Patents by Inventor Yoichi Sekii
Yoichi Sekii has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20160359390Abstract: A motor includes a rotating portion. The rotating portion includes a shaft, a rotor hub, and a flywheel. The rotor hub is arranged to extend in an annular shape around the shaft. The flywheel is arranged axially above the rotor hub. The rotating portion of the motor includes an annular inertia portion. The inertia portion is arranged to have a specific gravity greater than a specific gravity of the flywheel. At least a portion of the inertia portion and at least a portion of the radial bearing portion are arranged to radially overlap with each other. The inertia portion having the specific gravity greater than the specific gravity of the flywheel is arranged at a position radially overlapping with the radial bearing portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2016Publication date: December 8, 2016Inventor: Yoichi SEKII
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Publication number: 20160125896Abstract: A method of manufacturing a fluid bearing apparatus includes plating a metallic base material including a cylindrical base material inner circumferential surface, and pressing by bringing a contact portion of a pressing member into contact with a plating layer on the base material inner circumferential surface in the plating step. At least a portion of the pressing member including the contact portion has a Young's modulus equal to or greater than a Young's modulus of the base material. In the pressing step a surface of the plating layer is smoothened without causing a plastic deformation of the base material by bringing the pressing member into contact with the plating layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2015Publication date: May 5, 2016Inventors: Yoichi SEKII, Asami ITO
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Publication number: 20150348582Abstract: A motor includes a rotor hub with a first horizontal surface, a cylindrical surface, a second horizontal surface, and a projecting portion. The first horizontal surface is located above the sleeve. The cylindrical surface extends downward from the first horizontal surface. The second horizontal surface is located above a stator. The projecting portion projects downward from the second horizontal surface, and surrounds the sleeve or the holding portion. The cylindrical surface and an outer circumferential surface of the sleeve together define a tapered gap therebetween where the radial distance therebetween decreases with increasing height. The holding portion, the projecting portion, and coils are located radially in this order, and at least portions thereof are positioned to radially overlap with one another.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 14, 2015Publication date: December 3, 2015Inventor: Yoichi SEKII
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Patent number: 9194434Abstract: A spindle motor is configured to rotate a disk in a case defined by a base plate and a top cover arranged to cover an upper side of the base plate. The spindle motor includes a fluid dynamic bearing including a lubricant oil. A rotating portion body of the spindle motor includes an air hole. An upper opening of the air hole is in communication with an annular space between the top cover and the rotating portion body. A lower opening of the air hole is in communication with a gap between a stator and a magnet. Accordingly, even if a gas including the lubricant oil vaporized through a liquid surface of the lubricant oil leaks into the annular space, at least a portion of the gas including the lubricant oil flows into the air hole.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2014Date of Patent: November 24, 2015Assignee: Nidec CorporationInventors: Masahiro Shiraishi, Tsuchitsugu Watanabe, Yoichi Sekii
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Patent number: 9183876Abstract: A motor includes a rotor hub with a first horizontal surface, a cylindrical surface, a second horizontal surface, and a projecting portion. The first horizontal surface is located above the sleeve. The cylindrical surface extends downward from the first horizontal surface. The second horizontal surface is located above a stator. The projecting portion projects downward from the second horizontal surface, and surrounds the sleeve or the holding portion. The cylindrical surface and an outer circumferential surface of the sleeve together define a tapered gap therebetween where the radial distance therebetween decreases with increasing height. The holding portion, the projecting portion, and coils are located radially in this order, and at least portions thereof are positioned to radially overlap with one another.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2015Date of Patent: November 10, 2015Assignee: Nidec CorporationInventor: Yoichi Sekii
