LINEAR ACTUATOR WITH COIL WINDING PORTIONS HAVING OPPOSING CURRENT FLOW DIRECTIONS

摘要

A linear actuator for linearly positioning a recording head in a data storage mechanism. The disclosed linear actuator includes an electrically conductive coil having first and second parts that are both wound in the same rotary direction about an axis, and a magnet spaced from the electrically conductive coil by an air gap. Transmission of an electric current through the first part of the electrically conductive coil in a first current flow direction about the axis and through the second part of the electrically conductive coil in an opposite second current flow direction about the axis induces linear movement of one of the electrically conductive coil and magnet relative to the other of the electrically conductive coil and magnet.

主权项

1. A linear actuator, comprising:
a housing including a body, wherein the body includes an opening and an inner surface surrounding the opening; an electrically conductive coil disposed within the opening, wherein the electrically conductive coil includes a first part that is wound in a rotary direction about an axis and a second part that is wound in the rotary direction about the axis; and a magnet disposed within the opening, wherein the magnet includes a first pole on a first axial end of the magnet and a second pole on a second axial end of the magnet; wherein one of the electrically conductive coil and magnet is non-movably attached to the inner surface of the body, and wherein the other of the electrically conductive coil and magnet is linearly movable relative to the inner surface of the body and the one of the electrically conductive coil and magnet along the axis; and wherein transmission of an electric current through the first part of the electrically conductive coil in a first current flow direction about the axis and simultaneously through the second part of the electrically conductive coil in a second current flow direction about the axis induces the linear movement of the other of the electrically conductive coil and magnet, wherein the first current flow direction is opposite to the second current flow direction.