Rotational Drive Detail Patents (Class 360/98.07)
  • Patent number: 7130151
    Abstract: In a disk device, having disks 2 and a hub 4 for holding thereof, to be attached onto a shaft 5 of a spindle motor, for rotary drive thereof, a groove 42 is formed on a bottom surface of a flange portion 41 of the hub 4, for receiving therein. A balance weight 8 to be received in this groove 42 has elasticity and an outer configuration of about “C”, and further, in a portion thereof is attached at least one (1) piece of an auxiliary weight or more, thereby achieving unbalance correction at high accuracy with an aid of the balance weight. After being attached with one (1) piece or more of the “U” shaped auxiliary weight(s) directing it/them from an inner periphery to an outer periphery thereof, the “C” shaped balance weight is inserted or fitted into, while being suppressed a little bit in an inside thereof. Therefore, a disk device and the unbalance correcting method for that, can be obtained, in which spaces necessary for attaching and detaching are less, but enabling the balance correction at high accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Japan, Ltd.
    Inventors: Teruhiro Nakamiya, Takashi Kouno, Toshihisa Okazaki, Masatoshi Horinouchi
  • Patent number: 7122922
    Abstract: A base plate for a spindle motor is provided defining a minimal axial gap with a relatively rotatable magnet. In an example, a surface of the base plate is positioned at 0.1 mm from an adjacent surface of a relatively rotatable magnet. The base plate is comprised of a composite material such that stiffness is improved and acoustic vibration is reduced, while maintaining low power consumption and a fast start-up time. A first material, being a nonmagnetic material is employed adjacent to a motor magnet, and a second material having a preferred stiffness is employed at a greater radial distance from the magnet than the radial distance between a stator and the magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Mo Xu, Victor C. Choo, YiRen Hong, PohLye Lim, SiewMing Ng
  • Patent number: 7113365
    Abstract: A disk drive is disclosed comprising a disk, a head actuated over a surface of the disk, and a spindle motor for rotating the disk. The spindle motor comprises a ring-shaped stator having a plurality of stator teeth each wound with a winding. The spindle motor further comprises a hub having a plurality of magnets for interacting with the stator teeth to rotate the hub about the shaft when the windings are energized. A ring-shaped shield is disposed in a vertical gap between the windings and the hub to reduce a voltage coupled from the windings to the surface of the disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert P. Ryan, Alan P. Rice, Jon E. Jacoby
  • Patent number: 7109623
    Abstract: An electrically-driven fan 1 comprises a base portion 2; a bearing portion 11; a stator 13 including iron core portions 15 and coils 16; a rotor 4 including a rotary shaft 20 and a cylindrical magnet 22; blowing blades 5; and a rotor position detector 23 which is disposed on a side of the cylindrical magnet 22 near to the base portion 2, with a gap of predetermined width relative to the cylindrical magnet 22; wherein the cylindrical magnet 22 includes a thin-walled portion 24 in which an effective thickness of one end part thereof near to the rotor position detector 23 is made smaller than an effective thickness of the other end part thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Wada, Akitomo Yamashita
  • Patent number: 7092203
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a fluid dynamic bearing in which a stopper is fixed by welding. The bearing comprises a hub, a shaft erected on the hub, a sleeve, a cylindrical wall erected on the hub, and the stopper mounted on the cylindrical wall. The method comprises a first step to hold oil in the bearing gap, and a second step to locate the stopper on the peripheral wall being apart from the interface of the oil to fix the stopper by LASER welding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Nidec Corporation
    Inventors: Kiyofumi Inoue, Katsutoshi Hamada, Kaoru Uenosono
  • Patent number: 7035044
    Abstract: A magnetic disk drive includes a base constituting at least a face included in an enclosure; a shaft secured to the base; a rotor which rotates around the shaft as a rotary axis; a stator for rotating the rotor; and a magnetic disk secured to the rotor; wherein the stator is disposed on a face facing the base. This improves durability of the magnetic disk drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Japan, Ltd.
