Surface acoustic wave actuator and deflector employing the same

• US 6,949,868 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2003
• Issued: 09/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rakuten Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Victor Company of Japan Limited (JVC Kenwood Corporation)
• Inventors: Iseki, Takayuki
• Primary Examiner(s): BUDD, MARK OSBORNE
• Application Number:
  US10/743,156
• Publication Number:
  US 20040135470A1
• Time in Patent Office: 644 Days
• Field of Search: 310/311, 310/313.R, 310/323.02
• US Class Current: 310/323.02
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0858 the reflecting means being moved or deformed by piezoelectric means
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 2/0055 Supports for driving or driven bodies; Means for pressing driving body against driven body
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 2/028 along multiple or arbitrary translation directions, e.g. XYZ stages
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 2/046 for conversion into rotary motion
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 2/08 using travelling waves , i.e. Rayleigh surface waves

Abstract

A surface acoustic wave actuator has a mover arranged on a first surface of a piezoelectric board and comb-shaped electrodes formed on the first surface. High frequencies are applied to the comb-shaped electrodes to generate Rayleigh waves that move the mover. In the surface acoustic wave actuator, the com-shaped electrodes include first to fourth electrodes formed on the first surface of the piezoelectric board, the first and third comb-shaped electrodes being on each side of the mover on an X-axis, the second and fourth comb-shaped electrodes being on each side of the mover on a Y-axis. The mover at least has a permanent magnet. The surface acoustic wave actuator further has a unit to selectively apply a high frequency to at least one of two electrodes one selected from the first and third comb-shaped electrodes and the other from the second and fourth comb-shaped electrodes. The surface acoustic wave actuator also has a mover holder facing the mover with the piezoelectric board interposed therebetween. The mover holder at least has a magnetic material configured to hold the mover.

Claims

1. A surface acoustic wave actuator having a mover arranged on a first surface of a piezoelectric board and comb-shaped electrodes formed on the first surface, high frequencies being applied to the comb-shaped electrodes to generate Rayleigh waves that move the mover, comprising:

the com-shaped electrodes including first to fourth electrodes formed on the first surface of the piezoelectric board, the first and third comb-shaped electrodes being on each side of the mover on an X-axis, the second and fourth comb-shaped electrodes being on each side of the mover on a Y-axis;

the mover at least having a permanent magnet diposed so as to generate a magnetic field vertically to said piezoelectric board;

a unit configured to selectively apply a high frequency to at least one of two electrodes, one selected from the first and third comb-shaped electrodes and the other from the second and fourth comb-shaped electrodes; and

a mover holder facing the mover with the piezoelectric board interposed therebetween, the mover holder at least having a magnetic material configured to hold the mover and being movable together with the mover.

2. A deflector comprising:

a surface acoustic wave actuator having a mover arranged on a first surface of a piezoelectric board and comb-shaped electrodes formed on the first surface, high frequencies being applied to the comb-shaped electrodes to generate Rayleigh waves that move the mover, including;

the comb-shaped electrodes including first to fourth electrodes formed on the first surface of the piezoelectric board, the first and third comb-shaped electrodes being on each side of the mover on an X-axis, the second and fourth comb-shaped electrodes being on each side of the mover on a Y-axis, the mover at least having a permanent magnet,

a unit configured to selectively apply a high frequency to at least one of two electrodes one selected from the first and third comb-shaped electrodes and the other from the second and fourth comb-shaped electrodes, and

a mover holder facing the mover with the piezoelectric board interposed therebetween, the mover holder at least having a magnetic material configured to hold the mover;

a deflector-body support;

a deflector body supported with a first surface of the deflector-body support and configured to wobble in at least one of X- and Y-axis directions;

a magnetic member arranged in a recess formed in the deflector-body support on an axis that passes through the center of a deflecting face of the deflector body and is orthogonal to the deflecting face, the magnetic member being configured to be displaced so as to wobble the deflecting face in at least one of the X- and Y-axis directions; and

the surface acoustic wave actuator arranged beside a second surface of the deflector-body support that is opposite to the first surface,

the magnetic member being displaced by a magnetic field that is generated in response to a movement of the permanent magnet of the mover in the surface acoustic wave actuator, to wobble the deflecting face of the deflector body.