Abstract:
A spindle motor includes a rotor magnet including a plurality of pairs of magnetic poles polarized in a radial direction and arranged along a circumferential direction of the rotor magnet and a rotor hub supporting the rotor magnet and being rotatable around an axis of the circular shape of the rotor magnet. A circular surface in the form of a convex portion is provided on a magnetic shield portion of the rotor hub and is arranged to oppose one axial end surface of the rotor magnet and abut against the rotor magnet such that a gap is provided between the axial end surface of the rotor magnet and the circular surface of rotor hub.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention generally relates to a spindle motor and more particularly relates to a spindle motor for rotating a disk-shaped storage medium, such as magnetic disks, typified by hard disks; various types of optical disks; and magnetic optical disks.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     Recently, hard disk drive devices are being installed in mobile devices. These mobile devices are battery-powered, and in order to ensure longer battery operating time, the spindle motors (hereinafter referred to as motors) used in the hard disk drive devices are required to have severely low power consumption.  
         [0005]      FIGS. 10 and 11  are sectional views of conventional motors. In the conventional motors shown in  FIG. 10  and  11 , the circular rotor magnet  2  is fixed to a lower side and in a radially-outward portion of the rotor hub  1 . In addition, the rotor magnet  2  opposes the stator  3  with a gap maintained between the rotor magnet  2  and the stator  3  in the radially-outward direction of the rotor magnet  2 .  
         [0006]     The rotor hub  1  of the conventional motor shown in  FIG. 10  includes a circular magnetic shield portion  1   a  made of a ferromagnetic material. The magnetic shield portion  1   a  is a circular surface provided on the bottom (rotor magnet side) surface of the rotor hub  1 , when viewed from the rotor magnet  2  side, and covers the upper surface (the surface on a side near the magnetic disk) of the rotor magnet  2 . This arrangement prevents the magnetic flux generated by the rotor magnet  2  from damaging the data stored on the magnetic disks and allows magnetic flux to flow smoothly from the rotor magnet  2  to the stator  3 .  
         [0007]     In the conventional motor shown in  FIG. 10 , the upper surface of the rotor magnet  2  abuts the bottom surface of the magnetic shield portion  1   a,  and the magnetic field short-circuits at the abutted portion, forming another magnetic circuit therebetween. Therefore, the magnetic flux, which flows into stator  3 , decreases. As a result, the conventional motor generates less torque, requires more magnetizing current, and increases the power consumption.  
         [0008]     In order to prevent the short-circuiting explained above, a gap may be provided between the upper surface of the rotor magnet  2  and the bottom surface of the magnetic shield portion  1   b  of the conventional motor shown in  FIG. 11 . However, providing this gap makes it difficult to accurately axially position the rotor magnet  2 . Accurate axial positioning of the rotor magnet  2  has a substantial influence on the performance of motors used in mobile devices, particularly on the performance of motors whose axial direction thickness is 10 mm or less.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     In order to overcome the problems described above, the preferred embodiments of the present invention achieve one or more of the following advantages: easy axial positioning of the rotor magnet in relation to the rotor hub during the production process; minimized short-circuiting of the magnetic field; and relatively low power consumption of the motor. These properties are especially advantageous for small and thin motors, which are difficult to assemble and which require severely reducing the power consumption.  
         [0010]     In various preferred embodiments of the present invention, the upper surface of the rotor magnet does not fully contact the circular surface of the magnetic shield portion so that the properties and advantages mentioned above may be achieved. For example, a convex portion may be provided on the circular surface of the magnetic shield portion or on the upper surface of the rotor magnet, and the circular surface and the upper surface contact only via the convex portion.  
         [0011]     A contact position, where the circular surface and the shield portion contact, may be spaced away from high magnetic flux density areas, such as the outer circumference and the inner circumference of the rotor magnet. Therefore, the contact position may be set at approximately the center of the radial thickness of the rotor magnet. Alternatively, the contact position may be set at approximately the bounding portions between magnetic poles arranged around the approximate radially-center position of the rotor magnet. With this arrangement, short-circuiting of the magnetic field from the rotor magnet into the magnetic shield portion is relatively minimized. Therefore, the magnetic flux is used highly effectively. In addition, the rotor magnet abuts the magnetic shield portion, which makes axial positioning of the rotor magnet easier during the production process.  
