Patent Description:
A solid state drive or solid state disk (SSD) is a device that stores data using a memory element such as a flash memory. The SSD is used as a means for replacing a conventional hard disk drive (HDD) and the like. Compared to the conventional HDD, the SSD is a drive in a solid state that has no mechanically moving parts.

The SSD operates at higher speed by reducing seek time, latency, mechanical driving time, and the like and has improved reliability by decreasing an error due to mechanical friction. In general, the SSD is provided in a package form in which memory chips are mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB), and the SSD package is embedded in a closed or open case.

<FIG> is a perspective view illustrating one example of a general SSD case. <FIG> is a sectional view of the SSD case taken in a direction perpendicular to a lengthwise direction of the SSD case of <FIG>. Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, in general, an SSD is installed in a portable computer (e.g., a notebook computer) or a desktop computer by embedding a substrate <NUM> having the SSD mounted thereon in the SSD case <NUM>.

In the related art, in order to embed the substrate <NUM> in the SSD case <NUM>, a method of fixedly installing the substrate <NUM> in upper and lower cases <NUM> and <NUM> and fastening the upper and lower cases <NUM> and <NUM> through fastening means <NUM> such as bolts is used.

However, in the case of the SSD case <NUM> having the above-described structure, a gap may be generated between the upper case <NUM> and the lower case <NUM> due to a manufacturing tolerance and/or thermal interface materials (TIM) overlap for enhancement of thermal properties. Due to the gap, the upper case <NUM> and the lower case <NUM> may not be completely brought into contact with each other, and therefore an electrostatic discharge (ESD) level may not be satisfied. <CIT> discloses an SSD device including a gasket including a metal material formed in at least a part of a region in which a lower side wall and an upper side wall overlap each other. <CIT> discloses a hard disk drive with a gasket. <CIT> discloses a gasket for use in a handheld communication device.

Example embodiments of the present disclosure provide a contact gasket for more stably maintaining contact between an upper case and a lower case of an SSD case.

In addition, example embodiments of the present disclosure provide a contact gasket for increasing an ESD level of an SSD case.

Embodiments of the invention are defined in the appended claims.

According to example embodiments, an SSD case includes a lower case including a bottom wall and an open upper portion, an upper case that is fastened with the lower case to cover the open upper portion and that forms a space in which an SSD substrate is accommodated, and a contact gasket formed of a conductive material having elasticity and provided in the space so as to be brought into contact with the upper case and the lower case. The contact gasket includes a lower case contact part that contacts the lower case and an upper case contact part that extends from the lower case contact part and makes contact with the upper case. One of the lower case contact part and the upper case contact part is fixedly fastened to the lower case or the upper case in contact therewith, and a contact protrusion that protrudes toward the lower case or the upper case such that an end is brought into contact with the lower case or the upper case is formed on the other one of the lower case contact part and the upper case contact part.

The upper case may include an upper wall that covers the open upper portion of the lower case and a sidewall that extends downward from a periphery of the upper wall. The lower case contact part may be fixedly fastened to the bottom wall so as to be brought into contact with an upper surface of the bottom wall. The upper case contact part may extend from an upper surface of the lower case contact part. The contact protrusion may protrude toward the sidewall from a surface of the upper case contact part that faces toward the sidewall such that the end is brought into contact with the sidewall.

The lower case contact part may have a shape extending along an edge region of the upper surface of the bottom wall, and the upper case contact part may extend upward from a partial area of an edge region of the upper surface of the lower case contact part that faces the sidewall.

The lower case contact part may be provided in a ring shape extending along the edge region of the upper surface of the bottom wall when the upper surface of the bottom wall is viewed.

The lower case contact part may have a plate structure in which opposite surfaces are parallel to the upper surface of the bottom wall, and the upper case contact part may have a plate structure in which opposite surfaces are parallel to an inside surface of the sidewall.

A protrusion receiving hole may be formed through opposite surfaces of the upper case contact part. An elastic support part that extends inward from one position on an inner surface of the protrusion receiving hole may be provided in the protrusion receiving hole. The contact protrusion may be formed on the elastic support part.