    Inventors: Asao Nakano, Yuji Fujita, Yasuo Amano, Nobuyuki Ushifusa, Koki Uefuna, Takashi Yamaguchi, Toshiyuki Ajima
  • Patent number: 7030527
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention effectively control, by a simple structure, floating of a rotor of a fluid dynamic bearing motor mounted in a hard disk drive. In one embodiment, a base is formed of a magnetic material. The attractive force caused by the magnetic force acts between a bottom of the base and a magnet unit that is constituted of a rotor magnet and a back yoke. This makes it possible to attract a rotor to the base against the buoyant force produced by a thrust bearing, and thereby to effectively control the rotation of the rotor. On the bottom of the base, at a position facing the magnet unit, a convex part protruding from the inner surface of the base is formed in a ring-shape. Adjusting the height, or the width, of the convex part makes it possible to control the magnetic back pressure applied to the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Shingo Tsuda, Mutsuro Ohta, Hiroki Kitahori, Kazutaka Okasaka
  • Patent number: 7031106
    Abstract: The sealing members (14a, 14b) comprise a film member produced by forming an aluminum or alumina deposition film on at least one side surface of a film-like core material. One side surface outer circumferential rim part of the sealing members is bonded and fixed on the outer end surface of outer rings (9, 9) constituting the rolling bearings (4, 4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventor: Seizo Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 7024755
    Abstract: A method of using a balance clip in a hard disk drive spindle motor for disk pack balance correction provides the balance clip with one end that is offset from the circular shape of the balance clip. The offset end is located opposite the precise bent tab that provides tooling engagement in the balance clip. The offset end of the balance clip is offset at a radius that is less than the radius of the balance clip, or at a lesser radial offset from the circular shape. The edge of the offset end does not make contact with the groove in which the balance clip is seated. This design eliminates scratching between the offset end and motor hub, and reduces friction and particle generation during clip adjustment in the disk pack balancing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Ta-Chang Fu, Stanley Yen Wong
  • Patent number: 6979923
    Abstract: A motor (100) having a dynamic pressure fluid bearing is composed of a hub (2), a rotor (4) provided with a shaft (7) of which one end portion is securely fastened by the hub (2) and another end portion is formed with a flange (8), and a stator (3) composed of a sleeve section (9) for axially sustaining the shaft (7) so as to be rotatable freely and a thrust plate (10) secured on the sleeve section (9) so as to confront with the flange (8), wherein the dynamic pressure fluid bearing is composed of a thrust dynamic pressure fluid bearing constituted by the flange (8) and the thrust plate (10), and wherein the shaft (7) is provided with a through hole (17) bored through the shaft (7) from the one end surface to the other end surface, and wherein the through hole (17) is formed in a shape having an opening to the other end surface of the shaft (7) by way of a funnel shaped section (17c) of which diameter gradually increases toward the other end surface of the shaft (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: Victor Company of Japan, Ltd.
    Inventor: Akira Nishio
  • Patent number: 6961210
    Abstract: A data storage device (10) includes a stator (20), a rotor (50) rotatable about the stator via a pair of bearings (26), a cover (70), and two data storage disks (80). The stator includes a baseplate (22), and radially extending stator laminations (32) under the baseplate. The bearings are fixed in top and bottom ends of the baseplate. The rotor includes a spindle shaft (52), a hub (54), and a drive member (56). The shaft is fixed in the bearings, and the hub is fixed to a top end of the shaft. The drive member is fixed to a bottom end of the shaft, at a side of the baseplate opposite from the hub. The cover is fixed to a bottom of the baseplate, surrounding the drive member. The cover helps prevent contaminants such as dust from entering a clean chamber of the data storage device that surrounds the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: ESGW Holdings Limited
    Inventor: Ming-Goei Sheu
  • Patent number: 6940193
    Abstract: Permanent electro-conductive connection is achieved between a bearing component and a baseplate/flange by providing at least one solid-state contact element between the baseplate/flange and the bearing component. The contact element establishes an electric contact between these parts by exercising mechanical force on the baseplate/flange and/or the bearing component. Alternatively, at least one welding seam may be formed between the baseplate/flange and the bearing component to establish the electro-conductive connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Joerg Hoffmann, Thilo Rehm
  • Patent number: 6912775
