JP2012003253A - Imaging apparatus with autofocus mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lens drive unit having a short entire length while achieving a high-sped and highly precise operation.SOLUTION: This imaging apparatus employs the lens drive unit. In the lens drive unit, a lens and a motor 202 for actuating the lens are connected by a worm mechanism; and the worm mechanism has a mechanism including a sector gear 205 which has, on the circular arc thereof, a worm wheel threadedly engaged with a worm gear 203 which is coaxial with the motor 202. Alternatively, the lens drive unit employs a mechanism including a worm wheel threadedly engaged with a worm gear 203 and positioned by a fixed shaft 207, and a rack threadedly engaged with the worm wheel and including a lens frame.

Description

  The present invention relates to a focus mechanism and a zoom mechanism mounted on an imaging apparatus, and more particularly to a lens driving apparatus that moves a lens along an optical axis and an imaging apparatus using the same.

  In recent imaging apparatuses, in particular, single-lens reflex cameras, compact cameras, and video cameras, a mechanism for electrically moving a part or all of a photographing lens is generally incorporated.

  For example, in an autofocus mechanism or a power focus mechanism, a focusing lens is moved by an actuator built in the imaging apparatus in response to an electrical signal issued in response to a command issued by a camera or a photographer's operation.

  In particular, in a compact camera, there is a so-called power zoom mechanism in which zoom driving is not performed manually by a photographer but by a built-in actuator according to the operation of the photographer.

  Here, an actuator used for lens driving in the imaging apparatus will be described first. Next, an autofocus mechanism of the imaging apparatus will be described, and then an autofocus mechanism using a stepping motor as an actuator will be described.

  As an actuator used for driving a lens in an imaging apparatus, there are a stepping motor, a DC motor, a linear motor, an ultrasonic motor (vibration wave motor), and the like. These actuators are appropriately selected in consideration of various conditions such as size, shape, output, speed, accuracy, operation sound, and power consumption. Of these, stepping motors are widely used in focus mechanisms and zoom mechanisms because they satisfy the above-mentioned conditions at a high level.

  Next, the operation of the autofocus mechanism of the imaging apparatus will be described. The autofocus mechanism is generally started by a half-press operation (first release) of a release button. In addition to the half-press operation of the release button, there are buttons that can be set with any function assigned to the operation of the autofocus mechanism, and buttons that are dedicated to the operation of the autofocus mechanism. is there. When an instruction to start the operation of the autofocus mechanism is given, the focusing lens is driven to the in-focus focusing lens position by a mechanism described later, and focusing can be obtained.

  As an autofocus mechanism of an imaging apparatus, there is a phase difference detection type autofocus mechanism. The phase difference detection type autofocus mechanism is a method mainly used for a single-lens reflex camera, and uses a phase difference autofocus sensor provided for exclusive use. A general type of phase difference detection type autofocus mechanism will be described. The light flux of the subject guided by the mirror or prism is received by the phase difference autofocus sensor, and the defocus amount is calculated from the signal values output from the line sensor of the reference unit and reference unit corresponding to the distance measuring point. The amount of movement of the focusing lens is calculated from the calculated defocus amount and information unique to the lens such as the focal length, and focusing is performed by moving the focusing lens.

  Further, as an autofocus mechanism of an image pickup apparatus, there is a contrast detection type autofocus mechanism that is mainly used in compact digital cameras. Contrast detection method The autofocus mechanism sequentially captures the contrast at the distance measuring point by the image sensor while driving the focusing lens, detects the focusing lens position at which the contrast peak is reached, and moves the focusing lens position to the position at which the contrast peak is reached. This is a method for focusing. Focusing lens driving to find the contrast peak needs to be performed at high speed and with high accuracy, which not only increases the demand for the actuator used to drive the focusing lens, but also transmits power between the actuator and the focusing lens. The mechanism to do this must meet high demands.

  Next, an autofocus mechanism using a stepping motor as an actuator will be described. As described above, the stepping motor satisfies various conditions required for the actuator that drives the focusing lens, but the mechanism itself that transmits power to the focusing lens must also take into account high precision, space saving, and quietness.

  The lens driving mechanism shown in FIG. 4 is an example of the most basic configuration of a mechanism in which a lead shaft that moves a lens frame that holds a focusing lens is rotated by a motor provided coaxially with the lead shaft to move the lens frame. It is.

