Disk drive apparatus

Claim 2

A disk drive apparatus (20), comprising: a hard disk (24); a spin motor (26) for rotating said hard disk (24); a transducer (28) for communicating with said hard disk (24); a rotary actuator (30) for moving said transducer (28) relative to said disk (24), said rotary actuator (30) including a pivot capstan (146) and a voice coil assembly (154); a housing (22) for containing said hard disk (24), said spin motor (26), said transducer (28) and said rotary actuator (30) in an interior thereof, said housing (22) having an exterior surface, an interior surface, a first top side and a first bottom side; a printed circuit-board (82) having a second top side (84) and a second bottom side (86); electronic means (88) for controlling at least one of the following: said spin motor (26), said transducer (28) and said rotary actuator (30), said electronic means (88) including a first component of a first height and a second component of a second height greater than said first height, said first and second components located on said first side of said printed circuit board (82); and frame means (98) for connecting said housing (22) to said printed circuit board (82) in a stacked relationship where said first bottom side of said housing (22) faces said second top side (84) of said printed circuit board (82); wherein a first cross-section of said disk drive apparatus (20) includes said first top side of said housing (22), one of the following: said spin motor (26) and said pivot capstan (146), and said printed circuit board (82), wherein said frist cross-section is no greater than approximately 16.0mm (0.630 inch) in height; wherein a second cross-section of said disk drive apparatus (20} includes said first top side of said housing (22), said voice coil assembly (154), said first bottom side of said housing, said first component and said printed circuit board (82), wherein said second cross-section is no greater than approximately 16.0mm (0.630 inch) in height; wherein a third cross-section of said disk drive apparatus (20) includes said first top side of said housing (22), said hard disk (24), said first bottom side of said housing (22), said second component and said printed circuit board (82), wherein said third cross-section is no greater than approximately 16.0mm (0.630 inch) in height.

Claim 3

A disk drive apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said hard disk (24) has a diameter no greater than approximately 63.5mm (2.5 inches).

Claim 4

A disk drive apparatus, as claimed in either claim 1 or 2 wherein: said disk drive apparatus (20) has a footprint of approximately 71.1mm (2.8 inches) by approximately 101.6mm (4.0 inches).

Claim 5

A disk drive apparatus, as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein: said electronic means (88) includes a third component having a third height located on said second bottom side of said printed circuit board (82), wherein said height of said disk drive apparatus (20) from said first top side of said housing (22) to said third component is no greater than approximately 16.0mm (0.630 inch).

Claim 6

A disk drive apparatus, as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein: said spin motor (26) includes a magnet made of a material including a rare earth.

Claim 7

A disk drive apparatus, as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein: said spin motor (26) includes a magnet (142) having an energy product in excess of 2.39 x 10⁵ Tesla­amperes per metre (30 million gauss-oersteds).

Claim 8

A disk drive apparatus, as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein: said spin motor (26) has a height dimension no greater than approximately 15.2mm (0.6 inch).

Claim 9

A disk drive apparatus, as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein: one of the following: said first top side and said first bottom side of said housing (22) provides a portion of a magnetic flux return path for said voice coil assembly (154).

Claim 10

A disk drive apparatus, as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein: said voice coil assembly (154) including a magnet (160) and a voice coil (156) in a stacked relationship having a height dimension of less than approximately 8.9mm (0.35 inch).

