Abstract: An optical driving device includes: a movable portion to which an optical element is attachable; a drive portion which movably holds the movable portion; and a fixing portion which holds the drive portion, in which each end portion of a first shaft provided in the drive portion and slidably holding the movable portion and each end portion of a second shaft provided separately from the drive portion and slidably supporting the movable portion are fixed to the fixing portion. A diameter of the first shaft is larger than a diameter of the second shaft and a distance between fixing positions of the fixing portion to which each end portion of the first shaft is fixed is smaller than a distance between fixing positions of the fixing portion to which each end portion of the second shaft is fixed.

Abstract: A drive apparatus includes an actuator, an engaging body configured to frictionally engage the actuator, and an optical-path-changing member configured so as to be magnetically linked to the engaging body, and configured to change the direction of an optical path. The actuator causes the engaging body to move in a first direction and in a second direction opposite to the first direction. The optical-path-changing member moves due to being biased by the engaging body when the engaging body has moved in the first direction, and the optical-path-changing member moves following movement of the engaging body due to magnetic attraction when the engaging body has moved in the second direction.

Abstract: An optical driving device includes: a movable portion to which an optical element is attachable; a drive portion which movably holds the movable portion; and a fixing portion which holds the drive portion, in which each end portion of a first shaft provided in the drive portion and slidably holding the movable portion and each end portion of a second shaft provided separately from the drive portion and slidably supporting the movable portion are fixed to the fixing portion. A diameter of the first shaft is larger than a diameter of the second shaft and a distance between fixing positions of the fixing portion to which each end portion of the first shaft is fixed is smaller than a distance between fixing positions of the fixing portion to which each end portion of the second shaft is fixed.

Abstract: A lens driving device includes a first column portion rising from a base member toward a movable element side and configured to limit a moving range of the movable element moved by a piezoelectric actuator, and a case covering the base member so as to accommodate the movable element, the piezoelectric actuator, a lens carrier, and a column portion. The first column portion abuts on an inner surface of the case.

Abstract: A lens drive unit that prevents an actuator from being inclined is provided. In the lens drive unit, when a lens frame is displaced in a direction orthogonal to a direction in which the actuator extends and contracts with respect to a base member by, for example, impact from an outside of the lens drive unit, a drive shaft of the actuator abuts on a first lateral wall and a column, so that the actuator is prevented from being inclined with respect to the base member.

Abstract: A lens drive unit that offers enhanced reliability in connection between an actuator electrode and an electric wire is provided. In the lens drive unit, an actuator has a weight housed in an holding portion of a base member and is thereby fixed in the base member. Electrodes on a lateral surface of the weight directly contact respective terminal electrodes on an inner lateral surface of the holding portion, so that an electrical connection is established therebetween. The arrangement enhances reliability in connection between the actuator electrodes and the terminal electrodes.

Abstract: An X-axis movable object holding portion to hold an X-axis movable object is provided at a position facing an X-axis actuator in a base member. A Y-axis movable object holding portion to hold a Y-axis movable object is provided at a position facing a Y-axis actuator in the X-axis movable object. An X-axis stopper mechanism for restricting a movement range of the X-axis movable object is provided in the base member. A Y-axis stopper mechanism for restricting a movement range of the Y-axis movable object is provided in the X-axis movable object.

Abstract: A lens driving device includes a base member, a movable element movable with respect to the base member, a piezoelectric actuator configured to move the movable element, a base-member-side urging part, and a movable-element-side urging part. The base-member-side urging part urges the movable element toward the base member side. The movable-element-side urging part urges the piezoelectric actuator toward the movable element side.

Abstract: A drive apparatus includes an actuator, an engaging body configured to frictionally engage the actuator, and an optical-path-changing member configured so as to be magnetically linked to the engaging body, and configured to change the direction of an optical path. The actuator causes the engaging body to move in a first direction and in a second direction opposite to the first direction. The optical-path-changing member moves due to being biased by the engaging body when the engaging body has moved in the first direction, and the optical-path-changing member moves following movement of the engaging body due to magnetic attraction when the engaging body has moved in the second direction.

Abstract: A lens drive for driving a lens having, in seriatum along the optical axis of the lens, a base member, an X-axis movable object, a Y-axis movable object and a lens carrier. The base member, the X-axis movable object, the Y-axis movable object and the lens carrier overlap circumferentially around the optical axis in the direction of the optical axis. A first conductive suspension wire connects wiring of the Y-axis movable object and the base member. A second conductive suspension wire connects wiring of the X-axis movable object and the base member. The first and second conductive suspension wires have substantially the same length.

