Folded camera structure with an extended light-folding-element scanning range

An actuator for rotating an optical path folding element (OPFE) over a scanning range in which an OPFE position is controlled by a position sensing mechanism with a resolution that exceeds an allowable jitter limit, the actuator comprising:

• a) an actuated sub-assembly rigidly coupled to the OPFE and having two hinges that define a rotation axis;
• and
• b) a stationary sub-assembly having two housings, wherein each hinge is nested in a respective housing of the stationary sub-assembly to form a housing-hinge pair,
• wherein a center-of-mass of the actuated sub-assembly is positioned to coincide with the rotation axis and wherein each housing-hinge pair has a degree of friction designed such that a passive friction torque is greater than gravity or handshake torques to limit jitter arising from the OPFE being rotated to and stopped at a given OPFE position to be no larger than the allowable jitter limit,
• and wherein the actuator enables rotation of the OPFE around a single axis.