Patent ID: 7116500

Claim:
A holding system for holding an optical element, said holding system comprising: a ring-like inner holding member, disposed at an outer periphery of the optical element, for supporting the optical element by use of at least a pair of pieces, wherein said inner holding member has at least a pair of driving units with an actuator, for supporting the optical element through the actuators; a ring-like outer holding member disposed at an outer periphery of said inner holding member and connected to said inner holding member at plural points; and three elastic members for supporting said holding member, wherein said inner holding member supports the optical element by use of one pair of the pieces, which are disposed opposed to each other, wherein one pair of the driving units of said inner holding member is disposed opposed to each other and provided on said inner holding member at two points, each being defined between said one pair of opposed pieces, said one pair of driving units being operable to apply a force to the optical element, and wherein said three elastic members are provided between said outer holding member and said inner holding member and symmetrically with respect to one of (i) a line that connects said one pair of opposed pieces with each other and (ii) a line that connects said one pair of opposed driving units with each other.