Abstract: An X-axis movable object holding portion to hold an X-axis movable object to be movable in an X-axis direction is provided at a position facing an X-axis actuator with an optical axis between the X-axis movable object holding portion and the X-axis actuator in a base member. A Y-axis movable object holding portion to hold a Y-axis movable object to be movable in a Y-axis direction is provided at a position facing a Y-axis actuator with the optical axis between the Y-axis movable object holding portion and the Y-axis actuator in the X-axis movable object. An auxiliary member supports a carrier actuator to move a lens carrier. In the lens carrier, a movement of the direction of the optical axis is regulated by a carrier stopper mechanism.

Abstract: A gravity center obtained by combining a gravity center of an X-axis movable object, a gravity center of a Y-axis movable object, and a gravity center of a lens carrier is located in a triangle, as vertexes, having a contact portion in which an X-axis friction engagement portion comes into contact with an X-axis drive shaft, a contact portion in which a first X-axis support portion comes into contact with an X-axis movable object holding portion, and a contact portion in which a second X-axis support portion comes into contact with the X-axis movable object holding portion.

Abstract: A lens driving device includes a base member, a movable element movable with respect to the base member, a piezoelectric actuator configured to move the movable element, a base-member-side urging part, and a movable-element-side urging part. The base-member-side urging part urges the movable element toward the base member side. The movable-element-side urging part urges the piezoelectric actuator toward the movable element side.

Abstract: A lens driving device includes a first column portion rising from a base member toward a movable element side and configured to limit a moving range of the movable element moved by a piezoelectric actuator, and a case covering the base member so as to accommodate the movable element, the piezoelectric actuator, a lens carrier, and a column portion. The first column portion abuts on an inner surface of the case.

Abstract: A gravity center obtained by combining a gravity center of an X-axis movable object, a gravity center of a Y-axis movable object, and a gravity center of a lens carrier is located in a triangle, as vertexes, having a contact portion in which an X-axis friction engagement portion comes into contact with an X-axis drive shaft, a contact portion in which a first X-axis support portion comes into contact with an X-axis movable object holding portion, and a contact portion in which a second X-axis support portion comes into contact with the X-axis movable object holding portion.

Abstract: An X-axis movable object holding portion to hold an X-axis movable object is provided at a position facing an X-axis actuator in a base member. A Y-axis movable object holding portion to hold a Y-axis movable object is provided at a position facing a Y-axis actuator in the X-axis movable object. An X-axis stopper mechanism for restricting a movement range of the X-axis movable object is provided in the base member. A Y-axis stopper mechanism for restricting a movement range of the Y-axis movable object is provided in the X-axis movable object.

Abstract: In a connection position of a first suspension wire and an electric wiring line provided in a Y-axis movable object and a connection position of a second suspension wire and an electric wiring line provided in an X-axis movable object, height positions along a direction of an optical axis of a lens from a base member are almost the same.

Abstract: An X-axis movable object holding portion to hold an X-axis movable object to be movable in an X-axis direction is provided at a position facing an X-axis actuator with an optical axis between the X-axis movable object holding portion and the X-axis actuator in a base member. A Y-axis movable object holding portion to hold a Y-axis movable object to be movable in a Y-axis direction is provided at a position facing a Y-axis actuator with the optical axis between the Y-axis movable object holding portion and the Y-axis actuator in the X-axis movable object. An auxiliary member supports a carrier actuator to move a lens carrier. In the lens carrier, a movement of the direction of the optical axis is regulated by a carrier stopper mechanism.

Abstract: A lens drive unit that prevents an actuator from being inclined is provided. In the lens drive unit, when a lens frame is displaced in a direction orthogonal to a direction in which the actuator extends and contracts with respect to a base member by, for example, impact from an outside of the lens drive unit, a drive shaft of the actuator abuts on a first lateral wall and a column, so that the actuator is prevented from being inclined with respect to the base member.

Abstract: A lens drive unit that offers enhanced reliability in connection between an actuator electrode and an electric wire is provided. In the lens drive unit, an actuator has a weight housed in an holding portion of a base member and is thereby fixed in the base member. Electrodes on a lateral surface of the weight directly contact respective terminal electrodes on an inner lateral surface of the holding portion, so that an electrical connection is established therebetween. The arrangement enhances reliability in connection between the actuator electrodes and the terminal electrodes.