LENS DRIVE APPARATUS

• US 20080112279A1
• Filed: 11/06/2007
• Published: 05/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Konica Minolta OPTO Incorporated (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Konica Minolta OPTO Incorporated (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Inventors: NAKAGAKI, Yasutaka
• Granted Patent: US 7,877,763 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 369/44.14
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/0933 Details of stationary parts
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/0935 Details of the moving parts
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/1362 Mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/1376 Collimator lenses collimators per se G02B27/30

Abstract

A lens drive apparatus for use in an optical pick-up apparatus, in which a bending mirror reflects an incident light flux from a light source and an objective lens converges the reflected light flux onto an optical disc through an objective lens, the lens drive apparatus includes: a base; a holder which holds the objective lens, being capable of moving with respect to the base; a pair of coils provided to interpose the objective lens held by the holder; and a pair of magnets attached to the base to face the pair of coils, respectively. The holder includes at least one surface which faces the incident light flux from the light source, among surfaces opposing to the pair of magnets, is shifted inwardly with respect to a surface of the holder that is close to the objective lens.

Claims

1. A lens drive apparatus for use in an optical pick-up apparatus, in which a bending mirror reflects an incident light flux from a light source and an objective lens converges the reflected light flux onto an optical disc through an objective lens, the lens drive apparatus comprising:

(a) a base;

(b) a holder which holds the objective lens, being capable of moving with respect to the base;

(c) a pair of coils provided to interpose the objective lens held by the holder; and

(d) a pair of magnets attached to the base to face the pair of coils, respectively,

wherein the holder includes at least one surface, which faces the incident light flux from the light source, among surfaces opposing to the pair of magnets, is shifted inwardly with respect to a surface of the holder that is close to the objective lens.

4. The lens drive apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light flux from the light source passes through a movable collimator lens and reflects on the bending mirror.

5. The lens drive apparatus of claim 4, wherein a length of the holder along the optical axis of the movable collimator lens is shorter than a length in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis thereof.

6. The lens drive apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a motor device which drives the movable collimator lens, wherein the motor device is provided in the vicinity of at least one of the pair of magnets, which faces the direction in which the light flux from the light source is incident.

7. The lens drive apparatus of claim 4, wherein the movable collimator lens is provided in the vicinity of the objective lens.

8. The lens drive apparatus of claim 1, wherein a length of a side opposing to the magnet of the coil is longer than a length of a side perpendicular to the side opposing to the magnet.

2. A lens drive apparatus for use in an optical pick-up apparatus, in which a bending mirror reflects an incident light flux from a light source and an objective lens converges the reflected light flux onto an optical disc through an objective lens, the lens drive apparatus comprising:

(a) a base;

(b) a holder which holds the objective lens, being capable of moving with respect to the base;

(c) a pair of coils provided to interpose the objective lens held by the holder; and

(d) a pair of magnets attached to the base to face the pair of coils, respectively,

wherein the holder includes at least one surface which faces the incident light flux from the light source, among surfaces opposing to the pair of magnets, is arranged in a position that is close to an optical axis of the objective lens than an outer circumferential surface of the objective lens.

3. A lens drive apparatus for use in an optical pick-up apparatus, in which a bending mirror reflects an incident light flux from a light source and an objective lens converges the reflected light flux onto an optical disc through an objective lens, the lens drive apparatus comprising:

(a) a base;

(b) a holder which holds the objective lens, being capable of moving with respect to the base;

(c) a resilient member which extends from the base toward one side of the holder and supports the holder;

(d) a pair of coils provided to interpose the objective lens held by the holder; and

(e) a pair of magnets attached to the base to face the pair of coils, respectively, wherein the holder includes at least one surface located on a side to which the resilient member does not extend, among surfaces opposing to the pair of magnets, is shifted inwardly with respect to a surface of the holder that is close to the objective lens.