         [0012]     In the preferred embodiments of the present invention, less magnetic flux from the rotor magnet flows into the rotor hub near the outer circumference portion of the rotor magnet, which opposes the stator. In addition, less magnetic flux from the rotor magnet flows into the rotor hub near the inner circumference portion of the rotor magnet. In an inner rotor spindle motor, the stator is not provided on the inner circumference side of the rotor magnet. However, it is less likely that magnetic flux flows into the rotor hub at the inner circumference side of the rotor magnet, and the magnetic resistance of the magnetic circuit from the inner circumferential magnetic pole to the outer circumferential magnetic pole through the rotor hub is increased. Therefore, the magnetic field short-circuited through this magnetic circuit is decreased.  
         [0013]     The bounding portions between magnetic poles are also arranged in the circumferential direction of the rotor magnet, and the properties described above may be attained by setting the contact position at approximately these bounding portions.  
         [0014]     The preferred embodiments of the present invention where the motor is an inner rotor spindle motor are discussed above. The scope of the present invention also includes a modification of the preferred embodiments of the present invention where the motor is an outer rotor spindle motor, in which the rotor magnet is located near a radially-outward portion of the stator. In the modification of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, properties described above may also be attained.  
         [0015]     Moreover, the motor of the preferred embodiments of the present invention allows the hard disk drive devices to be small and to have low power consumption.  
         [0016]     Other features, elements, advantages and characteristics of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]      FIG. 1  is a schematic cross sectional view of a hard disk drive device using a motor according to various preferred embodiments of the present invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 2  is a schematic cross sectional view of a substantial part of a motor according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 3  is a plain view of a rotor magnet according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0020]      FIG. 4  is a schematic cross sectional view of a substantial part of a motor according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0021]      FIG. 5  is a plain view of a rotor magnet according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0022]      FIG. 6  is a schematic cross sectional view of a substantial part of a motor according to the third preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0023]      FIG. 7  is a plain view of a rotor magnet according to the third preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0024]      FIG. 8  is a schematic cross sectional view of a substantial part of a motor according to the fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0025]      FIG. 9  is a plain view of a rotor magnet according to the fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0026]      FIG. 10  is a schematic cross sectional view of a conventional spindle motor; and  
         [0027]      FIG. 11  is a schematic cross sectional view of a conventional spindle motor. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0028]     The preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown with reference to FIGS.  1  to  9 .  
         [0029]     FIGS.  1  to  3  illustrate the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 1  is a cross sectional view of a hard disk drive device in which a spindle motor according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention is installed.  FIG. 2  is a schematic cross sectional view of a substantial part of the motor according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 3  is a plain view of the rotor magnet according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0030]     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , the hard disk drive device includes: a motor  102 ; a hard disk  101 , e.g., a magnetic disk, fixed to the motor  102 ; a magnetic head  103   a  which reads and writes data; an actuator  103  which allows the magnetic head  103   a  to move in the radial direction; and a case  100  which encloses the above components. The magnetic head  103   a  is installed on both the upper and lower sides of the hard disk  101  which is rotated by the motor  102 .  
         [0031]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the motor includes: a base  10 ; a stator  12 , formed by winding stator coil  12   b  around a stator core  12   a ; a sleeve bearing  14 ; a rotation axial section  16  including an axial portion  16   a  and a thrust circular plate portion  16   b ; a rotor hub  18 ; and a circular rotor magnet  20 .  
         [0032]     A circular concave portion  10   a  having an upper opening is provided on the base  10 , and the bearing support cylinder portion  10   b  is arranged in an upwardly protruding manner at the center of the convex portion  10   a.    
         [0033]     The stator core  12   a  is fixed to an outer circumferential wall portion of the inside of the circular concave portion  10   a . The sleeve bearing  14  is fitted into the bearing support cylinder portion  10   b . The stator core  12   a  and the sleeve bearing  14  are coaxially arranged.  
