Disc drive mounting system including vibration isolator and heat sink

#This application relates generally to disc drives and more particularly to a disc drive mounting system.

#Hard drives are currently used in many consumer electronic devices other than personal computers. For example, they are used in personal video recorders, cable set top boxes, external storage devices, and audio jukeboxes. Many concerns arise when integrating a disc drive into a consumer electronic device. For example, an operating temperature range of the disc drive should be maintained, acoustic emission from the electronic device should be minimized, and the effects of external shocks and vibrations on the disc drive should be minimized.

#Designing a disc drive mounting system to address one such concern can adversely affect another. For example, a system fan installed to cool the disc drive can produce unwanted acoustic emissions. Additionally, hard mounting the disc drive directly to the frame of the electronic device may facilitate heat transfer from the disc drive. However, hard mounting directly to the frame may also facilitate acoustic emissions from the disc drive and the transfer of shocks and vibrations to the disc drive.

#FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a disc drive incorporating a preferred embodiment of the present invention showing the primary internal components.

#FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a mounting system for mounting a disc drive on a frame in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

#FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the mounting system of FIG. 2.

#A disc drive 100 constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1. The disc drive 100 includes a base 102 to which various components of the disc drive 100 are mounted. A top cover 104, shown partially cut away, cooperates with the base 102 to form a disc drive housing 103 that encloses an internal, sealed environment for the disc drive in a conventional manner. The components include a spindle motor 106, which rotates one or more discs 108 at a constant high speed. Information is written to and read from tracks on the discs 108 through the use of an actuator assembly 110, which rotates during a seek operation about a bearing shaft assembly 112 positioned adjacent the discs 108. The actuator assembly 110 includes a plurality of actuator arms 114 which extend towards the discs 108, with one or more flexures 116 extending from each of the actuator arms 114. Mounted at the distal end of each of the flexures 116 is a head 118, which includes an air bearing slider enabling the head 118 to fly in close proximity above the corresponding surface of the associated disc 108.

#During a seek operation, the track position of the heads 118 is controlled through the use of a voice coil motor 124, which typically includes a coil 126 attached to the actuator assembly 110, as well as one or more permanent magnets 128 which establish a magnetic field in which the coil 126 is immersed. The controlled application of current to the coil 126 causes magnetic interaction between the permanent magnets 128 and the coil 126 so that the coil 126 moves in accordance with the well-known Lorentz relationship. As the coil 126 moves, the actuator assembly 110 pivots about the bearing shaft assembly 112, and the heads 118 are caused to move across the surfaces of the discs 108.

#The spindle motor 106 is typically de-energized when the disc drive 100 is not in use for extended periods of time. The heads 118 are moved over park zones 120 near the inner diameter of the discs 108 when the drive motor is de-energized. The heads 118 are secured over the park zones 120 through the use of an actuator latch arrangement, which prevents inadvertent rotation of the actuator assembly 110 when the heads are parked.