Electricity: electrical systems and devices – Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical... – For electronic systems and devices
Reexamination Certificate
2001-12-12
2003-06-03
Martin, David (Department: 2841)
Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...
For electronic systems and devices
C361S808000, C361S809000, C361S752000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06574118
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to disk drives and, more particularly, to a method for installing a printed circuit board assembly on a base plate of the disk drive, as well as the corresponding structure used by this method of installation.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Conventional disk drives typically include a base plate and a cover that is detachably connected to the base plate to define a housing for various disk drive components. One or more data storage disks are generally mounted on a spindle which is interconnected with the base plate and/or cover so as to allow the data storage disk(s) to rotate relative to both the base plate and cover via a spindle motor. An actuator arm assembly (e.g., a single actuator arm, a plurality of actuator arms, an E-block with a plurality of actuator arm tips) is interconnected with the base plate and/or cover so as to allow the actuator arm assembly to move relative to both the base plate and cover in a controlled manner. This motion is either typically a pivoting or a linear motion.
A suspension or load beam may be provided for each data storage surface of each data storage disk. Typically each disk has two of such surfaces. All suspensions are appropriately attached to and extend away from the actuator arm assembly in the general direction of the data storage disk(s) during normal operations. A transducer, such as a read/write head, is disposed on the free end of each suspension for purposes of exchanging signals with the corresponding data storage disk. The position of the actuator arm assembly, and thereby each transducer, is controlled by a voice coil motor or the like which moves the actuator arm assembly to dispose the transducer(s) at the desired radial position relative to the corresponding data storage disk.
Another component of the disk drive is a printed circuit board assembly that includes a printed circuit board and an appropriate drive interface connector. The printed circuit board operatively interconnects various components of the disk drive with a central processing unit or the like. After the drive interface connector is attached to the printed circuit board, the printed circuit board assembly is generally affixed to the underside of the base plate of the disk drive using screws. Due to the precision required in handling and/or assembling a printed circuit board assembly, such circuit board assemblies are generally installed onto the base plate by hand (i.e. a person applies screws through the circuit board assembly to affix the circuit board to the base plate). In some instances, one screw is directed through the drive interface connector on both sides thereof to control movement of the drive interface connector away from the base plate. However, this also introduces an undesired strain in the drive interface connector.
Human assembly of disk drive components, including installing printed circuit board assemblies onto base plates of disk drives, offers several potential shortcomings to the assembly process in that circuit boards may not be consistently positioned in the same location from base plate to base plate of respective disk drives. Further, human assembly also allows for variation in the force or torque used to tighten screws against the circuit board assembly and into the base plate, thus inflicting potential strain and/or damage on the printed circuit board assembly. Conversely, the screws may not get fastened sufficiently tight, leaving the potential for variation in distance between a base plate and a respective circuit board assembly and/or undesired vibrations during normal disk drive operations. Relatedly, the more screws that are used to fix the printed circuit board assembly to the base plate, the longer the total assembly time is for the disk drive. The total assembly time obviously has an effect on the total cost of the disk drive. Therefore, it would be desirable to have a printed circuit board assembly and base plate of a configuration that facilitates the installation of the printed circuit board assembly on the base plate.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is generally directed to disk drives. More specifically, the present invention is generally directed to a printed circuit board assembly for use with a compatible base plate of a disk drive. This printed circuit board assembly desirably addresses potential malpositioning of the circuit board (with regard to the base plate) associated with installation errors due to human assembly. Accordingly, production and/or assembly of any appropriate type/configuration of a disk drive may benefit from installing a printed circuit board assembly of the invention into a disk drive in a manner described below. Each of the various aspects of the printed circuit board assembly associated with the present invention and to be discussed in more detail below generally include at least one printed circuit board and at least one drive interface connector generally for communication between the disk drive and a central processing unit or the like.
A first aspect of the present invention is embodied in a printed circuit board assembly that is interconnectable with a base plate of a disk drive. The circuit board assembly generally includes a printed circuit board having a first reference axis defining a longitudinal extent of the circuit board, and first and second major surfaces. Since printed circuit boards may be at least generally rectangular or card-shaped, the first and second major surfaces of the printed circuit board define the two surfaces that reflect the greatest surface area of the circuit board. First and second sides of the printed circuit board are at least generally longitudinally extending and laterally spaced relative to the first reference axis. Additionally, the printed circuit board has a first end and a second end that are longitudinally spaced from the first end relative to the first reference axis. Along with a printed circuit board, the printed circuit board assembly has a drive interface connector that is positioned at the first end of the printed circuit board. Additionally, first and second base plate interface bosses extend at least generally away relative to the first and second sides of the printed circuit board, respectively.
Various refinements exist regarding the features noted in relation to the subject first aspect of the present invention. Additional features may also be incorporated in the subject first aspect of the present invention as well. These refinements and additional features may exist individually or in any combination. For instance, the base plate interface bosses are preferably attached to the drive interface connector. In other words, the first and second base plate interface bosses are preferably projections of the drive interface connector which protrude from surfaces of the drive interface connector and which may be substantially aligned with the respective first and second sides of the printed circuit board. Thus, the surfaces of the drive interface connector from which these base plate interface bosses project may be perpendicular to the major surfaces of the printed circuit board. Put another way, the drive interface connector generally includes a housing having first and second ends; accordingly, the first and second base plate interface bosses may be disposed on the respective first and second ends of the drive interface connector. These base plate interface bosses are preferably integrally formed with the housing. Simply as a matter of manufacturing preference, the housing of the drive interface connector and the base plate interface bosses may be formed from plastic or the like. Plastic is used, among other reasons, simply because it is inexpensive, durable, and easily formable to be compatible with the size of a corresponding printed circuit board.
Each of the base plate interface bosses generally includes an annular, peripheral wall having both an arcuate portion and a planar portion. This peripheral wall is preferably perpendicular to the respective surface of
Chessman Herbert Ross
Johnson Gale D.
Russell Michael J.
Levi Dameon E.
Marsh & Fischmann & Breyfogle LLP
Martin David
Maxtor Corporation
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