Patent ID: 8228388
Filing Date: 2012-07-24
Classification: G02B,G03B,H04N

Abstract:
1. A lens device comprising: a vibration correcting lens; a movable member configured to hold the vibration correcting lens and to be movable in a direction orthogonal to an optical axis of the lens device; a fixed member configured to prevent the movable member from moving in the optical axis direction; three casings configured to be provided on the fixed member; and three balls configured (i) to be disposed in three spaces each surrounded by the movable member and the three casings on the fixed member, (ii) to be supported between the movable member and the fixed member, and (iii) to be relatively movable with respect to each of the movable member and the fixed member; and an actuator configured to drive the movable member relative to the fixed member along the optical axis orthogonal plane, the actuator including a coil and a yoke held by the fixed member and a magnet held by the movable member, wherein the size of each casing in a driving direction of the movable member is set so that each ball does not contact the casing even when the ball rolls from the center of the movable range by half of a mechanically maximum movement amount of the movable member, wherein each ball is formed from an austenite-based stainless steel, and wherein the movable member is pressed toward the fixed member by magnetic attractive action between the magnet and the yoke.