Control apparatus and adjustment method for vibratory actuator using a plurality of vibrators, vibratory actuator, and lens unit and optical apparatus using the vibratory actuator

An actuator comprising:

• a driven member;
• a plurality of vibrators configured to move the driven member;
• and
• a control apparatus configured to control an actuator to move the driven member by supplying two alternating-current signals to each of the plurality of vibrators, the control apparatus including a controller configured to acquire a speed of the driven member at the time of driving one or more vibrator (s) of the plurality of vibrators while setting the remaining vibrators to standing wave drive, acquire a speed characteristic of the driven member corresponding to the frequency of the alternating-current signal with respect to the vibrator (s) based on the acquired speed and the frequency of the alternating-current signal supplied to the vibrator (s) at the time of the acquisition of the speed, and reduce a difference in the characteristic among the plurality of vibrators by adjusting at least one of an amplitude of an alternating-current signal to be supplied to the vibrator, a frequency of an alternating-current signal to be supplied to the vibrator, and a phase difference between two alternating-current signals to be supplied to the vibrator, based on the acquired characteristic.

An optical apparatus comprising:

• an image sensor;
• and
• a lens unit configured to guide light to the image sensor, the lens unit including an actuator configured to move a lens included in the lens unit, the actuator including a driven member, a plurality of vibrators configured to move the driven member, and a control apparatus configured to control an actuator to move the driven member by supplying two alternating-current signals to each of the plurality of vibrators, the control apparatus including a controller configured to acquire a speed of the driven member at the time of driving one or more vibrator (s) of the plurality of vibrators while setting the remaining vibrators to standing wave drive, acquire a speed characteristic of the driven member corresponding to the frequency of the alternating-current signal with respect to the vibrator(s) based on the acquired speed and the frequency of the alternating-current signal supplied to the vibrator(s) at the time of the acquisition of the speed, and reduce a difference in the characteristic among the plurality of vibrators by adjusting at least one of an amplitude of an alternating-current signal to be supplied to the vibrator, a frequency of an alternating-current signal to be supplied to the vibrator, and a phase difference between two alternating-current signals to be supplied to the vibrator, based on the acquired characteristic.

A method for adjusting an actuator configured to move one driven member by a plurality of vibrators, the method comprising:

• acquiring a speed of the driven member at the time of driving one or more vibrator(s) of the plurality of vibrators while setting the remaining vibrators to standing wave drive;
• acquiring a speed characteristic of the driven member corresponding to the frequency of the alternating-current signal with respect to the vibrator(s), based on the acquired speed and the frequency of the alternating-current signal supplied to the vibrator(s) at the time of driving the vibrator(s) when the speed is acquired;
• and
• reducing a difference in the characteristic among the plurality of vibrators by adjusting at least one of an amplitude of an alternating-current signal to be supplied to the vibrator, a frequency of an alternating-current signal to be supplied to the vibrator, and a phase difference between two alternating-current signals to be supplied to the vibrator based on the acquired characteristic.