Grounding post to reduce EMI noise effects in disc drives
AssigneeSeagate Technology LLC
InventorsFrank William Bernett, Tom Michael Durrum
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for reducing transmission of EMI noise effects originating within disc drives by including a grounding member positioned between at least a portion of a flex circuit and an EMI noise source. The grounding member makes electrically conductive contact with the cover and base plate of the disc drive and thereby provides an alternative pathway for EMI noise, as opposed to traveling along the actuator arm (E block). By reducing the transmission of EMI noise, the number of read errors from the disc is likewise minimized.
Claims16
An apparatus for reducing transmission of electromagnetic interference (“EMI”) noise originating within a head disc assembly in a disc drive, the head disc assembly having a base plate and a top cover enclosing a drive motor supporting a data storage disc thereon and an actuator assembly for transferring data to and from the disc, the actuator assembly including a flex circuit providing a path for data transfer between the disc and circuitry external to the head disc assembly;
- the apparatus comprising:
- an electrically conductive grounding member positioned between a portion of the flex circuit and a source of EMI noise in the head disc assembly, the grounding member comprising a flat piece of conductive material formed into a C-shaped body having a straight mid portion joining a curved upper contact portion electrically contacting the top cover and a curved lower contact portion electrically contacting the base plate to reduce the amount of EMI noise received by the flex circuit.
A disc drive comprising:
- a head disc assembly having a base plate and a cover enclosing a drive motor supporting at least one data storage disc thereon and an actuator assembly for transferring data to and from the disc, the actuator assembly including a flex circuit providing a path for data transfer between the disc and circuitry external to the head disc assembly;
- and
- electrically conductive grounding means positioned in the head disc assembly between a portion of the flex circuit and a source of EMI noise in the head disc assembly for reducing the amount of EMI noise received by the portion of the flex circuit.
A disc drive comprising:
- a head disc assembly having a base plate and a top cover enclosing a drive motor supporting a data storage disc thereon and an actuator assembly for transferring data to and from the disc, the actuator assembly including a flex circuit providing a path for data transfer between the disc and circuitry external to the head disc assembly;
- a flex circuit support bracket mounted to the base plate having a bracket base extending parallel to a plane of the base plate and a bracket arm extending upward from the plane of the base plate;
- and
- an electrically conductive grounding member fastened to the bracket arm of the flex circuit support bracket, the grounding member having an upper contact portion electrically contacting the top cover and a lower contact portion electrically contacting the base plate to reduce electromagnetic interference noise received by the flex circuit.
A disc drive comprising:
- a head disc assembly having a base plate and a top cover enclosing a drive motor supporting a data storage disc thereon and an actuator assembly for transferring data to and from the disc, the actuator assembly including a flex circuit providing a path for data transfer between the disc and circuitry external to the head disc assembly;
- a flex circuit support bracket mounted to the base plate and having a bracket base extending parallel to a plane of the base plate;
- and
- an electrically conductive grounding member formed integrally with the flex circuit support bracket, the grounding member having an upper contact portion electrically contacting the top cover and a lower contact portion electrically contacting the base plate to reduce electromagnetic interference noise received by the flex circuit.
A disc drive comprising:
- a head disc assembly having a base plate and a top cover enclosing a drive motor supporting a data storage disc thereon and an actuator assembly for transferring data to and from the disc, the actuator assembly rotating about a bearing assembly and including a head to read and write data to the disc, the actuator assembly further including a preamplifier attached to rotate with the actuator assembly, the head disc assembly further including a flex circuit providing a path for data transfer between the preamplifier and circuitry external to the head disc assembly;
- a flex circuit support bracket mounted to the base plate separately from the actuator assembly;
- and
- an electrically conductive grounding member secured to one end of the flex circuit support bracket and positioned substantially between the flex circuit support bracket and the preamplifier, the grounding member having an upper contact portion electrically contacting the top cover and a lower contact portion electrically contacting the base plate to reduce electromagnetic interference noise received by the flex circuit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.