CN101819314B - Lens control device - Google Patents

Abstract

An auto-focus and motion control device is disclosed. According to one embodiment, an auto-focus and motion control apparatus includes an imaging lens control apparatus having an imaging lens unit and an imaging lens support and a plurality of actuators mounted within the imaging lens control apparatus and driving the imaging lens support in different directions of movement. An embodiment of an imaging lens control apparatus includes a housing; an imaging lens unit and an imaging lens holder, the imaging lens holder being mounted in the housing so as to be movable in the direction of the optical axis, and the imaging lens unit and the imaging lens holder being swingable within the housing; an automatic focusing actuator mounted in the housing and driving the imaging lens unit and the imaging lens holder to move in the optical axis direction; a first lateral actuator that provides a force to oscillate the imaging lens holder in a first direction; and a second lateral actuator that provides a force to oscillate the imaging lens holder in a second direction.

Description

lens control device

technical field

The present invention relates to a lens control device, in particular to a lens control device for automatic focusing and motion correction functions in an optical imaging module.

Background of the invention

Conventional cameras include multiple electronic controls to assist in capturing images. For example, an autofocus device can be used to bring the user's desired image into focus. This can be achieved by moving the lens along the optical axis to control the distance between the lens and the image capture mechanism. Another electronic control device is a shake compensation device that compensates for shakes of the camera body, such as camera shakes caused by hand shake. This technology usually requires that a lens in the lens module can move relative to the image capture device, so as to reduce the image blurring effect caused by camera movement.

Currently, there are already camera modules for mobile phones. Existing shake compensation devices are not suitable for mobile phones because they are usually bulky and cannot be placed inside the mobile phone. Accordingly, there is a need for a lens control device that overcomes these and other deficiencies of existing devices.

Summary of the invention

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a lens control device capable of providing autofocus and motion control is disclosed. The lens control device comprises a housing (casing); an imaging lens holder, which carries an imaging lens unit, the imaging lens holder can move along the optical axis direction of the imaging lens unit in the housing, and the imaging lens holder can also swing in the housing ; an autofocus actuator, which is placed in the housing, wherein the autofocus actuator is arranged in the housing to drive the imaging lens holder to move along the optical axis; the first transverse actuator, which is placed in the housing , wherein the first lateral actuator can provide a force on the imaging lens holder, causing the imaging lens holder to swing in the first direction; and the second lateral actuator, which is arranged in the housing, wherein the second lateral actuator The actuator can provide a force on the imaging lens holder, causing the imaging lens holder to swing in a second direction, the first direction and the second direction can be perpendicular to each other, wherein at least a part of the autofocus actuator is connected to the imaging lens holder , and at least a portion of the first lateral actuator and at least a portion of the second lateral actuator are each connected to the imaging lens holder.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a lens control device capable of providing autofocus and motion control is disclosed, the operation of which is controlled by signals sent from a controller. The lens control device includes a casing; an imaging lens holder that can move along the optical axis in the casing, and the imaging lens holder can also swing in the casing; an automatic focus control mechanism, wherein the automatic focus control mechanism receives the focus of the controller signal, and drive the imaging lens holder according to the focusing signal, so that the imaging lens holder moves along the optical axis; and a motion control mechanism, wherein the motion control mechanism can receive the motion control signal of the controller, and control the imaging lens according to the motion control signal The swing of the stand.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, an imaging lens control device providing autofocus and motion control is disclosed. The imaging lens control device includes a casing; an imaging lens unit that can move in the casing along the optical axis, and the imaging lens unit can also swing in the casing; an autofocus actuator, which is arranged in the casing, wherein the The focus actuator is arranged in the casing to drive the imaging lens unit to move along the optical axis; the first transverse actuator is arranged in the casing, wherein the first transverse actuator can provide a force on the imaging lens unit on, make the imaging lens unit swing along the first direction; and the second lateral actuator, which is arranged in the casing, wherein the second lateral actuator can provide a force on the imaging lens unit, so that the imaging lens unit Swinging is performed in a second direction, wherein at least a portion of the autofocus actuator is connected to the imaging lens unit, and at least a portion of the first lateral actuator and at least a portion of the second lateral actuator are each connected to the imaging lens unit.