  In FIG. 4, reference numeral 400 denotes a focusing lens which is one of the lens components, and 401 is provided to hold at least one lens component in the lens barrel and to be movable in the optical axis direction in the lens barrel. 402 is a lens holding unit, 402 is a driving motor for driving the lens holding unit 401, 403 is a lead shaft provided coaxially with the output shaft of the driving motor 402, and 404 is a light beam for moving the lens holding unit 401. It is at least one guide shaft that is provided so that the optical axis direction and the axial direction substantially coincide with each other while being restricted in the axial direction.

  Since the lens driving mechanism shown in FIG. 4 has a small number of parts for transmitting power between the focusing lens and the stepping motor, the backlash of the mechanism for transmitting the driving force using a plurality of gears is extremely small and highly accurate. Is possible. On the other hand, the torque used to drive the focusing lens tends to be insufficient because no deceleration mechanism is used, so a large motor that outputs higher torque is used, or the optical design itself is reviewed to reduce the weight of the focusing lens. Therefore, measures such as reducing the load of the motor are required. However, taking such measures has disadvantages that lead to an increase in the size of the lens barrel and further restrictions on the optical design.

  The lens driving mechanism shown in Patent Document 1 is an application of the lens driving mechanism shown in FIG. 4 and is configured to cross each other by connecting the lead shaft and the output shaft of the motor with a worm mechanism. However, inconveniences such as the need to use a motor with a large output because no reduction mechanism is used, the overall length of the lens barrel, and the expansion of the outer diameter have not been solved.

  The lens driving mechanism shown in Patent Document 2 has a structure in which a speed reduction mechanism is incorporated between a focusing lens and a stepping motor to transmit power, can be driven by a small motor, and has a high degree of freedom in arrangement. The movement of the lens barrel to be driven is restricted so as to move only in the optical axis direction by a cam or helicoid provided separately. However, since there are a large number of parts that transmit power between the focusing lens and the motor, the backlash is large and it is difficult to achieve high-accuracy driving. Further, there is a drawback that the mechanism tends to be large, and it is difficult to reduce the size. Furthermore, since the number of parts is large, an increase in cost and an increase in assembly man-hours are inevitable.

  For this reason, when performing contrast detection autofocus with a photographic lens having a lens driving mechanism described in Patent Document 2, it is necessary to incorporate a process for correcting backlash in advance. However, there is a problem that conventional lenses that do not perform such processing cannot be used for a contrast detection type autofocus mechanism.

  Furthermore, the lens drive mechanism shown in Patent Document 2 can be driven by a motor with a relatively small output by using a speed reduction mechanism, while the drive rotational speed of the motor is increased, and the driving sound is generated due to friction between gears included in the speed reduction mechanism. There is also a growing problem.

  This causes a fatal problem in an imaging apparatus having a moving image shooting function that has become common in recent years. In particular, in order to realize high-speed and high-accuracy autofocus operation during video recording, a stepping motor is used to drive the focusing lens, and the excitation mode is not a general 1-2 phase excitation or 2 phase excitation, but a micro step drive. May be used. As a result, although the drive sound is reduced, there is a problem that the noise derived from the mechanism is generated and the drive sound is recorded every time the autofocus operation is performed.

  Furthermore, recent image pickup devices are becoming smaller and lighter, and it is difficult to use a sound insulating material in order to obtain quietness. From the viewpoint of miniaturization, a large actuator cannot be built in to realize a high-speed autofocus mechanism, and the arrangement must be able to be miniaturized even when a small actuator is used.

JP 2007-256320 A JP 2010-038932 A

  As described above, the lens driving device used in an imaging device that particularly takes into account the support of moving images is a mechanism that is excellent in output, speed, accuracy, operation sound, power consumption, etc. by using a stepping motor, but in the arrangement of the stepping motor. The mechanism must have a high degree of freedom and a small backlash, and can reduce driving noise.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and provides a compact lens driving device that has a high-speed and high-precision autofocus mechanism and is excellent in quietness, and an imaging device including the same. Objective.

