Embedded type disk drive mounting structure

Provided is a structure for mounting an embedded type disk drive in an electronic system having opposite surfaces corresponding to both surfaces of the disk drive. The structure includes a mounting damper coupled to a corner portion of the disk drive to protrude from either surface of the disk drive, and a mounting groove formed in each of the opposite surfaces of the electronic system at a position corresponding to the mounting damper. As the mounting damper is inserted in the mounting groove, the disk drive is mounted in the electronic system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This application claims the priority of Korean Patent Application No. 2003-58784, filed on Aug. 25, 2003, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a structure for mounting an embedded type disk drive in an electronic system, and more particularly, to a structure for mounting an embedded type disk drive which can reduce an impact or vibration applied to the embedded type disk drive and make assembly, disassembly, and reassembly easy.

2. Description of the Related Art

A disk drive that is one of data storage devices reproduces data stored on a disk or records data on the disk. For example, in hard disk drives (HDDs), a read/write head mounted on an actuator reproduces or records data with respect to a disk while moving to a desired position in a state of being lifted to a predetermined height from a recording surface of the rotating disk.

In particular, portable electronic systems such as personal digital assistants (PDAs), camcorders, and MP3 players, adopt compact disk drives. Such mobile compact disk drives can be largely classified into a detachable type and an embedded type according to the mounting method. The detachable type disk drive is used when the disk drive needs to be frequently disassembled from the electronic system. Accordingly, since the disk drive must have a structure easy to insert in or be separated from the electronic system, the mounting structure thereof is relatively complicated. The embedded type disk drive is used for a case in which the disk drive does not need to be frequently separated from the electronic system. Thus, since the embedded type disk drive is fixed in the electronic system, it can be protected by a case of the electronic system and the mounting structure thereof is relatively simple.

The embedded type disk drive is normally coupled inside the electronic system by using screws. However, if the disk drive is directly mounted in the electronic system by using the screws, the external impact or vibration is directly transferred to the disk drive via the screws so that bearings of a spindle motor installed in the disk drive are damaged or the read/write head collides with the surface of the disk drive.

To prevent the above problems, a variety of vibration reduction structures are adopted in the disk drive, an example of which is shown inFIG. 1.

Referring toFIG. 1, a disk drive10includes a disk, a spindle motor to rotate the disk, a read/write head, and an actuator to move the head to a desired position on the disk. These elements are protected by being encompassed by a base11and a cover12. A damper13for reducing external impact or vibration is provided at the respective corners of the base11. A screw insertion hole14is formed in each damper13. Thus, the disk drive10is fixedly mounted inside the electronic system by screws15which are inserted in the screw insertion holes14.

In the conventional embedded disk drive10shown inFIG. 1, the external impact or vibration can be reduced by the damper13provided at each corner of the disk drive10. However, since the disk drive10has a structure fixedly mounted inside the electronic system by using the screws15, the impact or vibration can be directly transferred to the disk drive10via the screws15. Also, since the size of the disk drive10is very small, the screws15used for mounting the disk drive10must be small accordingly. Since the small screws15are considerably expensive, the manufacturing cost of the disk drive10is raised. Furthermore, a relatively long time is used to couple the disk drive10by using the small screws16.

When the embedded type disk drive10is separated from the electronic system, the screws15must be unscrewed, which takes a relatively long time in the mounting of the disk drive10in the electronic system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To solve the above and/or other problems, the present invention provides a structure for mounting an embedded type disk drive which enables mounting of the disk drive in an electronic system without using screws so that a vibration of the disk drive is reduced and assembly and disassembly of the disk drive is improved.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a structure for mounting an embedded type disk drive in an electronic system having opposite surfaces corresponding to both surfaces of the disk drive comprises a mounting damper coupled to a corner portion of the disk drive to protrude from either surface of the disk drive, and a mounting groove formed in each of the opposite surfaces of the electronic system at a position corresponding to the mounting damper, in which, as the mounting damper is inserted in the mounting groove, the disk drive is mounted in the electronic system.

The mounting damper is attached to corner portions of both surfaces of the disk drive.

The mounting damper is attached at opposite side edge portions of each of both surfaces of the disk drive to be lengthy along the side edge portion.

