Lens drive apparatus

A lens drive apparatus comprising:

• an auto-focusing lens driving section that moves a lens barrel along an optical axis;
• and
• an image stabilizer section that stabilizes an image by moving the auto-focusing lens driving section along first and second directions that are orthogonal to the optical axis and perpendicular to each other, wherein
• the image stabilizer section comprises:
• a fixed member disposed apart from the auto-focusing lens driving section in the direction of the optical axis;
• a plurality of suspension wires that have first end portions fixed to the fixed member at outer regions thereof, that extend along the optical axis, that have second end portions fixed to the auto-focusing lens driving section, and that support the auto-focusing lens driving section swingably in the first and second directions;
• a fracture preventing member that prevents the plurality of suspension wires from fracturing;
• and
• a cover that covers the auto-focusing lens driving section at an opposite side of the fixed member,
• the auto-focusing lens driving section comprises:
• a lens holder that has a tubular section that holds the lens barrel;
• a focusing coil fixed to the lens holder such that the focusing coil is positioned on a circumference of the tubular section;
• a permanent magnet disposed to face the focusing coil;
• a magnet holder, disposed around the lens holder, that holds the permanent magnet;
• first and second leaf springs, attached to first and second ends of the magnet holder in the direction of the optical axis, respectively, the second leaf spring being disposed at a position in the vicinity of the fixed member compared to the first leaf spring, the first and second leaf springs together supporting the lens holder in the direction of the optical axis shiftably to position the lens holder in a radial direction, and
• a plurality of protrusions protruding from the first end of the magnet holder in the direction of the optical axis toward an inner wall surface of the cover, that functions as a fracture prevention supporting member that supports prevention of fracture in the plurality of suspension wires,
• the lens drive apparatus further comprises:
• a damper compound, disposed between the at least one protrusion and the fixed member so as to enclose at least one suspension wire among the plurality of suspension wires, that suppresses undesired resonance of the auto-focusing lens driving section in the direction of the optical axis,
• the second end portions are fixed to the first leaf spring,
• the first leaf spring includes a deformable, extending portion extending around the plurality of protrusions which are partly provided with a wire fixing portion to which the second end of the plurality of suspension wires is fixed, the extending portion and the wire fixing portion functioning as the fracture prevention supporting member, and
• the plurality of protrusions are configured to support prevention of fracture in the plurality of suspension wires by contacting the inner wall surface of the cover when the magnet holder moves in the direction of the optical axis.