High Efficiency Voice Coil Motor
AssigneeNikon Corporation
InventorsMichael B. Binnard, Jean-Marc Gery, Andrew J. Hazelton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for increasing the efficiency of a voice coil motor (VCM) are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a cylindrical and radially symmetric VCM includes a plurality of sets of magnets, and a single coil. The plurality of sets of the magnets are each arranged in an array configuration, and cooperate to form a magnetic field. The coil receives current and has a plurality of windings. A first space is defined within the coil, and the plurality of sets of the magnets are arranged such that a first set of the magnets is positioned within the first space and a second set of the magnets is positioned external to the coil.
Claims27
A voice coil motor (VCM) comprising:
- a first magnet arrangement, the first magnet arrangement including at least a first magnet and a second magnet, at least one of the first magnet and the second magnet having a cross-section that is non-rectangular with respect to a plane, wherein the first magnet is arranged substantially at a center of the first magnet arrangement and the first magnet and the second magnet are arranged to be in contact;
- a second magnet arrangement, the second magnet arrangement including at least a third magnet and a fourth magnet, at least one of the third magnet and the fourth magnet having a cross-section that is non-rectangular with respect to the plane, wherein the third magnet is arranged substantially at a center of the second magnet arrangement and the third magnet and the fourth magnet are arranged to be in contact;
- and
- a coil arrangement, the coil arrangement being at least partially positioned between the first magnet arrangement and the second magnetic arrangement, the coil arrangement being arranged to receive current to cause the coil arrangement to generate force relative to the first magnet arrangement and the second magnet arrangement.
A voice coil motor (VCM) comprising:
- a first magnet arrangement, the first magnet arrangement including a first plurality of magnets, the first plurality of magnets each having a cross-section that is non-rectangular;
- a second magnet arrangement, the second magnet arrangement including a second plurality of magnets, the second plurality of magnets each having a cross-section that is non-rectangular, wherein the first magnet arrangement and the second magnet arrangement are arranged to cooperate to generate a magnetic field;
- a coil arrangement, the coil arrangement being at least partially positioned between the first magnet arrangement and the second magnet arrangement, the coil arrangement being arranged to receive current to cause the coil arrangement to generate force relative to the first magnet arrangement and the second magnet arrangement.
A voice coil motor (VCM) comprising:
- a first magnet arrangement, the first magnet arrangement including at least a first magnet and a second magnet, at least one of the first magnet and the second magnet having a cross-section that is non-rectangular with respect to a plane, wherein the first magnet is arranged substantially at a center of the first magnet arrangement and the first magnet and the second magnet are arranged to be in contact;
- a second magnet arrangement;
- and
- a coil arrangement, the coil arrangement being at least partially positioned between the first magnet arrangement and the second magnet arrangement, the coil arrangement being arranged to receive current to cause the coil arrangement to generate force relative to the first magnet arrangement and the second magnet arrangement.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.