Abstract: A lens drive apparatus includes a yoke which has a first parallel portion parallel to an optical axis and a second parallel portion which is located closer to the optical axis than the first parallel portion, the first and the second parallel portions being magnetically coupled, a magnet arranged at the first parallel portion to extend in the optical axis direction, a first lens frame which has a first coil wound around the second parallel portion and which is guided by a first guide shaft, and a second lens frame, which has a second coil wound around the second parallel portion and which is guided by a second guide shaft, and the first and the second guide shafts are arranged at positions so as not to interfere with the yoke in a cross-section perpendicular to the optical axis.

Abstract: There is provided a lens driving device, including: an auto-focusing driving unit disposed between a first frame supporting a lens in an optical axis direction and a second frame having a first gap with respect to the first frame; a camera shake stabilizing unit disposed between the second frame and an outer portion having a second gap with respect to the second frame; a leaf spring connected to the first and second frames to maintain the lens on a plane perpendicular to the optical axis direction, the leaf spring having a free-bent edge portion; and a suspension wire disposed in the optical axis direction, wherein one end of the suspension wire is fixed to the edge portion and the other end is fixed to the outer portion so that the second frame is floated from the outer portion.

Abstract: A lens actuating device includes a fixed member, an adjustable member, a driving unit and a movable support unit. The adjustable member is movably disposed in the fixed member along an optical axis, and has a lens module disposed therein. The driving unit is disposed between the fixed member and the adjustable member to provide a driving force for the adjustable member. The movable support unit is disposed at one side of the adjustable member opposite to the driving unit and has a first guiding structure formed on an inner side of the fixed member parallel to the optical axis, a second guiding structure, and a plurality of rolling members. The rolling members are configured into two rows and are disposed between the first and second guiding structures to fix the seconding guiding structure such that the displacement of the adjustable member is constrained along the optical axis.

Abstract: A lens driving device in which the lens holder is employed, a camera device and an electronic device are also disclosed. The lens holder includes portions formed as having the respective different outer circumferential diameters between the upper side and the lower side of the vertical direction and provided in predetermined areas located in the circumferential direction of the outer circumferential wall of the lens holder around which a coil is to be wound, and a flanged portion that protrudes from the outer circumferential wall of the lens holder toward the radially outward side, wherein the diametrically larger portion among the portions formed as having the respective different outer circumferential diameters between the upper side and the lower side of the vertical direction and the flanged portion are arranged so that they can be spaced away from each other by a predetermined gap.

Abstract: A lens drive device comprises a lens holder, a piezoelectric actuator, a ball member held rotatably, and an biasing member configured to apply an biasing force to the lens holder toward the piezoelectric actuator through the ball member. The lens holder has a projection projecting outward from an outer peripheral surface and extending in a direction intersecting the projecting direction and optical axis. A side wall face of the projection is formed with a groove extending along the optical axis and engaging the ball member. A position receiving the biasing force from the biasing member and a position receiving the drive force from the actuator in the lens holder oppose each other through the projection interposed therebetween.

Abstract: A lens driver which moves at least one lens relative to a supporter includes a holder provided in the supporter to hold the lens to be movable in an optical axis direction, a driver configured to apply to the holder a driving force in the optical axis direction, and a position detector configured to detect a position of the holder in the optical axis direction relative to the supporter, and the lens driver including a coil provided in one of the holder and the supporter to form a straight electric path orthogonal to the optical axis direction, and a magnetic circuit provided in the other of the holder and the supporter, the magnetic circuit including a rectangular magnetic pole surface having a predetermined width to form a magnetic field orthogonal to the optical axis direction and the electric path, and being provided such that the magnetic pole surface faces the optical path.

Abstract: A springless voice coil actuator is provided. The springless voice coil includes a base, a coil, a guiding rod, a slidable base, a main magnetic component and a balance magnetic component. The coil is disposed on the base. The guiding rod is disposed on the base. The slidable base is for sliding along the guiding rod to a predetermined direction. The main magnetic component is connected to the slidable base. The balance magnetic component is coupled with the main magnetic component for generating a magnetic induction.

