Disk drive having heat sink device

A disk drive having a base member, including: a printed circuit board installed on a rear surface of the base member, on which at least one chip is mounted; a first insulation panel arranged between the base member and the printed circuit board; at least one heat conductive plate arranged between the first insulation panel and the printed circuit board to absorb and transfer heat generated by the at least one chip; and a heat dissipative plate connected to the heat conductive plate and exposed to an outside of the disk drive to dissipate the heat transferred through the heat conductive plate.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority of Korean Patent Application No. 2003-58002, filed on Aug. 21, 2003, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a disk drive, and more particularly, to a disk drive having a heat sink device to dissipate heat generated from semiconductor chips of a printed circuit board to the outside.

2. Description of the Related Art

Hard disk drives (HDDs), which are data storage devices used for computers, use read/write heads to reproduce or record data with respect to a disk. In the HDD, the read/write head performs its functions while being moved by an actuator to a desired position while lifted to a specified height from a recording surface of a rotating disk.

FIG. 1is an exploded perspective view illustrating the configuration of a conventional hard disk drive.FIG. 2is a side view illustrating the hard disk drive ofFIG. 1.

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, a conventional hard disk drive includes a base member11and a cover plate12. A spindle motor30to rotate a disk20and an actuator40to move a read/write head for recording and reproducing data to a desired position on the disk20are installed on the base member11. The cover plate12is coupled to the base member11to protect the disk20and the actuator40by encompassing the same.

The actuator40includes a swing arm42rotatably coupled to a pivot bearing41installed on the base member11, a suspension43installed at one end portion of the swing arm42and supporting a slider having the head mounted thereon toward a surface of the disk20to be elastically biased, and a voice coil motor (VCM)45to rotate the swing arm42. The voice coil motor45is controlled by a servo control system to rotate the swing arm42in a direction following the Fleming's left hand rule by the interaction between current applied to the VCM coil and a magnetic field formed by a magnet. That is, when the power of the hard disk drive is turned on and the disk20starts to rotate, the voice coil motor45rotates the swing arm42counterclockwise to move the head toward a position above a recording surface of the disk20. When the power of the hard disk drive is turned off and the disk20stops rotation, the voice coil motor45rotates the swing arm42clockwise so that the head is moved to a position not above the disk20.

A printed circuit board50is installed on a rear surface of the base member11. A plurality of semiconductor integrated circuit chips52to drive a disk drive is mounted on the printed circuit board50. Although not shown in the drawing, a plurality of circuit devices, and wirings to electrically connect the semiconductor chips52and the circuit devices, are arranged on the printed circuit board50.

A thin insulation panel60for insulation between the semiconductor chips52, the circuit devices, and wirings, which are provided on the printed circuit board50, and the base member11, is arranged between the base member11and the printed circuit board50. The insulation panel60is made of a material exhibiting an electric insulation feature, a thermal insulation feature, and a buffering feature so that it also has functions of insulating heat, reducing noise, and absorbing shocks and vibrations. That is, the insulation panel60blocks transfer of heat generated from the semiconductor chips52of the printed circuit board50into the disk drive via the base member11.

Since the height of hard disk drives used for desktop computers is loosely restricted, the semiconductor chips can be mounted on a rear surface of the printed circuit board, that is, facing toward the outside. Thus, in this case, since the semiconductor chips are directly exposed to the outside air, the heat generated from the semiconductor chips can be easily dissipated.

However, in hard disk drives used for portable computers, for example, notebook computers, since the height thereof is tightly restricted, as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, the semiconductor chips52can be mounted on an upper surface of the printed circuit board50, that is, a surface toward the base member11. Accordingly, the heat generated from the semiconductor chips52is not easily dissipated to the outside and remains between the printed circuit board50and the base member11for a long time. Although the insulation panel60has an insulation function, it does not dissipate the heat to the outside. As a result, after a long time of use, the heat generated from the semiconductor chips52is transferred to the base member11. Accordingly, the temperature of the head, the spindle motor30, and the actuator40increases so that performance of the disk drive deteriorates. Also, since the thermal conductivity coefficient of the insulation panel60is quite low, the heat generated from the semiconductor chips52cannot be distributed uniformly throughout the entire surface of the insulation panel60. Thus, a rise in the temperature of the base member11at a portion near the semiconductor chips52generating a large amount of heat is relatively great. As the rise in the temperature differs according to the portions of the base member11, the base member11is deformed so that the entire configuration of the disk drive is deformed and thus performance thereof may be deteriorated.

FIG. 3shows that there is a considerable difference in the amount of deformation according to the portions of the base member due to the local temperature rise in the base member by the heat generated from the semiconductor chips in the conventional hard disk drive shown inFIG. 1.

