Patent Publication Number: US-2004057152-A1

Title: Disk drive

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0002] The present invention relates to a disk drive that includes a main unit and an outer case covering the main unit.  
       [0003] 2. Description of Related Art  
       [0004] Disk drives for reproducing or reproducing/recording data from and on optical disks such as DVDs (Digital Versatile Disks) and CDs (Compact Disks) have been widely used. A disk drive having such a structure as shown in FIG. 1 is known.  
       [0005] The disk drive  101  illustrated in FIG. 1 has an outer case  102  that is made of metal, shaped like a box and open at one side. The outer case  102  contains a frame  103  that is made of synthetic resin.  
       [0006] The frame  103  holds a disk-driving unit, a data-reproducing unit and a main unit. The disk-driving unit (not shown) is designed to rotate an optical disk. The data-reproducing unit (not shown) has a photosensor for recording or reproducing data on or from the optical disk. The main unit has a drive unit for moving the data-reproducing unit relative to the optical disk.  
       [0007] A disk tray (not shown) is arranged in the frame  103  and near the open side of the outer case  102  where the optical disk is mounted thereon. The disk tray can move into and out from the open side of the outer case  102 . Connectors  104  are provided on that side of the outer case  102 , which opposes the open side where the disk tray is disposed.  
       [0008] Cables (not shown) for supplying power and signals to the disk drive  101  from external apparatuses and vice versa are detachably connected to the connectors  104 . The connectors  104  of different types are arranged side by side.  
       [0009] The outer case  102  includes a lower case  105 , an upper case  106 , and a decorative panel  107 . The upper case  106  mounted on the lower case  105  with length L1, width L2 and height L3 includes a top wall  106   a , two side walls  106   b , a rear wall  106   c , and a panel-holding strip  106   d . The side walls  106   b  extend downwards from two long edges of the top wall  106   a , thus at right angles to the top wall  106   a . The rear wall  106   c  extends downwards from the rear edge of the top wall  106   a , thus at right angles to the top wall  106   a . The rear wall  106   c  has a width L4. The panel-holding strip  106   d  holds the decorative panel  107 .  
       [0010] Data items about the connectors  104  (e.g., the types of the cables that are to be connected to the connectors  104 ) are indicated on the rear wall  106   c.    
       [0011] The lower case  105  and upper case  106  which are made of metal to acquire sufficient heat resistance are formed by cutting a rectangular metal plate and bending the plate at prescribed positions.  
       [0012] The upper case  106 , for example, has been formed by cutting and bending such a rectangular plate as is shown in FIG. 2. More precisely, the rectangular plate cut has a vertical dimension M1 (M1=L1+L2+L5; note that L5 is a margin for the panel-holding strip  106   d ) and a horizontal dimension M2 (M2=2×L3+L2). This plate is bent along the dashed lines for forming the upper case  106 .  
       [0013] In the disk drive  101  as shown in FIG. 1, the upper case  106  is formed by bending some parts of a metal plate cut in a specific profile, at right angles to the major part (i.e., the part to become top wall  106   a ). Inevitably, the metal plate for the top wall  106   a  becomes large, thereby increasing the manufacturing cost of the disk drive  101 .  
       [0014] The upper case  106  cannot be made smaller, however, for two reasons. First, the sizes of the top wall  106   a  and side walls  106   b  are determined by the length, width and height of the main unit. Second, the width of the rear wall  106   c  is determined by the area in which the data items about the connectors  104  are indicated.  
       [0015] Further, the disk drive  101  cannot be smoothly inserted into other apparatuses, for example, a tower-type computer through a slot made in one side of the computer from the side of the connectors  104  of the disk drive  101 . This is because the top wall  106   a  and rear wall  106   c  of the upper case  106  form a right-angled corner with a shape edge, which may abut on the edges of the slot.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0016] An object of the present invention is to provide a disk drive that can be manufactured at a low cost and can easily be inserted into any other apparatus.  