    Abstract: An apparatus for assembling components of a data storage system. Assembly components are housed by a component storage member removably coupled to the frame of the apparatus for supporting a plurality of component stacks for automated assembly. The apparatus includes an assembly coupled to the component storage member for sequentially unloading components and assembling the unloaded components in a data storage system. The apparatus is adapted for high capacity, production and speed assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Micahel W. Pfeiffer, Eric D. Johnson
  • Patent number: 6839956
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a method of assembling a disc which can reduce an unbalance of a rotating portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiko Watanabe, Tetsuya Hamaguchi, Takashi Matsuki, Shizuo Yamazaki
  • Publication number: 20040240105
    Abstract: A recording and reproducing method is provided in which information can be recorded and reproduced correctly using a simple circuit structure, even with a high transfer rate, and a test record can be performed efficiently in a short time. A laser driving circuit 6 makes power levels of a front end pulse and a rear end pulse different from a power level of a middle pulse, and a record signal edge correction circuit 5 corrects an edge position of a recording pulse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2004
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Inventors: Kenji Narumi, Naoyasu Miyagawa
  • Publication number: 20040232781
    Abstract: Disclosed is a spindle motor comprising: an integral turntable including: a table on which a rotating body to be installed, and an inner side wall and an outer side wall formed to be recessed upwards at a portion therebetween on a lower surface of the table so that a predetermined hollow is formed, a surface of thereof being formed slant; a ball cover for covering a ball inserted into the hollow and the hollow; a rotation shaft an upper portion of which is inserted into a center of the integral turntable; a bearing supporting a lower portion of the rotation shaft; a coil formed on an outside of the rotation shaft; and a magnet formed on an outside of the coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2004
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventor: Jin Seung Yoo
  • Patent number: 6822825
    Abstract: The present invention provides a hydrodynamic bearing design which is simple and reliable in design, while incorporating a shaft with a plug of high elastic modulus material fitted within a cylinder of a lower elastic modulus material than that of the plug, thereby compensating for temperature variations while maintaining radial stiffness of the system over a wide range of temperatures. The design is relatively inexpensive and easy to replicate in a high volume manufacturing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Troy Herndon, Jeffry LeBlanc, Robert Nottingham
  • Patent number: 6819526
    Abstract: An information storage disk holding member for holding an information storage disk in position in an information storage disk drive device, the holding member being made of glass-ceramics in which a crystal phase is dispersed in a glass matrix. The holding member has specific rigidity (Young's modulus/specific gravity) of not greater than 37 GPa, specific gravity of not greater than 3.0, coefficient of thermal expansion within a range from −50° C. to +70° C. which is within a range from +35×10−7/° C. to +130×10−7/° C., Young's modulus within a range from 95 GPa to 130 GPa, specific gravity within a range from 2.40 to 2.60 and bending strength within a range from 400 MPa to 800 MPa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Ohara
    Inventors: Mariko Kataoka, Naoyuki Goto, Kousuke Nakajima, Junko Ishioka, Katsuhiko Yamaguchi, Toshitaka Yagi
  • Patent number: 6815850
    Abstract: A spindle design for a hard disk drive assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention includes a significantly large gap between the rotating, ferromagnetic hub with its permanent magnet rotor and the rotating sleeve of the fluid bearing journal member. The large gap may be filled with a medium, such as air, or a non-permeable material. The large gap is preferably on the order of several hundred microns. Because of the large gap, the magnetic flux leakage from the rotating hub members and sleeve into the stationary shaft at the center of the spindle is negligible. Consequently, iron loss in the shaft caused by magnetic flux leakage into the shaft is reduced to acceptable noise levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David W. Albrecht, Chen-hsiung Lee
  • Patent number: 6812603
    Abstract: A flat motor is composed of a rotor 1 provided with a driving magnet 3 in a ring shape and a shaft 8, and a stator 5. The stator 1 is composed of a stator yoke 6 provided with a bearing mounting section 12 for mounting a bearing 10 for holding the rotor 1 and a driving coil mounting section 13 for mounting a plurality of driving coils 4 disposed in conjugating with the outer side of the bearing mounting section 12. The plurality of driving coils 4 is disposed in a concentric circle with facing towards the driving magnet 3. The bearing mounting section 12 is formed flat in a circular shape with centering the shaft 8.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Victor Company of Japan, Ltd.