BRIEF SUMMARY

To solve the above and/or other problems, the present invention provides a disk drive having a heat sink device capable of easily dissipating heat generated from the semiconductor chips of the printed circuit board to the outside, to prevent deformation of the base member and deterioration of performance by the heat.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a disk drive having base member, including: a printed circuit board installed on a rear surface of the base member, on which at least one chip is mounted; a first insulation panel arranged between the base member and the printed circuit board; at least one heat conductive plate arranged between the first insulation panel and the printed circuit board to absorb and transfer heat generated by the at least one chip by contacting a surface of at least one chip; and a heat dissipative plate connected to the heat conductive plate and exposed to an outside of the disk drive to dissipate the heat transferred through the heat conductive plate.

The at least one chip may be more than one, and a heat conductive plate may be connected to a heat dissipative plate and may be provided for each chip.

The heat conductive plate may substantially cover the entire an upper surface of the printed circuit board opposite the rear surface.

A second insulation panel may be arranged between each of the heat conductive plates and the printed circuit board. At least one insertion hole, in which the chip is inserted, may be formed in the second insulation panel and the heat conductive plate may contact the at least one chip through the at least one insertion hole. The first insulation panel and the second insulation panel may be attached to sides of each heat conductive plate.

The heat dissipative plate may be exposed from a side surface of the disk drive. The heat dissipative plate may extend vertically from an edge portion of each heat conductive plate.

Each heat dissipative plate may be arranged on a rear surface of the printed circuit board and each heat conductive plate and the heat sink plate are connected by a connection member. A connection hole may be formed in the printed circuit board and the connection member may be disposed in the connection hole.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a disk drive having a base member, including: a printed circuit board having at least one chip; a first insulation panel arranged between the base member and the printed circuit board; and a heat sink which absorbs and dissipates heat generated by the at least one chip, the heat sink including a first portion disposed between the printed circuit board and the insulation panel to absorb heat and a second portion connected to the first portion and exposed to an outside of the disk drive to dissipate the absorbed heat.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a disk drive having a base member, including: a printed circuit board having at least one chip; a first insulation panel disposed between the base member and the printed circuit board; a second insulation panel disposed between the first insulation panel and the printed circuit board, the second insulation panel having at least one insertion hole, one for each chip, to accommodate the at least one chip; and a heat sink disposed between the insulation panels and which absorbs and dissipates heat generated by the at least one chip, the heat sink including a first portion to absorb heat and a second portion connected to the first portion to dissipate the absorbed heat.

Additional and/or other aspects and advantages of the present invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Referring toFIGS. 4 and 5, a hard disk drive according to a first embodiment of the present invention includes a spindle motor130to rotate a disk120, an actuator140, a printed circuit board150on which a plurality of semiconductor chips152a,152b,152c, and152dare mounted, a first insulation panel160, and a heat sink device to dissipate heat generated from the semiconductor chips152a,152b,152c, and152dto the outside.

The spindle motor130is installed on a base member111of the hard disk drive. At least one disk120is installed on a hub of the spindle motor130and rotated with the hub.

The actuator140moves a read/write head for recording and reproducing data to a specified position on the disk120, and includes a swing arm142, a suspension143, and a voice coil motor145. The swing arm142is rotatably coupled to a pivot bearing141installed on the base member111. The suspension143is coupled to a leading end portion of the swing arm142and supports and elastically biases a slider, on which the head is mounted, toward a surface of the disk120.

The voice coil motor145provides a drive force to rotate the swing arm142and is controlled by a servo control system to rotate the swing arm142in a direction following the Fleming's left hand rule by the interaction between current applied to a VCM coil and a magnetic field formed by a magnet. That is, when the power of the disk drive is on and the disk120starts to rotate, the voice coil motor145rotates the swing arm142counterclockwise so that the head is moved to the recording surface of the disk120. In contrast, when the power of the disk drive is off and the rotation of the disk120stops, the voice coil motor145rotates the swing arm142clockwise so that the head escapes the disk120. The head escaped the recording surface of the disk120is parked on a ramp146provided outside the disk120.

The disk120, the spindle motor130, and the actuator140are protected by a cover plate112coupled to an upper portion of the base member111.

The printed circuit board150is installed on the rear surface of the base member111. A plurality of semiconductor integrated circuit chips152a,152b,152c, and152dto drive the disk drive are mounted on an upper surface of the printed circuit board150which faces the base member111. A plurality of circuit devices155and wirings154are arranged on the upper surface of the printed circuit board150. A connector153for electric connection with a main circuit board of a computer main body is provided at one side of the printed circuit board150. The printed circuit board150is coupled to the base member111by using a plurality of screws159.

