Patent ID: 8448434

Claim:
A shape memory alloy drive device that has a drive control portion which is given a target displacement value, displaces the shape memory alloy to the target displacement value as a target by applying a voltage or a current to the shape memory alloy, thereby performing drive control of a movable portion that is connected to the shape memory alloy, the shape memory alloy drive device comprising: a contact detection portion that, based on a change in a drive control value which indicates a magnitude of the voltage or the current applied by the drive control portion, determines whether the movable portion is in contact with a stationary mechanism or not; and a drive limit portion that limits an upper limit of the target displacement value given to the drive control portion if contact is detected based on a determination result from the contact detection portion, wherein the contact detection portion sets a reference drive value between a first drive control value that is a drive control value at which the movable portion and the stationary portion are assumed to come into contact with each other and a second drive control value that is a maximum drive control value controllable by the drive control portion; and determines that the movable portion comes into contact with the stationary mechanism if the drive control value of the drive control portion exceeds the reference drive value.