US Patent 7250707 Driving apparatus

A driving apparatus of the invention is arranged to drive an optical lens according to expansion and contraction of an electromechanical transducer. The driving apparatus comprises a fixed member connected to one end of the electromechanical transducer in a direction of expansion and contraction; a friction drive shaft connected to the other end of the electromechanical transducer; a hinge fixedly provided relative to the optical lens; a first frictional connecting part fixedly provided relative to the optical lens; a second frictional connecting part which is movably provided relative to the hinge and grasps the frictional drive shaft in cooperation with the first frictional connecting part from a direction perpendicular to the expansion and contraction direction of the electromechanical transducer; and a spring mounted extending around the optical lens and pinch the first and the second frictional connecting parts between both ends of the spring.