The present invention controls against size increase of an optical module drive device. An optical module drive device has: a first swing member configured to hold an optical module; a second swing member connected to the first swing member such that the first swing member is swingable about a first swing axis that intersects the optical axis direction; a fixed member connected to the second swing member such that the second swing member is swingable about a second swing axis that intersects the optical axis direction and is perpendicular to the axial direction of the first swing axis; and a drive part configured to make the first swing member swing relative to the fixed member such that the optical axis tilts. The drive part includes a plurality of shape memory alloy wires provided between movable members including the first swing member and the second swing member, and the fixed member.

A camera device according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises: a base; a first lens assembly which is disposed in the base and includes a first lens group and a first lens support unit to which the first lens group is fixed; a second lens assembly which is disposed in the base and includes a second lens group and a second lens support unit to which the second lens group is fixed; and a driving unit for moving the second lens assembly, wherein a first stopper member and a second stopper member are formed on the inner wall of the second lens support unit and spaced apart from each other by a distance that is greater than the height of the first lens assembly along the movement direction of the second lens support unit, the first lens assembly is accommodated between the first stopper member and the second stopper member in the second lens support unit, and the second lens assembly moves alongside the first lens assembly within the base.

An optical element driving device is provided, which includes: a fixing component as a base; an original position being a neutral position with respect to the fixing component; a movable component movable in two reversed directions with respect to the original position; a first shape memory alloy energized to move the movable component towards one of the two reversed directions; a second shape memory alloy energized to move the movable component towards the other one of the two reversed directions; and a safety mechanism device arranged between the fixing component and the movable component, for preventing the first shape memory alloy and the second shape memory from being broken. The fixing component and the movable component are connected by the first shape memory alloy and the second shape memory alloy. The optical element driving device can avoid damage of shape memory alloy and thus have high reliability.

An optical unit with shake-correction function is provided. A rotational support structure for supporting a movable body including a camera module around an optical axis is rotatably supported around a first axis and a second axis by a gimbal mechanism. The rotational support structure includes: a first annular groove, provided in the movable body; a plate roller, having a second annular groove facing the first annular groove in a direction of a Z axis; and a plurality of spherical objects, configured to be inserted into the first annular groove and the second annular groove, and roll between the movable body and the plate roller. The gimbal mechanism is configured to rotatably support the plate roller around the first axis.

Various embodiments include a camera with a folded optics arrangement and include a voice coil motor (VCM) actuator assembly to provide autofocus (AF) and/or optical image stabilization (OIS) movement. The camera with folded optics and the associated VCM actuator assembly have a first rotational normal mode of free vibration such that lenses of the camera rotate about an optical axis of the camera such that the rotational motion in the first rotational mode of free vibration is invisible from a perspective of an image sensor of the camera.

An embodiment of the present invention discloses a camera actuator including a housing, a mover disposed in the housing, a tilting guide part disposed between the housing and the mover, a driving part disposed in the housing to drive the mover, a first magnetic body disposed at the mover, and a second magnetic body disposed to face the first magnetic body, wherein the tilting guide part is pressed by the mover due to repulsive force of the first magnetic body and the second magnetic body.

A camera module includes: a housing; a support frame at least partially disposed the housing; a first lens holder, which includes a lens and which disposed in the housing to be moveable along a first direction parallel to an optical axis direction; and a buffer member disposed on the support frame.

An optical unit having a shake correction function, includes a movable body including an optical module, a fixed body supporting the movable body in a swingable manner, a swing drive mechanism swinging the movable body relative to the fixed body and including a magnet and a coil, one of the magnet and the coil being fixed to the movable body, the other one of the magnet and the coil being fixed to the fixed body, a magnetic member returning the movable body to an original position, a magnetic detection sensor detecting a magnetic field of the magnet, and a wiring member being connected with the coil. The wiring member includes a mounting face on which the magnetic detection sensor, the magnetic member, and the coil are fixed. The centers of the magnetic detection sensor, the magnetic member, and the coil are coaxially fixed to the mounting face.

An optical unit with a shake correction function includes a movable body having a lens, a turning support mechanism structured to turnably support the movable body around an optical axis of the lens, a gimbal mechanism structured to turnably support the turning support mechanism, a fixed body which supports the movable body through the gimbal mechanism and the turning support mechanism, a shake correction magnetic drive mechanism, and a rolling correction magnetic drive mechanism. The turning support mechanism includes a plate roll fixed to the movable body, a plate holder provided with a facing part which faces the plate roll in a direction of the optical axis, and a turning mechanism which is provided between the plate roll and the facing part and is structured so that the plate roll is turnable with respect to the plate holder. The gimbal mechanism turnably supports the plate holder around the first axis.

The imaging apparatus comprises a retractable structure with active and inactive positions. An outermost lens group and a lens group actuator are movable along an optical axis. In the inactive position the lens group and the lens group actuator reside close to an image sensor. The lens group actuator is positioned to the same level as the image sensor. In the active position the outermost lens group and the lens group actuator are further from the image sensor along the optical axis. The retractable structure may protrude from the device, covering the imaging apparatus. In one example the structure is reversed, the image sensor protrudes from the device while the outermost lens group is fixed to the device body.