Vibration wave driven motor

Claim 2

A vibrating device comprising: a first vibrating member having a hollow portion; a second vibrating member having a hollow portion; an electro-mechanical energy conversion member having a hollow portion, and disposed between said first and second vibrating members, said conversion member being arranged for generating a flexural vibration in said first and second vibrating members in response to an applied electrical signal; a fastening member disposed in the hollow portions of said first and second vibrating members and said conversion member, for clamping said conversion member between said first and second vibrating members; and tapered recess means for distributing a compression stress acting on said conversion member, wherein said compression stress is substantially uniform when said conversion member is clamped between said first and second vibrating members by said fastening member.

Claim 3

A vibrating device according to claim 1, wherein said first vibrating member is formed of an elastic member.

Claim 4

A vibrating device according to claim 1, wherein said second vibrating member is formed of an elastic member.

Claim 5

A vibrating device according to claim 1, wherein said fastening member comprises a bolt, and the hollow portion of said first vibrating member has a threaded portion which is threadably engaged with said bolt.

Claim 6

A vibrating device according to claim 1, wherein said first vibrating member has contact surface contacting said conversion member, and wherein said tapered recess means comprises a recess formed in an inner peripheral portion of said contact surface of said first vibrating member.

Claim 7

A vibrating device according to claim 5, wherein said recess has a spherical shape.

Claim 8

A vibrating device according to claim 5, wherein said recess has a curved-surface shape.

Claim 9

A vibrating device according to claim 1, wherein said tapered recess means comprises a spacer member provided between one of said first and second vibrating members and said conversion member, and wherein an uncompressed thickness of an inner portion of said spacer member is thinner than an uncompressed thickness of an outer portion of said spacer member.

Claim 10

A vibration driven system comprising: a first vibrating member having a hollow portion; a second vibrating member having a hollow portion; an electro-mechanical energy conversion member having a hollow portion, and disposed between said first and second vibrating members, said conversion member being arranged for generating a flexural vibration in said first and second vibrating members in response to an applied electrical signal; a fastening member disposed in the hollow portions of said first and second vibrating members and said conversion member, for clamping said conversion member between said first and second vibrating members; tapered recess means for distributing a compression stress acting on said conversion member, wherein said compression stress is substantially uniform when said conversion member is clamped between said first and second vibrating members by said fastening member; and contact member for contacting said first vibrating member, wherein said first vibrating means drives said contact member by frictional contact therewith when a flexural vibration is generated in said first vibrating member.

Claim 11

A vibration driven system comprising: a first vibrating member having a hollow portion; a second vibrating member having a hollow portion; an electro-mechanical energy conversion member having a hollow portion, and disposed between said first and second vibrating members, said conversion member being arranged for generating a flexural vibration in said first and second vibrating members in response to an applied electrical signal; a fastening member disposed in the hollow portions of said first and second vibrating members and said conversion member, for clamping said conversion member between said first and second vibrating members; tapered recess means for distributing a compression stress acting on said conversion member, wherein said compression stress is substantially uniform when said conversion member is clamped between said first and second vibrating members by said fastening member; and contact member for contacting said first vibrating member, wherein said first vibrating means drives said contact member by frictional contact therewith when a flexural vibration is generated in said first vibrating member.

Claim 12

A vibration driven system comprising: a first vibrating member having a hollow portion; a second vibrating member having a hollow portion; an electro-mechanical energy conversion member having a hollow portion, and disposed between said first and second vibrating members, said conversion member being arranged for generating a flexural vibration in said first and second vibrating members in response to an applied electrical signal; a fastening member disposed in the hollow portions of said first and second vibrating members and said conversion member, for clamping said conversion member between said first and second vibrating members; stepped recess means for distributing a compression stress acting on said conversion member, wherein said compression stress is substantially uniform when said conversion member is clamped between said first and second vibrating members; and a contact member for contacting said first vibrating member, wherein said first vibrating member drives said contact member by frictional contact therewith when a flexural vibration is generated in said first vibrating member.

Claim 13

A vibration driven system comprising: a first vibrating member having a hollow portion; a second vibrating member having a hollow portion; an electro-mechanical energy conversion member having a hollow portion, and disposed between said first and second vibrating members, said conversion member being arranged for generating a flexural vibration in said first and second vibrating members in response to an applied electrical signal; a fastening member disposed in the hollow portions of said first and second vibrating members and said conversion member, for clamping said conversion member between said first and second vibrating members; stepped recess means for distributing a compression stress acting on said conversion member, wherein said compression stress is substantially uniform when said conversion member is clamped between said first and second vibrating members; and a contact member for contacting said first vibrating member, wherein said first vibrating member drives said contact member by frictional contact therewith when a flexural vibration is generated in said first vibrating member.

