Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US20020167792?dq=patent:+7360079
Timestamp: 2017-10-19 13:27:14
Document Index: 751683007

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 201', 'arts 203', 'art 201', 'arts 203', 'art 201', 'arts 203', 'arts 201', 'art 201', 'arts 203', 'arts 203', 'art 201', 'arts 203', 'art 201', 'art 201', 'art 201', 'arts 203', 'art 131', 'art 331']

Patent US20020167792 - Method and apparatus for protecting a hard disk drive from shock - Google Patents
An information storage device (10) includes a cartridge (14) which can be removably inserted into a cradle (13) coupled by a cable (12) to a host computer. The cartridge includes an outer housing (54) containing a chamber (122), and having an electrical connector (63) on the exterior. An inner housing...http://www.google.com/patents/US20020167792?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US20020167792 - Method and apparatus for protecting a hard disk drive from shock
Publication number US20020167792 A1
Application number US 09/858,073
Also published as US6496362
Publication number 09858073, 858073, US 2002/0167792 A1, US 2002/167792 A1, US 20020167792 A1, US 20020167792A1, US 2002167792 A1, US 2002167792A1, US-A1-20020167792, US-A1-2002167792, US2002/0167792A1, US2002/167792A1, US20020167792 A1, US20020167792A1, US2002167792 A1, US2002167792A1
Inventors Ryan Osterhout, Scott Thomas, Paul Kunz, Allen Bracken
Original Assignee Osterhout Ryan D., Thomas Scott P., Kunz Paul C., Bracken Allen T.
US 20020167792 A1
1. An apparatus comprising a removable data storage cartridge which includes:
an outer housing having a chamber therein;
an inner housing which is smaller than and disposed within said chamber, said inner housing having first and second surface portions on opposite sides of the exterior thereof, and having on the exterior thereof a side surface portion which extends between peripheral edges of said first and second surface portions;
a plurality of resilient elements disposed within said chamber between said inner and outer housings so as to resiliently support said inner housing with respect to said outer housing, said resilient elements being disposed at spaced locations along a periphery of said inner housing, and each including first and second outer portions coupled to opposite sides of a center portion, said center portion engaging said side surface portion of said inner housing and said first and second outer portions respectively engaging said first and second surface portions of said inner housing, said center portion being made from a material having a first compression characteristic, said first outer portion being made from a material having a second compression characteristic different from said first compression characteristic, and said second outer portion being made from a material having a third compression characteristic different from said first compression characteristic;
a data storage portion disposed within said inner housing; and
a section which transports signals that include data between said data storage section and a location external to said outer housing.
2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said section includes a flexible portion which is disposed between said inner housing and said outer housing, and which flexes to facilitate movement of said inner housing relative to said outer housing.
wherein said center portion of each said resilient element is compressible in a first direction and said outer portions thereof are compressible in a second direction approximately perpendicular to said first direction; and
wherein said first, second and third compression characteristics include said center portion being more easily compressible in said first direction than said outer portions in said second direction.
7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first, second and third compression characteristics include said center portion of each said resilient element being more easily compressible than each of said outer portions thereof.
8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said first compression characteristic includes said center portion of each said resilient element having a Durometer hardness in the range of approximately 13 to 23 Shore “O”, and said second and third compression characteristics include each of said outer portions of each said resilient element having a Durometer hardness in the range of approximately 19 to 29 Shore “O”.
9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said center portion of each said resilient element has a Durometer hardness of approximately 18 Shore “O”, and each of said outer portions of each said resilient element has a Durometer hardness of approximately 24 Shore “O”.
wherein said first and second surface portions and said side surface portion of said inner housing each have a plurality of corners, and
wherein each said resilient element cooperates with said inner housing in the region of a respective said corner of each of said first surface portion, said second surface portion, and said side surface portion.
13. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said center portion of each said resilient element has approximately an L-shape, and each of said outer portions of each said resilient element has approximately a rectangular shape.
providing a data storage portion within an inner housing, said inner housing having first and second surface portions on opposite sides of the exterior thereof, and further having on the exterior thereof a side surface portion which extends between peripheral edges of said first and second surface portions;
locating said inner housing in a chamber within an outer housing, said inner housing being smaller than said chamber;
transporting signals that include data between said data storage section and a location external to said outer housing; and
resiliently supporting said inner housing within said chamber in said outer housing using a plurality of resilient elements disposed within said chamber, said resiliently supporting step including the steps of:
positioning said resilient elements at spaced locations along a periphery of said inner housing;
configuring each of said resilient elements to include first and second outer portions which are coupled to opposite sides of a center portion;
causing said center portion to engage said side surface portion of said inner housing and said first and second outer portions to respectively engage said first and second surface portions of said inner housing;
selecting for said center portion a material having a first compression characteristic;
selecting for said first outer portion a material having a second compression characteristic different from said first compression characteristic; and
selecting for said second outer portion a material having a third compression characteristic different from said first compression characteristic.
including the step of configuring each said resilient element so that said center portion thereof is compressible in a first direction and said outer portions thereof are compressible in a second direction approximately perpendicular to said first direction; and
wherein said selecting steps are carried out so that said first, second and third compression characteristics include said center portion being more easily compressible in said first direction than said outer portions in said second direction.
17. A method according to claim 15, wherein said selecting steps are carried out so that said first, second and third compression characteristics include said center portion of each said resilient element being more easily compressible than each of said outer portions thereof.
including the step of configuring said inner housing so that said first and second surface portions thereof and said side surface portion thereof each have a plurality of corners; and
wherein said positioning step includes the step of causing each said resilient element to cooperate with said inner housing in the region of a respective said corner of each of said first surface portion, said second surface portion, and said side surface portion.
20. A method according to claim 15, including the step of selecting as said data storage portion a mechanism which includes a rotatably supported hard disk having a magnetic surface on one side thereof, and a head supported for movement adjacent a surface of said disk.
cutting from a first sheet of resilient material a center part having a plurality of arms projecting outwardly in respective different directions;
cutting from a second sheet of resilient material a first outer part;
cutting from a third sheet of resilient material a second outer part;
adhesively securing said first and second outer parts to opposite sides of said center part to form an assembly, each of said outer parts having portions which project outwardly beyond said center part in the region between each adjacent pair of said arms thereof;
cutting said assembly along a plurality of cutting planes to subdivide said assembly into a plurality of resilient elements, said cutting planes each being perpendicular to the planes of lamination between said outer parts and said center part, and each being oriented so that each of said arms of said center part is split in a lengthwise direction into two portions of approximately equal width; and
using a set of said resilient elements to resiliently support an inner housing within an outer housing, said resilient elements of said set being disposed at spaced locations along a periphery of said inner housing.
22. A method according to claim 21, wherein said adhesively securing step includes the steps of:
selecting a pressure sensitive adhesive; and
applying said pressure sensitive adhesive only to selected surface portions of said parts that will be adhesively secured to others of said parts.
23. A method according to claim 21, wherein said step of cutting out said center part includes the step of cutting a plurality of said center parts from said first sheet using a pattern which minimizes wasted material from said first sheet.
wherein said step of cutting out said first outer part includes the step of cutting a plurality of said first outer parts from said second sheet using a pattern which minimizes wasted material from said second sheet; and
wherein said step of cutting out said second outer part includes the step of cutting a plurality of said second outer parts from said third sheet using a pattern which minimizes wasted material from said third sheet.
wherein said step of cutting out said center part is carried out by cutting said center part to have four said arms and to be approximately cross-shaped;
wherein said steps of cutting out said first and second outer parts are each carried out by cutting said outer parts to each be approximately rectangular; and
wherein said step of cutting said assembly is carried out by using two said cutting planes which are approximately perpendicular to each other, and which subdivide each of said outer parts into four approximately rectangular sections of approximately equal size.
selecting for use as said first sheet a first foam material;
selecting for use as said second sheet a second foam material which is stiffer than said first foam material; and
selecting for use as said third sheet a third foam material which is stiffer than said first foam material.