Description of drawings

1 is a schematic diagram of a lens control device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the lens control device shown in Fig. 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a top view of the lens control device shown in Fig. 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention;

4 is a side cross-sectional view of the lens control device shown in FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 5 is an exploded view of the lens control device shown in Fig. 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention;

6 is a partial schematic view of a lens holder and an autofocus actuator according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 7 is a partial schematic view of a lens holder and motion control actuator according to one embodiment of the present invention;

8 is a side sectional view of a lens control device according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 9A is an exploded view of the lens control device shown in Figure 8 according to one embodiment of the present invention;

9B is a partial top view of the electrical connection between a coil and a lower spring of the autofocus actuator in the lens control device shown in FIG. 8 according to one embodiment of the present invention;

9C is a partial schematic diagram of the electrical connection between two motion control actuators and an upper spring of the lens control device shown in FIG. 8 according to one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 10 is a side sectional view of a lens control device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 11 is a partial schematic view of the lens holder and motion control actuator shown in Figure 10, according to one embodiment of the present invention;

Detailed description of the invention

In the following description, there are shown, by way of description and with reference to the accompanying drawings, specific embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that structural and other changes may be made therein as other embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, the various embodiments and aspects of each of the different embodiments may be used in any suitable combination. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as descriptive in nature and not restrictive. In each figure, the same parts are indicated by the same reference numerals.

Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a lens control device with autofocus and motion control functions. According to one embodiment, the lens control device includes an imaging lens holder, which is used to carry an imaging lens unit; and a plurality of actuators, which are arranged in the imaging lens control device to drive the imaging lens holder along a predetermined direction. Set direction to move. The imaging lens holder moves according to the autofocus control signal and the motion control signal. For example, when used as a camera component, the imaging lens holder can move closer or farther away from the imaging target to adjust the focus. Also, the imaging lens mount can be moved or pivoted to compensate for any shake or other movement that occurs while the camera is in use. For example, considering that the optical axis of the imaging lens unit is directed toward the imaging object, the imaging lens holder can swing horizontally and vertically to handle motion in two different directions.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, a lens control device 100 is shown. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the lens control device 100 , FIG. 2 is a side view of the lens control device 100 shown in FIG. 1 , and FIG. 3 is a top view of the lens control device 100 shown in FIG. 1 . The lens control device 100 includes an upper housing 102 , a lower housing 104 , an imaging lens unit 106 , and a mount 116 . The upper case 102 and the lower case 104 are connected to form a case of the lens control device 100 . According to one embodiment, the working components of the lens control device 100 are all installed in the housing.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view of the lens control device shown in FIG. 1 . The sectional view is taken from line A in FIG. 3 . In cross-sectional views, the configuration and operation of lens control device components, including those shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, are shown and described. An upper housing 102, a lower housing 104, an imaging lens unit 106, and an autofocus actuator magnetic component 108 are shown. The imaging lens unit 106 is engaged with an imaging lens holder 110 . In one embodiment, the outer surface of the imaging lens unit 106 has threads, and the imaging lens holder 110 also has threads, which correspond to the threads of the imaging lens unit 106 , and the imaging lens unit 106 is connected to the imaging lens holder 110 through thread engagement. The coil 112 is attached to the imaging lens holder 110 , wherein the movement of the coil 112 will cause the imaging lens holder 110 to produce a corresponding movement. On the lower housing 102 there are a plurality of corner posts 114, one at each corner of the lower housing 102, and each corner post 114 engages with a corresponding seat 116. Each mount 116 is generally located at an angular position of the imaging lens control device 100 . A set of four autofocus actuator magnetics 108 are housed within the housing, one at each corner of the lower housing 104 . Each mount 116 engages a corresponding autofocus actuator magnetic component 108 . Each autofocus actuator magnetic component 108 is capable of generating an interaction force with respect to the coil 112 . The coil 112 and the autofocus actuator magnetic part 108 constitute an autofocus actuator 119 . Thus, an autofocus mechanism is provided for controlling the autofocus movement of the imaging lens unit 106 .

