Patent ID: 8363150

Claim:
A lens control apparatus for providing autofocus and motion control, the lens control apparatus comprising: a casing; a lens holder holding an imaging lens unit, the lens holder movable within the casing along an optical axis extending longitudinally, the lens holder further pivotable within the casing about the optical axis, the lens holder further movable along the optical axis; an autofocus actuator disposed within the casing, wherein the autofocus actuator is configured to move the lens holder within the casing along the optical axis; a first lateral actuator disposed within the casing, wherein the first lateral actuator is configured to provide a force to pivot the lens holder in a first lateral direction relative to the optical axis; a second lateral actuator disposed within the casing, wherein the second lateral actuator is configured to provide a force to pivot the lens holder in a second lateral direction relative to the optical axis, wherein at least a part of the autofocus actuator is coupled to the lens holder, and at least a part of the first lateral actuator and at least a part of the second lateral actuator are each coupled to the lens holder; and an upper spring and a lower spring, each spring disposed between the casing and the lens holder and configured to guide the motion of the lens holder, the upper spring and the lower spring both further disposed along the optical axis either above or below the lateral actuators; wherein the autofocus actuator is disposed within the casing at a first longitudinal position along the optical axis and the lateral actuators are disposed within the casing at a second longitudinal position along the optical axis different than the first longitudinal position along the optical axis, wherein the autofocus actuator is further disposed between the upper and lower springs.