| NIDEC CORPORATION Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
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| 20120133225 | ROTATING ELECTRICAL MACHINE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE ROTATING ELECTRICAL MACHINE - A method of manufacturing a rotating electrical machine includes: fixing a rotor core to a shaft; assembling a stationary assembly in which a first bearing is fixed to a housing bottom portion of a substantially cylindrical housing member having a closed bottom and in which an annular stator is fixed to an inner circumferential surface of a cylinder portion of the housing member; inserting the rotor core into the stator; fitting an upper portion of the shaft into a second bearing supported by a bearing support member. The method further includes fixing the bearing support member to an upper portion of the housing member; and axially inserting a plurality of rotor magnets into a plurality of axially-extending hole-shaped or groove-shaped magnet holding portions formed in the rotor core, through a magnet insertion hole defined in one of the bearing support member and the housing bottom portion. | 05-31-2012 |
| 20120126646 | INTERMEDIATE CONNECTION MEMBER, STATOR AND MOTOR - An intermediate connection member which electrically connects an output terminal of a bus bar installed inside a motor case with an external connection terminal located in a distance from the output terminal. The intermediate connection member preferably includes both of a terminal member which is connected to the output terminal and a connecting line which is connected to the external connection terminal. The connecting line is defined by binding a plurality of wire rods together. | 05-24-2012 |
| 20120121426 | VENTILATION FAN - In a ventilation fan of inner rotor type in which a shaft is fixed to a motor supporting portion, the shaft is held by a shaft holding portion preferably provided by, for example, a metal member. The shaft holding portion includes a cylindrical portion which is fixed to a resin of the motor supporting portion preferably by being embedded through insert molding and into which the shaft is inserted, and a shaft holding flange portion extending outwards in the radial direction from either one of an upper end or a lower end of the cylindrical portion. | 05-17-2012 |
| 20120121407 | BLOWER FAN - A blower fan includes a housing arranged to accommodate an impeller, wherein an upper surface portion of the housing includes a motor fixing portion, a peripheral portion, and a plurality of ribs interconnecting the motor fixing portion and the peripheral portion, the upper surface portion including a plurality of air intake ports defined between the motor fixing portion, the peripheral portion and the plurality of ribs being arranged to oppose the impeller; and the peripheral portion includes a peripheral low portion arranged to surround or substantially surround outer peripheries of the air intake ports and positioned lower than upper surfaces of the plurality of ribs and a peripheral high portion provided with rib extension portions continuously extending from the plurality of ribs and positioned higher than an upper surface of the peripheral low portion. | 05-17-2012 |
| 20120113792 | SPINDLE MOTOR AND STORAGE DISK DRIVE APPARATUS - A spindle motor includes a stator unit and a rotor unit. The stator unit includes a stator, a base portion, and a printed circuit board. The printed circuit board has a connection portion and an extending portion extending from the connection portion. The base portion is provided on its lower surface with a recess portion arranged to accommodate the connection portion of the printed circuit board and a groove portion in which the extending portion is arranged, the groove portion communicating with the recess portion. The groove portion has a bottom surface on which the extending portion is arranged and a slant surface gradually sloping downwards as it extends away from the bottom surface in a circumferential direction. The region in the recess portion extending from the connection portion to a boundary between the recess portion and the groove portion is covered with a cured flowable resin material. | 05-10-2012 |
| 20120113791 | SPINDLE MOTOR AND STORAGE DISK DRIVE APPARATUS - A spindle motor includes a stator unit and a rotor unit. The stator unit includes a stator, a base portion, and a printed circuit board. The printed circuit board has a connection portion and an extending portion extending from the connection portion. The base portion is provided on its lower surface with a recess portion arranged to accommodate the connection portion of the printed circuit board and a groove portion in which the extending portion is arranged, the groove portion communicating with the recess portion. The groove portion has a bottom surface on which the extending portion is arranged and a slant surface gradually sloping downwards as it extends away from the bottom surface in a circumferential direction. The region in the recess portion extending from the connection portion to a boundary between the recess portion and the groove portion is covered with a cured flowable resin material. | 05-10-2012 |
| 20120113546 | MOTOR UNIT AND DISK DRIVE APPARATUS - A motor unit for use in a disk drive apparatus includes a motor portion, a housing member including a through hole defined therein, and a circuit board. The motor portion includes a rotating portion, a base portion, and a stator fixed to the base portion. The circuit board is arranged to extend from an outside of the motor portion to an inside of the stator through a gap defined between the stator and the base portion. The circuit board includes a connection portion arranged radially inward of the stator. A plurality of lead wires of the stator is connected to the connection portion. | 05-10-2012 |
| 20120107156 | BLOWER FAN - A blower fan includes a shaft including an outer circumferential surface, a rotor magnet arranged to rotate about a rotation axis together with the shaft, a stator arranged radially outwards of the rotor magnet in an opposing relationship with the rotor magnet, a substantially cylindrical holder unit arranged to rotatably support the shaft through a bearing, and an impeller arranged to rotate together with the shaft. The bearing includes a pair of axially spaced-apart bearing units. The rotor magnet and the stator are arranged between the bearing units. The bearing units and the stator are held on an inner circumferential surface of the holder unit. | 05-03-2012 |
| 20120093635 | AXIAL FLOW FAN - An axial flow fan includes an impeller rotatable about a central axis with a plurality of rotor vanes, a motor that drives the impeller, a base portion that supports the motor, a housing that includes an intake vent, an exhaust vent, and an inner peripheral surface surrounding the impeller and the motor, and a plurality of stator vanes that respectively connects the base portion and the housing, wherein the inner peripheral surface includes a first inner peripheral surface arranged to increase a distance from the central axis toward the intake vent or the exhaust vent in an axial direction, and a recess provided between the first inner peripheral surface and a stator vane included in the plurality of stator vanes and facing the first inner peripheral surface. Thus, airflow is allowed to smoothly pass through the housing, resulting in a decrease in noise generated in the fan. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120092792 | SPINDLE MOTOR, DISK DRIVE APPARATUS, AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SPINDLE MOTOR - A spindle motor includes a stationary portion, a bearing mechanism, and a rotating portion. The bearing mechanism is attached to the stationary portion. The stationary portion includes a base portion, a stator, and a wiring. The base portion is arranged to define a portion of a housing of the disk drive apparatus, the housing defining an airtight interior space. The base portion includes a recessed portion defined on a side thereof where the interior space is defined. The recessed portion includes an inner side surface including an adhesion region and a press-fit region. A lower portion of the bearing mechanism is fixed to the adhesion region through an adhesive, and press fitted to the press-fit region. An axial dimension of the adhesion region is arranged to be greater than that of the press-fit region. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120092788 | FLUID DYNAMIC BEARING MECHANISM INCLUDING COMMUNICATING CHANNEL, SPINDLE MOTOR, AND DISK DRIVE APPARATUS - A fluid dynamic bearing mechanism includes a stationary bearing portion including a sleeve portion, and a rotating bearing portion including an outer rotating portion. A lubricating oil is arranged between the stationary and rotating bearing portions. A first dynamic pressure groove array is arranged in an upper surface of the sleeve portion or a lower surface of the outer rotating portion. A second dynamic pressure groove array is arranged in a surface of the outer rotating portion or a surface of the stationary bearing portion in a region between the first array and a liquid surface. An end of the second array closer to the liquid surface is arranged radially inward of an opposite end of the second array. An upper end opening of a communicating channel defined in the sleeve portion is arranged radially outward of a radially inner end of the first array. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120086297 | MOTOR - A multipolar motor is simply wire-wound and an output thereof is capable of being switched. The motor includes at least 8 magnetic poles, an armature including at least 10 tooth sections; a commutator including at least 20 commutator segments, and brush-sets including 2 positive electrode brushes and 2 negative electrode brushes. A hook-holding section arranged to hook-hold conductor wires is installed on each of the commutator segments. Further, a group of coils is defined by using a single conductor wire that is wound onto each of the plurality of tooth sections and hooked onto the plurality of hook holding sections. This motor can switch the state in which the brush-set is energized. | 04-12-2012 |
| 20120075746 | BASE UNIT FOR USE IN STORAGE DISK DRIVE APPARATUS, SPINDLE MOTOR INCLUDING THE BASE UNIT, AND STORAGE DISK DRIVE APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SPINDLE MOTOR - A base unit for use in a storage disk drive apparatus includes a base portion; a stator core including a plurality of teeth; U-phase, V-phase, and W-phase coils; U-phase, V-phase, and W-phase common wires; and a circuit board. The U-phase, V-phase, and W-phase coils are wound on the teeth and arranged to define a U phase, a V phase, and a W phase, respectively. The U-phase, V-phase, and W-phase common wires are arranged to define the U phase, the V phase, and the W phase, respectively. Each of the U-phase, V-phase, and W-phase common wires is arranged to pass through a separate one of through holes to be drawn out beyond a lower surface of the base portion and electrically connected to the circuit board. Each of the through holes is sealed with a sealant such that the base unit is airtight. | 03-29-2012 |
| 20120063030 | FLUID DYNAMIC BEARING APPARATUS, SPINDLE MOTOR, AND DISK DRIVE APPARATUS - In a fluid dynamic bearing apparatus, an oil buffer is defined between a thrust gap and a pumping gap. The oil buffer has an axial dimension greater than that of the thrust gap, and/or has a radial dimension greater than that of the pumping gap. An air bubble generated in the thrust gap due to cavitation, for example, when a fluid dynamic bearing apparatus experiences a vibration can be dissolved in lubricating oil provided within the oil buffer. This prevents leakage of the lubricating oil due to the air bubble residing in the fluid dynamic bearing apparatus. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120063029 | MOTOR AND DISK DRIVE APPARATUS - Inner circumferential surfaces of a rotor holder and a turntable are in contact with an outer circumferential surface of a shaft. This stabilizes coaxiality of both the rotor holder and the turntable with respect to the shaft. An upper cover portion of the rotor holder includes fixing holes. The turntable includes fixing projections arranged to extend through the fixing holes to be in contact with a lower surface of the upper cover portion. A base end portion of each fixing projection is arranged at a level higher than that of an upper end portion of a corresponding one of the fixing holes. Therefore, even if dimensional errors of the rotor holder and the turntable cause a radial displacement between any fixing projection and a corresponding one of the fixing holes, the rotor holder and the turntable can be fixed to each other while maintaining coaxiality therebetween. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120044644 | FAN SYSTEM AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE - A fan system includes a pulse signal generation portion and a plurality of fans. Each of the plurality of fans preferably includes a motor portion; an impeller arranged to be rotated by the motor portion; a drive circuit arranged to drive the motor portion; a rotation detection portion arranged to detect rotation of the motor portion; and a rotation rate control circuit arranged to, based on a reference pulse signal supplied from the pulse signal generation portion and an actual rotation pulse signal supplied from the rotation detection portion, exercise feedback control on a rotation rate of the motor portion in accordance with a period of the reference pulse signal. | 02-23-2012 |
| 20120043862 | MOTOR - A motor includes a shaft, a bearing arranged to support the shaft such that the shaft is rotatable about a central axis, a rotating body fixed to the shaft and including a rotor magnet arranged in an outer circumference thereof, a stator arranged radially outward of the rotor magnet, a circuit board arranged to be perpendicular to the central axis on one axial side of the rotating body, and an encoder arranged to detect rotation of the rotating body. The encoder includes a reflection pattern arranged on a surface of the rotating body which is opposed to the circuit board, and a reflective rotation detection sensor arranged on the circuit board to detect the rotation of the rotating body by irradiating the reflection pattern with light. | 02-23-2012 |
| 20120033330 | SPINDLE MOTOR AND STORAGE DISK DRIVE - In a motor, a stationary portion includes a shaft portion and an upper thrust portion arranged to define a single continuous monolithic member together with the shaft portion, and arranged to extend radially outward from an upper portion of the shaft portion. The shaft portion includes a female screw portion recessed axially downward from an upper end thereof. An upper end of the single continuous monolithic member defined by the shaft portion and the upper thrust portion includes an upper end annular surface arranged to extend radially outward from the female screw portion perpendicularly or substantially perpendicularly to the central axis. An outside diameter of the upper end annular surface is greater than a diameter of an outer circumferential surface of the shaft portion. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120033329 | SPINDLE MOTOR AND STORAGE DISK DRIVE - In a motor, an annular radially extending gap is defined between an outer annular surface and a lower surface of an annular cover portion. The radially extending gap has an axial width smaller than a maximum width of an upper seal portion defined between an outer circumferential surface of an upper thrust portion and an inner circumferential surface of a tubular portion. An annular axially extending gap is defined between an inner cylindrical surface and a radially inner edge of the annular cover portion. The axially extending gap has a radial width smaller than the maximum width of the upper seal portion. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120033328 | SPINDLE MOTOR AND STORAGE DISK DRIVE - A spindle motor includes a stationary portion and a rotating portion. The stationary portion preferably includes a shaft portion, an upper thrust portion, and an outer tubular portion. The rotating portion preferably includes an inner tubular portion, a flange portion, an upper hub annular portion, and a lower hub annular portion. The flange portion includes a communicating hole. An upper surface of a lubricating oil is located in a fifth gap defined between an upper thrust portion and an upper hub annular portion, while a lower surface of the lubricating oil is located in a sixth gap defined between an outer tubular portion and a lower hub annular portion. The communicating hole and a space extending from the fifth gap to the sixth gap through a fourth gap, a first gap, a second gap, and a third gap are continuously filled with the lubricating oil. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120033327 | SPINDLE MOTOR AND STORAGE DISK DRIVE - A motor includes a stationary portion and a rotating portion. The rotating portion includes a sleeve portion. The sleeve portion includes a communicating hole. A dynamic pressure bearing is defined in a first gap between a shaft portion and the sleeve portion. An upper seal portion and a lower seal portion are arranged radially outward of the dynamic pressure bearing. The upper seal portion and the lower seal portion are arranged in communication with each other through the communicating hole. The communicating hole and a space extending from the upper seal portion to the lower seal portion through the first gap are filled with a lubricating oil. A fixing region where an outer tubular portion and a base portion are fixed to each other is arranged to overlap with the dynamic pressure bearing in a radial direction in plan view. