Patent ID: 6104122
Filing Date: 2000-08-15
Classification: H02N

Abstract:
An actuator comprising:an electromechanical energy conversion element;a vibrator, having at least two resonance frequencies, to which said electromechanical energy conversion element is fixed and in which a drive voltage is applied to said electromechanical energy conversion element to selectively excite a first vibration generated by vibration at one resonance frequency and a second vibration generated by vibration at the other resonance frequency;a member to be driven which is in press contact with said vibrator and is moved by the vibration excited by said vibrator with respect to said vibrator; anda fixing member for holding said vibrator and said member to be driven, and for regulating a moving direction of said member to be driven with respect to said vibrator,wherein said vibrator generates a drive force in a first direction at a press contact portion between said vibrator and said member to be driven when vibrating at one resonance frequency, and generates a drive force in a second direction at a contact portion between said vibrator and said member to be driven when vibrating at the other resonance frequency.