second electro-mechanical energy conversion element having three divided driving electrodes as a second group; and a third electro-mechanical energy conversion element having three divided driving electrodes as a third group, wherein said first, second, and third electro-mechanical energy conversion elements are stacked with said second electro-mechanical energy conversion element being sandwiched between said first and third energy conversion elements, phases of said electrodes of said first group are shifted from those of said electrodes of said second group, and the phases of said electrodes of said second group are shifted from those of said electrodes of said third group.

Claim 25

An element according to claim 20, wherein the number and pitch of said electrodes of said first group are equal to those of said electrodes of each of said second and third groups.

Claim 26

An element according to claim 21, wherein said electrodes of said first and third groups are in phase.

Claim 27

An element according to claim 22, wherein specific driving electrodes of said electrodes of said first and third groups which are in phase are electrically connected to each other via a conductor in a formed through hole, and said conductor is not electrically connected to said electrodes of said second group.

Claim 28

An element according to claim 23, wherein said through hole is located between said electrodes of said second group.

Claim 29

An element according to claim 23, further comprising a signal supplying element stacked on said first, second, and third energy conversion elements, said signal supplying element being disposed at a surface position to be exposed, and having a plurality of signal supplying electrodes, and a specific electrode of said signal supplying electrodes being electrically connected to said conductor.

Claim 30

A vibration wave actuator comprising: (a) a stack type energy conversion element comprising a first electro-mechanical energy conversion element having three divided driving electrodes as a first group, a second electro-mechanical energy conversion element having three divided driving electrodes as a second group, and a third electro-mechanical energy conversion element having three divided driving electrodes as a third group, wherein said first, second, and third electro-mechanical energy conversion elements are stacked with said second electro-mechanical energy conversion element being sandwiched between said first and third energy conversion elements, phases of said electrodes of said first group are shifted from those of said electrodes of said second group, and the phases of said electrodes of said second group are shifted from those of said electrodes of said third group; (b) a vibration member to which said energy conversion element is functionally attached; and (c) a contact member which contacts said vibration member, said vibration member and said contact member being relatively moved by generated vibration waves.

Claim 31

A vibration wave actuator comprising: (a) a stack type energy conversion element comprising a first electro-mechanical energy conversion element having three divided driving electrodes as a first group, a second electro-mechanical energy conversion element having three divided driving electrodes as a second group, and a third electro-mechanical energy conversion element having three divided driving electrodes as a third group, wherein said first, second, and third electro-mechanical energy conversion elements are stacked with said second electro-mechanical energy conversion element being sandwiched between said first and third energy conversion elements, phases of said electrodes of said first group are shifted from those of said electrodes of said second group, and the phases of said electrodes of said second group are shifted from those of said electrodes of said third group; (b) a vibration member to which said energy conversion element is functionally attached; and (c) a contact member which contacts said vibration member, said vibration member and said contact member being relatively moved by generated vibration waves.

Claim 32

An actuator according to claim 26, wherein specific driving electrodes of said electrodes of said first and third groups which are in phase are electrically connected to each other via a conductor in a formed through hole, and said conductor is not electrically connected to said electrodes of said second group.

Claim 33

An actuator according to claim 27, further comprising a signal supplying element stacked on said first, second, and third energy conversion elements, said signal supplying element being disposed at a surface position to be exposed, and having a plurality of signal supplying electrodes, and a specific electrode of said signal supplying electrodes being electrically connected to said conductor.

Claim 34

A driving system using said actuator defined in claim 26 as a driving source.