    Inventor: Mitsumasa Nishio
  • Patent number: 6787954
    Abstract: A downsized spindle motor of excellent abrasion and shock resistance is provided. A shaft is fit into a sleeve. A flange is fixed to an end of the shaft. A radial bearing is formed on faces of the shaft and the sleeve, which faces are opposite and close to each other. A face of the flange closely faces a face of a thrust plate, thereby forming a thrust bearing. Another face of the thrust plate is caulked with a tip of the sleeve. The tip of the sleeve and the thrust plate are fixed to each other by an adhesive. A tapering section is provided at an upper end of the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takao Yoshitsugu, Shoichi Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 6774520
    Abstract: An inner rotor motor includes a rotor which has a plurality of circumferentially arranged magnetic poles and a stator which is positioned outside a circumference of the rotor and has a stator core which includes a plurality of magnetic pole teeth which face the rotor in an opposed manner and arranges coils for respective magnetic pole teeth. In such a constitution, the stator is arranged within a center angle of 180° with respect to a center of rotation of the rotor. Further, pitches of the magnetic pole teeth in the rotor circumferential direction along which respective rotor facing surfaces of the magnetic pole teeth are arranged are set smaller than pitches of the rotor in the rotor circumferential direction along which the magnetic poles of the rotor are arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomokuni Wauke
  • Publication number: 20040135462
    Abstract: When a stator and a rotor have to be separated for whatever reason after the motor provided with a locking structure has been assembled, the separation can be conducted without breaking the rotor or the motor body. The rotor includes a rotor yoke fixed to the rotor shaft and a disk positioning portion and a disk carrying portion provided at the rotor yoke. It is further provided with a hook extending toward the stator from the insertion hole opened in the rotor yoke, the hook being formed integrally with the disk positioning portion and disk carrying portion or separately therefrom. The mating catch formed at the distal end of the hook and the latching portion formed at the stator are engaged in a contactless manner and operations can be conducted so as to deform the hook elastically from the outside through the insertion hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Inventor: Ogura Masayuki
  • Patent number: 6745946
    Abstract: A device for reading and/or writing a disc-shaped information carrier which comprises a support element of a magnetizable material along its circumference. An electromagnetic unit cooperates with the support element and a scanning unit for reading and/or writing the information carrier, which can be rotated about an axis of rotation and positioned with respect to the scanning unit in five degrees of freedom except for the rotational degree around the axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Gerard Eduard Van Rosmalen, Josephus Arnoldus Henricus Maria Kahlman, Willem Gerard Ophey
  • Patent number: 6731456
    Abstract: A hub and shaft are provided which are mounted for relative rotation by providing two conical bearings spaced apart along the shaft, and a bearing seat facing each conical bearing. Fluid is maintained in the gap between each cone and the facing bearing seat, supporting the cone and seat for relative rotation. The outer surface of the bearing seat is insulated from the remainder of the motor by a thermal insulator which extends at least part way along the outer surface of the seats. This insulator is effective at keeping the bearings warm even in a relatively low temperature environment in which the motor may be used. The insulator may comprise a cylindrical ceramic or similar low thermal conductivity material extending at least part way along the axial distance outside of the bearing cones. Alternatively, an air space may be defined in the outer surface of the bearing seat, extending at least part way between the bearing cones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Norbert Steven Parsoneault, Troy Michael Herndon, Robert Alan Nottingham, Jeffry Arnold LeBlanc, Alan Lydon Grantz
  • Patent number: 6679501
    Abstract: A motor or bearing which incorporates the use of a capillary seal adjacent a bearing race between the shaft and surrounding hub or housing. The seal may take a plurality of forms, including a straight capillary seal; a seal formed between the housing and a seal ball having different radius of curvatures (preferably with the housing internal surface having a larger radius); or a centrifugal capillary seal comprising a male cone supported on a fixed or rotating shaft, and a female cone supported on a housing. The use of a capillary seal rather than ferrofluid seal should also provide a reduction in resistance across the seal gap compared to a ferrofluid seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Robert M. Pelstring, Raquib U. Khan, Klaus Kloeppel, Alan L. Grantz, Norbert S. Parsoneault, Marten F. Byl, Hans Leuthold
  • Patent number: 6678114
