A wire feeding and bonding tool and method for attaching wires to a component having first and second spaced-apart wire attach structures. Wire from a supply is fed through a capillary having at least a linear end portion with a feed opening. The capillary is positioned with respect to the component to locate a first portion of the wire extending from the feed opening adjacent to the first wire attach structure, and the wire is attached to the first attach structure. The capillary is moved with respect to the component along a wire feed path to feed the wire from the first wire attach structure to the second wire attach structure and to locate a second portion of the wire extending from the feed opening adjacent to the second attach structure. The wire is attached to the second wire attach structure, and cut from the supply.

An optical element driving system is provided. The optical element driving system includes an optical element driving mechanism and a control assembly. The optical element driving mechanism includes a movable portion, a fixed portion, a driving assembly, and a position-sensing assembly. The movable portion is used for connecting to an optical element. The movable portion is movable relative to the fixed portion. The movable portion is in an accommodating space in the fixed portion. The driving assembly is used for driving the movable portion to move relative to the fixed portion. The control assembly provides a driving signal to the driving assembly to control the driving assembly. The position-sensing assembly is used for detecting the movement of the movable portion relation to the fixed portion and providing a motion-sensing signal to the control assembly.

An assembly method of a SMA assembly, includes disposing a lens holder unit on a SMA unit, the lens holder unit being provided with a first spring, a lens holder and a coil that are mounted on the first spring, with the first spring pressed against a mounting surface of the SMA unit; and bonding the first spring of the lens holder unit with the mounting surface of the SMA unit. The assembly process is simplified, the coating and soldering space become big to facilitate the bonding process, and the joining force between the SMA unit and the lens holder unit is enhanced.

SMA actuators and related methods are described. One embodiment of an actuator includes a base; a plurality of buckle arms; and at least a first shape memory alloy wire coupled with a pair of buckle arms of the plurality of buckle arms. Another embodiment of an actuator includes a base and at least one bimorph actuator including a shape memory alloy material. The bimorph actuator attached to the base.

An assembly includes a support structure including attach structures. The suspension assembly includes a moving structure including attach structures and flexure arms configured to couple the moving structure to the support structure, the flexure arms are configured to enable movement of the moving structure with respect to the support structure. The suspension assembly includes optical-image stabilizer shape memory alloy wires, each coupled with and extending between one of the attach structures and one of the moving wire attach structures. The suspension assembly includes a lens holder mounted to the moving structure and a first pair of attach structures; and auto focus shape memory alloy wires, each wire coupled to the lens holder and coupled to and extending between attach structures of the first pair of attach structures configured to actuate the lens holder with respect to the moving structure.

A camera module includes a movable element; a lens coupled to the movable element; a first substrate fixed to the bottom surface of the movable element; an image sensor disposed on the first substrate; a second substrate disposed below the first substrate; and a wire for connecting the second substrate to the movable element. At least a part of the wire is made of a shape memory alloy.

An electronic device includes a gimbal driver and a digital camera. The digital camera includes suspension member(s) attached to a base. The digital camera includes a camera module supported by the suspension member(s). The camera module includes: (i) a lens that focuses an image; and (ii) a sensor attached to the lens and that detects the focused image. Shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator(s) are attached between the base and the camera module. The gimbal driver generates actuating signal(s) in response to movement of the base to stabilize the image. An electrical interconnect directs the actuating signal(s) from the gimbal driver to the SMA actuator(s) to rotate the camera module.

SMA actuators and related methods are described. One embodiment of an actuator includes a base; a plurality of buckle arms; and at least a first shape memory alloy wire coupled with a pair of buckle arms of the plurality of buckle arms. Another embodiment of an actuator includes a base and at least one bimorph actuator including a shape memory alloy material. The bimorph actuator attached to the base.

A camera module is provided, including a holder, a base, a bottom, an image sensor, and a first biasing element. The holder holds an optical lens and is disposed on the base. The bottom supports the image sensor and connects to the base via the first biasing element. The bottom and the image sensor can be moved with respect to the base by the first biasing element.

A vibration type actuator includes a vibration body, having an annular elastic body and an electro-mechanical energy conversion element, and includes a contact body having an annular shape. The contact body contacts the vibration body and relatively moves with regard to the vibration body. The contact body includes a base portion, a supporting portion that extends in an annular shape from the base portion in a radial direction of the contact body, and a friction member that is provided to the supporting portion, is a member different from the supporting portion, and is in contact with the vibration body. The friction member is connected to the supporting portion by a first surface extending along a central axis direction of the contact body and an annular second surface extending in the radial direction. The first surface includes a portion inclined with respect to the direction of the contact body central axis.