Linear driving mechanism for driving driven object, image pickup apparatus, lens barrel, and stage moving apparatus

An image pickup apparatus, comprising:

• a linear driving mechanism;
• an optical member held by a driven object;
• and
• a guiding member configured to guide the driven object along a movement direction of a moving body,
• wherein the linear driving mechanism includes:
• a first vibration element and a second vibration element, the first and second vibration elements being disposed in touch with a friction member so that the friction member is sandwiched between the first and second vibration elements;
• a first holding member configured to hold the first vibration element, the first holding member being rotatably supported by a first shaft extending parallel to the movement direction of the moving body;
• a second holding member configured to hold the second vibration element, the second holding member being rotatably supported by a second shaft extending parallel to the movement direction;
• an urging part configured to move the first holding member around the first shaft to press the first vibration element against the friction member, and to move the second holding member around the second shall to press the second vibration element against the friction member;
• a coupling member configured to couple the first holding member or the second holding member with the driven object;
• and
• a pressing part configured to press the coupling member against the moving body,
• wherein a direction of a pressing force of the pressing part intersects with the first shaft when the coupling member couples with the first holding member, and the direction of the pressing force of the pressing part intersects with the second shaft when the coupling member couples with the second holding member.

A lens barrel comprising:

• a linear driving mechanism;
• an optical member held by a driven object;
• and
• a guiding member con figured to guide the driven object along a movement direction of a moving body,
• wherein the linear driving mechanism includes:
• a first vibration element and a second vibration element, the first and second vibration elements being disposed in touch with a friction member so that the friction member is sandwiched between the first and second vibration elements;
• a first holding member configured to hold the first vibration element, the first holding member being rotatably supported by a first shaft extending parallel to the movement direction of the moving body;
• a second holding member configured to hold the second vibration element, the second holding member being rotatably supported by a second shaft extending parallel to the movement direction;
• an urging part configured to move the first holding member around the first shaft to press the first vibration element against the friction member, and to move the second holding member around the second shaft to press the second vibration element against the friction member;
• a coupling member configured to couple the first holding member or the second holding member with the driven object;
• and
• a pressing part configured to press the coupling member against the moving body,
• wherein a direction of a pressing force of the pressing part intersects with the first shaft when the coupling member couples with the first holding member, and the direction of the pressing force of the pressing part intersects with the second shaft when the coupling member couples with the second holding member.

A linear driving mechanism comprising:

• a first vibration element and a second vibration element, the first and second vibration elements being disposed in touch with a friction member so that the friction member is sandwiched between the first and second vibration elements;
• a first holding member configured to hold the first vibration element the first holding member being rotatably supported by a first shaft extending parallel to a movement direction of a moving body;
• a second holding member configured to hold the second vibration element, the second holding member being rotatably supported by a second shaft extending parallel to the movement direction;
• an urging part configured to move the first holding member around the first shaft to press the first vibration element against the friction member, and to move the second holding member around the second shaft to press the second vibration element against the friction member;
• a coupling member configured to couple the first holding member or the second holding member with a driven object;
• a pressing part configured to press the coupling member against the moving body;
• and
• a balancing structure configured to achieves balance between a pressing force of the first vibration element to the friction member and a pressing force of the second vibration element to the friction member.

An image pickup apparatus comprising:

• a linear driving mechanism;
• an optical member held by a driven object;
• and
• a guiding member configured to guide the driven object along a movement direction of a moving body,
• wherein the linear driving mechanism includes:
• a first vibration element and a second vibration element, the first and second vibration elements being disposed in touch with a friction member so that the friction member is sandwiched between the first and second vibration elements;
• a first holding member configured to hold the first vibration element, the first holding member being rotatably supported by a first shaft extending parallel to the movement direction of the moving body;
• a second holding member configured to hold the second vibration element, the second holding member being rotatably supported by a second shaft extending parallel to the movement direction;
• an urging part configured to move the first holding member around the first shaft to press the first vibration element against the friction member, and to move the second holding member around the second shaft to press the second vibration element against the friction member;
• a coupling member configured to couple the first holding member or the second holding member with the driven object;
• a pressing part configured to press the coupling member against the moving body;
• and
• a balancing structure configured to achieve a balance between a pressing force of the first vibration element to the friction member and a pressing force of the second vibration element to the friction member.

A lens barrel comprising:

• a linear driving mechanism;
• an optical member held by a driven object;
• and
• a guiding member configured to guide the driven object along a movement direction of a moving body,
• wherein the linear driving mechanism includes:
• a first vibration element and a second vibration element, the first and second vibration elements being disposed in touch with a friction member so that the friction member is sandwiched between the first and second vibration elements;
• a first holding member configured to hold the first vibration element, the first holding member being rotatably supported by a first shaft extending parallel to the movement direction of the moving body;
• a second holding member configured to hold the second vibration element, the second holding member being rotatably supported by a second shaft extending parallel to the movement direction;
• an urging part configured to move the first holding member around the first shaft to press the first vibration element against the friction member, and to move the second holding member around the second shaft to press the second vibration element against the friction member;
• a coupling member configured to couple the first holding member or the second holding member with the driven object;
• a pressing part configured to press the coupling member against the moving body;
• and
• a balancing structure configured to achieve a balance between a pressing force of the first vibration element to the friction member and a pressing force of the second vibration element to the friction member.