Abbreviated as USM, and associated with
digital camera terminology,
ultrasonic motor (also called
ultrasonic focus motor ) is a term that is mainly used to describe the motor that controls the movement of the
lens or
focus ring. An ultrasonic focus motor is much quieter (almost near-silent) and also moves the focus lens or ring faster when compared to a standard motor. A USM is able to hold the lens in place with precision and accuracy at the exact instant the lens arrives at the correct focus when using the camera’s
auto focus (AF) feature.
See “Digital Cameras” in the Quick Reference section of Webopedia