         [0034]     The rotor hub  18  is made of a ferromagnetic material. The upper portion of the rotor hub  18  includes an upper plate portion  18   a  so as to form an occluded cylinder shape. A magnetic shield portion  18   c  is provided at the axially-middle position of the outer circumferential side of the rotor hub  18 . In addition, the magnetic shield portion  18   c  has a circular shape and protrudes in the radially-outward direction from the rotor hub  18 . The magnetic shield portion  18   c  does not have to be located exactly at the axially center position of the rotor hub  18 .  
         [0035]     A hard disk support portion  18   d  (recording disk support portion), which is circular and which is thicker than the radially-outward portion of the magnetic shield portion  18   c , is provided on the upper side and in a radially-inward portion of the magnetic shield portion  18   c . A hard disk  101  (see  FIG. 1 ) is placed on the hard disk support portion  18   d  and is fixed by damper  104  while supported on the hard disk support portion  18   d.    
         [0036]     A convex portion  18   g  is provided on the lower side and in a radially-inward portion of the magnetic shield portion  18   c . The convex portion  18   g  has a circular shape whose axis is coaxial with the axis of the rotor hub  18  and protrudes downwardly from the magnetic shield portion  18   c . The cross-section of the convex portion  18   g  preferably has a substantially triangular shape whose base is located adjacent to the magnetic shield portion  18   c.    
         [0037]     A fitting bore is provided on the upper plate portion  18   a  of the rotor hub  18 . The axial portion  16   a  of the rotation axial section  16  is provided in the fitting bore such that the rotor hub  18  and the rotation axial section  16  are coaxially arranged. The axial portion  16   a  of the rotation axial section  16  is provided in the sleeve bearing  14  and rotatably supported by lubricant oil  16   c . A thrust circular concave portion  14   a  is provided at the bottom of the inner circumferential side of the sleeve bearing  14 . The lower side of the thrust circular concave portion  14   a  is occluded by the thrust circular plate  22 . A thrust circular plate portion  16   b  located at the bottom of the rotation axial section  16  is inserted into the thrust circular concave portion  14   a  so as to be supported axially by a circular surface of the thrust circular concave portion  14   a  and by an upper surface of the thrust circular plate  22  through lubricant oil  16   c.    
         [0038]     The circular rotor magnet  20 , which is magnetized in the radial direction, is fixed, for example by adhesives or other suitable material, to the lower surface of the magnetic shield portion  18   c , which is a part of the outer circumferential portion of the rotor hub  18 , so as to form a rotor. As shown in  FIG. 3 , both the outer and inner circumferential surfaces of the rotor magnet  20  include four north poles and four south poles, where these magnetic poles are aligned one after another in the circumferential direction. The outer circumferential surface of the rotor magnet  20  opposes the inner circumferential surface of the stator core  12   a  in the radial direction. An outer diameter of the magnetic shield portion  18   c  is bigger than the diameter of the rotor magnet  20  to ensure the effectiveness of the magnetic shield effect and to prevent the rotor magnet  20  from influencing the positions above the magnetic shield portion  18   c.    
         [0039]     The circular bottom of the convex portion  18   g  of the magnetic shield portion  18   c  abuts against a bounding portion of the rotor magnet  20 , i.e., the portion of the rotor magnet  20  radially between the north pole and the south pole at the upper surface of the rotor magnet  20 . The magnetic flux leakage of the upper surface of the rotor magnet  20  is a minimum at the point which is, for example, about 4.2 mm from the rotation axis of the rotor magnet whose dimensions are about 1.5 mm axial height, about 3.5 mm inside radius, and about 4.75 mm outside radius. Therefore, in this example of the present preferred embodiment, the radius of the convex portion  18   g  is preferably set at approximately 4.2 mm at its bottom end, and the portion on the upper surface of the rotor magnet  20  which is spaced about 4.2 mm away from the rotation axis of the rotor magnet  20  (the bounding portion of the rotor magnet  20  between the magnetic poles in the radius direction) abuts against the end portion of convex portion  18   g . The bounding portion of the rotor magnet  20  between the magnetic poles defined here is the portion where the magnetic flux leakage of the upper surface of the rotor magnet  20  is a minimum. The end portion of the convex portion  18   g  has a predetermined thickness, and it is not necessary that the end portion of the convex portion  18   g  be pointed. In at least one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the portion of the rotor magnet  20  abutting the end portion of the convex portion  18   g  may at least include the bounding portion.  
