Ultrasonic linear motor

Abstract

An ultrasonic linear motor includes a substrate; a vibrator disposed on the substrate having an oblique or curved face at two sides thereof; and a slider having clamping portions at two sides thereof for correspondingly contacting with the two side faces of the vibrator and the substrate surfaces, wherein the vibrator is for generating a driving force to the slider while connecting with a power supply, such that the clamping portions of the slider slides with respect to the two side surfaces of the vibrator and with respect to the substrate surface, thereby generating a linear translation. The present invention adopts a simple structure having few elements that enables easy manufacturing and integration with other elements, thus reducing manufacturing cost.

1 . An ultrasonic linear motor, comprising:
 a substrate;   a vibrator disposed on the substrate and having an oblique or curved face at two sides thereof; and   a slider having clamping portions at two sides thereof for correspondingly contacting with the two side faces of the vibrator and the substrate surfaces,   wherein the vibrator is for generating a driving force to the slider while connecting with a power supply, such that the clamping portions of the slider slides with respect to the two side surfaces of the vibrator and with respect to the substrate surface, thereby generating a linear translation.   
     
     
         2 . The ultrasonic linear motor of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate and the vibrator are fixed to each other via a portion of the vibrator and a corresponding portion of the substrate. 
     
     
         3 . The ultrasonic linear motor of  claim 2 , wherein the substrate and the vibrator are fixed via at least one block in contact with the portion of the vibrator or the corresponding portion of the substrate. 
     
     
         4 . The ultrasonic linear motor of  claim 2 , wherein the substrate includes at least one protrusion for fixing with the vibrator and being in contact with the portion of the vibrator. 
     
     
         5 . The ultrasonic linear motor of  claim 2 , wherein the vibrator includes at least one protrusion for fixing with the substrate and being in contact with the corresponding portion of the substrate. 
     
     
         6 . The ultrasonic linear motor of  claim 1 , wherein the surfaces of the clamping portions of the slider are planar surfaces. 
     
     
         7 . The ultrasonic linear motor of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate and the vibrator include a planar (or curved) plate (or slab). 
     
     
         8 . The ultrasonic linear motor of  claim 1 , wherein the vibrator is made of a piezoelectric material. 
     
     
         9 . The ultrasonic linear motor of  claim 1 , wherein the power supply provides an oscillating voltage with vibrator's resonant frequency. 
     
     
         10 . The ultrasonic linear motor of  claim 9 , wherein a first electrode and a second electrode are disposed adjacent to each other on the surface of the vibrator and facing the substrate, while a ground electrode is disposed on the surface of the vibrator and facing the slider, either the first electrode or the second electrode and the ground electrode are used for connecting with the power supply. 
     
     
         11 . The ultrasonic linear motor of  claim 9 , wherein a ground electrode is disposed on the surface of the vibrator and facing the substrate, and a first electrode and a second electrode are disposed adjacent to each other on the a surface of the vibrator and facing the slider, either the first electrode or the second electrode and the ground electrode are used for connecting with the power supply.