  Accordingly, in the present invention described in claim 1, at least one lens component is held in the lens barrel, and the lens holding means provided to be movable in the optical axis direction in the lens barrel, and the lens holding A motor for driving the means, a worm gear provided coaxially with the output shaft of the motor, and restricting movement of the lens holding means in the optical axis direction, and provided so that the optical axis direction and the axial direction substantially coincide with each other. And at least one guide shaft and a fan-shaped gear having a worm wheel threadedly engaged with the worm gear in a circular arc, and the other end of the circular arc of the fan-shaped gear and the lens holding means are axially attached by a rotating shaft. The sector gear is positioned by a fixed shaft provided between the arc and the rotating shaft.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, at least one lens component is held in the lens barrel, and the lens holding means provided so as to be movable in the optical axis direction in the lens barrel; A motor for driving the means, a worm gear provided coaxially with the output shaft of the motor, and restricting movement of the lens holding means in the optical axis direction, and provided so that the optical axis direction and the axial direction substantially coincide with each other. Further, at least one guide shaft, a worm wheel screwed to the worm gear and positioned by a fixed shaft, and the lens holding means include a rack screwed to the worm wheel.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, at least one lens component is held in the lens barrel, and the lens holding means is provided so as to be movable in the optical axis direction in the lens barrel; A motor for driving the means, a hypoid pinion provided coaxially with the output shaft of the motor, and the movement of the lens holding means are restricted in the optical axis direction, and provided so that the optical axis direction and the axial direction substantially coincide with each other. The at least one guide shaft, a hypoid gear screwed to the hypoid pinion and positioned by a fixed shaft, and the lens holding means include a rack screwed to the gear.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the lens holding means and the lens structure are integrally formed.

  The present invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that the lens holding means is provided with an urging force applying means for urging the lens holding means in the optical axis direction.

  Further, in the present invention described in claim 6, a plurality of lens structures disposed in the lens barrel, and a lens driving device that displaces at least some of the plurality of lens structures in the optical axis direction. And the lens driving device is constituted by the lens driving device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, a plurality of lens structures disposed in a lens barrel, and a lens driving device that displaces at least a part of the plurality of lens structures in the optical axis direction. And an image sensor that receives the image of the formed subject on a light receiving surface by displacing the lens structure in the optical axis direction by the lens driving device, and the lens driving device. The lens driving device according to any one of the above is used.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a compact lens driving device that has a high-speed and high-accuracy autofocus mechanism and that is excellent in quietness, and an imaging device including the same.

  The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a main part structure and a control system of a single-lens reflex camera constructed by applying the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a camera body, and 2 denotes a lens barrel 2 detachably attached to the camera body 1.

  The lens barrel 2 is equipped with the following devices.

  3 is a lens structure, 4 is an aperture device, 5 is a focusing lens drive mechanism and a focusing lens according to the present invention, 6 is an aperture motor drive circuit that drives a step motor as a drive source of the aperture device, and 7 is a focusing lens drive mechanism. A focusing motor drive circuit 8 for driving the motor controls the circuits 6 and 7 and communicates with a CPU (hereinafter abbreviated as “camera CPU”) on the camera body side and has a built-in lens (hereinafter abbreviated as “lens CPU”). ).

  On the other hand, the following device is mounted on the camera body 1.

  9 is a known mirror that can be moved up and down, 10 is a mirror drive motor for moving the mirror 9 up and down, 11 is a mirror drive circuit that drives the motor 10, 12 is a known pentaprism, 13 is a viewfinder eyepiece, 14 is a known photometric element composed of SPC (silicon photodiode), 15 is a photometric circuit for calculating the field luminance based on the output signal of the element 14, and 16 is a known distance measuring element composed of a CCD line sensor or the like. , 17 is a focus detection circuit that detects the focal length of the object from the output of the element 16, 18 is a focal plane shutter (hereinafter abbreviated as shutter), 19 is a shutter drive circuit that controls the drive source of the shutter, and 20 is a film. An imaging surface 21 on which a film in a camera or a solid-state imaging device in a digital camera is located, A display device composed of a crystal device, etc., 22 is a release button for transmitting a signal by a pushing operation by a photographer, 23 is a mode dial for switching a camera exposure mode, 24 is a power source, 25 is a camera body 1 and a lens barrel 2 The camera CPU is connected to the lens CPU 8 via a serial transmission line via electrical contacts 27 and 28 provided on the mount 26 for connecting the lens.

