Patent ID: 8731390

Claim:
An electro-magnetic actuator used to provide a movement of an optical element along an optical axis, the actuator comprising: a) a first elongated ferromagnetic member surrounded partially by a conductive coil, the first ferromagnetic member having a first longitudinal axis and a first operative surface; b) a second elongated ferromagnetic member having a second longitudinal axis parallel to the first longitudinal axis and a second operative surface, the first and second ferromagnetic members disposed such that a gap and an overlap are formed between the first and second operative surfaces; and c) a frame hinge having a third longitudinal axis parallel to the first and second longitudinal axes, the frame hinge used to enable one ferromagnetic member to undergo a tilt motion relative to the other ferromagnetic member when a magnetic force is generated by current in the coil, the tilt motion convertible into a linear displacement of the optical element from a first position to a second position.