Patent ID: 7440202

Claim:
A lens drive apparatus comprising: a base that has a through hole, which penetrates through the base; a plurality of shafts that are fixed to the base and extend in a direction generally parallel to a center axis of the through hole of the base; two yoke arrangements, each of which holds a plurality of permanent magnets and surrounds the center axis of the through hole of the base, wherein the two yoke arrangements are supported by the plurality of shafts and are axially spaced from each other; a lens holder frame that holds a lens, which has an optical axis generally parallel to the central axis of the through hole of the base, wherein the lens holder frame is axially placed in a space between the two yoke arrangements and is swingably supported by a plurality of wire springs, which are fixed to the base; and a plurality of drive coils that are fixed to the lens holder frame and generate a drive force to move the lens holder frame.