A set of actuator magnetic components can interact with the first coil 120 and the second coil 124 (shown in FIG. 5 ). The first magnetic part 118 of the actuator magnetic part is positioned adjacent to the first coil 120 . The first magnetic member 118 and the first coil 120 constitute a first actuator 121 . The second magnetic part 122 (shown in FIG. 5 ) and the second coil 124 (shown in FIG. 5 ) of the actuator magnetic part group constitute a second actuator 125 . Thus, a motion control mechanism is provided for controlling the imaging lens unit to make pivoting motion in two directions.

In one embodiment, both the first actuator 121 and the second actuator 125 are configured to generate lateral movement. However, because of the lower spring 126 and the upper spring 128, a fulcrum is actually created between the lower spring 126 and the upper spring 128 along the optical axis. However, according to different implementations, the fulcrum can be created at different locations within the control device. For purposes of describing the motion of the imaging lens holder 110, the fulcrum should generally be considered a reference point rather than a position about which one physical component or another swings. The position of the imaging lens holder 110 will change accordingly during the longitudinal movement (autofocus movement), so the lateral movement of the first lateral actuator 121 and the second lateral actuator 125 causes the imaging lens holder 110 to undergo a swinging motion about the fulcrum . Since the first lateral actuator 121 and the second lateral actuator 125 exert force on the imaging lens holder 110, whether they are applied together or separately, a tilting motion will be generated, so that the imaging lens holder 110 swings about the fulcrum. In another embodiment, the first lateral actuator 121 and the second lateral actuator 125 can be in different positions relative to the upper and lower springs to increase the moment arm length from the fulcrum, which can reduce the need to produce Tilting motion forces and avoid unwanted lateral movement.

The lower spring 126 is located within the lower housing 104 and the upper spring 128 is located within the upper housing 102 . The lower spring 126 is installed between the lower housing 104 and the imaging lens holder 110 , and the upper spring 128 is disposed between the upper housing 102 and the imaging lens holder 110 . Lower spring 126 and upper spring 128 assist in controlling the movement of imaging lens holder 110 within the housing. For example, the lower spring 126 and the upper spring 128 can each be a coil spring (coil spring), with a diameter larger than that of the imaging lens holder 110 . The lower spring 126 and the upper spring 128 may also each be a leaf spring, or one or more leaf springs are disposed near respective ends of the imaging lens holder 110 . The upper and lower springs can also be located at different positions. For example, the lower spring 126 and the upper spring 128 may be disposed on one end of the imaging lens holder 110 close to each other.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the lens control device shown in FIG. 1 . The lens control device 100 includes an upper housing 102 and a lower housing 104, which enclose the remaining components of the lens control device. The imaging lens unit 106 is housed within the housing, and both the upper housing 102 and the lower housing 104 have openings defined in the upper and lower housings 102 , 104 to allow movement through the openings or to allow image capture using the imaging lens unit 106 . 5 also shows the upper spring 128, the lower spring 126, the imaging lens holder 110, the autofocus actuator including the coil 112 and the autofocus actuator magnetic part 108, the first magnetic part 118 and the first coil 120. A transverse actuator, a second transverse actuator comprising a second magnetic component 122 and a second coil 124 .

Although "up" and "down" are described with reference to the orientation of the lens control device 100 as shown in the drawings, in actual operation, the optical axis is aligned with the direction in which the lens control device 100 takes pictures. For example, if the optical axis is generally horizontal to the ground, the first transverse optical axis should be horizontal to the ground and generally perpendicular to the optical axis. The second transverse optical axis is generally perpendicular to the optical axis and coplanar with the first transverse optical axis.