  Here, the flow in which the focusing lens is driven by the autofocus mechanism according to the operation of the photographer will be briefly described. The release button 22 transmits a signal to start the operation of the autofocus mechanism in response to the photographer's pressing operation. The camera CPU that has received the signal acquires focus information from the distance measuring element 16 and calculates a defocus amount. The calculated defocus amount is transmitted to the lens CPU 8 through a serial transmission line via electrical contacts 27 and 28 provided on the mount 26 that connects the camera body 1 and the lens barrel 2. The lens CPU 8 converts the received defocus amount into a lens drive amount, converts it into a driving pulse and a rotation direction of a focusing lens drive motor that satisfies the lens drive amount, and transmits the drive pulse to the focusing lens drive circuit 7. . The focusing lens driving circuit 7 drives the focusing lens driving motor by the received driving pulse, and moves the focusing lens in the optical axis direction.

  Next, the focusing lens driving mechanism according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 2 is a perspective view depicting the focusing lens driving mechanism and the focusing lens shown in FIG. 1 as the focusing lens driving mechanism and the focusing lens 5 according to the present invention.

  In FIG. 2, reference numeral 200 denotes a focusing lens which is one of the lens components, and 201 is provided so as to hold at least one lens component in the lens barrel and to be movable in the optical axis direction in the lens barrel. 202 is a lens holding means, 202 is a drive motor for driving the lens holding means, 203 is a worm gear provided coaxially with the output shaft of the drive motor 202, and 204 is an optical axis for the movement of the lens holding means. And at least one guide shaft provided so that the optical axis direction and the axial direction substantially coincide with each other, 205 is a fan-shaped gear having a worm wheel screwed to the worm gear in an arc, and 206 Is a rotation shaft that pivotally attaches the other end of the arc of the sector gear and the lens holding means, and 207 is the sector shape A fixed shaft for positioning the A between the rotary shaft and the circular arcs.

  The focusing lens driving mechanism and the focusing lens 5 are arranged in order of the driving motor 202, the worm gear 203, the fan gear 205, and the lens holding means 201 from the driving source side in order to transmit the driving force of the driving motor 202 to the focusing lens. ing.

  The focusing lens 200 is held by the lens holding unit 201 and is regulated so as to move in a direction parallel to the optical axis by at least one guide shaft 204 penetrating the lens holding unit 201. Further, the lens holding unit 201 is provided with a spring 208 that is biased to one side. By always shifting the lens holding unit 201 in one direction, the driving accuracy is reduced due to backlash of the focusing lens driving mechanism. It is preventing.

  The sector gear 205 has a worm wheel on its arc and a rotating shaft 207 that is pivotally attached to the lens holding means 201 at the other end. The worm wheel meshes with the worm gear 203 and transmits the driving force of the driving motor 202 to the lens holding means 201. A rotation shaft of the sector gear 205 has a fixed shaft that pivotally supports the sector gear 205 at a predetermined position.

  Next, the operation of the focusing lens driving mechanism and the focusing lens 5 according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, the focusing lens driving circuit 202 drives the focusing lens driving motor 202 by the driving pulse received from the lens CPU 8. At the same time, the worm gear 203 coaxially attached to the focusing lens drive motor 202 rotates, the fan-shaped gear 205 meshed with the worm gear 203 is rotated around the fixed shaft 207, and the lens holding means 201 pivotally attached by the rotating shaft 206 receives the light. Move in the axial direction.

  According to the present embodiment, a lens driving device having a short overall length by incorporating a worm mechanism and an imaging device including the same while realizing a high-speed and high-precision operation by configuring the focusing lens driving mechanism with a small number of gears. Can be provided.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view depicting the focusing lens driving mechanism and the focusing lens according to the present invention. This embodiment is applied to a single-lens reflex camera and its lens barrel as in the first embodiment.

  In FIG. 3, reference numeral 300 denotes a focusing lens which is one of the lens components, and 301 is provided so as to hold at least one lens component in the lens barrel and to be movable in the optical axis direction in the lens barrel. 302 is a lens holding means, 302 is a drive motor for driving the lens holding means 301, 303 is a worm gear provided coaxially with the output shaft of the drive motor 302, and 304 is a movement of the lens holding means 301 on the optical axis. And at least one guide shaft provided so that the optical axis direction and the axial direction substantially coincide with each other, 305 is a worm wheel screwed into the worm gear 303, and 306 is an end of the lens holding means 301 The rack gear is integrally formed with the worm gear 303 and screwed into the worm gear 303. Eel 305 is a fixed shaft for rotatably supported with positioning the.

