Multi-drive mechanism lens actuator

An optical apparatus, comprising:

• means for producing a motion of a lens holder, wherein said means for producing the motion comprises a plurality of elements capable of independent operation;
• means for applying a restoring force to the lens holder, said means for applying the restoring force comprising means for conducting a plurality of electrical signals to the plurality of elements capable of independent operation;
• and
• means for selectively applying one or more of said plurality of electrical signals to one or more of the plurality of elements capable of independent operation, the one or more of the plurality of elements capable of independent operation to individually produce a linear motion at least in part in response to being energized to displace the lens holder to produce a linear and tilting motion in the lens holder, the linear and tilting motion comprising an auto-focusing function and an anti-shaking function, wherein the linear motion comprises movement parallel to an optical axis of a lens in the lens holder, and wherein the tilting motion comprises movement about an axis perpendicular to the optical axis of the lens in the lens holder.

An imaging device, comprising:

• a lens actuator, comprising
• a housing,
• a lens disposed in a lens holder,
• a plurality of drive mechanisms coupled to the lens holder and/or the housing, one or more of the plurality of drive mechanisms individually to produce linear motion if energized to displace the holder relative to the housing to produce a linear and tilting motion in the lens holder, the linear and tilting motion comprising an auto-focusing function and an anti-shaking function, wherein the linear motion comprises movement parallel to an optical axis of a lens in the lens holder, and wherein the tilting motion comprises movement about an axis perpendicular to the optical axis of the lens in the lens holder, and
• at least one spring coupled to the lens holder and/or the housing, the at least one spring to provide a restoring force to the lens holder, the at least one spring comprising a plurality of electrically conductive elements coupled to one or more of the plurality of drive mechanisms, the plurality of drive mechanisms to produce a motion of the lens holder at least in part in response to an application of one or more electrical signals to a respective one or more of the plurality of electrically conductive elements of the at least one spring;
• an image capture component to receive an image transmitted through the lens;
• and
• a control unit to analyze the received image to determine an appropriate corrective movement of the lens for the auto-focusing function and the anti-shaking function, the control unit to apply the one or more electrical signals to the respective one or more of the plurality of electrically conductive elements of the at least one spring to enable the plurality of drive mechanisms to produce the corrective movement of the lens.

An actuator for use in an optical system, comprising:

• a housing;
• a lens holder positioned at least partially inside the housing;
• at least one spring coupled to said lens holder and/or said housing;
• and
• a plurality of drive mechanisms coupled to one or more of said lens holder and said housing, one or more drive mechanisms of the plurality of drive mechanisms to individually produce linear motion if energized through at least one electrically conductive element to displace the lens holder relative to the housing to produce a linear and tilting motion of the lens holder, the linear and tilting motion comprising an auto-focusing function and an anti-shaking function, wherein the linear motion comprises movement parallel to an optical axis of a lens in the lens holder, and wherein the tilting motion comprises movement about an axis perpendicular to the optical axis of the lens in the lens holder.