    Abstract: A method for minimizing unbalance in the disc pack of a disc drive where the unbalance of the spindle motor is quantified and incorporated into the biasing assembly of the disc pack. In the assembly process, the discs are biased in a manner such that the unbalance of the spindle motor is considered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Niroot Jicrapipalanakul, Victor Chi Siang Choo, Poh Lye Lim, Michael Joo Chiang Toh, Kwee Teck Say, Beng Wee Quak, Chee Suan Low
  • Patent number: 6664686
    Abstract: A single cone air dynamic bearing motor, including a shaft having a diminishing conical taper surface, a sleeve having a concavity opposite the shaft, and magnetic members to generate magnetic attraction between the shaft end and the sleeve. Grooves are formed on the conical taper surface of the shaft or the sleeve so as to create load capacity when the motor rotates, whereby rotating parts of the motor are supported by the axial components of the load capacity balanced with the magnetic attraction. The motor thereby achieves reduction in thickness, current, and cost, and inhibits non-repeatable runout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Kura Laboratory Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshikazu Ichiyama
  • Publication number: 20030193738
    Abstract: A disc clamp assembly and method for balancing a spindle hub assembly within a disc drive utilizes a base piece, a balance ring retainer piece and a balance ring. The disc clamp base piece is positioned on the top surface of the rotatable spindle hub to secure a disc stack to the spindle hub. The balance ring retainer piece is attached to the top surface of the base piece and defines a peripheral rim for accepting a balance ring. The balance ring has a predetermined mass to modify the center of gravity of the spindle hub assembly toward the central axis of rotation for the spindle hub.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2003
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Inventor: Frederick Paul Renken
  • Patent number: 6629359
    Abstract: Disclosed is a device for assembling a device including a base and a main board assembly in a hard disk drive including an actuator having a magnetic head; a base having a spindle motor mounted thereon, the spindle motor rotating at high speed a disk on which the magnetic head is suspended to conduct data writing and reading; and a main board assembly assembled to a lower surface of the base. The device comprises a guide section for establishing a vertical assembling position of the base and the main board assembly and for allowing the main board assembly to be capable of a sliding movement to a predetermined location on the base; a stopper section for stopping the sliding movement of the main board assembly on the base; and a locker for locking the main board assembly stopped by the stopper section to the base in a vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Byung-Gyou Choi
  • Patent number: 6597531
    Abstract: A magnetic disk drive is provided, which decreases the profile or height of the drive itself without reliability degradation, realizing a low-profile and large-capacity magnetic disk drive. The drive comprises: (a) a rotatable magnetic disk around an axis; (b) a spindle motor for rotating the disk; (c) a magnetic head for writing information into the disk and for reading information from the disk; (d) an actuator for positioning the head at a desired position over the disk; (e) a disk enclosure for enclosing the disk, the motor, the head, and the actuator; (f) a circuit board fixed to the enclosure; the board having necessary circuits and necessary electronic elements for controlling operation of the drive; the board having a projecting part located outside a footprint of the enclosure; at least part of the elements being mounted on the projecting part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventor: Shunji Noda
  • Patent number: 6571454
    Abstract: An apparatus and associated method for attaching a disc drive cover member to a disc drive base member. A fixture comprises a base and a stop guard, cradle and guide rails supported by the base. The disc drive base member is operatively receivingly engaged in the cradle adjacent the guide rails. The disc drive cover member is operatively abuttingly engaged at one end against the stop guard and pivoted toward the disc drive base member. Any substantial misalignment of the disc drive cover member with the disc drive base member causes the disc drive cover member to engage at least one of the guide rails and therefore be urged into proper alignment, preventing adverse contact between the disc drive cover member and the disc drive base member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Inventors: Michael D. Haney, Rodney L. Cooper, Don C. Yarbrough, Michael G. Roper, Thanh V. Huynh, Steven F. Knecht, Tony T. Thongham
  • Patent number: 6566776
    Abstract: The invention relates to a spindle motor having a sealing support film which prevents exchange of air between the interior and surroundings of the spindle motor. In spindle motors for hard disk drives it is extremely important to construct the spindle motor so that it is sealed tight against the external environment, ie so that from the connecting side of the spindle motor no admission of air to the interior of the spindle motor can occur. A further characteristic of the invention consists in that the support film is bonded and fixed in place in sealing manner by means of an adhesive which does not give off gas or does so only very slightly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Precision Motors Deutsche Minebea GmbH