       [0017] A disk drive according to the present invention includes a main unit and an outer case. The main unit includes a disk-driving unit for rotating a disk, a data-reproducing unit for reproducing data from the disk, and a drive unit for moving the data-reproducing unit relative to the disk. The outer case has a horizontal plate opposing the main unit and an inclined plate. The inclined plate extending from a rear edge of the horizontal plate is gently inclined and covers the rear part of the main unit. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0018]FIG. 1 is a perspective view, representing an outer appearance of a disk drive according to a conventional example;  
     [0019]FIG. 2 is a development view of an upper case that constitutes an outer case of the disk drive according to the conventional example;  
     [0020]FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a disk drive according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
     [0021]FIG. 4 is a perspective view, representing an outer appearance of the disk drive according to the embodiment;  
     [0022]FIG. 5 is a development view of an upper case that constitutes an outer case of the disk drive according to the embodiment;  
     [0023]FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional view illustrating the primary portion of the disk drive according to the embodiment; and  
     [0024]FIGS. 6B and 6C are cross-sectional views showing the modifications of the disk drive according to the embodiment. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)  
     [0025] An embodiment of the present invention will be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
     [0026] [Arrangement of Disk Drive] 
     [0027]FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a disk drive according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0028] As FIG. 3 shows, a disk drive  1  has a main unit  20  and an outer case  2 . The outer case  2  covers the main unit  20 .  
     [0029] The outer case  2  includes an upper case  3 , a lower case  4 , and a decorative panel  5 . The upper case  3  is made of metal and opens at the bottom and the front. The lower case  4  is made of metal and closes the bottom of the upper case  3 . The decorative panel  5  is made of synthetic resin and closes the front of the upper case  3 .  
     [0030]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the disk drive  1 , and FIG. 5 is a development view of the upper case  3 .  
     [0031] As seen from FIGS. 4 and 5, the upper case  3  is composed of a top wall  3   a  (horizontal plate), two side walls  3   b , a rear wall  3   c  (inclined plate), and a panel-holding strip  3   f . The side walls  3   b  extends downwards from the long edges of the top wall  3   a , namely at almost right angles to the side wall  3   b . The rear wall  3   c  extends from the rear edge of the top wall  3   a  and is inclined at an obtuse angle α to the top wall  3   a . The panel-holding strip  3   f  holds the decorative panel  5 . The upper case  3  opens at the bottom and the front.  
     [0032] The top wall  3   a  opposes the main unit  20 . It is a rectangular plate that has length L6 and width L2.  
     [0033] The side walls  3   b  have an upper edge and a lower edge, which have length L6 and length L1, respectively. The side walls  3   b  have height L3. The rear wall  3   c  has width L7 and length L2.  
     [0034] The angle α is an obtuse angle (90°&lt;α&lt;180°). The angle α can be of any value that falls within the range. Preferably, it is greater than 120° and less than 150° (120°&lt;α&lt;150°).  
     [0035] Since the rear wall  3   c  is inclined at angle α to the top wall  3   a , those edges of the side walls  3   b  which meet the rear wall  3   c  are inclined, too.  
     [0036] The rear wall  3   c  is a flat plate. Its height, or the distance between its lower edge and the top wall  3   a , is L4. An opening  4   c  is made between the rear wall  3   c  and the lower case  4  (see FIG. 6A).  
     [0037] Some parts on a lower-edge of either side wall  3   b  of the upper case  3 , for example two lower-edge parts, are bent inwards, forming fastening strips  3   d . The fastening strips  3   d  have screw holes (not shown) each.  
     [0038] The rear wall  3   c  has a plurality of approximately slit-shaped exhaust ports (not shown) cut in the middle part.  
     [0039] The top wall  3   a , the side walls  3   b , the rear wall  3   c , the fastening strips  3   d  and the panel-holding strip  3   f  have been formed by bending metal plates that have specific shapes as illustrated in FIG. 5.  