Abstract: Position detecting apparatus that has a high detecting precision and a lens barrel assembly including the same are disclosed. A position detecting apparatus is provided that includes a base; a magnetic scale spaced apart from the base by a first predetermined distance and movable in a first direction; a first adjustment portion coupled to the base to adjust a second distance from the base; and a sensor rotatably coupled to the first adjustment portion and that senses a change in a position of the magnetic scale.

Abstract: The present invention provides a lens driving device includes at least two spring components each of which includes an inner side retaining part, an outer side retaining part, a plurality of wrist parts configured between the inner and outer side retaining parts and prolonged along the circumference direction, inner side connecting parts for connecting one ends of the wrist parts with the inner side connecting part, and outer side connecting parts for connecting the other ends of the wrist parts with the outer side retaining part. Moreover, serpentine necking parts are formed at the roots of the connecting part of the inner side retaining part, straight line-shaped necking parts are formed at the roots of the connecting part of the outer side retaining part, so that stresses acting on the inner side connecting parts and the outer side connecting parts during assembling are absorbed.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a camera module including: an auto focusing module upping and downing a lens; a hand-shaking correction module wrapping the auto focusing module to correct a hand-shaking by horizontally tilting the auto focusing module; a circuit substrate electrically connected to the hand-shaking correction module and the auto focusing module; a bottom case supporting the circuit substrate to be coupled to the auto focusing module; and a main circuit substrate secured to the bottom case to be electrically connected to the image sensor module, wherein the main circuit substrate is formed with oblong symmetrical openings along an edge of the main circuit substrate.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an electrostatic actuator includes a generally planar fixed frame, a generally planar moving frame coupled to the fixed frame by a flexure for substantially coplanar, perpendicular movement relative to the fixed frame, a plurality of interdigitated teeth, a fixed portion of which is attached to the fixed frame and a moving portion of which is attached to the moving frame, and an elongated output shaft having opposite input and output ends, the input end being coupled to the moving frame.

Abstract: Provided is an actuator, an optical pickup, and a disc apparatus, with improved assembling workability and reduced manufacturing cost. The actuator of the optical pickup of the disc apparatus includes a movable part and a fixed part supporting the movable part in a movable manner. The movable part includes a case and a plurality of drive substrates having the same specification. The drive substrates are disposed at positions opposed to each other with respect to the case. Each drive substrate includes a winding member for driving the movable part and a wiring pattern for supplying current to the winding member. The wiring pattern includes a plurality of electrodes and a conductive path. The electrodes are disposed at positions opposed to each other with respect to the winding member. The conductive path is branched from one end of the winding member and is connected to the electrodes.

Abstract: A micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) carrier formed by a typical surface micro-machining and bulk micro-machining process on a silicon substrate, having a frame, a movable carrier element, a conductive coil, two return springs and a pair of permanent magnets. The movable carrier element is formed within the frame and movable along a path, the conductive coil is formed on or embedded in the movable carrier element. The two return springs are formed between the movable carrier element and the frame thereby connecting the movable carrier element to the frame and providing a return force to the carrier element, and the pair of permanent magnets are formed a magnetic field for co-acting with the conductive coil for generating an electromagnetic Lorenz force to drive the movable carrier element to move against the return force of the two return springs.

Abstract: The rotation detection apparatus includes a rotatable member rotatable with rotation of a motor and having multiple pattern element portions in its rotational direction, a signal outputter to output a detection signal changing in response to rotation of the pattern element portions, and a memory storing correction values each provided for each of the pattern element portions and used to perform correction of an error in a relation between rotational positions of the rotatable member and the change of the detection signal. A corrector performs the correction with reference to a reference position of the rotatable member in an origin state where a driven member driven by the motor is located at its origin position and by using each of the correction values for each change of the detection signal when the rotatable member is rotated from the reference position.

Abstract: A VCM is disclosed, the motor including a stator including a first driving unit, a rotor arranged inside the stator, including a second driving unit responding to the first driving unit and mounted therein with a lens, a base fixing the stator, and an elastic member coupled to the rotor to float the rotor from the base in a case a driving signal for driving the first and second driving units is not applied to the first and second driving units.

