Leaf spring mechanism and method of manufacturing the same

Abstract: In a leaf spring mechanism, a pair of triangle leaf spring units (2a, 2b) are arranged in parallel and reinforcing metal plates are fixed to apex portions of the units (2a, 2b). The reinforced apex portions of the units (2a, 2b) are pinched and molded so that the apex portions are fixed in a molded fixing sections (3, 4a, 4b). Two of the fixing sections (3, 4a, 4b) are so fixed to a base as to maintain the one of the fixing sections (3) movable along a direction perpendicular to the surfaces of the units (2a, 2b).

Description: The present invention relates to a leaf spring mechanism and a method of manufacturing the same and more particularly to an objective lens drive device into which the leaf spring system is incorporated. In the case of the leaf spring mechanism for linearly moving an object, two or more leaf springs are arranged substantially parallel to one another and fixedly held at their one ends while the object to be moved is fixed to their other ends. When the leaf springs curve, the object is moved in a direction perpendicular to the planes of the leaf springs. This leaf spring mechanism is incorporated into the objective lens drive device of the optical system to move the objective lens in the focusing direction. The leaf spring mechanism enables the objective lens to move along its optical axis perpendicular to the surface of the optical disk, that is, in the focusing direction while keeping the optical axis substantially aligned with target information stored on the optical disk. The leaf spring mechanism of this kind is disclosed together with an optical disk system in Japanese Patent Disclosure Sho 61-123030. In the case of this leaf spring mechanism, two leaf springs 101 and 102 shaped like an isosceles triangle are arranged parallel to each other and an objective lens 103 is fixed to an apex of the triangle, as shown in Fig. 1. In the case of the optical disk system into which the leaf spring mechanism is incorporated, the objective lens can be moved at high speed by a small force to gain quick access to the optical disk when the inertia moment of a rotating member 106 is made small while enhancing the vibrating characteristic of the objective lens 103 in focusing and tracking directions 104 and 105. In order to form the leaf spring mechanism 100 keeping the upper and lower leaf springs 101 and 102 parallel to each other, the leaf springs 101 and 102 which are shaped like an isosceles triangle must be accurately positioned together with an objective lens holder 107 and the rotating member 106 and then molded as a unit to fix the holder 107 to the apex of the isosceles triangle and the rotating member 106 to the bottom side thereof. The leaf spring mechanism will become suitable for mass production when the abovementioned components can be accurately positioned and then fixed according to the injection molding process. Durable beryllium copper, phosphor bronze, stainless steel or the like is used for the leaf springs 101 and 102 and thermosetting resin such as plastics is used for the injection molding process in this case. However, these materials are different in coefficient of thermal expansion and strain is caused at the cooling time after the injection molding process to thereby break the parallel of the leaf springs. The leaf spring mechanism thus made causes its moving characteristic in a direction (or curved direction) perpendicular to the planes of the leaf springs to become non-linear. In the case where the leaf spring mechanism is incorporated into the optical disk device, resonance frequency in the plane direction of the leaf springs or tracking direction is extremely lowered and servo-band needed to control the optical disk system cannot be gained sufficiently wide. In the case where the leaf spring mechanism is molded according to the injection molding as described above, the parallel of the leaf springs is lost because the material by which the leaf springs are made is different in coefficient of thermal expansion from the other material which is used for the injection molding. Therefore, the leaf spring mechanism thus made has non-linear moving characteristic in the curving direction. Further, when the leaf spring mechanism is incorporated into the optical disk system, resonance frequency in the direction perpendicular to the curving direction, that is, in the tracking direction is extremely lowered and servo-band needed to control the optical disk device cannot be gained sufficiently wide. An assembly of two parallel plate springs which are held by a mould at one end to a fixed member and at the other to a moving member is known from JP-A-63 173283. A lens mounting comprising a plurality of parallel blade springs stiffened along their length by a coating of plastic and the ends of the blade springs embedded by injection moulding into a fixed part and a movable part is disclosed in EP-A-0176127. An object of the present invention is therefore to provide a leaf spring mechanism capable of preventing the moving characteristic in the curving direction from becoming non-linear even when it is exposed to thermal expansion at the cooling time after the injection molding. Another object of the present invention is to provide an objective lens drive apparatus for the optical disk system capable of preventing resonance frequency in the tracking direction from being lowered and making wide enough the servo-band needed to control the optical disk system. According to the invention, there is provided a method of making a leaf spring assembly comprising: providing a leaf spring unit, having one and the other end; and molding the one end and other end of the leaf spring unit, characterized in that the leaf spring unit comprises a first and second thin metal leaf springs and the method further comprises reinforcing the one and other end of each of first and second leaf springs; and pinching the reinforced one end and other end of each of the first and second leaf springs keeping them parallel for molding. According to the invention, there is also provided a method of making a leaf spring assembly comprising: providing a leaf spring unit having one and the other ends; and molding the one and the other ends of the leaf spring unit, characterized in that the leaf spring unit comprises a first thin leaf spring included in a first leaf spring sheet and a second leaf spring included in a second leaf spring sheet, the first and second leaf spring sheets each have an extending portion connected to the one and the other end of each leaf spring and the method further comprises pinching the first