     [0040] As FIG. 3 depicts, the lower case  4  is a rectangular plate that is almost identical to the upper case  3  in shape.  
     [0041] The lower case  4  has fastening tabs  4   b  at either long side. The tubs  4   b  have been formed by bending upward two edge parts of a rectangular plate corresponding to the fastening strip  3   d  of the upper case  3 . Each fastening tab  4   b  has two projected screw holes  4   a.    
     [0042] The lower case  4  is formed by cutting a rectangular metal plate and bending the four edges of the plate. The lower case  4  is shaped like a rectangular plate. A heat-radiating member  91  is fixed to the inner surface of the lower case  4 . The heat-radiating member  91  is made of material, such as silicone rubber, which is thermally conductive, electrically insulating and sufficiently elastic. The heat-radiating member  91  is positioned in alignment with an electric component  82  of a circuit board  81 , which will be described later.  
     [0043] The decorative panel  5  is shaped like a plate. It is made of synthetic resin such as acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS). Engagement claws (not shown) protrude almost vertically from the decorative panel  5  that are detachably attached in engagement with the lower case  4  and the side walls  3   b  of the upper case  3 .  
     [0044] The decorative panel  5  has a rectangular window  5   a  that extend horizontally in longitudinal direction. A switch  5   b  and operation indicators  5   c  are mounted on the decorative panel  5 .  
     [0045] A frame  11  is provided in the outer case  2 . The frame  11  is made of synthetic resin, such as ABS, which is rigid and electrically insulating.  
     [0046] The frame  11  includes two side walls  11   a , a rear wall  11   b , two support ribs  11   c , and a shutter drive-holding rib  11   d  so as forming approximately rectangular frame with both end surfaces opening in axial direction. The side walls  11   a  contact the inner surfaces of the side walls  3   b  of the upper case  3 . The rear wall  11   b  contacts the inner surface of the rear wall  3   c  of the upper case  3 . The support ribs  11   c  are strips, each extending inwards from one side wall  11   a  and connected at one end to the rear wall  11   b . The shutter drive-holding rib  1   d  is located, bridging those ends of the side walls  11   a  which face away from the rear wall  11   b.    
     [0047] Fastening ribs  11   e  are provided on each side wall  11   a  of the frame  11 . The fastening ribs  11   e  are held, each between one fastening strip  3   d  of the upper case  3  and one fastening tab  4   b  of the lower case  4 . The fastening ribs  11   e  are fastened to the upper case  3  and lower case  4  with screws.  
     [0048] The frame  11  holds the main unit  20 . The main unit  20  has a base  21  that is a frame made of, for example, metal.  
     [0049] A rotation-transmitting section  22  is integrally fastened to one edge of the base  21 . The rotation-transmitting section  22  has a holding member  22   a  and a pair of arms  22   b . The holding member  22   a  is an elongated strip that extends along that edge of the base  21 . The base  21  is integrally fastened to the holding member  22   a  with screws. The pair of arms  22   b  are formed integral with the holding member  22   a  and project almost perpendicularly from the ends of the holding member  22   a . The arms  22   b  are rotatably supported by the support ribs  11   c  that extend from the side wall  11   a  of the frame  11 . The section  22  transmits rotation to the base  21 .  
     [0050] A disk-driving unit  25  is mounted on the free end of the base  21 . The disk-driving unit  25  includes an electric motor for rotation (not shown) and a turntable  27 . The electric motor is, for example, spindle motor. The turntable  27  is coupled to the output shaft of the electric motor.  
     [0051] The turntable  27  has a columnar shaft  27   a  and a flange  27   b . The shaft  27   a  can pass through a shaft hole  28   a  made in the center part of an optical disk  28 . The flange  27   b  is projected from an outer circumference of the shaft  27   a  and can support the center part of the optical disk  28 . A magnet (not shown) is embedded in the distal end of the shaft  27   a  of the turntable  27 .  