Claim 14

A vibrating device comprising: a first vibrating member having a hollow portion; a second vibrating member having a hollow portion; an electro-mechanical energy conversion member having a hollow portion, and disposed between said first and second vibrating members, said conversion member being arranged for generating a flexural vibration in said first and second vibrating members in response to an applied electrical signal; a fastening member disposed in the hollow portions of said first and second vibrating members and said conversion member, for clamping said conversion member between said first and second vibrating members; and compression stress distributing means, including recess formed at an inner peripheral portion of at least one of said first vibrating members and said second, vibrating members for distributing a compression stress acting on said conversion member when said conversion member is clamped between said first and second vibrating members by said fastening member.

Claim 15

A vibrating device comprising: a first vibrating member having a hollow portion; a second vibrating member having a hollow portion; an electro-mechanical energy conversion member having a hollow portion, and disposed between said first and second vibrating members, said conversion member being arranged for generating a flexural vibration in said first and second vibrating members in response to an applied electrical signal; a fastening member disposed in the hollow portions of said first and second vibrating members and said conversion member, for clamping said conversion member between said first and second vibrating members; and compression stress distributing means, including recess formed at an inner peripheral portion of at least one of said first vibrating members and said second, vibrating members for distributing a compression stress acting on said conversion member when said conversion member is clamped between said first and second vibrating members by said fastening member.

Claim 16

A vibrating device according to claim 11, wherein said recess is formed in said first vibrating member.

Claim 17

A vibrating device according to claim 11, wherein said recess is formed in said second vibrating member.

Claim 18

A vibrating device according to claim 11, wherein a first recess is formed in said first vibrating member and a second recess is formed in said second vibrating member.

Claim 19

A vibrating device according to claim 11, wherein said recess is adjacent to the hollow portion of said at least one vibrating member.

Claim 20

A vibrating device according to claim 11, wherein said recess forms a gap adjacent said electro-mechanical energy conversion member.

Claim 21

A vibrating device according to claim 14, wherein the first recess formed in said first vibrating member forms a gap adjacent a first side of said electro-mechanical energy conversion member, and the second recess formed in said second vibrating member forms a gap adjacent a second side of said electro-mechanical energy conversion member.

Claim 22

A vibrating device comprising: a first vibrating member having a hollow portion; a second vibrating member having a hollow portion; an electro-mechanical energy conversion member having a hollow portion, and disposed between said first and second vibrating members, said conversion member being arranged for generating a flexural vibration in said first and second vibrating members in response to an applied electrical signal; a fastening member disposed in the hollow portions of said first and second vibrating members and said conversion member, for clamping said conversion member between said first and second vibrating members; and compression stress distributing means for distributing a compression stress acting on said conversion member, wherein said compression stress is substantially uniform when said conversion member is clamped between said first and second vibrating members by said fastening member; wherein said compression stress distributing means comprises a spacer member having a hollow portion and at least one recess formed in said spacer member, said spacer member being insertable between said electro-mechanical energy conversion member and one of said first and second vibrating members.

Claim 23

A vibrating device comprising: a first vibrating member having a hollow portion; a second vibrating member having a hollow portion; an electro-mechanical energy conversion member having a hollow portion, and disposed between said first and second vibrating members, said conversion member being arranged for generating a flexural vibration in said first and second vibrating members in response to an applied electrical signal; a fastening member disposed in the hollow portions of said first and second vibrating members and said conversion member, for clamping said conversion member between said first and second vibrating members; and compression stress distributing means for distributing a compression stress acting on said conversion member, wherein said compression stress is substantially uniform when said conversion member is clamped between said first and second vibrating members by said fastening member; wherein said compression stress distributing means comprises a spacer member having a hollow portion and at least one recess formed in said spacer member, said spacer member being insertable between said electro-mechanical energy conversion member and one of said first and second vibrating members.

Claim 24

A vibrating device according to claim 18, wherein said spacer member comprises a recess formed on a side contacting said one vibrating member.

Claim 25

A vibrating device according to claim 18, wherein said spacer member comprises a recess formed on a side contacting said electro-mechanical energy conversion member.

