| US 7,498,729 B2 | ||
| Optical device | ||
| Shigeru Ogino, Laguna Niguel, Calif. (US) | ||
| Assigned to Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo (Japan) | ||
| Filed on Aug. 15, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/464,710. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/708488, filed on Aug. 16, 2005. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/728132, filed on Oct. 19, 2005. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2007/0040481 A1, Feb. 22, 2007 | ||
| Int. Cl. H01L 41/08 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 310—800 | 6 Claims |
| 1. An optical device comprising:
a lens holder that holds a lens and is movable in the optical-axis direction of the lens; and
an actuator that moves the lens holder in the optical-axis direction, the actuator including an actuator element composed
of an electroactive polymer, an actuator-element holder that holds the actuator element, a mechanism that applies prestrain
to the actuator element, and a connecting member that connects the lens holder and the actuator, wherein
a connecting portion of the connecting member is disposed adjacent to the side surface of the actuator element, and
wherein the prestrain to the actuator element is applied in a direction to which the lens holder moves.
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