The lower case may further include a plurality of fastening protrusions to which fastening members that fasten the upper case and the lower case are fastened, the fastening protrusions being arranged along a periphery of the lower case. The lower case contact part may extend along an inside region of the fastening protrusion that faces toward a central region of the lower case.

The lower case contact part, the upper case contact part, and the contact protrusion may be provided in an integrated structure in which one plate is cut and bent.

According to non-claimed example embodiments, a method for manufacturing a contact gasket provided in a receiving space for an SSD substrate so as to be brought into contact with a lower case and an upper case, wherein the lower case includes a bottom wall and an open upper portion, the upper case is fastened with the lower case to cover the open upper portion and forms the receiving space in which the SSD substrate is accommodated, the contact gasket includes a lower case contact part that makes contact with the lower case and an upper case contact part that extends from the lower case contact part and makes contact with the upper case, one of the lower case contact part and the upper case contact part is fixedly fastened to the lower case or the upper case in contact therewith, and a contact protrusion that protrudes toward the lower case or the upper case such that an end is brought into contact with the lower case or the upper case is formed on the other one of the lower case contact part and the upper case contact part, includes a first cutting operation of forming a plate structure including a region corresponding to the lower case contact part and a region corresponding to the upper case contact part by cutting a conductive plate having elasticity, a protrusion forming operation of forming the contact protrusion on the plate structure through a press process, and a bending operation of forming the contact gasket by bending the region corresponding to the lower case contact part of the plate structure and the region corresponding to the upper case contact part of the plate structure.

The first cutting operation and the protrusion forming operation may be simultaneously performed by the same mold.

A protrusion receiving hole may be formed through opposite surfaces of the upper case contact part, an elastic support part that extends inward from one position on an inner surface of the protrusion receiving hole may be provided in the protrusion receiving hole, and the contact protrusion may be formed on the elastic support part. The method may further include second cutting operation of forming the protrusion receiving hole and the elastic support part by cutting the region corresponding to the upper case contact part.

The first cutting operation, the second cutting operation, and the protrusion forming operation may be simultaneously performed by the same mold.

The above and other objects and features of the present disclosure will become apparent by describing in detail example embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Hereinafter, example embodiments of the present invention will be described clearly and in detail to such an extent that those skilled in the art easily implement the present invention.

<FIG> is an exploded perspective view illustrating an SSD case according to example embodiments of the present disclosure. <FIG> is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a lower case and a contact gasket illustrated in <FIG> are fastened to each other. Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, an SSD substrate <NUM> having a solid state disk (SSD) mounted thereon is embedded in the SSD case <NUM>. According to example embodiments, the SSD case <NUM> may include the lower case <NUM>, an upper case <NUM>, and the contact gasket <NUM>.

The lower case <NUM> may include a bottom wall <NUM> and a fastening protrusion <NUM>. An upper portion of the lower case <NUM> may be open.

A fastening member that fastens the upper case <NUM> and the lower case <NUM> is fastened to the fastening protrusion <NUM>. According to example embodiments, the fastening protrusion <NUM> may be provided in a structure protruding upward from the bottom wall <NUM> of the lower case <NUM>. The fastening member may be implemented with a bolt that passes through the upper case <NUM> and that is fastened to an upper surface of the fastening protrusion <NUM>. A plurality of fastening protrusions <NUM> may be arranged along the periphery of the lower case <NUM> so as to be spaced apart from each other. The fastening protrusion <NUM> may be provided in a different structure, or may not be provided, depending on a fastening method of the upper case <NUM> and the lower case <NUM>.

The upper case <NUM> is fastened with the lower case <NUM> to cover the upper portion of the lower case <NUM> and forms a space in which the SSD substrate <NUM> is accommodated. According to example embodiments, the upper case <NUM> may include an upper wall <NUM> and a sidewall <NUM>. The upper wall <NUM> covers the open upper portion of the lower case <NUM>. The sidewall <NUM> extends downward from the periphery of the upper wall <NUM>. The sidewall <NUM> hides a gap between the upper case <NUM> and the lower case <NUM> fastened with each other.

