Patent ID: 8131144

Claim:
A portable camera, comprising: a) a housing; b) a lens; c) an image sensor located in a light path from the lens; d) a filter operable to move between a first position located in the light path and a second position located out of the light path; e) an actuator comprising an electromagnet and a magnet, one of the electromagnet and the magnet is fixed relative to the light path while the other of the electromagnet and the magnet is movable relative to the light path and is coupled to the filter, the magnet having at least first, second and third poles, with the first and third poles having the same polarity and the second pole being opposite in polarity from the first and third poles and intermediate between the first and third poles, the first, second and third poles lying in a plane, the electromagnet having a body and a coil, the electromagnet having fourth and fifth poles that are adjacent to the magnet and coplanar with the first, second and third poles, with the magnet second pole being attracted to either one of the fourth and fifth poles of the electromagnet, depending on the polarity of the electromagnet, the magnet having a center, the electromagnet body, coil and fourth and fifth poles located relative to the magnet such that a line collinear with a diameter can extend through the magnet center such that the electromagnet body, coil and the fourth and fifth poles are on one side of the collinear line; f) a power source connected to the electromagnet coil, the power source providing electrical power to the electromagnet coil, the power source capable of changing the polarity of the electrical power provided to the electromagnet coil, so as to change polarity of the poles of the electromagnet.