Method for driving an actuator, actuator drive, and apparatus comprising an actuator

An actuator driver circuit comprises a drive signal source ( 60 ) and an electrical damping element ( 100 ) having a negative resistance connected in series with the drive signal source ( 60 ). A controllable switch is provided for selectively switching said electrical damping element ( 100 ) into or out of a signal path from a drive signal source output to a driver circuit output, in order to selectively amend the electrical damping of an actuator, especially to increase the electrical damping of a radial actuator or a focus actuator of an optical disc drive in case of loss of track or loss of focus, respectively.