IP Library Granted Patent US 11,373,677
Granted Patent B2
US 11,373,677 · App. 16/994,472 · Granted Jun 28, 2022

Double bend VCM yoke structure

Inventors: Miki Namihisa (Kanagawa, JP); Kouki Uefune (Kanagawa, JP); Toshio Takahashi (Tokyo, JP); Yuichi Arai (Kanagawa, JP)
Assignee: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
G11B5/5504G11B5/584H02K41/0356G11B15/46
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,373,677
App. No.
16/994,472
Granted
Jun 28, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present disclosure generally relates to a voice coil motor (VCM) yoke for a data storage device. The VCM yoke has a unitary body turned back on itself at opposite ends to form a “C” shape. The unitary body is electrically conductive. The body has a substantially flat inner surface upon which the coil is disposed. The unitary body also has a substantially flat top and a substantially flat bottom surface. A coil is disposed within the turns of the unitary body. The VCM yoke can be coupled to an actuator block using one or more fastening mechanisms that extend through openings in the VCM yoke.

Claims (51)

1. A voice coil motor (VCM) yoke assembly, comprising:

a unitary body having a “C” shape when viewed from a top view, the unitary body comprising:

a backbone portion,

a first arm portion coupled to the backbone portion,

a first hand portion coupled to the first arm portion;

a second arm portion coupled to the backbone portion; and

a second hand portion coupled to the second arm portion, wherein at least one of the first arm portion and the second arm portion has an opening therethrough; and

a plurality of magnets coupled to the unitary body, wherein at least two magnets of the plurality of magnets are coupled to the first hand portion.

2. The yoke assembly of claim 1 , wherein

the first arm portion has a first height, and wherein the second arm portion has a second height.

3. The yoke assembly of claim 2 , wherein the first height is greater than the second height.

4. The yoke assembly of claim 3 , wherein the opening is disposed through the first arm portion.

5. A data storage device comprising the yoke assembly of claim 1 .

6. A voice coil motor (VCM) yoke assembly, comprising:

a unitary body including:

a backbone portion,

a first arm portion coupled to the backbone portion,

a first hand portion coupled to the first arm portion,

a second arm portion coupled to the backbone portion, and

a second hand portion coupled to the second arm portion,

wherein the backbone portion has one or more openings formed therethrough,

wherein the first arm portion extends substantially perpendicular from the backbone portion,

wherein the first hand portion extends substantially perpendicular from the first arm portion,

wherein the second arm portion is substantially parallel to the first arm portion, and

wherein the second hand portion is substantially parallel to the first hand portion; and

a plurality of magnets coupled to the unitary body.

7. The yoke assembly of claim 6 , wherein the first hand portion and the second hand portion are disposed within a common plane when viewed from a top view.

8. The yoke assembly of claim 6 , wherein the one or more openings comprises two openings.

9. The yoke assembly of claim 8 , wherein the backbone portion includes a top surface, a bottom surface, a front surface coupled between the top surface and the bottom surface, and a back surface coupled between the top surface and the bottom surface, wherein the two openings extend from the front surface to the back surface, wherein a first opening of the two openings is spaced a first distance from the top surface, wherein a second opening of the two openings is spaced a second distance from the top surface, and wherein the first distance is less than the second distance.

10. The yoke assembly of claim 6 , wherein the first arm has a first length, wherein the second arm has a second length, and wherein the first length is substantially equal to the second length.

11. The yoke assembly of claim 6 , wherein at least a first magnet of the plurality of magnets is coupled to the backbone portion, wherein at least a second magnet is coupled to the first hand portion.

12. The yoke assembly of claim 6 , wherein at least a first magnet of the plurality of magnets is coupled to the first hand portion, wherein at least a second magnet is coupled to the second hand portion.

13. The yoke assembly of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of magnets comprises eight magnets.

14. The yoke assembly of claim 6 , wherein the first arm portion and the second arm portion have different heights.

15. The yoke assembly of claim 14 , wherein the arm portion with the greatest height has an opening therethrough.

16. The yoke assembly of claim 6 , wherein at least one of the first arm portion and the second arm portion have an opening therethrough.

17. A data storage device comprising the yoke assembly of claim 6 .

18. A voice coil motor (VCM) yoke assembly, comprising:

a unitary body having four bends, wherein the four bends are all in a same direction, wherein ends of the unitary body are aligned in a common plane when viewed from a top view, and wherein the ends of the unitary body are spaced apart by an end distance; and

at least four magnets coupled to the unitary body, wherein:

a first magnet and a second magnet of the at least four magnets are linearly aligned when viewed from the top view,

a third magnet and a fourth magnet of the at least four magnets are linearly aligned when viewed from the top view,

the first magnet and the third magnet are linearly aligned when viewed from the top view,

the second magnet and the fourth magnet at linearly aligned when viewed from the top view,

the first magnet is spaced from the second magnet by a first distance,

the third magnet and the fourth magnet are spaced apart by a second distance,

the second distance is substantially equal to the first distance and the end distance,

the first magnet is spaced from the third magnetic a third distance, and

the second magnet is spaced from the fourth magnetic a fourth distance.

19. The yoke assembly of claim 18 , wherein the unitary body has a non-uniform height.

20. A data storage device comprising the yoke assembly of claim 18 .

Assignments (5)
PATENT COLLATERAL AGREEMENT - DDTL LOAN AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 21, 2023
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 067045/0156 →
PATENT COLLATERAL AGREEMENT - A&R LOAN AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 21, 2023
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 064715/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL 054475 FRAME 0421 Recorded Feb 8, 2022
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 058966/0358 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 18, 2020
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 054475/0421 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 17, 2020
From: NAMIHISA, MIKI; UEFUNE, KOUKI; TAKAHASHI, TOSHIO; ARAI, YUICHI
To: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 053512/0761 →