         [0040]     With this unique arrangement, the magnetic flux generated by the rotor magnet  20  may be prevented from flowing into the magnetic shield portion  18   c  through the convex portion  18   g . As a result, the increase in the power consumption caused by the massive flow of the magnetic flux from the rotor magnet  20  into the magnetic shield portion  18   c  is reliably prevented. Further, the rotor magnet  20  may be axially positioned with great accuracy.  
         [0041]      FIGS. 4 and 5  show the second preferred embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 4  is a schematic cross sectional view of a motor according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 5  is a plain view of a rotor magnet according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention. Detailed explanation of the reference letters and numerals used in  FIGS. 4 and 5  that are identical to the reference letters and numerals used in  FIGS. 1 and 3  will be omitted because they refer to similar structures.  
         [0042]     As shown in  FIG. 4 , eight convex portions  18   e , which downwardly protrude from the magnetic shield portion  18   c  and which extend in a radial direction from the rotor hub  18 , are provided in a radially-inward portion on the lower side of the magnetic shield portion  18   c . In addition, the convex portions  18   e  are aligned in a rotationally symmetric manner around the axis of the rotor hub  18 .  
         [0043]     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the bottom of each convex portion  18   e  abuts against a portion of the rotor magnet  20  which is the central-angle portion that separates adjacent magnetic poles in the circumferential direction on the upper surface of the rotor magnet  20 , i.e., the radially extending portions between adjacent magnetic poles on the upper surface of the rotor magnet  20 . With this arrangement, the magnetic field of the rotor magnet  20  may be prevented from flowing into the magnetic shield portion  18   c  through the convex portion  18   e . As a result, the increase in the power consumption caused by the massive flow of magnetic flux from the rotor magnet  20  into the magnetic shield portion  18   c  may be avoided. Further, the rotor magnet  20  may be axially positioned with great accuracy.  
         [0044]      FIGS. 6 and 7  show the third preferred embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 6  is a schematic cross sectional view of a motor according to the third preferred embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 7  is a plain view of a rotor magnet according to the third preferred embodiment of the present invention. Detailed explanation of the reference letters and numerals used in  FIGS. 6 and 7  that are identical to the reference letters and numerals used in  FIGS. 1 and 3  will be omitted because they refer to similar structures.  
         [0045]     As shown in  FIG. 6 , eight convex portions  18   f , which preferably have a circular cone shape that protrudes downwardly, are provided on a radially-inward portion on the lower side of the magnetic shield portion  18   c . In addition, the convex portions  18   f  are aligned in a rotationally symmetric manner around the axis of the rotor hub  18 .  
         [0046]     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the bottom of the convex portion  18   f  abuts against a bounding portion. The bounding portion in this preferred embodiment is the central-angle portion that separates adjacent magnetic poles of the rotor magnet  20  in the circumferential direction and that separates the north pole and the south pole of the rotor magnet  20  in the radial direction on the upper surface of the rotor magnet  20 . With this arrangement, the magnetic field of the rotor magnet  20  may be prevented from flowing into the magnetic shield portion  18   c  through the convex portion  18   f . As a result, the increase in the power consumption caused by the massive flow of magnetic field from the rotor magnet  20  into the magnetic shield portion  18   c  may be avoided. Further, the rotor magnet  20  may be axially positioned with great accuracy.  
         [0047]      FIGS. 8 and 9  show the fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 8  is a schematic cross sectional view of a motor according to the fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 9  is a plain view of a rotor magnet according to the fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention. Detailed explanation of the reference letters and numerals used in  FIGS. 8 and 9  that are identical to the reference letters and numerals used in  FIGS. 1 and 3  will be omitted because they refer to similar structures.  
