Patent ID: 8456772

Claim:
A piezoelectric actuator comprising: a plurality of piezoelectric members each including a first piezoelectric element deformable in a first direction and a second piezoelectric element deformable in a second direction intersecting the first direction, the plurality of piezoelectric members being divided into a plurality of groups; a relative movement member that includes a contact surface in contact with the piezoelectric members and relatively moves in the first direction with respect to the piezoelectric members; and a driving unit configured to drive a first piezoelectric element of a piezoelectric member of a group such that the relative movement member relatively moves in the first direction, when the piezoelectric member of the group among the plurality of groups is in contact with the contact surface, and to drive a second piezoelectric element of another piezoelectric member of another group of the plurality of groups such that another piezoelectric member of another group separates from the contact surface while driving the first piezoelectric element of the piezoelectric member of the group.