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Publication number: 20150108861Abstract: A motor includes a stationary unit and a rotary unit. The stationary unit includes a stator, a base portion having at least one hole extending in the up-down direction, and a flexible wiring substrate. The flexible wiring substrate reaches a position higher than a lower surface of the base portion through at least one hole and is arranged to supply electric power to the stator. The flexible wiring substrate includes a connection portion arranged higher than the lower surface of the base portion and connected to the stator. The connection portion includes a solder portion arranged on a lower surface thereof to cover a portion of a lead wire extending from a coil of the stator. At least a portion of the solder portion is positioned within the hole.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 31, 2014Publication date: April 23, 2015Inventors: Yoichi SEKII, Takehito TAMAOKA, Kazuhiro SATO, Kazuhiko FUKUSHIMA, Hiroyuki ABE
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Publication number: 20150070798Abstract: A spindle motor is configured to rotate a disk in a case defined by a base plate and a top cover arranged to cover an upper side of the base plate. The spindle motor includes a fluid dynamic bearing including a lubricant oil. A rotating portion body of the spindle motor includes an air hole. An upper opening of the air hole is in communication with an annular space between the top cover and the rotating portion body. A lower opening of the air hole is in communication with a gap between a stator and a magnet. Accordingly, even if a gas including the lubricant oil vaporized through a liquid surface of the lubricant oil leaks into the annular space, at least a portion of the gas including the lubricant oil flows into the air hole.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 14, 2014Publication date: March 12, 2015Inventors: Masahiro SHIRAISHI, Tsuchitsugu WATANABE, Yoichi SEKII
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Patent number: 8941946Abstract: A motor includes a stationary portion and a rotating portion that is rotatable about a central axis extending in a vertical direction with respect to the stationary portion. The stationary portion includes a shaft and a cup portion. The shaft extends in an axial direction and is fixed to the cup portion. The rotating portion includes a sleeve portion including at least a portion thereof arranged inside the cup portion, and is arranged opposite to the shaft. The cup portion includes a cylindrical portion, a bottom plate portion, and a first conical portion. The cylindrical portion is radially opposite to an outer circumferential surface of the sleeve portion. The bottom plate portion is inside the cylindrical portion. The first conical portion extends upward from an inner end portion of the bottom plate portion.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2013Date of Patent: January 27, 2015Assignee: Nidec CorporationInventor: Yoichi Sekii
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Publication number: 20150015106Abstract: A rotating portion of a spindle motor includes a rotor magnet, a circular plate portion, and an annular raised portion that projects downward from the circular plate portion. A stationary portion includes a stator, a base portion, and an annular recessed portion configured to accommodate the raised portion. The raised portion includes an inner circumferential surface and an outer circumferential surface. The inner circumferential surface is positioned radially opposite a first side surface of the recessed portion with a first minute gap intervening therebetween. The outer circumferential surface is positioned radially opposite a second side surface of the recessed portion with a second minute gap intervening therebetween. The first minute gap has an axial dimension greater than an axial dimension of a seal portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2014Publication date: January 15, 2015Inventors: Yoichi SEKII, Kazuya ENOKIZONO
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Patent number: 8922945Abstract: A spindle motor includes a stationary unit, a rotary unit and a bearing mechanism. The stationary unit includes a base member, a stator including a plurality of coils and a wiring substrate electrically connected to the stator. The base member includes a tubular portion, a first accommodation portion, an opening portion, a plurality of coil accommodation portions, a second accommodation portion, and at least one through-hole. The wiring substrate includes an arc portion and an extension portion. A lead wire is led out from at least one of the coils and is connected to the arc portion by soldering within the through-hole.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2013Date of Patent: December 30, 2014Assignee: Nidec CorporationInventors: Shintaro Saeki, Atsushi Yawata, Yoichi Sekii, Takehito Tamaoka, Hiroyuki Abe
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Publication number: 20140334034Abstract: A motor includes a rotating portion and a stationary portion. The stationary portion includes a shaft component which includes an inner shaft portion and an outer shaft portion, an upper plate portion, and a lower plate portion. The upper plate portion is disposed in one side of the shaft component and extends radially outward from the one side of the shaft component. The lower plate portion is disposed on the other side of the shaft component and extends radially outward from the other side of the shaft component. The rotating portion includes a sleeve portion. The inner shaft portion and the outer shaft portion are fixed by an adhesive. An adhesive retaining portion is provided between an outer peripheral portion of the inner shaft portion and an inner peripheral portion of the outer shaft portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2014Publication date: November 13, 2014Inventors: Shuji IWASAKI, Yoichi SEKII, Takehito TAMAOKA, Hideki NISHIMURA, Kazuto MIYAJIMA, Takuro IGUCHI, Kazuhiro SATO, Takeyuki SHUTO
