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US 2004/0070388 A1Published application
Detecting rotational direction of a rotating article
OwnerThomas Hong Chuang, Stephen Gregory Horninginventors
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OwnerThomas Hong Chuang, Stephen Gregory Horninginventors
Estimating the term…
Method and apparatus for determining the rotational direction of a rotatable article, such as a spindle motor used in a data storage device to rotate a data recording disc. The article includes an index mark which is detected by an index sensor to identify an index reference position on the article. The index sensor and index mark are further used to detect the direction of rotation of the article. In some embodiments, a second sensor is provided so that first and second timing pulses are generated from the index mark by the index sensor and the second sensor. In other embodiments, a second (detection) mark is added to the article so that first and second timing pulses are generated by the index sensor. In either case, a rotational direction detection circuit determines the rotational direction of the article in relation to the first and second timing pulses.
In a balancing system of the type in which imbalance of a rotatable article is measured for subsequent attachment of a balance correction member to correct said imbalance, the balancing system including an energizing circuit which applies power to rotate the article, an index sensor which detects an index mark on the rotatable article, and a rotational imbalance detection circuit which identifies an appropriate radial position for the balance correction member in relation to the index mark, the improvement characterized as the balancing system further comprising first means for using the index mark and the index sensor to detect a direction of angular rotation of the article.
In a balancing system of the type in which imbalance of a rotatable article is measured for subsequent attachment of a balance correction member to correct said imbalance, the balancing system including an energizing circuit which applies power to rotate the article, an index sensor which detects an index mark on the rotatable article, and a rotational imbalance detection circuit which identifies an appropriate radial position for the balance correction member in relation to the index mark, a method for detecting angular direction of the article comprising:
A method for detecting an angular direction of a rotating article, comprising:
The method of claim 19, further comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.