    Inventors: Jörg Hoffmann, Thilo Rehm
  • Patent number: 6549366
    Abstract: Air guides provided in a dynamic-pressure-bearing motor on a rotor-surrounding wall of the motor casing. The air guides project radially from the casing wall and have an axially extending guide surface that concentrates air, made to flow by rotation of the rotor, radially inward toward a predetermined position along the rotor with respect to its cylindrical surface, to apply radially directed pressure against the rotor. If the motor is for a disk drive, the rotor may carry a number of storage disks and the air guides may be disposed proximate at least one of the axial upper/lower surfaces among those of all or a portion of the storage disks. The pressure developed by the air guides maintains the spinning rotor in an eccentric state, which works to resist the wobbling due to half-speed whirling and improve the motor's rotational precision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Nidec Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshikazu Ichiyama
  • Patent number: 6534890
    Abstract: A disc drive spindle motor for reducing the idle noise of a disc drive includes a stator having a first cylindrical surface for contacting a motor mount of the spindle motor. The motor mount includes a second cylindrical surface for contacting only a portion of the first cylindrical surface of the stator to reduce the transmission of vibrations from the stator to a base plate of the disc drive. The motor mount may be attached to a base plate of the disc drive when the spindle motor is formed separately from the disc drive. Alternatively, the motor mount may be formed integrally with the base plate of the disc drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventor: Menachem Rafaelof
  • Patent number: 6528914
    Abstract: A connector assembly comprising a base portion which plugs into the base of the motor shaft and a connector body having electrical interface rods along an axial face thereof. A flexible printed circuit having one end connected to the stator has dedicated connector pads on a surface thereof which line up with and are intended to be pressed against the molded body connector rods. To maintain the pads and rods in tight electrical contact, a connector snap spring assembly is snapped in place over the connector body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Klaus D. Kloeppel, Robert M. Pelstring, Steven C. Knoche
  • Patent number: 6493181
    Abstract: In a thrust dynamic-pressure bearing that through pump-in type spiral grooves generates dynamic pressure, a simple configuration to eliminate at the bearing exterior air bubbles liable to build up nearby the central portion of the bearing, yielding stabilized axial bearing force. The configuration lends superior endurance and reliability to the thrust bearing, and to a spindle motor furnished with the bearing. The configuration makes the circularly symmetrical dynamic pressure distribution, created by spiral grooves formed circularly symmetrical with respect to the bearing axial center, asymmetrical by the addition of an asymmetrical auxiliary groove(s). Air bubbles building up near the center of the spiral grooves are thus shifted to the area where the spiral grooves are formed. In the area where the spiral grooves are formed, the more inward the oil the higher the dynamic pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Nidec Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshikazu Ichiyama
  • Patent number: 6493169
    Abstract: A disk drive incidentally generates undesirable acoustic noise during an operation mode and includes a spindle motor having windings and a rotor rotatable at an operating spin-rate during the operation mode. A commutation state sequencer includes a sequence of commutation states including a present commutation state and a next commutation state for generating a sequence of control signals. Switching elements are responsive to the sequence of control signals for sequentially applying a voltage across a selected combination of the windings to generate a torque on the rotor in order to maintain the operating spin-rate. A spindle motor control system provides a series of commutation clock pulses having a corresponding series of commutation clock periods to advance the commutation state sequencer from the present commutation state to the next commutation state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy A. Ferris, Raffi Codilian
  • Patent number: 6455965
    Abstract: In a spindle motor in which its weight is decreased while maintaining the rigidity of a bearing to a large value, the widthwise dimension of a bearing cartridge assembly 11 is set so that the upper outer ring end portion 12b of the outer ring 12 of the bearing cartridge assembly 11 protrudes from a hub main body 6A. Since the lengthwise dimension of a hub 5A is smaller than that of a prior art, the weight and cost can be decreased that much. Further, the lengthwise dimension of the hub 5A is smaller than that of the prior art, a space portion is increased and the space portion can be employed as a space for arranging various kinds of members. Since the upper outer ring end portion 12b protrudes from the hub main body 6A, fitting pressure is not exerted on the upper outer ring end portion 12b of the outer ring 12 upon fitting, so that the generation of unnecessary deformation or the like can be avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tadashi Akahori
