# US 10,871,700 B2 · Drive apparatus, drive method, and optical device

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- Number: US 10,871,700 B2
- Document ID: US10871700B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/234,120
- Filed: 2018-12-27
- Published: 2019-05-02
- Granted: 2020-12-22
- Earliest claimed: 2012-02-28
- Assignees: Nikon Corporation
- Applicants: Nikon Corporation
- Inventors: Takatoshi Ashizawa; Kazuyasu Oone; Shinji Nishihara; Toshikazu Morioke
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10871700B2

## CPC

- G03B 3/10: Power-operated focusing
- G02B 7/04: with mechanism for focusing or varying magnification
- G02B 7/08: adapted to co-operate with a remote control mechanism
- G02B 7/36: using image sharpness techniques {, e.g. image processing techniques for generating autofocus signals (image data processing per se G06T; in cameras having a solid state image sensor H04N23/67)}
- H02N 2/142: {Small signal circuits; Means for controlling position or derived quantities, e.g. speed, torque, starting, stopping, reversing}
- H02N 2/163: {Motors with ring stator}
- G03B 2205/0084: using other types of actuators
- G03B: APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (optical parts of such apparatus G02B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D)
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- H02N: ELECTRIC MACHINES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

Noise produced during phase-difference changes is minimized without decreasing the responsiveness of a vibration-wave motor. A lens-side MCU for a lens barrel controls a drive apparatus that applies a drive voltage to the vibration-wave motor by outputting an A-phase drive signal and a B-phase drive signal thereto. The lens-side MCU uses, for example, a drive-voltage setting unit and a duty-cycle change unit to change the drive voltage. Also, the lens-side MCU is provided with a phase-difference change unit that changes the phase difference between the A-phase drive signal and the B-phase drive signal. When driving the vibration-wave motor, the lens-side MCU changes the drive voltage to Vreg, and when the phase-difference change unit is changing the aforementioned phase difference, the drive voltage is changed to V1, V1 being greater than zero and less than Vreg.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A drive apparatus for controlling driving of a vibration actuator that generates a drive force, by applying two-phase alternating signals having different phases to a piezeoelectric body provided to a vibrating body to cause the vibrating body to vibrate, the drive apparatus comprising:
a speed control unit that controls a drive speed of the vibration actuator, by causing a frequency of the two-phase alternating signals applied to the piezoelectric body to change;
a frequency storage unit that stores a predetermined frequency; and
a stop determination unit that determines whether the vibration actuator is stopped, wherein
the speed control unit causes the frequency of the alternating signals applied to the piezoelectric body to change to the predetermined frequency stored in the frequency storage unit, in a case of the stop determination unit having determined that the vibration actuator is stopped.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The drive apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a speed detection unit that detects a drive speed of the vibration actuator, wherein
the speed control unit controls the drive speed of the vibration actuator by causing a phase difference of the two-phase alternating signals applied to the piezoelectric body to change, and wherein
the stop determination unit determines whether the vibration actuator stopped, based on a state of the phase difference of the two-phase alternating signals applied to the piezoelectric body, and information of the drive speed detected by way of the speed detection unit.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

An optical device comprising:
the drive apparatus for a vibration actuator according to claim 1;
a vibration actuator that is driven by way of the drive apparatus for a vibration actuator; and
an optical member that is driven by way of the vibration actuator.

### Claim 4

A drive apparatus that controls driving of a vibration actuator that generates a drive force, by applying two-phase alternating signals having different phases to a piezeoelectric body provided to a vibrating body, the drive apparatus comprising:
a speed control unit that controls a drive speed of the vibration actuator, by causing a frequency of the two-phase alternating signals applied to the piezoelectric body to change; and
a stop determination unit that determines whether the vibration actuator is stopped, wherein
the speed control unit causes the frequency of the alternating signals applied to the piezoelectric body to change so as to approach an electrical resonance frequency, in a case of the stop determination unit having determined that the vibration actuator is stopped.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The drive apparatus according to claim 4, wherein
the speed control unit causes the frequency of the alternating signals applied to the piezoelectric body to change to a rising direction, in a case of the stop determination unit having determined that the vibration actuator is stopped.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The drive apparatus according to claim 4, wherein
the speed control unit causes the frequency of the alternating signals applied to the piezoelectric body to change to a frequency at which the vibration actuator begins driving from a stopped state, in a case of the stop determination unit having determined that the vibration actuator is stopped.

### Claim 7 (depends on 4)

The drive apparatus according to claim 4, wherein
the speed control unit causes the frequency of the alternating signal applied to the piezoelectric body to change to the electrical resonance frequency, in a case of the stop determination unit having determined that the vibration actuator is stopped.

### Claim 8 (depends on 4)

The drive apparatus according to claim 4, wherein
the electrical resonance frequency is a resonance frequency of a capacitance of the piezoelectric body and an inductance of a drive circuit applying the alternating signal to the piezoelectric body.