The mounting damper is attached to both surfaces of the disk drive by using an adhesive or a double sided tape.

A height of the mounting damper is greater than a depth of a mounting groove.

An outer side surface of the mounting damper and an inner side surface of the mounting groove, which contact each other, are inclined.

The mounting damper comprises a coupling portion having a column shape and inserted in the coupling hole, and a mounting portion formed at both end portions of the coupling portion, protruding from both surfaces of the disk drive, and inserted in the mounting groove.

A sectional area of the mounting portion is larger than a sectional area of the coupling portion. A height of the mounting portion is greater than a depth of a mounting groove.

An outer side surface of the mounting portion and an inner side surface of the mounting groove, which contact each other, are inclined.

The mounting damper is formed of a viscoelastic material.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the accompanying drawings, structures of mounting an embedded disk drive according to preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in detail. In the following descriptions and drawings, the same reference numerals indicate the same constituent elements.

FIG. 2shows a structure for mounting a disk drive according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 3shows a state in which the disk drive ofFIG. 2is mounted in the electronic system.

Referring toFIGS. 2 and 3, a disk drive100includes a base111and a cover112. A spindle motor120to rotate a disk130and an actuator140to move a read/write head144to a desired position on the disk130are installed on the base111. The cover112is coupled to the upper portion of the base111to encompass and protect the disk130and the actuator140. The base111and the cover112are typically manufactured of aluminum.

The actuator140includes an actuator arm142rotatably coupled to an actuator pivot141installed on the base111of the disk drive100and a suspension143installed at an end portion of the actuator arm142and supporting the head144to be elastically biased toward a surface of the disk130. The actuator140includes a voice coil motor (VCM)150to rotate the actuator arm142. The voice coil motor150includes a VCM coil151coupled to the other end portion of the actuator arm142and a magnet152installed on the base111to face the VCM coil151. The voice coil motor150is controlled by a servo control system. The actuator arm142is rotated in a direction following the Fleming's left hand rule by an interaction between current input to the VCM coil151and a magnetic field generated by the magnet152. That is, when the power of the disk drive100is turned on and the disk130starts to rotate, the voice coil motor150rotates the actuator arm142counterclockwise to move the head144over a recording surface of the disk130. On the contrary, when the power of the disk drive100is turned off and the disk130stops rotation, the voice coil motor150rotates the actuator arm142clockwise so that the head144moves away from the disk130.

The disk drive100having the above structure is mounted in an electronic system, for example, PDAs, camcorders, or MP3 players. According to the present invention, the disk drive100is mounted with mounting dampers161and162inserted in mounting grooves171and172, respectively. The mounting dampers161and162are coupled to the corners of the disk drive100to protrude from the opposite sides of the disk drive100. The mounting grooves171and172are formed in the opposite inner surfaces of the electronic system corresponding to both surfaces of the disk drive100. That is, according to the disk drive mounting structure of the present invention, as the mounting dampers161and162are inserted into the mounting grooves171and712, the disk drive100is firmly mounted in the electronic system.

In detail, the mounting dampers161and162are attached on the opposite sides of the disk drive100, that is, at the corners of a lower surface and an upper surface thereof. The shape of the mounting dampers161and162is rectangular as shown in the drawings, or can be circular or polygonal. The mounting dampers161and162can be attached to both surfaces of the disk drive100by using an adhesive or a double sided tape. The adhesive or double sided tape to be used has an adhesion strength and heat resistance such that the mounting dampers161and162are not separated from the surface of the disk drive100even if an impact or a vibration is applied, or a change in temperature occurs.

The mounting dampers161and162function to mount the disk drive100and absorb and/or reduce an impact or vibration transferred from the outside. To this end, the mounting dampers161and162are formed of a viscoelastic material exhibiting a superior shock or vibration absorption performance, for example, rubber or engineering plastic having a predetermined elasticity and flexibility.