  The focusing lens driving mechanism and the focusing lens 5 are arranged in the order of the driving motor 302, the worm gear 303, the worm wheel 305, the rack gear 306, and the lens holding means 301 in order from the driving source side in order to transmit the driving force of the driving motor 302 to the focusing lens 300. It is arranged.

  The focusing lens 300 is held by the lens holding unit 301 and is regulated to move in a direction parallel to the optical axis by at least one guide shaft 304 penetrating the lens holding unit 301. Further, the lens holding means 301 is provided with a spring 308 that is biased to one side, and the lens holding means 301 is always biased in one direction, thereby reducing the driving accuracy due to backlash of the focusing lens driving mechanism. It is preventing.

  The worm wheel 305 meshes with the worm gear 303 and transmits the driving force of the driving motor 302 to the lens holding unit 301. The rotation center of the worm wheel 305 has a fixed shaft 307 that supports the worm wheel 305 at a predetermined position. The rack gear 306 is integrally formed at the ends of the lens holding means 30, 1, but a part made as a separate part may be attached later. The rack gear 306 is formed in parallel with the optical axis.

  Next, the operation of the focusing lens driving mechanism and the focusing lens 5 according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, the focusing lens driving circuit 7 drives the focusing lens driving motor 302 by the driving pulse received from the lens CPU 8. At the same time, the worm gear 303 coaxially attached to the focusing lens drive motor 302 rotates, the worm wheel 305 meshed with the worm gear 303 is rotated around the fixed shaft 307, and the rack gear 306 meshed with the worm wheel 305 is sent to thereby hold the lens. The means 301 is moved in the optical axis direction.

  According to the present embodiment, a lens driving device having a short overall length by incorporating a worm mechanism and an imaging device including the same while realizing a high-speed and high-precision operation by configuring the focusing lens driving mechanism with a small number of gears. Can be provided.

  FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the focusing lens driving mechanism and the focusing lens according to the present invention. The present embodiment is applied to a single-lens reflex camera and its lens barrel in the same manner as the first and second embodiments.

  In FIG. 5, reference numeral 500 denotes a focusing lens which is one of the lens components, and 501 is provided so as to hold at least one lens component in the lens barrel and to be movable in the optical axis direction in the lens barrel. 502 is a lens holding means, 502 is a drive motor for driving the lens holding means 501, 503 is a hypoid pinion provided coaxially with the output shaft of the drive motor 502, and 504 is a light for moving the lens holding means 501. At least one guide shaft is provided so that the optical axis direction and the axial direction substantially coincide with each other while being restricted in the axial direction, 505 is a hypoid gear that is screwed into the hypoid pinion 503, and 506 is the lens holding means 501. A rack gear integrally formed at the end and screwed into the hypoid pinion 503; 07 is a fixed shaft for rotatably supported with positioning the hypoid gear 505.

  In order to transmit the driving force of the driving motor 502 to the focusing lens 500, the focusing lens driving mechanism and the focusing lens 5 are arranged in the order of the driving motor 502, hypoid pinion 503, hypoid gear 505, rack gear 506, and lens holding means 501 from the driving source side. It is arranged.

  The focusing lens 500 is held by the lens holding unit 501 and is regulated to move in a direction parallel to the optical axis by at least one guide shaft 504 penetrating the lens holding unit 501. Further, the lens holding means 501 is attached with a spring 508 that is biased to one side, and the lens holding means 501 is always biased in one direction, thereby reducing the driving accuracy due to backlash of the focusing lens driving mechanism. It is preventing.

  The hypoid gear 505 meshes with the hypoid pinion 503 and transmits the driving force of the driving motor 502 to the lens holding means 501. At the rotational center of the hypoid gear 505, there is a fixed shaft 507 that supports the worm wheel 505 at a predetermined position. The rack gear 506 is integrally formed at the end portion of the lens holding unit 501, but a separate gear may be attached later. The rack gear 506 is formed in parallel with the optical axis.

  Next, the operation of the focusing lens driving mechanism and the focusing lens 5 according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, the focusing lens driving circuit 7 drives the focusing lens driving motor 502 by the driving pulse received from the lens CPU 8. At the same time, the hypoid pinion 503 coaxially attached to the focusing lens drive motor 502 rotates, the hypoid gear 505 meshed with the hypoid pinion 503 is rotated around the fixed shaft 507, and the rack gear 506 meshed with the hypoid gear 505 is sent to hold the lens. The means 501 is moved in the optical axis direction.

