Vibration Driving Device Triangular Support Structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vibration driving devices for image pickup apparatuses face challenges in reducing driving load while maintaining high accuracy and cost-effectiveness, due to issues with sliding friction losses and the need for precise processing to minimize resonance and enlargement.
Innovation Solution
A vibration driving device with a drive unit and a support structure that includes a vibrator with projections for pressure contact, a contact portion, and three or more support members to ensure the contact point is within triangular areas formed by these members, reducing sliding friction and eliminating the need for high processing accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If rolling members like balls are used to support the rotation barrel in the thrust direction, then the loss of driving force due to sliding friction is reduced, but sliding friction still occurs in the radial direction fitting part
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is segmented into multiple support members (at least three) that are distributed around the rotation barrel. Each support member independently supports the rotation barrel, and their combined triangular arrangement eliminates the need for radial direction fitting parts, thereby eliminating sliding friction in the radial direction while maintaining reduced driving force loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The support members act as intermediaries between the rotation barrel and the stationary structure. By positioning these support members to form triangular areas and ensuring contact points remain within these areas, the structure provides stable support without requiring tight radial fits, thus eliminating sliding friction while maintaining positional stability.
2Loss of energy
If V grooves are used to support the rotation barrel in both thrust and radial directions, then sliding friction is reduced, but extremely high processing accuracy is required for coincidence of diameters
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a single V groove structure that requires high precision, the support is segmented into multiple discrete support members. These members can be positioned to form triangular areas without requiring precise diameter coincidence, as the triangular geometry inherently provides stability and tolerance to dimensional variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution moves from a two-dimensional V groove interface to a three-dimensional triangular arrangement of support members. This dimensional change allows the support structure to accommodate variations in diameter and positioning while maintaining stable support, thereby reducing the required manufacturing precision.
3Reliability
If the friction member is fixed to the stationary member with screws, then unnecessary resonance is prevented, but the entire unit may be enlarged
Solution Approach 1:
The support members are integrated into the stationary member as a unified structure rather than being separate components that require additional fixing. This merging eliminates the need for screws and associated mounting features, preventing resonance while avoiding enlargement of the unit.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration achieves low cost and high accuracy while minimizing driving load by reducing sliding friction and preventing unnecessary resonance, thus enhancing the stability and miniaturization of the vibration motor.
Implementation Method 1
a vibrator (101) provided with a projection (102a) and configured to generate driving force by vibrating the vibrator (101)
Implementation Method 2
generate rotational driving force by excited vibration and frictional force
Implementation Method 3
supports a rotation barrel pressurized in a thrust direction with rollers arranged in a circumferential direction
Implementation Method 4
a piezoelectric element (103) and the elastic body (102), wherein the piezoelectric element (103) and the elastic body (102) are in pressure contact with each other
Data Source
AI summary
A vibration driving device that achieves low cost and high accuracy while reducing driving load. A drive unit has a vibrator with a projection and generates driving force by vibrating the vibrator. A first unit has a contact portion with which the projection is in pressure contact in a first direction. A second unit rotates relative to the first unit around a rotation axis parallel to the first direction by the driving force. Three or more support members are between the first and second units in the first direction to support the first and second units rotatably. The support members are positioned such that, during relative rotation of the first and second units, a contact point at which the projection contacts the contact portion is always located in at least one of triangular areas formed by connecting any three support members with straight lines when viewed in the first direction.