Torsion transducer for magnetic storage disk drives
OwnerEnrique J. Kleininventor
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Abstract
A torsion transducer for providing electrical position and angular velocity signals for a device driven in a bidirectional partial rotational mode, such as commonly found in the rotary actuator arm of a disc drive for rotating computer memories. The torsion transducer comprises a torsion bar in the form of a wire, with one end attached to the rotating element of the actuator arm and the other to a piezoelectric transducer operating in the shear mode, which is anchored to the stationary frame of the device. As the torsion bar is twisted by the angular motion of the rotary element, torque is applied to the piezoelectric transducer, which then generates an electrical signal that can be processed to represent position and angular velocity of the rotary elements of the actuator arm.
Claims24
A torsion transducer for use in rigid disc drives having magnetic heads positioned by a rotary actuator including a stationary support post having a central bore forming a passageway extending longitudinally therethrough and affixed to a base of the disc drive, said base having an aperture aligned with said passageway, and a rotary element journalled to said stationary support post for moving the magnetic heads, said torsion transducer comprising:
- a torsion bar extending through said passageway and said aperture;
- connector means attached to one end of said torsion bar for coupling said torsion bar to said rotary element;
- and
- transducer means coupled to the other end of said torsion bar for detecting torque developed in said torsion bar when said rotary element is rotated and for producing electrical signals proportional to said torque.
A torsion transducer for use in rigid disc drives having magnetic heads positioned by a rotary actuator including a stationary support post having a central bore forming a passageway extending longitudinally therethrough and affixed to a base of the disc drive, said base having an aperture aligned with said passageway, and a rotary element journalled to said stationary support post for moving the magnetic heads, said torsion transducer comprising:
- a torsion bar extending through said passageway and said aperture;
- connector means fixedly attached to one end of said torsion bar for coupling said torsion bar to said rotary element, said connector means being adapted to rotate in fixed relationship with said rotary element;
- and
- transducer means connected to said base and the other end of said torsion bar for detecting torque applied thereto by said torsion bar when said rotary element rotates and for producing electrical signals proportional to detectable changes in said torque.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.