SMA actuator driving device, and image pickup device incorporated with the same

1. A shape memory alloy actuator driving device for expanding and contracting a shape memory alloy member by increasing and decreasing a temperature of the shape memory alloy member through application and suspending application of a drive current from a driving circuit to the shape memory alloy member to displace a driven member linked to the shape memory alloy member to an intended position, the shape memory alloy actuator driving device comprising:

a constant current source for applying a predetermined constant current to the shape memory alloy member, as a retrieval signal;

a detector for detecting a voltage between terminals of the shape memory alloy member by the retrieval signal; and

a controller for comparing a detection result of the detector, with a target voltage value to be calculated based on a target resistance value of the shape memory alloy member corresponding to the intended displaced position of the driven member, and a value of the constant current, and causing the driving circuit to output, to the shape memory alloy member, a drive current that makes the detection result substantially equal to the target voltage value, wherein

the driving circuit includes a switching element for switching over between a current to be outputted from a variable current source in the driving circuit, and the retrieval signal to be outputted from the constant current source to apply the switched current to the shape memory alloy member, and

the controller controls a value of the current to be outputted from the variable current source in such a manner that the detection result of the detector is substantially equal to the target voltage value, and causes the detector to detect the terminal voltage of the shape memory alloy member during a time when the switching element is switched to the constant current source.

2. A shape memory alloy actuator driving device for expanding and contracting a shape memory alloy member by increasing and decreasing a temperature of the shape memory alloy member through application and suspending application of a drive current from a driving circuit to the shape memory alloy member to displace a driven member linked to the shape memory alloy member to an intended position, the shape memory alloy actuator driving device comprising:

a constant current source for applying a predetermined constant current to the shape memory alloy member, as a retrieval signal;

a detector for detecting a voltage between terminals of the shape memory alloy member by the retrieval signal; and

a controller for comparing a detection result of the detector, with a target voltage value to be calculated based on a target resistance value of the shape memory alloy member corresponding to the intended displaced position of the driven member, and a value of the constant current, and causing the driving circuit to output, to the shape memory alloy member, a drive current that makes the detection result substantially equal to the target voltage value, wherein

the driving circuit includes a switching element for switching over between a current to be outputted from a variable current source in the driving circuit, and the retrieval signal to be outputted from the constant current source to apply the switched current to the shape memory alloy member, and

the controller controls a value of the current to be outputted from the variable current source and a duty ratio of the switching element in such a manner that the detection result of the detector is substantially equal to the target voltage value, and causes the detector to detect the terminal voltage of the shape memory alloy member during a time when the switching element is switched to the constant current source.

3. An image pickup device, comprising:

a shape memory alloy actuator driving device for expanding and contracting a shape memory alloy member by increasing and decreasing a temperature of the shape memory alloy member through application and suspending application of a drive current from a driving circuit to the shape memory alloy member to displace a driven member linked to the shape memory alloy member to an intended position, the shape memory alloy actuator driving device including:

a constant current source for applying a predetermined constant current to the shape memory alloy member, as a retrieval signal;

a detector for detecting a voltage between terminals of the shape memory alloy member by the retrieval signal; and

a controller for feedback controlling the drive current by comparing each of a plurality of detection results of the detector taken during a driving operation, with a target voltage value to be calculated based on a target resistance value of the shape memory alloy member corresponding to the intended displaced position of the driven member, and a value of the constant current, and causing the driving circuit to output, to the shape memory alloy member, based on a result of a comparison for each of the plurality of detection results, a drive current that makes a subsequent detection result substantially equal to the target voltage value, following the detection of each of the plurality of detection results taken during the driving operation, wherein

the driving circuit includes a switching element for switching over between a current to be outputted from a variable current source in the driving circuit, and the retrieval signal to be outputted from the constant current source to apply the switched current to the shape memory alloy member, and

the controller controls a value of the current to be outputted from the variable current source in such a manner that the detection result of the detector is substantially equal to the target voltage value, and causes the detector to detect the terminal voltage of the shape memory alloy member during a time when the switching element is switched to the constant current source.

