Ultrasonic motor having high drive efficiency

An ultrasonic motor which comprises:

• a stator having a piezoelectric member which is vibrated by a drive signal, and an elastic member, a junction surface of which is coupled to said piezoelectric member, and which generates a traveling vibration wave in a drive surface thereof upon vibration of said piezoelectric member;
• a rotor which is urged against the drive surface of said elastic member and is driven by the generated traveling vibration wave;
• a support member having a thin plate portion contiguous with a peripheral surface of said elastic member, and a thick portion contiguous with a peripheral edge of said thin plate portion and having a larger thickness than that of said thin plate portion, said support member projecting integrally from said elastic member;
• and
• means engaging said thick portion for fixing and supporting said support member,
• wherein one end face of said thick portion is formed at the same level as said junction surface of said elastic member, and an opposite end face of said thick portion is formed at the same level as said drive surface of said elastic member.

An ultrasonic motor which comprises:

• a stator having a piezoelectric member which is vibrated by a drive signal, and an elastic member, a junction surface of which is coupled to said piezoelectric member, and which generates a traveling vibration wave in a drive surface thereof upon vibration of said piezoelectric member;
• a rotor which is urged against the drive surface of said elastic member and is driven by the generated traveling vibration wave;
• a support member having a thin plate portion contiguous with an innermost peripheral surface of said elastic member, and a thick portion contiguous with an inner peripheral edge of said thin plate portion and having a larger thickness than that of said thin plate portion, said support member projecting integrally from said elastic member;
• and
• means engaging said thick portion for fixing and supporting said support member,
• wherein one end face of said thick portion and said junction surface of said elastic member are formed at the same level.

An ultrasonic motor which comprises:

• a stator having a piezoelectric member which is vibrated by a drive signal, and an elastic member, a junction surface of which is coupled to said piezoelectric member, and which generates a traveling vibration wave in a drive surface thereof upon vibration of said piezoelectric member;
• a rotor which is urged against the drive surface of said elastic member and is driven by the generated traveling vibration wave;
• a support member having a thin plate portion contiguous with an outermost peripheral surface of said elastic member, and a thick portion contiguous with an outer peripheral edge of said thin plate portion and having a larger thickness than that of said thin plate portion, said support member projecting integrally from said elastic member;
• and
• means engaging said thick portion for fixing and supporting said support member,
• wherein said means for fixing and supporting said support member comprises a member into which said thick portion is threaded.