Vibration-reducing system for data access apparatus

A vibration-reducing system for use with a data processing apparatus is provided. The data processing apparatus includes a data access apparatus. The vibration-reducing system includes at least one first elastic element and at least one second elastic element, and the elastic modulus of the second elastic element is smaller than the elastic modulus of the first elastic element. The first elastic element connects the data access apparatus to the data processing apparatus, and the second elastic element is disposed between the data processing apparatus and the data access apparatus. A part of impact energy is removed from the data access apparatus by using the difference between the elastic modulus of the first and the second elastic elements.

This application claims priority of Taiwan Patent Application No.091118155 filed on Aug. 13, 2002.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a vibration-reducing system for reducing vibration of a data access apparatus, which is generated by an impact.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

On the ground of the increased request of precision, data access apparatus are getting more brittle today. Therefore, reducing the effect of external impacts is brought into an important issue regarding the durability of data access apparatuses, such as hard disks having high operation speed.

Comparing with other hard disks, the vibration-control requirements of the hard disks disposed on portable computers are relative high. The requirements are on the ground that those hard disks have to meet frequently movements, and the movement is a main reason to damage the hard disks. In addition, even though other desktop computers are not frequently moved, however, the vibration control of the hard disks of these desktops are also important due to the increase of operation speed.

Accordingly, the vibration-control problems of hard disks still exist and need to be solved, no matter the hard disks are disposed on portable computers or desktop computers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an aspect of the present invention to reduce vibration of a data apparatus generated by an impact.

It is another aspect of the present invention to remove a part of energy of the data apparatus generated by an impact.

It is another aspect of the present invention to reduce a high-frequency vibration, which is generated during the operation of the data access apparatus, transmitted to a data processing apparatus.

The present invention provides a vibration-reducing system for use with a data processing apparatus, which has a data access apparatus. The data processing apparatus includes a body, which has a depression. The vibration-reducing system includes at least one first elastic element and at least one second elastic element. The first elastic element connects the data access apparatus to the body allowing the data access apparatus being suspended within the depression. The second elastic element includes a first surface and a second surface. The first surface connects to the body, and the second surface contacts with the data access apparatus.

The first elastic element has flexibility in bending, vertical extension and compression. The second elastic element has one-dimensional flexibility. The second elastic element has an elastic modulus, which is smaller than the elastic modulus of the first elastic element. While the body is impacted to generate an initial energy and a displacement, the data access apparatus stretches or bends the first elastic element and compresses the second elastic element. Then a damping effect is generated on the ground of a difference between the elastic modulus of the first and the second elastic elements. The damping effect helps to remove a part of the initial energy from the data access apparatus.

This and other aspects of the present invention will become clear to those of ordinary skills in the art after having read the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments illustrated in the various figures and drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention provides a vibration-reducing stem for use with a data processing apparatus100, which has a data access apparatus200. AsFIG. 1shows, the data processing apparatus100includes a body110, which has a depression111for containing the data access apparatus200. When the body110is impacted, such as being struck, the vibration-reducing system is configured for reducing the generated vibration.

In preferred embodiment, the data access apparatus200includes a hard disk. However, the data access apparatus200may includes other device such as a floppy drive, disk displayer, memory or others. In addition, the data processing apparatus100includes a portable computer. However, the data processing apparatus100may includes personal computer (PC), personal digital assistant (PDA), mobile phone or others which may cooperate with the data access apparatus200.

FIG. 2shows an explosive view of an embodiment of the present invention. The vibration-reducing system includes at least one first elastic element300and at least one second elastic element400. A first end of the first elastic element300connects with the data access apparatus200, and a second end of the first elastic element300connects with the body100. In this embodiment, the second end of the first elastic element300connects with a top surface of the depression111. The data access apparatus200is suspended within the depression111by using the first elastic element300. The preferred embodiment of the first elastic element300includes a spring, and other embodiments of it include an elastic rubber, a sponge and others.