and the second extending portions to hold the first and the second leaf springs parallel to each other for molding. According to the invention, there is further provided a leaf spring mechanism comprising: a leaf spring unit; first and second connecting members injection-molded to the leaf spring unit; and means for fixing the first and the second connecting members to a support, characterized in that the leaf spring unit comprises first and second leaf springs substantially parallel to each other and each of first and second leaf springs are substantially triangular in shape having first, second and third apexes and a hole in the center thereof; in that first and second connecting members are injection-molded to the first and second apexes; and in that the means for fixing holds the third apex movable in a first direction due to the deformation of the first and the second leaf springs. According to the invention, there is furthermore provided a leaf spring mechanism comprising: a leaf spring unit substantially rectangular in shape having one and other ends; first and second connecting members injection-molded to the one and the other ends of the leaf spring unit; and means for fixing the first connecting member to a support to hold the second connecting member movable in the first direction due to the deformation of the leaf spring unit, characterized in that the leaf spring unit comprises substantially parallel first and second leaf springs, and in that the one and the other ends are reinforced. This invention can be more fully understood from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an optical disk system into which the conventional leaf spring mechanism is incorporated; Figs. 2 and 3 are perspective views showing an optical pickup of the optical disk system wherein a leaf spring mechanism according to the present invention is incorporated into the focusing system; Figs. 4 and 5 are plane vies of a leaf spring assembled into the leaf spring mechanism shown in Figs. 2 and 3; Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the leaf spring mechanism shown in Figs. 2 and 3; Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing a variation of the leaf spring unit which forms the leaf spring mechanism shown in Fig. 6; Figs. 8A, 8B and 8C are plans showing components for the leaf spring unit shown in Fig. 7; Figs. 9A and 9B are plans showing sheet members for making the leaf spring unit shown in Fig. 7; Figs. 10A through 10I are plans showing leaf springs having various kinds of shapes to form the leaf spring mechanism shown in Fig. 6; Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing another example of the leaf spring mechanism according to the present invention; Figs. 12A and 12B show a leaf spring unit for the leaf spring mechanism shown in Fig. 11; Figs. 13, 14 and 15 are plane views showing sheet members for making the leaf spring unit shown in Figs. 12A and 12B; Figs. 16A, 16B, 17A, 17B, 18A, 18B, 19A and 19B are perspective views showing variations of the leaf spring unit for the leaf spring mechanism shown in Fig. 11; Figs. 20A through 20D are perspective views showing variations of the leaf spring unit for the leaf spring mechanism shown in Fig. 11; Fig. 21 is a plan showing a reinforcing sheet used to make the leaf spring mechanism shown in Fig. 11; Fig. 22 is a plan showing a leaf spring sheet used to make the leaf spring mechanism shown in Fig. 11; Figs. 23A and 23B are plans showing sheet segments for the leaf spring mechanism shown in Fig. 11; Fig. 24 is a perspective view showing a leaf spring unit made by the sheet segments shown in Figs. 23A and 23B; and Fig. 25 is a sectional view showing a device for making the leaf spring mechanism shown in Fig. 11. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing an optical pickup of the optical disk system wherein a leaf spring mechanism according to the present invention is incorporated into the focusing drive system, and Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the optical pickup dismantled. In the case of the optical disk shown in Figs. 2 and 3, an objective lens 1 for recording and reproducing information onto and out of the optical disk (not shown) through optical beam is held by a lens holder 3 which is fixed to an apex of a substantially isosceles triangle formed by two leaf springs 2a and 2b. The remaining two apexes of the triangle-shaped leaf springs 2a and 2b have leaf spring fixing sections 4a and 4b and the leaf springs 2a and 2b are made integral to the lens holder 3 and leaf spring fixing sections 4a and 4b according to the injection molding. These leaf springs 2a, 2b, lens holder 3 and leaf spring fixing sections 4a, 4b form a leaf spring mechanism 5. The plate spring fixing sections 4a and 4b are separated equal from the center axis of a rotary drum 7 and fixed on the rotary drum 7, which is rotatable relative to a base 6, with their bosses 22a and 22b fitted into holes 21a and 21b of the drum 7. Further, the leaf spring fixing sections 4a and 4b are bonded or pressure-welded to projections 8a and 8b which extend on the rotary drum 7 in a direction opposite to the leaf spring mechanism 5 on the drum 7. Those faces of the projections 8a and 8b to which the leaf spring fixing sections 4a and 4b are bonded are made perpendicular to the tracking or rotating direction of the rotary drum 7. The rotary drum 7 is shaped like a teardrop comprising an arc section 30 which is shaped like an arc, and a projected section 31 which is shaped like a triangle. The parallel leaf spring mechanism 5 is fixed on the projected section 31. The projections 8a and 8b on the rotary drum 7 are separated equal from the center axis of the drum 7. The longitudinal direction of these projections 8a and 8b is parallel to a line which passes through centers of the rotary drum 7 and the objective lens 1. As already stated above, the leaf spring fixing sections 4a and 4b are bonded or pressure-welded to the projections 8a and 8b. The lens holder 3 is made substantially cylindrical and a focusing coil 9 wound similarly like a cylinder is molded in the lens holder 3 to generate magnetic flux along the optical axis. A magnetic circuit 12 comprising a permanent magnet 10 provided with a cylindrical portion and yokes 11a and 11b is arranged in the lens holder 3. The permanent magnet 10 has a magnetic pole magnetized along the optical axis to generate magnetic flux along it. The magnetic circuit 12 is fixed at the front end of the projected portion 31 of the rotary drum 7. The rotary drum 7 is provided at its front end with a hole 13 which serves as a light path, and the magnetic circuit 12 and the lens holder 