  • Patent number: 6455961
    Abstract: A motor includes a stator core held on a core holder, the stator core includes a stacked magnetic body having a plurality of magnetic plates with the magnetic plates being piled up in an axial direction. The motor also includes a core support portion provided in the core holder with the core support portion including a core mounting face and a core locating face. The core locating face is formed near a magnetic center of the stator core with respect to the axial direction and formed flat in the core holder in a radial direction. The stacked magnetic body is divided into two stacked magnetic bodies with a boundary position of the two stacked magnetic bodies being set near the magnetic center of the stator core and the boundary surface of one of the two stacked bodies abuts against the core locating face of the core holder in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Sanyo Seiki Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Daisuke Higuchi
  • Patent number: 6407882
    Abstract: A spindle motor comprises a central axis fixed to a housing base. A core body is cantilevered by an annular member so as to support a coil of a stator. The coil is fixed to the housing base by an adhesion. The cantilevered core body is also supported by the housing base, so that the movement of the core body and coil is reliably restrained. The stator is prevented from vibrating during rotation of the rotor. Accordingly, reduction in the vibration of the spindle motor can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Naotoshi Katahara, Hiroshi Suzuki, Takahiro Ono
  • Patent number: 6407883
    Abstract: A disc device includes a housing, a fixed shaft at least partially disposed in the housing, wherein the fixed shaft is divided into two parts which are joined together. The disc device also includes one or more discs, a hub for loading the discs, at least a head for reproducing information recorded on each of the discs, and a drive system for moving the head to any position on each of the discs. A motor for driving the hub to rotate is provided outside the housing, and at least two fluid film bearings are provided so that the hub is supported by the fixed shaft so as to be rotatable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Kohno, Kenji Tomida
  • Publication number: 20020071204
    Abstract: The hole that penetrates the axial direction in the hub, the force of the axial direction by fluid force that operates on the spindle motor is reduced during the rotation. Fluctuation of fluid power is reduced by this hole. The rotary precision of the axial direction improves. Against the oil leakage from the bearing equipment, magnetic fluid is used as a lubrication fluid of the bearing. Magnetic fluid is magnetized with the permanent magnet arranged in the bearing equipment, and oil leakage is prevented. Against scattering of the oil particle, the groove for dynamic pressure generation is in the opening of bearing equipment. The oil particle is kept inside the bearing equipment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2002
    Publication date: June 13, 2002
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsutoshi Nii, Masaru Muranishi, Kenji Tomida, Kouki Uefune, Shozo Saegusa, Yuuichi Yanagase
  • Patent number: 6384495
    Abstract: The problem is to provide a motor that a stator coil can be firmly supported with high rigidity and is less in vibration and noise, a method for manufacturing same and a rotary apparatus. A motor is provided as solving means, which comprises: a base 10 having a cylindrical fit portion 10a; a sleeve 20 having one end firmly fixed in the fit portion 10a; a hub shaft 30 including a hub portion 32 supporting a hard disk, a shaft portion 31 extended from a hub portion 32 center and inserted in the sleeve 20, and an annular portion 33 annularly extended from a peripheral edge of the hub portion 32 in a same direction as the shaft portion 31; a bearing ring 52 coaxially fixed on a tip of the shaft portion 31; an engaging ring 51 fixed at the other end of the sleeve 20 and abutted against the bearing ring 52 thereby regulating axial movement of the shaft portion 31; a rotor magnet 60 fixed on an inner peripheral wall of the annular portion 33; and a stator coil 40 fixed on an outer peripheral wall of the sleeve 20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Takafumi Suzuki, Hiromitsu Goto
  • Patent number: RE38772
    Abstract: A disk memory drive includes a brushless drive outer rotor motor having an internal space and a stator with windings. The outer rotor coaxially encircles the stator and a substantially cylindrical air gap is defined between the stator and the rotor. The rotor includes permanent magnets and a hub fixedly connected with the magnet. A disk mounting section is provided on the hub for accommodating at least one storage disk positioned in a clear space, the mounting section being adapted to extend through a central aperture of the storage disk. The windings and the magnets interacting with the windings are disposed for at least half of the axial longitudinal dimension thereof within a space surrounded by the disk mounting section of the hub. Bearings rotatably mount the rotor and the hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Papst Licensing GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Dieter Elsässer, Johann von der Heide, Rolf Müller
