Vibratory motors and methods of making and using same

A vibratory system for moving a driven element, the vibratory system including the driven element and comprising:

• a vibratory element having a driving element comprising one of a piezoelectric element and a magnetorestrictive element in driving communication with a resonator that has a selected contacting portion positioned to drivingly engage the driven element during use of the vibratory system;
• a resilient element having one end connected to a base and an opposing end connected to the vibratory element to resiliently urge the selected contacting portion against the driven element during use of the vibratory system, the vibratory element and the resilient element being configured to cooperate to comprise means for causing the selected contacting portion to move in a first elliptical motion when the vibratory element is excited to simultaneously resonate in at least two vibration modes by a first signal at a single, first frequency with a single phase provided to the driving element, the elliptical motion occurring without engagement with the driven element, the motion being of sufficient amplitude to move the driven element during operation of the system, and with the first elliptical motion having a major axis inclined at an angle β1 with respect to a tangent along a direction of motion of a driven element at the selected contacting portion, with the angle β1 being between about 5-85 degrees when the selected contacting portion is drivingly engaging the driven element during operation of the system.

A vibratory system for moving an object, comprising:

• a driven element having an engaging portion thereon and mounted on a support, the driven element being movable in at least a first direction;
• a vibratory element having a driving element that directly converts electrical energy into physical motion, the driving element being in driving communication with a resonator that has a selected contacting portion positioned to drivingly engage the driven element;
• a resilient element having one end connected to a base and an opposing end connected to one of the vibratory element or the support for the driven element in order to resiliently maintain the selected contacting portion and the engaging portion of the driven element in sufficient contact during operation of the system to move the driven element in the predetermined manner;
• wherein the vibratory element and the resilient element are configured to cooperate to cause the selected contacting portion to move in a first elliptical motion when the vibratory element is excited to simultaneously resonate in at least two vibration modes by a first signal at a first frequency provided to the driving element, the motion being sufficient to move the driven element in the predetermined manner, and wherein at least one of the vibratory element and resilient element is configured to cause the selected contacting portion to move in a second elliptical motion when excited to simultaneously resonate in at least two vibration modes by a second signal at a second frequency differing from the first frequency by at least 1 kHz applied to the driving element so as to cause a different motion of the driven element than occurring with the first frequency.

A vibratory system for moving a driven element, comprising:

• a driven element movable in at least a first direction;
• a vibration source mounted to a resonator to form a vibrating element;
• the vibrating element having a selected contacting portion located to engage and move the driven element, the at least one of the vibration source and vibrating element forming means for moving the selected contacting portion in a first elliptical path, wherein a longitudinal axis of the vibrating element is inclined at an angle α to a tangent to the driven element in the first direction at the selected contacting portion, the angle α being between about 10 and 80 degrees when the selected contacting portion is drivingly engaging the driven element;
• a signal generator providing a first signal at a first, single frequency having a single phase to the vibrating element to cause the elliptical motion;
• a resilient mount connected to the vibrating element.

A vibratory component for moving a driven element in at least two directions, the vibratory component comprising:

• a vibration source mounted to a resonator to form a vibrating element;
• the vibrating element having a selected contacting portion located to engage the driven element during use, the selected contacting portion moving in a first elliptical path having a major axis and minor axis when the vibration source is excited by a first electrical signal to produce at least two vibration modes that are superimposed to create the first elliptical path and move the selected contacting portion a predetermined distance in a first direction, the selected contacting portion moving in a second elliptical path having a major axis and minor axis when the vibration source is excited by a second electrical signal to produce at least two vibration modes that are superimposed to create the second elliptical path and move the selected contacting portion a predetermined distance in a second direction, at least one of the vibration modes is other than a pure longitudinal mode and other than a pure bending mode, the first and second elliptical motions each having a major axis and minor axis, at least one of the axis of the first and second elliptical motions being alignable with the driven element dining use sufficiently to move the driven element during use in two different motions, the second electrical signal differing from the first electrical signal by about 200 Hz or more on either side of the first electrical signal, the vibratory component further comprising a resilient element connected to the vibratory element and being used to achieve at least one of the first and second elliptical motions.

A vibratory system for moving a driven element, the system including the driven element, the system comprising:

• a vibratory element having a source of vibration that converts electrical energy directly to physical motion, the vibratory element having a predominant axis and having a selected contacting portion located to be engaged with the driven element at an angle α to a tangent to the driven element in the first direction at the selected contacting portion, the angle α being between about 10 and 80 degrees when the selected contacting portion is drivingly engaging the driven element, the angle α being selected to move the driven element along a driven path during use, wherein the vibratory element comprises means excited with a first, single electrical signal having a single phase for vibrating at a first frequency in a first vibration mode having sufficient motion along a first axis that the selected contacting portion moves along a first path to cause the driven element to move in a first direction, at least one of a resonator for the vibrating element and a resilient mounting system for the vibrating element being provided and configured to achieve the first path;
• the vibratory element further comprising means excited with a second electrical signal to vibrate at a second frequency in a second vibration mode having sufficient motion that the selected contacting portion moves along a second path to move the driven element in a second direction, at least one of the resonator and resilient mounting system for the vibrating element being provided and configured to achieve the second path.

