Leak detection using acoustic wave transducer

A system, comprising:

• a hard disk drive chamber, wherein the hard disk drive chamber is hermetically sealed to isolate a hard disk drive atmosphere from an external atmosphere;
• at least one disk platter assembly mounted within the hard disk drive chamber;
• a read/write head assembly mounted within the hard disk drive chamber;
• an acoustic wave actuator mounted within the hard disk drive chamber, wherein the acoustic wave actuator propagates an acoustic wave through the hard disk drive atmosphere;
• and
• an acoustic wave transducer mounted within the hard disk drive chamber, wherein the acoustic wave transducer detects fluid pressure wave data related to the acoustic wave.

An apparatus, comprising:

• an actuation module that commands an acoustic wave actuator to propagate an acoustic wave through a fluid medium, wherein the fluid medium is within a hermetically sealed chamber and is substantially isolated from an external atmosphere;
• a detection module that receives pressure wave data from an acoustic wave transducer that is in fluid contact with the acoustic wave;
• a comparison module that calculates an acoustic velocity of the acoustic wave based on the pressure wave data and compares the acoustic velocity to a predetermined threshold velocity;
• and
• a recognition module that recognizes composition changes to the fluid medium caused by a leak in the hermetically sealed chamber when the acoustic velocity meets the predetermined threshold.

A method, comprising:

• propagating an acoustic wave through a fluid medium, wherein the fluid medium is within a hermetically sealed chamber and is substantially isolated from an external atmosphere;
• detecting fluid pressure wave data related to the acoustic wave in the fluid medium;
• calculating an acoustic velocity based on the fluid pressure wave data;
• comparing the acoustic velocity to a predetermined threshold velocity;
• and
• recognizing composition changes to the fluid medium caused by a leak in the hermetically sealed chamber when the acoustic velocity meets the predetermined threshold.