Patent ID: 8823230

Claim:
A spindle motor comprising: a stationary portion including a stator; and a rotating portion including a rotor magnet and rotatably supported by the stationary portion; wherein the stationary portion includes: a shaft portion centered on a central axis and extending in a vertical direction; a lower plate portion extending radially outward from a lower portion of the shaft portion; an outer tubular portion extending upward from an outer edge portion of the lower plate portion; and a base portion to which an outer circumference of the outer tubular portion is fixed; the rotating portion includes a sleeve portion arranged radially opposite to an outer circumferential surface of the shaft portion; the sleeve portion includes a communicating hole extending therethrough from an upper surface to a lower surface thereof; the shaft portion and the sleeve portion are arranged to together define a first gap therebetween, the first gap including a dynamic pressure bearing defined therein; an upper seal portion and a lower seal portion are arranged radially outward of the dynamic pressure bearing; each of the upper seal portion and the lower seal portion including a respective surface of a lubricating oil located therein, and 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 the lubricating oil; and a fixing region where the outer tubular portion and the base portion are fixed to each other is arranged to overlap with the dynamic pressure bearing in a radial direction.