A vibratory system for moving a driven element in a first and second direction, the system including the driven element and comprising:

• a vibratory element in driving communication with a resonator that has a selected contacting portion positioned to drivingly engage the driven element during use of the vibratory system to move the driven element in the first and second direction, the vibratory element comprising means for moving the selected contacting portion in a first and second elliptical paths each having a major and minor axis, at least one of the major and minor axes not coinciding with the direction of motion resulting from the elliptical path with which the axis is associated, the vibrating element resonating when excited by a first signal having a first frequency to cause the first elliptical path to move the driven element in the first direction, and further resonating when excited by a second signal having a second frequency to cause the second elliptical path to move the driven element in the second direction, each signal being communicated to the vibratory element through the same electrical connection to the vibratory element, the resonator having a longitudinal axis that is inclined at an angle α to a tangent to the driven element in the first direction at the selected contacting portion, the angle α being between about 10 and 80 degrees when the selected contacting portion is drivingly engaging the driven element.

A vibratory component for use with a vibratory system to move a driven clement, the vibratory component having a source of vibration mounted to a resonator to form a vibrating element, the resonator comprising:

• a selected contacting portion located to engage the driven element during use;
• an elongated member having a longitudinal axis;
• an opening defined by at least two opposing sidewalls, the opening further including two opposing first and second end walls on the longitudinal axis, the source of vibration being held in compression under a defined preload by said opposing end walls, the end walls having one of a right-angled corner and a shaped surface leading to at least one of the first and second end walls to help press-fit the vibratory element into the opening;
• a first section extending between a first and a second plane each of which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and spaced apart to completely include the selected contacting portion and spaced no further apart than needed to completely include the selected contacting portion;
• a second section extending between a third and a fourth plane each of which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and spaced apart to completely include the first end wall and any shaped surface leading to the first end wall and spaced no further apart than needed to completely include said first end wall and said shaped surface;
• a third section extending between a fifth and a sixth plane each perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and spaced apart to completely include the second end wall and any shaped surface leading to the second end wall and spaced no further apart than needed to completely embrace said second end wall and any shaped surface leading to said second end wall;
• wherein the resonator has a second axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and having portions of the resonator extending between the second and third planes and extending between the fourth and filth planes such that, excluding the first, second and third sections, every cross-section of the resonator perpendicular to the second axis is the same;
• and
• wherein the vibratory component vibrates in a first mode in the plane spanned by the first and second axes when the source of vibration is excited by a first electrical signal with a single, first frequency, said mode being neither a pure bending nor a pure longitudinal mode of the vibratory component, wherein the resulting motion of the contacting portion has a sufficient amplitude to move the driven element in a first direction when engaged during use of the vibratory component.

A vibratory system for moving a driven element, the vibratory system including the driven element and comprising:

• a vibratory element having a driving element comprising a piezoelectric element in driving communication with a resonator that has a selected contacting portion positioned to drivingly engage the driven element during use of the vibratory system;
• a resilient element having one end connected to a base and an opposing end connected to the vibratory element to resiliently urge the selected contacting portion against the driven element during use of the vibratory system, at least one of the vibratory element and resilient element being configured to cause the selected contacting portion to move in a first motion when the vibratory element is excited by only a first signal at a single, first frequency having a single phase and provided to the driving element, the motion being of sufficient amplitude to move the driven element during operation of the system;
• and
• wherein the resonator has a plurality of sidewalls defining a recess in which the piezoelectric element is held in compression, the sidewalls being stressed past their yield strength.

A vibratory system for moving an object, comprising:

• a driven element having an engaging portion thereon and mounted on a support, the driven element being movable in at least a first direction;
• a vibratory element having a driving element that directly converts electrical energy into physical motion, the driving element being in driving communication with a resonator that has a selected contacting portion positioned to drivingly engage the driven element;
• a resilient element having one end connected to a base and an opposing end connected to one of the vibratory element or the support for the driven element in order to resiliently maintain the selected contacting portion and the engaging portion of the driven element in sufficient contact during operation of the system to move the driven element in the predetermined manner,
• wherein the vibratory element and the resilient element are configured to cooperate to cause the selected contacting portion to move in a first motion when the vibratory element is excited by a first signal at a first frequency provided to the driving element, the motion being sufficient to move the driven element in a first direction, and wherein at least one of the vibratory element and resilient element is configured to cause the selected contacting portion to move in a second motion when excited by a second signal at a second frequency so as to cause of the driven element in a second direction, the second and the first frequency differing by at least 2.5 kHz, and wherein the resonator has a plurality of sidewalls defining a recess in which the piezoelectric element is held in compression, the sidewalls being stressed past their yield strength.

A vibratory system for moving a driven element, comprising:

• a vibratory element having a piezoelectric element in driving communication with a resonator that has a selected contacting portion located to engage the driven element during use of the system;
• wherein the piezoelectric element and resonator are configured to resonate in at least a first vibration mode when the piezoelectric element is excited by a first signal at a first frequency, the resulting motion of the selected contacting portion being of sufficient amplitude to move the driven element in a first direction when the driven element and selected contacting portion are maintained in sufficient contact to achieve a desired motion of the driven element, the first vibration mode being selected so that it is not a pure longitudinal or bending mode of the resonator but is a combination of both pure longitudinal motion and pure bending motion components;
• wherein the piezoelectric element and resonator are configured to resonate in at least a second vibration mode when the piezoelectric element is excited by a second signal at a second frequency, the resulting motion of the selected contacting portion being of sufficient amplitude to move the driven element in a second direction when the driven element and selected contacting portion are maintained in sufficient contact to achieve a desired motion of the driven element, the second vibration mode being selected so that it is not a pure longitudinal or bending mode of the resonator but is a combination of both pure longitudinal motion and pure bending motion components;
• and
• wherein the first and second modes are different, the first and second frequencies differ by at least 2.5 kHz, and the first and second directions are opposite.