Driving apparatus and method using electromechanical conversion elements

A driving apparatus comprising:

• a base;
• multiple displacement members, the base ends of which are fixed to the base and the tip ends of which are combined at one location, said displacement members generating a prescribed displacement,
• a pressure unit that keeps the synthesizing member, at which the tip ends of the displacement members are combined, in pressure contact with the driven member, which comprises the object of driving;
• a driving circuit that impresses drive signals to the displacement members;
• a controller that controls the driving circuit so that the synthesizing member moves in an elliptical path and the drive force is transmitted to the driven member, and
• a first detector that detects the amplitudes of the displacement members and the phase difference therebetween,
• wherein based on the results of detection by the detectors, the amplitudes or phases of the voltages impressed to the displacement members are changed to adjust the elliptical locus of the synthesizing member.