Abstract: An interlocking assembly of a voice coil motor for a hard disk drive having an arcuate shaped hollow structure formed by metal injection molding. The hollow structure has a bottom plate member that is separated from a top plate member by a pair of upright members disposed therebetween. The upright members joined with the inside surfaces of the plate members. The uprights are disposed at each end of the hollow structure. A tapered recess is formed in the top surface of the bottom plate, the recess ingress's from a convex edge of the bottom plate and narrows while extending through to an opposite concave edge, the tapered recess has side edges shaped to tightly interlock with a flat arcuate shaped permanent magnet having dovetail side edges to slidely interlock with the tapered recess of the bottom plate of the hollow structure, thus eliminating the need for adhesive fastening.

Abstract: A two-phase planar linear motor used for an IC test handler etc. comprising a platen (50) having a platen surface formed with a plurality of platen dots (D) arranged in a matrix and a composite movable member (70) comprised of two X-axis movable members (60X) and two Y-axis movable members (20Y) connected in an in-plane perpendicular relationship. The platen (50) is a stacked member comprised at a plurality of magnetic sheets T stacked together and uses the parallel sheet edge surfaces as the platen surface (51).

Abstract: A linear guide with a guide rail (25), on which a guide carriage (26) is supported for movement longitudinally, and with a drive to cause the longitudinal movement of the guide carriage (26), which is constructed as an electric motor with a motor component arranged on the guide rail (25) and a motor element arranged on the guide carriage (26). A distance-measuring system is allocated to the linear guide, which has a measuring strip and a measuring head (30) which is movable in relation to the measuring strip adjacent to the guide carriage (26) or the guide rail (25) extending parallel to the guide rail (25). The distance-measuring system is assigned an acceleration sensor operating with an eddy current sheet and an exciter block (28) partially surrounding it.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an electromagnetic parts feeder comprises a vibrating unit provided with an electromagnet that vibrates at a predetermined frequency, a bowl adapted to discharge parts accommodated therein by means of the vibrating unit, a driving circuit for driving the electromagnet, and a control unit for outputting a driving signal to the driving circuit to cause a predetermined driving. The control is performed by idling the driving of the electromagnet temporarily at every predetermined driving cycles thereof and controlling the vibration of the electromagnet based on a signal obtained from a coil of the electromagnet by its electromagnetic induction during the idling period, for instance, based on a phase difference between a waveform of this signal and the driving signal of the driving circuit.

Abstract: The present invention provides a linear motor, which can improve motor efficiency and which can be manufactured by a simplified procedure. The linear motor of the present invention includes a movable unit of cylindrical shape and having the central axis at the intersection of the X-axis and the Y-axis. An inner yoke is arranged on an inner side of the movable unit with a given spacing in the radial direction of the movable unit and is formed by laminating a multiple of thin plates each in approximately rectangular in shape and having strong magnetic permeability arranged in the direction of the X-axis. An outer yoke is arranged on the outer side of the movable unit with a given spacing in a radial direction of the movable unit and is formed by laminating a multiple of thin plates, each approximately rectangularly shaped and arranged in the same direction as the thin plates of the inner yoke. A pair of permanent magnets are magnetized in a direction from the inner yoke to the outer yoke.

Abstract: A linear motor includes tubular outer yoke (4), tubular inner yoke (3) disposed in outer yoke (4), coil (2) provided to inner yoke (3), permanent magnet (5a, 5b) vibrating following a magnetic flux produced by coil (2), and vibrator (6) made of magnetic material and supporting permanent magnets (5a, 5b). Magnetic loop produced by outer yoke (4) and inner yoke (3) travels through vibrator (6) free from interference by vibrator (6) because vibrator (6) is made of magnetic material. As a result, the linear motor vibrates efficiently.

Abstract: An electric motor operated by AC current, that includes a stator and a rotor supported for rotation about an axis relative to the stator. The stator is provided with field windings angularly distributed about the rotor axis and capable of producing a magnetic field vector in the space of the rotor. Circuitry delivers AC current to the windings in a manner that produces an AC magnetic field vector that moves around the axis of the rotor. The rotor has a construction, such as an axially extending conductive loop, that changes its reluctance in the AC magnetic field depending on its orientation to the AC magnetic field vector whereby the rotor is caused to rotate in synchronization with the movement of the AC magnetic field vector.

