US5880904A — Disk drive having a thickness equal to an IC memo…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 326 words

A disk drive for insertion into a slot formed in an external apparatus, said slot having a size for receiving an IC memory card therein, said disk drive comprising: a housing; and at least one connector fixed outside said housing; wherein an inside of said housing includes a) a disk that stores information; b) a disk driving means that forces said disk to rotate; c) a head assembly that performs read/write operations on said disk; and d) electronic circuitry that includes at least one interface circuit, said at least one interface circuit allows communication with an external host computer formed in said external apparatus, said electronic circuitry mounted on a printed circuit board, wherein said at least one connector is connected to said electronic circuitry, wherein said at least one interface circuit is coupled to said external host computer via said at least one connector such that said external host computer receives information from said at least one interface circuit and sends information thereto, and wherein a whole outer dimensions of said housing and said at least one connector having a thickness of 5 mm which is compatible in size with a size of the IC memory card specified by a specification of type II of PCMCIA, wherein said housing comprises a base at the lower side and a cover at the upper side, and wherein said printed circuit board includes at least electronic components that constitute said electronic circuitry, said printed circuit board being located along either one inner wall surface or both respective inner wall surfaces of said base and said cover, wherein said electronic components are separated into one group processing at least analog signals and another group processing only digital signals, and wherein the former group is mounted on either one of upper and lower sides of said printed circuit board, while the latter group is mounted on the other of the upper side and lower side thereof, separately to each other.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 326 words

A disk drive for insertion into a slot formed in an external apparatus, said slot having a size for receiving an IC memory card therein, said disk drive comprising: a housing; and at least one connector fixed outside said housing; wherein an inside of said housing includes a) a disk that stores information; b) a disk driving means that forces said disk to rotate; c) a head assembly that performs read/write operations on said disk; and d) electronic circuitry that includes at least one interface circuit, said at least one interface circuit allows communication with an external host computer formed in said external apparatus, said electronic circuitry mounted on a printed circuit board, wherein said at least one connector is connected to said electronic circuitry, wherein said at least one interface circuit is coupled to said external host computer via said at least one connector such that said external host computer receives information from said at least one interface circuit and sends information thereto, and wherein a whole outer dimensions of said housing and said at least one connector having a thickness of 5 mm which is compatible in size with a size of the IC memory card specified by a specification of type II of PCMCIA, wherein said housing comprises a base at the lower side and a cover at the upper side, and wherein said printed circuit board includes at least electronic components that constitute said electronic circuitry, said printed circuit board being located along either one inner wall surface or both respective inner wall surfaces of said base and said cover, wherein said electronic components are separated into one group processing at least analog signals and another group processing only digital signals, and wherein the former group is mounted on either one of upper and lower sides of said printed circuit board, while the latter group is mounted on the other of the upper side and lower side thereof, separately to each other.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 52 words

A disk drive as set forth in claim 1, wherein said electronic circuitry at least includes: a read/write circuit that receives read signals from said head assembly and provides write signals to said head assembly; and, a control circuit that controls the operations of said disk driving means and said head assembly.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 62 words

A disk drive as set forth in claim 1, wherein said head assembly at least includes: a head for reading to and/or writing from a predetermined position on said disk; an arm that supports said head; and, a rotary type actuator that forces said arm to rotate in either direction and said head to move to said predetermined position on said disk.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 43 words

A disk drive as set forth in claim 1, wherein constituent parts that include at least said disk, said disk driving means, said head assembly and the electronic circuitry inside said housing are driven on a power supply of 3 to 3.5 volts.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 26 words

A disk drive as set forth in claim 1, wherein said housing maintains a tightly closed condition with the exception of ventilation through an air filter.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 16 words

A disk drive as set forth in claim 1, wherein said housing has a rectangular form.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 22 words

A disk drive as set forth in claim 6, wherein it has outer dimensions in plane directions of approximately 85.6 mm×54 mm.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 26 words

A disk drive as set forth in claim 6, wherein said connector is attached to a portion of the sides having shorter dimensions of said housing.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 24 words

A disk drive as set forth in claim 8, wherein said connector is located in either one side having shorter dimensions of said housing.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 18 words

A disk drive as set forth in claim 9, wherein only one connector is provided as said connector.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 38 words

A disk drive as set forth in claim 9, wherein said connector is attached to either one side with shorter dimensions of said housing, said side being in a position opposite to said head assembly across said disk.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 59 words

