Abstract: The invention provides an optical scanning apparatus for appliances for recording or reproducing information using an optical recording medium, said scanning apparatus automatically matching itself to the curvature of a curved recording medium or of a recording medium with axial runout without there being different wire diameters for the resilient support of the lens holder (LH) or other additional damping means or an additional control loop for this purpose. This object is achieved by virtue of an arrangement comprising coils and magnets being provided which has an asymmetrical magnetic field distribution which is provided for matching the orientation of a lens (L) in the optical scanning device to a curved recording medium or to any axial runout in the recording medium.

Abstract: An optical scanning device having an improved response characteristic, for use in an apparatus for optically reading or writing information in one or more tracks on a recording medium. The object of the invention is to provide an optical scanning device which, without any electronic compensation means, very largely avoids resonance peaks and has an improved response characteristic. According to the invention, this object is achieved by a retaining plate which supports the objective lens of the scanning device via bearing elements and has at least one cutout, which separates the mounting points, in the surface which holds the bearing elements for the objective lens holder. The field of application of the invention is optical scanning devices having an improved response characteristic for use in equipment for reading or writing information on an optical recording medium, such as a CD, DVD, a CD or DVD which can be written to, or else a magneto-optical recording medium, for example.