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Publication number: 20140334035Abstract: A motor includes a rotating portion including a sleeve portion and a stationary portion. The stationary portion includes a shaft component which includes an inner shaft portion and an outer shaft portion. A radial dynamic pressure generating groove array is provided on at least one surface of an inner circumferential surface of the sleeve portion and an outer circumferential surface of the outer shaft portion, which define the radial gap. The radial dynamic pressure generating groove array includes an upper radial dynamic pressure generating groove array and a lower radial dynamic pressure generating groove array. A range of a fixing region in an axial direction between the inner shaft portion and the outer shaft portion in an interference fit state is included in a range between the upper radial dynamic pressure generating groove array and the lower radial dynamic pressure generating groove array.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2014Publication date: November 13, 2014Inventors: Shuji IWASAKI, Yoichi SEKII, Takehito TAMAOKA, Hideki NISHIMURA, Kazuto MIYAJIMA, Takuro IGUCHI, Kazuhiro SATO, Takeyuki SHUTO
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Patent number: 8879204Abstract: A motor includes a stationary unit and a rotary unit. The stationary unit includes a stator, a base portion having at least one hole, and a flexible wiring substrate. The flexible wiring substrate reaches a position higher than a lower surface of the base portion through at least one hole and is arranged to supply electric power to the stator. The flexible wiring substrate includes a connection portion arranged higher than the lower surface of the base portion and connected to the stator. The connection portion includes a solder portion arranged on a lower surface thereof to cover a portion of a lead wire extending from a coil of the stator. At least a portion of the solder portion is positioned within the hole.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2013Date of Patent: November 4, 2014Assignee: Nidec CorporationInventors: Yoichi Sekii, Takehito Tamaoka, Kazuhiro Sato, Kazuhiko Fukushima, Hiroyuki Abe
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Patent number: 8873197Abstract: A motor includes a rotating portion and a stationary portion. The stationary portion includes a shaft component which includes an inner shaft portion and an outer shaft portion, an upper plate portion, and a lower plate portion. The upper plate portion is disposed in one side of the shaft component and extends radially outward from the one side of the shaft component. The lower plate portion is disposed on the other side of the shaft component and extends radially outward from the other side of the shaft component. The rotating portion includes a sleeve portion. The inner shaft portion and the outer shaft portion are fixed by an adhesive. An adhesive retaining portion is provided between an outer peripheral portion of the inner shaft portion and an inner peripheral portion of the outer shaft portion.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2014Date of Patent: October 28, 2014Assignee: Nidec CorporationInventors: Shuji Iwasaki, Yoichi Sekii, Takehito Tamaoka, Hideki Nishimura, Kazuto Miyajima, Takuro Iguchi, Kazuhiro Sato, Takeyuki Shuto
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Patent number: 8873198Abstract: A motor includes a rotating portion including a sleeve portion and a stationary portion. The stationary portion includes a shaft component which includes an inner shaft portion and an outer shaft portion. A radial dynamic pressure generating groove array is provided on at least one surface of an inner circumferential surface of the sleeve portion and an outer circumferential surface of the outer shaft portion, which define the radial gap. The radial dynamic pressure generating groove array includes an upper radial dynamic pressure generating groove array and a lower radial dynamic pressure generating groove array. A range of a fixing region in an axial direction between the inner shaft portion and the outer shaft portion in an interference fit state is included in a range between the upper radial dynamic pressure generating groove array and the lower radial dynamic pressure generating groove array.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2014Date of Patent: October 28, 2014Assignee: Nidec CorporationInventors: Shuji Iwasaki, Yoichi Sekii, Takehito Tamaoka, Hideki Nishimura, Kazuto Miyajima, Takuro Iguchi, Kazuhiro Sato, Takeyuki Shuto
