Patent ID: 8154649
Filing Date: 2012-04-10
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
1. An optical unit, comprising: an image pickup optical system; a lens barrel which holds the image pickup optical system and has a tubular shape through which an optical axis of the image pickup optical system extends, one end face of the lens barrel having an opening through which the optical axis of the image pickup optical system extends, and being directed to an image plane of the image pickup optical system; and an electrostrictive drive element which is adapted to deform according to a voltage applied between a first end face thereof and a second end face thereof so as to expand and contract in a direction of an electric field formed by the applied voltage, and is provided such that the drive element surrounds the optical axis of the image pickup optical system, and the first end face of the drive element supports the one end face of the lens barrel, and a direction of the expansion and contraction of the drive element is parallel to the optical axis of the image pickup optical system.