Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US5282099?dq=6,163,776
Timestamp: 2014-07-10 16:28:22
Document Index: 459262591

Matched Legal Cases: ['arts 34', 'arts 34', 'arts 34', 'arts 34', 'arts 34', 'arts 34', 'arts 34']

Patent US5282099 - Disk drive apparatus incorporating circuitry into housing - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign in<nobr>Advanced Patent Search</nobr>PatentsA hard disk drive includes a housing formed of a conductive material, and mechanical components housed in the housing. An electronic circuit for driving and controlling the mechanical components is housed in the housing. The drive circuit section has an insulating layer coated on the inner surface of...http://www.google.com/patents/US5282099?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US5282099 - Disk drive apparatus incorporating circuitry into housingAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS5282099 APublication typeGrantApplication numberUS 07/753,054Publication dateJan 25, 1994Filing dateAug 30, 1991Priority dateAug 31, 1990Fee statusPaidPublication number07753054, 753054, US 5282099 A, US 5282099A, US-A-5282099, US5282099 A, US5282099AInventorsSeiji Kawagoe, Katsuhiko KaidaOriginal AssigneeKabushiki Kaisha ToshibaExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (5), Referenced by (47), Classifications (22), Legal Events (4) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetDisk drive apparatus incorporating circuitry into housingUS 5282099 AAbstract A hard disk drive includes a housing formed of a conductive material, and mechanical components housed in the housing. An electronic circuit for driving and controlling the mechanical components is housed in the housing. The drive circuit section has an insulating layer coated on the inner surface of the housing, a printed circuit formed on the insulating layer and having a desired pattern, and electronic parts mounted on the printed circuit. The drive circuit section uses the walls of the housing as a support base.
What is claimed is: 1. A disk drive apparatus comprising:a structural frame having inner surfaces defining a closed compartment; mechanical components housed in the closed compartment and including a disk on which information is recorded, a first motor for rotating the disk, head means for recording and reproducing information on and from the disk, means for supporting the head means to be movable relative to the disk, and a second motor for moving the supporting means; and circuit means for driving and controlling the mechanical components, said circuit means including electronic parts located in the closed compartment and mounted on the inner surfaces of the closed compartment, means, unitarily disposed on the inner surfaces of the closed compartment, for interconnecting the electronic parts, and means, disposed in the closed compartment, for connecting the electrical parts to the mechanical components, whereby the need for a circuit board other than the inner surfaces is precluded. 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said housing is formed of a conductive material, said circuit means includes an insulating layer formed on the inner surface of the housing, and said printed circuit is formed on the insulating layer.
3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said housing is formed of a conductive material, and said circuit means includes a flexible circuit board having an insulating film and a printed circuit formed on the film and being bonded onto the inner surface of the housing while the insulating film is in contact with the inner surface of the housing.
4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said housing is formed of a non-conductive material and includes a shield layer formed on an outer surface of the housing, for shielding the interior of the housing.
5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said structural frame comprises a box-like body having a top opening, a bottom wall, and side walls erected along edges of the bottom wall, and a cover detachably attached to the body to close the top opening, the bottom wall, side walls and cover having inner surfaces defining said closed compartment, and said means for connecting the electronic parts is unitarily disposed on the inner surfaces of the bottom wall and the side walls of the body.
6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said circuit means includes a printed circuit formed on the inner surface of the cover, a first connector fixed to the inner surface of the cover and connected to the printed circuit formed on the cover, and a second connector detachably connected to the first connector, the second connector being arranged in the body and connected to the printed circuit formed on the inner surface of the body.
7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said structural frame includes a box-like body having a top opening, a bottom wall, and side walls erected along edges of the bottom wall, and a cover detachably attached to the body to close the top opening, the bottom wall, side walls and cover having inner surfaces defining said closed compartment, said circuit means includes a flexible circuit board having an insulating film and a printed circuit formed on the insulating film, the flexible circuit board being bonded onto the inner surface of the bottom wall and cover while the insulating film is in contact with the inner surface of the structural frame.
8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said circuit means has an interface connector connected to the printed circuit while being fixed to the housing and exposed to the outside of the housing.
9. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said circuit means includes a cable connected to the printed circuit and extending outside the housing, and an interface connector attached to the extended end of the cable.
10. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said structural frame includes a box-like body having a top opening, a bottom wall, and side walls erected along edges of the bottom wall, a cover detachably attached to the body to close the top opening, and an inner housing formed of a non-conductive material and shaped substantially the same as the body and fitted in the body while being in contact with an inner surface of the body, the inner housing having an inner surface defining the closed compartment, and said means for connecting the electronic parts is unitarily disposed is formed on the inner surface of the inner housing.
11. A disk drive apparatus comprising:a structural frame having an inner surfaces defining a closed compartment; operation means arranged in the closed compartment and having a disk, for recording and reproducing information on and from the disk; and circuit means for driving and controlling the operation means, said circuit means including electronic parts located on the closed compartment and mounted on the inner surfaces of the closed compartment, means, unitarily disposed on the inner surfaces of the closed compartment, for interconnecting the electronic parts, and means, disposed in the closed compartment, for connecting the electrical parts to the mechanical components, whereby the need for a circuit board other than the inner surfaces is precluded. Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a disk drive apparatus such as a hard disk drive, and the like.
Disk drive apparatuses such as floppy disk drives and hard disk drives are used as external memory devices for use with electronic devices such as word processors and personal computers.
Generally, the disk drive apparatus of this kind includes a structural frame and a drive mechanism enclosed in the structural frame. The structural frame will also be referred to within as the housing or the closed housing. The mechanism include a magnetic disk, a spindle motor for rotating the magnetic disk, a carriage for supporting magnetic heads, a voice coil motor for driving the carriage to move the magnetic heads to a desired information track on the disk, and the like. The housing is formed of conductive material such as metal and conductive plastics to electromagnetically shield the mechanisms therein.
Further, the disk drive apparatus has a printed circuit board located outside the housing, particularly, fixed to the underside of the housing. This circuit board includes circuits for driving spindle and voice coil motors and controlling the read/write of the magnetic heads.
As electronic devices such as word processors and personal computers have been made smaller and smaller in size these days, it is asked that the disk drive apparatus is made smaller in size and thickness. When the circuit board is arranged outside the housing, occupying its own space, as in the conventional apparatuses, however, it prevents the disk drive device from being made smaller in size and thickness.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is contrived in consideration of the above circumstances, and intended to provide a disk drive apparatus capable of being made smaller in size and thickness.
In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, the circuit means for driving and controlling mechanisms arranged in the housing is contained in the housing. Specifically, the circuit means section includes a circuit formed on an inner surface of the housing and electronic parts mounted on the circuit, and it uses the housing itself as its substrate.
With the apparatus having the above construction, it is not necessary to provide a space for installing the circuit means section at the outside of the housing, thereby enabling the apparatus to be made smaller in size and thickness.
FIGS. 1 and 2 show a hard disk drive according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the drive while opening a cover of its housing;
FIGS. 3 and 4 show a hard disk drive according to a second embodiment of the present invention, in which:
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the drive while opening a cover of its housing;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a hard disk drive according to a third embodiment of the present invention while its cover is removed; and
FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a part of a hard disk drive according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows an example in which the present invention is applied to a hard disk drive (which will be hereinafter referred to as the HDD).
The HDD comprises a closed housing 10 and a drive mechanism 14 serving as operation means and contained in the housing 10. The housing 10 includes a rectangular body 11 whose top is opened, and a rectangular cover 12 for closing the opened top of the body 11. The housing 10 is metal-cast or -processed to electromagnetically shield the mechanism 14 in the housing 10. The cover 12 is screwed to the upper edge of the body 11 by screws (not shown) and a seal member 13 which contacts with the upper edge of the body 11 is fixed to the inner face of the cover 12.
The mechanism 14 serving as operation means includes a spindle motor 18 and a carriage 22 which are mounted on the bottom of the housing 10. A magnetic disk 16 is mounted on the rotary shaft of the motor 18 and rotated by the motor 18. A pair of magnetic heads 20 (only one of them is shown in FIG. 1) for recording and reproducing information on and from the disk 16 are supported on tip ends of the carriage 22 and movable on the surfaces of the disk 16. Further, the mechanism 14 includes a voice coil motor 24 for rotating the carriage 22. The motor 24 comprises a coil (not shown) attached to the carriage 22, a yoke 26 mounted on the bottom of the housing 10, and a magnet (not shown) fixed to the yoke 26. When the carriage 22 is rotated by the motor 24, the heads 20 are moved to desired information tracks on the disk 16.
