Patent ID: 6242846
Filing Date: 2001-06-05
Classification: H01L,H02N

Abstract:
A vibration actuator, comprising:a vibration element including an electro-mechanical conversion element and a drive force output portion to output a drive force obtained by the excitation of the electro-mechanical conversion element and to cause relative motion between the vibration element and a relative motion member contacting the drive force output portion;a base member; anda fixed member to fix the vibration element to the base member,wherein the vibration element generates, by the excitation of the electro-mechanical conversion element, a first vibration in a first direction, and a second vibration in a second direction different from the first direction, andthe fixed member includes a first restriction member to restrict the vibration element in a vibration direction of the first vibration, a second restriction member located in at least two places along the vibration direction of the first vibration to restrict the vibration element in a vibration direction of the second vibration, a compression member and a support member, andthe compression member compresses the vibration element toward the relative motion member, the support member displaceably supports the vibration element in a direction in which a compressive force acts on the relative motion member, the compression member and the support member are both displaceable in the direction in which the compressive force acts without mutual interference, the first restriction member is located in the support member, and the second restriction member is located in the compression member.