IP Library Granted Patent US 7,402,935
Granted Patent B2
US 7,402,935 · App. 11/470,744 · Granted Jul 22, 2008

Ultrasonic motor

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,402,935
App. No.
11/470,744
Granted
Jul 22, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

An ultrasonic motor is provided with a circular stator including a piezoelectric element and a comb teeth body and a circular rotor supported by a rotating shaft and disposed in close contact with the comb teeth body. The stator and the rotor are magnetized in opposite polarities to each other so that the stator and the rotor are brought into close contact by an attractive magnetic force generated therebetween in an axial direction.

Claims (18)

1. An ultrasonic motor, comprising

a circular stator including a piezoelectric element and a comb teeth body; and

a circular rotor supported by a rotating shaft and disposed in close contact with the comb teeth body,

wherein a surface of the comb teeth body and a surface of the rotor configured to contact the comb teeth body are magnetized in opposite polarities to each other, whereby the stator and the rotor are brought into close contact by an attractive magnetic force generated between the comb teeth body and the surface of the rotor in an axial direction.

2. The ultrasonic motor according to claim 1 ,

wherein end faces of a plurality of comb teeth aligned along a periphery of the comb teeth body and circumferentially separated by slits, and a face of a peripheral wall portion extending from a peripheral edge of the rotor to be brought into close contact with the comb teeth, are configured as a conical surface with a tapered cross-section.

3. The ultrasonic according to claim 1 , wherein the rotating shaft is pivotally supported at an end portion of the shaft by a bearing provided on the stator.

4. The ultrasonic motor according to claim 3 , wherein the rotating shaft includes a semispherical portion at an end portion of the rotating shaft, slidably supported by the bearing having an inverted conical-shaped bearing surface, provided on the stator.

5. The ultrasonic motor according to any of claim 1 , wherein the rotor is spline-connected to the rotating shaft.

6. The ultrasonic motor according to claim 5 , wherein the spline provided on the rotating shaft comprises a rotation outputting gear configured to be engaged with an external apparatus.

7. An ultrasonic motor, comprising:

a circular stator including a piezoelectric element and a comb teeth body; and

a circular rotor supported by a rotating shaft and positioned in close contact with the comb teeth body, the rotating shaft being pivotally supported at an end portion of the shaft by a bearing provided on the stator;

wherein the stator and the rotor or are magnetized to have polarities opposite from each other, whereby the stator and the rotor are brought into close contact by an attractive magnetic force generated between the stator and the rotor in an axial direction.

8. The ultrasonic motor according to claim 7 , wherein end faces of a plurality of comb teeth aligned along a periphery of the comb teeth body and circumferentially separated by slits, and an end face of a peripheral wall portion extending from a peripheral edge of the rotor to be brought into close contact, with the comb teeth are configured as conical surfaces with tapered cross-sections.

9. The ultrasonic motor according to claim 8 , wherein the rotating shaft includes a semi-spherical portion at an end portion of the shaft, slideably supported by the bearing having an inverted conical shaped bearing surface, provided on the stator.

10. The ultrasonic motor according to claim 7 , wherein the rotor is spline-connected to the rotating shaft.

11. The ultrasonic motor according to claim 10 , wherein the spline provided on the rotating shaft comprises a rotation outputting gear configured to be engaged with an external apparatus.

Assignments (3)
CORPORATE SPLIT Recorded Dec 2, 2011
From: HOYA CORPORATION
To: PENTAX RICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD.
Reel/Frame 027315/0115 →
MERGER Recorded May 23, 2008
From: PENTAX CORPORATION
To: HOYA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 021035/0891 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 7, 2006
From: KUROSAWA, YUICHI
To: PENTAX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 018216/0590 →