3 have also hollows which cooperate with the hole 13 of the drum 7 to form the light path. Two tracking coils 14a and 14b are fixed to the side of the rotary drum 7 and they are symmetrical relative to the rotating axis of the drum 7. Each of them is wound round an axis perpendicular to that of the focusing coil 9 to generate magnetic flux in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the focusing coil 9 generates magnetic flux. Inter-yokes 16a and 16b which form a part of two magnetic circuits 15a and 15b on the base 6 are inserted into the tracking coil 9 without contacting the coil 9. The magnetic circuits 15a and 15b include upper yokes 17a, 17b, permanent magnets 18a - 18d, inter-yokes 16a, 16b, permanent magnets 19a - 19d, and the base 6 which are piled one upon the others in this order. Each of the upper and inter-yokes 17a, 17b and 16a, 16b of the magnetic circuits 15a and 15b includes two members connected to each other in the center of the yoke. The permanent magnets 18a - 18d and 19a - 19d are magnetized in the direction in which they are piled, and they have magnetic poles alternately magnetized in reverse. Each of the magnetic circuits 15a and 15b is shaped like an arc round the rotating axis of the drum 7. The rotary drum 7 has a space therein in which electrical and optical components and photoelectric converter elements (neither of them are shown) are housed, and the electric components and the photoelectric converter elements are connected to a power source and the like outside through a means such as the flexible substrate. These components and elements can be housed in the rotary drum 7 after a bottom lid 7a is detached from the drum 7. The inertia moment of the tracking coils 14a and 14b-is set equal to the total inertia moment of the rotary drum 7 and all of the components (except the tracking coils 14a and 14b) driven together with the rotary drum 7. As already described above, those faces of the projections 8a and 8b to which the parallel leaf spring mechanism 5 is connected are determined to be on an XZ plane and the leaf spring fixing sections 4a and 4b are bonded or pressure-welded to the projections 8a and 8b. The case where the leaf spring fixing sections 4a and 4b of the parallel leaf spring mechanism 5 are bonded or pressure-welded to the projections 8a and 8b becomes higher in the rigidity of attaching the leaf spring mechanism 5 to the rotary drum 7, as compared with a case where the leaf spring fixing sections 4a and 4b of the parallel leaf spring mechanism 5 are fixed to the rotary drum 7 only by screws. In the case of using screws, no problem is caused when the moving speed of the movable components is sufficiently low, but when it is made high to shorten the time needed to gain access to target signal, resonance is caused at the system-attaching area, so that so quick access as expected cannot be achieved. Since the projections 8a and 8b are located in the vicinity of the center of gravity of the parallel leaf spring mechanism 5 in the direction Z, the rotating force of the drum 7 is transmitted from the direction of force directly to the center of gravity of the parallel leaf spring mechanism 5. In short, no bending moment in the focusing direction of the objective lens 1 but only stress in the pulling or compressing direction acts on the parallel leaf spring mechanism 5. The objective lens 1 is thus prevented from vibrating in its focusing direction when the rotary drum 7 rotates in the tracking direction, and resonance frequency at the system-attaching area becomes high to realize quick access to target signal. The leaf spring mechanism 5 will be described in detail with reference to Figs. 4, 5 and 6. Fig. 4 is a plan showing the leaf springs 2a and 2b for the leaf spring mechanism 5. As shown in Fig. 4, each of the leaf springs 2a and 2b comprises a portion shaped like a substantially isosceles triangle provided with hole 40A in the center thereof, and another portion 38A shaped like a substantial rectangle provided with hole 40B which defines the optical path. The lens holder 3 is fixed to the portion 38A. Three portions 38A, 38B and 38C to which resin is molded according to the injection molding are hatched in Fig. 5 and the lens holder 3 and the leaf spring fixing sections 4a, 4b are formed at these hatched portions. These hatched portions correspond to apexes of the substantially isosceles triangular leaf springs 2a and 2b, as shown in Fig. 5. The lens holder 3 and the leaf spring fixing sections 4a, 4b are injection-molded in such a way that the two leaf springs 2a and 2b are positioned and held parallel in a die, that the focusing coil 9 is also positioned in the die and that resin is then injected into hollow portions in the die. The leaf spring mechanism 5 thus formed supports the movable components, that is, the lens holder 3 and the objective lens 1 at one apex portion 38A of the triangle and it is fixed to the fixing sections 4a and 4b at the two other apexes portions 38B and 38C of the triangle. The operation of the optical disk device shown in Figs. 2 and 3 will be described below. In a case where the objective lens 1 is driven in the focusing direction of the optical disk, current supply to the focusing coil 9 is controlled and Lorentz force generated by the interaction of magnetic fluxes in magnetic gap of the magnetic circuit is added to the focusing coil 9. The lens holder 3 is moved by this Lorentz force and the leaf spring mechanism 5 is deformed. Namely, the movement of the lens holder 3 is defined by the leaf spring mechanism 5 and as the result, the objective lens 1 can be moved substantially parallel to its optical axis or in a direction perpendicular to the faces of the leaf springs 2a and 2b by means of the leaf spring mechanism 5. In another case where the objective lens 1 is driven in the tracking direction of the optical disk, current supply to the tracking coils 14a and 14b and Lorentz force generated by the interaction of magnetic fluxes in magnetic gaps of the magnetic circuits 15a and 15b is added to the tracking coils 14a and 14b. When Lorentz force is applied to the tracking coils 14a and 14b, the drum 7 on which the objective lens 1 is mounted is rotated round the center axis, resulting in moving the objective lens 1. In the case of the leaf spring mechanism 5, the two leaf spring fixing sections 4a and 4b are connected to each other only by the leaf springs but virtually separated from each other. Assuming that the sides of each of the leaf springs 2a and 2b be represented by A, B and C as shown in Fig. 5, that side of the conventional leaf spring system shown in Fig. 1 which corresponds to