The first insulation panel160is disposed between the base member111and the printed circuit board150and electrically insulates the semiconductor integrated circuit chips152a,152b,152c, and152d, the circuit devices155, and the wirings154, from the base member111. Also, the first insulation panel160has a thermal insulation function to block the transfer of the heat generated from the semiconductor integrated circuit chips152a,152b,152c, and152dof the printed circuit board150to the base member111.

Reference numerals156and166indicate openings formed in the printed circuit board150and the first insulation panel160, respectively, to insert a lower portion of the spindle motor130.

The heat sink device, which is a characteristic feature of the present invention, includes heat conductive plates171a,171b, and171cand heat dissipative plates172a,172b,172c. The heat conductive plates171a,171b, and171cand the heat dissipative plates172a,172b,172care formed of a metal having a high thermal conductivity coefficient, such as, for example, aluminum or an aluminum alloy.

The heat conductive plates171a,171b, and171care arranged between the first insulation panel160and the printed circuit board150to respectively contact the surfaces of the semiconductor chips152a,152b,152c, and152d. The heat conductive plates171a,171b, and171ccontact the surfaces of the semiconductor chips152a,152b,152c, and152das much as possible. Since the heat conductive plates171a,171b, and171care formed of the metal having a high thermal conductivity coefficient, they absorb the heat generated from the semiconductor chips152a,152b,152c, and152dwell. The absorbed heat is transferred to the heat dissipative plates172a,172b, and172c.

The heat dissipative plates172a,172b, and172chaving the above function may have different shapes according to the number of the semiconductor chips152a,152b,152c, and152dand the positions thereof. For example, as shown in the drawings, the thermal conductive plates171aand171bare formable to contact the semiconductor chips152aand152band the other thermal conductive plate171cis formable to contact the surfaces of the two semiconductor chips152cand152d.

The heat dissipative plates172a,172b, and172care connected to the heat conductive plates171a,171b, and171c, respectively, and exposed to the outside of the disk drive. In detail, the heat dissipative plates172a,172b, and172care formable by vertically extending from one sides of the heat conductive plates171a,171b, and171c, respectively, to be exposed from the side surface of the disk drive. The heat dissipative plates172a,172b, and172care formed as large as possible within a range to not interfere with other constituent elements so that a larger heat sink area can be obtained. According to the above configuration, the heat dissipative plates172a,172b, and172cdirectly contact the outside air, the heat transferred through the heat conductive plates171a,171b, and171cis dissipated to the outside.

According to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, since the heat generated from the semiconductor chips152a,152b,152c, and152dof the printed circuit board150is easily and rapidly dissipated to the outside through the heat dissipative plates172a,172b, and172cand the heat conductive plates171a,171b, and171cwhich are mostly formed of metal, heat is hardly accumulated between the printed circuit board150and the first insulation panel160. Also, most heat transferred toward the base member111from the semiconductor chips152a,152b,152c, and152dand the heat conductive plates171a,171b, and171cis blocked by the fist insulation panel160. Therefore, the deformation of the base member111due to the local temperature rise, the deterioration of performance of the disk drive due to the temperature rise, and the damage to the semiconductor chips152a,152b,152c, and152ddue to the overheat can be prevented.

FIG. 6shows a hard disk drive having a heat sink device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Referring toFIG. 6, in a disk drive according to a second embodiment of the present invention, a heat sink device to dissipate the heat generated from the semiconductor chip152ato the outside includes a heat conductive plate271arranged between the first insulation panel160and the printed circuit board150and contacting the surface of each of the semiconductor chip152aand a heat dissipative plate272arranged on the rear surface of the printed circuit board150to dissipate the heat transferred through the heat conductive plate271to the outside. The heat sink device having the above configuration is appropriate for, for example, a case in which the heat dissipative plate272is not arrangeable on the side surface of the disk drive.

Since the configuration of the heat conductive plate271is the same as that of the heat conductive plate171a,171b,171c, and171d, a detailed description thereof is omitted.

The heat dissipative plate272is arranged on the rear surface of the printed circuit board150and exposed to the outside of the disk drive, unlike the first embodiment. The heat dissipative plate272is connected to the heat conductive plate271by a connection member273. To this end, a connection hole258is formed on the printed circuit board150. As the connection member273is inserted in the connection hole258, the heat conductive plate271arranged on the upper side of the printed circuit board150and the heat dissipative plate272arranged on the lower side of the printed circuit board150are connectable to each other by the connection member273. The connection hole258and the heat dissipative plate272are provided at an empty space of the printed circuit board150, that is, a portion where the semiconductor chip152a, the circuit devices, and the wirings are not arranged. It is contemplated that a plurality of the connection holes and heat dissipative plates may be provided. The connection member273may be formed of metal exhibiting a high thermal conductivity coefficient such as, for example, aluminum or an aluminum alloy.

