JP2008135118A - Optical pickup - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an "optical pickup" in which reliability is not deteriorated even when a thin and inexpensive connector is used as a mating connector for connecting an FPC. <P>SOLUTION: In the optical pickup in which the FPC 14 having one end 14a connected to a female connector 30 at a set side is provided, a rectangular opening 14b is bored, through which a short clip 21 is loosely inserted between one end 14a of the FPC 14 and land parts 15b to 15d short-circuited by the short clip 21 before connector connection so that the short clip 21 can be attached to a region from the periphery part of the opening 14b to the land parts 15b to 15d. After the FPC 14 is connected to the female connector 30, the short clip 21 is slid and moved to the side of one end 14a in the opening 14b so as to be removed from the FPC 14. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical pickup for recording / reproducing a signal to / from a disc such as a CD (compact disc) or a DVD (digital versatile disc), and in particular, in a state before the optical pickup is connected to a set side. The present invention relates to a short clip attaching / detaching structure used to protect a semiconductor laser as a light source from static electricity.

  An optical pickup collects a light beam emitted from a semiconductor laser on a recording surface of a disk (medium) by an objective lens, and receives a return light beam from the disk by a photodetector through the objective lens. The objective lens attached to the lens holder is driven in the focus direction and the tracking direction by an electromagnetic drive device. The electromagnetic drive device includes a focus coil, a tracking coil, and a magnet, and the magnet generates a magnetic flux in a direction that intersects the direction of the current flowing through the focus coil and the tracking coil. Further, such an optical pickup is provided with a flexible belt-like flexible printed circuit board (hereinafter abbreviated as FPC), and through this FPC, a semiconductor laser, a photodetector, an electromagnetic drive device, etc. The signal is input and output.

  The optical pickup thus schematically configured is incorporated in an optical disc player (CD player or DVD player) on the set side, and one end of the FPC (portion exposing the terminal group) is used as a female connector on the set side. Electrically and mechanically connected to the control circuit on the set side, the static electricity charged on the human body or the like before the optical pickup is incorporated into the set side is transferred from the one end to the FPC. In such a case, there is a concern about electrostatic breakdown of a semiconductor laser that is weak against static electricity.

  Therefore, conventionally, before connecting the optical pickup to the female connector on the set side, the semiconductor laser lead pattern and the ground lead pattern arranged on the FPC are short-circuited with solder, and the optical pickup is connected. An electrostatic countermeasure is taken to prevent static electricity from flowing into the semiconductor laser by removing the solder short-circuit portion with a soldering iron after connecting the optical pickup to the mating connector (female connector) (for example, , See Patent Document 1). Since the lead pattern for grounding the optical pickup is connected to the ground circuit on the set side, when the optical pickup is connected to the set side by a connector, the semiconductor laser is protected from static electricity.

  However, if the solder short-circuit part is removed after the optical pickup is connected to the set side, solder balls or flux may adhere to one end of the FPC, the female connector on the set side, or the mother board, leading to poor conduction. There is. Therefore, in recent years, instead of providing a solder short-circuit portion to be removed later on the FPC, a short clip for short-circuiting the lead pattern for the semiconductor laser and the lead pattern for grounding is attached and the FPC is connected to the female connector on the set side. An electrostatic countermeasure has been proposed in which the semiconductor laser is protected from static electricity by removing the short clip.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing such a conventional proposal, and a metal short clip 2 is attached to one side portion of the FPC 1 attached to the optical pickup. The FPC 1 is provided with a plurality of lead patterns (not shown), and a group of terminals 3 of each lead pattern is arranged in one end portion 1 a of the FPC 1. Further, in the vicinity of one end portion 1a of the FPC 1, there are formed a land portion 4 exposing a part of a lead pattern for a semiconductor laser and a land portion 5 exposing a part of a lead pattern for grounding. Yes. Positioning pieces 1b are projected at two positions on one side portion of the FPC 1 that is substantially parallel to the one end portion 1a with an interval substantially the same width as the short clip 2, and is extrapolated between the positioning pieces 1b. The short clip 2 is attached to a region extending from the one side to the land portions 4 and 5 to elastically clamp the FPC 1 in the plate thickness direction. Since the short clip 2 in the mounted state is in elastic contact with both the land portions 4 and 5, the both land portions 4 and 5 are short-circuited via the metal short clip 2. Then, after the one end 1a of the FPC 1 is inserted in the direction indicated by the arrow A and connected to the female connector 6 on the set side, the short clip 2 is removed in the direction indicated by the arrow B, thereby eliminating the short circuit between the land portions 4 and 5. Therefore, signals can be transmitted between the control circuit on the set side and the semiconductor laser, and the lead pattern for grounding is connected to the ground circuit on the set side.
JP-A-11-238248 (2nd page, FIG. 4)