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120033326 | SPINDLE MOTOR AND STORAGE DISK DRIVE - A spindle motor includes a stationary portion and a rotating portion. The stationary portion preferably includes a shaft portion, a lower plate portion, and an outer tubular portion. The rotating portion preferably includes an inner tubular portion and a flange portion including a communicating hole. An upper seal portion is arranged radially outward of a first gap, and a lower seal portion is arranged radially outward of a second gap. The upper and lower seal portions are arranged in communication with each other through the communicating hole. The communicating hole and a space extending from the upper seal portion to the lower seal portion through the first gap, the second gap, and a third gap are filled with a lubricating oil. The third gap includes a dynamic pressure generation portion arranged to produce a radially inward pressure acting on the lubricating oil. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120033325 | SPINDLE MOTOR AND STORAGE DISK DRIVE - A dynamic pressure bearing is defined in a first gap between a shaft portion and a sleeve portion. An upper seal portion extending upward and a lower seal portion extending downward are arranged radially outward of the dynamic pressure bearing. Each of the upper seal portion and the lower seal portion includes a surface including a lubricating oil located therein. The upper seal portion and the lower seal portion are arranged in communication with each other through a communicating hole defined in the sleeve portion. The communicating hole and a space ranging from the upper seal portion to the lower seal portion through the first gap are filled with the lubricating oil. The axial distance between the surfaces of the lubricating oil in the upper seal portion and the lower seal portion is arranged to be shorter than the axial distance between an upper end and a lower end of the dynamic pressure bearing. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120027577 | AXIAL FAN AND SLIDE MOLD - An axial fan includes an impeller and a housing including a side wall surrounding an outer circumference of the impeller. The side wall preferably includes at least one flat surface portion defined in an outer circumferential surface thereof, and a slit group including slits arranged to be spaced apart in a circumferential direction of an inner circumferential surface and extending in the same direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the flat surface portion from the inner circumferential surface to the outer circumferential surface thereof. Within the slit group, a total number of slits positioned forward, with respect to a rotation direction of the impeller, of a point of contact of the inner circumferential surface with a tangent to the inner circumferential surface which is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to a through direction of each slit is greater than a total number of slits positioned rearward of the contact point. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120026688 | AXIAL FAN AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE INCLUDING THE SAME - In an axial fan, a housing includes a side wall arranged to surround an outer circumference of an impeller, and a substantially square or substantially rectangular flange arranged to project radially outward from an outer circumferential surface of the side wall. The side wall preferably includes three slit groups each including a plurality of slits arranged in a circumferential direction and arranged to extend through the side wall from an inner circumferential surface to the outer circumferential surface thereof. Two of the slit groups are defined in portions of the side wall which correspond to two adjacent corner portions in an upper half portion of the flange, while the remaining slit group is defined in a portion of the side wall which corresponds to a lower half portion of the flange. The upper and lower half portions are divided at a line parallel or substantially parallel to two opposing sides of the flange and passing through a central axis. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120017229 | CHUCKING DEVICE AND BRUSHLESS MOTOR AND DISC DRIVING DEVICE IN WHICH THE CHUCKING DEVICE IS INSTALLED - A cone part in a chucking device capable of freely attaching and detaching a disc having a disc shape includes an abutting portion for abutting an inner peripheral surface of a central through hole of the disc with substantially equal forces along an entire circumference thereof and aligning the disc. The cone part is made of a resin material having a high slidability than that of a material used for the disc. | 01-19-2012 |
| 20120003109 | BLOWER FAN - A blower fan includes an impeller cup; a shaft including an end arranged to project axially upward from the impeller cup; a rotor magnet fixed to the shaft; a first bearing and a second bearing arranged axially above and below, respectively, the impeller cup; a first bearing support portion and a second bearing support portion arranged to support the first and second bearings, respectively; and a first housing and a second housing arranged on axially upper and lower sides, respectively. The first and second housings are joined to each other at an axial level higher than an axial position of a joint between the second housing and a second joining portion arranged to join the second housing and the second bearing support portion to each other. | 01-05-2012 |
| 20110318200 | BLOWER FAN AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME - A blower fan includes a rotor arranged to rotate about a rotation axis together with a shaft, a stator arranged radially outward of the rotor and opposite the rotor, a motor support portion arranged to support the shaft through a bearing such that the shaft is rotatable, and an impeller arranged to rotate together with the shaft. The motor support portion includes a base portion, a bearing support portion arranged to support the bearing, and a stator support portion arranged to support the stator. Each of at least a portion of the bearing support portion which is in contact with the bearing and at least a portion of the stator support portion which is in contact with the stator is defined by a metallic member coupled to the base portion, which is made of a resin, preferably through, for example, insert molding. | 12-29-2011 |
| 20110307911 | CIRCUIT BOARD, MOTOR, DISK DRIVE APPARATUS AND CIRCUIT BOARD MANUFACTURING METHOD - A circuit board for supplying therethrough an electric current to a stator including windings arranged to generate magnetic fields includes a body portion having a rectangular shape when seen in a plan view and mounted with electronic parts, and an extension portion protruding from the body portion substantially along a circumferential direction around a rotation axis of the motor when seen in a plan view. The extension portion includes a distal end extension opposed to the body portion through a gap when seen in a plan view. The transverse width of the extension portion is smaller than the gap. The body portion includes an outward connector portion connected to an external power source or an external circuit board. The extension portion includes a winding connection portion connected to the outward connector portion through a wiring portion. The windings are soldered to the winding connection portion. | 12-15-2011 |
| 20110299193 | FLUID DYNAMIC PRESSURE BEARING DEVICE, SPINDLE MOTOR AND DISK DRIVE APPARATUS - A fluid dynamic bearing mechanism includes a stationary shaft, a sleeve portion arranged to rotate with respect to the shaft, and a thrust portion including an upper end surface arranged oppose to a lower end surface of the sleeve portion. An inside surface of the thrust portion includes an inside surface contact portion arranged in contact with an outside surface of the shaft, and an inside surface lower non-contact portion spaced away from the outside surface of the shaft, and arranged to extend downward from a lower end of the inside surface contact portion. An outside surface of the thrust portion includes an outside surface inclined portion arranged in contact with an interface of a lubricating oil. The lower end of the inside surface contact portion is arranged at a level axially higher than that of a lower end of the outside surface inclined portion. | 12-08-2011 |
| 20110297474 | STATOR, BUS BAR UNIT, MOTOR, AND POWER STEERING DEVICE - A stator includes a core and a coil group. The core includes a ring portion, and a teeth portion preferably including twelve teeth portions projecting from an inside of the ring portion toward a center thereof. The coil group preferably includes twelve coils arranged in each of the teeth portions. The core is defined by coupling twelve cores which respectively include a teeth portion. The coil group preferably includes six coil pairs each including two coils joined to each other by a single conductive line. When the core is divided into a phase region and a neutral region equally along the axial direction, a first group of coils in each of the six coil pairs are arranged in the phase region, and the other coils are arranged in the neutral region. | 12-08-2011 |
| 20110271292 | CHUCKING DEVICE, MOTOR, DISK DRIVE APPARATUS AND CHUCKING DEVICE MANUFACTURING METHOD - In a chucking device, a rolling guide portion is arranged below an upper cover portion of a rotor holder and radially inwards of a cylinder portion of the rotor holder. This helps restrain the noises generated by the rolling movement of balls from propagating to the outside. Moreover, the turntable and the rolling guide portion are formed of a single resin member extending continuously through a through-hole defined in the rotor holder. | 11-03-2011 |
| 20110249362 | SPINDLE MOTOR HAVING CONNECTING MECHANISM CONNECTING LEAD WIRE AND CIRCUIT BOARD, AND STORAGE DISK DRIVE HAVING THE SAME - A spindle motor includes a base portion, a rotor hub, a stator, and a circuit board. The base portion preferably includes a through hole and is arranged to spread out radially around a central axis. The rotor hub is arranged above the base portion to rotate about the central axis. The stator is arranged above the base portion, and includes coils each including at least one lead wire. The circuit board is arranged radially outward of the through hole, and arranged on a lower surface of the base portion. The base portion includes a communicating groove arranged to join the through hole and the circuit board to each other. The at least one lead wire of the coils is arranged to pass inside the through hole and the communicating groove to be electrically connected to the circuit board. The through hole is sealed with a sealant. | 10-13-2011 |
| 20110241474 | ARMATURE AND MOTOR - An armature includes a core-back, insulator members, coils and insulating sheets. The insulating sheets are arranged between the coils adjacent to one another. Each of the insulator members includes a flange-shaped inner wall portion positioned radially inwards of each of the insulating sheets. The inner wall portions of the insulator members adjacent to each other include opposing portions opposed to each other in a radially spaced-apart contactless relationship. | 10-06-2011 |
| 20110235210 | SPINDLE MOTOR INCLUDING COMMUNICATING CHANNEL, AND DISK DRIVE APPARATUS - A spindle motor for use in a disk drive apparatus includes stationary and rotating portions. The stationary portion includes a shaft including a thrust plate. A sleeve portion includes an axial end surface arranged opposite the thrust plate. A first seal member is arranged opposite the thrust plate on an opposite side with respect to the sleeve portion. The thrust plate preferably includes a plate communicating hole arranged to connect first and second thrust gaps defined, respectively, between the thrust plate and the sleeve portion and between the thrust plate and the first seal member. The sleeve portion preferably includes a sleeve communicating hole arranged to connect the first thrust gap with an opposite axial side thereof. A lubricant is arranged to fill a communicating channel extending from a first to a second capillary seal portion through the plate communicating hole and the sleeve communicating hole. | 09-29-2011 |
| 20110231866 | MOTOR - There is provided a motor for a disk drive apparatus. The motor includes a cone member, a substantially annular back yoke, a substantially annular clamp magnet, an adhesive agent, and a motor unit. A storage portion includes a clamper insertion portion formed in a position axially overlapping with the clamp magnet to accommodate the clamper when the clamper comes closer to the cone member. The back yoke includes a first surface opposed to the clamp magnet in a contact or adjoining relationship therewith and a second surface positioned near the clamper insertion portion and kept spaced apart from the clamp magnet. The cone member includes an adhesive agent staying portion arranged to accommodate a part of the adhesive agent. The adhesive agent stays portion being defined between the imaginary surface extending axially downwards from the circumferential surface of the clamp magnet facing the clamper insertion portion. | 09-22-2011 |
| 20110216442 | SPINDLE MOTOR AND DISK DRIVE APPARATUS PROVIDED WITH THE SPINDLE MOTOR - A spindle motor includes a rotary unit, a bearing mechanism, a stator, a base member, and a connector connected to a leader line extending from the stator through a communication hole of the base member. The connector includes a pedestal and a metal pin. The leader line is connected to a first pin terminal of the metal pin on a hole-positioning lower surface of a hole-defining portion of the pedestal. An upper surface of the metal pin is separated from the pedestal at a specified separation position between the first pin terminal and a second pin terminal. A connection position of the first pin terminal and the leader line on the hole-positioning lower surface is covered with an adhesive agent. The periphery of a gap between the metal pin and the pedestal over an extent from the first pin terminal to the separation position is sealed by the adhesive agent. | 09-08-2011 |
| 20110202940 | MOTOR, DISK DRIVE APPARATUS AND MOTOR MANUFACTURING METHOD - A motor includes a turntable and a rotor holder unified with each other by insert-molding. The turntable includes a protrusion portion protruding radially outward beyond a cylinder portion and a substantially cylindrical covering portion extending downward from an radial inner end of the protrusion portion to cover an outer circumferential surface of the cylinder portion. The rotor holder has a radial outer end portion arranged in the same radial position as an outer circumferential surface of the covering portion or arranged radially inward of the outer circumferential surface of the covering portion. For this reason, a sliding contact area between a mold and the rotor holder is reduced. This helps suppress sliding contact between the mold and the rotor holder during a mold releasing process, consequently suppressing degradation of the mold. | 08-18-2011 |
| 20110181221 | MOTOR - A motor includes a sensor magnet having a non-circular contour and a magnet cover fixed to an end portion of a shaft to cover the end portion of the shaft. The magnet cover includes a support portion positioned outside the end surface of the end portion of the shaft. In the support portion, a magnet hole having a non-circular cross section as the sensor magnet and extending in the direction of the rotation axis is provided. The sensor magnet is inserted into the magnet hole and fixed to the magnet hole. | 07-28-2011 |
| 20110169358 | MOTOR AND MOTOR MANUFACTURING METHOD - A motor includes a stator, a bearing, a cover, a shaft, a rotor holder and a rotor magnet. The cover member includes an outer cylinder portion arranged to support the stator on the inner surface thereof, an inner cylinder portion arranged to support the bearing on the inner surface thereof and a bottom portion arranged to interconnect the lower end of the outer cylinder portion and the lower end of the inner cylinder portion. The stator includes a stator core, an insulator arranged to cover the stator core and coils. The cover member is preferably formed by press-forming a single metal plate member. The insulator includes a protrusion portion positioned radially outwards of the coils to protrude upwards higher than the upper end of the outer cylinder portion. The upper ends of the coils are positioned higher than the upper end of the outer cylinder portion. | 07-14-2011 |
| 20110167436 | CHUCKING DEVICE, MOTOR, DISK DRIVE APPARATUS AND CHUCKING DEVICE MANUFACTURING METHOD - A chucking device includes a disk support unit on which a disk is placed, a resin-made turntable arranged to directly or indirectly support the disk support unit from below, a metal member including a circular plate portion closely secured to a lower surface of the turntable, and a plurality of balls rollably arranged below the disk support unit and above the circular plate portion about a center axis in a circumferential direction. The turntable includes an antiskid member, a bottom rolling surface arranged to support the balls from below through the antiskid member and a cylindrical side rolling surface positioned radially outwards of the balls. | 07-07-2011 |
| 20110150677 | MOTOR - In a motor, a bearing housing is made of a thermoplastic resin material. A bottom portion of the bearing housing includes a first large diameter portion, a small diameter portion, and a second large diameter portion. The first large diameter portion of the bearing housing is arranged on an upper surface of the base. An outer circumferential surface of the small diameter portion of the bearing housing is arranged radially opposite a side peripheral surface of a base hole. The second large diameter portion is arranged to be in direct contact with a lower surface of the base through caulking. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110134566 | SPINDLE MOTOR AND DISK DRIVE APPARATUS - A stationary portion of a spindle motor includes a base member and a magnetic member. The magnetic member is arranged below a magnet and fixed to the base member. The magnetic member includes an annular plate portion arranged on an upper surface of the base member, and a projecting portion arranged to extend from the plate portion in an axial direction. At least a portion of the projecting portion is press fitted to a wall surface of the base member. | 06-09-2011 |