The mounting grooves171and172are formed in the opposite inner surfaces of the electronic system corresponding to both sides of the disk drive100, that is, the lower and upper surfaces thereof. The opposite surfaces of the electronic system may vary according to the structure of the electronic system and the position where the disk drive100is mounted. For example, the opposite surfaces of the electronic system may be an upper surface of a printed circuit board181installed in the electronic system and a lower surface of the case182of the electronic system. That is, the disk drive100is arranged between the printed circuit board181and the case182in the electronic system. The mounting groove171is formed in the upper surface of the printed circuit board181at a position corresponding to the mounting damper161attached to the lower surface of the disk drive100. The mounting groove172is formed in the lower surface of the case182at a position corresponding to the mounting damper162attached to the upper surface of the disk drive100. The mounting grooves171and172have the shape and size corresponding to those of the mounting dampers161and162so that the mounting dampers161and162are inserted therein. That is, as shown in the drawings, when the mounting dampers161and162are rectangular, the mounting grooves171and172are formed to have the same shape. When the mounting dampers161and162are circular or polygonal, the mounting grooves171and172are formed to have the same shape.

The height H of the mounting dampers161and162is preferably greater than the depth D of the mounting grooves171and172. This is to form a predetermined gap G between the lower surface of the disk drive100and the upper surface of the printed circuit board181and between the upper surface of the disk drive100and the lower surface of the case182, in a state in which the disk drive100is mounted in the electronic system as the mounting dampers161and162are inserted in the mounting grooves171and172. Accordingly, since both surfaces of the disk drive100do not contact the opposite surfaces of the electronic system, the external impact or vibration is not directly transferred to the disk drive100via the opposite surfaces of the electronic system.

According to the structure for mounting a disk drive according to the present invention, the disk drive100is mounted in the electronic system as follows.

First, the case182of the electronic system is open, the mounting damper161attached on the lower surface of the disk drive100is inserted in the mounting groove171formed in the upper surface of the printed circuit board181so that the disk drive100is mounted on the printed circuit board181. As the case182is closed, the mounting damper162attached on the upper surface of the disk drive100is inserted in the mounting groove172formed in the lower surface of the case182. Accordingly, the disk drive100is firmly mounted between the printed circuit board181and the case182of the electronic system.

As described above, according to the present invention, the disk drive100can be easily and firmly mounted in the electronic system without using the conventional screws. Thus, the assembly time and the manufacturing cost of the disk drive100can be reduced. Also, the disk drive100can be easily disassembled by simply opening the case181and reassembly of the disk drive100can be easily carried out. According to the disk drive mounting structure according to the present invention, the assembly, disassembly, and reassembly of the disk drive100are improved. Furthermore, the impact and vibration applied from the outside can be reduced by the mounting dampers161and162. Thus, the head144, the surface of the disk130, and the bearings of the spindle motor120are prevented from being damaged by the external impact or vibration so that performance and reliability of the disk drive100are improved.

FIG. 7shows the result of a test of anti-shock performance of the mounting damper in the mounting structure according to the first preferred embodiment shown inFIGS. 2 and 3. A 4 mm thick rubber is used as the mounting damper in the test. In the test, a high impact input of 1500 G is applied to the electronic system in which the disk drive is mounted and a pivot input applied to the disk drive is measured. In the graph ofFIG. 7, when a high impact input of 1500 G is applied to the electronic system, the actual pivot input applied to the disk drive is lowered to about 990 G. This signifies that the impact input is reduced by about 34% by the mounting dampers. Thus, the bearings of the spindle motor, the head, and the disk installed in the disk drive can be protected from the external impact or vibration.

FIG. 4shows a modified example of the mounting damper and the mounting groove shown inFIGS. 2 and 3. Referring toFIG. 4, the outer side surfaces of mounting dampers161′ and162′ which are attached on the opposite surfaces of the disk drive100are inclined. The inner side surfaces of mounting grooves171′ and172′ formed in an upper surface of the printed circuit board181and a lower surface of the case182are inclined. Also, the inclination angles and directions of the outer side surfaces of the mounting dampers161′ and162′ and the inner side surfaces of the mounting grooves171′ and172′, which contact one another, are substantially the same.

As described above, when the outer side surfaces of the mounting dampers161′ and162′ and the inner side surfaces of the mounting grooves171′ and172′ are inclined, the mounting dampers161′ and162′ are easily inserted in the mounting grooves171′ and172′, respectively. Also, since the outer side surfaces of the mounting dampers161′ and162′ contact closely the inner side surfaces of the mounting grooves171′ and172′, the disk drive100is more firmly mounted.

