Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval – Record transport with head stationary during transducing – Disk record
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-02
2001-10-02
Ometz, David L. (Department: 2652)
Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval
Record transport with head stationary during transducing
Disk record
C361S689000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06297928
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to disk drives for storing data. More specifically, the present invention relates to an improved mounting assembly for a disk drive and method for reducing the effects of shock to a disk drive.
BACKGROUND
Disk drives are widely used in computers and data processing systems for storing information in digital form. In conventional Winchester disk drives, a transducer head “flies” upon an air cushion in very close proximity to a storage surface of a rotating data storage disk. The storage surface includes multiple magnetic storage domains that may be recorded and read back by the transducer head. The transducer head is supported near the storage surface using an actuator arm which is moved with an actuator motor.
The air cushion which enables the transducer head to fly in close proximity to the storage surface is created by air flow during rotation of the disk. When the disk rotation ceases, the air cushion dissipates and the transducer head is no longer supported above the storage surface of the disk. Thus, the transducer head “rests” or “lands” on the storage surface during non-rotation of the storage disk.
FIG. 1A
illustrates a top plan view of a prior art disk drive
100
mounted to a frame
102
of a computer.
FIGS. 1B and 1C
illustrate a bottom perspective view of the prior art disk drive
100
during bending caused by a shock transferred to the disk drive
100
. The bending illustrated in
FIGS. 1B
and
1
C is exaggerated for clarity. In the prior art embodiment, the disk drive
100
includes a drive housing
104
having a base
106
and four, spaced apart threaded apertures
108
. A bolt (not shown) is threaded into each of the threaded apertures
108
to secure the drive housing
100
to the frame
102
.
Unfortunately, the threaded apertures
108
, pursuant to disk drive industry standards, are asymmetrically located on the drive housing
104
. As illustrated in
FIGS. 1B and 1C
, this unbalanced mounting scheme causes the drive housing
104
to bend and flex along a housing flex line
110
when the frame
102
is subjected to a shock impulse. Stated another way, because all of the threaded apertures
108
are asymmetrically located, a portion of the drive housing
104
cantilevers and flexes on the housing flex line
110
somewhat similar to a diving board.
Referring back to
FIG. 1A
, a disk assembly
112
is mounted on one side of the flex line
110
while an actuator assembly
114
, including actuator arms
116
are attached to the base
106
on the other side of the flex line
110
. As a result thereof, flexing of the drive housing
104
causes movement of the actuator assembly
114
relative to the disk assembly
112
. Unfortunately, the movement to the actuator assembly
114
is amplified by the long, cantilevering actuator arms
116
. This can cause the transducer heads
118
attached to the distal ends of the actuator arms
116
to lift off of the storage disk
120
and subsequently slam or slap back into the storage disk
120
. This is commonly referred to as “head slap” in the industry. Head slap can lead to loss of data due to erosion or scarring of the magnetic film on the storage disk
120
, debris particles in the disk assembly
112
, as well as damage to the transducer heads
118
.
One attempt to solve the problem includes isolating the entire disk drive by using four, soft shock absorbing mounts to mount the drive housing to the frame. The soft mounts are effective in protecting the disk drive from shock. Unfortunately, the soft mounts require more physical space than rigid mounts to implement. Further, the performance level of the disk drive is reduced because of the compliant nature of the soft mounts. More specifically, the soft mounts give during movement by the actuator motor and decrease the performance of actuator motor.
Other attempts include resonance tuning of the disk drive and mechanisms to prevent the liftoff of the transducer heads from the storage disks when the disks are not rotating. However, these attempts have proved to not be entirely satisfactory.
In light of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a device and method for reducing the effects of shock pulses to a disk drive. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a mounting assembly for a disk drive which conforms to industry standards and which is relatively easy to manufacture and assemble. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a device or method which minimizes head slap and damage to the storage disk and/or the transducer head.
SUMMARY
The present invention is directed to a mounting assembly for securing a disk drive to a frame of a computer which satisfies these objectives. The disk drive includes a drive housing having a first mounting location and a second mounting location. The mounting assembly including a first rigid mount and a flexible mount. The first rigid mount rigidly secures the second mounting location to the frame. The flexible mount flexibly secures the first mounting location to the frame.
As provided herein, the flexible mount diminishes the level of vibration transferred from the frame to the drive housing at the flexible mount and facilitates flexing of the drive housing intermediate the first mounting location and the second mounting location. More specifically, the flexible mount facilitates flexing of the drive housing along a housing flex line which extends across the drive housing in between the first mounting location and the second mounting location. Flexing along the housing flex line will reduce the amplifying effects of the long actuator arms. Thus, flexing of the drive housing is less likely to cause a transducer head to lift off of a storage disk. This diminishes the effects of a shock to the drive housing, the level and frequency of head slap and the risk of data loss due to erosion or scarring of the storage disk.
The flexible mount flexes in a direction substantially perpendicular to a base of the drive housing and inhibits flexing in a direction substantially parallel the base of the drive housing. This allows the drive housing to move up and down at the first mounting location and not transversely. In one embodiment, the flexible mount is a deflecting clip which secures the first mounting location to the drive housing. The deflecting clip includes a clip guide which interacts with a housing aperture in the drive housing to inhibit the deflecting clip from moving in a direction substantially parallel to a base of the drive housing.
The present invention also includes a method for attaching a disk drive to a frame. The method includes the steps of providing a drive housing including four mounting locations and fixedly securing three of the mounting locations to the frame. Because one of the mounting locations is not rigidly secured to the frame, the drive housing has a housing flex line positioned between the mounting location which is not rigidly secured to the frame and the other mounting locations upon a sufficient shock to the frame.
Importantly, the unique design of the mounting assembly provided herein diminishes the effects of a shock pulse to the disk drive. The three rigid mounts prevent degradation in performance of the disk drive. The one flexible mount dampens the amount of shock pulse transferred from the frame to the drive housing at the flexible mount. Further, the flexible mount alters the housing flex line of the drive housing to minimize the effects of the shock pulse.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4713714 (1987-12-01), Gatti et al.
patent: 5654875 (1997-08-01), Lawson
patent: 5677811 (1997-10-01), Kuno et al.
patent: 6075695 (2000-06-01), Konno et al.
patent: 6097608 (2000-08-01), Berberich et al.
patent: 6122165 (2000-09-01), Schmitt et al.
Choi Shin John
Hahn Peter
Lin Arthur
Ngai Rodney
Broder James P.
Maxtor Corporation
Ometz David L.
Roeder Steven G.
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