the sides C of the leaf springs 2a and 2b is molded as a unit. In the case of the leaf spring system shown in Fig. 1, therefore, the length of the side C is changed by the strain of the leaf spring system caused when cooled in the course of the molding process, and the other sides A and B are thus inevitably strained to thereby break the parallel of the paired leaf springs. In the case of the leaf spring mechanism 5 shown in Fig. 6, however, all of the sides A, B and C serve as the virtual spring sections of the leaf springs 2a and 2b but even when strain is caused at the molded portions of the mechanism 5 in the course of the cooling process after the injection molding, the length of each of the sides is not changed by the strain because these sides are not molded. In addition, the angles formed by the sides A, B and C can be held certain and the strain does not influence the sides. The two leaf springs 2a and 2b can be thus held accurately parallel and the curving characteristic of the leaf spring mechanism 5 can be prevented from becoming non-linear. Resonance frequency in the tracking direction of the optical disk device can be thus prevented from becoming low and servo-band needed to control the optical disk system can be held sufficient accordingly. Variations of the parallel leaf spring mechanism 5 according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to Figs. 7 through 9B. Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing a variation of the leaf spring unit according to the present invention. The leaf spring unit shown in Fig. 7 is enlarged in its thickness direction for the clarity of explanation. In the case of the leaf spring unit shown in Fig. 7, a pair of leaf spring members 23a and 23b are made integral with reinforcing plates 24a and 24b interposed between them. Two of these leaf spring units are arranged parallel and fixed according to the injection molding. The parallel leaf spring mechanism 5 shown in Fig. 6 is thus made. The leaf spring members 23a, 23b and the reinforcing plates 24a, 24b are shaped as shown in Figs. 8A, 8B and 8C and the reinforcing plates 24a and 24b are mounted on the leaf spring member 23a. As shown in Figs. 9A and 9B, the leaf spring members 23a, 23b and the reinforcing plates 24a, 24b are cut off from stainless steel sheets 51 and 52 but connecting at their points 56, 57A, 57B and 58 to the sheets according to the etching process or the like. The sheet 51 was 20 - 40 µm thick and the sheet 52 about 15 thick in this case. Each of the sheets 51 and 52 has three positioning holes 53 or 54. When the leaf spring unit is to be made, the sheets 52 are piled one upon the other with the sheet 51 sandwiched between them, inserting pins of a jig (not shown) through the positioning holes 51 and 52 of the sheets to accurately position the leaf spring members 23a, 23b and the reinforcing plates 24a, 24b. The leaf spring members 23a, 23b and the reinforcing plates 24a, 24b are then connected to one another by the spot or laser welding or bonding or pressure-welding process. They were connected in this case by spot welding them at 21 points which were shown black in Fig. 8C. The leaf spring units are then cut off from the sheets 51 and 52 at their points 56, 57 and 58. Force is added to the sheets 51 and 52 to position the leaf spring members 23a, 23b and the reinforcing plates 24a, 24b, but these leaf spring members 23a, 23b and reinforcing plates 24a, 24b themselves receive no force. Each of the leaf spring units thus completed has no strain and it is excellent in flatness. Further, the interval between the leaf spring members 23a and 23b is defined by the thickness of the reinforcing plates 24a and 24b. This enables the leaf spring members 23a and 23b to have a high parallel between them. The leaf spring unit made according to the above-described process is molded at its portions (which will be hereinafter referred to as reinforced portions A and B) reinforced by the reinforcing plates 24a and 24b in the course of the injection molding. When the parallel leaf spring mechanism 5 is to be made by the leaf spring units 2a and 2b according to the injection molding, the reinforced portions A and B to which the injection molding is applied are thick enough and the leaf spring units 2a and 2b are not deformed by pressure at the time of the injection molding. Therefore, the leaf spring units 2a and 2b held parallel in the die do not lose their parallel even when resin (or thermoplastic resin) flows into the die at the time of the injection molding. When the parallel leaf spring mechanism 5 is used for the objective lens drive apparatus shown in Fig. 2, the objective lens 1 can be accurately driven in the focusing direction. Plural holes of the leaf spring members 23a, 23b and the reinforcing plates 24a, 24b allow resin to flow into necessary areas in the die at the injection molding process and also enhance the strength of connecting the resin to the leaf springs. Generally, the flexural rigidity of a material is proportional to a cube of its thickness and the shearing strength thereof to its sectional area. In the case where the leaf spring unit is formed by the plural leaf spring members 23a, 23b and one or more reinforcing plates 24a, 24b as described above, the ratio of the shearing strength relative to the flexural rigidity of the leaf spring unit can be made large. The leaf spring unit of a laminated structure which include a plurality of leaf springs has a higher rigidity than that of a single leaf spring in the radial direction, even if the leaf spring unit has a same rigidity as that of the single leaf spring in the focusing direction. The rigidity in the focusing direction is determined based on a requirement of the focusing control. In the optical disk apparatus, it is necessary for achieving an effective focusing control, that a primary inherent resonance of the leaf spring unit is set to be 60 Hz, when the optical disk is rotated at 3000 r.p.m. Therefore, control band in the radial direction can be set wide to thereby enable radial behaviour to be conducted with a higher accuracy. The reinforced portion B may be formed only at those portions of the parallel leaf spring system to which the leaf spring fixing sections 4a and 4b are molded. In the case of this example, however, the reinforced portion B is formed along that portion which corresponds to one side of a triangle (or bottom side of the isosceles triangle) to reduce the number of the reinforced plates used. Even when the parallel leaf spring mechanism 5 is handled holding the leaf spring fixing sections 4a and 4b sandwiched between fingers, deformation such as buckling is