Abstract: An optical pickup actuator for driving, by a magnetic driving unit, in a focusing direction, a tracking direction, and a tilting direction, a bobbin on which an objective lens is disposed and which is movably supported by suspension wires, including at least one damping member is disposed at a position where greatest changes in the optical pickup actuator occur when driving the bobbin in the focusing direction, the tracking direction, and the tilting direction, so that a size of a second resonant peak is reduced.

Abstract: An optical pickup actuator which can compensate for a curvature of a disc, an optical pickup employing the optical pickup actuator, and an optical recording/reproducing apparatus employing the optical pickup. The optical pickup actuator includes a base having a holder, a bobbin mounting an objective lens, a plurality of elastic supports having one end coupled to the holder and another end coupled to the bobbin such that the bobbin is movably supported, and a magnetic driving portion which drives the bobbin in a focusing direction and for a tracking direction. The plurality of elastic supports includes inner elastic supports that are positioned on a side of the optical pickup actuator closest to a center of the disc and outer elastic supports that are positioned on an opposite side of the optical pickup actuator closest to an outer perimeter of the disc, and the inner elastic supports and outer elastic supports have different lengths.

Abstract: A four-axial driving actuator for an optical pickup with improved bobbin dynamic characteristics, in which the winding starting ports for a focus coil, tracking coil, and tilt coil are separate from one another, and the winding end ports thereof are combined as a common ground. The four-axial driving actuator includes: a base; a holder fixed on the base; a bobbin to which an objective lens is fixed; spring wires connected between the bobbin and the holder; and a magnetic driving unit driving the bobbin in the focus, track, or tilt direction with a focus coil, a tracking coil, and a tilt coil, wherein the magnetic driving unit comprises a circuit unit including winding starting ports for the focus coil, tracking coil, and tilt coil, and a common ground port at which winding end ports for the focus coil, tracking coil, and tilt coil are grounded, and the circuit unit applies a voltage to the tracking coil, tracking coil, and tilt coil.

Abstract: Tracking coils are attached to outer surfaces of two focusing coils. Inside the focusing coils, a first magnet and a second magnet are arranged respectively. A third magnet is arranged so as to face the first magnet and the second magnet via the tracking coils. An open end of a first yoke for holding the first magnet and an open end of a second yoke for holding the second magnet are connected by a bridging yoke. Since a magnetic flux is formed in the bridging yoke, pitching vibrations can be suppressed and a driving sensitivity improves owing to an increase in an effective magnetic flux.

Abstract: Provided is an optical pickup actuator including a blade, a plurality of wires, coils, magnets, and connectors. The blade has an objective lens. The plurality of wires support the blade so that the blade moves around a predetermined holder. The coils are installed on the blade. The magnets interact with a current flowing through the coils to generate an electromagnetic force. The connectors electrically connect the wires and the coils so that a power supply supplies a current to the coils via the wires. The connectors include conductive plating terminals that are connected to the coils and installed on the body of the blade so that ends of the wires are connected to the connectors.

Abstract: In an optical pickup device, wires 16A through 16D resiliently support a lens holder 12 in a cantilever fashion. Of the wires, wires 16A and 16C arranged so as to overlap when viewed in a tracking direction are fixed together by heat sealing. The wires 16B and 16D are arranged independently of each other. In each of the wires 16A through 16D, a portion 166 close to the base end of the wire is squeezed from a focusing direction, and a portion 167 close to the tip end of the wires is squeezed from the tracking direction.

Abstract: An objective lens driving apparatus is used for accurately positioning an abject to focus a light spot on an optical recording medium. A lens holder holds the objective lens and has a bearing hole through which a shaft extends in a direction parallel to the optical axis so that the lens holder is rotatably supported on the shaft. Two magnets are supported on the lens holder so that the shaft is between the magnets. A base has two magnetic members disposed such that each of the two magnets exerts an attraction force on a corresponding one of the two magnetic members to urge the lens holder in a direction of the optical axis and in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis. A first coil set of first focusing and tracking coils and a second coil set of focusing and tracking coils are mounted to the two magnetic members.