| 20110132536 | MOTOR AND MANUFACTURING METHOD OF THE SAME - A motor is provided with a chucking device enabling attachment and detachment of a disk-shaped storage medium. In the motor, a turntable forming a portion of the chucking device is disposed axially above a rotor holder. The turntable has a placement portion on which the storage medium is placed. An inner recess is formed on an outer surface of a shaft between a position at which the rotor holder is fitted and another position at which the turntable is fitted. An outer recess is formed to radially face the inner recess and is concave away from a center axis. Adhesive is placed in the inner recess and the outer recess. | 06-09-2011 |
| 20110123139 | DYNAMIC PRESSURE BEARING AND SPINDLE MOTOR USING THE SAME - A dynamic pressure bearing has a reduced axial dimension and is constructed to ensure smooth feeding of a lubricating oil. The dynamic pressure bearing includes a communicating hole and at least one tapered seal, and is constructed such that an opening angle of one of the at least one tapered seal through which oil feeding is possible is in a range of about 30 degrees inclusive to about 180 degrees exclusive, a tapered seal wall surface depth W | 05-26-2011 |
| 20110122530 | SPINDLE MOTOR AND DISK DRIVE APPARATUS - A stator portion of a spindle motor includes a substantially cup-shaped base member including a bottom portion expanding in a radial direction, and a wall portion extending upwards from an outer edge portion of the bottom portion. A circuit board is fixed to a lower surface of the base member in a position on the outer side in the radial direction and on the upper side than the bottom portion. Accordingly, the thickness of the spindle motor in the axial direction can be reduced. The base member has a through hole formed axially through the bottom portion. An opening edge portion of the base member is covered with the insulating layer. A conducting wire from a coil is drawn through the through hole, led out along the surface of the insulating layer, and connected to the circuit board positioned on the outer side in the radial direction than the bottom portion. Accordingly, the conducting wire can be led to the circuit board while the electric connection between the conducting wire and the opening edge portion can be prevented. | 05-26-2011 |
| 20110122529 | SPINDLE MOTOR, DISK DRIVE APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SPINDLE MOTOR - A hub includes first and second side surfaces respectively opposed to inner and outer circumferential surfaces of an upper portion of a magnetic member, and a ceiling surface arranged to interconnect an upper ends of the first and second side surfaces. The adhesive agent is interposed between the inner circumferential surface of the upper portion of the magnetic member and the first side surface of the hub and between the upper surface of the magnetic member and the ceiling surface of the hub. Radial distance between the inner circumferential surface of the upper portion of the magnetic member and the first side surface of the hub and axial distance between the upper surface of the magnetic member and the ceiling surface of the hub are smaller than radial distance between the outer circumferential surface of the upper portion of the magnetic member and the second side surface of the hub. | 05-26-2011 |
| 20110119692 | BRUSHLESS MOTOR HAVING CHUCKING MECHANISM, AND DISK DRIVING DEVICE HAVING THE BRUSHLESS MOTOR - A space for accommodating therein a portion of an optical pickup mechanism is arranged below a disk loading portion of a turn table member of a chucking mechanism of the present invention. The space is arranged axially below a disk mounting surface. Since such space is provided, a recording/reproducing portion will be allowed to move closer to a brushless motor, and therefore a second lens arranged further away from the brushless motor will be allowed to move radially inward of a recording/reproducing area of an optical disk. | 05-19-2011 |
| 20110084562 | MOTOR - An armature includes an insulator component with a wiring member arranged in a wiring fixing groove positioned outside of an outer wall portion of the insulator component. When a lead wire is wound around the insulator component, a winding start portion and a winding end portion of the lead wire are arranged to intersect with each other in a radial direction to define an intersection portion. The winding start portion is pressed by the winding end portion toward the outer wall portion. A lead wire escape portion spaced from a radially outer end portion of a coil is defined in the outer wall portion. This contributes to preventing the outer wall portion from being deformed by being pressed by the lead wire at the intersection portion, thereby preventing difficulty in arranging the wiring member on the insulator component. | 04-14-2011 |
| 20110081258 | FAN AND MOTOR HAVING MULTIPLE INSULATORS WITH AN AXIALLY PROTRUDING CONDUCTOR PIN - In a motor, axially upper and lower end surfaces of the stator core are substantially covered by a first insulator and a second insulator, both of which are made of resin. A boss is arranged circumferentially between two neighboring teeth. Three bosses are arranged at three out of four positions defined between any two neighboring teeth. A conductor pin is inserted into each boss along an axial direction. The boss includes a hole extending axially upward from the axially lower end thereof, in which a conductor pin is fitted. An axially lower position of the conductor pin axially downwardly protrudes from the boss. The conductor pin is inserted into each of the notched portions arranged to the circuit board, and is soldered with the circuit board such that the conductor pin and the circuit board are electrically connected. | 04-07-2011 |
| 20110058334 | FAN APPARATUS, ELECTRONIC DEVICE, AND FAN-ATTACHED CASE - A fan apparatus includes an array of a plurality of axial fans arranged in at least two rows and at least two columns in parallel with a mounting surface provided in a case of an electronic device. Each of the plurality of axial fans has a rotation axis extending perpendicularly or substantially perpendicularly to the mounting surface. At least one of the plurality of axial fans is arranged to rotate in a first rotation direction to introduce air into the case or discharge air out of the case, while the other of the plurality of axial fans are arranged to rotate in a second rotation direction opposite to the first rotation direction to cause a flow of air in the same direction in which the at least one axial fan is arranged to cause a flow of air. Thus, a reduction in noise is achieved. | 03-10-2011 |
| 20110047561 | MOTOR AND STORAGE DISK DRIVE APPARATUS - A motor includes a bearing mechanism, a stationary unit including a stator arranged radially outwards of the bearing mechanism, and a rotary unit supported by the bearing mechanism at the upper side of the stationary unit for rotation about a center axis with respect to the stationary unit. The rotary unit includes a substantially cylindrical closed-top rotor yoke having a cover portion arranged to cover the stator. The bearing mechanism includes a substantially cylindrical closed-bottom bush formed by a press work, a sleeve fixed inside the bush and provided with an upper portion protruding beyond the bush and a shaft inserted into the sleeve. An upper end of the bush is lower than or flush with an upper end of the stator in a direction parallel to the center axis. | 02-24-2011 |
| 20110047560 | MOTOR, STORAGE DISK DRIVE APPARATUS AND MOTOR MANUFACTURING METHOD - A motor includes a stationary unit, a bearing mechanism, a rotary unit, and a chucking device. The rotary unit includes a rotor yoke provided with a cover portion extending around the chucking device and designed to allow the storage disk to be directly or indirectly mounted thereto and a removal-preventing member fixed to the cover portion to prevent removal of the rotary unit from the stationary unit. The removal-preventing member made of metal. The removal-preventing member includes a removal-preventing portion, an upper fixing portion having a plurality of upper protrusions inserted into the through-holes of the cover portion and bent toward the upper surface of the cover portion, and a lower fixing portion making direct or indirect contact with the lower surface of the cover portion and cooperating with the upper fixing portion to fix the position of the removal-preventing portion in a direction parallel to the center axis. | 02-24-2011 |
| 20110044837 | SLEEVE FOR HYDRODYNAMIC BEARING DEVICE, HYDRODYNAMIC BEARING DEVICE AND SPINDLE MOTOR USING THE SAME, AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING SLEEVE - A bearing stiffness of a sintered metal sleeve is prevented from lowering. A sleeve includes an inner section formed of metal powder for sintering and a resin for impregnation, and a surface deformation section which covers a surface of the inner section and is formed by shot blast process. Since the surface deformation section is formed by the shot blast process, the number of pores formed between the metal powder for sintering near the surface can be reduced. In this way, a supporting pressure at a bearing portion can be prevented from being released out through the pores, and the bearing stiffness can be prevented from lowering. | 02-24-2011 |
| 20110044799 | FAN APPARATUS - A fan apparatus includes first axial fans each arranged with a rotation axis thereof extending perpendicularly or substantially perpendicularly to a mounting surface provided in a case designed to contain an electronic device; and second axial fans each having a rotation axis coinciding with the rotation axis of a separate one of the first axial fans. The first axial fans are arranged to rotate in a first rotation direction to introduce, send, or discharge air into, inside, or out of the case, while the second axial fans are arranged to rotate in a second rotation direction opposite to the first rotation direction to cause a flow of air in the same direction in which the first axial fans cause a flow of air. Both of the first axial fans and the second axial fans either share a common single-piece housing or have separate housings joined together. | 02-24-2011 |
| 20110035764 | CHUCKING DEVICE, BRUSHLESS MOTOR, DISK DRIVE APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE CHUCKING DEVICE - A chucking device includes a turntable fixed to a shaft having a central axis and a cone arranged axially above the turntable. An annular yoke is arranged above a sliding portion of the cone and fixed to the shaft, and a clamp magnet is fixed to the yoke through an adhesive agent. The yoke includes an upper surface having an annular recess defined in a concentric relationship with the central axis, the adhesive agent being applied on a region of the upper surface existing radially inwards of the recess. The recess includes a radial outer wall parallel to the central axis and a radial inner wall inclined radially inwards and axially upwards. The angle between the radial outer wall and a lower surface of the clamp magnet is greater than the angle between the radial inner wall and the lower surface of the clamp magnet. | 02-10-2011 |
| 20110035763 | TURNTABLE - A turntable for storage disk drive apparatuses includes a plate member made of a ferromagnetic material and a central resin member arranged at the center of the plate member and formed by injection-molding a resin. The central resin member includes a disk guide portion provided on an upper surface thereof to guide a central hole of a disk and a plurality of gate recess portions indented upwards from a lower surface of the central resin member. The gate recess portions include ceiling surfaces positioned higher than the plate member. The ceiling surfaces include a plurality of gate cut portions formed in an injection molding process. | 02-10-2011 |
| 20110027075 | VENTILATION FAN - A ventilation fan includes a rotor holder rotating around a rotation axis, an impeller cup including a plurality of blades provided on an outer circumference thereof, and a base portion arranged to rotatably support the rotor holder through a bearing portion. The base portion includes an outer circumferential wall extending upwards in an axial direction from an outer circumferential edge portion thereof. A gap defining a labyrinth structure is provided between an upper end portion of the outer circumferential wall of the base portion and a lower end portion of an outer circumferential portion of the impeller cup. A lower end portion of a cylindrical portion is located axially lower than the upper end portion of the outer circumferential wall of the base portion. | 02-03-2011 |
| 20110026163 | PRODUCTION METHOD OF FLUID DYNAMIC BEARING, FLUID DYNAMIC BEARING, SPINDLE MOTOR, AND DISK DRIVING APPARATUS - According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a production method of a fluid dynamic bearing including: a shaft arranged along a center axis; an annular portion expanding radially outwards from the shaft; a sleeve having a top surface opposed to an under surface of the annular portion, for supporting the shaft and the annular portion in a relatively rotatable manner; and a lubricating fluid interposed between the shaft and annular portion and the sleeve, includes the step of preparing the annular portion having a substantially annular edge surrounding the center axis on the under surface; the step of applying a forming liquid for forming a solid lubricating film on the radially outer side of the edge of the under surface; and the step of evaporating a solvent of the forming liquid. | 02-03-2011 |
| 20110025148 | MOTOR AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING MOTOR - A motor includes a shaft, a rotor, a stator, and a housing. The stator preferably includes a core including a plurality of teeth, a plurality of coils, and electrically insulating tubes. The core is defined by a combination of a plurality of unit cores each of which has a separate one of the teeth. The plurality of coils include two or more continuous coils defined by a single line of a conductor wire. Each of the electrically insulating tubes is arranged to cover at least a portion of the conductor wire which passes between the continuous coils. | 02-03-2011 |
| 20110023057 | BRUSHLESS MOTOR, AND DISK DRIVE EQUIPPED WITH THE SAME - In a brushless motor for use in a disk drive, a rotor is mounted onto a tube portion of a housing. A retaining claw is formed at an upper end of the tube portion. A turntable has a central concave portion which accommodates an upper portion of the tube portion of the housing. A retaining member is provided radially outside the central concave portion, and includes a plurality of retaining pieces extending to the inside of the central concave portion. When the rotor is mounted onto the housing, the retaining pieces come into contact with the retaining claw and then move upward. When the rotor moves upward relative to the housing, the retaining pieces come into contact with the retaining claw, thereby restricting upward movement of the rotor. Upward movement of the retaining pieces is restricted by contact between the retaining member and the turntable. | 01-27-2011 |
| 20110019303 | FLUID DYNAMIC BEARING APPARATUS, SPINDLE MOTOR, AND DISK DRIVE APPARATUS - In a spindle motor, a capillary seal portion having a radial dimension that decreases in an axially downward direction, and a labyrinth seal portion arranged above the capillary seal portion are defined between an outer circumferential surface of a rotating member and an inner circumferential surface of a tubular portion. The capillary seal portion includes a liquid surface of a lubricating oil positioned therewithin. The radial dimension of the labyrinth seal portion is smaller than the radial dimension of an upper end portion of the capillary seal portion, so that the labyrinth seal portion contributes to reducing evaporation of the lubricating oil. | 01-27-2011 |
| 20110018384 | MOTOR - In a motor, a raised portion arranged to project toward a rotor magnet is provided on an opposed surface of each tooth portion. This raised portion provided on an opposed surface of each tooth portion. This raised portion is provided at a substantial middle of the opposed surface in a circumferential direction. This allows a waveform of a cogging torque generated by the raised portions and a fundamental of a waveform of a cogging torque generated by slot openings to be substantially in opposite phases. Cogging torque generated by the slot openings can be thereby reduced, because of the cogging torque generated by the raised portion. | 01-27-2011 |
| 20110018376 | BUSBAR TERMINAL, BUSBAR UNIT, AND MOTOR - A technique and structure for establishing a sufficient electrical connection between an armature and a power supply of a motor even for use in severe working environments through at least one busbar is such that each of the at least one busbar is connected a conductor wire arranged to supply a drive current to the armature of the motor. The structure includes a terminal plate having a through hole defined therein to allow the conductor wire to pass therethrough, and a terminal wall arranged to rise above the terminal plate from a periphery of the through hole. | 01-27-2011 |
| 20110006634 | BRUSHLESS MOTOR - A stator includes an annular core back portion, a plurality of teeth extending radially outward from an outer circumference of the core back portion, and coils. A cylindrical portion of a housing includes a contact portion and a coming-off preventing portion arranged above the contact portion on an outer circumference of the cylindrical portion. The core back portion includes a small-diameter opening defining portion and a large-diameter opening defining portion arranged above the small-diameter opening defining portion. The cylindrical portion is arranged radially inward of the core back portion. The stator is held by the cylindrical portion with a lower surface of the core back portion arranged in contact with the contact portion and an upper surface of the small-diameter opening defining portion arranged in contact with the coming-off preventing portion. A bearing member is arranged radially inside the large-diameter opening defining portion and above the coming-off preventing portion. | 01-13-2011 |
