Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval – Record transport with head stationary during transducing – Disk record
Reexamination Certificate
1995-02-27
2001-03-20
Korzuch, William R. (Department: 2652)
Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval
Record transport with head stationary during transducing
Disk record
Reexamination Certificate
active
06204996
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the field of rigid disc data storage devices, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a low profile structure for a spindle motor used to rotate the discs on which data is stored.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
Disc drives of the type referred to as “Winchester” disc drives are well known in the industry. Such disc drives typically use one or more rigid discs coated with a magnetic medium for the storage of digital data. These discs are mounted for rotation at a constant speed on a brushless dc spindle motor whose speed is carefully controlled by digital electronics.
Demands of the market and advances in technology have lead to the reduction in the physical size of rigid disc drives from the original fourteen inch outside diameter (O.D.) discs to drives utilizing 2.5″, 1.8″ and 1.3″ O.D. discs, with inner diameters (I.D.) of 20 mm, 12 mm, and 10 mm, respectively. As the diameter of the discs themselves has been reduced, so too has the relative height of the disc drives. Current models of 2.5″ disc drives, for instance, have been introduced with overall heights of only 12.5 mm.
Such considerations have lead to the development of the present invention, which provides a spindle motor for such a low-profile disc drive.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention defines a spindle motor which is of minimal vertical height, while still providing adequate “stiffness” to reliably rotate the discs in a disc drive data storage device. One aspect of the invention which contributes to the overall reduction in size is that the motor of the present invention is intended to be either press-fitted or adhesively bonded into an opening in the base member of the disc drive housing, thus eliminating the need for a mounting flange and screws, which would add to the vertical height if present. A second aspect of the invention is that the motor of the present invention is intended to make use of the maximum available portion of the overall disc drive height, to provide maximum spacing between a pair of ball bearings which allow the rotation of the discs, to cause maximum “stiffness” of the motor. This minimizes wobble or “non-repeatable run-out” (NRR) of the discs mounted to the motor. A third aspect of the invention involves the use of specially configured ball bearings, which have a seal on only one side of the bearing structure, thus contributing to an increase in the center-to-center spacing between the bearings, and adding to the stability of the motor. A fourth aspect of the invention pertains to the method used to connect externally generated motor drive signals to the ends of the motor stator windings, to further reduce overall motor height. A fifth aspect of the present invention provides a motor which is easy and inexpensive to manufacture due to a minimum number of parts which make up the motor.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a low-profile spindle motor for a disc drive data storage device.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a low-profile spindle motor for a disc drive data storage device which has adequate separation between the ball bearings to ensure reliable rotation of the discs.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a low-profile spindle motor for a disc drive data storage device which has a minimal number of parts to allow ease of assembly and reduced manufacturing costs.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a low-profile spindle motor for a disc drive data storage device which has favorable performance characteristics over a wide range of ambient operating temperatures.
These aspects of the motor of the present invention along with other features and benefits can best be understood by reading the following detailed description of the invention in conjunction with the drawings.
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Heller III Edward P.
Korzuch William R.
Seagate Technology LLC
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