US Patent 7215063 Vibration element and vibration wave driving apparatus

A vibration element for a vibration wave driving apparatus includes a first elastic member, a second elastic member, and an electro-mechanical energy conversion element disposed between the first and second elastic members. The electro-mechanical energy conversion element generates in the vibration element at least one of a plurality of vibration modes. Each vibration mode is generated in accordance with a frequency of a driving signal applied to the electro-mechanical energy conversion element and has the same direction of displacement, but has a different relative ratio between displacements of respective ends of the vibration element.