Abstract: The actuator is used in a pickup device for a drive device of an optical disc. The actuator is positioned opposing to the optical disc to irradiates a light beam from a light source to an information recording surface of the optical disc. The objective lens is fixed at on the lens holder forming the actuator at a position closer to one end thereof. One coil substrate is fixed on one side face of the lens holder in a range from the one end of the lens holder to a center portion of the lens holder, and the other coil substrate is fixed on the other side face of the lens holder in a range from the other end of the lens holder to the center portion of the lens holder. Therefore, near the end of the lens holder on the objective lens side, the coil substrate is not attached to one side of the lens holder, providing a space below the objective lens. By arranging an optical system to guide the light beam to the objective lens via the space, the optical system can be arranged at the same height level as the actuator.

Abstract: The pickup device is used in a drive device of an optical disc and is opposed to the optical disc to irradiate a light beam from a light source onto an information recording surface of the optical disc. The pickup device has the actuator including the objective lens for condensing a light beam on the information recording surface of the optical disc, and irradiation of a light beam on the optical disc is controlled by moving the objective lens. Further, the pickup device has the optical system for directing a light beam, which is emitted from the light source, to a position below the objective lens. The optical system is placed at the same height level as the actuator. Therefore, as compared with the case where the optical system is provided below the actuator, the whole pickup can be smaller in thickness, and it is possible to provide a pickup device suitable for a thin drive device.

Abstract: An objective lens anti-shock adjustment device comprises a holder that is capable of fixedly holding an objective lens via at least a fastening element. The holder is mounted in a casing by means of a plurality of resilient elements and a plurality of adjuster screws. The resilient elements connect the holder to the casing and the adjuster screws engage through the casing and abut against the holder opposite to the resilient elements in order to allow the adjustments of a vertical positioning and a horizontal orientation of the objective lens. The holder and the casing are provided with respective openings that expose a slot formed on the objective lens. By the external engagement of a tool through the openings into the slot, the objective lens is slid in the holder in order to adjust the depth of focus.

Abstract: In an objective lens driving device having a movable portion including an objective lens held by a lens holder, a damage prevention system for preventing the objective lens or a disk from being damaged when the objective lens or the lens holder collides with the disk is provided. The damage prevention system is constituted by inserting a protecting member formed of an elastic member in a fitting portion on an upper surface of the lens holder while being deformed. In this manner, it is possible to generate a sufficient holding power with respect to the protecting member without using glue or the like.

Abstract: An objective lens (1) for focusing light on an optical recording medium (not shown) and irradiating the same with the focused light is held on a lens holder (2). A support member (10) is provided on a base member (9) as a foundation of a device for driving optical system. The lens holder (2) is supported on the support member (10). Six linear elastic bodies (7a through 7f) of the same length are cylindrically shaped. The lens holder (2) is supported on the support member (10) by the linear elastic bodies (7a through 7f). A center of a circle formed by the ends of the linear elastic bodies (7a through 7f) is an axis of point symmetry thereof. Distances between adjacent ones of the ends of the linear elastic bodies (7a through 7f) are all the same.

Abstract: An actuator used with an optical pickup to drive a blade, on which an objective lens is mounted, in focusing and tracking directions, includes a pair of magnets installed on a base, and a plate coil installed in the blade to be placed between the magnets. Each magnet has a shape in which N and S poles of the magnet are alternately magnetized in four regions asymmetrically split vertically and horizontally. In this structure, the actuator used with an optical pickup can be less affected by sensitivity variations when the blade is displaced, and the size of the electromagnetic driving unit can be reduced by reducing the number of magnetized gaps formed in the magnet.

Abstract: In an optical head device in which a lens holder (3) for mounting an objective lens (2) therein is formed integral with a housing (1) via a connecting part (5), a coil holder (6) having driving coils wound thereon is mounted, a movable part of an actuator is assembled by combining the lens holder (3) with the coil holder (6), an elastic support member (11) elastically supporting the movable part of the actuator on the housing (1) is strung to a support member (12) formed integral with the housing (1) and also strung to mounting parts (3a, 3b) formed integral with the lens holder (3), and, as the movable part of the actuator is supported on the housing (1) by the elastic support member (11), the lens holder (3) is detached from the housing (1) by removing a connecting part (5).