Abstract: Disclosed is a motor for driving lenses. The motor includes a case, a yoke fixed in the case, a magnet fixed in the yoke, a carrier equipped with lenses and installed in the magnet such that the carrier moves up and down within the magnet, a coil coupled with the carrier, a spring unit including first and second springs having arc shapes and being separated from each other while forming a ring shape as a whole, a spacer supporting an outer peripheral surface of the spring unit, and a terminal provided on the spacer, in which one side of the terminal protrudes downward by passing through a bottom of the case to make connection with the spring unit and a main PCB of a product.

Abstract: An imaging device according to embodiments includes a lens support that fixes a set of optical lenses, a substrate that fixes the lens support, an imaging element arranged between the set of optical lenses and the substrate, and an elastic body connected to the imaging element and a member other than the imaging element. The substrate includes a Lorentz-force generating unit that generates a Lorentz force between the Lorentz-force generating unit and the imaging element. Furthermore, the substrate moves the imaging element to a position at which the imaging element has a desired optical property by adjusting the Lorentz force.

Abstract: An optical member driving apparatus includes an optical member holder holding an optical member, which is rectilinearly guided and has a rotating member supported rotatably about a rotation shaft extending perpendicularly to a movable direction in which the optical member holder is movable, a fixed member that extends in the movable direction, has two sliding surfaces facing each other with predetermined spacing therebetween, and is arranged in such a way that the rotating member is located between the two sliding surfaces, two movers each of which includes a base and a vibrator connected to the base, and a controller that controls driving of the two vibrators to move the optical member holder in the movable direction. The vibrators of the two movers are in pressure contact with one and the other of the two sliding surfaces respectively. The rotating member is rotatably held between the bases of the two movers.

Abstract: Disclosed is a motor for driving lenses.

Abstract: There is provided a lens module including: an actuator moving a lens barrel in an optical axis direction; and a housing having a mounting part on which the actuator is mounted, wherein the actuator includes a piezoelectric member and a bar member vibrated by the piezoelectric member, and the bar member line-contacts the mounting part.

Abstract: The present invention provides a VCA-based lens driving device. By way of giving an improved OIS coil structure, a magnetic induction element used to sense movement of magnets atop which maybe cause from a user's hand shaking can be placed as far away from OIS coils as possible. The impact of the magnet field of the OIS coil on the magnetic induction element is thus reduced. In one embodiment, the OIS coil is down-sized to reduce the influence of the OIS coil on the magnetic induction element placed beside it. In another embodiment, the OIS coil has a one-sided indention and the magnetic induction element is placed below/or beside the indention of the OIS coil.

Abstract: Provided is a driving apparatus for a camera lens assembly, the driving apparatus including a lens assembly portion which includes a magnetic object and a support member, a driving base portion which includes a coil portion for generating a driving force to correspond to the magnetic object, and a position sensor portion positioned in the driving base portion eccentrically to a side from a center of the magnetic object.

Abstract: The lens barrel includes a first lens unit, a second lens unit, and a drive unit. The first lens unit includes a first lens element and a first lens support frame supporting the first lens element. The second lens unit includes a second lens element and a second lens support frame supporting the second lens element. The second lens unit is supported by the first lens unit to be movable in the optical axis direction of the first lens element with respect to the first lens unit. The drive unit is arranged to be used to drive the second lens unit with respect to the first lens unit, and is fixed to the first lens unit. When viewed in the optical axis direction, the drive unit is fixed to the first lens unit so that a first profile line formed by the first lens unit and the drive unit is substantially circular.

Abstract: Disclosed is a voice coil motor, the motor including a rotor having a cylindrical bobbin that has a support block protruding from an upper end of an outer circumference thereof and a coil block that is coupled to the outer circumference of the bobbin in a direction from a lower surface to an upper surface of the bobbin and is supported by the support block, a stator having a magnet facing the coil block and a yoke holding the magnet, elastic members coupled to upper and lower surfaces of the bobbin, respectively, a base supporting the stator and the elastic members, and a foreign substance inflow-prevention portion formed on an upper surface of the base in such a way as to protrude around an opening formed in a central portion of the base in a shape of a closed loop.