The contact gasket <NUM> is formed of a conductive material having elasticity. For example, the contact gasket <NUM> may be formed of a metallic material. The contact gasket <NUM> is provided in the space formed by the upper case <NUM> and the lower case <NUM> and is brought into contact with the upper case <NUM> and the lower case <NUM>. According to example embodiments, the contact gasket <NUM> includes a lower case contact part <NUM> and an upper case contact part <NUM>.

The lower case contact part <NUM> makes contact with the lower case <NUM>. The upper case contact part <NUM> makes contact with the upper case <NUM>. The upper case contact part <NUM> extends from the lower case contact part <NUM>. One of the lower case contact part <NUM> and the upper case contact part <NUM> is fixedly fastened to the lower case <NUM> or the upper case <NUM> in contact therewith, and the other one has a contact protrusion <NUM> formed thereon.

According to example embodiments, the lower case contact part <NUM> is fixedly fastened to the bottom wall <NUM> so as to be brought into contact with an upper surface of the bottom wall <NUM> of the lower case <NUM>. The upper case contact part <NUM> extends upward from an upper surface of the lower case contact part <NUM>. The lower case contact part <NUM> may be provided in a shape extending along an edge region of the upper surface of the bottom wall <NUM> of the lower case <NUM>.

For example, the lower case contact part <NUM> may be provided in a ring shape that extends along the edge region of the upper surface of the bottom wall <NUM> to surround a central region of the bottom wall <NUM> when the upper surface of the bottom wall <NUM> is viewed. The lower case <NUM> may include the fastening protrusion <NUM> having the above-described structure. In some example embodiments, in a region adjacent to the fastening protrusion <NUM> of the bottom wall <NUM> of the lower case <NUM>, the lower case contact part <NUM> may extend along an inside region of the fastening protrusion <NUM> that faces toward a central region of the lower case <NUM>. According to this example embodiment, the lower case contact part <NUM> may be provided in a plate structure in which opposite surfaces are parallel to an upper surface of the lower case <NUM>.

According to example embodiments, the upper case contact part <NUM> extends upward from a partial area of an edge region of the upper surface of the lower case contact part <NUM> that faces the sidewall <NUM>. For example, the upper case contact part <NUM> may be provided in a plate structure in which opposite surfaces are parallel to an inside surface of the sidewall <NUM>.

The contact gasket <NUM> may be fastened to the lower case <NUM> by a bolt passing through the lower case contact part <NUM> and the bottom wall <NUM> of the lower case <NUM>. In some example embodiments, the lower case contact part <NUM> may have a bolt recess <NUM> formed therein through which the bolt passes. For example, a plurality of bolt recesses <NUM> may be arranged along an inside edge region of the lower case contact part <NUM> so as to be spaced apart from each other. The bolt recess <NUM> may be provided in a structure in which a region facing toward the central region of the bottom wall <NUM> is open. However, without being limited thereto, the bolt recess <NUM> may be provided in various positions and structures depending on the fastening position and size of the bolt.

<FIG> is an enlarged perspective view illustrating the contact protrusion, a protrusion receiving hole, and an elastic support part illustrated in <FIG>. <FIG> is a sectional view taken in a direction perpendicular to a lengthwise direction of a configuration in which the upper case, the lower case, and the contact gasket of <FIG> are fastened. Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the contact protrusion <NUM> protrudes toward the lower case <NUM> or the upper case <NUM> such that an end is brought into contact with the lower case <NUM> or the upper case <NUM>. According to example embodiments, the contact protrusion <NUM> protrudes toward the sidewall <NUM> from a surface of the upper case contact part <NUM> that faces toward the sidewall <NUM>, such that the end is brought into contact with the sidewall <NUM> of the upper case <NUM>.

For example, the protrusion receiving hole <NUM> may be formed through the opposite surfaces of the upper case contact part <NUM>. The elastic support part <NUM> extending inward from one position on an inner surface of the protrusion receiving hole <NUM> may be provided in the protrusion receiving hole <NUM>. In the case in which the elastic support part <NUM> is provided, the contact protrusion <NUM> is formed on the elastic support part <NUM>. The elastic support part <NUM> may be formed by cutting away a portion of the upper case contact part <NUM> such that an upper end of the elastic support part <NUM> is connected with the upper case contact part <NUM>.