Abstract: Disclosed is a magnetic circuit operable in multiple axes in an optical pick-up actuator. The optical pick-up actuator includes: a lens holder for receiving and moving an object lens in a predetermined direction; a magnetic circuit having; a plurality of coils series and parallel connected and attached to both sides of the lens holder; a yoke and a magnet faced with the coils, for generating and inducing different polarities in perpendicular directions. With such construction, the actuator moves the lens holder to tracking, focusing, tilting directions under control of a direction and intensity of a current by the magnetic circuit.

Abstract: An optical pickup actuator performing the triaxial driving operation includes an objective lens through which a laser beam is focused on an optical disk, a blade mounted with tracking coils and focusing coils and a plurality of tilting magnets, a yoke plate having inside and outside yokes mounted with tracking and focusing magnets and also having a tilting yoke being spaced-apart from the inside and outside yokes, a plurality of suspension wires disposed on both sides of the blade to be electrically coupled to the tracking coils and focusing coils, a wire holder having a plurality of coupling elements through which each portion of the suspension wires passes, a yoke receptacle disposed between the coupling elements of the yoke plate to receive the tilting yoke, and a printed circuit board mounted on the holder to be electrically coupled to the suspension wires, and a tilting coil mounted on the wire holder and disposed in the yoke receptacle to generate an electromagnetic force.

Abstract: Extremely small optical heads are being developed for use in optical storage devices. The heads typically include a light source, a lens and a photodetector array. The beam of light generated by the light source must be aligned precisely with central axis of the lens and with the photodetector array. Because the heads are so small, their components are fixed permanently together; no adjustments are possible after assembly. A system of this invention includes a rotational stage, a pair of X-translation stages, and a pair Y-translation stages. The stages are mounted in a mechanical path between first and second holding devices. One component of the head, which would typically include the light source, is held in the first holding device. Another component, which would typically include the lens, is held in the second holding device. The stages are adjusted until the light beam exits the first component on an axis that coincides with the center of rotation of the rotational stage.

Abstract: An apparatus for finely adjusting an optical component is described. The apparatus may include an optic component, a substrate, and an adjuster. The adjuster may include a platform coupled to the optic component, and a linkage of notched springs coupled to both the platform and the substrate. The linkage of notched springs provides for motion of the platform relative to the substrate along primarily one axis. The apparatus may be used in a data storage system to adjust the position of the optic component in order to focus light propagated through the optic component.

Abstract: An apparatus for driving an objective lens of the present invention includes: a base which is moved along an optical disk; an objective lens disposed so as to be opposed to the optical disk and having an optical axis in a vertical direction with respect to the optical disk, for optically recording information onto the optical disk or optically reproducing information from the optical disk; a holder portion for holding the objective lens; a plurality of elastic arms extending between the base and the holder portion in a tangent direction of the optical disk, for supporting the holder portion movably with respect to the base; and a driving portion for generating an electromagnetic force for moving the holder portion with respect to the base, wherein the elastic arms are disposed away from each other in a vertical direction, the base includes each movable portion for supporting one end of each of the elastic arms, and each of the movable portions is supported at each position in a vertical direction outside of o

Abstract: A disk drive includes a DVD optical head and a CD optical head. An objective lens in the CD optical head moves along a reference radial line passing through the center of rotation of an optical disk. An objective lens in the DVD optical head moves along a transfer line parallel to the reference radial line, and is disposed so that an expression R0<(Rmin+Rmax)/2 is satisfied, where Rmin and Rmax represent distances along the reference radial line between the center of rotation and the positions of the objective lens when it is disposed on the innermost and outermost tracks of the optical disk, respectively, and R0 represents a distance along the reference radial line between the center of rotation and the position of the objective lens when its tracking correction direction is towards the center of rotation of the optical disk.

Abstract: In an optical pickup system, at least two suspension wires support a lens holder on which an objective lens and driving coils are mounted. The suspension wires are respectively secured on opposite surfaces of the lens holder. The lens holder has connecting members, an end of each winding for the driving coils is wound around one of the connecting members, and a tip of each of the suspension wires comes into contact with the corresponding connecting member. The connecting members are positioned in such a manner as to be displaced apart from each other in the extending direction of the suspension wires.