27. A method according to claim 26, wherein said steps of selecting said second and third foam materials are carried out by selecting the same foam material for use as each of said second and third foam materials.
A further consideration is that, in order for any removable data storage cartridge to have a high degree of commercial success, it must be possible to sell it at a relatively low price, which in turn means that it must be possible to fabricate it at a relatively low price.
Consequently, any type of structure provided in the cartridge to offer protection from shocks must be relatively inexpensive, one aspect of which is that there must be an efficient and inexpensive way to manufacture that structure.
[0011]FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of an information storage device which embodies aspects of the present invention;
[0012]FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic top view of a drive module which is a component of the information storage device of FIG. 1;
[0013]FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a removable data storage cartridge which is a component of the information storage device of FIG. 1;
[0014]FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic exploded perspective view of the cartridge of FIG. 3;
[0015]FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic front view of a circuit part which is a component of the cartridge of FIGS. 3-4, shown prior to installation of the circuit part into the cartridge;
[0016]FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic exploded perspective view of a resilient element which is a component of the cartridge of FIGS. 3-4;
[0017]FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic elevational view of one side of the resilient element of FIG. 6;
[0018]FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic elevational view of a different side of the resilient element of FIG. 6;
[0019]FIG. 9 is a block diagram of the device 10 of FIG. 1, showing selected internal components thereof;
[0020]FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic top view of part of a sheet of resilient foam material, showing a pattern for cutting it into a plurality of identical cross-shaped parts that can each be used in the fabrication of resilient elements of the type shown in FIG. 6;
[0021]FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic exploded perspective view of an assembly which includes one of the cross-shaped foam parts of FIG. 10 sandwiched between two square foam parts; and
[0022]FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic top view of the assembly of FIG. 11, showing two cutting planes which will effect subdivision of this assembly into four resilient elements of the type shown in FIG. 6.
[0023]FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view showing an information storage device 10 which embodies aspects of the present invention, and which can be coupled by a cable 12 to a host computer system that is not illustrated. The information storage device 10 includes a receiving unit or cradle 13, and includes an information storage cartridge 14 which is removably inserted into the cradle 13. The cartridge 14 is inserted into and removed from the cradle 13 in directions which are almost vertical, as indicated by a double-headed arrow 16.
[0027]FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic top view of the drive module 18, looking down into a vertical recess 41 that can removably receive the cartridge 14 (FIG. 1). On opposite sides of the recess 41 are two guide rails 42 and 43, which extend approximately vertically down into the recess 41 lengthwise thereof, and which project inwardly into the recess 41 from opposite sides thereof. The guide rails 42-43 are each slightly offset from the center of the recess 41, in a direction normal to an imaginary plane extending through the guide rails.
[0029]FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the cartridge 14 by itself. The cartridge 14 has an outer housing 54. The cartridge 14 has on one side of the housing 54 a label 56, which carries indicia that is not shown in FIG. 3. When the cartridge 14 is removably inserted into the cradle 13, as shown in FIG. 1, the indicia on the label 56 is visible through the magnifying lens 28.
[0037]FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic exploded perspective view of the cartridge 14. It will be noted that the left end of the cartridge 14 in FIG. 4 is the top end when the cartridge 14 is removably inserted into the cradle 13, and the lower part of the cartridge 14 in FIG. 4 is the front side when the cartridge is in the cradle 13. In the discussion which follows, reference to the top, bottom, front or back of the cartridge 14 should be understood to be references to its orientation when in the cradle 13.