  As described above, according to the conventional proposal that the semiconductor laser is protected from static electricity by attaching and detaching the short clip to the FPC of the optical pickup, it is possible to avoid adhesion of solder balls and the like which are a concern when removing the solder short-circuit portion. Therefore, the reliability can be improved. However, in such a conventional proposal, the insertion direction (arrow A direction) of the FPC 1 with respect to the female connector 6 on the set side is opposite to the direction (arrow B direction) of removing the short clip 2 from the FPC 1 connected to the connector. Therefore, it is necessary to provide the female connector 6 with a lock mechanism for preventing the FPC 1 from dropping out in order to prevent the terminal group 3 of the FPC 1 from dropping or causing a position shift when the short clip 2 is removed. Therefore, it is necessary to use the female connector 6 that is necessarily expensive and large, and the influence thereof hinders the thinning of the optical disc player on the set side, and causes an increase in the component cost. It was.

  The present invention has been made in view of the actual situation of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide an optical pickup whose reliability is not impaired even when a thin and inexpensive connector is used as a mating connector for connecting an FPC. Is to provide.

  In the present invention, one end of the FPC is connected to the mating connector and one end of the FPC is formed with respect to the FPC in which a plurality of land portions that can prevent electrostatic breakdown of the semiconductor laser are formed by short-circuiting with a short clip. An opening or notch is provided between the land portion and the land forming portion, so that the short clip can be attached to the region from the edge of the opening or notch to the land forming portion, and the opening or notch is removed at the time of removal. By using it, the short clip can be slid to the one end side of the FPC by the required amount.

  According to the optical pickup of the present invention, one end portion of the FPC connected to the mating connector and a plurality of land portions that are short-circuited via the short clip in order to protect the semiconductor laser from static electricity before the connector is connected. Is provided with an opening or notch that can secure the amount of slide movement necessary for the removal operation of the short clip, and the direction in which one end of the FPC is inserted into the mating connector and the short clip from the FPC connected to the connector. Since the removal direction can be set to substantially the same direction, there is no possibility that a positional deviation occurs between the counterpart connector and the FPC when the short clip is removed even if the counterpart connector is not provided with a lock mechanism. Therefore, even if an inexpensive and thin connector that does not have a locking mechanism is used as the mating connector, the reliability of conduction is not impaired, and thus the optical disc player incorporating the optical pickup is promoted to be thinner and lower in cost. It becomes easy to do.

  The present invention includes a semiconductor laser that emits a light beam to a disk via an objective lens, and an FPC in which a plurality of lead patterns are arranged and a terminal group thereof is arranged at one end. A first land portion exposing a part of the lead pattern provided for signal transmission to the semiconductor laser, and a second land portion exposing a part of the lead pattern provided for grounding A short clip that is formed and elastically pinches the FPC in the plate thickness direction to short-circuit the first and second lands can be attached to the FPC, and the terminal group is connected to the other side In the optical pickup in which the short clip is removed from the FPC after being connected to the connector, a notch is provided between the one end portion of the FPC and the first and second land portions. The short clip can be mounted in a region extending from the edge of the notch to the first and second land portions, and the mounted short clip is removed from the region by sliding toward the one end side. Made it possible.

  In this way, a notch is provided between one end of the FPC connected to the mating connector and the first and second lands that are short-circuited by the short clip, and the short clip in the mounted state is connected to one end of the FPC. If the FPC can be removed from the FPC by sliding it to the side, the direction in which one end of the FPC is inserted into the mating connector and the direction in which the short clip is removed from the FPC after the connector is connected can be set to substantially the same direction. Therefore, even when the mating connector is not provided with a locking mechanism, the FPC does not drop from the mating connector or cause a positional shift when the short clip is removed. Therefore, even if an inexpensive and thin connector that does not have a locking mechanism is applied as the counterpart connector, the reliability of conduction is not impaired.

  In the above configuration, in order to ensure the mechanical strength of the FPC, the notch is preferably a rectangular opening provided inside the FPC, and in this case, the width dimension of the opening and the width dimension of the short clip are provided. Is set to be approximately the same, the short clip when mounted can be positioned by the inner peripheral wall of the opening, so that the short clip can be easily and accurately mounted at a predetermined position of the FPC without providing any special positioning means. become.

  The embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an external view of the optical pickup according to the embodiment, FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing the optical path of the laser beam of the optical pickup, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the FPC tip, FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the FPC tip before mounting the short clip, and FIG. 5 is an enlarged detailed view showing the lead pattern of the FPC tip shown in FIG.