Claim 11

A disk drive apparatus comprising: a hard disk having a diameter less than or substantially equal to 63.5mm (2.5 inches); a spin motor for rotating said hard disk, said spin motor including a magnet made of a material including a rare earth and having an energy product in excess of 2.39 x 10⁵ Tesla-amperes per metre (30 million gauss-oersteds), said spin motor having a height dimension of less than approximately 10.2mm (0.4 inch); a transducer for communicating with said hard disk; a rotary actuator for moving said transducer relative to said hard disk, said rotary actuator including a pivot capstan, a voice coil and a magnet in a stacked relationship having a height dimension of less than 8.9mm (0.35 inch); a housing for containing said hard disk, said spin motor, said transducer and said rotary actuator in an interior thereof, said housing having an exterior surface, an interior surface, a hole extending from said exterior surface to said interior surface, a first top side and a first bottom side, wherein said hole is helically-shaped; a desiccant in communication with said interior and located intermediate said interior surface and said exterior surface of said housing; a printed circuit board having a second top side and a second bottom side; electronic means for controlling said spin motor, said transducer and said rotary actuator, said electronic means includes a first component of a first height, a second component of a second height greater than said first height, and a third component having a third height, said first and second components located on said second top side of said printed circuit board and said third component located on said second bottom side of said printed circuit board; and frame means for connecting said housing to said printed circuit board in a stacked relationship where said first bottom side of said housing faces said second top side of said printed circuit board, wherein said frame provides side, bottom and top mounting capability and wherein said disk drive apparatus has a foot print of approximately 71.1mm (2.8 inches) by approximately 101.6mm (4.0 inches) and a height dimension of approximately 16.0mm (0.630 inch) or less; wherein a first cross-section of said disk drive apparatus includes only said first top side of said housing, one of the following: said spin motor and said pivot capstan, and said printed circuit board, where said first cross-section is less than or equal to 16.0mm (0.630 inch) in height; wherein a second cross-section of said disk drive apparatus includes said first top side of said housing, said voice coil assembly, said first bottom side of said housing, said first component, said printed circuit board and said second component, wherein said second cross-section is less than or equal to 16.0mm (0.630 inch) in height; wherein a third cross-section of said disk drive apparatus includes said first top side of said housing, said hard disk, said first bottom side of said housing, said second component, said printed circuit and said third component, wherein said third cross-section is less than or equal to 16.0mm (0.630 inch) in height.

Claim 12

A disk drive apparatus comprising: a hard disk having a diameter less than or substantially equal to 63.5mm (2.5 inches); a spin motor for rotating said hard disk, said spin motor including a magnet made of a material including a rare earth and having an energy product in excess of 2.39 x 10⁵ Tesla-amperes per metre (30 million gauss-oersteds), said spin motor having a height dimension of less than approximately 10.2mm (0.4 inch); a transducer for communicating with said hard disk; a rotary actuator for moving said transducer relative to said hard disk, said rotary actuator including a pivot capstan, a voice coil and a magnet in a stacked relationship having a height dimension of less than 8.9mm (0.35 inch); a housing for containing said hard disk, said spin motor, said transducer and said rotary actuator in an interior thereof, said housing having an exterior surface, an interior surface, a hole extending from said exterior surface to said interior surface, a first top side and a first bottom side, wherein said hole is helically-shaped; a desiccant in communication with said interior and located intermediate said interior surface and said exterior surface of said housing; a printed circuit board having a second top side and a second bottom side; electronic means for controlling said spin motor, said transducer and said rotary actuator, said electronic means includes a first component of a first height, a second component of a second height greater than said first height, and a third component having a third height, said first and second components located on said second top side of said printed circuit board and said third component located on said second bottom side of said printed circuit board; and frame means for connecting said housing to said printed circuit board in a stacked relationship where said first bottom side of said housing faces said second top side of said printed circuit board, wherein said frame provides side, bottom and top mounting capability and wherein said disk drive apparatus has a foot print of approximately 71.1mm (2.8 inches) by approximately 101.6mm (4.0 inches) and a height dimension of approximately 16.0mm (0.630 inch) or less; wherein a first cross-section of said disk drive apparatus includes only said first top side of said housing, one of the following: said spin motor and said pivot capstan, and said printed circuit board, where said first cross-section is less than or equal to 16.0mm (0.630 inch) in height; wherein a second cross-section of said disk drive apparatus includes said first top side of said housing, said voice coil assembly, said first bottom side of said housing, said first component, said printed circuit board and said second component, wherein said second cross-section is less than or equal to 16.0mm (0.630 inch) in height; wherein a third cross-section of said disk drive apparatus includes said first top side of said housing, said hard disk, said first bottom side of said housing, said second component, said printed circuit and said third component, wherein said third cross-section is less than or equal to 16.0mm (0.630 inch) in height.

Claim 13

An information storage apparatus, comprising: a record carrier (24); first means (26) for moving said record carrier (24); a transducer (28) for communicating with said record carrier (24); second means (30) for moving said transducer relative to said record carrier (24); and a housing (22) for containing said record carrier (24), said first means (26), said transducer (28) and said second means (30) in an interior thereof and protecting said record carrier (24) from an ambient atmosphere, said housing (22) having a hole (48) extending between an interior surface and an exterior surface of the housing (22); which hole is of a length greater than the shortest distance between said interior surface and said exterior surface to reduce penetration of moisture from said ambient atmosphere to said interior.

