Patent ID: 7514840
Filing Date: 2009-04-07
Classification: H02N

Abstract:
1. An electrostatic actuator comprising: a stator that includes a stator-side electrode group, the stator-side electrode group including a plurality of arranged electrodes and gaps therebetween; a mover freely movable in a predetermined movement direction, the mover including a mover-side electrode group, the mover-side electrode group including a plurality of electrodes and gaps therebetween, the plurality of electrodes opposing the individual electrodes included in the stator-side electrode group; a guide instrument that guides the mover in the movement direction; and a driving signal supply unit that generates driving signals having a predetermined number of phases and that applies the generated driving signals between the stator-side electrode group and the mover-side electrode group, wherein, in one electrode group of the stator-side electrode group and the mover-side electrode group, the electrodes and gaps have the same length in the movement direction, and wherein the other electrode group includes a first group and a second group alternately disposed in the movement direction, each of the first group and the second group including an electrode and a gap, a length of the first group and a length of the second group in the movement direction being different from each other.