not caused at one side of the triangle and the other two sides of the triangle which serve as spring portions are not deformed accordingly so that no damage is applied to the spring portion. Each of the spring portions which is formed by the two parallel leaf springs 2a and 2b is not filled with the reinforcing plate but left hollow in the case of this example. These hollow portions between the two parallel leaf springs 2a and 2b may be filled with visco-elastic material such as silicone rubber. A stainless steel sheet 25a is piled on another sheet 25b, pieces of the viscoelastic material are then placed on the spring portions and a sheet 25b is placed on them. These three sheets 25b, 25a and 25b are then welded to one another and the leaf spring systems are cut off from these piled sheets. When the leaf spring unit having the viscoelastic material filled between the parallel leaf springs 2a and 2b is used, the peak of resonance in resonance frequency in the direction perpendicular to the plane direction can be lowered to allow the optical disk device to be controlled with a higher accuracy. The leaf spring unit in which the visco-elastic material is used will be described later. The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. Even when leaf springs 41 - 49 variously shaped and provided with various kinds of holes, as shown in Figs. 10A through 10I, for example, are used and fixing members are injection-molded with an interval interposed between them as seen in the case of the leaf spring fixing sections 4a and 4b, same merits as already mentioned above can be expected. The leaf spring mechanism may be formed by combining these leaf springs 41 - 49 variously. The number of the leaf springs used to form the leaf spring mechanism of the present invention is not limited to two but three, four or more leaf springs may be used. The leaf spring system may be provided with three or more connecting members. The leaf spring mechanism is suitable for use with the optical disk device but it may be applied to other devices. As described above, the leaf spring mechanism of the present invention can prevent its moving characteristic in the curving direction from becoming non-linear even when it is under the influence of thermal expansion at the cooling time after the injection molding process. In the case of the optical disk system into which the leaf spring mechanism is incorporated, servo-band needed to control the optical disk system can be held sufficient without lowering resonance frequency in the tracking direction of the disk system. The parallel leaf spring system which is used for the objective lens drive device is not limited to the one shown in Fig. 7, but a leaf spring mechanism having an arrangement shown in Fig. 11 may be used. This leaf spring mechanism will be described referring to Figs. 11 through 20C. Same components of a parallel leaf spring mechanism 55 shown in Fig. 11 as those of the ones shown in Figs. 2 and 3 will be represented by same reference numerals and description on these components will be omitted. Leaf spring units 26a and 26b used for the parallel leaf spring mechanism 55 may have various kinds of arrangements shown in Figs. 12A through 16. In the case of the leaf spring units 26a and 26b shown in Figs. 12A and 12B, viscoelastic matter 31 such as silicone gel and rubber whose damping characteristic and hardness do not change as temperature changes is arranged in a hollow between two parallel leaf springs 27a and 27b. The viscoelastic matter 31 has same thickness as that of each of the reinforcing plates 28a and 28b. The leaf spring unit 26a or 26b shown in Fig. 12A is made as follows. Leaf spring members 27 and reinforcing plates 28 are cut off from stainless steel sheets 51 and 52 according to the etching process or the like but connecting to the sheets at their portions 61 and 62, as shown in Figs. 13 and 14. The viscoelastic matter 31 is coated on a sheet 63 same in size as the sheet 51, as shown in Fig. 15. The sheets 51, 52 and the sheet 63 on which the viscoelastic matter 31 is coated are piled one upon the others, positioned using holes 53, 54 and 59 of the sheets and welded as a unit by spot, laser or pressure welding, or bonding. The leaf spring units 26 are released from the sheets, cutting off their connecting portions 61, 62 and 64 from the sheets (The connecting portions 61, 62 and 64 shown in Figs. 13, 14 and 15 are drawn larger than the virtual ones). The viscoelastic matter 31 may be coated on the sheet, hardened and then overlapped the other sheet, or it may be coated on the sheet, overlapped the other sheet and then hardened. The damping characteristic was better in the case of this example when the latter method was employed. A leaf spring unit 26a or 26b shown in Figs. 16A and 16B is made through substantially same process as in the case of the leaf spring unit shown in Figs. 11A and 11b, but the thickness of each of the reinforcing plates 28a and 28b is different from that of each of the ones shown in Figs. 12A and 12B. The viscoelastic matters 31a and 31b are previously coated on both of leaf spring members 27a and 27b according to the silk printing, coating or bonding and they are welded as a unit as shown in Fig. 15A. The thickness of the reinforcing plate 28 is made substantially equal to the total thickness of the viscoelastic matters 31a and 31b. According to this example, a large effect of suppressing resonance can be expected similarly to the case of the already-described example. In addition, the number of the making processes can be reduced because same members can be welded to form the leaf spring unit. A leaf spring unit 26a or 26b shown in Figs. 17A and 17B is made through substantially same process as in the case of the two above-described examples, but the arrangement of the viscoelastic matter 31 is different from those in the two above-described examples. As shown in Figs. 17A and 17B, viscoelastic matters 31a, 31b, 31c and 31d are coated on both of the leaf spring members 27a and 27b with a certain interval interposed between the adjacent viscoelastic matters, and the leaf spring members 27a and 27b are welded as a unit, alternating the viscoelastic matters between them. The thickness of each of the reinforcing plates 28a and 28b is substantially equal to that of each of the viscoelastic matters 31a, 31b, 31c and 31d. According to this example, a large effect of suppressing resonance can be expected similarly to the case of the already-described examples. In addition, the number of the making processes can be reduced because the leaf spring unit can be made by welding same members. A leaf spring unit 26a or 