6 is a schematic diagram of an imaging lens holder and an autofocus actuator according to one embodiment of the present invention. The autofocus actuator includes a coil 112 and an autofocus actuator magnetic component 108 . In the depicted embodiment, four magnetic members 108 are shown, one located at each corner of the lens control device 100 housing (FIG. 1). When current is supplied to the coil 112, the coil 112 generates power. The coil 112 is fixedly connected to the imaging lens holder 110 , so that the movement of the coil 112 eventually pushes the imaging lens holder 110 to move. The proximity of the autofocus actuator magnetics 108 to the coils 112 allows the electromagnetic field induced by current flowing through each coil 112 to interact with the magnetic field of each autofocus actuator magnetic 108 which facilitates the movement of the coils 112 . According to one embodiment, the autofocus actuator magnetic component 108 is perpendicular to the surface of the coil 112 to enhance the translational movement of the imaging lens holder 110 relative to the autofocus actuator magnetic component 108 . The autofocus actuator magnetic component 108 is typically held within the housing, such as by mount 116 ( FIG. 3 ) and lower housing 104 ( FIG. 3 ), so that the coil 112 and imaging lens holder 110 react relative to the magnetic component 108 . direction of movement.

Due to the interaction between the magnetic field of the magnetic member 108 and the electromagnetic field caused by the current flowing through the coil 112, a force parallel to the direction of the optical axis is generated, so that the imaging lens unit 106 moves vertically along the optical axis. The vertical movement of the coil 112 is translated into a vertical movement of the imaging lens holder 110 at least partially connected to the coil 112 . The bottom of the magnetic component 108 faces the coil 112 , and the top of the magnetic component 108 faces part of the imaging lens holder 110 to receive the force exerted by the coil 112 .

Both the autofocus actuator 119 and the first and second lateral actuators 121, 125 can be operated and controlled independently. Thus, this independent operation enables precise control of the function of each actuator, and as desired, the actuators can operate individually or together for autofocus functions and motion control functions. In another embodiment, the control of the autofocus function and the control of the motion control function can be performed independently, mainly depending on the requirements of actual applications.

Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of an imaging lens holder and motion control actuator according to one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to the first and second transverse actuators, each first and second magnetic member 118, 122 is mounted at a position relative to each first and second coil 120, 124, respectively, such that each first and second Both the magnetic components 118 , 122 face the imaging lens holder 110 and are almost perpendicular to the surface of the imaging lens holder 110 . When an electrical current is applied, the first and second coils 120, 124 move away from the first and second magnetic members 118, 122, respectively, thereby creating lateral motion. Since each of the first coil 120 and the second coil 124 is fixedly connected to the imaging lens holder 110, or according to another embodiment, is positioned close to the imaging lens holder 110, the engagement of the first and second lateral actuators 121, 125 This makes the imaging lens holder 110 move in two directions. The lateral movement generated by the first and second lateral actuators 121, 125 causes the imaging lens holder 110 to tilt, and the imaging lens unit 106 inside the imaging lens holder 110 is simultaneously tilted, which can cancel out the imaging lens control device 100. reverse movement.

The autofocus actuator 119 and the first and second lateral actuators 121, 125 may be any suitable type of actuator. In another embodiment, the one or more actuators are voice coil motor (VCM) actuators. In another embodiment, the one or more actuators are piezoelectric actuators. The one or more actuators may also be electroactive polymer devices, or any other suitable type of actuator capable of producing the desired motion.

The lateral actuators 121, 125 may be controlled independently, or may be electrically connected in series, depending on the type of control required. According to one embodiment, for motion control, the first coil 120 and the second coil 124 may be connected such that the current flowing through the first coil 120 and the second coil 124 can independently control each of the first and second coils 120 , 124 .

Coils are made of conductive material. In addition to the coils and magnetic components, the components of the lens control device, such as the housing and the imaging lens holder 110, can be made of non-magnetic materials, such as plastic or non-magnetic alloys, so as not to interact with the magnetic fields of the coils and magnetic components. interference.