| 20110006625 | MOTOR - In a busbar unit, which is a distributing device arranged to supply electrical currents to coils, a busbar holder is arranged to support coil connection busbars and sensor connection busbars. A bottom surface portion of a busbar holder body portion includes a bearing holder holding a bearing defined therein, and includes resistors and capacitors defining a portion of a Hall IC circuit arranged thereon. The Hall IC circuit is arranged to input and output electrical signals to or from Hall ICs. An upper surface portion includes sensor holders each holding a separate one of the Hall ICs defined therein. A connector portion is arranged to project radially outward from the busbar holder body portion. The sensor connection busbars and each of the coil connection busbars are arranged one above another along an axial direction. | 01-13-2011 |
| 20110001388 | MOTOR - In a busbar unit, which is a distributing device arranged to supply electrical currents to coils, a busbar holder is arranged to support coil connection busbars and sensor connection busbars. Conductor wire connection portions of the coil connection busbars are exposed on both axial sides and welded to a conductor wire defining the coils. The sensor connection busbars are combined with a plurality of electronic components to define a Hall IC circuit designed to output and receive electrical signals to or from Hall ICs. Sensor connection portions of the sensor connection busbars are exposed on both axial sides, and welded to terminals of the Hall ICs. Electronic component connection portions of the sensor connection busbars are exposed on both axial sides, and welded to the electronic components. | 01-06-2011 |
| 20100329104 | SPINDLE MOTOR AND STORAGE DISK DRIVE APPARATUS - A spindle motor includes a stator unit and a rotor unit supported to be rotatable with respect to the stator unit. The stator unit includes a stator, a base portion including a through hole, and a circuit board. The circuit board includes a connection portion to which a conductive wire from the stator is connected after passing through the through hole, and an extending portion arranged to extend from the connection portion. A lower surface of the base portion includes a recess portion arranged to accommodate the connection portion, and a groove portion arranged to extend from the recess portion to have the extending portion arranged therein. A bottom surface of the groove portion includes a protrusion portion arranged to protrude downwards. | 12-30-2010 |
| 20100321823 | BEARING APPARATUS, SPINDLE MOTOR, AND DISK DRIVE APPARATUS - A bearing apparatus includes a shaft, a thrust cup including an annular potion and a cylindrical portion, a rotating member including a through hole defined therein, and a lubricating oil. A second gap defined between a lower surface of the rotating member and an upper surface of the annular portion of the thrust cup includes a first region in communication with a capillary seal portion, and a second region positioned radially inward of the first region and having an axial dimension smaller than that of the first region. A lower end portion of the through hole is open at a location radially outwardly away from a boundary between the first and second regions, so that a local circulation of the lubricating oil arises within the first region during rotation of the rotating member. | 12-23-2010 |
| 20100315742 | BEARING APPARATUS, SPINDLE MOTOR, AND DISK DRIVE APPARATUS - In a bearing apparatus, a first cup portion defining a portion of a stationary portion of a bearing apparatus includes a circular plate portion and a cylindrical portion projecting downward from an outer edge portion of the circular plate portion. A rotating portion of the bearing apparatus includes an annular recessed portion arranged to accommodate at least a lower end portion of the cylindrical portion. Accordingly, it is possible to limit the axial dimension of the bearing apparatus while also enabling both a radial dynamic pressure groove array and a pumping groove array to have a sufficient axial dimension. Additionally, one end of a through hole defined in the rotating portion is arranged to open into the annular recessed portion, so that any air bubbles introduced into a lubricating oil by the pumping groove array can be efficiently caused to flow downward through the through hole and out of the bearing apparatus. | 12-16-2010 |
| 20100313212 | TURNTABLE AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME - A turntable for a storage disk drive apparatus includes a plate member made of a ferromagnetic material and a central resin member arranged at the center of the plate member and formed into a single member by injection-molding a resin. The plate member includes a peripheral plate portion and a central plate portion positioned higher than the peripheral plate portion. The central plate portion includes a plate center hole defined at the center of the plate member. The central resin member includes a resinous cylinder portion extending through the plate center hole and defining a resin central through-hole, a disk guide portion arranged to guide a disk center hole, and a resinous connector portion arranged above the central plate portion to interconnect the resinous cylinder portion and the disk guide portion. | 12-09-2010 |
| 20100309588 | TURNTABLE AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME - A turntable for a storage disk drive apparatus includes a plate member made of a ferromagnetic material and a central resin member arranged at the center of the plate member and provided with an outer peripheral portion positioned above the plate member. The central resin member includes claws extending downwards from the outer peripheral portion and claw position holes overlapping with the claws in the direction parallel to the center axis of the central resin member. The claw position holes include inner surfaces spaced apart from an edge of the plate member. The inner surfaces are defined by the resin. The central resin member includes a resin layer extending in the direction perpendicular to the center axis. The resin layer exists between the portion of the edge of the plate member around the claw position holes and the claw position holes. | 12-09-2010 |
| 20100303647 | CENTRIFUGAL FAN - A centrifugal fan includes a housing including a base, a side wall portion having an air outlet defined therein, and a cover arranged above the side wall portion and having an air inlet defined therein. A circuit board is arranged on an upper surface of the base, and includes a circuit board protruding portion arranged to protrude radially outward of the housing. At least one of electronic components to be mounted on the circuit board is arranged radially outward from an inner circumferential surface of the side wall portion. | 12-02-2010 |
| 20100296190 | FLUID DYNAMIC BEARING APPARATUS, SPINDLE MOTOR, AND DISK DRIVE APPARATUS - A fluid dynamic bearing apparatus includes a first minute gap, a second minute gap, a third minute gap, a fourth minute gap, and a fifth minute gap. A flow of a lubricating oil from the fifth minute gap to the fourth minute gap is caused by a plurality of dynamic pressure generating grooves arranged within the fluid dynamic bearing apparatus. This flow causes air bubbles mixed in the lubricating oil within the fifth minute gap to flow toward the third minute gap and be discharged to an outside through the third minute gap. In addition, a flow of the lubricating oil into the third minute gap caused by a centrifugal force accompanying rotation is inhibited. | 11-25-2010 |
| 20100246349 | METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A STORAGE DISK DRIVE MOTOR, MOTOR FOR DRIVING A STORAGE DISK AND STORAGE DISK DRIVE APPARATUS PROVIDED WITH THE MOTOR - A storage disk drive motor | 09-30-2010 |
| 20100232993 | MOTOR - A motor includes a coming-off preventing portion including an inner circumferential edge defining a through hole, inside which a substantially cylindrical bearing housing is inserted, and being arranged axially above an insulator. The inner circumferential edge has at least two different radial dimensions. A boss portion includes a columnar portion inserted inside the through hole, and a collar portion extending radially outward from a lower end of the columnar portion. The collar portion includes an outside surface having at least two different radial dimensions, and an upper surface arranged axially opposite a bottom portion of the inner circumferential edge. The radial dimensions of the inner circumferential edge and those of the collar portion are arranged to allow the collar portion to be axially inserted through the inner circumferential edge only when the inner circumferential edge and the collar portion are arranged in a predetermined circumferential orientation relative to each other. | 09-16-2010 |
| 20100232967 | CENTRIFUGAL FAN - A centrifugal fan preferably includes a stator portion; a substantially cylindrical rotor holder; an annular support plate secured to an outer circumferential surface and/or a lower end portion of the rotor holder; and a plurality of blades secured to the support plate. The support plate is integrally defined by a substantially annular blade support portion arranged radially farthest from the rotor holder to support the plurality of blades; a cylindrical portion arranged radially closest to the rotor holder to encircle the outer circumferential surface of the rotor holder; and a sloping portion arranged between the blade support portion and the cylindrical portion to slope from an upper end portion of the cylindrical portion to the blade support portion. | 09-16-2010 |
| 20100215505 | BLOWER IMPELLER AND BLOWER - A blower impeller includes a substantially cylindrical cup portion, and a plurality of blades arranged on an outer circumferential surface of a circumferential wall portion of the cup portion. The cup portion includes on an inner circumferential surface of the circumferential wall portion thereof a plurality of axially extending first ribs and a plurality of second ribs arranged between the first ribs. The first and second ribs are arranged in a circumferential direction. A virtual envelope joining radially inner end portions of the first ribs has a smaller diameter than that of a virtual envelope joining radially inner end portions of the second ribs. | 08-26-2010 |
| 20100212143 | RESOLVER AND MANUFACTURING METHOD OF THE SAME - In a resolver of a motor, a plurality of wires forming a plurality of coils arranged at a resolver stator portion are arranged at a wiring surface which is arranged at a terminal block of a connector portion and extends between an annular shape surface arranged substantially perpendicularly to a central axis at a core back of an insulator and a plurality of terminal pins, and are connected to a control unit via the terminal pins. Each of the wires of the resolver includes a slackened portion formed at a portion thereof between corresponding terminal pins and corresponding coils. The slackened portion is accommodated in a groove portion arranged at the wiring surface of the connector portion in order to minimize the possibility of damaging the wire improving reliability of the connection between the terminal pin and the coil. | 08-26-2010 |
| 20100209264 | AXIAL FAN AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME - A fan includes sloping surfaces arranged at an inner peripheral surface of an air channel portion that are shaped such that an air passage is enlarged in a cross sectional area in a direction normal or substantially normal to a central axis. The inner peripheral surface of the air channel portion also includes a straight surface at which area the distance between the central axis and the inner peripheral surface of the air channel portion his substantially constant. Also, the straight surface of the air channel portion includes a plurality of slits each penetrating the air channel portion. | 08-19-2010 |
| 20100202080 | MOTOR AND RECORDING DISK DRIVE APPARATUS - A rotor unit includes a substantially circular plate shaped cover portion, a rotor hub including a lower cylinder portion, and a magnetic field generating member attached on the lower cylinder portion. An annular salient portion is provided on the lower surface of the cover portion | 08-12-2010 |
| 20100201213 | MOTOR - A motor includes a plurality of bus wires of a common phase which are put together before being guided in a common passage to minimize the space arranged to guide the bus wires. Also, the bus wires of a common phase are easily insulated from those of different phases, and an axial height of the motor is reduced. Further, a radial width necessary to guide the bus wires is reduced, and an axial height of the motor including a sensor portion which detects a rotary position of the motor is reduced. Also, the bus wires are easily extended from the armature, and an amount of work required to connect the bus wires and the terminals is reduced. Furthermore, the connection terminal portion does not interfere with the bus wires when they are being guided. | 08-12-2010 |
| 20100195250 | FLUID DYNAMIC PRESSURE BEARING DEVICE, SPINDLE MOTOR AND DISK DRIVE APPARATUS - A bearing mechanism includes a shaft, a sleeve portion, a thrust portion, and a cover portion. Lubricating oil is arranged in a communicating channel in the sleeve portion, a thrust gap between the sleeve portion and the thrust portion, and a tapered gap between an outside surface of the thrust portion and the cover portion. A lower end opening of the communicating channel is defined in an outer circumferential portion of a lower surface of the sleeve portion radially outward of the thrust gap. A radially outermost portion of the thrust portion is arranged either tangent to a wall surface of the communicating channel or closer to a central axis than the wall surface. The tapered gap is arranged closer to the central axis than a radially outermost point of the wall surface. The outer circumferential portion and the cover portion define a guide gap therebetween. | 08-05-2010 |
| 20100192169 | DATA STORAGE MEDIUM SUPPORT MEMBER, CHUCKING DEVICE, BRUSHLESS MOTOR, AND DISC DRIVE APPARATUS - A data storage medium support member is produced by resin molding. The data storage medium support member includes an accommodating portion, a guide portion, and a gate cut portion. The accommodating portion accommodates a magnetic member around a central axis. The guide portion has a guide surface for guiding an inner edge of a disc, and is arranged radially outward of the accommodating portion. The gate cut portion is formed on a rear surface of the guide portion. The data storage medium support member can be produced by the resin molding while securing space for accommodating the magnetic member and preventing an increase in the axial dimension of the data storage medium support member. | 07-29-2010 |
| 20100187923 | BUSBAR UNIT, MOTOR, AND POWER STEERING APPARATUS - A busbar unit includes a plurality of busbars including a first busbar and a second busbar, an insulating holder in which each of the busbars is arranged, and an insulating member. The holder preferably includes a first groove portion including a first opening portion arranged to receive the first busbar, and a second groove portion arranged adjacent to the first groove portion and including a second opening portion arranged to receive the second busbar. The first busbar includes a first terminal arm portion arranged to extend across the second busbar, and the insulating member is arranged between the first terminal arm portion and the second busbar. | 07-29-2010 |
| 20100181875 | SPINDLE MOTOR, DISK DRIVE APPARATUS USING SPINDLE MOTOR, AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SPINDLE MOTOR - A spindle motor includes a shaft arranged in an upward/downward direction along a central axis; a base member including a substantially cylindrical holder portion arranged around the central axis; a bearing unit arranged radially inward of the holder portion; and a rotating portion arranged above the base member to rotate about the central axis. The rotating portion preferably includes a mounting surface on which a disk is to be mounted. An adhesive containing an electrically conductive material and an adhesive containing an externally stimulated curing material and/or an anaerobic curing material are arranged in a clearance space defined between an inner circumferential surface of the holder portion and an outer circumferential surface of the bearing unit. The adhesive containing the electrically conductive material is arranged above the adhesive containing the externally stimulated curing material and/or the anaerobic curing material. | 07-22-2010 |
| 20100177627 | MOTOR AND STORAGE DISK DRIVE USING THE SAME - In the base bracket of the motor, the bottom-inner surface of the base bracket includes a first bottom-inner area arranged over a circuit board attaching portion of a bottom-outer surface to which the circuit board is attached, and a second bottom-inner area arranged other than the first bottom-inner area in a level axially lower than the first bottom-inner area. The second bottom-inner area defines a base of the concave portion arranged in the bottom-inner surface of the base bracket. A characteristic frequency of the disk storage device using the motor with the base bracket is preferably adjustable by changing the depth or width of the concave portion while the strength of the base bracket is preferably maintained. | 07-15-2010 |
| 20100166345 | FLUID DYNAMIC BEARING DEVICE - A protrusion ( | 07-01-2010 |
| 20100148607 | BEARING DEVICE, SPINDLE MOTOR AND DISK DRIVE APPARATUS - A bearing device includes a shaft, a sleeve and a thrust plate. The shaft includes a convex portion having a curved surface provided at one end thereof. The sleeve includes an inner circumferential surface opposed to an outer circumferential surface of the shaft. The thrust plate includes a concave portion having a curved surface and arranged to make contact with the convex portion of the shaft. The shaft is supported by the sleeve and the thrust plate such that it may rotate about the central axis with respect to the sleeve and the thrust plate. A curvature radius of the concave portion is greater than a curvature radius of the convex portion but equal to or smaller than about 2.0 times of the curvature radius of the convex portion. | 06-17-2010 |