A disk drive as set forth in claim 1, wherein said printed circuit board is composed of a flexible printed circuit board which is bent into a lower portion and an upper portion coupled with each other, in a form such that said disk is put between said lower portion and upper portion of said flexible printed circuit board.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 28 words

A disk drive as set forth in claim 12, wherein a bent portion of said flexible printed circuit board are formed in the longer side of said housing.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 40 words

A disk drive as set forth in claim 13, wherein the upper and lower sides of said flexible printed circuit board are connected by means of two connecting portions, and wherein said connecting portions are constructed to be bent back.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 31 words

A disk drive as set forth in claim 14, wherein each of said connecting portions have excess length, which is bent back so that said excess length protrudes inside said housing.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 36 words

A disk drive as set forth in claim 1, wherein both of said base and said cover are made of metal, and are metal based printed circuit boards also used as said printed circuit board, respectively.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 21 words

A disk drive as set forth in claim 1, wherein said connector is connected to said group processing only digital signals.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 52 words

A disk drive as set forth in claim 1, wherein said electronic components are located between said printed circuit board and said base and between said printed circuit board and said cover, and said electronic components are located at the respective inner wall surfaces of said base (22) and said cover (23).

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 69 words

A disk drive as set forth in claim 18, wherein on one surface of said printed circuit board are formed predetermined circuit patterns for assembling said electronic components, while on the other surface of said printed circuit board are formed ground patterns for electrically shielding said electronic components, and wherein said circuit patterns are located so as to face the inner wall surfaces of said base and said cover.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 170 words

A disk drive as set forth in claim 1 wherein said printed circuit board is composed of a first printed board element and a second printed board element that are located separately each other along the respectively corresponding inner wall surfaces of said base and said cover, and wherein said first printed board element, having at least one first tongue portion in which a first group of terminals are formed, is included in said base, said first tongue portion being projected at a first fringe portion of said base, wherein said second printed board element, having at least one second tongue portion in which a second group of terminals are formed, is included in said cover, said second tongue portion being projected at a second fringe portion of said cover, and wherein said first tongue portion and said second tongue portion are constructed such that they are fixed together by means of anisotropic conductive adhesive, said first group of terminals and the corresponding second group of terminals facing each other.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 36 words

A disk drive as set forth in claim 20, wherein said first fringe portion of said base and said second fringe portion of said cover are also fixed together by means of said anisotropic conductive adhesive.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 67 words

A disk drive as set forth in claim 20, wherein said first printed board element have a plurality of first tongue portions and said second printed board element have a plurality of second tongue portions, said first and second tongue portions being projected toward plural sides of said first fringe portion of said base and toward plural sides of said second fringe portion of said cover, respectively.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 19 words

A disk drive as set forth in claim 1, wherein it has a thickness of less than 8 mm.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 18 words

A disk drive as set forth in claim 1, wherein it has a thickness of approximately 5 mm.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 83 words

A disk drive as set forth in claim 1, wherein a plurality of insertion guide portions, which allow said housing to be inserted into a slot of a host device, are constructed so that a thickness of each of fringe portions of said housing in the direction of longer side thereof becomes smaller than the whole thickness of said housing, and wherein insertion guides for inserting said housing into a slot of an external host device are formed by said insertion guide portions.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 54 words

A disk drive as set forth in claim 1, wherein, in the remaining space within said housing other than a movable space where at least said disk, said disk driving means and said head assembly can be moved, a filler having a form corresponding to said remaining space is placed in said remaining space.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 17 words

A disk drive as set forth in claim 26, wherein said filler is made of resin material.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 18 words

A disk drive as set forth in claim 26, wherein said filler includes conductive material inside said filler.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 267 words

A disk drive for insertion into a slot formed in an external apparatus, said slot having a size for receiving an IC memory card therein, said disk drive comprising: a housing; and at least one connector fixed outside said housing, said at least one connector being specified by a specification of PCMCIA-ATA, wherein an inside of said housing includes a) a disk that stores information; b) a disk driving means that forces said disk to rotate; c) a head assembly that performs read/write operation on said disk; and d) electronic circuitry that includes at least one interface circuit, wherein said at least one connector is connected to said electronic circuitry, and wherein a whole outer dimensions including said housing and connector are a same in size as those of the IC memory card standardized by a specification of type II of PCMCIA having a thickness of 5 mm, wherein said housing comprises a base at the lower side and a cover at the upper side, and wherein a printed circuit board includes at least electronic components that constitute said electronic circuitry, said printed circuit board being located along either one inner wall surface or both respective inner wall surfaces of said base and said cover, wherein said electronic components are separated into one group processing at least analog signals and another group processing only digital signals, and wherein the former group is mounted on either one of upper and lower sides of said printed circuit board, while the latter group is mounted on the other of the upper side and lower side thereof, separately to each other.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 267 words

