Patent ID: 8255936

Claim:
An objective lens drive apparatus configured to drive an objective lens that focuses a laser beam on an optical disk, the apparatus comprising: a holding member that holds the objective lens; at least one pair of drive magnets arranged to face each other at opposite sides of the holding member with respect to a tangential direction that is parallel to a tangential line of the optical disk, the drive magnets being permanent magnets having protruding end portions that protrude from each side of the holding member with respect to a tracking direction that is parallel to a radial direction of the optical disk; and a plurality of drive coils configured to drive the holding member through interaction with the drive magnets, at least one of the drive coils being arranged on each side of the drive magnets with respect to the tangential direction; and wherein the drive coils include at least one pair of first drive coils arranged in between the drive magnets and at least one pair of second drive coils arranged at opposite sides of the pair of drive magnets with respect to the tangential direction, the second drive coils having center axes extending in a direction perpendicular to a center axis direction of the first drive coils.