  The optical pickup shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 includes a chassis 10 made of a metal material such as aluminum, an actuator 11, a light emitting / receiving element 12, a reflecting mirror 13 supported on the chassis 10, and a lead pattern 15 (FIG. 5). Reference) The FPC 14 is provided with a group, and one end portion 14a of the FPC 14 is connected to a female connector (mating side connector) 30 of the optical disc player on the set side. The actuator 11 includes a lens holder 17 that supports the objective lens 16, a base member 19 that elastically supports the lens holder 17 via a plurality of wires 18, and the objective lens 16 in the focusing direction of the disk (medium) and It is mainly configured by an electromagnetic drive device 9 that drives in the tracking direction, and a group of wires 18 that are also used for energizing the electromagnetic drive device 9 are connected to a lead pattern 15 group of the FPC 14. The light emitting / receiving element 12 is a unit of a CD semiconductor laser, a DVD semiconductor laser, and a light receiving element. The light emitting / receiving element 12 is mounted on a support plate 20 fixed to the chassis 10, and the terminal portion of the light emitting / receiving element 12 is connected to a group of lead patterns 15 of the FPC 14. The reflection mirror 13 is fixed at an approximate center of the inner bottom portion of the chassis 10 at an attachment angle of 45 degrees, and the objective lens 16 is positioned directly above the reflection mirror 13.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the light beam emitted from the semiconductor laser of the light emitting / receiving element 12 is reflected directly above by the reflecting mirror 13 and is condensed on the recording surface of the disk by the objective lens 16. The return light beam from the disk passes through the objective lens, is reflected right by the reflection mirror 13, and is received by the light receiving element of the light receiving / emitting element 12.

  A terminal 15a group of lead patterns 15 is arranged in one end portion 14a of the FPC 14, and a rectangular opening 14b is formed in the vicinity of the one end portion 14a. Since the width dimension and the depth dimension of the opening 14b are set to be substantially the same and slightly larger than the width dimension and the depth dimension of the short clip 21 described later, the short clip is formed in the opening 14b. 21 can be loosely inserted with almost no play. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the FPC 14 has three land portions 15b, 15c and 15d formed in the vicinity of the opening 14b. These land portions 15b to 15d are formed at the edge of the opening 14b. Along the line. The land portion 15b is a copper foil exposed portion in which a part of the lead pattern 151 provided to transmit a signal to the CD semiconductor laser is exposed. Similarly, the land portion 15c is a copper foil exposed portion in which a part of the lead pattern 152 provided for transmitting a signal to the DVD semiconductor laser is exposed, and both the land portions 15b and 15c have engagement holes. 15e and 15f are provided. Further, the land portion 15d is a copper foil exposed portion where a part of the lead pattern 153 provided for grounding is exposed. A reinforcing film 22 for mechanically reinforcing the one end portion 14a, the land portions 15b to 15d, the vicinity of the opening 14b, and the like is attached to the surface of the FPC 14 opposite to the surface on which the lead pattern 15 group is formed. It is worn.

  A metal short clip 21 in which three pieces of elastic pieces 21a are arranged in advance is mounted in a region from the edge portion of the opening 14b of the FPC 14 to the land portions 15b to 15d. The short clip 21 is elastically pinched in the plate thickness direction by extrapolating from the edge of the opening 14b opposite to the one end portion 14a side. The elastic pieces 21a are elastically in contact with the land portions 15b, 15c, and 15d, respectively. As a result, the land portions 15b to 15d are short-circuited via the short clip 21, so that even if static electricity charged on the human body or the like flows into the lead pattern 151 or the lead pattern 152, the semiconductor laser for CD or DVD There is no possibility that the semiconductor laser will be electrostatically damaged. Further, on the surface of the short clip 21 facing the elastic piece 21a, there are two protruding portions 21b partially shown in FIG. 3, and both protruding portions 21b are respectively connected to the land portions 15b. 15c, the positioning accuracy of the short clip 21 with respect to the FPC 14 and the strength of retaining are improved.

  When the optical pickup having the above-described configuration is incorporated into the optical disc player on the set side, the short clip 21 is inserted into the female connector 30 on the set side with the one end 14a of the FPC 14 connected thereto, and then the short clip is connected. The pull-out piece 21c bent at 21 is put on a finger and the short clip 21 is slid to the one end portion 14a side in the opening 14b to be removed from the FPC 14. Since the short clip 21 is detached from the land portions 15b to 15d of the FPC 14 in this manner, the short circuit between the land portions 15b to 15d is eliminated, so that the control circuit on the set side and the semiconductor laser for CD and the semiconductor laser for DVD are not connected. Thus, the signal can be transmitted, and the lead pattern 153 for grounding is connected to the ground circuit on the set side.