A disk drive for insertion into a slot formed in an external apparatus, said slot having a size for receiving an IC memory card therein, said disk drive comprising: a housing; and at least one connector fixed outside said housing, said at least one connector being specified by a specification of PCMCIA-ATA, wherein an inside of said housing includes a) a disk that stores information; b) a disk driving means that forces said disk to rotate; c) a head assembly that performs read/write operation on said disk; and d) electronic circuitry that includes at least one interface circuit, wherein said at least one connector is connected to said electronic circuitry, and wherein a whole outer dimensions including said housing and connector are a same in size as those of the IC memory card standardized by a specification of type II of PCMCIA having a thickness of 5 mm, wherein said housing comprises a base at the lower side and a cover at the upper side, and wherein a printed circuit board includes at least electronic components that constitute said electronic circuitry, said printed circuit board being located along either one inner wall surface or both respective inner wall surfaces of said base and said cover, wherein said electronic components are separated into one group processing at least analog signals and another group processing only digital signals, and wherein the former group is mounted on either one of upper and lower sides of said printed circuit board, while the latter group is mounted on the other of the upper side and lower side thereof, separately to each other.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 298 words

A disk drive for insertion into a slot formed in an external apparatus, said slot having a size for receiving an IC memory card therein, said disk drive comprising: a housing; and at least one connector fixed outside said housing; wherein an inside of said housing includes a) at least one disk that stores information; b) a disk driving means that forces said at least one disk to rotate; c) a head assembly that performs read/write operations on said at least one disk; and d) electronic circuitry that includes at least one interface circuit, and wherein said at least one connector is connected to said electronic circuitry, wherein said housing has a base element located at a bottom portion of said housing; a cover element located at a top portion of said housing; and a frame element that is located at a side portion of said housing and has a predetermined thickness, and wherein a whole outer dimensions including said housing and said at least one connector having a thickness of 5 mm which is compatible in size with a size of the IC memory card specified by a specification of type II of PCMCIA, wherein a printed circuit board includes at least electronic components that constitute said electronic circuitry, said printed circuit board being located along either one inner wall surface or both respective inner wall surfaces of said base element and said cover element, wherein said electronic components are separated into one group processing at least analog signals and another group processing only digital signals, and wherein the former group is mounted on either one of upper and lower sides of said printed circuit board, while the latter group is mounted on the other of the upper side and lower side thereof, separately to each other.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 298 words

A disk drive for insertion into a slot formed in an external apparatus, said slot having a size for receiving an IC memory card therein, said disk drive comprising: a housing; and at least one connector fixed outside said housing; wherein an inside of said housing includes a) at least one disk that stores information; b) a disk driving means that forces said at least one disk to rotate; c) a head assembly that performs read/write operations on said at least one disk; and d) electronic circuitry that includes at least one interface circuit, and wherein said at least one connector is connected to said electronic circuitry, wherein said housing has a base element located at a bottom portion of said housing; a cover element located at a top portion of said housing; and a frame element that is located at a side portion of said housing and has a predetermined thickness, and wherein a whole outer dimensions including said housing and said at least one connector having a thickness of 5 mm which is compatible in size with a size of the IC memory card specified by a specification of type II of PCMCIA, wherein a printed circuit board includes at least electronic components that constitute said electronic circuitry, said printed circuit board being located along either one inner wall surface or both respective inner wall surfaces of said base element and said cover element, wherein said electronic components are separated into one group processing at least analog signals and another group processing only digital signals, and wherein the former group is mounted on either one of upper and lower sides of said printed circuit board, while the latter group is mounted on the other of the upper side and lower side thereof, separately to each other.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 19 words

A disk drive as set forth in claim 30, wherein said base and said cover are made of metal.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 325 words

