Granted Patent B1

US 7,161,768 · App. 10/724,410 · Granted Jan 9, 2007

Abstract

Claims (49)

1. A disk drive comprising:

a disk drive base;

a generally E-shaped voice coil motor yoke coupled to the disk drive base, the voice coil motor yoke including:

a generally C-shaped integrally formed second yoke body, the second yoke body including a second yoke second yoke first prong and second yoke second prong, the second yoke second prong being coupled to the first yoke second prong;

a first voice coil magnet supported by the first yoke first prong disposed toward the first yoke second prong;

a second voice coil magnet supported by the second yoke first prong disposed toward the second yoke second prong, the second voice coil magnet having a same polarity disposed towards the second yoke second prong as the first voice coil magnet having disposed towards the first yoke second prong; and

an actuator configured to rotate about an axis of rotation, the actuator including the actuator body rotatably coupled to the disk drive base and an actuator coil coupled to the actuator body, the actuator coil defining a coil axis disposed orthogonal to the axis of rotation, the actuator coil being positionable about the first yoke second prong and the second yoke second prong and between the first voice coil magnet and the second voice coil magnet.

2. The disk drive of claim 1 wherein an adhesive is used to couple the second yoke second prong to the first yoke second prong.

3. The disk drive of claim 1 wherein the first and second yoke bodies are formed of a magnetic conductive material.

4. The disk drive of claim 3 wherein the first and second yoke bodies are formed of steel.

5. The disk drive of claim 4 wherein the first and second yoke bodies are nickel plated.

6. The disk drive of claim 4 wherein the second yoke second prong is welded to the first yoke second prong.

7. The disk drive of claim 1 wherein the first yoke first prong includes a first tab, the first tab includes a fastener hole formed through the first tab, the first yoke body is coupled to the disk drive base with a fastener disposed through the first tab.

8. The disk drive of claim 7 wherein the first yoke first prong includes a first yoke distal end, the first tab is disposed adjacent the first yoke distal end.

9. The disk drive of claim 7 wherein the second yoke first prong includes a second tab, the second tab includes a fastener hole formed through the second tab, the second yoke body is coupled to the disk drive base with a fastener disposed through the second tab.

10. The disk drive of claim 9 wherein the first yoke first prong includes a first yoke distal end, the first tab is disposed adjacent the first yoke distal end, the second yoke second prong includes a second yoke distal end, the second tab is disposed adjacent the second yoke distal end.

11. The disk drive of claim 1 wherein the first yoke second prong and the second yoke second prong are generally arc-shaped.

12. A disk drive comprising:

a disk drive base;

a generally E-shaped voice coil motor yoke coupled to the disk drive base, the voice coil motor yoke including a first prong having opposing engagement and distal ends, the first prong including a projection extending from the engagement end, the yoke further includes a generally C-shaped yoke body, the yoke body including second and third prongs and a transition section disposed between the second and third prongs, the transition section including an engagement opening formed in the transition section and configured to engage the projection of the first prong, the transition section defining a transition section thickness, the projection defining a projection length as least as long as the transition section thickness;

a first voice coil magnet supported by the second prong;

a second voice coil magnet supported by the third prong, the second voice coil magnet having a same polarity disposed towards the first prong as the first voice coil magnet having disposed towards the first prong; and

an actuator configured to rotate about an axis of rotation, the actuator including an actuator body rotatably coupled to the disk drive base and an actuator coil coupled to the actuator body, the actuator coil defining a coil axis of rotation, the actuator coil being positionable about the first prong and between the first and second voice coil magnets.