| 20100142359 | SPINDLE MOTOR AND DISK DRIVE APPARATUS USING THE SAME - A spindle motor includes a shaft arranged concentric with as a central axis and extending in a vertical direction, a rotor unit arranged to rotate about the central axis, a stator including a base member and a magnetic member fixed to the base member and axially opposed to the magnet. The magnetic member includes an opposing portion axially opposed to the magnet so that a magnetic attracting force is generated between the opposing portion and the magnet and a protrusion portion protruding downwards from the opposing portion. The base member includes a recess portion, and the protrusion portion of the magnetic member is fixed within the recess portion. | 06-10-2010 |
| 20100129242 | BRUSHLESS MOTOR AND FAN UNIT - [Summary] [Object] A method to hook a magnet wire extracted from a coil | 05-27-2010 |
| 20100119385 | SERIAL AXIAL FAN - A serial axial fan preferably includes a first impeller and a second impeller each having a plurality of blades radially extending with a predetermined rotation axis as the center, a first motor portion, a second motor portion, a first housing, and a second housing. The first motor portion has a first circuit board on which at least one electronic component arranged to control the driving of the first impeller is mounted. The second motor portion has a second circuit board on which at least one electronic component arranged to control the driving of the second impeller is mounted. The first and second circuit boards are electrically connected. The driving of the first impeller and the driving of the second impeller are controlled by the electronic component disposed on at least one of the first and second circuit boards. | 05-13-2010 |
| 20100111731 | PUMP MOTOR - A pump motor includes a stator, a rotor and a housing accommodating the stator and the rotor. The stator has a plurality of teeth, each of the teeth being provided with a cap portion at its tip end. The rotor is arranged inside the stator in an opposing relationship with the cap portion of each of the teeth. The housing includes a fluid path defined therein. The fluid path includes a substantially annular gap axially extending between the stator and the rotor. The cap portion includes a first opposing surface and a second opposing surface provided in an opposing relationship with the rotor to define a portion of the fluid path, the distance between the first opposing surface and an outer circumferential surface of the rotor being greater than the distance between the second opposing surface and the outer circumferential surface of the rotor. | 05-06-2010 |
| 20100107401 | METHOD OF MANUFACTURING MOTOR - A method of manufacturing a motor includes the steps of a) winding a coil wire on a stator core, and forming a stator; b) press fitting the stator formed in step a) inside the a casing; and c) sealing at least axial ends of the stator press fit inside the casing with resin. | 05-06-2010 |
| 20100085662 | METHODS OF MANUFACTURING FLUID-DYNAMIC-PRESSURE BEARING AND SPINDLE MOTOR INCORPORATING THE BEARING, AND SPINDLE MOTOR AND RECORDING-DISK DRIVE INCORPORATING THE BEARING - In spindle motors journaled on fluid-dynamic-pressure bearings, especially in such spindle motors employed in recording-disk drives in implementations that subject the drives to vibration and shock, sealing performance of a capillary seal formed between motor rotor-side and stator-side bearing surfaces, cohesiveness of oil-repellant on rotor-side/stator-side dry-area surfaces adjoining the capillary seal section, and motor inter-component adhesive strength are improved. The capillary-seal-constituting rotor-side/stator-side surface(s) are exposed to a plasma or to ultraviolet rays under predetermined conditions to improve the wettability of the surface(s) for the bearing fluid. The dry-area surface(s) are similarly irradiated so as to improve their wettability for the oil-repellant. Adhesively bonded component surfaces are likewise irradiated so as to improve their wettability for the adhesive, enhancing adhesive strength. Exposed surfaces may be constituted of a synthetic resin to enhance their wettability further, or may be made of metal, to yield a cleaning efficacy from the plasma/UV exposure. | 04-08-2010 |
| 20100054965 | BEARING STRUCTURE, MOTOR, AND FAN APPARATUS - A sleeve support portion is arranged to support a sleeve having a rotating shaft inserted therein such that the rotating shaft is rotatable. A plurality of ribs extending in an axial direction is provided on an inner surface of the sleeve support portion. The ribs are preferably spaced from each other in a circumferential direction centered on the rotating shaft, and arranged to make contact with at least a portion of the sleeve. The ribs include a plurality of types of ribs, each type of the ribs having a different axial position of an axial edge, on an axially opening portion side, of a contact surface thereof which is arranged to make contact with the sleeve. | 03-04-2010 |
| 20100054931 | SERIAL AXIAL FAN - A serial axial fan includes first and second axial fans. The first axial fan preferably includes a first motor portion, a first impeller, and a first housing. The second axial fan preferably includes a second motor portion, a second impeller, and a second housing. In the first impeller, an angle defined by a rotational plane of the first impeller with a chord of each blade of the first impeller on an imaginary cylindrical surface centered about a central axis increases as the radius of the imaginary cylindrical surface increases. | 03-04-2010 |
| 20100033870 | FLUID DYNAMIC BEARING, MOTOR, AND RECORDING DISK DRIVE APPARATUS - Channels and gaps inside a bearing mechanism are filled with lubricating oil, and the lubricating oil is retained in a first tapered seal portion arranged radially outward of a sleeve, and a second tapered seal portion arranged between the shaft and an upper cap placed above the sleeve. An arrangement of groove-shaped recessed portions on an inner circumferential surface of the upper cap and raised portions on a lower surface of a top portion thereof contributes to increasing a channel cross-sectional area of a channel provided between the upper cap and the sleeve to connect the first tapered seal portion with the second tapered seal portion. | 02-11-2010 |
| 20100021317 | SERIAL AXIAL FAN - A serial axial fan includes first and second axial fans. Each of the first and second axial fans includes a base portion and a plurality of support ribs arranged to connect the base portions to housings. The first and second axial fans are coupled together with the base portions thereof either in contact with or in close proximity to each other. Each of the support ribs in each of the first and second axial fans extends over both housings of the first and second axial fans. | 01-28-2010 |
| 20100019627 | BRUSHLESS DC MOTOR AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOF - A brushless DC motor includes an embedded memory of a micro computer mounted on a circuit board which can be modified during and/or after a manufacturing process of the brushless DC motor. The circuit board installed on the brushless DC motor includes an IC having the embedded micro computer executing feed back control of the pulse wide modulation and the embedded memory for storing data such as control programs. The circuit board also includes a writing terminal port to which an external memory writer is to be connected. Data is transferred from the external memory writer and stored in the embedded memory by contacting the writing terminal port with a tip end portion of a cable from the external memory writer. | 01-28-2010 |
| 20100008800 | COOLING FAN UNIT AND METHOD FOR DRAWING OUT LEAD WIRES THEREOF - A cooling fan unit includes a hook groove locking a plurality of lead wires drawn out of a circuit board and being formed in a wall of a housing in a direction of drawing out the lead wires. The hook groove has a lead wire through path which extends substantially perpendicularly from an end edge of the wall of the housing and a lead wire guide which extends substantially perpendicularly from a bottom of the lead wire through path. At least two of the plurality of lead wires are crossed with each other between the hook groove and a connection portion of the circuit board with respect to the plurality of lead wires, so that at least one second lead wire inhibits displacement of a first lead wire, which is aligned closest to the lead wire through path out of the plurality of lead wires accommodated in the lead wire guide, to a direction of being disengaged from the lead wire through path. | 01-14-2010 |
| 20090318317 | LUBRICATING OIL FOR FLUID BEARING, AND FLUID BEARING AND METHOD FOR LUBRICATING FLUID BEARING BY USING THE LUBRICATING OIL - Disclosed is a lubricating oil for a fluid bearing, which has a low viscosity, a reduced amount of evaporation, and superior low-temperature flowability. The lubricating oil includes, as a base oil, a high-purity diester synthesized from a carboxylic acid material containing 90 mass % or more of azelaic acid and an alcohol material containing 90 mass % or more of 2-ethyl-1-hexanol. The carboxylic acid material contains glutaric acid, adipic acid, pimelic acid, suberic acid, sebacic acid and 1,9-nanomethylenedicarboxylic acid in a total amount of 5 mass % or less. | 12-24-2009 |
| 20090311093 | IMPELLER AND CENTRIFUGAL FAN - An impeller in a centrifugal fan includes a support portion having a cylindrical outer circumferential surface coaxial or substantially coaxial with a center axis and a plurality of moving blades arranged on the outer circumferential surface of the support portion independently of one another and configured to draw an air along the center axis and expel the air radially outwards when rotated about the center axis together with the support portion. At least one of the moving blades includes a first blade portion connected to, and extending radially outwards from, the outer circumferential surface of the support portion, at least one second blade portion having a radial inner end portion radially spaced apart from the outer circumferential surface of the support portion and a connecting member arranged to interconnect the first blade portion and the second blade portion. | 12-17-2009 |
| 20090290998 | ROTOR YOKE AND BALANCE ADJUSTING METHOD THEREOF - A rotor yoke includes a substantially flat or annular flat cover portion coaxial or substantially coaxial with a rotational axis and a substantially cylindrical side wall portion extending from an outer circumference of the cover portion in a parallel or substantially parallel relationship with the rotational axis. The rotor yoke further includes a substantially annular flange portion extending radially outwards from an open end of the side wall portion. The cover portion and the side wall portion define a cup portion whose center of gravity deviates from the rotational axis in a plane perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis, and the flange portion has an outer circumferential circle whose center deviates from the rotational axis in a direction opposite to the deviation direction of the center of gravity of the cup portion. | 11-26-2009 |
| 20090285699 | MOTOR AND FAN APPARATUS HAVING THE MOTOR - An electric motor includes a stator portion, a rotor portion, and a bearing mechanism, wherein the rotor portion includes a rotor holder having a substantially cylindrical shape with a closed end, and a field magnet fixed to an inner circumference of the rotor holder; the stator portion includes a stator, a base portion to which the stator is fixed, and a magnetic member; and the magnetic member includes a cylindrical portion having a substantially cylindrical shape into which a lower end portion of an insulator of the stator is inserted, the lower end portion being a portion of an outer portion of the insulator and opposing the base portion, and a flat portion having a substantially annular shape which spreads outwardly in a radial direction from a lower edge of the cylindrical portion and opposes a lower edge of the field magnet. | 11-19-2009 |
| 20090279816 | FLUID DYNAMIC PRESSURE BEARING DEVICE, SPINDLE MOTOR AND DISK DRIVE APPARATUS INCLUDING SAME - In a fluid dynamic pressure bearing device using ionic liquid as lubricant, a shaft member and a sleeve member are not corroded by the ionic liquid and static electricity generated is not accumulated. Aluminum with an oxide film formed on its surface is used as the material of the shaft member | 11-12-2009 |
| 20090252015 | BRUSHLESS MOTOR AND DISK DRIVE APPARATUS PROVIDED WITH THE SAME - A brushless motor includes a substantially flat attachment plate and a circuit board. The attachment plate includes a plurality of motor attachment portions and a base portion arranged to interconnect the motor attachment portions. The circuit board is arranged on an upper surface of the base portion and includes a first area to which electronic parts are attached. The upper surfaces of the motor attachment portions are arranged higher than the upper surface of the base portion. The height of the upper surface of the circuit board in the first area is substantially equal to or greater than the height of the upper surfaces of the motor attachment portions. | 10-08-2009 |
| 20090247433 | METHOD OF PREVENTING LUBRICANT FROM DETERIORATING, LUBRICANT, AND DYNAMIC-PRESSURE BEARING DEVICE - Disclosed are a lubricant whose oxidation degradation is inhibited, and a dynamic pressure bearing device which has a long lifespan by prolonging the period of time of depression of a lubricating function of the lubricant occurring as a result of oxidation degradation. Ester-based lubricating oil serving as the lubricant is brought into continuous or intermittent contact with an ionic compound or an ionic compound solution obtained by dissolving the ionic compound in a solvent. In the dynamic pressure bearing device, the ionic compound is provided in a portion of a bearing or a shaft member and is thus brought into contact with the lubricating oil, in which the ionic compound or ionic compound solution is substantially insoluble in the ester-based lubricating oil. | 10-01-2009 |
| 20090241140 | MOTOR WITH A CHUCKING DEVICE AND DISK DRIVE APPARATUS EQUIPPED WITH THE SAME - In a motor including a chucking device for detachably holding a disk, the chucking device has a center case to which a central opening of the disk is inserted; resilient members received within the center case; and claw members for holding the disk in place. Each of the claw members has a tip end portion, a disk holding surface positioned axially below the tip end portion for holding the disk in place, and a recessed sliding portion formed substantially at a circumferential center region of the disk holding surface, the sliding portion serving to guide movement of the claw member. Rest portions are formed in the center case to face the respective sliding portions, the rest portions serving to support the respective sliding portions by contacting therewith. The sliding portions are designed to make contact with the respective rest portions when the disk is mounted to the chucking device. | 09-24-2009 |
| 20090231754 | FLUID DYNAMIC PRESSURE BEARING DEVICE, SPINDLE MOTOR AND DISK DRIVE APPARATUS - A fluid dynamic pressure bearing device includes a shaft, an annular member, and a rotating member. The annular member is fixed to or seamlessly defined with the shaft and is radially opposed to the rotating member. The annular member and the rotating member are covered with a seal member. A first gap is defined between the seal member and the annular member. A second gap is defined between the rotating member and the seal member. A third gap is defined between the annular member and the rotating member. The first gap preferably has a width smaller than that of the second gap but greater than that of the third gap. | 09-17-2009 |
| 20090230801 | MOTOR AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING ROTOR UNIT OF THE MOTOR - In a rotor unit of a motor, field magnets are inserted into respective magnet holding holes of a rotor core. End plates are arranged on the upper and lower end surfaces of the rotor core to cover the magnets holding holes. Each of the end plates preferably has three bent portions extending perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the radial direction, the three bent portions being arranged circumferentially. The bent portions are preferably formed through press working such that they are protruded toward the rotor core. The rotor core includes end plate fixing holes. End plates are preferably fixed to the rotor core by press-fitting the bent portions into the respective end plate fixing holes while allowing side surfaces of the bent portions to make contact with inner surfaces of the end plate fixing holes. Accordingly, the end plates can easily be fixed to the rotor core without increasing the axial size of the rotor unit. | 09-17-2009 |
| 20090214337 | AXIAL FLOW FAN UNIT - A fan frame includes a first housing having a first end portion in which a first protrusion is arranged, a second housing having a second end portion in which a second protrusion opposing the first protrusion along a specified axis is arranged, the second end portion being in an axially opposing relationship with the first end portion, and a fixing member attached to the first protrusion and the second protrusion to fix the first housing and the second housing together. Further, a first locking portion is arranged in the first end portion and a second locking portion engaging with the first locking portion is arranged in the second end portion. | 08-27-2009 |
| 20090214336 | AXIAL FLOW FAN UNIT - A frame for a serially connected axial flow fan unit includes a first housing and a second housing coupled together. The first housing includes a first axial locking mechanism and a first unlocking mechanism, and the second housing includes a second axial locking mechanism and a second unlocking mechanism. The first and the second axial locking mechanism are locked against each other through their movement along their axis. The first and the second unlocking mechanism unlock the first and the second housing with a twisting force equal to or greater than a predetermined value when the first and the second housing are twisted relative to each other. When the first and the second end portion are brought into contact, the first and the second axial locking mechanism are locked against each other and the first and the second unlocking mechanism engage with each other. | 08-27-2009 |
