Patent ID: 7518812

Claim:
A lens drive device comprising: a lens movable body which is provided with a lens; a drive mechanism for moving the lens movable body from a home position in an optical axis direction of the lens; and a fixed body which movably supports the lens movable body in the optical axis direction of the lens; wherein the drive mechanism includes a magnet and a plurality of coils; and wherein one of the magnet and the plurality of the coils is provided in the lens movable body and the other of the magnet and the plurality of the coils is provided in the fixed body; wherein an electric current is supplied to the plurality of the coils in one direction to move the lens movable body from the home position in the optical axis direction of the lens; and wherein, in a state that the lens movable body is located at the home position, an electric current is supplied to the plurality of the coils in a reverse direction to the one direction for maintaining the lens movable body at the home position.