Accordingly, when the upper case contact part <NUM> has a plate structure, the elastic support part <NUM> may also be provided in a plate structure. In some example embodiments, the contact protrusion <NUM> may be provided in a structure in which one surface facing toward the sidewall <NUM> of the upper case <NUM> is convex and an opposite surface is concave. To this end, the contact protrusion <NUM> may be formed by pressing a surface of the elastic support part <NUM> facing a direction away from the sidewall <NUM> of the upper case <NUM> in a direction toward the sidewall <NUM> of the upper case <NUM>.

In example embodiments in which the elastic support part <NUM> is not provided, one contact protrusion <NUM> may excessively protrude further than other contact protrusions <NUM> due to a manufacturing tolerance. The excessively protruding contact protrusion <NUM> may be pushed by the sidewall <NUM>. When the upper case contact part <NUM> itself is pushed, another contact protrusion <NUM> of the corresponding upper case contact part <NUM> may not be brought into contact with the sidewall <NUM> of the upper case <NUM>.

Accordingly, when the elastic support part <NUM> is provided, even though a slightly excessively protruding contact protrusion <NUM> is pushed by the sidewall <NUM>, only the elastic support part <NUM> having the contact protrusion <NUM> formed thereon may be pushed, and thus contact of other contact protrusions <NUM> with the sidewall <NUM> may not be affected.

Assuming that the contact protrusion <NUM> is not provided, the surface of the upper case contact part <NUM> that faces toward the sidewall <NUM> of the upper case <NUM> may be in contact with the sidewall <NUM> of the upper case <NUM> while facing the sidewall <NUM>. In contrast, assuming that the contact protrusion <NUM> is provided, a protruding length of the contact protrusion <NUM> may be longer than the distance between the upper case contact part <NUM> and the sidewall <NUM> of the upper case <NUM> in example embodiments in which the surface of the upper case contact part <NUM> that faces toward the sidewall <NUM> of the upper case <NUM> is spaced apart from the sidewall <NUM> of the upper case <NUM>.

According to example embodiments, the lower case contact part <NUM>, the upper case contact part <NUM>, the contact protrusion <NUM>, and the elastic support part <NUM> may be provided in an integrated structure in which one plate is cut and bent.

Hereinafter, one example of a method of manufacturing the contact gasket <NUM> according to the above-described example embodiments will be described. However, without being limited thereto, the contact gasket <NUM> may be manufactured by various manufacturing methods.

<FIG> is a flowchart illustrating one example of a contact gasket manufacturing method of manufacturing the contact gasket according to example embodiments of the present disclosure. <FIG> and <FIG> are views sequentially illustrating one example of a manufacturing process of the contact gasket manufactured according to the contact gasket manufacturing method of <FIG>. Referring to <FIG>, the contact gasket manufacturing method may include a first cutting operation S10, a protrusion forming operation S20, a second cutting operation S30, and a bending operation S40.

In the first cutting operation S10, a plate structure 1300b including a region 1310b corresponding to the lower case contact part <NUM> and a region 1320b corresponding to the upper case contact part <NUM> is formed by cutting a conductive plate 1300a having elasticity. According to example embodiments, in the first cutting operation S10, the conductive plate 1300a may be cut by a press process using a mold. The conductive plate 1300a may be formed of a conductive metallic material having elasticity.

In the protrusion forming operation S20, the contact protrusion <NUM> is formed on the plate structure 1300b through a press process. The first cutting operation S10 and the protrusion forming operation S20 may be simultaneously performed by the same mold. Alternatively, the first cutting operation S10 and the protrusion forming operation S20 may be sequentially performed by different molds. In some example embodiments, the sequence in which the first cutting operation S10 and the protrusion forming operation S20 are performed may be changed as needed.