| 20090212651 | MOTOR AND DISK DRIVE APPARATUS - A motor for holding a disk with a mounting opening in place includes a rotor unit including a rotor magnet rotatable about a central axis and a stator unit including a stator arranged opposite to the rotor magnet and a circuit board electrically connected to the stator. Wiring lines of the circuit board include output-side land portions electrically connected to first ends of coils of the stator, a connection-side land portion electrically connected to second ends of the coils forming a neutral point, a connection portion electrically connected to an external power source, output-side wiring portions arranged to electrically interconnect the output-side land portions and the connection portion, and a connection-side wiring portion arranged to electrically interconnect the connection-side land portion and the connection portion. Each of the output-side wiring portions has a width greater than a width of the connection-side wiring portion. | 08-27-2009 |
| 20090212648 | SPINDLE MOTOR AND STORAGE DISK DRIVE APPARATUS - A spindle motor includes a rotor unit and a stator unit arranged to rotatably support the rotor unit about a central axis through a fluid dynamic pressure generated in a lubricant held within a bearing gap between the rotor unit and the stator unit. The bearing gap has an annular opening coaxial or substantially coaxial with the central axis, the lubricant defining a capillary seal near the opening within the bearing gap. An oil buffer continuously expanding outwards from the opening of the bearing gap is provided between the rotor unit and the stator unit, the oil buffer being used in temporarily storing the lubricant when the lubricant is filled into the bearing gap, and an oleophobic treatment is performed on a surface of the rotor unit and a surface of the stator unit outside the oil buffer. | 08-27-2009 |
| 20090212646 | BALANCE MEMBER, MOTOR, AND DISK DRIVE APPARATUS - A balance member includes a first arc-shaped portion extending in a circumferential direction about a predetermined central axis, and a second arc-shaped portion having an end portion opposing and connected to an end portion of the first arc-shaped portion. The thickness of the first arc-shaped portion is greater than the thickness of the second arc-shaped portion. | 08-27-2009 |
| 20090196540 | DYNAMIC FLUID PRESSURE BEARING, SPINDLE MOTOR, DISK DRIVE APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE DYNAMIC FLUID PRESSURE BEARING - A fluid dynamic pressure bearing includes a shaft arranged along a central axis, an annular member fixed to the shaft, a sleeve, a lubricant, and a lubricating film. A stepped surface is provided on the outer circumferential surface of the shaft. The annular member preferably includes a lower surface extending radially with respect to the central axis and arranged to make contact with the stepped surface in the inner edge portion of the lower surface. The sleeve preferably includes an upper surface axially opposed to the lower surface of the annular member. The lubricant is provided between the shaft and the sleeve and between the annular member and the sleeve. The lubricating film is provided on the lower surface of the annular member at least over a region lying radially outwardly of the inner edge portion of the lower surface. | 08-06-2009 |
| 20090196154 | METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A BEARING MECHANISM, ELECTRIC MOTOR AND STORAGE DISK DRIVE APPARATUS - A method for manufacturing a bearing mechanism used in an electric motor includes (a) inserting an annular member into a substantially cylindrical closed-bottom cup member to bring a first end portion of a shaft fitted to the annular member into contact with a thermoplastic resin member arranged on an inner bottom surface of the cup member, bringing the annular member into contact with the shaft in a direction leading from an opening of the cup member to a bottom portion of the cup member, and fixing the annular member to the cup member; and (b) deforming the resin member by externally heating the bottom portion of the cup member and applying a load acting toward the bottom portion on a second end portion of the shaft. Further, an electric motor includes a rotor unit, a stator unit, and the bearing mechanism manufactured by this method. | 08-06-2009 |
| 20090195095 | SPINDLE MOTOR AND STORAGE DISK DRIVE APPARATUS - A spindle motor includes a stator unit and a rotor unit. The stator unit includes a stator, a base portion, and a printed circuit board. The printed circuit board has a connection portion and an extending portion extending from the connection portion. The base portion is provided on its lower surface with a recess portion arranged to accommodate the connection portion of the printed circuit board and a groove portion in which the extending portion is arranged, the groove portion communicating with the recess portion. The groove portion has a bottom surface on which the extending portion is arranged and a slant surface gradually sloping downwards as it extends away from the bottom surface in a circumferential direction. The region in the recess portion extending from the connection portion to a boundary between the recess portion and the groove portion is covered with a cured flowable resin material. | 08-06-2009 |
| 20090190869 | FLUID DYNAMIC BEARING DEVICE - The fluid dynamic bearing device includes a housing, two bearing sleeves fixed to the housing at positions axially spaced apart from each other, and a shaft member inserted along inner peripheries of the bearing sleeves. The housing includes a spacer portion protruding further radially inwardly than inner peripheral surfaces to which the bearing sleeves are fixed. An axial fluid path is formed in the spacer portion, and the axial fluid path communicates to flow paths formed by axial grooves of the bearing sleeves. | 07-30-2009 |
| 20090183190 | LASER PROCESSING METHOD - In a laser processing method, a workpiece is set with respect to a jig having a laser passage hole and a relative position of the jig and the workpiece is determined so that the laser passage hole can face toward a target processing point on the workpiece. Then, laser light is irradiated on the target processing point through the laser passage hole while creating a stream of an inert gas flowing from a peripheral area of the target processing point toward the target processing point and flowing away from the workpiece through the laser passage hole. | 07-16-2009 |
| 20090179529 | RESOLVER, MOTOR, POWER STEERING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE RESOLVER - A resolver includes a stationary unit centered about a center axis, and a rotary unit disposed inside or outside the stationary unit to be rotatable around the center axis with respect to the stationary unit. The stationary unit includes teeth radially arranged around the center axis, and an insulator covering surfaces of the teeth. The stationary unit further includes output coils formed on the teeth by winding at least one of two output wires around each of the teeth via the insulator in a first number of turns and in multiple layers, and excitation coils formed on the teeth by winding an excitation wire around the output coils in multiple layers and in a second number of turns less than the first number of turns. | 07-16-2009 |
| 20090175720 | AXIAL FAN AND FRAME THEREOF - An axial fan includes a motor section, an impeller, a housing, and a plurality of supporting ribs. The motor section and the impeller are disposed on the inside of the housing. In a connecting region between an inner end portion of the supporting rib and the base section, a first corner portion and a second corner portion are formed on the side of a rotational direction of the impeller and on the side opposite to the rotational direction, respectively. A curvature radius of the first corner portion is larger than a curvature radius of the second corner portion. | 07-09-2009 |
| 20090174272 | MOTOR AND DISK DRIVE USING THE SAME - A thrust yoke is fixed into a second recessed portion of a base with adhesive. The second recessed portion has a first surface to be in contact with the bottom surface of the thrust yoke, and a second surface axially opposing the bottom surface of the thrust yoke with a gap therebetween. The thrust yoke has a bent portion at its radial end. The bent portion is bent downward. The thrust yoke also has a protruding portion extending downward from the bent portion. The protruding portion axially opposes the second surface of the second recessed portion of the base with a gap therebetween. | 07-09-2009 |
| 20090168639 | SPINDLE MOTOR AND DISK DRIVE APPARATUS PROVIDED WITH THE SAME - A spindle motor includes a rotor unit rotatably supported by a bearing portion arranged to rotate about a central axis, a stator radially opposed to the rotor magnet with a gap therebetween and a substantially ring-shaped magnetic member arranged within a gap at an axial space between a disk and coil layers of the stator. The magnetic member includes a first planar portion and a second planar portion formed in a region overlapping with a moving region of a head unit, the first planar portion being positioned higher than the second planar portion. A carriage unit arranged to support the head unit may be accommodated within a space defined by the radial outer surface of the first planar portion, the upper surface of the second planar portion and the lower surface of the disk. Further, the coil layers can be made radially non-uniform in conformity with the shape of the magnetic member. | 07-02-2009 |
| 20090165284 | BEARING MECHANISM MANUFACTURING METHOD, MOTOR AND STORAGE DISK DRIVE APPARATUS - A method for manufacturing a bearing mechanism includes the steps of: (a) setting a position of an annular member relative to a center axis; (b) moving the annular member toward an opening of a sleeve housing through a shaft by pressing and elastically deforming a bottom portion of the sleeve housing; (c) releasing the pressing to restore the bottom portion to its original shape; and (d) fixing the annular member to the sleeve housing. Herein, the step (b) is performed by arranging the annular member within the sleeve housing, making one end portion of the shaft received in the annular member contact an inner bottom surface of the sleeve housing or with a thrust member disposed thereon, and making the annular member contact the shaft in a direction leading from the opening to the bottom portion of the sleeve housing. | 07-02-2009 |
| 20090161253 | BEARING MECHANISM, MOTOR AND STORAGE DISK DRIVE APPARATUS - A bearing mechanism includes a cylindrical bottom-closed sleeve unit; a shaft unit radially supported by the sleeve unit via a lubricant; and an elastic thrust plate on an inner bottom surface of the sleeve unit to contact an end portion of the shaft unit at a position on a central axis to rotatably support the shaft unit. The shaft unit has a first contact portion, and the sleeve unit has a second contact portion. The contact portions are so arranged that, when a force acting from above the inner bottom surface is applied, movement of the shaft unit is restrained by the contact portions making contact with each other. Further, a distance between the contact portions prior to the force being applied is smaller than the displacement of the shaft unit at which the thrust plate gets so pressed by the shaft unit to be permanently deformed. | 06-25-2009 |
| 20090155104 | CONTRA-ROTATING AXIAL FLOW FAN UNIT - An axial flow fan unit includes an intake side axial flow fan, an exhaust side axial flow fan, and at least one intermediate axial flow fan. Each of the axial flow fans includes an impeller having blades rotatable about a central rotation axis, a motor arranged to rotate the intake side impeller, and a housing having an inner circumferential surface that surrounds the impeller. The rotational direction of the impeller in the intermediate axial flow fan is different from that of the impellers adjacent thereto. | 06-18-2009 |
| 20090154008 | SPINDLE MOTOR AND RECORDING DISK DRIVE HAVING SPINDLE MOTOR - Using a simple and inexpensive method, a reliable spindle motor having a simple and inexpensive structure is afforded, in which contact failure of the FPC does not occur even when the motor undergoes external impact. An extending portion is provided radially outer side of an annular recess of a base. The extending portion has a step whose radially outer side is higher, and a through hole formed such as to pass through the base from its inside to outside. A FPC is disposed on an upper surface of a stator. The FPC is fixed to a lower surface of the base through the through hole. The bending height and the bending angle of the FPC are minimized by providing the step having appropriate height so that the FPC is not easily peeled off even when subject to external impact. | 06-18-2009 |
| 20090152969 | OIL-REPELLENT FILM FORMING METHOD, MOTOR MANUFACTURING METHOD AND MOTOR - A method is for forming an oil-repellent film on a metallic part in a dynamic fluid pressure bearing mechanism used for a motor. The method includes applying a flowable oil-repellent agent on an application region of the metallic part; arranging an induction coil in the vicinity of the metallic part; and affixing the oil-repellent agent onto the metallic part by applying an induction heating to the metallic part by supplying an AC current with a frequency of about 5 to 100 kHz to the induction coil. Further, a motor includes a dynamic fluid pressure bearing mechanism including a metallic part on which an oil-repellent film is formed by the above method; a stator unit; and a rotor unit supported by the dynamic fluid pressure bearing mechanism in a manner rotatable with respect to the stator unit. | 06-18-2009 |
| 20090148311 | AXIAL FLOW FAN UNIT - An axial flow fan unit includes a first and a second axial flow fan. The first axial flow fan includes a first motor, a plurality of first lead lines connected to the first motor, a first impeller rotatable about a center axis by the first motor, and a first housing arranged to enclose the first motor and the first impeller, wherein the first housing has a first recess portion extending from an inside to an outside of the first housing. Likewise, the second axial flow fan includes a second motor, a plurality of second lead lines, a second impeller, and the second housing, wherein the second housing has a second recess portion extending from an inside to an outside of the second housing. The first and the second lead lines are led out from the first and the second housings through the first and the second recesses, respectively. Further, the first recess portion is deviated relative to or partially overlapped with the second recess portion along a circumferential direction. | 06-11-2009 |
| 20090147478 | HEAT SINK FAN - A heat sink fan of the present invention includes a heat sink and a fan. The heat sink includes a base having a center axis and a plurality of fins extending radially outwardly from an outer circumference of the base and disposed in a circumferential direction. The fan includes an impeller portion disposed adjacently to the heat sink in the direction along the center axis, the impeller portion rotating about the center axis, and a frame portion for covering and fixing the impeller portion, part of the frame portion being opposed to the heat sink. The frame portion has at least one protruding portion. The protruding portion enters into a space between the fins which are adjacent to each other. | 06-11-2009 |
| 20090146598 | BRUSHLESS MOTOR - A brushless motor driven by a sensorless driving circuit includes a rotating body capable of being rotated about a center axis; a rotor magnet arranged coaxially with the rotating body; a stator disposed opposite the rotor magnet; and at least one coil wound around the stator. The brushless motor is driven according to a signal containing a third harmonic component relative to a fundamental wave component in an induced electromotive force. Further, an amplitude ratio of the third harmonic component to the fundamental wave component in the induced electromotive force generated in the coil preferably is about 1% or higher. | 06-11-2009 |
| 20090142204 | AXIAL FLOW FAN - In an axial fan including a motor, a substrate that connects the ends of a plurality of coils is disposed at a position axially under the bottom portion of a case with an axial gap therebetween. A spacer is interposed between the substrate and the bottom portion, and the substrate is fixed to the spacer. A plurality of through holes provided in the bottom portion are disposed in axial alignment with a plurality of through holes provided in the spacer. An air flow produced by rotation of an impeller at least partially passes through the interior of the case to be discharged to the outside of the case through the through holes in the bottom portion and in the spacer so that heat generated inside the motor can be efficiently transferred to the outside of the case. | 06-04-2009 |
| 20090133244 | METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SPINDLE MOTOR, AND SPINDLE MOTOR - A sleeve and a hub are fixed to each other, and then the sleeve and the hub are gripped and rotated around a central axis, during which cutting is performed over the inner peripheral surface of the sleeve and a flange surface of the hub. Thus, the flange surface can be finished accurately such that the flange surface is normal to the central axis and the inner peripheral surface of the sleeve. | 05-28-2009 |
| 20090110551 | AXIAL FLOW FAN - The present invention provides an axial flow fan including an impeller that has a plurality of rotor vanes and is rotatable about a central axis, a motor that rotary drives the impeller, a base portion that supports the motor, a housing that has an intake vent, an exhaust vent, and an inner peripheral surface to surround the impeller and the motor, and a plurality of stator vanes that respectively connects the base portion and the housing, wherein the inner peripheral surface has a first inner peripheral surface formed to increase a distance from the central axis toward the intake vent or the exhaust vent in an axial direction, and there is formed a recess between the first inner peripheral surface and a stator vane that is included in the plurality of stator vanes and faces the first inner peripheral surface. According to the above described configuration, airflow is allowed to smoothly pass through the housing, resulting in a decrease in noise generated in the axial flow fan. | 04-30-2009 |
