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.
Claims10
A voice coil motor (VCM) comprising
- a coil arrangement, the coil arrangement including at least one coil having a first space and being wound around a first direction that is getting through the first space;
- a first set of magnets arranged in the first space, the first set of magnets including at least one of magnets having a component of a first magnetic field direction that is a radial direction with respect to the first direction;
- and
- a second set of magnets arranged external to the coil, the second set of magnets including at least one of magnets having the component of the first magnetic field direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.