Miniature magnetic disk device and voice coil actuator thereof

A miniature magnetic disk device, comprising:

• at least one information recording magnetic disk having a diameter;
• at least one magnetic head for recording or reproducing information on or from said information recording magnetic disk;
• a support member for holding said at least one magnetic head;
• a support shaft coupled to said support member such that the support member is movable over the information recording magnetic disk;
• a voice coil motor, including a coil, coupled to the support member and the support shaft for driving said support member to set the at least one magnetic head in a desired position over the information recording magnetic disk;
• control circuit board having a voice coil motor driving circuit for driving said voice coil motor and providing power to the coil;
• means for reducing power consumed by the voice coil motor, said power reducing means being correlated to the diameter of the magnetic disk in order to reduce the power consumption of the voice coil motor during operation of the disk device;
• and
• wherein the diameter of said magnetic disk is less than or equal to 0.7 inches.

An array disk, comprising:

• two or more miniature magnetic disk devices, each of which includes:
• at least one magnetic disk having a diameter;
• a spindle motor having said at least one magnetic disk rotatable thereon;
• at least one magnetic head arranged over said at least one magnetic disk for recording or reproducing information on or from said magnetic disk;
• a support member, at least partially extending over said magnetic disk, and having said at least one magnetic head arranged at one end thereof so as to face said magnetic disk;
• a support shaft coupled to another end of the support member such that the support member is movable over the magnetic disk;
• a voice coil motor, having a coil, coupled to the support member and the support shaft for driving said support member to set the at least one magnetic head in a desired position over the magnetic disk;
• a base for mounting said support shaft and said spindle motor thereon;
• a cover for housing said magnetic disk mounted on said spindle motor, said support member, said support shaft and said voice coil motor;
• a control circuit board having a driving circuit for driving said spindle motor and said voice coil motor;
• and
• a resistor connected in series with said coil of said voice coil motor;
• wherein said resistor has a value correlated to the diameter of the magnetic disk in order to reduce the power consumption of the voice coil motor during operation of the disk device;
• and
• wherein the diameter of said magnetic disk is less than or equal 0.7 inches and the value of said resistor is greater than-or equal to 2.5.OMEGA..

A miniature optical disk device, comprising:

• an information recording optical disk having a diameter;
• at least one recording head for recording or reproducing information on or from said optical disk;
• a support member for holding said at least one recording head;
• a support shaft coupled to the support member such that the support member is movable over the optical disk;
• a voice coil motor, having a coil, coupled to the support member and the support shaft for driving said support member to set the at least one recording head in a desired position over the optical disk;
• control circuit board having a voice coil motor driving circuit for driving said voice coil motor and providing power to the coil;
• a circuit for reducing power consumed by the voice coil motor, said circuit being correlated to the diameter of the optical disk in order to reduce the power consumption of the voice coil motor during operation of the disk device;
• and
• wherein the diameter of said optical disk is less than or equal to 0.7 inches.

An array disk, comprising:

• two or more miniature optical disk devices, each of which includes:
• an information recording optical disk having a diameter;
• at least one recording head for recording or reproducing information on or from said optical disk;
• a support member, at least partially extending over said optical disk, and having said at least one recording head arranged at one end thereof so as to face said optical disk;
• a support shaft coupled to another end of the support member such that the support member is movable over the optical disk;
• a voice coil motor, having a coil, coupled to the support member and the support shaft for driving said support member to set the at least one recording head in a desired position over the optical disk;
• a control circuit board having a driving circuit for driving said voice coil motor;
• and
• a resistor connected in series with said coil;
• wherein said resistor has a value correlated to the diameter of the optical disk in order to reduce the power consumption of the voice coil motor during operation of the disk device;
• and
• wherein the diameter of said optical disk is less than or equal to 0.7 inches and the value of said resistor is greater than or equal to 2.5.OMEGA..