The center part 201 is made from a cellular urethane foam material that is available commercially under the trademark PORON® as part number 4701-50-15375-04 from Rogers Corporation of Woodstock, Conn. This foam material has characteristics that include a density of 15 lb/ft3,a compression force deflection in the range of 8-14 psi, and a Durometer hardness of 18 Shore “O”. The outer parts 203 and 204 are each made from a different cellular urethane foam material which is also available commercially under the trademark PORON® from Rogers Corporation, as part number 4701-50-20125-04. This foam material has characteristics which include a density of 20 lb/ft3, a compression force deflection in the range of 13-23 psi, and a Durometer hardness of 24 Shore “O”. The foam material used for the center part 201 is thus somewhat softer than the foam material used for the outer parts 203-204. The center part 201 has a Durometer hardness which is within a range of 13 to 23 Shore “O”, and the outer parts 203-204 each have a Durometer hardness which is within a range of 19-29 Shore “O”. The foam materials used for the parts 201 and 203-204 also have other desirable characteristics, such as minimal outgassing and high resistance to taking a compression set.
With reference to FIG. 8, the thickness 221 of the center part 201 is 9.5±0.95 mm. The thicknesses 222 and 223 of the outer parts 203 and 204 are the same, and in particular are each 3.18±0.32 mm. Thus, in the disclosed embodiment, the outer parts 203 and 204 each have a thickness which is approximately one-third the thickness of the center part 201.
With reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, the outer parts 203 and 204 each have respective dimensions 226 and 227 along two adjacent sides thereof. In the disclosed embodiment, the dimensions 226-227 are the same, with a value of 17±0.8 mm. It will be noted that the outer sides of the legs of the L-shaped center part 201 each have this same dimension. FIGS. 7 and 8 also show that the two legs of the L-shaped center part 201 each have a respective transverse thickness indicated at 231 or 232. In the disclosed embodiment, the thicknesses 231-232 are the same, and have a value of 6.35±0.5 mm. It will thus be noted that the transverse thickness 231 or 232 of each of the legs of the center part 201 is approximately twice the thickness 222 or 223 of either of the outer parts 203 and 204. Although the foregoing discussion sets forth certain specific dimensions of the corner part 131 from the disclosed embodiment, it will be recognized that the present invention is not limited to this specific set of dimensions.
[0054]FIG. 9 is a block diagram of the information storage device 10 of FIG. 1, showing in more detail the internal structure of this device. Parts which have already been discussed above in association with FIGS. 1-8 are identified with the same reference numerals in FIG. 9. The following discussion of FIG. 9 is directed primarily to other components that are shown in FIG. 9 but that have not already been discussed above.
The end of the actuator arm 311 remote from the head 317 is bifurcated to define two legs, one of which has a magnetically permeable part 331 at the outer end thereof, and the other of which has a coil 332 at the outer end thereof. The coil 332 receives electrical signals from the circuitry 301 in the cradle 13, through the connectors 63 and 46, the flex circuit 146, and the connector arrangement that includes the connectors 151 and 152. The coil 332 is located adjacent a stationary magnet 333. The electrical signals supplied to the coil 332 cause the coil to create an electromagnetic field, which interacts with the magnetic field of the magnet 333 so as to effect pivotal movement of the actuator arm 311 about the pivot 312. The arm 311, head support 316, head 317, pivot 312, coil 332, and magnet 333 may be referred to as an actuator.
In the event the cartridge 14 is subjected to a shock, the shock detector 158 on the flex circuit 146 can detect and record the occurrence of that shock if it is in excess of a threshold value. The shock detector 158 is a commercially available component, for example part number PKGF-25ME-TC sold by Murata Electric of North America, located in State College, Pennsylvania. When the cartridge 14 is later inserted into the cradle 13, the circuitry 301 can interact electrically with the shock detector 158 in order to determine whether the cartridge 14 has been subjected to a significant shock.
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Cooperative Classification G11B33/121, G11B33/08, G11B5/59694, G11B5/5582, G11B5/54
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:OSTERHOUT, RYAN D.;THOMAS, SCOTT P.;KUNZ, PAUL C.;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:011840/0062