# US 7,609,476 B2 · Magnetic disk drive with isolation wall > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,609,476 B2 - Document ID: US7609476B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/403,434 - Filed: 2006-04-12 - Published: 2006-10-12 - Granted: 2009-10-27 - Earliest claimed: 2005-04-12 - Assignees: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V. - Inventors: Teruyoshi Higashiya - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7609476B2 ## CPC - G11B 25/043: {using rotating discs} - G11B 5/012: Recording on, or reproducing or erasing from, magnetic disks (G11B17/00, G11B19/00 take precedence) - G11B 2005/001: {Controlling recording characteristics of record carriers or transducing characteristics of transducers by means not being part of their structure} - G11B: INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER (recording measured values in a way that does not require playback through a transducer G01D9/00; recording or playback apparatus using mechanically marked tape, e.g. punched paper tape, or using unit records, e.g. punched or magnetically marked cards G06K; transferring data from one type of record carrier to another G06K1/18; circuits for coupling output of reproducer to radio receiver H04B1/20; gramophone pick-ups or like acoustic electromechanical transducers or circuits therefor H04R) ## Abstract Embodiments of the invention provide a magnetic disk drive whose flexibility in the layout of components is enhanced in spite of the fact that a magnetic disk and a driving section such as the voice coil motor that drives a head arm are isolated from each other. In one embodiment, a magnetic disk drive includes a magnetic disk compartment in which a magnetic disk, a head that reads/writes data from/onto the magnetic disk, and a head arm holding the head are disposed, and a VCM compartment with an internally disposed VCM that pivotally moves the head arm about a pivot shaft. The magnetic disk compartment and the VCM compartment are separated by an isolation wall provided at the bottom of the magnetic disk compartment along the recording surface of the magnetic disk. The pivot shaft is disposed in a penetrating form in an opening. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A magnetic disk drive comprising: a first compartment in which a magnetic disk, a head that conducts at least either of data reading and writing operations on said magnetic disk, and a head arm holding said head are disposed; and a second compartment with an internally disposed driving section that pivotally moves said head arm about a pivot shaft; wherein said driving section and said head arm are disposed on radially opposite sides of said pivot shaft, wherein said first compartment and said second compartment are separated by an isolation wall provided generally parallel to a recording surface of said magnetic disk, and said pivot shaft is disposed in a penetrating form in an opening of the isolation wall. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The magnetic disk drive according to claim 1, wherein: the opening is of a circular shape; and said driving section is a voice coil motor that pivots said head arm along the recording surface of said magnetic disk. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The magnetic disk drive according to claim 2, wherein the isolation wall is formed of a soft magnetic material. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The magnetic disk drive according to claim 1, further comprising a ramp adapted to hold said head thereon after said head has been unloaded from the recording surface of said magnetic disk. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The magnetic disk drive according to claim 1, wherein at least part of said driving section is positioned internally with respect to an outer circumference of said magnetic disk. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The magnetic disk drive according to claim 1, wherein said pivot shaft is positioned externally to an outer circumference of said magnetic disk. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The magnetic disk drive according to claim 1, wherein: said magnetic disk and said driving section are arranged in one enclosure; and said driving section is isolated from said magnetic disk by a cover which shrouds said driving section. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The magnetic disk drive according to claim 7, wherein: said cover has a notch; and said pivot shaft is disposed in a penetrating form in the notch. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The magnetic disk drive according to claim 1, wherein the head arm includes a bearing which is disposed in a penetrating form in the opening of the isolation wall. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The magnetic disk drive according to claim 9, wherein the driving section is a voice coil motor that pivots the head arm along the recording surface of the magnetic disk, the voice coil motor including a voice coil installed in the second compartment. ### Claim 11 A magnetic disk drive comprising: a first compartment in which a magnetic disk, a head that conducts at least either of data reading and writing operations on said magnetic disk, and a head arm holding said head are disposed; and a second compartment with an internally disposed driving section that pivotally moves said head arm about a pivot shaft; wherein said first compartment and said second compartment are separated by an isolation wall provided generally parallel to a recording surface of said magnetic disk, and said pivot shaft is disposed in a penetrating form in an opening of the isolation wall, wherein the opening has a shape that allows said head arm to pass through the opening during assembly, and the pivot to remain penetrating the opening after assembly with the opening being sealed with a sealing material. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The magnetic disk drive according to claim 1, wherein: said magnetic disk and said driving section are each disposed in an independent enclosure; and the opening is provided in an outer wall of the enclosure in which said magnetic disk is disposed. ### Claim 13 A magnetic disk drive comprising: a first compartment in which a magnetic disk, a head that conducts at least either of data reading and writing operations on the magnetic disk, and a head arm holding the head are disposed; a second compartment; driving means, disposed in the second compartment for pivotally moving the head arm about a pivot shaft; and a isolation wall separating the first compartment and the second compartment, the isolation wall being generally parallel to a recording surface of the magnetic disk, and the pivot shaft is disposed through an opening of the isolation wall, wherein the driving means and the head arm are disposed on radially opposite sides of the pivot shaft. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The magnetic disk drive according to claim 13, further comprising a ramp adapted to hold the head thereon after the head has been unloaded from the recording surface of the magnetic disk. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The magnetic disk drive according to claim 13, wherein at least part of the driving means is positioned inwardly with respect to an outer circumference of the magnetic disk. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The magnetic disk drive according to claim 13, wherein the pivot shaft is positioned externally to an outer circumference of the magnetic disk. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The magnetic disk drive according to claim 13, wherein: the magnetic disk and the driving means are each disposed in an independent enclosure; and the opening is provided in an outer wall of the enclosure in which the magnetic disk is disposed. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The magnetic disk drive according to claim 13, wherein: the magnetic disk and the driving means are arranged in one enclosure; and the driving means is isolated from the magnetic disk by a cover which shrouds the driving means. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The magnetic disk drive according to claim 18, wherein: the cover has a notch; and the pivot shaft is disposed in a penetrating form in the notch. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The magnetic disk drive according to claim 13, wherein the isolation wall is formed of a soft magnetic material.