Patent ID: 7466062

Claim:
A vibration wave motor comprising: at least one vibrator including a driving element, the driving element being excited to perform elliptical vibration, the vibrator having a node of vibration; a rotor supported to rotate about a rotation axis, the rotor having a contact surface in contact with the vibrator; a support member in which the vibrator is arranged; a guide support portion formed in the support member, the guide support portion supporting the vibrator substantially at the node of vibration while restricting movement of the vibrator in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis and a circumferential direction and enabling linear movement of the vibrator along the rotation axis direction; an urging member arranged in the support member, the urging member urging the vibrator in the rotation axis direction of the rotor so as to be in contact with the contact surface; a bearing member disposed so as to be in contact with a surface of the rotor opposed to the contact surface; and a bearing holder member mounted to one end of the support member so as to clamp the bearing member, the rotor, the vibrator, and the urging member together with the support member; wherein the vibrator, the rotor, the support member, and the urging member are integrated into a unit to form the vibration wave motor.