  As described above, the FPC 14 of the optical pickup according to the present embodiment has a space between the one end portion 14a connected to the female connector 30 on the set side and the land portions 15b to 15d short-circuited by the short clip 21 before the connector is connected. Further, an opening 14b into which the short clip 21 can be freely inserted is provided, and the short clip 21 can be removed from the FPC 14 by sliding the attached short clip 21 toward the one end portion 14a in the opening 14b. It is like that. That is, a direction in which one end portion 14a of the FPC 14 is inserted into the female connector 30 on the set side (in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1), and a direction in which the short clip 21 is removed from the FPC 14 after the connector is connected (in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 3). Are set in almost the same direction. Therefore, even if the lock mechanism is not provided in the female connector 30 on the set side, there is no possibility that the female connector 30 and the terminal 15a group of the FPC 14 are dropped or displaced when the short clip 21 is removed. Therefore, in the case of the optical pickup provided with the FPC 14, even if an inexpensive and thin one that does not have a locking mechanism is used as the female connector 30 on the set side, the reliability of conduction with the female connector 30 is impaired. It will never be.

  Further, since the opening 14b provided in the FPC 14 of the optical pickup according to the present embodiment is set to have a width dimension substantially equal to the width dimension of the short clip 21, the short clip 21 at the time of mounting is opened to the opening 14b. The short clip 21 can be easily and accurately attached to a predetermined position of the FPC 14 without providing any special positioning means. Further, when the short clip 21 can be attached to and detached from the FPC 14 using the opening 14b as described above, a pattern layout in which the short clip 21 at the time of attachment and removal hardly crosses the lead pattern 15 group of the FPC 14 is easily realized. Therefore, improvement in reliability can also be expected in this respect. Furthermore, since the FPC 14 is provided with engagement holes 15e and 15f that can be engaged with the protrusion 21b of the short clip 21, the mounting position of the short clip 21 with respect to the FPC 14 can be defined with high accuracy, and the retaining strength is high. Is also growing.

  In the above embodiment, the optical pickup including the semiconductor laser for CD and the semiconductor laser for DVD has been described. However, the present invention is applicable to an optical pickup including any one of the semiconductor lasers. Needless to say, it can be applied.

  Moreover, in the said Example, although the short clip 21 can be attached or detached using the opening 14b provided in the inside of FPC14, the notch provided in the appropriate area | region of FPC14 is functioned similarly to the opening 14b. Is also possible.

1 is an external view of an optical pickup according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the optical path of the laser beam of this optical pick-up. It is a perspective view which shows the FPC front-end | tip part of this optical pick-up. It is a top view which shows this FPC front-end | tip part before short clip mounting | wearing. FIG. 5 is an enlarged detailed view showing a lead pattern at a front end portion of the FPC shown in FIG. 4. It is a perspective view which shows the FPC front-end | tip part of the optical pick-up which concerns on a prior art example.

Explanation of symbols

10 Chassis 12 Light emitting / receiving element (semiconductor laser and light receiving element)
14 FPC (Flexible Printed Circuit Board)
14a one end 14b opening 15, 151, 152, 153 lead pattern 15a terminal 15b, 15c land (first land)
15d Land part (second land part)
15e, 15f Engagement hole 16 Objective lens 18 Wire 21 Short clip 21a Elastic piece 21b Protrusion part 30 Female connector (mating side connector)

Claims (2)

A semiconductor laser that emits a light beam to a disk through an objective lens, and a flexible printed board in which a plurality of lead patterns are arranged and a terminal group thereof is arranged at one end, the flexible printed board includes: A first land portion exposing a part of the lead pattern provided for signal transmission to the semiconductor laser, and a second land portion exposing a part of the lead pattern provided for grounding A short clip that is formed and elastically pinches the flexible printed board in the plate thickness direction to short-circuit the first and second land portions can be attached to the flexible printed board, and the terminal An optical pickup in which the short clip is removed from the flexible printed circuit board after connecting the group to the mating connector ,
A notch is provided between the one end of the flexible printed circuit board and the first and second land portions, and the short clip extends from the edge of the notch to the first and second land portions. An optical pickup characterized in that it can be attached to an area and the attached short clip can be removed from the area by sliding movement toward the one end side.   In Claim 1, The said notch is a rectangular-shaped opening provided in the inside of the said flexible printed circuit board, Comprising: The width dimension of this opening and the width dimension of the said short clip are set substantially equal. An optical pickup characterized by that.

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