According to the present embodiment, the focusing lens driving mechanism is configured with a small number of gears, and a high-speed and high-precision operation is achieved, and a lens driving device with a short overall length is provided by incorporating a coupling mechanism using a hypoid gear. An imaging device can be provided.

It is a block diagram which shows the single-lens reflex camera in the Example of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the lens drive device which concerns on Example 1 of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the lens drive device which concerns on Example 2 of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the lens drive device which is a prior art. It is a perspective view which shows the lens drive device which concerns on Example 3 of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Camera main body 2 Lens barrel 3 Lens structure 4 Aperture device 5 Focusing lens drive mechanism and focusing lens 6 Aperture motor drive circuit 7 Focusing motor drive circuit 8 Lens CPU
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 9 Mirror 10 Mirror drive motor 11 Mirror drive circuit 12 Penta prism 13 Finder eyepiece 14 Photometry element 15 Photometry circuit 16 Distance measurement element 17 Focus detection circuit 18 Focal plane shutter 19 Shutter drive circuit 20 Imaging surface 21 Display 22 Release button 23 Mode Dial 24 Power supply 25 Camera CPU
26 mount 27 electrical contact 28 electrical contact 200 focusing lens 201 lens holding means 202 drive motor 203 worm gear 204 guide shaft 205 fan-shaped gear 206 rotating shaft 207 fixed shaft 208 spring 300 focusing lens 301 lens holding means 302 drive motor 303 worm gear 304 guide shaft 305 Worm wheel 306 Rack gear 307 Fixed shaft 308 Spring 400 Focusing lens 401 Lens holding means 402 Drive motor 403 Lead shaft 404 Guide shaft 500 Focusing lens 501 Lens holding means 502 Drive motor 503 Hypoid pinion 504 Guide shaft 505 Hypoid gear 506 Rack gear 507 Fixed shaft 508 Spring

Claims (7)

A lens holding means provided to hold at least one lens component in the lens barrel and to be movable in the optical axis direction in the lens barrel;
A motor for driving the lens holding means;
A worm gear provided coaxially with the output shaft of the motor;
Restricting the movement of the lens holding means in the optical axis direction, and at least one guide shaft provided so that the optical axis direction and the axial direction substantially coincide with each other;
A fan-shaped gear having an arc of a worm wheel screwed to the worm gear,
The other end of the arc of the sector gear and the lens holding means are attached by a rotation shaft,
The lens driving device, wherein the fan gear is positioned by a fixed shaft provided between the arc and the rotating shaft. A lens holding means provided to hold at least one lens component in the lens barrel and to be movable in the optical axis direction in the lens barrel;
A motor for driving the lens holding means;
A worm gear provided coaxially with the output shaft of the motor;
Restricting the movement of the lens holding means in the optical axis direction, and at least one guide shaft provided so that the optical axis direction and the axial direction substantially coincide with each other;
A worm wheel screwed into the worm gear and positioned by a fixed shaft;
The lens driving device according to claim 1, wherein the lens holding unit includes a rack screwed with the worm wheel. A lens holding means provided to hold at least one lens component in the lens barrel and to be movable in the optical axis direction in the lens barrel;
A motor for driving the lens holding means;
A hypoid pinion provided coaxially with the output shaft of the motor;
Restricting the movement of the lens holding means in the optical axis direction, and at least one guide shaft provided so that the optical axis direction and the axial direction substantially coincide with each other;
A hypoid gear screwed into the hypoid pinion and positioned by a fixed shaft;
The lens driving device, wherein the lens holding means includes a rack screwed with the gear.   The lens driving device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the lens holding unit and the lens structure are integrally formed.   The lens driving device according to claim 1, further comprising an urging force applying unit that urges the lens holding unit in an optical axis direction. A plurality of lens structures disposed in the lens barrel;
A lens driving device for displacing at least some of the plurality of lens structures in the optical axis direction;
A lens barrel comprising the lens driving device according to any one of claims 1 to 5. A plurality of lens structures disposed in the lens barrel;
A lens driving device that displaces at least some of the plurality of lens structures in the optical axis direction; and
An image sensor that displaces the lens structure in the optical axis direction by the lens driving device and receives an image of the imaged subject on a light receiving surface;
An imaging apparatus comprising the lens driving device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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