Although the imaging lens unit 106 and the imaging lens holder 110 are described as two separate components in the drawings, according to another embodiment, the imaging lens unit 106 and the imaging lens holder 110 may be integrated to form one component. Therefore, according to another embodiment, each of the autofocus actuator 119 , the first lateral actuator 121 , and the second lateral actuator 125 may act directly on the imaging lens unit 106 . The imaging lens unit 106 and the imaging lens holder 110 are generally referred to as one imaging lens assembly. Therefore, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the imaging lens assembly includes an imaging lens unit 106 and an imaging lens holder 110 . According to another embodiment, the imaging lens assembly includes an imaging lens unit 106 , wherein various components cooperate with the imaging lens unit 106 , similar to that described above with reference to the imaging lens holder 110 . According to one embodiment, the imaging lens unit includes one or more optical lenses for imaging. Any suitable imaging lens unit 106 may be used, and the imaging lens unit may also include other components as necessary for the purposes of the present invention.

Fig. 8 is a side sectional view of a lens control device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 8 shows another embodiment of the internal structure of the lens control device. The external configuration is generally similar to that shown in Figures 1 to 3. Therefore, the sectional view shown in FIG. 8 is also taken from the dotted line A shown in FIG. 3 .

Shown are upper housing 102 , lower housing 104 , imaging lens unit 806 , and autofocus actuator magnetics 108 . In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the imaging lens unit 806 is shown without any imaging lens holder. The coil 112 is attached to the imaging lens unit 806 , wherein movement of the coil 112 produces a corresponding movement of the imaging lens unit 806 . Lower housing 104 has a plurality of corner posts 114 , each corner post being located at each corner of lower housing 104 to engage a corresponding standoff 116 . The coil 112 and the autofocus actuator magnetic part 108 constitute an autofocus actuator 119 . A set of actuator magnetics is positioned to be able to interact with the first coil 120 and the second coil (not shown). The first magnetic part 118 of the actuator magnetic part is adjacent to the first coil 120 . The first magnetic member 118 and the first coil 120 constitute a first actuator 121 . The second magnetic part and the second coil of the actuator magnetic part group constitute a second actuator. Therefore, a motion control mechanism is provided to control the oscillating motion of the imaging lens 806 in both directions. The embodiment of the imaging lens control device shown in FIG. 8 operates similarly to the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 .

The lower spring 126 is disposed within the lower housing 104 and the upper spring 128 is disposed within the upper housing 102 . The lower spring 126 is disposed between the lower housing 104 and the imaging lens unit 806 , and the upper spring 128 is disposed between the upper housing 102 and the imaging lens unit 806 . Lower spring 126 and upper spring 128 assist in controlling the movement of imaging lens unit 806 within the housing. For example, each of the lower spring 126 and the upper spring 128 may be a coil spring with a diameter larger than that of the imaging lens unit 806 . The lower spring 126 and the upper spring 128 may also each be a leaf spring, or one or more leaf springs positioned near respective ends of the imaging lens unit 806 .

Embodiments of the present invention may include a combination of an auto-focus actuator and a motion control actuator. The auto-focus actuator and the anti-vibration actuator exert force on the imaging lens holder to generate movement along the optical axis and make the Movement in which the optical axis is tilted. Thus, the imaging lens holder can be moved independently by the autofocus actuator and the motion control actuator, where one actuator moves the imaging lens holder while the other does not. As mentioned earlier, in operation, a fulcrum is formed between the upper and lower springs. However, depending on the particular configuration, the fulcrum may be formed at other locations within the lens control device. In one embodiment, the upper and lower springs are symmetrical about one or more bisecting axes. The symmetry of the spring can affect the position of the fulcrum, which in turn affects the tilting motion of the imaging lens holder 110 . For example, the symmetry of the spring helps maintain the fulcrum position above the optical axis and minimizes or limits translational motion of the imaging lens holder 110 .

