Voice coil motor with monolithic bearing and pole piece components

A voice coil motor comprising:

• a magnet;
• a coil;
• a bobbin configured to support a winding of the coil, the bobbin being arranged coaxially with an axis of the magnet and radially outside of the magnet;
• a bearing housing comprising a first part of a linear bearing mechanism;
• and
• a monolithic structure comprising a pole piece housing and a second part of the linear bearing mechanism;
• wherein the pole piece housing comprises a first end, a second end and a sidewall, the sidewall of the pole piece housing is arranged coaxially with and radially outside of the bobbin;
• wherein the pole piece housing and the bearing housing are arranged to cause the first and second parts of the linear bearing mechanism to engage such that when a current is applied to the coil, the pole piece housing moves relative to the bearing housing;
• and
• wherein the second part of the linear bearing mechanism is greater, in length in a direction in which the axis of the magnet extends, than the pole piece housing.

A voice coil motor comprising:

• a magnet;
• a coil;
• a bobbin configured to support a winding of the coil, the bobbin being arranged coaxially with an axis of the magnet and radially outside of the magnet;
• a bearing housing comprising a first part of a linear bearing mechanism;
• and
• a monolithic structure comprising a pole piece housing and a second part of the linear bearing mechanism;
• wherein the pole piece housing comprises a first end, a second end and a sidewall, the sidewall of the pole piece housing is arranged coaxially with and radially outside of the bobbin;
• wherein the pole piece housing and the bearing housing are arranged to cause the first and second parts of the linear bearing mechanism to engage such that when a current is applied to the coil, the pole piece housing moves relative to the bearing housing;
• and
• wherein the pole piece housing comprises an outer wall facing away from the side wall of the pole piece housing, and the second part of the linear bearing mechanism includes a surface continuously connected to the outer wall of the pole piece housing.