     [0052] A drive unit  31  is arranged on the base  21 . The drive unit  31  includes a pair of guide shafts  32  and an electric motor  33 .  
     [0053] The pair of guide shafts  32  are fastened at one end to the base  21  and extend horizontally toward the rotation-transmitting section  22 . The electric motor  33  is positioned with the output axis direction thereof extending along the axis direction of the guide shafts  32 . The output shaft of the electric motor  33  has a helical groove (not shown) cut in its circumferential surface.  
     [0054] The drive unit  31  holds a data-reproducing unit  41 . The data-reproducing unit  41  has a carriage  42  that is mounted at ends on the guide shafts  32  of the drive unit  31 . The carriage  42  holds a light source (not shown), a lens  45  and a photosensor (not shown). The lens  45  focuses a light beam emitted from the light source. The photosensor detects a light beam reflected by the optical disk  28 .  
     [0055] A rotor support  51  is fastened to the frame  11  with screws, bridging the side walls  11   a  of the frame  11 . The rotor support  51  is, for example, a metal plate.  
     [0056] The rotor support  51  has a circular recess  52  made in its approximately center part. The recess  52  opens upwards and opposes the turntable  27  of the disk-driving unit  25 . The rotor support  51  has a through hole  53  made in the approximately center of the recess  52 . A rotor  55  is mounted in the recess  52  and can rotate. The rotor  55  is shaped like a disk. The outer circumference of the rotor  55  is capable to attach to the inner surface of the through hole  53 . A magnetic member (not shown), for example, a metal plate, is secured to the rotor  55 . The rotor  55  cooperates with the turntable  27  to clamp the optical disk  28 , by virtue of the magnetic force of a magnet  29  that is embedded in the distal end of the shaft  27   a  of the turntable  27 .  
     [0057] The frame  11  holds a disk tray  61 . The disk tray  61  can move back and forth in a horizontal plane, sliding on the support ribs  11   c  inside the frame  11 .  
     [0058] The disk tray  61  has an approximately rectangular tray  62  made of, for example, synthetic resin. The tray  62  has an opening that exposes the disk-driving unit  25  and the data-reproducing unit  41  of the main unit  20 .  
     [0059] The tray  62  has a circular recess  62   a  in one end in longitudinal direction. The recess  62   a  opens upwards, for holding the optical disk  28 . A window-closing plate  65  is detachably attached to that one of the tray  62  in longitudinal direction. The window-closing plate  65  is made of the same material as the decorative panel  5 . The plate  65  closes the window  5   a  that is made in the decorative panel  5 .  
     [0060] A shutter-driving unit  71  is arranged in the frame  11 , at the shutter drive-holding rib  11   d.    
     [0061] The shutter-driving unit  71  has a transmission pulley  72 , a transmission gear  73 , and a driven gear  74 . The pulley  72  is rotatably held on the shutter-drive holding rib  11   d . The gear  73  is set in engagement with the transmission pulley  72 . The driven gear  74  is in mesh with the transmission gear  73  and set in engagement with the disk tray  61 .  
     [0062] The shutter-driving unit  71  includes an electric motor  75 . A pulley  76  is mounted on an output shaft  75   a  of the motor  75 . An endless belt  77  is wrapped around the pulley  76  and the transmission pulley  72 . When the motor  75  is driven, the pulley  76 , the transmission pulley  72 , the transmission gear  73  and the driven gear  74  rotate, thereby moving the disk tray  61 .  
     [0063] The disk-driving unit  25 , the drive unit  31 , the data-reproducing unit  41  and the shutter-driving unit  71  constitute the main unit  20 .  
     [0064] The circuit board  81  is mounted on the frame  11 .  
