Patent ID: 7608980

Claim:
A vibration control apparatus for controlling vibration of a vibration member having an electrostrictive element adapted to be excited when applied with alternating voltages, comprising: an instruction unit adapted to give an instruction to specify at least one of a plurality of orders of vibration mode in which the vibration member vibrates, wherein a vibration waveform of the at least one of the plurality of orders of vibration mode to be specified by said instruction unit has a plurality of vibration anti-node positions on the vibration member; and a changeover unit adapted to change over phases of alternating voltages applied to a plurality of electrode groups in accordance with the at least one of the plurality of orders of vibration mode specified by said instruction unit, the plurality of electrode groups being grouped from a plurality of electrodes formed on the electrostrictive element and polarized into respective polarities, each of said electrode groups being comprised of at least one electrode and at least one other electrode which are different in polarity from each other; wherein at least one of the plurality of electrodes are respectively provided in a vicinity of each of the plurality of vibration anti-node positions.