Abstract: The present invention is relative with an objective lens driving device used in an optical pickup device, and includes a stationary unit, a lens bobbin provided with an objective lens, at least one magnet provided on one of the lens bobbin and the stationary unit, a coil unit provided on the other of the lens bobbin and the stationary unit for causing movement of the lens bobbin in a direction parallel to the optical axis of the objective lens and in a planar direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the objective lens, and an elastic supporting unit of a stainless material, provided between a stationary unit and the lens bobbin. The elastic supporting unit supports the lens bobbin for movement in a direction parallel to the optical axis of the objective lens and in a planar direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the objective lens.

Abstract: Suspension wires (3a) and (3c) are fixed to and bridged over a lens holder (1) and a fixing member (11) which is fixed to the housing. On each of side surfaces of the lens holder (1) is mounted a tilt bobbin (8) onto which a tilt coil (9) is wound. A second suspension wire (3b) is fixed to and bridged over the tilt bobbin (8) and the fixing member (11).

Abstract: An optical pickup actuator which can compensate for a curvature of a disc, an optical pickup employing the optical pickup actuator, and an optical recording/reproducing apparatus employing the optical pickup. The optical pickup actuator includes a base having a holder, a bobbin mounting an objective lens, a plurality of elastic supports having one end coupled to the holder and another end coupled to the bobbin such that the bobbin is movably supported, and a magnetic driving portion which drives the bobbin in a focusing direction and for a tracking direction. The plurality of elastic supports includes inner elastic supports that are positioned on a side of the optical pickup actuator closest to a center of the disc and outer elastic supports that are positioned on an opposite side of the optical pickup actuator closest to an outer perimeter of the disc, and the inner elastic supports and outer elastic supports have different lengths.

Abstract: A lens driving apparatus for a disk player capable of easily approaching to the innermost circumference of a disk and realizing a reduction in size and weight thereof, in which: an actuator section where a movable portion including printed board coils fixed to the respective side surfaces of a lens holder containing an objective lens is movably supported by outer circumferential side wire-form elastic members and inner circumferential side wire-form elastic members fixed to an actuator base, and a suspension base including a pair of yokes to which a pair of magnets disposed so as to be opposed to each other with a predetermined magnetic space therebetween are fixed and standing portions are included; and a width Wi of each of the inner circumferential side wire-form elastic members is set to be greater than a width Wo of each of the outer circumferential side wire-form elastic members.

Abstract: An optical scanning device includes a radiation source; an optical lens system with an optical axis for focusing a radiation beam supplied, in operation, by the radiation source into a scanning spot on an information carrier, the lens system including a housing, a first lens which is secured in the housing in a fixed position, and a second lens which, viewed in a direction parallel to the optical axis, is elastically suspended in the housing; a first actuator for displacing the lens system in a direction parallel to the optical axis; a first control unit for controlling the first actuator by means of a first control signal; a second actuator for displacing the second lens relative to the first lens in a direction parallel to the optical axis; and a second control unit for controlling the second actuator by means of a second control signal, and in which during operation, the first control unit also controls the second actuator by means of a third control signal which is proportional to the first control signal

Abstract: In an objective lens actuating device, a magnetic field generating part generates a magnetic field with a focusing coil in a gap formed by an inner yoke and an outer yoke and an auxiliary magnetic field generating part generates an opposite magnetic field in respect to the magnetic field which is generated in the gap towards the focusing coil, at both ends of the inner yoke vertical to the focusing direction.

Abstract: Micron-scale, self-contained, ultra-high density and ultra-high speed storage devices include a read/write head and a surface, containing bit-storage domains, that acts as the storage medium. The read/write element of the memory device may consist of a single or multiple heads. The read/write head may be mounted on microelectromechanical structures driven at mechanical resonance. Addressing of individual bits is accomplished by positioning of the head element in close proximity to bit domains situated on the storage medium.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide an optical disk drive apparatus in which skew adjustment can be performed easily while allowing size, weight and cost reduction. An optical disk drive apparatus has an objective lens which converges a light beam to direct it to an optical disk, an objective lens support for supporting the objective lens on a chassis of the apparatus, an elastic support member which movably supports the objective lens on the objective lens support portion, and a coil and a magnet, one of which is provided substantially integral with the objective lens and another of which is mounted on the objective lens support portion independently from the objective lens.