Claim 14

An information storage apparatus, comprising: a record carrier (24); first means (26) for moving said record carrier (24); a transducer (28) for communicating with said record carrier (24); second means (30) for moving said transducer relative to said record carrier (24); and a housing (22) for containing said record carrier (24), said first means (26), said transducer (28) and said second means (30) in an interior thereof and protecting said record carrier (24) from an ambient atmosphere, said housing (22) having a hole (48) extending between an interior surface and an exterior surface of the housing (22); which hole is of a length greater than the shortest distance between said interior surface and said exterior surface to reduce penetration of moisture from said ambient atmosphere to said interior.

Claim 15

An information storage apparatus, as claimed in claim 11, wherein: said interior surface is parallel to said exterior surface.

Claim 16

An information storage apparatus, as claimed in either of claims 11 or 12, wherein: said hole (48) is slanted relative to said exterior eurface or said interior surface.

Claim 17

An information storage apparatus, as claimed in any of claims 11 to 13, wherein: said hole (48) is helically-shaped serpentine­shaped or curved.

Claim 18

An information storage apparatus, comprising: a record carrier (24); first means (26) for moving said record carrier (24); a transducer (28) for communicating with said record carrier (24); second means (30) for moving said transducer relative to said record carrier (24); and a housing (22) for containing said record carrier (24), said first means (26), said transducer (28) and said second means (30) in an interior thereof, said housing (22) having an interior surface and an exterior surface; and a desiccant (60) in communication with said interior; wherein at least a portion of said desiccant (60) is located between said interior surface and said exterior surface.

Claim 19

An information storage apparatus, comprising: a record carrier (24); first means (26) for moving said record carrier (24); a transducer (28) for communicating with said record carrier (24); second means (30) for moving said transducer relative to said record carrier (24); and a housing (22) for containing said record carrier (24), said first means (26), said transducer (28) and said second means (30) in an interior thereof, said housing (22) having an interior surface and an exterior surface; and a desiccant (60) in communication with said interior; wherein at least a portion of said desiccant (60) is located between said interior surface and said exterior surface.

Claim 20

An information storage apparatus, as claimed in claim 15, wherein: said desiccant (60) is located in a plane substantially parallel to said record carrier (20).

Claim 21

An information storage apparatus, as claimed in either of claims 15 or 16, wherein: said desiccant (60) is substantially planar.

Claim 22

An information storage apparatus, as claimed in any of claims 15, 16 and 17 further including: a filter (64) located between said desiccant (60) and said interior to prevent said desiccant (60) from entering into said interior.

Claim 23

An information storage apparatus, comprising: a record carrier (20); a transducer (28) for communicating with said record carrier (24); means (30) for moving said transducer relative to said record carrier (24); and a motor (26) for moving said record carrier, said motor including a magnet (142), wherein said motor (26) has a height dimension of less than approximately 15.2mm (0.0 inch).

Claim 24

An information storage apparatus, comprising: a record carrier (20); a transducer (28) for communicating with said record carrier (24); means (30) for moving said transducer relative to said record carrier (24); and a motor (26) for moving said record carrier, said motor including a magnet (142), wherein said motor (26) has a height dimension of less than approximately 15.2mm (0.0 inch).

Claim 25

An information storage apparatus, as claimed in claim 19, wherein: said magnet (142) is made from a material which includes a rare earth.

Claim 26

An information storage apparatus, as claimed in either claim 19 or 20, wherein: said magnet (142) is made from a material including at least one of the following: neodymium and samarium.

Claim 27

An information storage apparatus, as claimed in any of claims 19 to 21, wherein: said magnet (142) is made from a material including neodymium, boron and iron.

Claim 28

An information storage apparatus, as claimed in any of claims 19 to 22 wherein: said motor has a motor constant of at least approximately 5.47 x 10⁻⁵ Nm/watt ½ (0.76 in.- oz/watt ½ ).

Claim 29

An information storage apparatus, as claimed in any of claims 19 to 23, wherein: said magnet (142) has an energy product in excess of approximately 2.39 x 10⁵ Tesla-amperes per metre (30 million gauss-oersteds).

Claim 30

An information storage apparatus, as claimed in any of claims 19 to 24, wherein: said motor (26) is a brushless DC motor and is about 8.9mm (0.35 inch) in height.

Claim 31

An information storage apparatus, as claimed in any of claims 19 to 25 wherein: said magnet (142) is substantially planar in shape.

