Patent ID: 8344593
Filing Date: 2013-01-01
Classification: H02N

Abstract:
1. A vibration type driving apparatus comprising: a plurality of vibration members, each including at least an electro-mechanical energy conversion element and a contact member and being formed so as to be capable of generating an elliptical movement at the corresponding contact member by combining a vibration mode for forward moving and a vibration mode for push-up moving, the vibration mode for forward moving being primarily a vibration that displaces the contact member in a direction parallel to a surface of the corresponding electro-mechanical energy conversion element, the vibration mode for push-up moving being primarily a vibration that displaces the contact member in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the corresponding electro-mechanical energy conversion element, at least two of the plurality of vibration members being disposed at positions where directions of forces generated by the elliptical movements differ from each other, and the elliptical movements causing a moving member in contact with the vibration members through the contact members of the vibration members to move in a plurality of different directions, wherein the plurality of vibration members include rotation units that are formed so as to be rotatable around respective rotation axes that are parallel to the respective directions of the forces generated by the elliptical movements, wherein any vibration member that is positioned in a range where an angle between a direction of movement of the moving member and the corresponding rotation axis is greater than a predetermined angle is tilted by the rotation unit, and the vibration mode for push-up moving is generated at the any vibration member, and wherein the elliptical movement of any vibration member that is positioned in a range where the angle between the direction of movement of the moving member and the corresponding rotation axis is less than the predetermined angle causes the moving member to move.