Patent ID: 7832881

Claim:
A mirror drive apparatus comprising: a movable unit including a mirror used to switch an optical path in an imaging apparatus, the movable unit having a first side and an opposite second side extending parallel to the first side, the first and second sides disposed apart from one another in a widthwise direction; a drive mechanism capable of switching the attitude of the movable unit between a first attitude and a second attitude by pivoting the movable unit around a predetermined, fixed pivotal axis extending parallel to the widthwise direction; an elastic member and a locking mechanism provided on the first side of the movable unit and operative to pivot about the predetermined, fixed pivotal axis, the elastic member producing an urging force for switching the attitude of the movable unit from the first attitude to the second attitude, the locking mechanism capable of maintaining the first attitude of the movable unit on which the urging force of the elastic member acts and releasing the movable unit from the first attitude; and a toggle mechanism provided on the second side of the movable unit and operative to pivot about the predetermined, fixed pivotal axis, the toggle mechanism capable of switching the attitude of the movable unit between the first attitude and the second attitude by urging the movable unit so that the movable unit takes the first attitude or the second attitude.