Patent ID: 7915787

Claim:
An actuator that moves a mover along a supporting member, comprising: a supporting member; a mover arranged to relatively move along the supporting member, the mover including a piezoelectric element, a first electrode provided at one end portion of a first surface of the piezoelectric element, a second electrode provided at the other end portion of the a first surface of the piezoelectric element, and a vibrator, wherein one end of the vibrator is fixed to a reverse surface to the first surface of the piezoelectric element, the other end of the vibrator is fixed to the reverse surface to the first surface of the piezoelectric element, and a central portion of the vibrator is arranged to be in contact with the supporting member; and a power supply unit arranged to apply a voltage to the first electrode, the second electrode, and the vibrator, wherein a voltage is applied across the first electrode and the vibrator and a voltage is applied across the second electrode and the vibrator to vibrate the piezoelectric element, the vibration of the piezoelectric element is amplified by the vibrator, which thereby moves the mover along the supporting member.