In a preferred embodiment, a vibration absorbing spacer600is disposed between the first elastic element300and the data access apparatus200. While the data access apparatus is operating, a high-frequency vibration is generated and transmitted to the body110. The spacer600is used to absorb the vibration so that the strength of the vibration, which is transmitted to the data access apparatus200, is reduced. The preferred embodiment of the spacer600is made of rubber. But in other embodiments, the spacer600may be made of sponge or polymer materials.

The first elastic element300has flexibility in bending, vertical extension and compression. Therefore, the data access apparatus200is capable of moving relative to the body110in a 3-dimensional space by bending, stretching or compressing the first elastic element300. However, the movement of the data access apparatus200is limited to the space of the depression111. When the body110is impacted, the data access apparatus200may move corresponding to the impaction force. It should be noted that, in the preferred embodiment, the first elastic element300merely has flexibility in bending and vertical extension.

In the preferred embodiment, the data access apparatus200is a cube, and four first elastic elements300are respectively disposed to connect with the four corners of the cube. However, in other embodiments, the amount and the disposed position may be adjusted according to different conditions, such as a different shape of the data access apparatus200.

AsFIG. 2shows, the second elastic element400is disposed between the body110and the data access apparatus200. The second elastic element400includes a first surface410and a second surface420opposite to the first surface410. The first surface410connects with the body110and the second surface420contacts with the data access apparatus200. In the preferred embodiment, the second elastic element400includes a vibration-absorptive material, such as PU polymer, rubber, sponge or other alike.

The second elastic element400has one-dimensional flexibility. In the preferred embodiment, the direction of the flexibility is vertical or perpendicular to the first surface410or the second surface420. However, the second elastic element400may also be bended or compressed in other directions.

Moreover, the second elastic element400has an elastic modulus, which is smaller than the elastic modulus of the first elastic element300. In other words, the first elastic element300provides a reaction force and a rebound speed, which exceed those provided by the second elastic element400, while the first elastic element300and the second elastic element400are compressed or stretched with the same displacement. It should be noted that the elastic modulus mentioned here includes that of stretch, compression and bending.

In the preferred embodiment, the data access apparatus200is a cube, and six second elastic elements400are respectively disposed to connect with the six surfaces of the cube. However, in other embodiments, the amount and the disposed position may be adjusted according to different conditions, such as a different shape of the data access apparatus200.

While the body110is impacted, an initial energy and corresponding displacement of the data access apparatus200are generated. The displacement forces the data access apparatus200to stretch or bend the first elastic element300and compress the second elastic element400. Then a damping effect is generated due to a difference between the elastic modulus of the first and the second elastic elements300,400. The damping effect mentioned here may be interpreted as an effect for exhausting the system energy. The damping effect helps the vibration-reducing system to remove a part of the initial energy from the data access apparatus200.

FIG. 3a,FIG. 3bandFIG. 3care used to illustrate the damping effect.FIG. 3ashows a profile of the vibration-reducing system while the body has not been impacted. In the meantime, the first elastic element300is in the natural state and merely bearing the weight of the of the data access apparatus300.

AsFIG. 3bshows, while the body110is impacted to generate the initial energy, the displacement of the data access apparatus200is generated to stretch the first elastic element300and to compress the second elastic element400. In the meantime, apart of the initial energy is transmitted to the first elastic element300as a first potential energy, and another part of the initial energy is transmitted to the second elastic element as a second potential energy. In this embodiment, under a unique-displacement condition, the first potential energy is larger than the second potential energy, because the elastic module of the first elastic element300is larger than that of the second elastic element400.

Then, asFIG. 3cshows, the first potential energy provides the data access apparatus200with a rebound energy and a rebound speed. In other words, a part of the first potential energy is transmitted back to the data access apparatus200as a kinetic energy, which provides the rebound speed. The rebound speed exceeds a returning speed of the second elastic element400to separate the second surface420of the second elastic element400from the data access apparatus200. This prevents the second potential energy from transmitting back to the data access apparatus200. Accordingly, a part of the initial energy is removed from the data access apparatus200.

