Patent · US Expired

Voice coil motor plate for a disc drive

US6304421A · kind A · utility

11Cited by
7References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMay 17, 1999
Grant dateOct 16, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 17, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG11B5/5521
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A disc drive includes a case defining a maximum interior height for mounting a voice coil motor within the disc drive. The voice coil motor includes a magnet, a coil, and top and bottom plates for carrying magnetic flux in a circuit with the magnet. At least one of the top and bottom plates includes a raised central portion having an increased cross-sectional area in relation to the remainder of the plate for carrying additional magnetic flux at a point where the plate experiences peak levels of magnetic flux. An opening formed in the disc drive case accommodates the raised central portion of the plate without altering the overall height of the case. The height of the raised central portion is preferably substantially equal to a thickness of the case to ensure the raised central portion fits flush within the opening. One or both of the top and bottom plates may include the raised central portion, thereby necessitating openings in one or both of a top cover and a lower base portion of the disc drive.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.