An electronic circuit 28 for driving and controlling the mechanism 14 is housed in the housing 10.
More specifically, insulating layers 30 formed of non-conductive plastics are coated on the inner surface of the body 11, that is, the bottom surface and inner side surfaces of the body 11, and the inner face of the cover 12, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Printed circuits 32 each having a desired pattern and being made according to the manner of making printed-wiring boards are formed on the insulating layers 30. A plurality of electronic parts 34 are mounted surface mount) on the surfaces of the circuits 32. These electronic parts 34 are located so as not to prevent the rotation of the disk 16 and the movement of the carriage 22. The electronic parts 34, circuits 32 and insulating layers 30 form the electronic circuit 28 which includes circuits for driving the spindle motor 18, controlling the read/write of the heads 20, and driving the voice coil motor 24.
A flat cable 36 extends upward from that portion of the circuit 32 on the bottom of the housing 10 which is beside the carriage 22. A connector 36a of the card edge type is formed at the distal end of the cable 36. This connector 36a is detachably connected to a connector 38 mounted on the circuit 32 of the cover 12. The circuit 32 located on the body 11 is thus electrically connected to that located on the cover 12. An interface connector 40 is attached to one of the side walls of the housing 10 and exposed outside. The connector 40 is electrically connected to the circuit 32 in the body 11. The HDD is connected to an electronic device such as a personal computer through the interface connector 40. The connector 40 may be exposed outside from the underside of the body 11.
According to the HDD having the above-described arrangement, the electronic circuit 28 for driving and controlling the drive mechanism 14 is housed in the housing 10. This enables the HDD to be made small in size and thickness, as compared with those having their electronic circuit board outside the housing. Further, the electronic circuit 28 uses the walls of the housing as their support base because the insulating layers 30 and the circuits 32 are formed on the inner faces of the housing 10. Thus, the mechanical strength of the electronic circuit 28 can be made sufficiently larger. In addition, no independent support base for the electronic circuit is needed to be arranged in the housing 10, and the electronic parts 34 are disposed at unoccupied spaces in the housing such as under and above the disk 16 and beside the carriage 22. This prevents the housing 10 from being made large in size, so that the advantages of the structure wherein the electronic circuit is housed in the housing can be effectively utilized.
FIGS. 3 and 4 show a HDD according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
According to this embodiment, a flexible printed circuit board 42 is bonded to the inner face of the housing 10, instead of forming the insulating layer and the printed circuit thereon. The circuit board 42 includes an insulating film 44 formed of non-conductive plastics, and printed circuit 32 formed on the film and provided with a desired pattern. The circuit board 42 extends from the inner face of the body 11 to that of the cover 12 while the insulating film 44 is bonded to the inner faces of the housing 10. A plurality of electronic parts 34 are mounted on the surface the printed circuit 32 and arranged in positions which do not interfere with the disk 16 and the carriage 22.
Other components of the second embodiment are same as those of the first one. Therefore, these components will be represented by same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted accordingly.
The second embodiment having the above-described arrangement can also attain the same advantages as those achieved by the first on and the manufacturing of the HDD can be made easier.
FIG. 5 shows a HDD according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
In the third embodiment, an inner housing 46 formed of non-conductive plastics and shaped substantially the same as the body 11 of a housing 10 is fitted in the body 11, while contacting the bottom and inner side surfaces of the body 11. A printed circuit 32 having a desired pattern is formed on inner surfaces of the inner housing 46 and a plurality of electronic parts 34 are mounted on the circuit 32. A flat cable 48 electrically connected to the print circuit 32 extends outside the body 11, and an interface connector 50 which enables the HDD to be connected to an electronic device is attached to the distal end of the cable 48.
Other arrangement of the third embodiment are same as those of the first one. Therefore, the components the same as in the first embodiment will be represented by same reference numerals, and a description thereof will be omitted.
The third embodiment having the above-described arrangement can also attain the same advantages as those attained by the first one.
