Patent ID: 6781283
Filing Date: 2004-08-24
Classification: H02N

Abstract:
A vibration wave driving apparatus, comprising:a vibration element including a first elastic member, a second elastic member, a third elastic member and an electro-mechanical energy conversion element, said third elastic member and said electro-mechanical energy conversion element being disposed between said first elastic member and said second elastic member; and a rotor that is brought into contact with a frictional surface of said third elastic member, wherein when a driving signal is applied to said electro-mechanical energy conversion element, said vibration element excites a first traveling wave at the frictional surface by generating bending vibration which are displayed in a direction orthogonal to an axial direction of said vibration element and a second traveling wave at the frictional surface by generating bending vibrations of said third elastic member, and a circular or an elliptical movement is produced at the frictional surface by a vibration wave as a composite of the first traveling wave and the second traveling wave.