Abstract: An integrated lens barrel for a miniature camera is disclosed. The lens barrel can include components such as a shutter, an autofocus mechanism, a zoom mechanism, and/or an image stabilization mechanism. These and/or components can define a portion of the lens barrel that increases the length of the lens barrel. An electrostatic MEMS actuator can be used to effect movement of the autofocus mechanism, zoom mechanism, and/or image stabilization mechanism. Integrating the shutter, autofocus mechanism, zoom mechanism, and/or image stabilization mechanism into the lens barrel facilitates the construction of a substantially smaller camera that is suitable for use in personal electronic devices, such as cellular telephones.

Abstract: Provided are a lens driving motor and an elastic member of the lens driving motor. The elastic member of a lens driving motor, the elastic member includes a first spring and a second spring. The second spring is different from the first spring and disposed together with the first spring on one side of a carrier to support the carrier. A first lead line of a coil and a first external power source are connected to the first spring, and a second lead line of the coil and a second external power source are connected to the second spring to supply power to the coil. Since the carrier can be assembled to other part after a (+) lead line and a (?) lead line of the coil are connected to the first and second springs, respectively, using solder, a process is simple and convenient.

Abstract: Disclosed is a vibration actuator which can be arranged in a limited space, and which has excellent drive performance. Also disclosed are a lens barrel and a camera, which are provided therewith. Specifically disclosed is a vibration actuator which includes: a piezoelectric body which has a first surface, and which is excited by an electrical signal; a vibration body which is joined to the first surface, and which has a second surface on which vibration waves are generated by the excitation; and a moving body which is brought into pressure contact with the second surface, and which moves relatively to the vibration body, wherein the thickness of the piezoelectric body is different in the direction of the relative movement of the moving body.

Abstract: A voice coil motor (VCM) includes a fixing portion, a moving portion, a magnet assembly, a coil, and an elastic sheet. The fixing portion includes an upper plate and a sidewall extending from edges of the upper plate. The moving portion is received in the fixing portion, and includes a top surface and an outer surface connected to the top surface. The moving portion defines a plurality of glue receiving recesses in the top surface and a plurality of second connecting portions each extending from a bottom surface of each glue receiving recess. The magnet assembly is fixed on the inner surface. The coil is circled around the outer surface of the moving portion, and is opposite to the magnet assembly. The elastic sheet is connected between the first connecting portions and the second connecting portions.

Abstract: Vibration is suppressed in a feedback type VCM actuator. A converting unit converts a position command value into an internal command value varied based on a waveform having a period which is half of a period of a trigonometric function, the position command value being indicative of a position of a mover and changeable step by step. A driving unit receives a position detection value indicating a current position of the mover from a sensor and drives a voice coil motor such that the position detection value matches the internal command value.

Abstract: A VCM actuator for a lens and driving the lens for focusing includes a fixed module, a mobile module and a spring module. The fixed module includes a case and the magnet module is disposed along the inner side of the case. The mobile module includes a lens holder and a coil looping the lens holder. The lens holder is movably disposed in the case and the coil is fastened to the lens holder positioning to the magnet module. The spring module abuts the fixed module and mobile module. The case has an opening and along the rim of each corner of the opening a magnet guiding tab is formed. The guiding tabs extend between the lens holder and coil and are positioned toward the gaps between the magnet module, and each magnet guiding tab has a backbone and two wing portions extending from the backbone.

Abstract: A voice coil motor (VCM) includes a fastening portion, a moving portion, a magnet assembly, a coil, an elastic sheet, and glue. The lower plate seals the fastening portion. The lower plate includes a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the lower plate defines a through hole penetrating the first surface and the second surface, the low plate defines a first glue recess around the through hole and a second glue recess along an edge of the low plate in the first surface. The fastening portion is positioned on the first surface of the lower plate via glue received in the first glue recess.

Abstract: A VCM is disclosed, the motor including a stator including a first driving unit, a rotor arranged inside the stator, including a second driving unit responding to the first driving unit and mounted therein with a lens, a base fixing the stator, and an elastic member coupled to the rotor to float the rotor from the base in a case a driving signal for driving the first and second driving units is not applied to the first and second driving units.

