IP Library Granted Patent US 8,009,373
Granted Patent B2
US 8,009,373 · App. 12/957,508 · Granted Aug 30, 2011

Lens actuator

Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,009,373
App. No.
12/957,508
Granted
Aug 30, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A lens actuator includes a cylindrical carrier having a hollow for accommodating a lens, the hollow being formed in a first direction; a driving yoke for housing the carrier; a base for holding the yoke thereon; a driving magnet and a driving coil, which are fixed either to the outer periphery of the carrier or the driving yoke; a moving magnet fixed to the driving yoke; and a moving coil fixed to the base. The carrier is movable with respect to the driving yoke in the first direction, and the driving yoke is movable with respect to the base in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The driving magnet and the driving coil face each other in the second direction, and the moving magnet and the moving coil face each other in the first direction.

Claims (38)

1. A lens actuator comprising:

a cylindrical carrier having a hollow for accommodating a lens, the hollow being formed in a first direction;

a driving yoke for housing the carrier;

a base for holding the driving yoke thereon;

a driving magnet fixed to one of an outer periphery of the carrier and the driving yoke;

a driving coil fixed to one of the outer periphery of the carrier and the driving yoke;

a moving magnet fixed to the driving yoke; and

a moving coil fixed to the base, wherein

the carrier is movable with respect to the driving yoke in the first direction,

the driving yoke is movable with respect to the base in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction,

when the driving magnet is fixed to the outer periphery of the carrier, the driving coil is fixed to the driving yoke,

when the driving magnet is fixed to the driving yoke, the driving coil is fixed to the carrier,

the driving magnet and the driving coil face each other in the second direction, and

the moving magnet and the moving coil face each other in the first direction.

2. The lens actuator of claim 1 , further comprising:

a support member fixed to the base and movably holding the driving yoke in the second direction.

3. The lens actuator of claim 1 , wherein

the base has a first surface facing the moving magnet, and a second surface opposite to the first surface,

the first surface has the moving coil fixed thereto, and

the second surface has a moving yoke fixed thereto, the moving yoke facing the moving magnet in the first direction.

4. The lens actuator of claim 3 , wherein

the magnetic force of the moving magnet attracts the base in the first direction.

5. A lens actuator comprising:

a cylindrical carrier having a hollow for accommodating a lens, the hollow being formed in a first direction;

a driving yoke for housing the carrier;

a base for holding the driving yoke thereon;

a driving magnet fixed to one of an outer periphery of the carrier and the driving yoke;

a driving coil fixed to one of the outer periphery of the carrier and the driving yoke;

a moving magnet fixed to the base, and

a moving coil fixed to the driving yoke, wherein

the carrier is movable with respect to the driving yoke in the first direction,

the driving yoke is movable with respect to the base in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction,

when the driving magnet is fixed to the outer periphery of the carrier, the driving coil is fixed to the driving yoke,

when the driving magnet is fixed to the driving yoke, the driving coil is fixed to the carrier,

the driving magnet and the driving coil face each other in the second direction, and

the moving magnet and the moving coil face each other in the first direction.

6. The lens actuator of claim 5 , further comprising:

a support member fixed to the base and movably holding the driving yoke in the second direction.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 9, 2011
From: SATA, NORIFUMI; TANAKA, HIDEKAZU
To: PANASONIC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 025770/0813 →
Priority Claims (2)
JP 2009-281263 · Dec 11, 2009 · national
JP 2010-173355 · Aug 2, 2010 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20110141564A1 · Jun 16, 2011