Patent ID: 6278586
Filing Date: 2001-08-21
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
A recording/reproducing device for use in recording and reproducing data on and from a recording medium, the device moving a read/write head relative to said recording medium, comprising:a carriage supporting said read/write head;a guide fixedly disposed and slidably supporting said carriage for guiding said carriage in said moving direction; anda voice coil motor for driving said carriage in said moving direction, said voice coil motor comprising a voice coil having a coil axis and a magnetic circuit device generating a magnetic field;said carriage having a coil holding portion projecting therefrom, said voice coil being fixedly held on said coil holding portion in the condition that said coil axis is arranged in said moving direction, said coil being applied with a driving electric current for driving said carriage;said magnetic circuit device being fixedly disposed adjacent to said voice coil to generate a magnetic field intersecting the driving current flowing through said voice coil, said voice coil moving in the moving direction together with said carriage by an interaction of said driving current and said magnetic field;wherein said magnetic circuit device comprises:a center yoke fixedly disposed to extend in said moving direction through said voice coil and having opposite ends, said voice coil being movable along said center yoke;a back yoke extending in parallel to said center yoke and having opposite end bent portions, each of said opposite end bent portions generally forming right angle, said opposite end bent portions being connected to said opposite ends of said center yoke to form an endless-shape member, said back yoke having a principal surface facing said center yoke with a space therebetween defined by said opposite end bent portions, said voice coil being partially disposed within said space; anda magnet attached onto said principal surface of said back yoke within said space, said magnet being magnetized in a direction perpendicular to said principal surface so as to produce said magnetic field;wherein said carriage has a carriage body, and said coil holding portion is fixed to said carriage body;wherein said coil holding portion is fixed onto a side wall of said carriage body, said voice coil being supported on and fixed to said coil holding portion; andwherein said coil holding portion comprises clamping means placed at both sides of said carriage body and integrally formed with said carriage body upon resin molding, said voice coil being clamped by said clamping means.