The present invention relates to an aperture unit having an optical axis. The aperture unit includes a fixed portion, a guiding element, a first blade and a driving assembly. The guiding element is movably connected to the fixed portion, and the first blade is movably connected to the guiding element and the fixed portion. The driving assembly is disposed on the guiding element for driving the guiding element to move relative to the fixed portion in a first moving dimension. When the guiding element moves relative to the fixed portion in the first moving dimension, the first blade is driven by the guiding element to move relative to the fixed portion in a second moving dimension, and the first moving dimension and the second moving dimension are different.

Actuators for rotating or tilting an optical element, for example an optical path folding element, comprising a voice coil motor (VCM) and a curved ball-guided mechanism operative to create a rotation or tilt movement of the optical element around a rotation axis upon actuation by the VCM. In some embodiments, an actuator includes two, first and second VCMs, and two curved ball-guided mechanisms operative to create rotation or tilt around respective first and second rotation axes.

An imaging system includes a first risley sensor pointed along a first axis and a second risley sensor pointed along a second axis, the second axis intersecting the first axis, the second risley sensor has at least a wide field of view and a narrow field of view. A controller is operably connected to the second risley sensor and configured to select one of the wide field of view and the narrow field of view for image data acquired by the second risley sensor. Vehicles including the imaging system and imaging methods are also described.

A folded camera that includes two light folding elements such as prisms and an independent lens system, located between the two prisms, which includes an aperture stop and a lens stack. The lens system may be moved on one or more axes independently of the prisms to provide autofocus and/or optical image stabilization for the camera. The shapes, materials, and arrangements of the refractive lens elements in the lens stack may be selected to capture high resolution, high quality images while providing a sufficiently long back focal length to accommodate the second prism.

An optical path turning module includes an optical path turning unit, a carrier, a fixing element and a driver. The optical path turning unit includes a sloping surface. A light beam enters the optical path turning unit along a first axis, is reflected by the sloping surface, and leaves the optical path turning unit along a second axis. The carrier is configured to fix the optical path turning unit and includes a main body and a plurality of first clamping portions. The main body is sloped with respect to the second axis, and the first clamping portions extend from the main body in a direction parallel to the second axis. The carrier is disposed in the fixing element. The driver is configured to drive the carrier to rotate about a third axis with respect to fixing element. The third axis is perpendicular to the first axis and the second axis.

A liquid optical module is provided, including a liquid lens driving mechanism and a liquid lens assembly. The liquid lens driving mechanism includes a fixed portion, a movable portion and a driving assembly. The movable portion is movably connected to the fixed portion. The liquid lens assembly includes a liquid lens element, a fixing member and a deforming member. The fixing member is disposed on a first fixed portion surface of the fixed portion, and the deforming member is disposed on a movable portion surface of the movable portion. The movable portion surface and the first fixed portion surface face the same direction, and when the movable portion is driven by the driving assembly to move relative to the fixed portion, the liquid lens element is deformed by the deforming member, causing the optical properties of the liquid lens element to change.

An optical system is provided, including a liquid optical module and a first optical module. The liquid optical module includes a liquid lens driving mechanism and a liquid lens assembly. The liquid lens driving mechanism includes a fixed portion, a movable portion and a first driving assembly configured to drive the movable portion to move relative to the fixed portion. The liquid lens assembly includes a liquid lens element, a fixing member and a deforming member. The first optical module is disposed in a receiving space of the fixed portion and includes: a first optical element and a first optical driving mechanism. When the movable portion is driven by the driving assembly to move relative to the fixed portion, the liquid lens element is deformed via the deforming member, causing the optical properties of the liquid lens element to change.

An optical system is provided, including a holder, a fixed module, a driving assembly, and a first resilient member. The holder is used for holding an optical element that defines an optical axis. The fixed module is movably connected to the holder and has a housing and a base connected to the housing. The base has a bottom surface parallel to the optical axis and a first pillar forming a first surface that is not parallel to the optical axis. The driving assembly drives the holder to move relative to the fixed module. The first resilient member is disposed on the first surface and movably connects the holder with the fixed module.

An optical element driving mechanism is provided. The optical element driving mechanism includes a fixed portion, a movable portion, a plurality of first elastic elements, and a first driving assembly. The movable portion is movably connected to the fixed portion, and includes a holder to hold an optical element, wherein the optical element has an optical axis. The first elastic elements are elastically connected to the fixed portion and the movable portion. The first elastic elements extend in a first direction, and the first direction is perpendicular to the optical axis. The first driving assembly drives the movable portion to move relative to the fixed portion in a direction that is perpendicular to the first direction. The first driving assembly is electrically connected to the first elastic elements.

A lens unit with a central axis is provided. The lens unit includes a fixed portion, a movable portion, and a first driving assembly. The fixed portion includes an outer frame and a bottom combined with the outer frame. The outer frame and the bottom are arranged along the central axis. The movable portion is movably connected to the fixed portion, and carries a lens with an optical axis. The central axis is not parallel to the optical axis. The first driving assembly is connected to the movable portion, and drives the movable portion to move relative to the fixed portion. The first driving assembly also includes a biasing element made of a shape memory alloy.