| 20090108716 | BRUSHLESS MOTOR AND COOLING FAN - A rotor unit of a brushless motor includes a substantially cylindrical rotor magnet and a rotor holder arranged to retain an outer circumferential portion of the rotor magnet. A stator unit of the same includes a stator core around which coils are wound and a Hall IC for sensing magnetic flux generated from the rotor magnet. The stator core includes teeth disposed at positions separated in the circumferential direction, each of which has an arm portion extending outward in the radial direction around which the coil is wound, and a stretching portion extending from the arm portion outward in the radial direction and in the circumferential direction on both sides. A sensor element included in the Hall IC is positioned in the range within a lead angle of about four degrees or less as a mechanical angle in the circumferential direction from a line connecting radially the central axis and a point bisecting a line connecting neighboring stretching portions, and within a distance of about one millimeter or smaller outward in the radial direction from an arc connecting outer edges of the neighboring stretching portions. | 04-30-2009 |
| 20090103207 | ROTOR HUB, SPINDLE MOTOR AND HARD DISK DRIVE - In a method for manufacturing a rotor hub for use in a spindle motor, free-cutting stainless steel is used as a material of the rotor hub. A slug of free-cutting stainless steel is subjected to a plastic working to form a disk mounting portion and a cylindrical surface positioned radially inwardly of the disk mounting portion. Then, a cylindrical disk fitting surface is formed by machining substantially the entirety of the cylindrical surface. The rotor hub contains A-type inclusions appearing in a cross section taken along a center axis of the disk mounting portion. The A-type inclusions are oriented in directions different than the center axis. | 04-23-2009 |
| 20090096303 | MOTOR PROVIDED WITH CHUCKING DEVICE AND DISK DRIVING DEVICE EQUIPPED WITH THE MOTOR - A motor includes a rotating body including a magnet, and a fixed body including a stator. The stator includes a stator core having an annular core back portion with an upper and a lower surface, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart tooth portions extending from the core back portion in a direction away from the rotational axis, and a plurality of coils provided by winding a conductive wire around the tooth portions of the stator core with multiple turns. The rotor holder is arranged axially above the stator to cover the stator. Further, an annular or arc-shaped attracting magnet arranged to attract the rotor holder toward the stator is arranged radially inwardly of the core back portion, the attracting magnet having an upper surface axially facing toward the rotor holder, and a lower surface arranged axially below the upper surface of the core back portion of the stator core. | 04-16-2009 |
| 20090081036 | AXIAL FLOW FAN - An axial flow fan according to the present invention comprises an impeller which rotates about a central axis and including a plurality of blades, a hollow member accommodating therein the impeller, a base portion which is arranged at the hollow member and supports the base portion in a rotatable manner, a plurality of inner air guide members each connected to the base portion, and a plurality of outer air guide members each connected to the hollow member. | 03-26-2009 |
| 20090080817 | FLUID DYNAMIC PRESSURE BEARING, SPINDLE MOTOR, DISK DRIVER, AND PRODUCTION METHOD OF THE FLUID DYNAMIC PRESSURE BEARING - A thrust plate used in a fluid dynamic pressure bearing of the present invention includes a concave portion in which a lower end portion of a shaft is accommodated. The thrust plate is immersed in a lubricant, and is disposed between the lower end portion of the shaft and a bottom-portion upper surface of a bearing housing without being fixed to the bearing housing. | 03-26-2009 |
| 20090073656 | HEAT SINK, HEAT SINK FAN, AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME - A heat sink has a structure which enables the heat sink to be carried by a holding device in an automated production line. The heat sink includes a base portion at a center thereof and a finned portion around the base portion. The heat sink is arranged in contact with, or very close to, an object to be cooled, e.g., an MPU, and receives the heat generated in the object. The heat is then dissipated to ambient air from the fins. At an object-side end of the heat sink is provided a convex portion which has an engagement feature to be caught by the holding device while the heat sink is carried. | 03-19-2009 |
| 20090072638 | BRUSHLESS MOTOR - A brushless motor includes a motor drive unit, a circuit board arranged to drive the motor drive unit having through holes formed in the upper surface and the lower surface; and a motor attachment plate including a plate-shaped base portion and plate-shaped fixing portions to fix the circuit board in place. Herein, each fixing portion includes a support portion for making contact with a surface of the circuit board; an arm portion bent in a direction that is substantially parallel to the rotational axis; and a protrusion portion inserted into a through hole, having at least one overhang extension protruding from the through hole. The overhang extension of the protrusion is bent in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis. | 03-19-2009 |
| 20090064212 | CHUCKING DEVICE, BRUSHLESS MOTOR WITH THE CHUCKING DEVICE AND DISK DRIVE APPARATUS WITH THE BRUSHLESS MOTOR - A chucking device for removably holding a disk with a central opening, includes a shaft coaxially arranged with a specified center axis; a turntable fixed to the shaft, the turntable having a disk support surface for supporting the disk; and a resin-made cone arranged axially above the turntable, the cone including a shaft-fixed portion fixed to the shaft, a disk holding portion having an annular disk holding surface inclined radially outwardly and axially downwardly, and an arm portion for radially interconnecting the shaft-fixed portion and the disk holding portion. Herein, the arm portion includes a support portion extending radially outwardly from the shaft-fixed portion and an elastically deformable portion joined to the support portion for being elastically deformed to axially downwardly move the disk holding portion as the disk comes into contact with the disk holding portion. | 03-05-2009 |
| 20090056136 | METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THRUST PLATE, BEARING DEVICE, METHOD OF MANUFACTURING BEARING DEVICE, AND SPINDLE MOTOR - A heated tool is depressed onto the upper surface of a work in process piece made from a thermoplastic or thermosetting resin to deform the work in process piece, so that a concave portion is formed. In this way, a thrust plate with the concave portion can be manufactured easily and readily. By properly choosing a tool according to the radius of curvature of the lower end of a shaft, a concave portion having an appropriate radius of curvature can be formed on the work in process piece, and a thrust plate with high wear resistance can be manufactured. | 03-05-2009 |
| 20090040714 | FAN APPARATUS - A fan apparatus includes a fan section having a hollow housing with an inlet and an outlet, and a hollow duct section disposed on the outlet side of the fan section. The housing and the duct section are coupled by a coupling member. | 02-12-2009 |
| 20090039725 | BRUSHLESS MOTOR AND SERVO UNIT UTILIZING THE SAME - A servo unit is arranged to operate an actuator, and a brushless motor is utilized in the servo unit. The brushless motor includes a rotational portion provided with a shaft and a rotor magnet rotating integrally with the shaft, a bearing portion rotatably supporting the shaft, a housing provided with a cylindrical portion retaining the bearing portion and a base portion bulging radially outwards from an axially lower portion of the cylindrical portion, a stator provided with a stator core having an inner peripheral surface to radially oppose an outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion of the housing and coils formed by conductive wires wound around the stator core, and a motor circuit board disposed on an axially upper side of the base portion. The base portion of the housing is arranged on an outer peripheral surface with a substantially arcuate concave portion which is concave in a radially inward direction. The substantially arcuate concave portion contains a pin holder which is made of an electrically insulating material to hold a plurality of metal pins. The respective pins are electrically connected to the motor circuit board. | 02-12-2009 |
| 20090034118 | FLUID DYNAMIC BEARING DEVICE, SPINDLE MOTOR AND DISK DRIVE APPARATUS - A fluid dynamic bearing device includes a sleeve having a bearing hole into which a shaft is inserted, the sleeve rotatably supporting the shaft to make relative rotation about a center axis and a bearing housing made of a cold-rolled steel plate or a galvanized steel plate, the sleeve being received within the bearing housing. The bearing housing is filled with lubricating oil mainly composed of ester. A radial dynamic pressure bearing portion is provided between an outer circumferential surface of the shaft and an inner circumferential surface of the sleeve, the radial dynamic pressure bearing portion having radial dynamic pressure grooves for holding the lubricating oil as working fluid and for inducing a fluid dynamic pressure in the lubricating oil during the relative rotation. At least a surface region of the bearing housing remaining in contact with the lubricating oil is coated with a layer mainly composed of nickel. | 02-05-2009 |
| 20090022587 | HOUSING ASSEMBLY FOR USE IN FAN UNIT AND FAN UNIT INCLUDING THE SAME - A housing assembly for a fan unit includes an upper housing having a lower engaging portion adjacent to its lower end surface and a lower housing having an upper engaging portion adjacent to its upper end surface. When one of the upper and lower housings rotates relative to the other about a center axis of the housings in a first direction with the opposing end surfaces of the housings in axial contact, the lower and upper engaging portions engage with each other. While the lower and upper engaging portions are in engagement, one of the lower and upper engaging portions presses the other in both axial directions to cause elastic axial deformation of the other; and one of the lower and upper engaging portions presses the other toward both the first direction and a second direction opposite thereto to cause elastic circumferential deformation of the other. | 01-22-2009 |
| 20090022438 | BEARING ASSEMBLY, MOTOR, AND DISK DRIVE - A sleeve and a sleeve housing are bonded to each other with adhesive. A thrust dynamic pressure bearing portion is configured between a thrust plate attached to a distal end of a shaft and the lower end surface of the sleeve. An annular step portion having a smaller diameter is provided at the lower side of the sleeve housing, and the annular step portion meets the sleeve. An annular raised portion is provided between thrust dynamic pressure grooves on the lower end surface of the sleeve and the annular step portion. In this configuration, the surplus adhesive leaked from between the sleeve and the annular step portion can be blocked by the annular raised portion, thereby preventing the adhesive from flowing into the thrust dynamic pressure bearing portion. | 01-22-2009 |
| 20090022436 | BEARING UNIT, MOTOR AND DISK DRIVE APPARATUS WITH THE BEARING UNIT - A bearing unit includes a shaft, a tubular bearing member, a planar plate fixed to a lower side of the bearing member and a lubricant filled between the shaft and an inner circumferential surface of the bearing member. In the bearing member, an inner circumferential wall portion is axially downwardly protruding from a lower surface of the bearing member and has a first surface contacting with and extending in a parallel with an upper surface of the plate and a second surface axially spaced apart from the upper surface of the plate. An outer circumferential wall portion is positioned radially outwardly of the second surface. The plate is fixed to the outer circumferential wall portion of the bearing member, and a radial inner side of the inner circumferential wall portion communicates with the outer circumferential wall portion through a gap formed between the second surface and the slate. | 01-22-2009 |
| 20090021087 | MOTOR - A motor includes a rotor that is rotatable about a center axis, a stator facing the rotor, a bearing housing arranged to support the stator and having a plurality of fixing portions, and a base having a through hole. The base is fixed to the bearing housing via the fixing portions. The base also includes a recess and at least some of the fixing portions are engaged in the recess. At least one of the fixing portions is arranged to engage a surface at a radially inner portion of the base. | 01-22-2009 |
| 20090001825 | MOTOR, FAN, ROTOR HOLDER AND MANUFACTURING METHOD OF THE SAME - The manufacturing method of a rotor holder according to the present invention includes a step in which a top plate portion having a substantially discoid shape substantially centered about a central axis, and a side wall portion extending from an outer circumferential edge of the top plate portion are formed simultaneously by feeding a metal plate in a predetermined direction and pressing the metal plate by a die. Also, the present manufacturing method includes a step in which a punched portion is formed at the side wall portion. | 01-01-2009 |
| 20080315695 | PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD FOR A BRUSHLESS MOTOR AND A BRUSHLESS MOTOR USING THE SAME - A printed circuit board includes a connection portion connectable to a control unit for driving a brushless motor; position detection element connection wiring lines respectively extending from a plurality of installation places of position detection elements to the connection portion, the position detection elements detecting a magnetic pole position of a rotor magnet of the brushless motor; a wiring line switching portion for switching over a connection state between a specific one of the position detection element connection wiring lines and another wiring line; and a neutral point connection wiring line extending from a neutral point to the wiring line switching portion, the brushless motor having a plurality of coils connected at one end to the neutral point. The specific one of the position detection element connection wiring lines are connectable to the neutral point connection wiring line by means of a conductor in the wiring line switching portion. | 12-25-2008 |
| 20080309204 | CIRCUIT BOARD AND BRUSHLESS MOTOR USING THE SAME - A circuit board is used for allowing an electric current to conduct to a position detection unit and a stator having a winding for generating rotating magnetic fields for a brushless motor. The circuit board includes a winding connection portion that connects ends of the winding to the circuit board; and a first terminal portion electrically connected to the position detection unit installed outside of a circumferential surface of the circuit board. | 12-18-2008 |
| 20080309173 | MOTOR - In a motor, an insulator covering an armature core has a lid covering an end surface of the armature core. The lid has an inner ring disposed radially inside slots of the armature core and an outer ring disposed radially outside the slots. Each of a plurality of slot insulators inserted into the slots has a blocking portion at a position in the inner ring. | 12-18-2008 |
| 20080307633 | MOTOR - In a motor, an insulator covering an armature core has a lid covering an end surface of the armature core. The lid has an inner ring disposed radially inside slots of the armature core and an outer ring disposed radially outside the slots. Each of a plurality of slot insulators inserted into the slots has a blocking portion at a position in the inner ring. | 12-18-2008 |
| 20080307447 | PRODUCTION METHOD OF SPINDLE MOTOR AND SPINDLE MOTOR - In a manufacturing method of a disk-driving spindle motor, a disc-support member includes a base portion and a positioning portion. The disc-support member is fixed to a hub member. The base portion is in contact with a lower surface of a disc. The positioning portion extends axially upwardly from the base portion, and is disposed around the center axis. The positioning portion is in contact with an inner circumferential face or an inner circumferential rim of the disc. | 12-11-2008 |
| 20080304201 | VOLTAGE SIGNAL CONVERTER CIRCUIT AND MOTOR - In a voltage signal converter circuit, a peak hold circuit, which is configured with an operational amplifier, a diode, and a capacitor, receives a sensor voltage signal and outputs a peak voltage signal. A bottom hold circuit, which is configured with an operational amplifier, a diode, and a capacitor, receives a sensor voltage signal and outputs a bottom voltage signal. An intermediate voltage signal generator circuit receives the peak voltage signal and the bottom voltage signal and generates an intermediate voltage signal having an intermediate value between a peak voltage value and a bottom voltage value. A comparator generates an accurate rectangular wave voltage signal having a duty ratio equal to 50% in accordance with a magnitude correlation between a sensor voltage value and an intermediate voltage value. | 12-11-2008 |
| 20080290747 | MOTOR - A fixation portion of an attachment plate is fixed onto an upper surface of a flange portion of a housing. In a cylindrical retentive portion of the housing, there is formed an expanded diameter portion which is continuous to the flange portion. There is disposed a ball bearing in the expanded diameter portion. Formed integrally with the flange portion is a fitting portion such that the fitting portion is continuous to the expanded diameter portion. | 11-27-2008 |
