Patent ID: 7723896

Claim:
A driving mechanism using shape memory alloys comprising: a module wherein a first and a second shape memory alloy coils connected mutually in series in the axis direction, a drive member, and a fixing member are provided on one common substrate; a magnetic latch to hold said drive member; and a drive circuit to supply electricity to said first and the second shape memory alloy coils; said magnetic latch is made of a magnet plate and a plurality of magnetic bodies provided to said drive member; characterized in that said drive member is connected to the first and the second shape memory alloys coils and extending in the axis direction, said magnetic latch is made of a magnet plate and a plurality of magnetic bodies provided to said drive member, said magnet plate of said magnetic latch is provided with a penetration hole through which said drive member is penetrated without contact and said magnet plate is magnetized in the axis direction of said drive member, said magnetic bodies are arranged mutually separated in the axis direction of the drive member, said first and the second shape memory alloy coils are selectively heated by electrical driving by said drive circuit, said drive member is moved in the axis direction by compressing or extending of the heated first or the second shape memory alloy coils, and said drive member is fixed and held in the axis direction by magnetically fixed to said magnetic latch.