The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 09, 2004
Filed:
Sep. 10, 2002
Mikhail Godkin, San Diego, CA (US);
BEI Technologies, Inc., San Francisco, CA (US);
Abstract
Disclosed is a linear voice coil actuator having a latching feature, the actuator having a coil assembly, a field assembly, a magnetic structure positioned in the coil assembly, and a stop which limits the position of the magnetic structure with respect to the field assembly when the coil is not energized. The coil assembly has a coil base and a coil located in a cavity in the coil base. The field assembly preferably has an axially magnetized cylindrical magnet, a soft pole piece, and a soft magnetic housing. Preferably the magnetic structure is a magnetic plate positioned coaxially with the axis of magnetization of the magnet and having a diameter or a thickness which is selected to set a latching force between the plate and the magnet when the coil is not energized.