Abstract: A voice coil motor includes a stationary member, a moveable member, an upper resilient plate, and a lower resilient plate. The stationary member includes a receiving room and a magnetic unit. The magnetic unit consists of two magnets adhering to two sidewalls of the stationary member. The moveable member is received in the first receiving room and spaced from the stationary member. The moveable member includes a frame and coils wrapped around the frame. The coils face the magnets. The magnets and the coils cooperatively drive the moveable member to move upward from an initial position. The upper resilient plate and the lower resilient plate connect the stationary member with the moveable member. The two resilient plates provide a restoring force to drive the moveable member to return to the initial position.

Abstract: The present invention provides a lens holding device excellent in an impact resistance.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing camera modules for use in portable electronic devices, such as mobile phones, is provided. More specifically, in camera modules utilizing lens motion type auto focus actuation, permanent magnets associated with voice coil motors utilized in the auto focus system, generate magnetic flux that can interfere with the process of bonding image sensors to camera modules if the permanent magnets of different voice coil motors are positioned too closely. Incorporating a magnetic shield into the manufacturing process to restrain or control the magnetic flux generated by the permanent magnets permits voice coil motors to be positioned closer together during the manufacturing process. This increases manufacturing throughput and reduces cost.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an electrostatic actuator includes a generally planar fixed frame, a generally planar moving frame coupled to the fixed frame by a flexure for substantially coplanar, perpendicular movement relative to the fixed frame, a plurality of interdigitated teeth, a fixed portion of which is attached to the fixed frame and a moving portion of which is attached to the moving frame, and an elongated output shaft having opposite input and output ends, the input end being coupled to the moving frame.

Abstract: A membrane and lens assembly includes a flexible membrane mounted with a supporting structure, such as a plurality of spacers, a frame, a ring, a plate or a surface plate. At least one first lens mounts with a first side of the membrane. At least one actuator varies a characteristic of the membrane, such as membrane shape, position or tautness, to reposition the lens. In a related method of lens replication, a flexible membrane is attached to a ring and stretched with the ring. Lenses are replicated on one or both sides of the stretched membrane.

Abstract: A VCM (voice coil motor) is disclosed, the VCM including: a rotor including a cylindrical bobbin for accommodating a lens and protruded at a bottom end with a boss, and a coil block arranged at a periphery of the bobbin; a stator including a magnet facing the coil block and a yoke fixing the magnet; and an elastic member including a first elastic member formed with a through hole coupled to the boss of the bobbin and a second elastic member coupled to an upper end facing the bottom end of the bobbin; wherein the boss is formed with a disengagement prevention unit preventing the first elastic member from being disengaged from the boss, and the first elastic member is formed with a coupling unit contacting a joint where the disengagement prevention unit and the coupling unit meet.

Abstract: The lens barrel includes a first lens unit, a second lens unit, and a drive unit. The first lens unit includes a first lens element and a first lens support frame supporting the first lens element. The second lens unit includes a second lens element and a second lens support frame supporting the second lens element. The second lens unit is supported by the first lens unit to be movable in the optical axis direction of the first lens element with respect to the first lens unit. The drive unit is arranged to be used to drive the second lens unit with respect to the first lens unit, and is fixed to the first lens unit. When viewed in the optical axis direction, the drive unit is fixed to the first lens unit so that a first profile line formed by the first lens unit and the drive unit is substantially circular.

Abstract: A VCM is disclosed, the VCM including a base formed with an opening; a bobbin arranged on an upper surface of the base and mounted with a lens therein; a plurality of magnets secured on the base to face a periphery of the bobbin; a coil block encompassing each magnet and the bobbin, and secured to a part of the bobbin exposed between the magnets; and a cover can encompassing the magnets and the coil block.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a driving mechanism which is a higher powered motor that can be used even when an installation space is limited by reducing a space required for installation of the motor as a motive power of a driving mechanism, and which prevents the influences of vibration and heat generation in the operation. To achieve the object, an oscillation motor unit, an oscillation motor and a lens driving device are employed in which the vibrator, a push mechanism pushing the vibrator in a specific direction to transmit the motive power of the vibrator in which a vibrator is made vibrate and convert the vibration energy to a motive power transmitted are included, wherein a first base member for setting the vibrator and the push mechanism is set at the position where the first base member is sandwiched between the vibrator and the push mechanism.

