Importance

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Abstract

An electric voice coil actuator includes two coils slidingly mounted on a ferromagnetic housing. The coils, which are connected to each other in most applications, are mounted co-axially for linear reciprocal movement in respective magnetic fields. The north poles of a first pair of magnets are affixed to the housing to create the magnetic fields in which the first coil moves. The south poles of a second pair of magnets are affixed to the housing to create the magnetic fields in which the second coil moves. Alternately, the coils can move in the same magnetic field. Opposing poles of the pairs of magnets are affixed to the housing to prevent magnetic saturation of the housing. The coils are electrically connected to an electric current source to produce magnetic fields that interact with the magnetic fields of the magnets to cause movement of the coils. The electric current source may be electrically connected in parallel to each coil, to cause substantially identical movement of the coils. The coordinated movement of the two coils produces more motive force than one coil. Alternatively, the coils may be electrically connected to separate electric current sources. Employing separate current sources permits using the second coil to oppose the movement of the first coil, to brake the motion of the coils for more accurate positioning of the coils.

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First Claim