In the second cutting operation S30, the protrusion receiving hole <NUM> and the elastic support part <NUM> may be formed by cutting the region 1320b corresponding to the upper case contact part <NUM>, and the bolt recess 1360b may be formed by cutting the region 1310b corresponding to the lower case contact part <NUM>. The protrusion receiving hole <NUM> and the elastic support part <NUM> and/or the lower case contact part <NUM> may not be provided in the contact gasket <NUM> as needed. Therefore, only a component to be provided among the protrusion receiving hole <NUM>, the elastic support part <NUM>, and the lower case contact part <NUM> may be formed in the second cutting operation S30. In example embodiments in which the protrusion receiving hole <NUM>, the elastic support part <NUM>, and the lower case contact part <NUM> are not all provided, the second cutting operation S30 is not performed.

In example embodiments in which the second cutting operation S30 is performed, the first cutting operation S10, the second cutting operation S30, and the protrusion forming operation S20 may be simultaneously performed by the same mold. Alternatively, the first cutting operation S10, the second cutting operation S30, and the protrusion forming operation S20 may be sequentially performed by different molds. In some example embodiments, the sequence in which the first cutting operation S10, the second cutting operation S30, and the protrusion forming operation S20 are performed may be changed as needed.

The bending operation S40 is performed after the first cutting operation S10 and the protrusion forming operation S20 are performed or after the first cutting operation S10, the second cutting operation S30, and the protrusion forming operation S20 are performed. In the bending operation S40, the contact gasket <NUM> is formed by bending the region 1310b and the region 1320b of the structure on which the first cutting operation S10 and the protrusion forming operation S20 are performed or by bending the region 1310b and the region 1320b of the plate structure 1300b on which the first cutting operation S10, the protrusion forming operation S20, and the second cutting operation S30 are performed.

As described above, the contact gasket <NUM> according to the present disclosure may be provided between the upper case <NUM> and the lower case <NUM> of the SSD case <NUM>, the lower case contact part <NUM> may be fixedly fastened to the lower case <NUM>, and the contact protrusion <NUM> may be provided to stably maintain the contact of the upper case contact part <NUM> with the sidewall <NUM> of the upper case <NUM>. Accordingly, the contact between the upper case <NUM> and the lower case <NUM> may be stably maintained. Thus, the contact gasket <NUM> according to the present disclosure may increase an ESD level of the SSD case <NUM>.

<FIG> is an exploded perspective view illustrating an SSD case according to example embodiments of the present disclosure. Referring to <FIG>, an SSD substrate <NUM> is embedded in the SSD case <NUM>. The SSD case <NUM> includes a lower case <NUM>, an upper case <NUM>, and a contact gasket <NUM>.

An upper portion of the lower case <NUM> may be open. The upper case <NUM> is fastened with the lower case <NUM> to cover the upper portion of the lower case <NUM> and forms a space in which the SSD substrate <NUM> is accommodated. The contact gasket <NUM> may be formed of a conductive material having elasticity. The contact gasket <NUM> is provided in the space formed by the upper case <NUM> and the lower case <NUM> and is brought into contact with the upper case <NUM> and the lower case <NUM>. The contact gasket <NUM> may include a lower case contact part <NUM> and an upper case contact part <NUM>.

The upper case contact part <NUM> may be a sidewall extending upward from an edge of the lower case contact part <NUM>. The upper case contact part <NUM> may be bent in an inverted U-shape at an upper portion and may extend downward. The upper case contact part <NUM> may include an outside wall <NUM> extending upward from an upper surface of the bottom of the lower case contact part <NUM> and an inside wall <NUM> extending downward from the U-shaped wall.

The outside wall <NUM> of the upper case contact part <NUM> may be provided with the contact protrusion <NUM>, a protrusion receiving hole <NUM>, and an elastic support part <NUM>. The contact protrusion <NUM> may protrude toward the upper case <NUM> such that an end portion is brought into contact with a sidewall of the upper case <NUM>. The protrusion receiving hole <NUM> may be formed through the outside wall <NUM> of the upper case contact part <NUM>.

The elastic support part <NUM> extending inward from one position on an inner surface of the protrusion receiving hole <NUM> may be provided in the protrusion receiving hole <NUM>. In the case in which the elastic support part <NUM> is provided, the contact protrusion <NUM> may be formed on the elastic support part <NUM>. The elastic support part <NUM> may be formed by cutting away a portion of the upper case contact part <NUM> such that an upper end of the elastic support part <NUM> is connected with the upper case contact part <NUM>.

