Vibration Wave Motor Rotor Contact Stabilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vibration wave motors face challenges in optimizing output due to frictional forces at the interface between the vibrator and contact body, which affects the motor's efficiency and reliability, particularly in applications like lens barrels where precise control is required.
Innovation Solution
The vibration wave motor design incorporates a rotor supported rotatably with a contact surface, a support member with guide grooves to restrict movement, and an urging member to maintain contact with the rotor, enhancing the motor's efficiency by adjusting the number of vibrators and using leaf springs for precise pressing strength adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the number of vibrators is increased to improve motor output, then the frictional contact stability improves, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The motor is divided into modular units, each containing a vibrator, guide support portion, and urging member. These modules can be independently manufactured and assembled, reducing overall manufacturing complexity while allowing flexible configuration of multiple vibrators to achieve desired output power.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide support portion serves multiple functions: it guides the vibrator's linear motion, restricts perpendicular movement, and positions the vibrator relative to the rotor. The urging member simultaneously maintains contact pressure and compensates for manufacturing tolerances. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components.
2Reliability
If the urging force is increased to improve contact stability, then the frictional contact is stabilized, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The urging member is designed with elastic properties to provide beforehand cushioning for contact instability. This elastic element compensates for manufacturing tolerances and assembly variations, maintaining stable frictional contact without requiring extremely tight manufacturing tolerances for other components.
Solution Approach 2:
The urging force can be adjusted by changing parameters of the urging member such as spring constant, pre-compression force, or material properties. This allows optimization of contact stability while accommodating variations in manufacturing precision across different production batches.
3Manufacturing precision
If the guide support portion restricts movement in multiple directions, then the vibrator positioning is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide support portion is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously provides lateral guidance, axial positioning, and vibration transmission pathways. This integrated design achieves precise vibrator positioning without requiring separate components for each function, thereby limiting complexity increase.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide support portion utilizes the axial dimension (along the rotation axis) to provide positioning and guidance, rather than relying solely on radial constraints. This dimensional approach simplifies the support structure by using the natural direction of vibrator motion to advantage.
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 improves the motor's output by stabilizing the frictional contact, reducing fluctuations in rotation speed and driving torque, and allowing for easy assembly and adjustment, making it suitable for various electronic apparatuses, including lens barrels.
Implementation Method 1
a vibrator (vibration body) having an energy transducer, such as a piezoelectric device
Implementation Method 2
The vibration wave motor transduces kinetic energy caused by traveling waves or standing waves to a relative movement between the vibrator and the contact body using a frictional force
Data Source
AI summary
A vibration wave motor includes a housing, a rotor, a bearing member, a vibrator serving as an actuator and having a support shaft and a driving element, and a leaf spring having a pressing protrusion. The vibrator is slidably disposed in an opening of the housing along a rotation axis direction of the rotor, and a support shaft of the vibrator is rotatable. The vibrator is held while being urged by the leaf spring and being in contact with the rotor. The vibrator is excited to generate supersonic vibration so that the rotor is rotated. Since the vibrator is movably supported by the housing in the rotation axis direction and the vibrator is urged by the leaf spring and is in contact with a friction contact surface of the rotor, the vibrator is evenly in contact with the rotor in a direction perpendicular to the friction contact surface so as to provide superior driving conditions of the vibration wave motor.