Abstract: The invention provides an optical disc apparatus which restricts an operation sound generated from an objective lens driving portion of an optical pickup and has a reduce sound, in an optical disc apparatus, in particular, an optical disc apparatus installing a microphone for recording an external voice therein. Coils (107, 108), a magnet (109) and opposing surfaces of a yoke (110) are respectively arranged at substantially point symmetrical positions with respect to an optical axis (111) of an objective lens (103) in a state in which no electric current is applied, the yoke (110) and a unit base (117) are connected via a spring member (118), and the unit base (117) is mounted to a casing (120). In this case, the spring member (118) is connected at a position (121) forward apart from the objective lens (103) with respect to the yoke (110), and is formed so as to have at least a deformation freedom in a direction of the optical axis of the objective lens (103).

Abstract: An optical pickup actuator is provided to improve a driving property in a radial direction. In accordance with the optical pickup actuator of the present invention, radial coils are wired in predetermined locations of both side parts of a lens holder. In addition, ends of existing fixed members are curved and protruded outside. Magnets for radial coil are attached to the protruded part. Therefore, a mass to be applied to the lens holder is minimized and an excellent driving property is ensured in focusing and tracking directions as well as in a radial direction, thereby simplifying the structure and decreasing the cost.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical pickup apparatus appropriate for the notebook PC that can prevent structural resonance of the lens holder by arranging the focus coil and the tracking coil in a way to stabilize the weight balance, enable the tilt servo, and be composed in an extremely reduced thickness. An optical pickup apparatus composed to adjust the irradiation position of light beam to an optical disk by displacing an objective lens through a driving control of a lens holder holding the objective lens with a moving coil method, wherein an objective lens driving section is composed by arranging and fixing focus coils 7a, 7b so that a pair of coil main bodies be symmetrical about the objective lens 4 arranged at the middle of the lens holder 4, and arranging a pair of tracking coils 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d at both sides of the respective focus coils.

Abstract: An optical pick-up actuator for optical pick-up devices is disclosed. In the actuator of this invention, the blade positioned to float above a yoke plate has one focusing coil, two tracking coils and two tilting magnets. The yoke plate has two side yokes holding two tilting coils at positions vertically aligned with the two tilting magnets. The tilting magnets are formed on the lower surface of the blade at positions, which are symmetrical around the perpendicular optical path of an object lens of the blade or around the tilting axis of the blade. The tilting magnets of the blade and the tilting coils of the yoke plate are operated under the control of a solenoid. When a current flows in the tilting coils, the tilting magnets generate electromagnetic fields to tilt the blade at a desired angle relative to the perpendicular optical path of the object lens.

Abstract: An actuator comprising: a moving portion including an objective lens, an objective lens holding cylinder, a focus coil, and a tracking coil; a first magnetic circuit for driving the focus coil; a second magnetic circuit for driving the tracking coil; and an elastic member for supporting the moving portion. The first magnetic circuit has a pair of focus coils and a pair of focus magnets disposed symmetrically about the objective lens and the second magnetic circuit has a pair of tracking coils and a pair of tracking magnets disposed symmetrically about the objective lens. Each of the pair of focus magnets in the first magnetic circuit and the pair of tracking magnets in the second magnetic circuit is constituted of divided magnets formed of a plurality of magnets joined together.

Abstract: Within the same magnetic gap of a magnetic circuit including at least one magnet magnetized in multi-polarities, there is disposed a coil unit with a focus coil, a tracking coil and a tilt coil mounted thereon.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an optical storage device having an objective lens actuator for moving an objective lens in a focusing direction. The objective lens actuator includes an actuator base fixed to a carriage movable in the radial direction of an optical disk, a lens holder for holding the objective lens, and a supporting mechanism for elastically supporting the lens holder to the actuator base. The actuator base has an elongated hole extending in the radial direction of the optical disk. A relative position between the actuator base and the carriage is adjusted so that the tilt of the optical axis of the objective lens in the radial direction of the optical disk occurring in displacing the lens holder in the focusing direction is minimized, and thereafter the actuator base is fixed to the carriage by means of screws.