Abstract: The lens barrel includes a first lens unit, a second lens unit, and a drive unit. The first lens unit includes a first lens element and a first lens support frame supporting the first lens element. The second lens unit includes a second lens element and a second lens support frame supporting the second lens element. The second lens unit is supported by the first lens unit to be movable in the optical axis direction of the first lens element with respect to the first lens unit. The drive unit is arranged to be used to drive the second lens unit with respect to the first lens unit, and is fixed to the first lens unit. When viewed in the optical axis direction, the drive unit is fixed to the first lens unit so that a first profile line formed by the first lens unit and the drive unit is substantially circular.

Abstract: A polymer device includes: a pair of electrode layers; a polymer layer inserted between the pair of electrode layers; and an expansion-contraction suppression layer arranged between the pair of electrode layers, the expansion-contraction suppression layer being arranged away from the respective electrode layers, and the expansion-contraction suppression layer being configured to suppress expansion and contraction of the polymer layer.

Abstract: A polymer device includes: a pair of electrode layers; and a polymer layer provided between the pair of electrode layers and containing an acid substance.

Abstract: Provided is a linear motor comprising a magnet including a first region polarized to have a magnetic pattern for driving and a second region polarized to have a magnetic pattern for position detection, the first and second regions being arranged linearly in a direction of the driving; a drive coil that is provided opposite the first region and generates a drive force exerted on the magnet in the direction of the driving; a magnetic sensor arranged opposite the second region; and a base member that supports the magnet, the drive coil, and the magnetic sensor such that the magnet can be moved relative to the drive coil and the magnetic sensor in the driving direction.

Abstract: In the object lens drive unit including a lens holder with an object lens attached to, a plurality of driving coils attached to the lens holder, connection substrates attached to both sides of the lens holder, and a plurality of suspension wires with end parts thereof connected to the connection substrates for operatively supporting the lens holder, a plurality of sets of wire connection electrodes for connecting the suspension wires and coil connection electrodes electrically connected to the wire connection electrodes for connecting terminal wires of the coils are arranged in line in an optic axis direction of the object lens and the wire connection electrodes and the coil connection electrodes are formed in a symmetric shape to a central axis parallel to the optic axis direction on the connection substrates.

Abstract: A device may comprise a flexure formed of a first semiconductor material. A first trench may be formed in the flexure. The first trench may separate the first semiconductor material into a first portion and a second portion thereof. An oxide layer may be formed in the first trench. The oxide layer may extend over a top portion of the first semiconductor material. A second semiconductor material may be formed on the oxide layer. The first trench and the oxide layer may cooperate to electrically isolate the first portion and the second portion from one another.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, when driving one optical member at a time, the control part sets a first current equal to or more than a rated current of the driving part and equal to or less than a maximum supply current from the image-capturing device body, or a second current less than the rated current of the driving part, for the one optical member as the current limit value, and controls the driving part so that first drive for driving the optical member for a first time by allowing the first current to serve as the current limit value, and second drive for driving the optical member for a second time by allowing the second current to serve as the current limit value after the first drive being performed, are repeated until drive of the optical member to the drive target is completed.

Abstract: The subject matter disclosed herein relates to an imaging module comprising an electromagnetic actuator to provide focus-related and image stabilization-related functionality.

Abstract: Disclosed is a piezo-electrically actuated micro-mechanical deformable member comprising a corrugated longitudinal beam (521) formed in a substrate, and having a first anchored end (502) and a second end (509), as well as a plurality of piezoelectric film (PZET) actuating segments (522, 523, 524) formed in or on at least some grooves and ridges of the corrugated beam, the beam (521) being configured to assume one of a number of different geometric configurations depending upon which of a corresponding set of electric actuation signals (105) are applied to the PZET elements, the electric actuation signals establishing corresponding electric fields in the associated PZET segments to thereby deform the member.