| 20080286135 | SERIAL AXIAL FAN UNIT - A serial axial fan unit includes first and second axial fans and a spacer arranged therebetween and connected thereto. First and second impellers respectively provided in the first and second axial fans have a diameter in a range from approximately 25 mm to approximately 200 mm, for example. The axial height of the spacer is in a ranged of approximately 1.5 mm to approximately 8 mm, for example. Due to the spacer, the first and second axial fans are spaced apart from each other by an appropriate distance. Thus, a harsh noise caused by interference occurring when air from the first axial fan flows into the second axial fan is reduced. Also, the static pressure to airflow volume characteristics of the serial axial fan for a given sound value is improved. | 11-20-2008 |
| 20080278850 | MOTOR - When a sleeve of a fluid dynamic bearing is manufactured, its inner peripheral surface is formed by cutting. On the inner peripheral surface, first and second inclined surfaces are formed by a first cutting process such that a distance between the sleeve and a central axis is increased toward an upper end surface of the sleeve. Then, an upper bearing surface and a third inclined surface between the upper bearing surface and the first inclined surface are formed on the inner peripheral surface of the sleeve by a second cutting process of accuracy higher than that of the first cutting process. In the second cutting process, it is possible to form accurately in position a boundary between the upper bearing surface and the third inclined surface in contact with an upper end of an upper dynamic pressure groove provided on the upper bearing surface. | 11-13-2008 |
| 20080278027 | MOTOR AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE MOTOR - A motor includes a shaft; a sleeve that supports the shaft rotatably; a housing including a cylindrical holding portion for holding an outer circumferential surface of the sleeve; a stator held against the cylindrical holding portion; and an attachment plate including an attachment portion held against the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical holding portion. Herein, the cylindrical holding portion has a stator holding surface section facing the stator in a radial direction and an attachment plate holding surface section facing the attachment portion of the attachment plate in a radial direction. Further, the stator holding surface section has an outer diameter greater than that of the attachment plate holding surface section, and the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical holding portion includes a surface region opposite to the stator holding surface section and another surface region opposite to the attachment plate holding surface section. | 11-13-2008 |
| 20080277845 | MOTOR FOR HYDRAULIC SHOCK ABSORBER - A motor used in a hydraulic shock absorber which absorbs the vibrations generated by an engine of a vehicle includes a rotor portion, a stator portion, and a bearing mechanism. The bearing mechanism includes a sleeve, a sleeve holder, and a chip member. The sleeve holder includes a single component having a cylindrical portion which covers an outer circumferential surface of the sleeve, and a bottom portion which covers a lower portion of the cylindrical portion. | 11-13-2008 |
| 20080265703 | PRODUCTION METHOD OF FLUID DYNAMIC-PRESSURE BEARING AND SPINDLE MOTOR FURNISHED WITH THE FLUID DYNAMIC-PRESSURE BEARING - A gas is fed, so as to cause a gas flow to occur from a lower opening of a bearing hole of a sleeve | 10-30-2008 |
| 20080260517 | FAN APPARATUS - A fan apparatus includes a casing and a fan unit. The casing is a hollow member having an inlet and an outlet. The fan unit has an inlet and an outlet, and includes a plurality of axial fans. The fan unit is disposed on the inside of the casing, and the inlet of the fan unit is disposed in the vicinity of the inlet of the casing. The position of the fan unit within the casing can be varied in order to alter the air flow and static pressure of the air discharged by the fan apparatus. | 10-23-2008 |
| 20080258585 | RESOLVER - A resolver rotor for a variable reluctance resolver includes a plurality of axially stacked rotor pieces. The rotor pieces are jointly fitted into one body. In the fitting of the rotor pieces, deformed portions are provided between a center of the radial thickness of the resolver rotor and a side surface thereof which is opposite to a stator-side surface thereof. The number of deformed portions is the same as that of projecting poles of the resolver rotor. The deformed portions are arranged at circumferential positions of peaks of the respective projecting poles. At those positions, concave portions are provided on the side surface to receive deformations caused by fitting the rotor pieces together. Thus, the stator-side surface of the resolver rotor is less affected by fitting of the rotor pieces together, preventing a reduction in the detection accuracy of the resolver. | 10-23-2008 |
| 20080247689 | Motor - A motor includes a rotor unit, a stator unit, and a bearing mechanism. The bearing mechanism is constituted with a bushing having a hollow substantially cylindrical shape and formed by pressing a metal plate, a first bearing and a second bearing retained radially inside of the bushing, and a spacer arranged axially between the first bearing and the second bearing to determine an axial distance therebetween. | 10-09-2008 |
| 20080242124 | BUSBAR UNIT - A busbar unit includes a busbar holder and a plurality of busbars. The busbar holder has a first surface and a second surface on both sides in an axial direction, respectively. The first surface is provided with grooves in which one or more busbars are accommodated. The busbar in the groove of the first surface is provided with a wire connector portion on the first surface. The second surface is also provided with grooves accommodating remaining busbar (s) therein. The busbar (s) in the groove of the second surface is provided with a wire connector portion on the second surface. To each wire connector portion, a conductive wire forming a coil winding of an armature of a motor is connected. | 10-02-2008 |
| 20080235720 | MOTOR WITH A CHUCKING DEVICE AND DISK DRIVE APPARATUS EQUIPPED WITH THE SAME - In a motor including a chucking device for detachably holding a disk, the chucking device has a center case to which a central opening of the disk is inserted; resilient members received within the center case; and claw members for holding the disk in place. Each of the claw members has a claw portion having a disk holding surface for holding the disk in place and a pair of wing portions extending radially inwardly from the claw portion. Further, each of the wing portions has a spherical contact surface contacting with a underlying part arranged axially below the wing portions. | 09-25-2008 |
| 20080235718 | MOTOR WITH A CHUCKING DEVICE AND DISK DRIVE APPARATUS EQUIPPED WITH THE SAME - In a motor including a chucking device for detachably holding a disk, the chucking device has a center case to which a central opening of the disk is inserted; resilient members received within the center case; and claw members for holding the disk in place. Each of the claw members has a tip end portion, a disk holding surface positioned axially below the tip end portion for holding the disk in place, and a recessed sliding portion formed substantially at a circumferential center region of the disk holding surface, the sliding portion serving to guide movement of the claw member. Rest portions are formed in the center case in a facing relationship with the respective sliding portions, the rest portions serving to support the respective sliding portions by contacting therewith. Each of the rest portions has an upwardly convex curved surface with which the corresponding sliding portion makes contact. | 09-25-2008 |
| 20080235717 | MOTOR WITH A CHUCKING DEVICE AND DISK DRIVE APPARATUS EQUIPPED WITH THE SAME - In a motor including a chucking device for detachably holding a disk, the chucking device has a center case to which a central opening of the disk is inserted. The center case has a cylindrical portion coaxial with the center axis, a cover portion for covering an axial upper side of the cylindrical portion of the center case and a base portion fixed to the shaft-fixed portion of the rotor holder; resilient members received within the center case; and claw members remaining in contact with the respective resilient members, the claw members being movable radially to hold the disk in place. The center case is spaced apart from the rotor holder except for the base portion contacting with the shaft-fixed portion of the rotor holder. | 09-25-2008 |
| 20080232983 | MOTOR, FAN AND MANUFACTURING METHOD OF THE SAME - A motor according to the present invention includes a boss portion | 09-25-2008 |
| 20080224554 | BEARING ASSEMBLY AND MOTOR USING THE BEARING ASSEMBLY - In a bearing assembly, a shaft is inserted into a sleeve, and a lower end of the shaft is attracted to a magnet chip which is held by an auxiliary yoke. A retaining member and an auxiliary washer are sandwiched between a lower end surface of the sleeve and a contact portion of the auxiliary yoke so as to retain the shaft in the sleeve. The auxiliary washer has an inner diameter larger than that of the retaining member and a maximum diameter of the lower end of the shaft. | 09-18-2008 |
| 20080223558 | COOLING DEVICE - A cooling device includes a fan, a heat sink, and an attaching portion arranged to attach the fan to the heat sink. The fan includes an impeller rotating about a center axis, a motor arranged to rotate the impeller, and a base portion supporting the motor. The attaching portion includes a frame surrounding a portion of the impeller opposed to the heat sink, a plurality of supports projecting from the frame to a side opposite to the heat sink, and a plurality of supporting ribs connecting the supports and the base portion to each other, arranged about the center axis, and extending from the base portion away from the center axis. Each supporting rib has a first primary surface and a second primary surface arranged opposite to the impeller. The first and second primary surfaces are inclined with respect to a plane substantially perpendicular to the center axis. | 09-18-2008 |
| 20080223551 | MANUFACTURING METHOD OF FIN UNIT - In a manufacturing method of a fin unit for a heat sink for dissipating a heat from a heat source, the fin unit includes a plurality of fins radially arranged about its center axis, and a fin supporting portion connecting inner ends of the fins and supporting the fins. First, metal is heated. The heated metal is extruded and/or drawn through a die to obtain a metal body. One of the die and the metal body obtained through the die is rotated relative to the other about a center axis of a die hole of the die. The metal body is then cut, thereby obtaining the fin unit. | 09-18-2008 |
| 20080219838 | CENTRIFUGAL FAN - A centrifugal fan includes an impeller having a plurality of blades around a predetermined central axis, a motor that rotatably drives the impeller, a control circuit that controls the rotation of the motor, and a casing that houses the impeller, the motor, and at least a portion of the control circuit. A plurality of electronic components of the control circuit are disposed in an electronic component mounting portion provided between a circumferential wall of the casing and a virtually extending plane of an opening end surface of an exhaust port along a direction substantially perpendicular to the central axis. In the centrifugal fan, the electronic components are disposed radially outside an air passage, and thus the centrifugal fan can be reduced in its axial size, so that downsizing of the fan can be achieved. | 09-11-2008 |
| 20080218019 | FLUID DYNAMIC PRESSURE BEARING AND SPINDLE MOTOR - A fluid dynamic bearing includes a shaft, a stationary portion supporting the shaft in a rotatable manner, a lubricating oil arranged in a radial gap defined between an outer circumferential surface of the shaft and a surface of the stationary portion, opposing each other. The fluid dynamic bearing includes a first seal portion arranged radially outside of the radial gap, and a second seal portion arranged at an axially upper end of the radial gap. The axial length of the first seal portion is greater than that of the second seal portion. | 09-11-2008 |
| 20080213103 | AXIAL FLOW FAN - An axial flow fan includes a housing defining an air inlet and an air outlet, a motor mounted to the housing and an impeller including blades. The housing includes an expanded portion adjacent the air outlet. In the expanded portion, the inner diameter of the housing increases towards the air outlet so that the expanded portion has an inner end where its diameter is smallest. The trailing edge of each blade is inclined, with respect to a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the impeller, so as to extend toward the air inlet from a radially innermost end of the edge to a radially outermost end of the edge. The radially outermost end of the trailing edge is disposed closer to the air inlet than the inner end of the expanded portion, and the radially innermost end of the of the trailing edge is disposed closer to the air outlet than inner end of the expanded portion. | 09-04-2008 |
| 20080211357 | MOTOR - A motor includes a sensor which magnetically detects an angular position centered about a central axis of a rotor core with respect to an armature. The sensor preferably includes a yoke which has a substantially annular shape, is made of a magnetic material, is arranged substantially perpendicularly to the central axis and is affixed to a shaft, a sensor magnet affixed at the yoke, a magnet cover which covers a surface of the sensor magnet other than a portion in contact with the yoke, a first Hall element and a second Hall element both of which are arranged facing in an axial direction a surface of the sensor magnet opposite from a surface thereof at which the yoke is arranged. Since the sensor magnet is covered by the yoke and the magnet cover, even when the sensor magnet is damaged, the damaged sensor magnet is prevented from damaging other components of the motor. By virtue of such configuration, the reliability of the motor is improved. | 09-04-2008 |
| 20080211356 | MOTOR - A motor includes a housing having a substantially cylindrical shape accommodating therein a stator portion and a rotor portion. The housing includes a housing body having an opening at an upper side thereof, and a lid portion arranged between an armature and a sensor so as to close the opening of the housing body. Since the lid portion is made of a magnetic material and is arranged between the armature and the sensor, a magnetic effect on the sensor caused by a magnetic force generated at the armature is minimized. By virtue of such configuration in which the lid portion of the housing functions as a magnetic shield, the motor can be smaller in the axial direction compared with a configuration in which an extra layer of magnetic shield is arranged. | 09-04-2008 |
| 20080211332 | MOTOR - A motor having a busbar unit which is accommodated in a housing along with an armature includes a relay wherein the connection between the armature and the relay is secured. By virtue of such a configuration, reliability of the connection between the armature and the relay is improved. In the busbar unit, a plurality of first busbars and a plurality of second busbars each having a substantially arcuate shape are arranged so as to be circumferentially spaced apart from one another. The first busbars do not overlap with the second busbars in the axial and radial directions thereby reducing the dimensions of the motor in the axial and radial directions. | 09-04-2008 |
| 20080209732 | METHOD FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURING OF A FLUID DYNAMIC PRESSURE BEARING - Oil which will serve as a lubricating fluid of a fluid dynamic pressure bearing is degassed in a first environment under a first pressure which is lower than atmospheric pressure. First and second members of the bearing are place in a second environment under a pressure lower than atmospheric pressure and higher than the pressure in the first environment. The degassed oil is supplied to the gap between bearing surfaces of the first and second members while the first and second members are in the second environment under pressure lower than atmospheric pressure and higher than the pressure in the first environment. Subsequently the pressure in the second environment is increased to force the oil into the gap between the bearing surfaces of the first and second members of the hydrodynamic fluid. | 09-04-2008 |
| 20080209454 | MOTOR HAVING CHUCKING DEVICE AND DISK DRIVING APPARATUS INCLUDING SAME - A motor includes a chucking device to hold a disk having a central opening in a detachable manner. In the chucking device, a turntable part is arranged above a rotor holder and has a disk support surface for supporting the disk. An axially slidable cone part is arranged above the turntable part. A resilient member is axially arranged between the turntable part and the cone part upwardly biases the cone part. Further, the turntable part includes an inner table made of a metal and fixed to the shaft, and an outer table made of a resin material and fixed to an outside of the inner table. The outer table has the disk support surface and is axially spaced apart from the rotor holder in a position where the inner table and the outer table are fixed to each other. | 08-28-2008 |
| 20080197731 | Brushless motor and pump mounted with brushless motor - A bottom portion side rib and a flange portion side rib are respectively formed on the bottom portion and the flange portion of the inner cover. The bottom portion side rib includes a plurality of bottom portion side radial ribs and a plurality of bottom portion side circular ring shaped ribs connecting the plurality of bottom portion side radial ribs. The flange portion side rib includes a plurality of flange portion side radial ribs and a flange portion side circular ring shaped rib connecting the plurality of flange portion side radial ribs. | 08-21-2008 |
