# US 7,612,953 B2 · Optical element module and image pickup device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,612,953 B2 - Document ID: US7612953B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/242,405 - Filed: 2008-09-30 - Published: 2009-04-09 - Granted: 2009-11-03 - Earliest claimed: 2007-10-05 - Assignees: Sony Corporation - Inventors: Nobuyuki Nagai; Akira Ono; Yasuhiro Watanabe - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7612953B2 ## CPC - H04N 23/54: Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils - G02B 27/646: {compensating for small deviations, e.g. due to vibration or shake (movement of one or more optical elements for control of motion blur in cameras, projectors or printers G03B2205/0007; image stabilisation in cameras peculiar to the presence or use of an electronic image sensor H04N23/68)} - G03B 5/00: Adjustment of optical system relative to image or object surface other than for focusing - H04N 23/55: Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof - H04N 23/60: Control of cameras or camera modules - H04N 23/6812: {based on additional sensors, e.g. acceleration sensors} - H04N 23/687: {by shifting the lens or sensor position} - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - 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 An optical element module includes an optical element, and a plurality of actuator elements. In the module, each actuator element has an ion conductive polymer film and electrodes arranged on both sides of the film, and a whole of the actuator element is bent in a direction of thickness by applying a voltage between the electrodes, and the direction of the thickness of the actuator elements is a direction of an optical axis of the optical element, the actuator elements are arranged at equal intervals around the optical axis on a plane perpendicular to the optical axis, and a displacement due to the bend of one end part of at least one actuator element acts on one of a side surface and a bottom surface of the optical element to effect one of tilting and movement in the direction of the optical axis of the optical element. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An optical element module comprising: an optical element; and a plurality of actuator elements; wherein each of said actuator elements has an ion conductive polymer film in a shape of a long and narrow plate and electrodes arranged on both sides of said ion conductive polymer film, and a whole of said actuator element is bent in a direction of thickness by applying a voltage between said electrodes, and the direction of the thickness of said plurality of actuator elements is a direction of an optical axis of said optical element, said plurality of actuator elements are arranged at equal intervals around the optical axis of said optical element on a plane perpendicular to the optical axis of said optical element (XY plane), and a displacement due to said bend of one end part in a direction of length of at least one actuator element acts on one of a side surface and a bottom surface of said optical element to effect one of tilting and movement in the direction of the optical axis of said optical element. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The optical element module according to claim 1, wherein said optical element is one of a lens, a lens and a lens holder, a light receiving element, and a combination of the lens, the lens holder, and the light receiving element. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The optical element module according to claim 1, wherein said electrodes are a conductive film formed by dispersing carbon particles into a resin. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The optical element module according to claim 1, wherein each of said actuator elements is formed by laminating, in the direction of the thickness, a plurality of actuator elements each having electrodes on both sides of an ion conductive polymer film in a shape of an oblong strip. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The optical element module according to claim 1, further comprising a fixing frame for housing said optical element and said plurality of actuator elements, wherein said plurality of actuator elements are four actuator elements in a form of an oblong strip, of the four actuator elements, two actuator elements are arranged in a point-symmetric relation to each other with respect to said optical axis with said optical element interposed between the two actuator elements in one direction (X-direction) on the XY plane, the other two actuator elements are arranged in a point-symmetric relation to each other with respect to said optical axis with said optical element interposed between the other two actuator elements in a direction (Y-direction) orthogonal to the X-direction, said one end part of each of the actuator elements is coupled to one of the bottom surface and the side surface of said optical element such that a displacement of the one end part can be transmitted to one of the bottom surface and the side surface of said optical element, and another end part of each of the actuator elements is fixed to the fixing frame. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The optical element module according to claim 1, further comprising: an inner frame for containing said optical element; and an outer frame for containing said inner frame together with said optical element, wherein said plurality of actuator elements are four actuator elements in a shape of an oblong strip, of the four actuator elements, two actuator elements are arranged within said inner frame so as to be in a point-symmetric relation to each other with respect to said optical axis with said optical element interposed between the two actuator elements in one direction (X-direction) on the XY plane, said one end part of each of the two actuator elements is coupled to the side surface of said optical element such that a displacement of the one end part can be transmitted to the side surface of said optical element, and another end part of each of the two actuator elements is fixed to an inner wall of the inner frame, and the other two actuator elements are arranged within said outer frame so as to be in a point-symmetric relation to each other with respect to said optical axis with said inner frame and said optical element interposed between the other two actuator elements in a direction (Y-direction) orthogonal to the X-direction, said one end part of each of the other two actuator elements is coupled to an outer wall of said inner frame such that a displacement of the one end part can be transmitted to the outer wall of said inner frame, and another end part of each of the other two actuator elements is fixed to an inner wall of the outer frame. