Abstract: A drive circuit for driving a piezoelectric (PZ) stack, in response to an excitation voltage, generates a dimensional strain varying along a sinusoidal waveform in a PZ stack by applying an excitation voltage intermittently to a series connection of the PZ stack and a winding via a first switching circuit, and then releases the charge of the PZ stack intermittently via a second switching circuit. A control circuit controls the first and second switching circuits by generating a first and second drive pulse stream so that the charge voltage of the PZ stack returns to its initial state in a period of the first and second drive pulse streams. The charge stored in the PZ stack is released fully and quickly before the application of the next pulse voltage without the use of a resistor, and the resonance current which flows through the PZ stack is constant, thereby allowing the PZ stack to be fully discharged without requiring an exclusive path.