FIG. 5shows a structure for mounting a disk drive according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. Referring toFIG. 5, the disk drive mounting structure according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention includes mounting dampers261and262attached on both surfaces of the disk drive100and mounting grooves271and272formed in the corresponding surfaces of the electronic system.

In detail, the mounting dampers261and262are attached to the opposite end portions of either surface of the disk drive100to be lengthy along the side edges. That is, the mounting dampers261and262have a long stick shape. The mounting grooves271and272are formed at positions corresponding to the mounting dampers261and262in the upper surface of the printed circuit board181and the lower surface of the case182. The mounting grooves271and272have the shapes and sizes corresponding to those of the mounting dampers261and262so that the mounting dampers261and262are inserted in the mounting grooves271and272, respectively.

The mounting dampers261and262can be formed of a viscoelastic material. The height of the mounting dampers261and262is preferably greater than the depth of the mounting groove271and272. The outer surfaces of the mounting dampers261and262and the inner surfaces of the mounting grooves271and272are inclined as shown inFIG. 4. Since the features and effects of the disk drive mounting structure according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention are the same as those according to the above-described first preferred embodiment of the present invention, detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 6shows a structure for mounting a disk drive according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention. Referring toFIG. 6, a structure for mounting a disk drive according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a mounting damper360coupled to each corner portion of the disk drive100and mounting grooves371and372formed in the opposite inner surfaces of the electronic system.

In detail, a coupling hole364which is open outwardly is formed at each corner of the disk drive100. The mounting damper360is inserted in the coupling hole364. To this end, the mounting damper360includes a coupling portion361having a column shape and inserted in the coupling hole364and mounting portions362and363formed at both end portions of the coupling portion361and protruding from both surfaces of the disk drive100. The coupling hole364may have a circular sectional shape. Accordingly, the coupling portion361of the mounting damper360can be formed to have a circular column shape. Although the mounting portions362and363have a circular shape in the drawing, they may have a rectangular or polygonal shape. The sectional area of each of the mounting portion362and363is preferably greater than that of the coupling portion361. Thus, in the state in which the coupling portion361is inserted in the coupling hole364, the mounting damper360is prevented from moving up and down. Also, since a contact area between the mounting portions362and363and the mounting grooves371and372increases, a firmer mounting structure is possible. The mounting damper360having the above structure can be formed of a viscoelastic material as in the above-described preferred embodiments.

The mounting grooves371and372are formed at positions corresponding the mounting portions362and363of the mounting damper360on the upper surface of the printed circuit board181and the lower surface of the case182. The mounting grooves371and372are formed to have a shape and size corresponding to those of the mounting portions362and363so that the mounting portions362and363of the mounting damper360are inserted therein.

According to the structure for mounting a disk drive according to the third preferred embodiment of the present invention, unlike the previous preferred embodiments, the mounting damper360is not attached to both surfaces of the disk drive100, but detachably coupled to the corner portion of the disk drive100.

The height of the mounting portions362and363is preferably greater than the depth of the mounting grooves371and372. The outer side surfaces of the mounting portions362and363and the inner side surfaces of the mounting grooves371and372may be inclined as shown inFIG. 4. Since the features and effects of the disk drive mounting structure according to the third preferred embodiment of the present invention are the same as those according to the above-described preferred embodiment of the present invention, detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted.

As described above, according to the disk drive mounting structure according to the present invention, the disk drive can be easily mounted in the electronic system without using screws and an external impact or vibration applied to the disk drive can be reduced. Thus, assembly, disassembly, and reassembly of the disk drive are made easy, a manufacturing cost is reduced, and performance of the disk drive is improved as the external impact or vibration is reduced.

Also, by adjusting the depth of the mounting groove, the height of the mounting damper can be sufficiently obtained so that the shock and vibration reduction feature of the mounting damper can be improved.

While this invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. For example, although in the above descriptions the mounting structure is applied to the hard disk drive, it can be applied to a variety of disk drives including an optical disk drive. Also, the shapes and positions of the mounting dampers and the mounting grooves can be changed within a scope of satisfying the respective functions thereof.