Accordingly, when the upper case contact part <NUM> has a plate structure, the elastic support part <NUM> may also be provided in a plate structure. In some example embodiments, the contact protrusion <NUM> may be provided in a structure in which one surface facing toward the sidewall of the upper case <NUM> is convex and an opposite surface is concave. To this end, the contact protrusion <NUM> may be formed by pressing a surface of the elastic support part <NUM> facing a direction away from the sidewall of the upper case <NUM> in a direction toward the sidewall of the upper case <NUM>.

In example embodiments in which the elastic support part <NUM> is not provided, one contact protrusion <NUM> may excessively protrude further than other contact protrusions <NUM> due to a manufacturing tolerance. The excessively protruding contact protrusion <NUM> may be pushed by the sidewall. When the upper case contact part <NUM> itself is pushed, another contact protrusion <NUM> of the corresponding upper case contact part <NUM> may not be brought into contact with the sidewall of the upper case <NUM>.

Accordingly, when the elastic support part <NUM> is provided, even though a slightly excessively protruding contact protrusion <NUM> is pushed by the sidewall, only the elastic support part <NUM> having that contact protrusion <NUM> formed thereon may be pushed, and thus contact of other contact protrusions <NUM> with the sidewall may not be affected.

Assuming that the contact protrusion <NUM> is not provided, a surface of the upper case contact part <NUM> that faces toward the sidewall of the upper case <NUM> may be in contact with the sidewall of the upper case <NUM> while facing the sidewall. In contrast, assuming that the contact protrusion <NUM> is provided, a protruding length of the contact protrusion <NUM> may be longer than the distance between the upper case contact part <NUM> and the sidewall of the upper case <NUM> in example embodiments in which the surface of the upper case contact part <NUM> that faces toward the sidewall of the upper case <NUM> is spaced apart from the sidewall of the upper case <NUM>.

As described above, the contact gasket according to the present disclosure may stably maintain the contact between the upper case and the lower case of the SSD case.

The above-described contents are specific example embodiments for carrying out the present invention. The present invention includes not only the above-described example embodiments but also embodiments that can be made through a simple design change or can be easily modified. Furthermore, the present disclosure includes technologies that can be carried out by easily modifying the example embodiments. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention should not be determined by the above-described example embodiments and should be determined by the accompanying claims.

Claim 1:
A contact gasket (<NUM>, <NUM>) configured to be provided in a receiving space for an SSD substrate (<NUM>, <NUM>) so as to be brought into contact with a lower case (<NUM>, <NUM>) and an upper case (<NUM>, <NUM>), wherein the lower case (<NUM>, <NUM>) includes a bottom wall (<NUM>) and an open upper portion and the upper case (<NUM>, <NUM>) is fastened with the lower case (<NUM>, <NUM>) to cover the open upper portion and forms the receiving space in which the SSD substrate (<NUM>, <NUM>) is accommodated, the contact gasket (<NUM>, <NUM>) comprising:
a lower case contact part (<NUM>, <NUM>) configured to make contact with the lower case (<NUM>, <NUM>); and
an upper case contact part (<NUM>, <NUM>) configured to extend from the lower case contact part (<NUM>, <NUM>) and make contact with the upper case (<NUM>, <NUM>),
wherein one of the lower case contact part (<NUM>, <NUM>) and the upper case contact part (<NUM>, <NUM>) is configured to be fixedly fastened to the lower case (<NUM>, <NUM>) or the upper case (<NUM>, <NUM>) in contact therewith, and
wherein a contact protrusion (<NUM>, <NUM>) configured to protrude toward the lower case (<NUM>, <NUM>) or the upper case (<NUM>, <NUM>) such that an end is brought into contact with the lower case (<NUM>, <NUM>) or the upper case (<NUM>, <NUM>) is formed on the other one of the lower case contact part (<NUM>, <NUM>) and the upper case contact part (<NUM>, <NUM>).