Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval – Record transport with head stationary during transducing – Disk record
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-05
2001-08-07
Heinz, A. J. (Department: 2754)
Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval
Record transport with head stationary during transducing
Disk record
Reexamination Certificate
active
06271989
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a disk drive and in particular a disk drive which will accept a removable cartridge which houses memory media for communication with the disk drive.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
At present the industry trend is to provide for greater memory capacity in a reduced form factor at a lower cost with a lower energy consumption. This trend is driven by the increased demand for portable, lap top, notebook and palm top computer configurations which can be easily transported to a desired work site. The desired memory configuration would include, for example, a magnetic or optical hard disk drive as such drives store a considerably higher amount of data than a floppy disk drive and can access that data at a rate substantially in excess of that of a floppy disk drive.
With respect to hard disk drives, there are two major types. The first is a hard disk drive with the memory media or magnetic disk permanently fixed therein. The second is a hard disk drive which can accept interchangeable and removable cartridges containing the memory media.
The removable cartridge hard disk drives have several significant advantages over the fixed disk hard disk drives. These include the ability to interchange the number of cartridges and thus provide the disk drive with an infinitely large memory capacity. A second advantage is that any information stored on the disk or the memory media in the cartridge can, along with the cartridge, be removed and placed in a secure location should the information be of a confidential or secret nature. This can be accomplished without having to store the computer or the disk drive itself. Additionally, large amounts of data can be transferred between computers and locations by removing the cartridge from one computer and transporting it to a second computer at a different location. Such portability of large amounts of information stored on cartridges has become more necessary, for example, due to the data requirement for graphic presentations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to providing a removable cartridge disk drive which meets and significantly exceeds the industry trend. The disk drive and removable cartridge of the present invention provides for a disk drive which is configured into a form factor having about a 2.5 inch disk or smaller and having a total disk drive height of about 0.75 inches (19 millimeters) or less. In this form factor, a removable cartridge can be inserted, which removable cartridge has a memory capacity of 40 megabytes or larger. The configuration further affords a reduced power consumption due to among other things, the design of the cartridge receiver mechanism which does not require electrical power for its operation. Accordingly, the present invention provides for the desired form factor for the newest generation of portable, lap top, notebook, and palm top computers while affording infinite memory capacity. Further the removable cartridge disk drive has the advantage that the cartridge can be removed and locked in a secured facility in order to protect confidential and secret information contained on the hard disk. Additionally, large amounts of data can be transferred from location to location as required, for example, for graphic applications by transporting the cartridge to the desired location.
It is also to be understood that while the present invention is highly advantageous for the above form factor, that the present invention can be incorporated into disk drives having a disk larger than about 2.5 inches and a height larger than about 0.75 inches.
It is also to be understood this the present design configuration with the cartridge being removable provides for much higher shock immunity at a lower cost compared to systems where the entire disk drive must be removed and stored in order to secure the data contained on the disk. In addition, the present invention provides for the ability to create a backup of information for each cartridge by merely copying the information to another cartridge.
Accordingly, the present invention provides for a disk drive which can accept cartridges containing a disk having a diameter of greater than and less than about 2.5 inches and preferably having a diameter of about 2.5 inches to about 1.8 inches. The cartridges of the disk drive contain a disk which in conjunction with the disk drive can store 40 megabytes and greater amounts of data. The disk drive includes a spindle motor for engaging and causing the disk in the cartridge to spin at the appropriate speed. Further, a mechanism is provided for movably mounting the spindle motor to the drive housing so that the spindle motor is telescopable movable from a first position out of engagement with the disk to a second position operably engaged with the disk. This mechanism allows the cartridge to be inserted into the drive, without the disk drive having to physically reposition the cartridge onto a spindle motor. Thus, without the need of a cartridge receiver mechanism for repositioning the cartridge onto a spindle motor, the configuration of the present invention can be more compact, and fit within the desired form factor which includes the drive height of about 17.5 millimeters and less.
In the present inventive configuration, the cartridge remains on the same plane on which it is inserted into the drive. This allows the cartridge to be received in and more tightly conformed to the dimensions of the disk drive cartridge receiver and thus affords a more accurate positioning of the cartridge in the cartridge receiver of the disk drive. Further, due to the fact that there is a tight fit between the cartridge and the cartridge receiver of the disk drive and due to the fact that there is a long distance between the door of the disk drive and the door of the cartridge as inserted into the disk drive, environmental contamination of the disk inside of the cartridge is greatly diminished due to the long distance which the contamination must travel in order to reach the disk.
Further, due to an inventive interlocking mechanism, if a cartridge is not properly seated within the disk drive, the actuation mechanism which positions the heads will not be unlatched and enabled, the heads will be not be unloaded, and the spindle motor will not be enabled. The above interlocking mechanism of the drive also ensures that the cartridge cannot be removed from the cartridge receiver while the spindle motor is engaging the disk, while the head is unloaded onto the disk, or while the head actuator mechanism and spindle motor are enabled.
The disk drive of the invention includes an ejecting mechanism, which is part of the above interlocking mechanism, for engaging and lockingly holding the cartridge in place in the cartridge receiver of the disk drive and for ejecting the cartridge from the cartridge receiver. The ejecting mechanism engages another proprietary interlocking mechanism or recess in the cartridge which is directed essentially across the direction of insertion of the cartridge into the drive. These interlocking mechanisms ensure that the cartridge is held in the drive and prevented from being withdrawn.
The drive further includes a guide rail which extends into the cartridge receiver and mates with a guide groove in the cartridge, both of which are disposed along the direction of insertion of the cartridge into the drive. The tolerances of the guide rail and guide groove are tight in order to accurately position the cartridge across the direction of insertion of the cartridge into the disk drive.
The cartridge receiver of the disk drive provides for guide strips for accurately positioning the cartridge along a direction which is substantially aligned with the height of the cartridge.
In another aspect of the invention, the disk drive includes an integral apparatus which provides for a mechanism for ensuring that the door of the cartridge is appropriately opened and able to accept the head actuator arm and heads. If the door is not appropriately opened, the mechanism
Heinz A. J.
Lyon & Lyon LLP
LandOfFree
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