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Rotation/displacement converting actuatorRotation/displacement converting actuator description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20050285481, Rotation/displacement converting actuator. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation patent application of U.S. Ser. No. 10/385,299 filed Mar. 10, 2003, claiming priority to JPSN 2002-066054 filed Mar. 11, 2002, hereby incorporated by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] The present invention relates to a rotation/displacement converting actuator. BACKGROUND ART [0003] As a linear actuator that lineally moves a displacing body is known e.g., a device provided with a motor (rotation-typed actuator), a decelerating unit that decelerates and transmits rotational driving force of the motor, and a rack-and-pinion unit that converts the rotary motion to linear motion. [0004] However, there is a problem that it is hard to allow the actuator to be more miniaturized, lighter and particularly thinner, since the above-mentioned conventional linear actuator needs to have the decelerating unit and the motor of the actuator is bulky. [0005] Further, the configuration of the actuator is complicated, and there occurs a big noise. [0006] Furthermore, there is also a problem that an electromagnetic noise that the motor occurs might provide harmful affects against any other equipment. [0007] Here, Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 2001-161084 discloses a linear-moving mechanism having a cam mechanism that converts rotary motion of a rotor, which is driven by an ultrasonic motor, to linear motion of a displacing body. [0008] However, driving force (driving torque), a driving speed, and a driving efficiency of the linear-moving mechanism disclosed in the above application have been insufficient in view of a configuration of the ultrasonic motor to be used. [0009] As the other one of defects of the above-mentioned linear-moving mechanism, since frictional force is provided between the rotor and a vibrating element by applying pushing force against the rotor in a direction of an shaft of the rotor so that the driving force is obtained, in a case where the pushing force in the direction of the shaft of the rotor is changed, the driving characteristic undergoes great change. In other words, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the above application, in such a system in which a displacing body 14 abuts on a cam (its outer circumferential surface) 13 from a lateral direction of a rotor 4, pushing force in the axle direction of the rotor 4 is greatly affected by such a lateral pressure added from the displacing body 14 onto the cam 13. Thus, the driving characteristic undergoes great change. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4 of the above application, in a system in which the displacing body 14 abuts on the cam (its lateral face) 13 from the direction of the shaft of the rotor 4, pushing force in the shaft of the rotor 4 is directly affected thereto. Thus, the driving characteristic also undergoes great change. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0010] It is an object of the present invention to provide a rotation/displacement converting actuator that has a simplified configuration, and advantage to be miniaturized, particularly thinner, which can accurately and surely displace (reciprocate) a displacing body in a desired direction. [0011] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a rotation/displacement converting actuator of one aspect of the present invention comprises: a rotor provided in a rotatable manner; a vibrating element which includes a first piezoelectric element that undergoes extension and contraction by application of an AC voltage, a reinforcing plate having an abutting portion and an arm portion, and a second piezoelectric element that undergoes extension and contraction by application of an AC voltage, the first piezoelectric element, the reinforcing plate and the second piezoelectric element being laminated in this order, and the vibrating element being supported by the arm portion so that the abutting portion abuts on said rotor wherein said vibrating element undergoes vibration by applying an AC voltage to the first and second piezoelectric elements so that said vibrating element repeatedly applies force to said rotor by the vibration to rotate said rotor; a displacing body movably provided in a desired direction in a plane same as a plane in which he vibration occurs or in a plane substantially parallel with a plane in which the vibration occurs; and a converting mechanism for converting rotary motion of said rotor to reciprocal motion of said displacing body. [0012] Thus, the displacing body can be accurately and surely displaced (reciprocate) in a desired direction. [0013] Further, the vibrating element rotates the rotor, rotary motion of the rotor is converted to reciprocal motion of the displacing body to drive the displacing body, thereby miniaturizing (particularly making thinner) the entire rotation/displacement converting actuator. [0014] Further, because the actuator has a decelerating function, the displacing body can be displaced (driven) with great force in comparison with a case where the vibrating element directly drives the displacing body. [0015] Further, the configuration of the actuator can be simplified and its cost of production can be reduced. [0016] Further, harmful effects against peripheral equipments can be prevented, because no or little electromagnetic noise occurs in the actuator in order not to utilize any ordinary motor. [0017] Furthermore, particularly, the vibrating element includes a first piezoelectric element that undergoes extension and contraction by application of an AC voltage, a reinforcing plate having an abutting portion and an arm portion, and a second piezoelectric element that undergoes extension and contraction by application of an AC voltage, and the first piezoelectric element, the reinforcing plate and the second piezoelectric element are laminated in this order. Thus, great driving force and a high driving speed can be obtained at a low voltage. Also, the drive efficiency can be extremely enhanced because the actuator undergoes extension and contraction in a plane. [0018] In the rotation/displacement converging actuator of the present invention, it is preferred that the vibrating element, the rotor, and the displacing body are respectively arranged in mutually substantially parallel planes, and the vibration of the vibrating element and the reciprocal motion of the displacing body are performed in the respective parallel planes. [0019] An rotation/displacement converting actuator of the other aspect of the present invention comprises: a rotor provided in a rotatable manner; a vibrating element which includes a first piezoelectric element that undergoes extension and contraction by application of an AC voltage, a reinforcing plate having an abutting portion and an arm portion, and a second piezoelectric element that undergoes extension and contraction by application of an AC voltage, the first piezoelectric element, the reinforcing plate and the second piezoelectric element being laminated in this order, and the vibrating element being supported by the arm portion so that the abutting portion abuts on said rotor wherein said vibrating element undergoes vibration by applying an AC voltage to the first and second piezoelectric elements so that said vibrating element repeatedly applies force to said rotor by the vibration to rotate said rotor; a displacing body provided in a linearly movable manner; and a converting mechanism for converting rotary motion of said rotor to reciprocal motion of said displacing body. [0020] Thus, the displacing body can be accurately and surely displaced (reciprocate) lineally. Continue reading about Rotation/displacement converting actuator... Full patent description for Rotation/displacement converting actuator Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Rotation/displacement converting actuator patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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