Claim 26

A vibrating device according to claim 18, wherein said spacer member comprises a first recess formed on a first side contacting said one vibrating member, and a second recess formed on a second side contacting said electro-mechanical energy conversion member.

Claim 27

A vibration device according to claim 18, wherein said spacer member comprises a tapered recess.

Claim 28

A vibrating device according to claim 18, wherein said spacer member comprises a stepped recess.

Claim 29

A vibrating device comprising: a first vibrating member having a hollow portion; a second vibrating member having a hollow portion; an electro-mechanical energy conversion member having a hollow portion, and disposed between said first and second vibrating members, said conversion member being arranged for generating a flexural vibration in said first and second vibrating members in response to an applied electrical signal; a fastening member disposed in the hollow portions of said first and second vibrating members and said conversion member, for clamping said conversion member between said first and second vibrating members; and compression stress distributing means for distributing a compression stress acting on said conversion member, wherein said compression stress is substantially uniform when said conversion member is clamped between said first and second vibrating members by said fastening member; wherein said electro-mechanical energy conversion member comprises at least one recess constituting said compression stress distributing means.

Claim 30

A vibrating device comprising: a first vibrating member having a hollow portion; a second vibrating member having a hollow portion; an electro-mechanical energy conversion member having a hollow portion, and disposed between said first and second vibrating members, said conversion member being arranged for generating a flexural vibration in said first and second vibrating members in response to an applied electrical signal; a fastening member disposed in the hollow portions of said first and second vibrating members and said conversion member, for clamping said conversion member between said first and second vibrating members; and compression stress distributing means for distributing a compression stress acting on said conversion member, wherein said compression stress is substantially uniform when said conversion member is clamped between said first and second vibrating members by said fastening member; wherein said electro-mechanical energy conversion member comprises at least one recess constituting said compression stress distributing means.

Claim 31

A vibrating device according to claim 24, wherein said electro-mechanical energy conversion member comprises a recess formed on a side contacting said first vibration member.

Claim 32

A vibrating device according to claim 24, wherein said electro-mechanical energy conversion member comprises a recess formed on a side contacting said second vibrating member.

Claim 33

A vibrating device according to claim 24, wherein said electro-mechanical energy conversion member comprises a first recess formed on a side contacting said first vibrating member and a second recess on a side contacting said second vibrating member.

Claim 34

A vibrating device according to claim 24, wherein said electro-mechanical energy conversion member comprises a tapered recess.

Claim 35

A vibrating device according to claim 28, wherein said tapered recess is formed by an electro-mechanical film layer of said electro-mechanical energy conversion member.

Claim 36

A vibrating device according to claim 27, wherein said first and second recesses are tapered recesses formed by respective electro-mechanical film layers of said electro-mechanical energy conversion member.

Claim 37

A vibrating device according to claim 24, wherein said electro-mechanical energy conversion member comprises a stepped recess.

Claim 38

A vibrating device according to claim 31, wherein said stepped recess is formed by an electro-mechanical film layer of said electro-mechanical energy conversion member.

Claim 39

A vibrating device according to claim 27, wherein said first and second recesses are stepped recesses formed by respective electro-mechanical film layers of said electro-mechanical energy conversion member.

Claim 40

A vibrating device comprising: a first vibrating member having a hollow portion; a second vibrating member having a hollow portion; an electro-mechanical energy conversion member having a hollow portion, and disposed between said first and second vibrating members, said conversion member being arranged for generating a flexural vibration in said first and second vibrating members in response to an applied electrical signal; a fastening member disposed in the hollow portions of said first and second vibrating members and said conversion member, for clamping said conversion member between said first and second vibrating members; and stepped recess means for distributing a compression stress acting on said conversion member, wherein said compression stress is substantially uniform when said conversion member is clamped between said first and second vibrating members by said fastening member.

Claim 41

A vibrating device comprising: a first vibrating member having a hollow portion; a second vibrating member having a hollow portion; an electro-mechanical energy conversion member having a hollow portion, and disposed between said first and second vibrating members, said conversion member being arranged for generating a flexural vibration in said first and second vibrating members in response to an applied electrical signal; a fastening member disposed in the hollow portions of said first and second vibrating members and said conversion member, for clamping said conversion member between said first and second vibrating members; and stepped recess means for distributing a compression stress acting on said conversion member, wherein said compression stress is substantially uniform when said conversion member is clamped between said first and second vibrating members by said fastening member.