Abstract: A skew of an optical pickup device can be adjusted by a movable-side member itself which holds thereon an objective lens, A holder which holds an objective lens is supported by four spring wires such that it can be moved in the focusing direction and the tracking direction of an optical disk. A center of a magnetic circuit which drives the holder is shifted in the outer peripheral side relative to the optical disk. Elastic force of the spring wires of the inner peripheral side is suppressed by increasing the amount of a gel material bonded to the spring wires located on the inner peripheral side of the optical disk as a damping material as compared with the amount of the gel material bonded to the spring wires located on the outer peripheral side.

Abstract: A lens actuator keeps an objective lens focused on a track in an information recording layer of an optical disc against fluctuation unavoidable for the optical disc, and has a lens holder, three electromagnetic actuators for moving and tilting the lens holder and three pairs of elastically deformable conductive connecting rods connected to both side surfaces of the lens holder for movably retaining the lens holder over a base plate; since two pairs of elastically deformable conductive connecting rods are symmetrically arranged on upper and lower sides of the remaining pair, the lens holder is smoothly tilted and moved in the radial direction of the optical disc without any tilt, whereby the lens actuator promptly and exactly cancels the fluctuation of the optical disc.

Abstract: A biaxial actuator for an objective lens of an optical pickup that prevents the occurrence of tangential skew when the objective lens is moved in a focussing direction, and thereby improves optical performance. The actuator includes a lens holder 11 that supports an objective lens 11a, elastic supporting members 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d each having one end fixed to the lens holder and the other end fixed to a fixed part 14. The supporting members support the lens holder movably in a radial direction of a disc-form recording medium D and two directions intersecting orthogonally with this direction. The elastic supporting members are provided such that at least one pair on both sides of the objective lens are lined up in the optical axis direction of the objective lens. The pair of elastic supporting members 13a, 13b have the spacing h1 of their fixing places 45, 46 on the lens holder side so set as to be narrower than the spacing h2 of their fixing places 47, 48 provided on the fixed part side.

Abstract: A balanced microdevice that includes a substrate and at least one comb drive assembly having first and second comb drive members. The first comb drive member is mounted on the substrate and the second comb drive member overlies the substrate. At least one spring member is provided that has a first end portion coupled to the substrate and a second end portion coupled to the second comb drive member. The first comb drive member has a plurality of spaced-apart first comb drive fingers and the second comb drive member has a plurality of spaced-apart second comb drive fingers. The second comb drive member is movable between a first position in which the first and second comb drive fingers are not substantially fully interdigitated and a second position in which the first and second comb drive fingers are substantially fully interdigitated.

Abstract: An optical pickup compatible with an optical disc having a deflection error. The optical pickup includes a blade on which an objective lens is mounted, a focus coil and a tracking coil mounted around the blade, and a magnet and a yoke driving the blade by generating an electromagnetic force induced by the current flowing through the focus and tracking coils, wherein the magnet is displaced a predetermined distance from the center line of the blade such that the electromagnetic force acting on the blade in a focus direction is asymmetrical. The structure of the optical pickup causes an intentional radial rolling of the blade to make the optical axis of the objective lens approximately perpendicular to the recording surface of the disc. Therefore, the optical pickup is effective for a focus control on a disc having a deflection error.

Abstract: An optical head apparatus includes a wiring substrate and an apparatus frame that is made of a resin or another damper material. Optical components that form an optical system are mounted on the wiring substrate. On the other hand, components such as wire suspensions and yoke plate of an object lens driving mechanism, which is a source of vibration, are mounted on the apparatus frame. The apparatus frame is attached to the surface of the wiring substrate. Vibration that may be generated in the object lens driving mechanism is absorbed by the apparatus frame having a damper function, and therefore do not transfer to the optical components mounted on the wiring substrate.

