초록 ▼

Two shape memory alloy members d7 and d8 are connected to a movable member. Continuously, one and then the other of the shape memory alloy members d7 is heated alternately by application of a voltage or current thereto so that, by the generated force exerted by one shape memory alloy member d7 defor

Two shape memory alloy members d7 and d8 are connected to a movable member. Continuously, one and then the other of the shape memory alloy members d7 is heated alternately by application of a voltage or current thereto so that, by the generated force exerted by one shape memory alloy member d7 deformed by being heated, the other shape memory alloy member d8 is deformed and the movable member is moved. The shape memory alloy members d7 and d8 are made of a Ti?Ni?Cu alloy subjected to heat treatment at 300° C. or higher, and has an operating temperature of 70° C. or higher.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A driving apparatus, comprising:a shape memory alloy member connected to a movable member; and an electric supplier for heating the shape memory alloy member by applying a voltage or current thereto, the supplier making the shape memory alloy member expand and contract, through generation of heat

1. A driving apparatus, comprising:a shape memory alloy member connected to a movable member; and an electric supplier for heating the shape memory alloy member by applying a voltage or current thereto, the supplier making the shape memory alloy member expand and contract, through generation of heat based on the application by the supplier and through dissipation of heat therefrom resulting from suspension of the application by the supplier, so as to drive the movable member to move, wherein the shape memory alloy member is configured to operate at a temperature of 70° C. or higher, and the driving apparatus is for driving a hand shake correction apparatus and includes an actuator that is controlled by a servo and whose temperature is controlled continuously, the driving apparatus further comprising: a loading mechanism for loading the movable member with a force that acts in the direction opposite to that exerted by the shape memory alloy, wherein by operating the shape memory alloy at a temperature of 70° C. or higher, hand shake by the hand shake correction apparatus can be corrected. 2. The driving apparatus as claimed in claim 1,wherein temperature hysteresis of an amount of expansion and contraction of the shape memory alloy member in relation to a temperature thereof during heat application and heat dissipation has a width of 20° C. or smaller. 3. The driving apparatus as claimed in claim 1,wherein the shape memory alloy member is made of a Ti?Ni?Cu alloy. 4. The driving apparatus as claimed in claim 3,wherein the shape memory alloy member has been subjected to heat treatment at a temperature of 300° C. or higher. 5. The driving apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:a cooler for cooling the shape memory alloy member, wherein the movable member is driven to move by making the shape memory alloy member expand and contract through generation of heat based on the application by the supplier and through dissipation of heat therefrom by suspension of the application by the supplier and by cooling by the cooler, and the driving apparatus is an actuator that is controlled by a servo and whose temperature is controlled continuously. 6. A driving apparatus, comprising:a shape memory alloy member connected to a movable member; a second shape memory alloy member connected to the movable member; a driving controller for heating in turn the shape memory alloy members by applying a voltage or current thereto so that the movable member is driven to move by a generated force exerted by the shape memory alloy member deformed by being heated; and an overheating preventer for preventing overheating of the shape memory alloy member that is being heated, wherein one of the shape memory alloy members is repeatedly deformed by application of heat so as to exert a force to and thereby deform the other shape memory alloy member in order to thereby drive the moveable member, and energization of the shape memory alloy member that is deformed by application of heat is so controlled as to prevent a temperature of this shape memory alloy member from becoming unduly high when this shape memory alloy member in turn becomes a target to be deformed by the force exerted as a result of the other shape memory member being heated. 7. The driving apparatus as claimed in claim 6, further comprising:a position sensor for detecting a position of the movable member, wherein the overheating preventer is a noise reducer that reduces noise in a position signal obtained from the position sensor. 8. The driving apparatus as claimed in claim 6,wherein the noise reducer reduces noise in a reference signal. 9. The driving apparatus as claimed in claim 6,wherein the noise reducer is a low-pass filter with a high-order feedback loop delay limit. 10. The driving apparatus as claimed in claim 6,wherein the overheat preventer is an applied-voltage dead-band provider that provides a dead band in the voltage applied to the shape memory alloy member. 11. The driving apparatus as claimed in claim 10,wherein the applied-voltage dead-band provider is a diode. 12. A driving apparatus comprising:a pair of shape memory alloy members connected to a movable member; a driving controller for heating one of the shape memory alloy members by applying a voltage or current thereto, said one of the shape memory alloy members, as a result of being heated and thereby deformed, moves the moveable member while simultaneously deforming the other shape memory alloy member of the pair of shape memory alloy members; and an overheating predictor for predicting overheating by detecting a sign of upcoming overheating of the shape memory alloy member before an overheating temperature is reached, wherein the driving controller restrains or suspends energization of the shape memory alloy member when a result of detection by the overheating predictor indicates, before overheating, a predetermined temperature which is lower than the overheating temperature and predicts upcoming overheating. 13. The driving apparatus as claimed in claim 12,wherein the overheating predictor is a temperature sensor that detects a temperature of the shape memory alloy member. 14. The driving apparatus as claimed in claim 12, further comprising:a second shape memory alloy member connected to the movable member, wherein the driving controller continuously heats one and then the other of the shape memory alloy members alternately by applying a voltage or current thereto so that, by a generated force exerted by one shape memory alloy member deformed by being heated, the other shape memory alloy member is deformed and the movable member is driven to move. 15. A driving apparatus, comprising:a shape memory alloy member connected to a movable member; a driving controller for heating the shape memory alloy member by applying a voltage or current thereto so that the movable member is driven to move by a generated force exerted by the shape memory alloy member deformed by being heated; an overheating preventer for preventing overheating of the shape memory alloy member; and a position sensor for detecting a position of the movable member, wherein the overheating preventer is a noise reducer that reduces noise in a position signal obtained from the position sensor. 16. The driving apparatus as claimed in claim 15,wherein the noise reducer reduces noise in a reference signal. 17. The driving apparatus as claimed in claim 15,wherein the noise reducer is a low-pass filter with a high-order feedback loop delay limit.