# US 12,214,379 B2 · Vibratory actuator control apparatus and imaging apparatus using the same

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- Number: US 12,214,379 B2
- Document ID: US12214379B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/938,305
- Filed: 2022-10-05
- Published: 2023-04-13
- Granted: 2025-02-04
- Earliest claimed: 2021-10-07
- Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
- Applicants: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
- Inventors: Akio Atsuta; Hiromitsu Morita; Taiga Nagata
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12214379B2

## CPC

- B06B 1/0215: {for generating pulses, e.g. bursts of oscillations, envelopes}
- B06B 1/023: {and stepped in amplitude, e.g. square wave, 2-level signal}
- B06B 1/0238: {of a single frequency, e.g. a sine-wave}
- G03B 5/02: Lateral adjustment of lens
- G03B 13/34: Power focusing
- H04N 23/55: Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
- H04N 23/60: Control of cameras or camera modules
- H04N 23/672: {based on the phase difference signals}
- G03B 2205/0046: Movement of one or more optical elements for zooming
- G03B 2205/0061: using piezoelectric actuators
- H04N 23/6812: {based on additional sensors, e.g. acceleration sensors}
- H04N 23/687: {by shifting the lens or sensor position}
- B06B: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR GENERATING OR TRANSMITTING MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS OF INFRASONIC, SONIC, OR ULTRASONIC FREQUENCY, {e.g.} FOR PERFORMING MECHANICAL WORK IN GENERAL (for particular applications, see the relevant subclasses, e.g. B07B1/40, B23Q17/12, B24B31/06; measurement of mechanical vibrations G01H; in direction finding, locating, distance or velocity measuring G01S; {generating seismic energy G01V1/02}; control of mechanical vibrations in general G05D; sound-producing devices, e.g. bells, sirens, whistles G10K, {e.g. methods or devices for transmitting, conducting, or directing sound in general G10K11/00}; generation of electrical oscillations H03B; electromechanical resonators in general H03H; electromechanical transducers {for communication techniques, e.g. microphones, speakers} H04R)
- 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)
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

## Abstract

A vibratory actuator control apparatus includes a vibrating member, having an electro-mechanical energy conversion element, and a contact member that contacts the vibrating member. In a second case where the vibrating member and the contact member are brought from a stationary state to a stopped state, an operation sequentially passes through a third stage and a fourth stage. The third stage is for decelerating a relative movement driving speed by applying a driving voltage to the electro-mechanical energy conversion element while maintaining a control parameter of the driving voltage constant and increasing a driving frequency. The fourth stage is for decelerating the driving speed by applying the driving voltage to the electro-mechanical energy conversion element while maintaining the driving frequency constant and decreasing the control parameter of the driving voltage. A start frequency is set based on the driving frequency corresponding to a predetermined driving speed in the third stage.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A vibratory actuator control apparatus comprising:
a vibrating member having an electro-mechanical energy conversion element;
a contact member configured to come into contact with the vibrating member; and
a controller configured to control relative movements of the vibrating member and the contact member due to vibrations to be generated when a driving voltage is applied to the electro-mechanical energy conversion element,
wherein, in a first case where the vibrating member and the contact member are brought from a stopped state to a stationary state, an operation sequentially passes through a first stage and a second stage,
wherein, in a second case where the vibrating member and the contact member are brought from the stationary state to the stopped state, the operation sequentially passes through a third stage and a fourth stage,
wherein the first stage is for accelerating a driving speed of the relative movements by applying the driving voltage while maintaining a driving frequency of the driving voltage at a start frequency and increasing a control parameter of the driving voltage,
wherein the second stage is for accelerating the driving speed by applying the driving voltage while maintaining the control parameter of the driving voltage constant and decreasing the driving frequency from the start frequency,
wherein the third stage is for decelerating the driving speed by applying the driving voltage while maintaining the control parameter of the driving voltage constant and increasing the driving frequency,
wherein the fourth stage is for decelerating the driving speed by applying the driving voltage while maintaining the driving frequency constant and decreasing the control parameter of the driving voltage,
wherein a next start frequency is set based on the driving frequency corresponding to a predetermined driving speed in the third stage,
wherein the next start frequency is the driving frequency corresponding to the predetermined driving speed in the third stage and corrected by a predetermined correction value, and
wherein the predetermined correction value is calculated based on a deceleration inclination in a deceleration operation to decelerate the driving speed in the third stage, an acceleration in the deceleration operation, and an inertia of a vibratory actuator driven by the vibratory actuator control apparatus and a driven member driven by the vibratory actuator.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The vibratory actuator control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control parameter of the driving voltage is a pulse width.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

An imaging apparatus comprising:
a lens group;
an image sensor configured to capture an optical image formed by the lens group;
a vibratory actuator configured to drive the lens group; and
the vibratory actuator control apparatus according to claim 1 configured to drive the vibratory actuator.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

An imaging apparatus comprising:
a lens group;
an image sensor configured to capture an optical image formed by the lens group;
a vibratory actuator configured to drive the image sensor; and
the vibratory actuator control apparatus according to claim 1 configured to drive the vibratory actuator.