26b shown in Figs. 18A and 18B has a laminating arrangement. The visco-elastic matter 31a or 31b is previously coated on one side of each of the leaf spring members 27a and 27b according to the silk printing, coating or bonding process and viscoelastic matters 31c and 31d are previously coated on both sides of a leaf spring 27c according to the silk printing, coating or bonding process. These leaf spring members 27a, 27b and 27c are welded as a unit, as shown in Fig. 18A. The thickness of each of the reinforcing plates 28a, 28b, 28c and 28d is made substantially equal to the total of thicknesses of the viscoelastic matters 31a and 31c, or 31d and 31b. The leaf spring unit may be made without using the viscoelastic matter. As shown in Figs. 20A through 20D, for example, various kinds of leaf spring units comprising leaf spring members 27a - 27c and reinforcing plates 28a - 28f can be made according to one of the manners already mentioned above. Same merits as those of the first example can be achieved using one of these leaf spring units. The number of the leaf spring members laminated is not limited to those of them shown in Figs. 20A through 20D but as it becomes larger, the durability of the leaf spring unit against injection pressure becomes higher. At the same time, the ratio of shearing rigidity relative to the flexure rigidity of the leaf spring unit becomes larger. Therefore, the optical axis of the objective lens is not tilted. In addition, resonance frequency in the radial direction becomes higher and control band becomes wider. This enables highly accurate radial behaviour to be achieved. The leaf spring unit 26a or 26b shown in Fig. 20B has no laminated arrangement but the following advantage. In the case of this leaf spring unit 26a or 26b, reinforcing plates 28a - 28d are those portions to which resin is virtually fixed at the time of injection molding, and no resin is contacted directly with the leaf spring member 27a. Therefore, the burrs of resin do not contact the leaf spring member 27a and the deforming characteristic of the spring member 27a which is the virtual movable portion can be thus kept certain. This enables a parallel leaf spring system whose characteristic is usually kept certain to be provided. Same merits can be expected relating to the leaf spring unit 26a or 26b shown in Fig. 20A. As for the other examples, same merits can be expected when the reinforcing plates 28 are fixed to the surface of the leaf spring unit 26a or 26b. A method of making the leaf spring mechanism 55 shown in Fig. 11 will be described with reference to Figs. 21 through 25. As seen in Figs. 13, 14 and 15, the leaf springs 27a, 27b and the reinforcing plates 28a, 28b are cut off from sheets 51 and 52 according to the die cutting or etching process but connecting to the sheets at their portions 61, 62 and 64, as shown in Figs. 21 and 22. The reinforcing plate sheet 51 is 10 - 1000 µm thick and the leaf spring sheet 52 is 15 - 40 µm thick. A reinforcing portion 65 is further provided between the connecting portions 61 on the sheet 51 on which the reinforcing plates 28a and 28b are formed. Another similar reinforcing portion 66 is provided between the connecting portions 62 or 64 on the sheet 52 on which the leaf springs 27a and 27b are formed. Rods of a positioning jig (not shown) are inserted into holes 54, 53 and 54 of the sheets 52, 51 and 52 and these sheets 51 and 52 are aligned with the sheet 51 interposed between the sheets 52. The reinforcing plates 28a and 28b, leaf springs 27a and 27b and reinforcing portions 65 and 66 are the connected to each other by welding or bonding process. Sheet segments 51a and 51b shown in Figs. 23A and 23B are cut off keeping the sheets 51 and 52 welded and frame members 67 each of which corresponds to the one leaf spring unit 26a or 26b are provided as shown in Fig. 24. In the case of each of the frame members 67, the leaf springs 27a and 27b are fixed to the reinforcing plates 28a and 28b, extending parallel to each other, as already described above. A pair of the frame members 67 shown in Fig. 24 are assembled to form a leaf spring mechanism. As shown in Fig. 25, sliders 68a, 68b and frameworks 69a, 69b are located between those reinforced portions of the paired frame members 67 which are reinforced by the reinforcing plates 28a and 28b, and these frame members 67 are arranged in first and second frames 70 and 71 at both end portions thereof. The first frame 70 comprises two segments 70a and 70b. A space in which the lens holder 3 is housed is provided in the first frame 70 and the segments 70a and 70b are provided with cylindrical projections 72a and 72b to form a through-hole in the lens holder 3 which serves as an optical path. The segments 70a and 70b are also provided with projections 73a and 73b to pinch those reinforced portions of the paired frame members 67 which are reinforced by the reinforcing plates 28a. Similarly, the second frame 71 comprises two segments 71a and 71b and a space in which the fixing sections 4 are housed is provided in the second frame 71. Further, the segments 71a and 71b are provided with projections 74a and 74b to pinch those reinforced portions of the paired frame members 67 which are reinforced by the reinforcing plates 28b. When the segments 70a and 70b of the first frame 70 are contacted with each other as shown in Fig. 25, the projections 72a and 72b are also contacted with each other and those reinforced portions of the paired frame members 67 which are reinforced by the reinforcing plates 28a are pinched between the slider 68a and the projection 73a and between the slider 68a and the projection 73b, respectively. The reinforced portions of the paired frame members 67 are thus fixed in the frame 70. Similarly, when the segments 71a and 71b of the second frame 71 are contacted with each other, those reinforced portions of the paired frame members 67 which are reinforced by the reinforcing plates 28b are pinched between the slider 68b and the projection 74a and between the slider 68b and the projection 74b, respectively. The other reinforced portions of the paired frame members 67 are thus fixed in the second frame 71. Reinforced portions 65 and 66 of the frame member 67 are also pinched this time by a pinch system (not shown) and the paired frame members 67 are thus kept parallel to each other and held unmovable. Molding matter is injected into the frames, keeping the frame members held therein, and the lens holder 3 and the fixing sections 4 at which the leaf spring unit 67 is fixed are thus formed. Laser beam is applied to the connecting portions 61, 62 and 64 to cut off the leaf spring system 