     [0065] The above-mentioned circuit board  81  is detachably fastened to the frame  11 , by means of fastening claws (not shown) that are provided on the frame  11 . The circuit board  81  is a rectangular plate that has almost the same size as the lower case  4  of the outer case  2 . It closes the lower edge of the frame  11 , thus covering the main unit  20 . Though not shown, a control circuit having the electric component  82  and designed to control the main unit  20  is mounted on the circuit board  81 .  
     [0066] The circuit board  81  has a through hole  83 . The through hole  83  defines a heat passage that conducts the heat generated by the electric component  82 , to the cooling fan (not shown) in the state that the circuit board  81  is mounted on the frame  11 .  
     [0067] Connectors  85  are mounted on the circuit board  81 . Power lines and cables for supplying signals to and from external electric devices are detachably connected to the connectors  85 , respectively.  
     [0068] As FIG. 4 shows, the connectors  85  are arranged at the rear wall  11   b  of the frame  11 , exposed outside through the opening  4   c  of the outer case  2 .  
     [0069] The connectors  85  of different types are juxtaposed in the horizontal direction. Data items  85   a  about the connectors  85  (e.g., the types of the cables that are to be connected to the connectors  85 ) are indicated on the surface of the rear wall  3   c.    
     [0070] The data items  85   a  may be engraved in the parts of the rear wall  3   c  which lie above the connectors  85 . Alternatively, labels with the data items  85   a  indicated thereon may be adhered to the rear wall  3   c.    
     [0071] [Method of Manufacturing Disk Drive] 
     [0072] A method of manufacturing the outer case  2  of the disk drive according to the embodiment will be described.  
     [0073] First, a rectangular metal plate shown in FIG. 5 and having length N1 and width N2 is prepared to manufacture the upper case  3 . The metal plate is cut into the predetermined profile by means of a press or the like. The data items  85   a  may be formed at the same time the metal plate is pressed.  
     [0074] Then, the metal plate is bent along the dashed lines (FIG. 5), forming the upper case  3  that is shaped like a box. The lower case  4  is made in the same manner as the upper case  3 .  
     [0075] After the upper case  3  and lower case  4  are thus made, the main unit  20  and the circuit board  81 , both manufactured beforehand, are secured to the frame  11 . The frame  11  is fastened to the lower case  4 . The upper case  3  is fastened to the frame  11  to cover the main unit  20 .  
     [0076] [Advantages of Disk Drive] 
     [0077] (1) The disk drive  1  includes the main unit  20  and the outer case  2  covering the main unit  20 . The main unit  20  has the disk-driving unit  25  for rotating the disk  28 , the data-reproducing unit  41  for reproducing data from the disk  28 , and the drive unit  31  for moving the data-reproducing unit  41  relative to the optical disk  28 . The outer case  2  includes the top wall  3   a  and the rear wall  3   c . The top wall opposes the main unit  20 . The rear wall  3   c  extends from the rear edge of the top wall  3   a , is gently inclined and covers the back of the main unit  20 . Gently inclined, the rear wall  3   c  serves as a guide when the disk drive  1  is inserted into a tower-type computer through a slot made in one side of the computer. Thus, the disk drive  1  can be smoothly inserted into the computer to prevent the disk drive  1  or the slot, or both, from being damaged.  
     [0078] Further, the metal plate shown in FIG. 5 and having length N1 and width N2, which is bent to form the upper case  3  that has the top wall  3   a  and the rear wall  3   c  inclined, is relatively small, thereby decreasing not only the manufacturing cost of the disk drive  1 , but also reduces the weight of the disk drive  1 . That is, the metal plate has the width N2 equal to the width M2 (2×L3+L2) of the case shown in FIG. 2, but its length N1 is N3 less than the length M1 of the case shown in FIG. 2. Thus, the metal plate is smaller than the metal plate of FIG. 2 by an area of N3×N2.  
