Patent ID: 8339073

Claim:
A shape memory alloy driver comprising: a displacement detection portion for detecting displacement of a shape memory alloy; and a drive control portion for applying a voltage or current to the shape memory alloy such that a detected displacement value that indicates displacement detected by the displacement detection portion is equal to a target displacement value, and a compensation calculation portion for calculating a compensated displacement value based on the detected displacement value and on a drive control value that indicates an amount of voltage or current applied by the drive control portion, the compensated displacement value compensating for a displacement error of the detected displacement value due to variation in temperature, wherein the drive control portion controls the drive control value such that the compensated displacement value is equal to a target displacement value, wherein the displacement detection portion detects resistance of the shape memory alloy to thereby acquire a detected resistance value, wherein the compensation calculation portion calculates a compensated resistance value based on the drive control value and on the detected resistance value, the compensated resistance value having corrected therein an error of the detected resistance value due to variation in temperature, wherein the drive control portion controls the drive control value such that the compensated resistance value is equal to a target resistance value that indicates a resistance value of the shape memory alloy corresponding to the target displacement value, and wherein the compensation calculation portion calculates the compensated displacement value by use of a displacement detection term, in which the detected displacement value is subjected to calculation using a constant or function, and a temperature compensation term, in which the drive control value is subjected to calculation using a constant or function, and the compensation calculation portion sets the constant or function such that the temperature compensation term has a comparatively small value than the displacement detection term.