For example, the present invention may be applied to a floppy disk drive as well as the hard disk drive. Further, the material of which the housing is made is not limited to metal, but it may be formed of conductive plastics. In this case, a shield layer 52 is formed on the outer surface of the housing to electromagnetically shield the interior of the housing, and a printed circuit 32 is formed directly on the inner face of the housing, as shown in FIG. 6. Electronic parts 34 are mounted on the circuit 32. With the above arrangement, the HDD can be more smaller-sized.
Patent CitationsCited PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS4855849 *Apr 25, 1988Aug 8, 1989Iomega CorporationDisk drive motor mountUS4930029 *Jul 8, 1988May 29, 1990Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaMagnetic disk apparatusUS4979062 *Jan 18, 1990Dec 18, 1990Conner Peripherals, Inc.Disk drive architectureUS5025336 *Nov 6, 1989Jun 18, 1991Prairietek CorporationDisk drive apparatusUS5034837 *Nov 9, 1989Jul 23, 1991Rodime PlcMagnetic disk drive incorporating a magnetic actuator lock and a very small form factor* Cited by examinerReferenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS5414574 *Jul 29, 1993May 9, 1995International Business Machines CorporationHybrid base for ultrathin disk drivesUS5502604 *Aug 16, 1994Mar 26, 1996Inte/ gral Peripherals, Inc.Disk drive with rail mounting arrangementUS5551145 *Oct 29, 1993Sep 3, 1996Hutchinson Technology IncorporatedRigid disk drive assembly methodUS5596738 *Apr 12, 1995Jan 21, 1997Teac CorporationPeripheral device control system using changeable firmware in a single flash memoryUS5606473 *Sep 21, 1995Feb 25, 1997Seagate Technology, Inc.Unitary rigid and flexible circuit package for disk drivesUS5608592 *Jun 5, 1995Mar 4, 1997Fujitsu LimitedHead actuatorUS5613292 *May 30, 1995Mar 25, 1997Scitex Corporation Ltd.Method and apparatus for disk drive modificationUS5654847 *Jul 18, 1995Aug 5, 1997Fujitsu LimitedMagnetic disk apparatusUS5706573 *Sep 12, 1995Jan 13, 1998Samsung Electronics Co.Ltd.Method for fabricating a hard disk driving apparatusUS5739970 *Jul 17, 1995Apr 14, 1998Fujitsu LimitedMagnetic tape unitUS5748404 *Sep 13, 1996May 5, 1998Alps Electric Co., Ltd.Magnetic recording/reproducing device with chassis support structureUS5768049 *Aug 12, 1996Jun 16, 1998Integral Peripherals, Inc.Disk drive apparatusUS5859747 *Aug 7, 1997Jan 12, 1999Alps Electric Co., Ltd.Cover structure for magnetic recording and reproducing deviceUS5862020 *Jul 9, 1997Jan 19, 1999Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Hard disk driving apparatus using surface-treating methodUS5872678 *May 31, 1996Feb 16, 1999International Business Machines CorporationEnclosure assembly for a disk with a locational and retention cast docket structure for a connector and flexible cable connected to an electronics cardUS5872679 *Jul 1, 1998Feb 16, 1999International Business Machines CorporationStructure and enclosure assembly for a disk driveUS5875068 *Aug 7, 1997Feb 23, 1999Alps Electric Co., Ltd.Magnetic recording/reproducing device with retaining structure for engaging a top cover and bottom coverUS5880904 *Mar 20, 1995Mar 9, 1999Fujitsu LimitedDisk drive having a thickness equal to an IC memory cardUS5886850 *May 15, 1995Mar 23, 1999Teac CorporationHigh capacity, low profile disk drive systemUS5953188 *Dec 1, 1995Sep 14, 1999Funai Electric Co., Ltd.Electric apparatus having a synthetic resin upper cover and shield plateUS5982578 *Dec 13, 1996Nov 9, 1999Seagate Technology, Inc.Disk drive housing with recess for circuit panelUS5982580 *Jul 3, 1997Nov 9, 1999Seagate Technology, Inc.Acoustic noise control in a disc driveUS6002546 *Dec 17, 1996Dec 14, 1999Fujitsu LimitedMagnetic disk apparatus with visco elastic shock dampeningUS6016237 *Aug 25, 1998Jan 18, 2000Fujitsu LimitedShaft construction of a disk driveUS6025973 *Dec 17, 1998Feb 15, 2000Fujitsu LimitedConstruction for attaching a disk in a disk driveUS6031686 *Dec 18, 1997Feb 29, 2000Mitsumi Electric Co., Ltd.Disk drive with reinforced frame plate structure made of two thin metal plates adhered together, and a reinforcing bead formed thereonUS6057981 *Dec 22, 1997May 2, 2000Seagate Technology, Inc.Product information identification in a head disc assemblyUS6057982 *Mar 30, 1998May 2, 2000Seagate Technology, Inc.Disc drive head disc assembly and printed circuit board connected with flexible connectorsUS6147830 *Aug 25, 1997Nov 14, 2000Fujitsu LimitedMagnetic tape unitUS6288866 *Nov 19, 1999Sep 11, 2001Western Digital Technologies, Inc.Disk drive including a vibration damping system having a compressible foam and mass damper fixed adjacent to the outer surface of a printed circuit board for reducing noise and vibrationUS6385006Dec 28, 1998May 7, 2002Teac CorporationHigh capacity, low profile disk drive systemUS6411522 *Apr 1, 1999Jun 25, 2002Western Digital Ventures, Inc.Integrated computer module with EMI shielding plateUS6493167Aug 25, 1997Dec 10, 2002Fujitsu LimitedMagnetic tape unitUS6587419 *Jun 16, 2000Jul 1, 2003Sony CorporationElectronic apparatus and apparatus for recording and/or playback on recording mediumUS6594107 *Dec 18, 2001Jul 15, 2003Hitachi, Ltd.Magnetic disc apparatus having wiring on the outer bottomUS6697258Oct 24, 2002Feb 24, 2004The Raymond CorporationMoisture-resistant enclosure for electronic circuitryUS6721184 *Apr 4, 2000Apr 13, 2004Siemens AktiengesellschaftModule for connecting actuators and/or sensorsUS6754041Oct 8, 2002Jun 22, 2004Seagate Technology LlcDisc drive cover portion thermally coupled to a preamplifierUS7000309 *Jun 28, 2002Feb 21, 2006Western Digital Technologies, Inc.Method of assembling a disk drive by electrically grounding a disk drive coverUS7079352 *Feb 11, 2000Jul 18, 2006Tdk CorporationMagnetic disk apparatus with separate printed-circuit boardsUS7137196Jul 2, 2004Nov 21, 2006Seagate Technology LlcMethod of making an electrical connectionUS7420770 *Nov 15, 2004Sep 2, 2008Sae Magnetics (H.K.) Ltd.Magnetic disk drive apparatus having first and second connection sections electronically conducted by pressure contactUS7483237Apr 16, 2004Jan 27, 2009Seagate Technology LlcComposite base plate for a data storage device having an integral printed circuit boardUS7484291Mar 20, 2006Feb 3, 2009Western Digital Technologies, Inc.Method of manufacturing a disk drive with a lead frame engaged within a host electronic unit socketUS8593760Apr 28, 2011Nov 26, 2013Entrotech, Inc.Hard disk drives with electrical connectors comprising a flexible circuit extending through an opening in the base and related methodsUS8599514Apr 28, 2011Dec 3, 2013Entrotech, Inc.Stabilization of components within hard disk drives and related methodsUS8743549Mar 22, 2011Jun 3, 2014Amazon Technologies, Inc.Modular mass storage system* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification360/99.19, G9B/33.028, G9B/33.035, G9B/33.027, 360/900, 360/99.25International ClassificationH05K1/00, G11B33/14, H05K1/14, H05K1/05, G11B33/12, G11B25/04Cooperative ClassificationY10S360/90, H05K1/0284, G11B33/122, G11B33/14, G11B33/121, H05K1/05, H05K1/14European ClassificationG11B33/12B1, G11B33/14, G11B33/12BLegal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionJun 28, 2005FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 12Jul 5, 2001FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 8Jul 14, 1997FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4Aug 30, 1991ASAssignmentOwner name: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA A CORP. OF JAPAN, JAPANFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNORS:KAWAGOE, SEIJI;KAIDA, KATSUHIKO;REEL/FRAME:005831/0653Effective date: 19910820RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services©2012 Google