Claim 32

An information storage apparatus, comprising: a record carrier (24); a transducer (28) for communicating with said record carrier (24); a rotary actuator (30) for moving said transducer (28) relative to said record carrier (24), said rotary actuator (30) rotating about an axis through a defined angle and having a surface disposed non adjacently said axis; electronic means (88) for providing information to position said transducer (28) relative to said record carrier (20); and a flexible circuit (92) connecting said electronic means (88) to said rotary actuator (30), said flexible circuit (92) including a first end attached to said surface and a second end attached to a point separated from said rotary actuator (30); wherein said first and said second ends impose on said flexible circuit (92) located therebetween a first curve, a point of inflection and a second curve; wherein said first and second ends are fixed at angles tangent to said first and second curves; and wherein the resultant force on said rotary actuator (30) as determined at said point of inflection produces a substantially zero torque on said rotary actuator (30).

Claim 33

An information storage apparatus, comprising: a record carrier (24); a transducer (28) for communicating with said record carrier (24); a rotary actuator (30) for moving said transducer (28) relative to said record carrier (24), said rotary actuator (30) rotating about an axis through a defined angle and having a surface disposed non adjacently said axis; electronic means (88) for providing information to position said transducer (28) relative to said record carrier (20); and a flexible circuit (92) connecting said electronic means (88) to said rotary actuator (30), said flexible circuit (92) including a first end attached to said surface and a second end attached to a point separated from said rotary actuator (30); wherein said first and said second ends impose on said flexible circuit (92) located therebetween a first curve, a point of inflection and a second curve; wherein said first and second ends are fixed at angles tangent to said first and second curves; and wherein the resultant force on said rotary actuator (30) as determined at said point of inflection produces a substantially zero torque on said rotary actuator (30).

Claim 34

An information storage apparatus, as claimed in claim 27, wherein: said flexible circuit (92) includes a first layer of flexible material. having a thickness of substantially 2.54 x 10⁻²mm (0.001 inch), a second layer of flexible material having a thickness of substantially 2.54 x 10⁻²mm (0.001 inch) and a third layer of flexible material located intermediate said first and second layers having a thickness of substantially 3.56 x 10⁻²mm (0.0014 inch), said third layer of flexible material including a 28.35g (one ounce) conductive material.

Claim 35

An information storage apparatus, comprising: a record carrier (24); first means (26) for moving said record carrier (24); a transducer (28) for communicating with said record carrier (24); second means (30) for moving said transducer (28) relative to said record carrier (24), said second means (30) for moving including a motor (26) having a voice coil (156) and a magnet (160); a housing (22) for containing said record carrier (24), said first means (26), said transducer (28) and said second means (30); wherein said housing (22) provides a portion of a magnetic flux return path for said magnet (160).

Claim 36

An information storage apparatus, comprising: a record carrier (24); first means (26) for moving said record carrier (24); a transducer (28) for communicating with said record carrier (24); second means (30) for moving said transducer (28) relative to said record carrier (24), said second means (30) for moving including a motor (26) having a voice coil (156) and a magnet (160); a housing (22) for containing said record carrier (24), said first means (26), said transducer (28) and said second means (30); wherein said housing (22) provides a portion of a magnetic flux return path for said magnet (160).

Claim 37

An information storage apparatus, as claimed in claim 29, wherein: at least one of said first (26) and second means (30) for moving is mounted to said housing (22).

Claim 38

An information storage apparatus, as claimed in either claim 29 or 30, wherein: said motor (20) is a rotary motor.

Claim 39

An information storage apparatus, as claimed in any of claims 29 to 31, wherein: said motor (26) includes a magnetic flux return plate (166) held in place by said magnet (160).

Claim 40

An information storage apparatus, as claimed in any of claims 29 to 32 wherein: said magnet (160) and voice coil (156) are in a stacked relationship having a height dimension of less than approximately 8.9mm (0.35 inch).

Claim 41

An information storage apparatus, comprising: a record carrier (24) for storing information; first means (26) for moving said record carrier (24); a transducer (28) for communicating with said record carrier (24); second means (30) for moving said transducer (28) relative to said record carrier (24); a housing (22) for containing said record carrier (24), said first means (26), said transducer (28) and said second means (30), said housing (22) having a first surface area; a printed circuit board (82); electronic means (88) located on said printed circuit board (82) for use in controlling at least one of the following: said first means (26), said transducer (28) and said second means (30); and means for connecting said housing (22) to said printed circuit board (82), said means for connecting (98) including at least two separate members.