Abstract: An optical pickup device includes a lens for projecting a light onto a recording medium, a lens holder elastically supported by a frame and holding said lens, an actuator mounted in and driving said lens holder, and a weight part balanced with a weight of said actuator.

Abstract: An optical pickup and driving method for an optical disk drive holding an optical disk includes a base, an object lens, and a slider supporting the object lens, where the object lens focuses a light on a recording surface of the optical disk. An optical head section includes the slider, where an air bearing floats the slider generated between the optical head section and the optical disk. Wire suspensions movably support the optical head section with respect to the base. A driving unit drives the optical head section in a tracking direction and a focusing direction. A latching unit selectively securely positions the optical head section at a predetermined distance away from the optical disk preventing the optical head section from colliding with the optical disk.

Abstract: An optical pickup apparatus for an optical disk drive records or reproduces data on or from an optical disk, includes an optical head section including an object lens focusing an incident light on the optical disk, a slider on which the object lens is mounted, wherein the slider floats over the optical disk by an air bearing generated between the optical disk and the slider, a bobbin on which the slider is mounted, and a flexure disposed between the slider and the bobbins elastically supporting the slider. A driving unit drives the slider in a tracking direction and a focusing direction. In the above construction, the slider floats over a recording surface of the optical disk due to an air bearing and a near field between the object lens and the optical disk can be controllably maintained.

Abstract: To provide an objective lens driving device that drives an objective lens for converging light on a recording surface of an optical disk, not only in a focusing and a tracking directions but also in an inclining direction of an optical axis of the objective lens, four support members are fixed to outer edge portions of a lens holder, and positions where the other support members are fixed to at least one of the lens holder and a fixing section are located inside the four support members fixed to the outer edge portions of the lens holder.

Abstract: An optical pick-up device includes a lens that focuses light onto a recording medium, a lens holder that holds the lens, a suspension holder that supports the lens holder disposed opposite a distal end of the lens holder, a frame formed so as to be disposed opposite both lateral surfaces of the lens holder and the distal end of the lens holder, the frame supporting the suspension holder, a plurality of elastic supports that movably support the lens holder, a distal end of the elastic supports mounted on the suspension holder, and an actuator that drives the lens holder, wherein a plurality of projections is provided on at least one of the lens holder, the frame and the suspension holder, the projections acting as stoppers that restrict a rotation of the lens holder so as to prevent excessive deformation of the elastic supports.

Abstract: A four-axial driving actuator for an optical pickup with improved bobbin dynamic characteristics, in which the winding starting ports for a focus coil, tracking coil, and tilt coil are separate from one another, and the winding end ports thereof are combined as a common ground. The four-axial driving actuator includes: a base; a holder fixed on the base; a bobbin to which an objective lens is fixed; spring wires connected between the bobbin and the holder; and a magnetic driving unit driving the bobbin in the focus, track, or tilt direction with a focus coil, a tracking coil, and a tilt coil, wherein the magnetic driving unit comprises a circuit unit including winding starting ports for the focus coil, tracking coil, and tilt coil, and a common ground port at which winding end ports for the focus coil, tracking coil, and tilt coil are grounded, and the circuit unit applies a voltage to the tracking coil, tracking coil, and tilt coil.

Abstract: An actuator of the present invention includes a set of generally planar assemblies comprising cross-hinges that are disposed between a set of extended arms and a rigid mounting base. The hinges of the present invention flex to about a pivot axis to replace the pivot and bearing assembly of prior art actuators. In an exemplary embodiment the hinges are used in conjunction with a voice-coil motor (“VCM”).

Abstract: A lens driving apparatus for driving a movable body in a focus direction and a tracking direction is provided with: a holder, to which a focus coil, a tracking coil and a lens are installed, to thereby constitute the movable body; and a magnetic circuit for applying magnetic fluxes to the focus coil and the tracking coil, to thereby drive the movable body in the focus direction and the tracking direction. The tracking coil includes two sets each having upper and lower two coils arrayed in the focus direction such that the two sets are arrayed in the tracking direction. The magnetic circuit applies the magnetic fluxes opposite to each other along a jitter direction, with respect to the upper two coils and the lower two coils without applying the magnetic fluxes with respect to portions adjacent to the upper and lower two coils.