Referring to Figures 9A, 9B and 9C, an embodiment of the present invention is shown in which a lower spring 926 and an upper spring 928 are used as electrodes. Lower spring 926 and upper spring 928 are electrically connected to the coils of the autofocus actuator and the two lateral actuators. Referring to FIG. 9B , the coil 912 of the autofocus actuator is electrically connected to the lower spring 926 . Referring to FIG. 9C , the two anti-shock actuator coils 920 , 924 are electrically connected to the upper spring 928 . Therefore, each of the upper spring 928 and the lower spring 926 may be provided as an electrode. Also, in the embodiment depicted in FIG. 9C, it can be seen that the upper spring 928 is composed of four individual leaf springs. However, any number of springs may be used.

Controllers, circuitry and power supplies can be provided to control the actuators such that each actuator can be controlled independently or collectively simultaneously to provide both autofocus and motion control depending on desired performance.

Embodiments of the present invention are particularly suitable for use in small devices, such as mobile phones and small camera devices. When used within the device, the lens control means may operate in conjunction with an image capture mechanism arranged to capture images delivered by the imaging lens unit 106, a controller configured to drive the autofocus actuator 119 and the first And the second transverse actuator 121, 125, the memory is used to store the instructions of the controller, the power supply such as a battery is used to supply power to each component and the communication device such as a wire or a circuit connection, so that the various components of the lens control device 100 to communicate.

The configuration of the actuator arranged around the imaging lens holder 110 has the advantage that the actuator can be compactly installed in one housing. The interior of the housing and the imaging lens holder 110 are complementary in size, shape, material, and configuration such that the imaging lens holder 110 can move smoothly and precisely within the housing.

It is a feature of an embodiment of the present invention that the autofocus actuator 119 and the first and second lateral actuators 121 , 125 are mounted close to the lens mount 110 . In one embodiment, the autofocus actuator 119 and the first and second lateral actuators 121, 125 are close to the imaging lens holder 110, while the autofocus actuator 119, the first lateral actuator 121, and the second Two transverse actuators 125 can act directly on the imaging lens holder 110 . Since the actuator is disposed adjacent to and directly engaged with the imaging lens holder 110, a downsized lens control device 100 can be provided and the functions of autofocus and motion control can be realized. A lens control device with a reduced size is desirable for a compact digital camera or a mobile phone with a camera module.

Referring now to Figures 10 and 11, there is shown an embodiment of the invention having coils and magnetic components of different configurations. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 10 , the magnetic member 1008 is fixedly attached to the imaging lens holder 110 such that movement of the coil 1008 pushes the imaging lens holder 110 . According to one embodiment, the coil 1012 is positioned perpendicular to the surface of the magnetic member 1008 to enhance the driving force of the translational motion of the imaging lens holder 110 relative to the coil 1012 . Coil 1012 is secured within the housing, such as by standoff 116 . The magnetic part 1008 and the coil 1012 constitute the autofocus actuator 119, the first magnetic part 1018 and the first coil 1020 constitute the first lateral actuator 121, and the second magnetic part 1022 and the second coil 1024 constitute the second lateral actuator. device 125.

FIG. 11 is a partial schematic diagram of the imaging lens holder and motion control actuator shown in FIG. 10, according to one embodiment of the present invention. With reference to the first and second transverse actuators 121, 125, each first and second magnetic member 1018, 1022 is positioned relative to the first and second coil 1020, 1024, respectively, each first and second coil 1020, 1024 1024 all face the imaging lens holder 110 and are almost perpendicular to the surface of the imaging lens holder 110 . When an electrical current is applied, the magnetic members 1018, 1022 move away from the coils 1020, 1024, creating lateral movement. Since each magnetic member 1018, 1022 is fixedly connected to the imaging lens holder 110, or according to another embodiment, is positioned proximate to the imaging lens holder 110, engagement of the first and second lateral actuators 121, 125 causes the imaging lens holder 110 produces lateral movement in both directions. The lateral movement causes the imaging lens holder 110 to tilt.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to such embodiments, workers skilled in the art will understand that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the imaging lens holder 110 may have different configurations, and the housing may have other shapes and configurations than those shown in the described embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. The number, arrangement, type and configuration of the actuator(s) may also differ from those shown in the described embodiments. So, although two lateral actuators are described, two or more lateral actuators could be used. A single transverse actuator can also be used. Also, while the described embodiment of the autofocus actuator includes four magnetic components 108, embodiments including a greater or lesser number of magnetic components may also be used.