Abstract: A DC brushless vibration motor is disclosed to comprise of a stator, a rotor, a drive circuit and a casing. The stator has an upper magnetic pole piece, a lower magnetic pole piece and a stator field winding. The stator field winding is contained inside a ring-shaped space formed by the upper and lower magnetic pole pieces. The internal rotor has a center of mass offset from the center axis of rotation and comprises a ring magnet and an eccentric weight. The eccentric weight has a structural configuration of a ring body, and the ring magnet is securely fixed to the external peripheral surface of the eccentric weight. The drive circuit has a drive integrated circuit for controlling the rotation of the rotor by receiving an externally-supplied electric power. The casing securely encloses the stator and rotor while maintaining an air gap therebetween for generating mechanical vibration when the rotor is propelled to rotate by the stator.

Abstract: A motion device (100) includes a shape memory transducer (110) having a preset memory state and logically divided into first and second portions (116, 118). A coupled electrical circuit (130) is operable to selectively energize the first portion (116) to create a force that moves the first portion (116) toward its memory state which moves the second portion (118) in a first direction out of its memory state, and to selectively energize the second portion (118) to create a force that moves the second portion (118) towards its memory state which moves the first portion (116) away from its memory state in a second direction different from the first direction. A feedback system (120) is preferably included to provide for precise motion control.

Abstract: A starter motor assembly is provided. A motor housing encloses an electrical motor having a rotatable armature shaft. A rotatable drive shaft is provided that is engageably linked with the armature shaft. A pinion assembly is also provided, which includes a pinion that is engageable with the drive shaft for turning a flywheel of an engine. A solenoid assembly is provided, which includes a plunger. The plunger, when the solenoid assembly is energized, is moved in an axial direction to close electrical contacts to start the electrical motor and to move the pinion into-engagement with the engine flywheel. Once the engine is cranked and the solenoid is deenergized, a return spring moves the pinion away from engagement with the engine flywheel. The return spring of the present invention moves the pinion without utilizing contact between the spring and the pinion (or any pinion shaft) to move the pinion away from engagement.

Abstract: The invention provides a motor core movable relative to a stator. The motor core and the stator core comprise base members and a plurality of adjacent tooth members with improved geometry. Each tooth member comprises a tooth surface and tooth sides. The tooth sides extend from the tooth surface toward the base member. At least one of the tooth sides comprises a tip portion and a base portion. The tip portion extends from the tooth surface to the base portion. The base portion extends from the tip portion to an adjoining base portion of a tooth side of an adjacent tooth member. The tip portion is curved.

Abstract: A high power ultrasonic transducer is provided. In one embodiment, the transducer includes means for providing power in excess of three kilowatts. The transducer further includes an active element made from a magnetostrictive material and means for producing an electromagnetic field which extends through at least a portion of the active element. The active element is changeable between a first shape when in the absence of the electromagnetic field and a second shape when in the presence of the electromagnetic field. The transducer also includes means for providing an electrical signal to the means for producing an electromagnetic field and an acoustic element connected to the transducer for channeling ultrasonic energy to perform work. In one embodiment, an ultra-high power transducer is provided comprising a plurality of sub-motors, each containing an active element made from a smart material, wherein the sub-motors operate simultaneously to produce ultrasonic energy.

Abstract: Leakage of magnetic fluxes passing through the gaps between the magnetic pole teeth of an armature is reduced thereby to reduce a magnetic attraction force between the armature and a mover. A linear motor includes a first member and a second member. The first member is configured with at least a magnetic pole of a first polarity having a first opposed portion and a magnetic pole of a second polarity having a second opposed portion. The second member is held by the first opposed portion, while the second member is held by the second opposed portion and moves relatively. The first member is formed of an iron core and a winding, and the second member is formed of a permanent magnet, a magnetic material, a winding of a single type or a combination of a plurality of types of materials.

Abstract: A control system for a linear actuator having an electric motor drawing a variable current level during operation. The control system includes a current level sensor for determining an operational current level of the linear actuator and a controller for generating a drive signal and a force request signal representative of a desired current level of the linear actuator. The drive signal remains constant during a predetermined time interval of the controller. The control system further includes a current limiting component for receiving the force request signal, the current level of the linear actuator and the drive signal. The current limiting component minimizes the current level of the electric motor in response to a comparison between the force request signal and the desired current level within a time interval substantially smaller than the predetermined time interval of the controller.