In operation, the heat generated from the semiconductor chip152ais absorbed by the heat conductive plate271, transferred to the heat dissipative plate272through the heat conductive plate271and the connection member273, and dissipated to the outside from the heat dissipative plate272contacting the outside air. Thus, a similar effect as in the first embodiment is obtained in the second embodiment.

FIG. 7is an exploded perspective view illustrating part of a hard disk drive having a heat sink device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 8is a side view of the hard disk drive ofFIG. 7

Referring toFIGS. 7 and 8, a heat sink device of a disk drive according to a third embodiment of the present invention includes a heat conductive plate371to absorb and transfer heat generated from the semiconductor chips152a,152b,152c, and152dof the printed circuit board150and a heat dissipative plate372to dissipate the heat transferred from the heat conductive plate371to the outside.

The heat conductive plate371is arranged between the first insulation panel160and the printed circuit board150and contacts the surfaces of the semiconductor chips152a,152b,152c, and152dmounted on the upper surface of the printed circuit board150. In the present embodiment, the heat conductive plate371is substantially formed to cover the entire upper surface of the printed circuit board150. The heat conductive plate371is formed of metal exhibiting a high thermal conductivity coefficient such as, for example, aluminum or an aluminum alloy as in the previous embodiments. According to the heat conductive plate371which is large, the heat absorbed from the semiconductor chips152a,152b,152c, and152dcan be rapidly and uniformly distributed in a large area. Thus, the heat transferred to the base member111is uniformly distributed in a large area so that deformation of the base member111due to the irregular distribution of the temperature can be prevented.

An opening376is formed in the heat conductive plate371to correspond to the opening156.

The heat dissipative plate372is connected to the heat conductive plate371and exposed to the outside of the disk drive. In detail, the heat dissipative plate372vertically extends from both side edges of the heat conductive plate371so as to be exposed from the side surface of the disk drive. Thus, since the heat dissipative plate372directly contacts the outside air, the heat transferred through the heat conductive plate371is dissipated to the outside.

The heat dissipative plate372is arrangeable on the rear surface of the printed circuit board150and connected to the heat conductive plate371by an additional connection member, as shown inFIG. 6.

A second insulation panel380is arranged between the heat conductive plate371and the printed circuit board150. The second insulation panel380performs electrical insulation between the heat conductive plate371and the circuit devices155and the wirings154on the printed circuit board150. A plurality of insertion holes382a,382b,382c, and382dare formed at positions corresponding to the semiconductor chips152a,152b,152c, and152dso that the heat conductive plate371can contact the surfaces of the semiconductor chips152a,152b,152c, and152d. The semiconductor chips152a,152b,152c, and152dare inserted in the insertion holes382a,382b,382c, and382d, respectively, so that the heat conductive plate371can directly contact the surface of each of the semiconductor chips152a,152b,152c, and152d. An opening386is formed in the second insulation panel380to correspond to the opening156of the printed circuit board150.

The first insulation panel160, the heat conductive plate371, and the second insulation panel380can be separately assembled between the base member111and the printed circuit board150. The first insulation panel160and the second insulation panel380are attached to both sides of the heat conductive plate371by using an adhesive. Accordingly, since the firs insulation panel160, the heat conducive plate371, and the second insulation panel380can be integrally handled, assembly thereof is convenient.

FIG. 9is a view showing the result of simulation of the distribution of temperature on the rear surface of the base member by the heat generated from the semiconductor chips in the disk drive according to the third embodiment ofFIG. 7and the conventional disk drive.

Referring toFIG. 9, when most heat is generated from one of the semiconductor chips, according to the conventional technology, the temperature of a portion of the base member close to the semiconductor chip which generates most of heat rises so that the distribution of temperature of the base member becomes very irregular. However, according to the disclosed embodiments of the present invention, the temperature of the portion of the base member close to the semiconductor chip which generating most of heat is much lower than that according to the conventional technology. Furthermore, the distribution of temperature in the base member becomes uniform compared to the conventional technology.

As described above, according to the disclosed embodiments of the present invention, the heat generated from the semiconductor chips of the printed circuit board is dissipated to the outside of the disk drive through the heat conductive plate and the heat dissipative plate which are formed of metal. Thus, the deterioration of performance of the disk drive due to the increase in temperature and the damage to the semiconductor chips due to the overheat can be prevented.

Moreover, by forming the heat conductive plate large, the heat transferred to the base member is uniformly distributed in a large area so that the deformation of the base member due to the irregular distribution of temperature can be prevented.

Although a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, the present invention is not limited to the described embodiments. Instead, it would be greatly appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the claims and their equivalents.