13. The disk drive of claim 12 wherein the engagement opening is laterally centered in the transition section.

14. The disk drive of claim 12 wherein an adhesive is used to engage the first prong within the engagement opening.

15. A disk drive comprising:

a disk drive base;

a generally E-shaped voice coil motor yoke coupled to the disk drive base, the voice coil motor yoke including a first prong having opposing engagement and distal ends, the first prong including a projection extending from the engagement end, the yoke further includes a generally C-shaped yoke body, the yoke body including second and third prongs and a transition section disposed between the second and third prongs, the transition section including an engagement opening formed in the transition section and configured to engage the projection of the first prong, the engagement opening extending through the transition section;

a first voice coil magnet supported by the second prong;

a second voice coil magnet supported by the third prong, the second voice coil magnet having a same polarity disposed towards the first prong as the first voice coil magnet having disposed towards the first prong; and

an actuator configured to rotate about an axis of rotation, the actuator including an actuator body rotatably coupled to the disk drive base and an actuator coil coupled to the actuator body, the actuator coil defining a coil axis of rotation, the actuator coil being positionable about the first prong and between the first and second voice coil magnets.

16. A disk drive comprising:

a disk drive base;

a generally E-shaped voice coil motor yoke coupled to the disk drive base, the voice coil motor yoke including a first prong having opposing engagement and distal ends, the first prong including a projection extending from the engagement end, the yoke further includes a generally C-shaped yoke body, the yoke body including second and third prongs and a transition section disposed between the second and third prongs, the transition section including an engagement opening formed in the transition section and configured to engage the projection of the first prong, the engagement opening comprising a pair of openings laterally disposed about the transition section, the projection comprising a pair of projections extending from the engagement end, the projections being engaged within the engagement openings with the transition section disposed between the projections;

a first voice coil magnet supported by the second prong;

a second voice coil magnet supported by the third prong, the second voice coil magnet having a same polarity disposed towards the first prong as the first voice coil magnet having disposed towards the first prong; and

an actuator configured to rotate about an axis of rotation, the actuator including an actuator body rotatably coupled to the disk drive base and an actuator coil coupled to the actuator body, the actuator coil defining a coil axis of rotation, the actuator coil being positionable about the first prong and between the first and second voice coil magnets.

17. A disk drive comprising:

a disk drive base;

a generally E-shaped voice coil motor yoke coupled to the disk drive base, the voice coil motor yoke including a first prong having opposing engagement and distal ends, the first prong including a projection extending from the engagement end, the yoke further includes a generally C-shaped yoke body, the yoke body including second and third prongs and a transition section disposed between the second and third prongs, the transition section including an engagement opening formed in the transition section and configured to engage the projection of the first prong, the engagement openings comprising multiple openings, the projection comprising multiple projections extending from the engagement end, each of the projections being respectively engaged within the engagement openings;

a first voice coil magnet supported by the second prong;

a second voice coil magnet supported by the third prong, the second voice coil magnet having a same polarity disposed towards the first prong as the first voice coil magnet having disposed towards the first prong; and

an actuator configured to rotate about an axis of rotation, the actuator including an actuator body rotatably coupled to the disk drive base and an actuator coil coupled to the actuator body, the actuator coil defining a coil axis of rotation, the actuator coil being positionable about the first prong and between the first and second voice coil magnets.

18. A disk drive comprising:

a disk drive base;

a generally E-shaped voice coil motor yoke coupled to the disk drive base, the voice coil motor yoke including a first prong having opposing engagement and distal ends, the first prong including a projection extending from the engagement end, the yoke further includes a generally C-shaped yoke body, the yoke body including second and third prongs and a transition section disposed between the second and third prongs, the first prong having a thickness about twice that of the second and third prongs, the transition section including an engagement opening formed in the transition section and configured to engage the projection of the first prong;

a first voice coil magnet supported by the second prong;

a second voice coil magnet supported by the third prong, the second voice coil magnet having a same polarity disposed towards the first prong as the first voice coil magnet having disposed towards the first prong; and

an actuator configured to rotate about an axis of rotation, the actuator including an actuator body rotatably coupled to the disk drive base and an actuator coil coupled to the actuator body, the actuator coil defining a coil axis of rotation, the actuator coil being positionable about the first prong and between the first and second voice coil magnets.

Assignments (8)