Patent ID: 7643741

Claim:
An image stabilization unit comprising: a hold module that holds a lens; a support member including a support portion that supports the hold module so as to freely swing in any direction at a pivot point that is one point on an outer circumference of the hold module; a first drive mechanism that drives a first drive point located on the outer circumference of the hold module in an optical axis direction, wherein the first drive point is apart from the pivot point in a first direction that is different from the optical axis direction; a second drive mechanism that drives a second drive point located on the outer circumference of the hold module in the optical axis direction, wherein the second drive point is apart from the pivot point in a second direction that is different from the optical axis direction and the first direction; a first sensor; and a second sensor, wherein the first drive mechanism comprises a first arm that supports the first drive point so as to be freely rotatable, a first coil held by the first arm, the first coil that generates a first drive force in the optical axis direction upon reception of an action of a first magnetic force and a first current flow, to cause the first arm to drive the first drive point in the optical axis direction, a first magnet held by the support member, the first magnet that applies the first magnetic force to the first coil and expands horizontally with respect to the optical axis, and a first guide member fixed to the support member, the first guide member that guides the first arm so that a first action point of the first arm that supplies the first drive force to the first drive point is moved in the optical axis direction, the second drive mechanism comprises a second arm that supports the second drive point so as to be freely rotatable, a second coil held by the second arm, the second coil that generates a second drive force in the optical axis direction upon reception of an action of a second magnetic force and a second current flow, to cause the second arm to drive the second drive point in the optical axis direction, a second magnet held by the support member, the second magnet that applies the second magnetic force to the second coil and expands horizontally with respect to the optical axis, and a second guide member fixed to the support member, the second guide member that guides the second arm so that a second action point of the second arm that supplies the second drive force to the second drive point is moved in the optical axis direction, the first arm supports the first sensor, the first sensor detects change in the first magnetic force applied by the first magnet, the change caused by movement of the first arm in the optical axis direction when the first arm drives the first drive point, the second arm supports the second sensor, and the second sensor detects change in the second magnetic force applied by the second magnet, the change caused by movement of the second arm in the optical axis direction when the second arm drives the second drive point.