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Publication number: 20140268411Abstract: A motor includes a stationary portion and a rotating portion that is rotatable about a central axis extending in a vertical direction with respect to the stationary portion. The stationary portion includes a shaft and a cup portion. The shaft extends in an axial direction and is fixed to the cup portion. The rotating portion includes a sleeve portion including at least a portion thereof arranged inside the cup portion, and is arranged opposite to the shaft. The cup portion includes a cylindrical portion, a bottom plate portion, and a first conical portion. The cylindrical portion is radially opposite to an outer circumferential surface of the sleeve portion. The bottom plate portion is inside the cylindrical portion. The first conical portion extends upward from an inner end portion of the bottom plate portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 3, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Inventor: Yoichi SEKII
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Patent number: 8823230Abstract: A motor includes a stationary portion and a rotating portion. The rotating portion includes a sleeve portion. The sleeve portion includes a communicating hole. A dynamic pressure bearing is defined in a first gap between a shaft portion and the sleeve portion. An upper seal portion and a lower seal portion are arranged radially outward of the dynamic pressure bearing. The upper seal portion and the lower seal portion are arranged in communication with each other through the communicating hole. The communicating hole and a space extending from the upper seal portion to the lower seal portion through the first gap are filled with a lubricating oil. A fixing region where an outer tubular portion and a base portion are fixed to each other is arranged to overlap with the dynamic pressure bearing in a radial direction in plan view.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2011Date of Patent: September 2, 2014Assignee: Nidec CorporationInventors: Junya Mizukami, Takayuki Oe, Yoichi Sekii, Naoki Sabashi, Hideki Nishimura, Takehito Tamaoka, Takashi Yamamoto
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Patent number: 8824097Abstract: A motor includes a shaft component, an upper plate portion, a lower plate portion, and a sleeve portion. The shaft component includes an inner shaft portion and an outer shaft portion. The sleeve portion is disposed between the upper plate portion and the lower plate portion. A radial gap is defined between the sleeve portion and the outer shaft portion. A fixing range in which the outer shaft portion and the inner shaft portion radially overlap is provided. At least a portion in an axial direction of the fixing range radially overlaps with an existing range in the axial direction of the radial gap.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2014Date of Patent: September 2, 2014Assignee: Nidec CorporationInventors: Shuji Iwasaki, Yoichi Sekii, Takehito Tamaoka, Hideki Nishimura, Kazuto Miyajima, Takuro Iguchi, Kazuhiro Sato, Takeyuki Shuto
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Patent number: 8810096Abstract: A spindle motor includes a stationary portion and a rotating portion. The stationary portion preferably includes a shaft portion, a lower plate portion, and an outer tubular portion. The rotating portion preferably includes an inner tubular portion and a flange portion including a communicating hole. An upper seal portion is arranged radially outward of a first gap, and a lower seal portion is arranged radially outward of a second gap. The upper and lower seal portions are arranged in communication with each other through the communicating hole. The communicating hole and a space extending from the upper seal portion to the lower seal portion through the first gap, the second gap, and a third gap are filled with a lubricating oil. The third gap includes a dynamic pressure generation portion arranged to produce a radially inward pressure acting on the lubricating oil.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2011Date of Patent: August 19, 2014Assignee: Nidec CorporationInventors: Junya Mizukami, Takayuki Oe, Yoichi Sekii, Naoki Sabashi, Hideki Nishimura, Takehito Tamaoka, Takashi Yamamoto
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Patent number: 8810095Abstract: A dynamic pressure bearing is defined in a first gap between a shaft portion and a sleeve portion. An upper seal portion extending upward and a lower seal portion extending downward are arranged radially outward of the dynamic pressure bearing. Each of the upper seal portion and the lower seal portion includes a surface including a lubricating oil located therein. The upper seal portion and the lower seal portion are arranged in communication with each other through a communicating hole defined in the sleeve portion. The communicating hole and a space ranging from the upper seal portion to the lower seal portion through the first gap are filled with the lubricating oil. The axial distance between the surfaces of the lubricating oil in the upper seal portion and the lower seal portion is arranged to be shorter than the axial distance between an upper end and a lower end of the dynamic pressure bearing.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2011Date of Patent: August 19, 2014Assignee: Nidec CorporationInventors: Junya Mizukami, Takayuki Oe, Yoichi Sekii, Naoki Sabashi, Hideki Nishimura, Takehito Tamaoka, Takashi Yamamoto