US Patent 7126763 Lens moving mechanism

A lens moving mechanism includes a lens frame holding a lens; a guide shaft for slidably supporting the lens frame, the guide shaft extending parallel with the optical axis, a lead screw extending parallel to the guide shaft for moving the lens frame linearly via rotation of the lead screw; a pair of bearing arms provided on the lens frame spaced from one another in a direction parallel with the guide shaft; and a screw-engagement follower located between the bearing arms and provided separately from the lens frame, the screw-engagement follower provided with a screw-engagement portion engaging with the lead screw. The guide shaft is inserted in the bearing arms and the screw-engagement follower. The screw-engagement follower is integrally provided with an elastically deformable leg which abuts against an inner surface of a bearing arm to absorb play between the screw-engagement follower and the bearing arms.