Therefore, the above description is intended to provide exemplary embodiments of the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the specific examples provided.

Claims (10)

1. A lens control device for providing autofocus and motion control, the lens control device comprising:

a housing;

an imaging lens holder which carries an imaging lens unit, the imaging lens holder being movable in the optical axis direction within the housing, the imaging lens holder being swingable within the housing;

an auto-focus actuator disposed in the housing and driving the imaging lens holder to move in the optical axis direction; wherein the autofocus actuator includes a coil and an autofocus actuator magnetic component, and an electromagnetic force generated by the coil interacting with the magnetic component when energized is along an optical axis direction of the imaging lens holder; and the coil is fixedly connected to an imaging lens holder, the magnetic component being fixed within the housing;

a first lateral actuator disposed within the housing, the actuator including a first coil and a first magnetic component, and the first coil being fixedly attached to the imaging lens support, the first magnetic component being disposed within the housing, facing the imaging lens support and being substantially perpendicular to a surface of the imaging lens support; when the first coil is electrified, the first coil interacts with the first magnetic component to generate a transverse acting force to act on the imaging lens bracket, so that the imaging lens bracket swings along a first direction;

a second lateral actuator disposed within the housing, the actuator including a second coil and a second magnetic member, and the second coil being fixedly connected to the imaging lens holder, the second magnetic member being disposed within the housing, facing the imaging lens holder and being almost perpendicular to a surface of the imaging lens holder; when the second coil is electrified, the second coil interacts with the second magnetic component to generate another transverse acting force to act on the imaging lens bracket, so that the imaging lens bracket swings along a second direction; and the first direction and the second direction are perpendicular to each other and substantially perpendicular to the optical axis; and

an upper spring and a lower spring, both of which are disposed between the imaging lens holder and the housing, thereby regulating movement of the imaging lens holder;

wherein,

the upper and lower springs are positioned below the first and second lateral actuators, or alternatively, the upper and lower springs are positioned above the first and second lateral actuators; and

the first and second actuators and the autofocus actuator are operated and controlled independently of each other.

2. A lens control apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the autofocus actuator is arranged to generate a force on the imaging lens holder to move the imaging lens holder in a direction parallel to the optical axis.

3. The lens control device of claim 2, wherein the autofocus actuator is independently operable to generate a force on the imaging lens support, the first lateral actuator is further independently operable to generate a force on the imaging lens support in a first direction, and the second lateral actuator is independently operable to generate a force on the imaging lens support in a second direction.

4. The lens control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the imaging lens unit is for imaging the object, the imaging lens unit comprising at least one lens.

5. The lens control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the autofocus actuator, the first lateral actuator, and the second lateral actuator are controlled by a controller, wherein the autofocus actuator comprises a coil and at least one magnetic component, and the controller is capable of sending control signals to control operation of the actuators.

6. The lens control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first lateral actuator comprises at least one coil and at least one magnetic component, and the second lateral actuator comprises at least one coil and at least one magnetic component.

7. The lens control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second lateral actuators are each a Voice Coil Motor (VCM).

8. The lens control device of claim 6, wherein the coil of the autofocus actuator is electrically connected to the lower spring.

9. The lens control device of claim 6, wherein at least one coil of the first lateral actuator and at least one coil of the second lateral actuator are connected to an upper spring.

10. The lens control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the actuator is coupled to a controller and a power source, the controller capable of connecting the current of the power source to the autofocus actuator, the first lateral actuator, and the second lateral actuator.

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