Patent ID: 6713939
Filing Date: 2004-03-30
Classification: G03B

Abstract:
An electrostatic actuator comprising:first and second electrode portions arranged at predetermined intervals, each portion including one or more series of electrodes arranged successively in a predetermined direction; a slider disposed between the first and second electrode portions having electrode portions at side faces opposed to the first and second electrode portions and movable in the predetermined direction; an electrostatic capacitance detecting circuit configured to detect electrostatic capacitances between the one or more series of electrodes of one of the first and second electrode portions and the electrode portions of the slider; and a driving circuit configured to drive the slider in the predetermined direction by applying voltages between selected series of electrodes of one of the first and the second electrode portions and the electrode portions of the slider, said selected series of electrodes being selected based on a detected result of the electrostatic capacitance detecting circuit, wherein the first and second electrode portions comprise: driving electrodes configured to drive the slider, and electrostatic capacitance detecting electrodes configured to detect the electrostatic capacitances, and wherein the driving electrodes are shifted by a half of an alignment pitch along the predetermined direction from the electrostatic capacitance detecting electrodes.