FIG. 4aandFIG. 4bshow another embodiment of the damping effect. AsFIG. 4ashows, while the body110is impacted to generate the initial energy, the displacement of the data access apparatus200is generated to bend the first elastic element300and to compress the second elastic element400. In the meantime, a part of the initial energy is transmitted to the first elastic element300as a first potential energy, and another part of the initial energy is transmitted to the second elastic element as a second potential energy. In this embodiment, under a unique-displacement condition, the first potential energy is larger than the second potential energy, because the elastic module of the first elastic element300is larger than that of the second elastic element400.

Then, asFIG. 4bshows, the first potential energy provides the data access apparatus200with a rebound energy and a rebound speed. In other words, a part of the first potential energy is transmitted back to the data access apparatus200as a kinetic energy, which provides the rebound speed. The rebound speed exceeds a returning speed of the second elastic element400to separate the second surface420of the second elastic element400from the data access apparatus200. This prevents the second potential energy from transmitting back to the data access apparatus200. Accordingly, apart of the initial energy is removed from the data access apparatus200.

FIG. 5shows an explosive view of another embodiment of the present invention. AsFIG. 5shows, the body110further includes a frame500, which is contained within the depression111and separably coupled to an inner surface of the depression111. The first elastic element300connects to both the frame500and the data access apparatus200so that the data access apparatus200is suspended from the frame500. The second elastic element400is disposed between the frame500and the data access apparatus200, and the first surface410of the second elastic element400connects to the frame500. When a user intends to draw out the data access apparatus200from the body110, all he or she has to do is separating the frame500from the inner surface of the depression111.

AsFIG. 5shows, the body110further includes a cover700corresponding to the depression111for covering the data access apparatus200. At least one second elastic element400is disposed between the cover700and the data access apparatus200. The first surface410of the second elastic element400connects to an inner surface710of the cover700, and the second surface420of the second elastic element400contacts with the data access apparatus200. When a user intends to draw out the data access apparatus200from the body110, he or she merely need to open the cover700rather than to disassemble the body110.

The present invention also provides a method for applying on the vibration-reducing system mentioned above. This method is used for removing a part of the initial energy to reduce the vibration of the data access apparatus200.

AsFIG. 6shows, the first step, step (a), includes moving the data access apparatus200with a displacement corresponding to the initial energy. In this embodiment, the initial energy provides the data access apparatus200with a speed to generate the displacement.

In step (b), corresponding to the displacement, the data access apparatus200stretches or bends the first elastic element300and compresses the second elastic element400. Under a unique-displacement condition, the rebound force provided by the first elastic element300is larger than that of the second elastic element400, because the elastic module of the first elastic element300is larger than that of the second elastic element400.

Then in step (c), a damping effect is generated on the ground of a difference between the elastic modulus of the first and the second elastic elements300,400to remove a part of the initial energy from the data access apparatus200.

In another embodiment shown asFIG. 7, step (c) further includes, first, transmitting a part of the initial energy to the first elastic element300as a first potential energy, and transmitting another part of the initial energy to the second elastic element400as a second potential energy. In this embodiment, under a unique-displacement condition, the first potential energy is larger than the second potential energy, because the elastic module of the first elastic element300is larger than that of the second elastic element400.

Then the first potential energy is transmitted to the data access apparatus200as a rebound energy, which provides the data access apparatus200with a rebound speed. The rebound speed exceeds a returning speed of the second elastic element400.

Then the rebound speed separates the data access apparatus200from the second elastic element400to prevent the second potential energy from transmitting back to the data access apparatus200. Accordingly, a part of the initial energy is removed from the data access apparatus200to reduce the vibration of the data access apparatus200.

Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device may be made within the teaching of the invention. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims.