Patent ID: 7271522

Claim:
A driving device comprising: an electromechanical transducer that extends and contracts upon application of voltage thereto, a support member that slidably supports a movable body and is displaced together with the electromechanical transducer to which the support member is connected, and a drive circuit that applies the voltage to the electromechanical transducer, wherein applied to the electromechanical transducer by the drive circuit is the voltage which increases or decreases from a first voltage to a last voltage in a stepped manner and in which at least three values sequentially circulates, the movable body is relatively moved with respect to the support member by making a difference between an extension velocity and a contraction velocity when the electromechanical transducer extends and contracts upon application of the voltage thereto, and a period of time for which the first voltage is applied is changeable.