# US 12,601,955 B2 · Driving device, optical element driving device, camera module, and camera-equipped device

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- Number: US 12,601,955 B2
- Document ID: US12601955B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/732,830
- Filed: 2024-06-04
- Published: 2024-12-19
- Granted: 2026-04-14
- Earliest claimed: 2023-06-16
- Assignees: Mitsumi Electric Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Yoichi Itagaki; Hiroyuki Ujiie; Shun Tsuchiya; Fumiko Wako
- Inventors: Yoichi Itagaki; Hiroyuki Ujiie; Shun Tsuchiya; Fumiko Wako
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12601955B2

## CPC

- G03B 3/10: Power-operated focusing
- G03B 5/00: Adjustment of optical system relative to image or object surface other than for focusing
- G03B 2205/0007: Movement of one or more optical elements for control of motion blur
- G03B 2205/0061: using piezoelectric actuators
- G03B: APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (optical parts of such apparatus G02B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D)

## Abstract

A driving device includes a resonance unit that has a pair of arm portions and resonates with vibration of a piezoelectric element, and a moving portion that abuts the pair of arm portions and is moved relative to the resonance unit due to vibration of the resonance unit, wherein a portion of the resonance unit and a portion of the moving portion that abut each other are each made of ceramic, and each of the pair of arm portions has, as a portion that abuts the moving portion, a sphere made of ceramic.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A driving device comprising:
a resonance unit that has a pair of arm portions and resonates with vibration of a piezoelectric element; and
a moving portion that abuts the pair of arm portions and is moved relative to the resonance unit due to vibration of the resonance unit, wherein
a portion of the resonance unit and a portion of the moving portion that abut each other are each made of ceramic, and
each of the pair of arm portions has, as a portion that abuts the moving portion, a sphere made of ceramic.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The driving device according to claim 1, wherein
an entire portion of the moving portion is made of ceramic.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The driving device according to claim 1, wherein
a surface of the moving portion that abuts the resonance unit is made of ceramic.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The driving device according to claim 1, wherein
each of the pair of arm portions has a sphere housing portion that houses the sphere.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

An optical element driving device comprising:
a holding portion that is capable of holding an optical element;
a housing portion that houses the holding portion so that the holding portion is movable in an optical path direction of the optical element; and
the driving device according to claim 1 that drives the holding portion.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

A camera module comprising:
the optical element driving device according to claim 5; and
an imaging unit that captures a subject image using the optical element.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

A camera-equipped device that is an information device or a transportation device, the camera-equipped device comprising:
the camera module according to claim 6; and
an image processing unit that processes image information obtained by the camera module.