Optical pickup apparatus having a compact structure

Claim 2

An optical pickup apparatus comprising: a lens for focusing light to illuminate a selected area of a recording medium; a holder for retaining said lens; a support member for supporting said holder in such a way that said holder is movable both in a focusing direction parallel to the optical axis of said lens and in a tracking direction perpendicular to said optical axis; a magnet for generating a magnetic flux; a first coil (14) wound onto said holder so as to surround said optical axis, said first coil traversing the magnetic flux generated by said magnet; a yoke having a first portion (18A) positioned to face said magnet across a gap, with said first coil passing through said gap; and a second coil (16) wound onto said holder and surrounding an axis substantially parallel to said tracking direction, said second coil traversing the magnetic flux generated by said magnet but being positioned outside of said gap wherein said first and second coils are successively arranged in said tracking direction and wherein said yoke includes a second portion (2A) disposed on a side of said magnet opposite said gap and a third portion disposed adjacent said magnet on a side opposite said second coil but does not include any portion adjacent said second coil on a side opposite said third portion.

Claim 3

An optical pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said yoke includes a further portion connecting said first and second portions, with said first, second and further portions forming a magnetic circuit for flux from said magnet.

Claim 4

An optical pickup apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said second and third yoke portions have a gap therebetween.

Claim 5

An optical pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said magnet includes a first magnet portion disposed between said first and second yoke portions, and a second magnet portion separated from said first magnet portion and opposite said third yoke portion.

Claim 6

An optical pick-up apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first and second coils overlap one another in the direction of said optical axis.

Claim 7

An optical pick-up apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said second coil includes two coils and wherein said first coil is disposed between said two coils without any overlap therebetween.

Claim 8

An optical pickup apparatus comprising: a leans for focusing light to illuminate a selected area of a recording medium; a holder for retaining said lens; a magnetic for simultaneously generating a magnetic flux for moving said holder, and attendantly said lens, in a focusing direction and a tracking direction; a first coil connected to said holder and arranged so as to traverse said magnetic flux, for moving said lens in a focusing direction when activated; a yoke including a first portion to which said magnet is secured, a second portion opposing said first portion across a gap and a third portion interconnecting said first and second portions such that magnetic flux generated by said magnet passes across said gap, said first coil passing through said gap; and a second coil connected to said holder and arranged so as to traverse said magnetic flux but to be positioned outside of at least said first and third portions, for moving said lens in a tracking direction when activated; wherein a part of said magnetic flux for a focusing control is substantially independent of another part of said magnetic flux for a tracking control and wherein the positioning of said second coil outside of at least said first and third portions allows said holder to move in said focusing direction without said second coil abutting against said yoke.

Claim 9

An optical pickup apparatus comprising: a leans for focusing light to illuminate a selected area of a recording medium; a holder for retaining said lens; a magnetic for simultaneously generating a magnetic flux for moving said holder, and attendantly said lens, in a focusing direction and a tracking direction; a first coil connected to said holder and arranged so as to traverse said magnetic flux, for moving said lens in a focusing direction when activated; a yoke including a first portion to which said magnet is secured, a second portion opposing said first portion across a gap and a third portion interconnecting said first and second portions such that magnetic flux generated by said magnet passes across said gap, said first coil passing through said gap; and a second coil connected to said holder and arranged so as to traverse said magnetic flux but to be positioned outside of at least said first and third portions, for moving said lens in a tracking direction when activated; wherein a part of said magnetic flux for a focusing control is substantially independent of another part of said magnetic flux for a tracking control and wherein the positioning of said second coil outside of at least said first and third portions allows said holder to move in said focusing direction without said second coil abutting against said yoke.