Patent ID: 8174608

Claim:
A drive unit, comprising: a shape memory alloy which is configured to move a driven member, which is biased in a first direction, in a second direction different from the first direction when the shape memory alloy is supplied with electric current; a drive section for supplying the shape memory alloy with electric current; a shape memory alloy resistance calculating section, for calculating a resistance of the shape memory alloy when the shape memory alloy is supplied with the electric current by the drive section, a temperature detection section for detecting an ambient temperature of the shape memory alloy based on the resistance of the shape memory alloy calculated by the shape memory alloy resistance calculating section; and a control section for controlling, based on the ambient temperature detected by the temperature detection section, the drive section to control the shape memory alloy to move the driven member; and a target resistance determining section configured to determine, on the basis of the ambient temperature detected by the temperature detection section, a target resistance which corresponds to a predetermined position to which the driven member is to be driven, wherein the control section causes the drive section to supply an electric current so that the resistance of the shape memory alloy has the same value as the target resistance determined by the target resistance determining section.