Method and apparatus for minimization of magnetic bias force harmonics in a spindle motor

1. A spindle motor comprising:

a stationary sleeve supported from a base;

a rotating shaft disposed through the sleeve;

a fluid dynamic bearing between the sleeve and the shaft;

a hub supported proximate a first end of the shaft;

a stator supported from the base;

a magnet supported from the hub and offset axially relative to the stator; and

a ring supported from the base and positioned beneath the magnet across a gap defined to produce force harmonics out of phase with farce harmonics generated by the magnet and stator.

2. The spindle motor of claim 1 , wherein the ring comprises a magnetically permeable material.

3. The spindle motor of claim 2 , wherein the ring comprises steel.

4. The spindle motor of claim 2 , wherein the axial offset between the magnet and the stator is the difference between a first vertical distance from a datum to a midpoint of the magnet and a second vertical distance from said datum to a midpoint of the stator.

5. The spindle motor of claim 4 , wherein the axial offset between the magnet and the stator produces both a force that axially biases the shaft and force harmonics.

6. The spindle motor of claim 5 , wherein the ring is separated from a bottom surface of the magnet by a gap.

7. The spindle motor of claim 6 , wherein upon rotation of the motor the magnet and the ring produce both a force that axially biases the shaft and force harmonics.

8. The spindle motor of claim 7 , wherein the axial offset between the stator and magnet is set at a first value to produce a force harmonic, and the gap between the bottom surface of the magnet and the ring is set at a second value to produce a force harmonic, so that upon rotation of the motor, the two force harmonics substantially cancel each other out.

9. The spindle motor of claim 8 , further comprising a counter plate supported from a second end of the shaft.

10. The spindle motor of claim 9 , wherein the fluid dynamic bearing comprises:

a fluid disposed between an outer surface of the shaft and an inner surface of the sleeve and between a bottom surface of the shaft and a top surface of the counter plate;

grooves on at least one of the outer surface of the shaft and the inner surface of the sleeve; and

grooves on at least one of the bottom surface of the shaft and the top surface of the counter plate.

11. A spindle motor comprising:

means for rotating at least one disk;

stationary means for supporting the rotating means;

bearing means between the rotating means and the stationary support means;

axial bias means for restricting axial movement of the rotating means relative to the stationary support means; and

means for minimizing harmonics produced by the axial bias means.

12. The spindle motor of claim 11 , wherein the bearing means comprises a fluid dynamic bearing comprising:

a fluid between an outer surface of the rotating means and an inner surface of the stationary support means; and

grooves on at least one of the outer surface of the rotating means and the inner surface of the stationary support means.

13. The spindle motor of claim 12 , wherein the axial bias means comprises:

a stator supported from the stationary support meals; and

a magnet supported from the rotating means and offset axially from the stator.

14. The spindle motor of claim 13 , wherein the means for minimizing harmonics produced by the axial bias means comprises a ring supported from the stationary support means and positioned beneath the magnet.

15. The spindle motor of claim 14 , wherein the ring comprises a magnetically permeable material.

16. The spindle motor of claim 15 , wherein the ring comprises steel.