Hard disk drive with transparent cover, flashing device, and with specially decorated top plate or hub for storage applications with a visually observable disk drive

#1. Technical Field

#The present invention relates in general to an improved hard disk drive and, in particular, to an improved hard disk drive with a transparent cover, flashing device, and specially decorated top plate or hub for storage applications with a visually observable disk drive.

#2. Description of the Related Art

#So that the manner in which the features and advantages of the invention, as well as others which will become apparent are attained and can be understood in more detail, more particular description of the invention briefly summarized above may be had by reference to the embodiment thereof which is illustrated in the appended drawings, which drawings form a part of this specification. It is to be noted, however, that the drawings illustrate only an embodiment of the invention and therefore are not to be considered limiting of its scope as the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.

#FIG. 1 is an isometric view of one embodiment of a hard disk drive shown with the cover exploded and is constructed in accordance with the present invention.

#FIG. 2 is an isometric view of another embodiment of a hard disk drive shown with the cover exploded and is constructed in accordance with the present invention.

#Referring to FIG. 1, a schematic drawing of one embodiment of an information storage system comprising a magnetic hard disk file or drive 111 for a computer system is shown. Hard disk drive 111 has an outer housing or base 113 containing a disk pack having at least one media or magnetic disk 115. The disks 115 are rotated by a spindle motor assembly having a central drive hub 117. An actuator 121 comprises a plurality of parallel actuator arms 125 (one shown) in the form of a comb that is movably or pivotally mounted to base 113 about a pivot assembly 123. A controller is also mounted to base 113 for selectively moving the comb of arms 125 relative to disks 115.

#In the embodiment shown, each arm 125 has extending from it at least one cantilevered load beam and suspension 127. A magnetic read/write transducer or head is mounted on a slider 129 and secured to a flexure that is flexibly mounted to each suspension 127. The read/write heads magnetically read data from and/or magnetically write data to disks 115. The level of integration called the head gimbal assembly is head and the slider 129, which are mounted on suspension 127. The slider 129 is usually bonded to the end of suspension 127. The head is typically pico size (approximately 1250×1000×300 microns) and formed from ceramic or intermetallic materials. The head also may be of “femto” size (approximately 850×700×230 microns) and is pre-loaded against the surface of disks 115 (in the range two to ten grams) by suspension 127.

#Suspensions 127 have a spring-like quality, which biases or urges the air bearing surface of the slider 129 against the disks 115 to cause the slider 129 to fly at a precise distance from the disks 115. A voice coil 133 free to move within a conventional voice coil motor magnet assembly 134 is also mounted to arms 125 opposite the head gimbal assemblies. Movement of the actuator 121 (indicated by arrow 135) by the controller moves the head gimbal assemblies along radial arcs across tracks on the disks 115 until the heads settle on their respective target tracks. The head gimbal assemblies operate in a conventional manner and always move in unison with one another, unless the hard disk drive 111 uses multiple independent actuators (not shown) wherein the arms can move independently of one another.