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The optical element module according to claim 1, further comprising a flat-shaped base mounted with said optical element and said plurality of actuator elements, wherein said plurality of actuator elements are three actuator elements or more arranged between the bottom surface of said optical element and the base and are arranged at equal intervals in a direction of length of the actuator elements along a circumference having the optical axis of said optical element as a center of the circumference, said one end part of each of the actuator elements is fixed to the bottom surface of said optical element, and another end part of each of the actuator elements is fixed to the base. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The optical element module according to claim 1, further comprising a base mounted with said plurality of actuator elements, wherein said plurality of actuator elements are four actuator elements in a shape of an oblong strip arranged on a bottom surface side of said optical element and are arranged such that directions of length of the actuator elements are directions of radiating from said optical axis as a center and such that actuator elements adjacent to each other form an angle of 90°, said one end part of each of the actuator elements is coupled to the bottom surface of said optical element via an arm member such that a displacement of the one end part can be transmitted to the bottom surface of said optical element, and another end part of each of the actuator elements is fixed to the base. ### Claim 9 An image pickup device including an optical element module, the optical element module comprising: an optical element; and a plurality of actuator elements; wherein each of said actuator elements has an ion conductive polymer film in a shape of a long and narrow plate and electrodes arranged on both sides of said ion conductive polymer film, and a whole of said actuator element is bent in a direction of thickness by applying a voltage between said electrodes, the direction of the thickness of said plurality of actuator elements is a direction of an optical axis of said optical element, said plurality of actuator elements are arranged at equal intervals around the optical axis of said optical element on a plane perpendicular to the optical axis of said optical element (XY plane), and a displacement due to said bend of one end part in a direction of length of at least one actuator element acts on one of a side surface and a bottom surface of said optical element to effect one of tilting and movement in the direction of the optical axis of said optical, and wherein said optical element is tilted by driving said optical element module at a time of photographing to make hand movement correction. ### Claim 10 An image pickup device including an optical element module, the optical element module comprising: an optical element; a plurality of actuator elements; wherein each of said actuator elements has an ion conductive polymer film in a shape of a long and narrow plate and electrodes arranged on both sides of said ion conductive polymer film, and a whole of said actuator element is bent in a direction of thickness by applying a voltage between said electrodes, the direction of the thickness of said plurality of actuator elements is a direction of an optical axis of said optical element, said plurality of actuator elements are arranged at equal intervals around the optical axis of said optical element on a plane perpendicular to the optical axis of said optical element (XY plane), and a displacement due to said bend of one end part in a direction of length of at least one actuator element acts on one of a side surface and a bottom surface of said optical element to effect one of tilting and movement in the direction of the optical axis of said optical element; and a fixing frame for housing said optical element and said plurality of actuator elements, wherein said plurality of actuator elements are four actuator elements in a form of an oblong strip, of the four actuator elements, two actuator elements are arranged in a point-symmetric relation to each other with respect to said optical axis with said optical element interposed between the two actuator elements in one direction (X-direction) on the XY plane, the other two actuator elements are arranged in a point-symmetric relation to each other with respect to said optical axis with said optical element interposed between the other two actuator elements in a direction (Y-direction) orthogonal to the X-direction, said one end part of each of the actuator elements is coupled to one of the bottom surface and the side surface of said optical element such that a displacement of the one end part can be transmitted to one of the bottom surface and the side surface of said optical element, and another end part of each of the actuator elements is fixed to the fixing frame of which optical element is one of a lens and a lens holder or a lens in an image pickup optical system, and wherein said optical element is moved in the direction of the optical axis by driving said optical element module to make one of focus adjustment and zoom adjustment.