A disk drive for insertion into a slot formed in an external apparatus, said slot having a size for receiving an IC memory card therein, said disk drive comprising: a housing, an inside of said housing includes a disk that stores information; a disk driving means that forces said disk to rotate and that includes a motor having a stator in a position inside an outer diameter of said disk; a head assembly that performs read/write operations on said disk; and electronic circuitry that includes at least one interface circuit which allows communication with an external host computer formed in said external apparatus; and at least one connector, that is connected to said electronic circuitry, is fixed outside said housing, wherein said interface circuit is coupled to another connector of said external host computer via said at least one connector which is connected to said electronic circuitry, so as to receive information from said interface circuit and send information to said interface circuit, and wherein a whole outer dimensions including said housing and said at least one connector having a thickness of 5 mm which is compatible in size with a size of the IC memory card specified by a specification of type II of PCMCIA, wherein said housing comprises a base at the lower side and a cover at the upper side, and wherein a printed circuit board includes at least electronic components that constitute said electronic circuitry, said printed circuit board being located along either one inner wall surface or both respective inner wall surfaces of said base and said cover, wherein said electronic components are separated into one group processing at least analog signals and another group processing only digital signals, and wherein the former group is mounted on either one of upper and lower sides of said printed circuit board, while the latter group is mounted on the other of the upper side and lower side thereof, separately to each other.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 325 words

A disk drive for insertion into a slot formed in an external apparatus, said slot having a size for receiving an IC memory card therein, said disk drive comprising: a housing, an inside of said housing includes a disk that stores information; a disk driving means that forces said disk to rotate and that includes a motor having a stator in a position inside an outer diameter of said disk; a head assembly that performs read/write operations on said disk; and electronic circuitry that includes at least one interface circuit which allows communication with an external host computer formed in said external apparatus; and at least one connector, that is connected to said electronic circuitry, is fixed outside said housing, wherein said interface circuit is coupled to another connector of said external host computer via said at least one connector which is connected to said electronic circuitry, so as to receive information from said interface circuit and send information to said interface circuit, and wherein a whole outer dimensions including said housing and said at least one connector having a thickness of 5 mm which is compatible in size with a size of the IC memory card specified by a specification of type II of PCMCIA, wherein said housing comprises a base at the lower side and a cover at the upper side, and wherein a printed circuit board includes at least electronic components that constitute said electronic circuitry, said printed circuit board being located along either one inner wall surface or both respective inner wall surfaces of said base and said cover, wherein said electronic components are separated into one group processing at least analog signals and another group processing only digital signals, and wherein the former group is mounted on either one of upper and lower sides of said printed circuit board, while the latter group is mounted on the other of the upper side and lower side thereof, separately to each other.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 278 words

A disk drive for insertion into a slot formed in an external apparatus, said slot having a size for receiving an IC memory card therein, said disk drive comprising: a housing, an inside of the housing including a disk that stores information; a disk driving means that forces said disk to rotate and that includes a motor having a stator in a position inside an outer diameter of said disk; a head assembly that performs read/write operations on said disk; and electronic circuitry that includes at least one interface circuit which is specified by a specification of PCMCIA-ATA; and at least one connector, that is connected to said electronic circuitry, is fixed outside said housing, wherein a whole outer dimensions including said housing and said at least one connector are a same as a specification of type II of PCMCIA having a thickness of 5 mm which is compatible in size with a size of the IC memory card, wherein said housing comprises a base at the lower side and a cover at the upper side, and wherein a printed circuit board includes at least electronic components that constitute said electronic circuitry, said printed circuit board being located along either one inner wall surface or both respective inner wall surfaces of said base and said cover, wherein said electronic components are separated into one group processing at least analog signals and another group processing only digital signals, and wherein the former group is mounted on either one of upper and lower sides of said printed circuit board, while the latter group is mounted on the other of the upper side and lower side thereof, separately to each other.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 278 words

A disk drive for insertion into a slot formed in an external apparatus, said slot having a size for receiving an IC memory card therein, said disk drive comprising: a housing, an inside of the housing including a disk that stores information; a disk driving means that forces said disk to rotate and that includes a motor having a stator in a position inside an outer diameter of said disk; a head assembly that performs read/write operations on said disk; and electronic circuitry that includes at least one interface circuit which is specified by a specification of PCMCIA-ATA; and at least one connector, that is connected to said electronic circuitry, is fixed outside said housing, wherein a whole outer dimensions including said housing and said at least one connector are a same as a specification of type II of PCMCIA having a thickness of 5 mm which is compatible in size with a size of the IC memory card, wherein said housing comprises a base at the lower side and a cover at the upper side, and wherein a printed circuit board includes at least electronic components that constitute said electronic circuitry, said printed circuit board being located along either one inner wall surface or both respective inner wall surfaces of said base and said cover, wherein said electronic components are separated into one group processing at least analog signals and another group processing only digital signals, and wherein the former group is mounted on either one of upper and lower sides of said printed circuit board, while the latter group is mounted on the other of the upper side and lower side thereof, separately to each other.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 207 words