  • Patent number: RE38178
    Abstract: A disk memory drive includes a brushless drive outer rotor motor having an internal space and a stator with windings. The outer rotor coaxially encircles the stator and a substantially cylindrical air gap is defined between the stator and the rotor. The rotor includes permanent magnets and a hub fixedly connected with the magnet. A disk mounting section is provided on the hub for accommodating at least one storage disk positioned in a clear space, the mounting section being adapted to extend through a central aperture of the storage disk. The windings and the magnets interacting with the windings are disposed for at least half of the axial longitudinal dimension thereof within a space surrounded by the disk mounting section of the hub. Bearings rotatably mount the rotor and the hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Papst Licensing GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Dieter Elsässer, Johann von der Heide, Rolf Müller
  • Patent number: RE38179
    Abstract: A disk memory drive includes a brushless drive outer rotor motor having an internal space and a stator with windings. The outer rotor coaxially encircles the stator and a substantially cylindrical air gap is defined between the stator and the rotor. The rotor includes permanent magnets and a hub fixedly connected with the magnet. A disk mounting section is provided on the hub for accommodating at least one storage disk positioned in a clear space, the mounting section being adapted to extend through a central aperture of the storage disk. The windings and the magnets interacting with the windings are disposed for at least half of the axial longitudinal dimension thereof within a space surrounded by the disk mounting section of the hub. Bearings rotatably mount the rotor and the hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Papst Licensing GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Dieter Elsässer, Johann von der Heide, Rolf Müller
  • Patent number: RE38601
    Abstract: A disk memory drive includes a brushless drive outer rotor motor having an internal space and a stator with windings. The outer rotor coaxially encircles the stator and a substantially cylindrical air gap is defined between the stator and the rotor. The rotor includes permanent magnets and a hub fixedly connected with the magnet. A disk mounting section is provided on the hub for accommodating at least one storage disk positioned in a clear space, the mounting section being adapted to extend through a central aperture of the storage disk. The windings and the magnets interacting with the windings are disposed for at least half of the axial longitudinal dimension thereof within a space surrounded by the disk mounting section of the hub. Bearings rotatably mount the rotor and the hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Papst Licensing, GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Dieter Elsässer, Johann von der Heide, Rolf Müller
  • Patent number: RE38662
    Abstract: A disk memory drive includes a brushless drive outer rotor motor having an internal space and a stator with windings. The outer rotor coaxially encircles the stator and a substantially cylindrical air gap is defined between the stator and the rotor. The rotor includes permanent magnets and a hub fixedly connected with the magnet. A disk mounting section is provided on the hub for accommodating at least one storage disk positioned in a clear space, the mounting section being adapted to extend through a central aperture of the storage disk. The windings and the magnets interacting with the windings are disposed for at least half of the axial longitudinal dimension thereof within a space surrounded by the disk mounting section of the hub. Bearings rotatably mount the rotor and the hub. The first and second races of the motor's first and second bearings are affixed to a cylindrical surface of a bearing tube and an outer surface of the motor shaft, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Papst Licensing GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Dieter Elsasser, Johann von der Heide
  • Patent number: RE38673
    Abstract: A disk memory drive includes a brushless drive outer rotor motor having an internal space and a stator with windings. The outer rotor coaxially encircles the stator and a substantially cylindrical air gap is defined between the stator and the rotor. The rotor includes permanent magnets and a hub fixedly connected with the magnet. A disk mounting section is provided on the hub for accommodating at least one storage disk positioned in a clear space, the mounting section being adapted to extend through a central aperture of the storage disk. The windings and the magnets interacting with the windings are disposed for at least half of the axial longitudinal dimension thereof within a space surrounded by the disk mounting section of the hub. Bearings rotatably mount the rotor and the hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: Papst Licensing GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Dieter Elsässer, Johann von der Heide