     [0079] (2) The main unit  20  has the connectors  85  to which cables are detachably connected to supply power and signals to the disk drive  1  from an external apparatus, and vice versa. The data items  85   a  indicating the data about the connectors  85  are provided on the surface of the rear wall  3   c  that is inclined and located near the connectors  85 . The user can, therefore, clearly read the data items  85   a  even if the user looks at the rear wall  3   c  slantwise from above when the user inserts the disk drive  1  into the slot of the computer. This facilitates the insertion of the disk drive  1  into the slot. By contrast, the data items provided on the rear wall  106   c  of the conventional disk drive  101  as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, cannot be clearly read unless the user looks straight at the rear wall  106   c . This is because the rear wall  106   c  extends from the rear edge of the top wall  106   a  at right angles thereto. Consequently, it is troublesome for the user to insert the drive  101  into the slot of a computer.  
     [0080] (3) The upper case  3  of the outer case  2  has the top wall  3   a , from which the rear wall  3   c  extends downward and slantwise. The user can therefore clearly see the data items  85   a  from above.  
     [0081] (4) The rear wall  3   c , which is a flat plate, is inclined. Hence, it has a greater area than if it extends vertically. This makes it easy to provide the data items  85   a  on the rear wall  3   c  and renders it possible to present the data items  85   a  in larger size. As a result, the data items  85   a  can be read more clearly than otherwise. In addition, the top wall  3   a  and the rear wall  3   c  can be defined by bending the metal plate only once. Thus, the upper case  3  is easy to make.  
     [0082] (5) The outer case  2  includes the upper case  3  and the lower case  4  that are joined together. Since the upper case  3  and lower case  4  are shaped like a box and a flat plate, respectively, the junction between them lies near the bottom of the disk drive  1 . This imparts a good outer appearance to the disk drive  1 .  
     [0083] [Modification of Embodiment] 
     [0084] Incidentally, the scope of the present invention is not restricted to the above specific embodiment, but includes below-described modifications as long as an object of the present invention can be attained.  
     [0085] In the embodiment described above, the rear wall  3   c  is a flat plate. Nonetheless, it may be assume any other shape so long as the rear wall  3   c  is inclined at the rear edge thereof as a whole. For example, the rear wall  3   c  may be bent in midcourse thereof as shown in FIG. 6B. Alternatively, the rear wall  3   c  may be curved as shown in FIG. 6C, rounding the rear-upper edge of the outer case  2  and thus imparting a better outer appearance to the disk drive  1 .  
     [0086] In the present invention, since the connectors  85  are provided on the top of the disk drive  1 , the rear wall  3   c  can be integrally formed with the lower case  4  as an inclined rear wall. As a result, the data items  85   a  will be well seen from below.  
     [0087] The disk drive  1  of the present invention is not limited to one designed to reproduce data from optical disks  28 . Rather, other types of disks can be used for recording and reproducing data thereon and thereby in an optical or magnetic manner.  
     [0088] The disk drive  1  described above has the disk tray  61  that is moved by the shutter-driving unit  71 . Nevertheless, the disk tray  61  can be dispensed with. If this is the case, a carriage having a rotating member may be provided in the outer case  2  to load and eject the optical disk  28  into and from the outer case  2  through the rectangular window  5   a  made in the decorative panel  5 . Alternatively, the disk may be rotatably held in a case, such as MD (mini disk), which is directly inserted into and ejected from the window  5   a . Alternatively, the optical disk may be held in a prescribed case, which is inserted into and ejected from the case. Still alternatively, the shutter-driving unit  71  may not be provided, and the upper case  3  of the outer case  2  may be rotated to cover the main unit  20  from above after the disk is placed at a prescribed position.  
     [0089] In the embodiment described above, the entire frame  11  is held in the outer case  2  that is shaped like a box for covering whole. Instead, only at least one part of the frame  11  may expose from the outer case  2 . Alternatively, only least one part of the frame may be held in the frame  11 , with another part constituting the outer case  2 , covering the main unit  20  and, thus, preventing the same from being exposed.