US 5,835,303 AGranted

Microminiature hard disk drive

AssigneeIntegral Peripherals, Inc.

InventorsJames H. Morehouse, Robert A. Alt, David M. Furay, Bruce D. Emo, Steven B. Volk

Life of this patent

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Abstract

Disclosed is a rigid disk drive information storage device which includes a rigid disk having an outside diameter in the range of about 33-34 mm., with a housing having a footprint that includes a width of about 35 mm. and utilizing a rotary actuator for positioning read/write recording elements across the surface of the disk. The disk storage devices further includes a footprint with length of about 50.8 mm., and includes in one embodiment dynamic head loading apparatus for loading the read/write recording elements into operative relationship with the disk. In another embodiment the rigid disk drive utilizes contact start stop loading and unloading of the read/write recording elements. An inertial latch is also provided for preventing rotation of the actuator when the drive is subjected to a rotational force.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A disk drive information storage device comprising:

a housing having a footprint, one dimension of which is about 35 mm;
a substantially rigid information bearing disk including first and second surfaces;
a spindle motor disposed in said housing, said spindle motor having a rotor, said rotor including:
a rotor shaft, a cap connected to one end of the rotor shaft, a cylindrical portion having a first end connected to the cap, the cylindrical portion being coaxial with the rotor shaft, and a disk-shaped portion connected to a second end of the cylindrical portion, the disk-shaped portion having an outer diameter and having an upper surface;
a clamp connected to the cylindrical portion, said clamp having an outer diameter smaller than said outer diameter at said disk-shaped portion of said rotor, said clamp connecting said information bearing disk to said upper surface such that said first surface of said information bearing disk substantially abuts said upper surface of said disk-shaped portion;
an actuator disposed in said housing adjacent said information bearing disk;
and
a read/write head disposed on said actuator adjacent said second surface of said information bearing disk;
p2 wherein said actuator is movable to position said read/write head such that said read/write head reads information from or writes information to a portion of said second surface of said information bearing disk located between said outer diameter of said disk-shaped portion of said rotor and said outer diameter of said clamp.

6 more elements

A low-profile disk drive information storage device comprising:

a housing;
an information bearing disk having first and second surfaces and an outer diameter in the range of from about 33 mm to about 34 mm;
a spindle motor disposed in said housing, said spindle motor having a rotor, said rotor including:
a rotor shaft,
a cap connected to one end of the rotor shaft,
a cylindrical portion having a first end connected to the cap, the cylindrical portion being coaxial with the rotor shaft, and
a disk-shaped portion connected to a second end of the cylindrical portion, the disk-shaped portion having an outer diameter and having an upper surface;
a clamp connected to the cylindrical portion, said clamp having an outer diameter smaller than said outer diameter of the disk shaped portion of the rotor, said clamp connecting said information bearing disk to said upper surface such that said first surface of said information bearing disk substantially abuts said upper surface of said disk-shaped portion;
an actuator disposed in said housing adjacent said information bearing disk;
and
a read/write head disposed on said actuator adjacent a second surface of said information bearing disk;
wherein said actuator is movable to position said read/write head such that said read/write head reads information from or writes information to a portion of said second surface of said information bearing disk located between said outer diameter of the disk-shaped portion of the rotor and said outer diameter of the clamp.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/275,190Filed 14 Jul 1994 · division
Priority: 25 Sep 1991
Granted: 10 Nov 1998
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification16 codes

G11B 33/121
Disposition of constructional parts in the apparatus, e.g. of power supply, of modules: the apparatus comprising a single recording/reproducing device
G11B 5/11
Structure or manufacture of housings or shields for heads: shielding of head against electric or magnetic fields
G11B 5/4886
Disposition of heads: relative to rotating disc
G11B 5/54
Disposition or mounting of heads or head supports relative to record carriers ; arrangements of heads, e.g. for scanning the record carrier to…:…