Method and apparatus for a laser-welded disk drive housing

#In the highly competitive disk drive industry, manufacturers continually strive for improved performance along several fronts. Perhaps best known are the ongoing efforts to increase data storage capacity within given size limits by increasing the density at which bit-encoded data may be stored. Closely related, are the attempts to arrange the disk drive components to more effectively utilize available space, either to reduce the size of the drive, or to provide a drive of the same size with increased storage area, improved operating efficiency, or both. Moreover, there is effort to continuously improve drive performance and life.

#Typically a disk drive will include a rigid and stationary housing, at least one storage disk, and a means for supporting the data storage disk inside the housing for rotation about a spindle axis relative to the housing. A drive typically further includes a transducing head for writing bit-encoded data onto the recording surface of the disk, and for reading bit-encoded data previously stored on the recording surface. An actuator means is provided inside the housing for controllably positioning the transducing head relative to the recording surface. Controlling electrical circuitry controls the rotation of the disk, the positioning of the transducing head and the writing and reading of the bit-encoded data. The control circuitry includes a circuitry layer, several electrical circuit panels, and means for bonding the electrical circuit plant panels to the circuitry layer to position the circuit panels apart from one another. A mounting means secures the circuit panels integrally with respect to the housing. The housing preferably is a rigid structure constructed of material capable of protecting the drive over its lifetime.

#It has been observed that replacing the gas contents or interior environment of a disk drive with an inert gas, such as, for example but not limited to helium, improves drive performance by decreasing the power necessary to operate the drive. In addition, replacing the interior environment of the disk drive with an inert gas decreases turbulence and vibration. However, current methods of disk drive housing manufacture do not provide for a gas-tight or impermeable housing. Thus, in the ever-continuing requirement for improved disk drives, it is of interest in the art to develop improved disk drives, gas-tight disk drive housings, and methods of manufacture therefor.

#The teaching of the present invention can readily be understood by considering the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

#FIG. 1 is perspective partial view of a disk drive with the top cover of the drive housing removed to illustrate certain features;

#FIG. 2 illustrates on embodiment of a laser-based sealing apparatus for sealing a disk drive.

#Turning now to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 part of a magnetic disk drive 16. The disk drive has a rigid outer housing including a base 18 and a cover 20. Cover 20 is removed from the base to reveal a disk pack or spindle assembly 22 and a rotary actuator 24, both of which are mounted moveably with respect to the housing. More particularly, the spindle assembly 22 includes a top disk 26 and several additional concentrically stacked and spaced-apart disks rotatable about a vertical spindle axis 28.

#Rotary actuator 24 includes an actuator shaft 30 mounted to pivot relative to the base about a vertical actuator axis 32. Several transducer support arms, including a top support arm 34, are fixed to rotate with the rotator shaft. Each arm carries a magnetic data transducing head, for example, a transducing head 36 on a support arm 34. The rotary actuator pivots to move the transducing head along arcuate paths generally radially of the disks. Selective actuator pivoting, in combination with controlled rotation of the disks, allows reading and recording of data at any desired location at any one of the disk recording surfaces. Actuator 24 is pivoted by selective application of electrical current to a voice coil 38 supported for arcuate movement within a magnetic field created by a permanent magnet arrangement 40 including several magnets and a poll piece (not illustrated in further detail).

#The rotary actuator and spindle assembly are supported between two opposed housing walls, including a top wall 42 of a cover 20, and a bottom wall of a base 18. The spindle shaft and actuator shaft may be stationary, meaning that they are integral with the housing, with the disks and support arms being mounted to rotate relative to their respective shafts.