4. An image pickup device, comprising:

a shape memory alloy actuator driving device for expanding and contracting a shape memory alloy member by increasing and decreasing a temperature of the shape memory alloy member through application and suspending application of a drive current from a driving circuit to the shape memory alloy member to displace a driven member linked to the shape memory alloy member to an intended position, the shape memory alloy actuator driving device including:

a constant current source for applying a predetermined constant current to the shape memory alloy member, as a retrieval signal;

a detector for detecting a voltage between terminals of the shape memory alloy member by the retrieval signal; and

a controller for feedback controlling the drive current by comparing each of a plurality of detection results of the detector taken during a driving operation, with a target voltage value to be calculated based on a target resistance value of the shape memory alloy member corresponding to the intended displaced position of the driven member, and a value of the constant current, and causing the driving circuit to output, to the shape memory alloy member, based on a result of a comparison for each of the plurality of detection results, a drive current that makes a subsequent detection result substantially equal to the target voltage value, following the detection of each of the plurality of detection results taken during the driving operation, wherein

the driving circuit includes a switching element for switching over between a current to be outputted from a variable current source in the driving circuit, and the retrieval signal to be outputted from the constant current source, to apply the switched current to the shape memory alloy member, and

the controller controls a value of the current to be outputted from the variable current source and a duty ratio of the switching element in such a manner that the detection result of the detector is substantially equal to the target voltage value, and causes the detector to detect the terminal voltage of the shape memory alloy member during a time when the switching element is switched to the constant current source.

5. A shape memory alloy actuator driving device for expanding and contracting a shape memory alloy member by increasing and decreasing a temperature of the shape memory alloy member through application and suspending application of a drive current from a driving circuit to the shape memory alloy member to displace a driven member linked to the shape memory alloy member to an intended position, the shape memory alloy actuator driving device comprising:

a constant current source for applying a predetermined constant current to the shape memory alloy member, as a retrieval signal;

a detector for detecting a voltage between terminals of the shape memory alloy member by the retrieval signal; and

a controller for comparing a detection result of the detector, with a target voltage value to be calculated based on a target resistance value of the shape memory alloy member corresponding to the intended displaced position of the driven member, and a value of the constant current, and causing the driving circuit to output, to the shape memory alloy member, a drive current that makes the detection result substantially equal to the target voltage value, wherein

the controller controls a switching over between a current to be outputted from a variable current source in the driving circuit, and the retrieval signal to be outputted from the constant source, to apply the switched current to the shape memory alloy member, and

the controller controls a value of the current to be outputted from the variable current source in such a manner that the detection result of the detector is substantially equal to the target voltage value, and causes the detector to detect the terminal voltage of the shape memory alloy member during a time when the retrieval signal to be outputted from the constant current source is applied to the shape memory alloy member.

6. A shape memory alloy actuator driving device for expanding and contracting a shape memory alloy member by increasing and decreasing a temperature of the shape memory alloy member through application and suspending application of a drive current, the shape memory alloy actuator driving device comprising:

a driving circuit configured to apply a predetermined constant current to the shape memory alloy member, as a retrieval signal and to apply a variable current to the shape memory alloy member to displace a driven member, as a driven current, linked to the shape memory alloy member to an intended position;

a detector for detecting a voltage between terminals of the shape memory alloy member by the retrieval signal; and

a controller for comparing a detection result of the detector, with a target voltage value to be calculated based on a target resistance value of the shape memory alloy member corresponding to the intended displaced position of the driven member, and a value of the constant current, and causing the driving circuit to output, to the shape memory alloy member, a drive current that makes the detection result substantially equal to the target voltage value, wherein

the controller controls a switching over between the variable current and the retrieval signal to be outputted from the driving circuit, to apply the switched current to the shape memory alloy member, and

the controller controls a value of the variable current to be outputted from the driving circuit in such a manner that the detection result of the detector is substantially equal to the target voltage value, and causes the detector to detect the terminal voltage of the shape memory alloy member when the retrieval signal is applied to the shape memory alloy member.