55. The leaf spring mechanism shown in Fig. 11 is thus completed. When the frame member 67 is formed, as shown in Fig. 24 according to the above-described method, it is reinforced by the reinforcing sheet 55 which is provided with the reinforcing portions 28a, 28b and 65. This prevents the leaf springs 27a and 27b from becoming deformed. Further, the frame members 67 is pinched at its portions which are reinforced by the reinforcing sheet 55 and resin is molded to these reinforced portions at the time of the molding process. Therefore, the leaf springs 27a and 27b are not strained by pressure at the pinching process and by pressure added to the frame member 67 when resin molded expands and contracts. This prevents the leaf springs from becoming deformed. Furthermore, the leaf spring mechanism 55 is cut off from the sheet segment by laser beam and this prevents any external force from being added to the leaf springs to deform them. The method of making the leaf spring systems which has been described referring to Figs. 21 through 25 relates to the leaf spring system shown in Fig. 11 but this method can be applied to the leaf spring units 2a and 2b shown in Figs. 6 and 7 and also to the leaf spring mechanism 5 which is formed by the leaf spring units 2a and 2b. The reinforcing sheet segment 51a has been shaped like a rectangle but it may be shaped like an arc and the reinforcing portions 65 and 66 may be shaped corresponding to the pinch system. According to the present invention, thicknesses of the leaf spring and the reinforcing plate and material by which they are made may be optional selected. In addition, the parallel leaf spring system used for the objective lens drive device can be applied to other devices. According to the present invention as described above, there can be provided an objective lens drive apparatus wherein the leaf springs can be made keeping their parallel accurate and the objective lens can be driven in the radial direction without losing the parallel of the leaf springs.

Claims: A method of making a leaf spring assembly comprising: providing a leaf spring unit (2a, 2b, 23a, 23b, 26a, 26b, 27a, 27b), having one and the other end; and molding the one end and other end of the leaf spring unit (2a, 2b, 23a, 23b, 26a, 26b, 27a, 27b), characterized in that the leaf spring unit comprises a first and second thin metal leaf springs (2a, 2b, 23a, 23b, 26a, 26b, 27a, 27b) and the method further comprises reinforcing the one and other end of each of first and second leaf springs; and pinching the reinforced one end and other end of each of the first and second leaf springs keeping them parallel for molding. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the first and the second leaf springs (26a, 26b, 27a, 27b) is shaped substantially like a rectangle. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the first and the second leaf springs (2a, 2b, 23a, 23b) is shaped substantially like a triangle which has an additional end. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that first and second metal pieces (24a, 24b, 28a, 28b) are welded to the one and the other end of the first leaf spring (23a, 27a) and third and fourth metal pieces (24a, 24b, 28a, 28b) are welded to the one and the other end of the second leaf spring (23b, 27b). The method according to claim 1, characterized by further comprising: providing third and fourth thin metal leaf springs (23a, 23b, 27a, 27b) each having one and the other end; arranging the first and the third leaf springs (23a, 23b, 27a, 27b) substantially parallel and welding the one and the other ends of the first and third leaf springs (23a, 23b) to the first and the second metal piece (24a, 24b, 28a, 28b) to form a first leaf spring unit (2a, 26a); and arranging the second and the fourth leaf spring (23a, 23b, 27a, 27b) substantially parallel and welding the one and the other ends of the second and fourth leaf springs (23a, 23b) to the third and the fourth metal piece (24a, 24b, 28a, 28b) to form a second leaf spring unit (2b, 26b). The method according to claim 5, characterized in that the first and the second leaf spring units (2a, 2b, 26a, 26b) are arranged substantially parallel to each other and those portions of the first and the second leaf spring units (2a, 2b, 26a, 26b) which are connected to each other are pinched and molded. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that fifth and sixth metal pieces (28c) are welded to the one and the other end of the first leaf spring (27a) and seventh and eight metal pieces (28c) are welded to the one and the other end of the second leaf spring (27b). The method according to claim 7, characterized by further comprising: providing fifth and sixth thin metal leaf springs (27c) each having one and the other end; arranging the first and the fifth leaf springs (27a, 27c) substantially parallel and welding the one and the other end of the first and fifth leaf springs (27a, 27c) to the fifth and the sixth metal pieces (28c, 28d) to form the first leaf spring unit (2a, 26a); and arranging the second and the sixth leaf springs (27b, 27c) substantially parallel and welding the one and the other end of the second and sixth leaf springs (27b, 27c) to the seventh and the eighth metal pieces (27b, 27c) to form the second leaf spring unit (2b,26b). The method according to claim 8, characterized in that the first and the second leaf spring units (2a, 2b, 26a, 26b) are arranged in substantially parallel and those portions of the first and the second leaf spring unit (2a, 2b, 26a, 26b) which are connected to each other are pinched and molded. A method of making a leaf spring assembly comprising: providing a leaf spring unit (23a, 23b, 27a, 27b) having one and the other ends; and molding the one and the other ends of the leaf spring unit (23a, 23b, 27a, 27b), characterized in that the leaf spring unit comprises a first thin leaf spring (23a, 27a) included in a first leaf spring sheet (52) and a second leaf spring (23b, 27b) included in a second leaf spring sheet (51), the first and second leaf spring sheets each have an extending portion (58, 57B, 62, 64, 66) connected to the one and the other end of each leaf spring (23a, 23b, 27a, 27b) and the method further comprises pinching the first and the second extending portions (58, 57B, 62, 64, 66) to hold the first and the second leaf springs (23a, 23b, 28a, 28b) parallel to each other for molding. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that each of the first and the second leaf springs (23a, 23b, 28a, 28b) is shaped substantially like a rectangle. