Patent ID: 7518286

Claim:
A vibration wave driven apparatus comprising: a driven member; and a vibrator comprising: an elastic member having one surface opposed to said driven member, and another surface, said elastic member having a plurality of spaced contact parts formed on the one surface and disposed in contact with said driven member, said elastic member being formed of a single member; and an electromechanical conversion element joined to the another surface of said elastic member, wherein said elastic member has at least one cutout that extends completely through said elastic member to expose part of said electromechanical conversion element at a location where the another surface of said elastic member is joined to said electromechanical conversion element, wherein portions of said elastic member adjacent to said cutout form the spaced contact parts, wherein said at least one cutout is opposed to said driven member, and wherein said elastic member is disposed in contact with said driven member only at said spaced contact parts.