Patent ID: 6750591
Filing Date: 2004-06-15
Classification: G02B,H02N,H04N

Abstract:
A method of driving an electrostatic actuator, the electrostatic actuator comprising:first stator electrodes arranged in a predetermined direction and extending in a direction crossing the predetermined direction; a second stator electrode arranged to face the first stator electrodes and extending in the predetermined direction; a third stator electrode arranged to face the first stator electrodes and extending in the predetermined direction so as to be electrically isolated from the second stator electrode; a first movable section provided with first movable section electrodes and a second movable section electrode, the first movable section being configured to be movable within a moving space in the predetermined direction, the moving space being defined between the first stator electrodes and the second stator electrode, the first movable section electrodes being mounted to the first movable section to face the first stator electrodes and the second movable section electrode being mounted to the first movable section to face the second stator electrode; and a second movable section provided with third movable section electrodes and a fourth movable section electrode, the second movable section being configured to be movable within the moving space in the predetermined direction independently of the first movable section, the third movable section electrodes being mounted to the second movable section to face the first stator electrodes and the fourth movable section electrode being mounted to the second movable section to face the third stator electrode, the method comprising: supplying first and second driving signals to the first and the second stator electrodes, respectively, to move the first movable section in the space in the predetermined direction, and supplying a holding signal to the third stator electrode to hold the second movable section.