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that each of the first and the second leaf springs (23a, 23b, 27a, 27b) is shaped substantially like a triangle which has an additional end. The method according to claim 10, characterized by further comprising: providing a first reinforcing sheet (51) having first and second reinforcing portions (28a, 28b) shaped to correspond to the one and the other end of the first leaf spring (27a) and a third reinforcing portion (65) shaped to correspond to the first extending portion (66); welding the first reinforcing sheet (51) to the first leaf spring sheet (52); providing a second reinforcing sheet (51) having fourth and fifth reinforcing portions (28a, 28b) shaped to correspond to the one and the other end of the second leaf spring (27b) and a sixth reinforcing portions (65) shaped to correspond to the second extending portion (66); and welding the second reinforcing sheet (51) to the second leaf spring sheet (52). The method according to claim 13, characterized by further comprising: providing a third leaf spring sheet (52) including a third thin leaf spring (27a) having one and the other end and a third extending portion (62, 64, 66) connected to the one and the other end of the third leaf spring (27a); forming a first leaf spring (27a) arrangement in such a way that the third leaf spring sheet (52) is welded to the first reinforcing sheet (51) and that the third leaf spring sheet (52) is welded to the first leaf spring sheet (52) through the first reinforcing sheet (51); providing a fourth leaf spring sheet (52) including a fourth thin leaf spring (27b) having one and the other end and an extending portion (62, 64, 66) connected to the one and the other end of the fourth thin leaf spring (27b); and forming a second leaf spring (27b) arrangement in such a way that the fourth leaf spring sheet (52) is welded to the second reinforcing sheet (52) and that the fourth leaf spring (52) is welded to the second leaf spring sheet (52) through the second reinforcing sheet (51). The method according to claim 13, characterized in that the first and the second leaf spring arrangements (27a, 27b) are kept substantially parallel to each other and those portions of the first and the second leaf spring arrangement (27a, 27b) which are welded are pinched and molded. A leaf spring mechanism comprising: a leaf spring unit (2a, 2b); first and second connecting members (4a, 4b) injection-molded to the leaf spring unit (2a, 2b); and means (22b, 8a, 8b, 30) for fixing the first and the second connecting members (4a, 4b) to a support, characterized in that the leaf spring unit comprises first and second leaf springs (2a, 2b) substantially parallel to each other and each of first and second leaf springs (2a, 2b) are substantially triangular in shape having first, second and third apexes and a hole in the center thereof; in that first and second connecting members (4a, 4b) are injection-molded to the first and second apexes; and in that the means for fixing holds the third apex movable in a first direction due to the deformation of the first and the second leaf springs (2a, 2b). The leaf spring mechanism according to claim 16, characterized in that the first and the second leaf spring units (2a, 2b) are shaped substantially like an isosceles triangle having first, second and third elongated segments, the first and the second segment are connected by the first apex and the second and the third apex connect the third segment to the first and the second segment. The leaf spring mechanism according to claim 16, characterized by further comprising a third connecting member (3) injection-molded to the third apex to connect the second leaf spring substantially parallel to the first leaf spring, said third connecting member (3) being held movable in the first direction due to the deformation of the first and the second leaf spring units (2a, 2b). The leaf spring mechanism according to claim 16, characterized in that each of the first and the second leaf spring units (2a, 2b) includes first and second leaf springs (23a, 23b) which are shaped substantially like a triangle. The leaf spring mechanism according to claim 16, characterized in that the first leaf spring unit (2a) includes first and second leaf springs (23a, 23b) kept parallel to each other with a gap interposed between them and connected at their first, second and third apexes, and the second leaf spring unit (2b) includes third and fourth leaf springs (23a, 23b) arranged parallel to each other with a gap interposed between them and connected at their first, second and third apexes. The leaf spring mechanism according to claim 20, characterized in that each of the gaps is filled with viscoelastic material. The leaf spring mechanism according to claim 16, characterized by further comprising a means (10, 11a, 11b) for driving the third apex in the first direction. A leaf spring mechanism comprising: a leaf spring unit (26a, 26b) substantially rectangular in shape having one and other ends; first and second connecting members (3,4) injection-molded to the one and the other ends of the leaf spring unit (26a, 26b); and means for fixing the first connecting member (4) to a support to hold the second connecting member (3) movable in the first direction due to the deformation of the leaf spring unit (26a, 26b), characterized in that the leaf spring unit comprises substantially parallel first and second leaf springs (26a, 26b), and in that the one and the other ends are reinforced. The leaf spring mechanism according to claim 23, characterized in that each of the first and the second leaf spring units (26a, 26b) includes first and second leaf springs (27a, 27b) each being shaped substantially like a rectangle. The leaf spring mechanism according to claim 23, characterized in that the first leaf spring unit (26a) includes first and second leaf springs (27a, 27b) arranged parallel to each other with a gap interposed between them and connected at their one and other ends, and the second leaf spring unit (26b) includes third and fourth leaf springs (27a, 27b) arranged parallel to each other with a gap interposed between them and connected at their one and other ends. The leaf spring mechanism according to claim 25, characterized in that each of the gaps is filled with viscoelastic material. The leaf spring mechanism according to claim 23, characterized by further comprising a means for driving the one ends in the first direction.

Inventors: KASAHARA AKIHIRO, KASAHARA, AKIHIRO, C/O INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY DIV.
Applicants: TOSHIBA KK, KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
Application year: 1990
Main classification: G11B7
IPC codes: G11B7, F16F15