         [0048]     Referring now to  FIG. 8 , a rotor hub  19  is preferably made of a non-ferromagnetic material. Unlike the rotor hub  18  shown in  FIG. 2 , the rotor hub  19  does not include the magnetic shield portion  18   c  and instead includes a hard disk support portion  19   d  (a recording disk support portion) that protrudes in the radially-outward direction and is located in the axially-middle portion of an outer circumferential portion. It should be noted that it is not necessary that the rotor hub  19  be made of a non-ferromagnetic material in order to make a magnetic shield portion  18   c  into a separate component of the rotor hub  19 .  
         [0049]     The magnetic shield plate  24 , which has a circular shape and which is preferably made of a ferromagnetic material, is fitted to the exterior of the rotor hub  19 . The magnetic shield plate  24  is fixed, for example by adhesives or other suitable material, to the lower side of the hard disk support portion  19   d  with the upper surface of the magnetic shield plate  24  being abutted against the bottom surface of the hard disk support portion  19   d.    
         [0050]     A convex portion  24   a , which has a circular shape that has a center located at the axis of rotation of the rotor hub  19  and which protrudes downwardly, is provided on the radially-inward portion of the bottom side of magnetic shield plate  24 .  
         [0051]     Referring now to  FIG. 9 , the convex portion  24   a  has a substantially triangular cross section whose base is located adjacent to the magnetic shield plate  24 . The bottom of the convex portion  24   a  abuts against the bounding portion that radially separates the north poles and the south poles on the upper surface of the rotor magnet  20 . With this arrangement, the magnetic field of the rotor magnet  20  may be prevented from flowing into the magnetic shield portion  18   c  through the convex portion  18   f . As a result, the increase in the power consumption caused by the massive flow of magnetic field from the rotor magnet  20  into the magnetic shield portion  18   c  may be avoided. Further, the rotor magnet  20  may be axially positioned with great accuracy.  
         [0052]     In the above descriptions of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the positional relationships, such as “upper” and “bottom,” are used for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.  
         [0053]     In addition, the size, the quantity, the material, the shape, and the placement of members illustrated in the above descriptions are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. For example, the present invention may apply to the motors used for driving devices of recording media other than hard disks, outer rotor type spindle motor, and other suitable devices. It is not necessary that the number of magnetic poles in the rotor magnet  20  be eight.  
         [0054]     The magnetization waveform in the radial direction of the rotor magnet  20  may be, for example, a rectangular waveform or a sinusoidal waveform. The bounding position that separates the north pole and the south pole in the radial direction may vary in response to the magnetization waveform. Therefore, the bounding position is not limited to the radially-middle portion of the rotor magnet  20 .  
         [0055]     The present invention may be applied to, but not limited to, small motors having the rotor magnet  20  whose height, inner radius, and outer radius are approximately 1 mm to 10 mm, preferably, approximately 1 mm to 5 mm, for example.  
         [0056]     Moreover, when a circular rotor magnet  20  is used, the amount of the magnetic flux flowing into the stator  12  is reduced when the rotor magnet  20  is flat, i.e., when the axial height is twice or less than the radial thickness (the difference between the outer radius and the inner radius). The flatter the rotor magnet  20  is, the less the magnetic flux flows into the stator  12 . As a result, the magnetic flux wrapping around increases relatively. For this reason, a flat circular rotor magnet  20  is especially preferable for the present invention.  
         [0057]     In the present invention, the shape of the convex portion on the magnetic shield portion is not limited to the circular cone, radial ridge, and circular ridge shapes. However, it is preferred to minimize the abutting portion of the rotor magnet so as to minimize the magnetic flux flowing into the magnetic shield portion through the convex portion.  
         [0058]     The examples described above relate to hard disk drive devices. However, the motor and the hard disk drive device of various preferred embodiments of the present invention may be applied to recording disks other than hard disks, such as optical disks and optical-magnetic disks. The scope of the present invention is not limited by whether the recording disk is exchangeable or not. For example, the recording disk support portion could be a turntable that is rotated by and is fixed axially to the motor of one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention.  
         [0059]     While the present invention has been described with respect to preferred embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the disclosed invention may be modified in numerous ways and may assume many embodiments other than those specifically set out and described above. Accordingly, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all modifications of the present invention which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.