Claim 42

An information storage apparatus, comprising: a record carrier (24) for storing information; first means (26) for moving said record carrier (24); a transducer (28) for communicating with said record carrier (24); second means (30) for moving said transducer (28) relative to said record carrier (24); a housing (22) for containing said record carrier (24), said first means (26), said transducer (28) and said second means (30), said housing (22) having a first surface area; a printed circuit board (82); electronic means (88) located on said printed circuit board (82) for use in controlling at least one of the following: said first means (26), said transducer (28) and said second means (30); and means for connecting said housing (22) to said printed circuit board (82), said means for connecting (98) including at least two separate members.

Claim 43

An information storage apparatus, as claimed in claim 34, wherein: said means for connecting (98) has a surface area that is less than about five percent of the surface of said housing (22).

Claim 44

An information storage apparatus, comprising: a record carrier (24) for storing information; first means (26) for moving said record carrier (24); a transducer (28) for communicating with said record carriers (24); second means (30) for moving said transducer (28) relative to said record carrier (24); a housing (22) for containing said record carrier (24), said first means (26), said transducer (28) and said second means (30); a printed circuit board (82); an electronic means (88) located on said printed circuit board for use in controlling at least one of the following: said first means (26), said transducer (28) and said second means (30); and frame means (98) for connecting said housing (22) to said printed circuit board (88), wherein said frame means (98) provides side, bottom and top mounting capability.

Claim 45

An information storage apparatus, comprising: a record carrier (24) for storing information; first means (26) for moving said record carrier (24); a transducer (28) for communicating with said record carriers (24); second means (30) for moving said transducer (28) relative to said record carrier (24); a housing (22) for containing said record carrier (24), said first means (26), said transducer (28) and said second means (30); a printed circuit board (82); an electronic means (88) located on said printed circuit board for use in controlling at least one of the following: said first means (26), said transducer (28) and said second means (30); and frame means (98) for connecting said housing (22) to said printed circuit board (88), wherein said frame means (98) provides side, bottom and top mounting capability.

Claim 46

An information storage apparatus, as claimed in claim 36, wherein: said frame means (98) includes L-shaped means (102) for use in providing said side mounting capability.

Claim 47

An information storage apparatus, as claimed in either claim 36 or claim 37, wherein: said frame means (98) includes shock absorbing means (100).

Claim 48

An information storage apparatus, comprising: a hard disk (24); a spin motor (26) for rotating said hard disk (24); a transducer (28) for communicating information with said hard disk (24); a rotary actuator (30) including arm means (148) and motor means (154); circuit means (92) connected to said rotary actuator (30) communicating with said transducer means (28); housing means (22) for housing said hard disk (24), said spin motor means (26), said transducer (28) and said rotary actuator (30); a printed circuit board (82); electronic means (88) located on said circuit board (82) for controlling at least one of the following: said spin motor (26), said transducer (28) and said rotary actuator (30); means (98) for connecting said housing to said printed circuit board (82) in a stacked relationship wherein said information storage apparatus has a height no greater than approximately 16.0mm (0.630 inch).

Claim 49

An information storage apparatus, comprising: a hard disk (24); a spin motor (26) for rotating said hard disk (24); a transducer (28) for communicating information with said hard disk (24); a rotary actuator (30) including arm means (148) and motor means (154); circuit means (92) connected to said rotary actuator (30) communicating with said transducer means (28); housing means (22) for housing said hard disk (24), said spin motor means (26), said transducer (28) and said rotary actuator (30); a printed circuit board (82); electronic means (88) located on said circuit board (82) for controlling at least one of the following: said spin motor (26), said transducer (28) and said rotary actuator (30); means (98) for connecting said housing to said printed circuit board (82) in a stacked relationship wherein said information storage apparatus has a height no greater than approximately 16.0mm (0.630 inch).

Claim 50

An information storage apparatus, as claimed in claim 39, wherein: said housing (22), said printed circuit board (82) and said means for connecting (98) have a foot print of approximately 101.6mm (4.0 inches) by approximately 71.1mm (2.8 inches).

Claim 51

An information storage apparatus, as claimed in either claim 39 or claim 40, wherein: said hard disk (24) has a diameter no greater than approximately 63.5mm (2.5 inches).