Patent ID: 8008813

Claim:
An improved linear motor for linearizing force on a voice coil as a function of displacement, useful in conjunction with a voltage input, the improved linear motor comprising: a yoke configured to be relatively permeable to a magnetic field; a gap plate configured to form an air gap with the yoke, wherein the gap plate is relatively permeable to the magnetic field, and wherein the air gap is relatively narrow; at least one magnet configured to couple to the yoke and the gap plate, wherein the at least one magnet generates the magnetic field across the air gap; a former configured to engage the air gap, wherein the former is enabled to move in a vertical direction; and a voice coil configured to be coupled to the former, wherein the voice coil includes at least two segments of differing electrical resistance, and wherein the at least two segments are substantially comprised of electrically-conductive and non-magnetic material, and further wherein the cross section of the at least two segments is of substantially equal area across the entire lengths, and further wherein the winding volume of the at least two segments is uniform across the voice coil.