A disk drive comprising: a housing for an IC memory card which is specified by a specification of type II of PCMCIA, an inside of said housing including a disk that stores information, a disk driving means that forces said disk to rotate, a head assembly that perform read/write operation on said disk, and electronic circuitry that includes at least one interface circuit which is specified by the specification of PCMCIA-ATA; and at least one connector, that is connected to said electronic circuitry, is fixed outside said housing, wherein said housing comprises a base at the lower side and a cover at the upper side, and wherein a printed circuit board includes at least electronic components that constitute said electronic circuitry, said printed circuit board being located along either one inner wall surface or both respective inner wall surfaces of said base and said cover, wherein said electronic components are separated into one group processing at least analog signals and another group processing only digital signals, and wherein the former group is mounted on either one of upper and lower sides of said printed circuit board, while the latter group is mounted on the other of the upper side and lower side thereof, separately to each other.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 207 words

A disk drive comprising: a housing for an IC memory card which is specified by a specification of type II of PCMCIA, an inside of said housing including a disk that stores information, a disk driving means that forces said disk to rotate, a head assembly that perform read/write operation on said disk, and electronic circuitry that includes at least one interface circuit which is specified by the specification of PCMCIA-ATA; and at least one connector, that is connected to said electronic circuitry, is fixed outside said housing, wherein said housing comprises a base at the lower side and a cover at the upper side, and wherein a printed circuit board includes at least electronic components that constitute said electronic circuitry, said printed circuit board being located along either one inner wall surface or both respective inner wall surfaces of said base and said cover, wherein said electronic components are separated into one group processing at least analog signals and another group processing only digital signals, and wherein the former group is mounted on either one of upper and lower sides of said printed circuit board, while the latter group is mounted on the other of the upper side and lower side thereof, separately to each other.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 227 words

A disk drive comprising: a housing for an IC memory card which is specified by a specification of type II of PCMCIA, said housing including a cover and a base which are made of iron and formed by a press forming process, an inside of said housing including a disk that stores information, a disk driving means that forces said disk to rotate, a head assembly that perform read/write operations on said disk, and electronic circuitry that includes at least one interface circuit which is specified by the specification of PCMCIA-ATA; and at least one connector, that is connected to said electronic circuitry, is fixed outside said housing, wherein said housing comprises a base at the lower side and a cover at the upper side, and wherein a printed circuit board includes at least electronic components that constitute said electronic circuitry, said printed circuit board being located along either one inner wall surface or both respective inner wall surfaces of said base and said cover, wherein said electronic components are separated into one group processing at least analog signals and another group processing only digital signals, and wherein the former group is mounted on either one of upper and lower sides of said printed circuit board, while the latter group is mounted on the other of the upper side and lower side thereof, separately to each other.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 227 words

A disk drive comprising: a housing for an IC memory card which is specified by a specification of type II of PCMCIA, said housing including a cover and a base which are made of iron and formed by a press forming process, an inside of said housing including a disk that stores information, a disk driving means that forces said disk to rotate, a head assembly that perform read/write operations on said disk, and electronic circuitry that includes at least one interface circuit which is specified by the specification of PCMCIA-ATA; and at least one connector, that is connected to said electronic circuitry, is fixed outside said housing, wherein said housing comprises a base at the lower side and a cover at the upper side, and wherein a printed circuit board includes at least electronic components that constitute said electronic circuitry, said printed circuit board being located along either one inner wall surface or both respective inner wall surfaces of said base and said cover, wherein said electronic components are separated into one group processing at least analog signals and another group processing only digital signals, and wherein the former group is mounted on either one of upper and lower sides of said printed circuit board, while the latter group is mounted on the other of the upper side and lower side thereof, separately to each other.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2002-03-08	2002-09-07	2003-03-09	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2006-03-08	2006-09-07	2007-03-09	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2010-03-08	2010-09-07	2011-03-09	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Disk drive having a thickness equal to an IC memory card

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