Abstract: A linear electromagnetic machine for generating a force acting between two members relatively movable along an axis, one of which is capable of producing a magnetic field the direction of at least part of which extends substantially radially of the said axis and the other of which comprises or includes a conductor, conveniently in the form of a coil, in which an electric current can flow substantially perpendicularly of the magnetic field so as to generate a force between the two members substantially parallel to the axis. The radial magnetic field is generated by permanent magnets orientated with their direction of magnetization axially, the pole pieces acting to concentrate the magnetic flux to follow a radial path through the coils.

Abstract: An integrated coil assembly (10), a multi-phase linear motor having the integrated coil assembly (10) and a method (100) for forming the integrated coil assembly (10) are described. The integrated coil assembly (10) has multi-phase coils with each multi-phase coil (20) having a number of coil loops based upon the number of electrical phases of current required by the multi-phase linear motor. The coil loops of different multi-phase coils are interweaved at two opposing portions (11,12) and are substantially parallel at two other opposing portions (13,14). In the method (100), different wire dispensers wind coil loops for different electrical phase for each multi-phase coil (20). However, the same wire dispenser winds coil loops that are for the same electrical phase for different multi-phase coils (20). The coil loops for each multi-phase coil (20) are wound before the coil loops of another multi-phase coil (20) are wound.

Abstract: A sliding means with built-in moving-magnet linear is disclosed, which makes it possible to sense accurately a table position with a magnetic sensor element. To this end, a magnetic flux pattern is rectified outside any one N-pole of forward and aft end poles of a field magnet. Position of the table is monitored with a magnetic sensor element arranged on the bed in opposition to the field magnet. Arranged outside the end pole of the field magnet is an auxiliary magnet unlike in polarity and made as small as possible in effect on propulsion exerted on the table. The auxiliary magnet is to rectify the magnetic flux pattern outside the end pole of the field magnet to the same distribution pattern as found at a boundary between the adjacent poles opposite in polarity in the field magnet, thus making it possible to identify the accurate positions of the forward and aft end pole of the field magnet.

Abstract: With an electric motor formed according to a prior art, there is a relatively large amount of magnetic flux leaking between an armature and a secondary, resulting in a problem that an electric current is large but a desired output is small. In addition, since a magnetic attraction acts only in one direction between the armature and the secondary, there is a relatively large load on the support structures of the secondary, causing a distortion in the motor structure and some other disadvantages. In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides an improved electric motor comprising an armature having a core formed by a magnetic material and having a coil wound around the core; and a secondary disposed within the armature with a clearance formed therebetween and supported to be relatively movable with respect to the armature.

Abstract: A low mass electric linear motor having a magnet assembly with a plurality of magnets fixed to a base member. Each magnet has two opposing magnetic surfaces with opposite magnetic poles. The plurality of magnets are attached to the base member such that all of the opposing magnetic surfaces are aligned and are alternating in magnetic polarity along the base member. A coil assembly is disposed around at least a portion of the magnet assembly. The coil assembly has two walls joined to a header. Each of the walls has a plurality of juxtaposed flat coils and further has a plurality of bent coils. The bent coils overlap with the flat coils such that a vertical side of each bent coil is positioned within an aperture of a flat coil. In another aspect of the invention, each wall of the coil assembly is enclosed in a cooling canister. Chilled coolant is pumped through the canister thereby removing heat generated by the coil assembly during operation.

Abstract: Provided is a durable spindle motor with a precise rotation but free from a shaft vibration, a decrease of rotation accuracy or a contact due to a swing during rotation. A shaft (11) is inclined relative to a sleeve (12) by an external biasing force, generating and then utilizing a hydrodynamic pressure generated during the rotation. The sleeve (12) has a central cylindrical section (C) extending parallel to the axis and two tapered sections (A), (B) each connect(d with the cylindrical section (C) at its opposite ends and enlarged outwardly, so that a dynamic force is generated between the tapered sections (A), (B) and the shaft (11). Preferably, an inclination of the tapered sections (A), (B) is identical to that of the shaft (11), and lengths of the tapered sections (A), (B) is one fourth of that of the sleeve (12).