Seagate Technology Incorporated

PohLye Lim

YiRen Hong

Mo Xu

Niroot Jierapipatanakul

Victor ChiSiang Choo

SiewMing Ng

Boon Seng Ong

Anthony Joseph Aiello

Walter Wong

Paco Gregor Flores

ChoonKiat Lim

Chris Michael Woldemar

James Hart Smith

ChorShan Cheng

Joseph HengTung Lau

Andre Y Liem

Takkoon Ooi

Victor Chi Siang Choo

Terang KongBeng Thia

PowMing Yap

Kl Gan

Chang James

ChunHong D Jing

Johnan S J Koong

WeiRhen S Hoon

Ng WeiLoon

A fluid dynamic bearing motor and method are provided for use with various disc drive memory device products differently rated by operational rotational speed. The operational speeds are those speeds measured during reading and writing memory operations to the memory device. In an aspect, the present invention meets full operating requirements, including stiffness and power requirements, at multiple rated speeds for use with either standard or high-end performance disc drive products. Costs associated with a dedicated manufacturing line for high-end products are substantially reduced. A single manufacturing line can serve both standard and high-end disc drive memory device products. The present invention is especially useful in reducing costs of 2.5 inch notebook products that are typically marketed in two levels of performance, namely, 5400 RPM standard performance products and 7200 RPM high performance products.

Stationary and rotatable components operational with first and second stators

An apparatus and associated method for making a base for a data storage device. The base has a plurality of raised pads defining coplanar supporting surfaces. The surfaces are adapted for supportingly engaging intermittent portions of a component supported by the base so that the base clearingly disengages other portions of the component between the pads.

Base for data storage device with parallelism mounting features

A motor assembly in which magnetic attraction between the magnets and the base of the motor is reduced by providing increased magnetic reluctance. This is achieved without the need to increase the overall height of the motor assembly, thus making the motor assembly particularly suitable for use in applications with tight space constraints and power consumption limitations.

High magnetic reluctance motor assembly

A base assembly for use in an airtight enclosure. The base assembly includes a metal stamped section and an overmold section formed adjacent to the metal stamped section. The overmold section includes at least one stress relief feature for eliminating distortion stresses exerted on the metal stamped section by the overmold section.

Stress relief features for an overmolded base

A base of a data storage system includes a motor assembly. The motor assembly s includes a rotor that extends through an aperture in the base. The aperture extends from an inner surface to an outer surface of the base. The motor assembly also includes a motor stator mounted on the outer surface of the base. The motor stator includes a plurality of stator teeth radially and symmetrically arranged about the aperture in the base which are configured to support stator wires.

Motor assembly for a small sized data storage system

A base plate for a disc drive incorporates a printed circuit board and connector assembly into an integral composite base that is bonded together to form a single composite structure. This structure provides the strength, stiffness and rigidity necessary to permit a reduction in overall thickness of a miniature disc drive to that substantially required for a Type I compact flash form factor data storage device.

Composite base plate for a data storage device having an integral printed circuit board

A base deck is provided and includes a base plate having a plurality of parallel surfaces and a plurality of gasket retention grooves formed. A first gasket retention groove is formed in one of the plurality of parallel surfaces that is proximate a top cover. A second gasket retention groove is formed in one of the plurality of parallel surfaces and at least partially surrounds a motor mounting aperture. A third gasket retention groove is formed in one of the plurality of parallel surfaces and at least partially surrounds a connector mounting aperture. A first cured-in-place elastomer is formed on the base plate and is confined by the first gasket retention groove. A second cured-in-place elastomer is formed on the base plate and is confined by the second gasket retention groove. A third cured-in-place elastomer is formed on the base plate and is confined by the third gasket retention groove.

Base deck with formed-in-place gaskets and impact dissipation members for a data storage device

The invention includes techniques for mounting a printed circuit board (PCB) on a housing for an electronic device. The housing includes a top cover that combines with a base to form an internal space within the housing. The PCB has at least one tab that extends from it and fits within a recess formed by the base to secure the PCB on a side of the base opposite to the internal space. The electronic device may additionally include a shield such that the PCB fits between the shield and the base and the shield assists in securing the PCB to the base. The housing may also include a locking mechanism to constrain the PCB tab to the base. Embodiments of the invention allow for a PCB to be mounted to an electronic device housing without the use of screws.

Electronic device housing

The present invention is a motor housing. The motor housing includes a centrally located rotor. The motor housing includes a stator having a plurality of stator teeth and a plurality of stator slots radially and symmetrically arranged about the rotor. Each stator tooth is spaced apart from each other by one of the stator slots. The motor housing also includes at least one printed circuit component deposited in at least one stator slot.

Motor housing for small form factor drives

A base plate of a disc storage system including an interior and an exterior surface, an entrance hole passes between the two surfaces and a groove surrounds the entrance hole and reduces the passage of air along an interface between the exterior and the interior surfaces. The groove may be in the shape of a circle or other alternative shapes such as a rectangle, as considered within the plane of the interior surface. An overmold is molded to the base plate and fills the groove. The plate is generally made of a plastic. The groove is amenable to the stamping process as well.

Overmold material and metal base interface design for leakage reduction in a disc drive

Method and apparatus for protecting a data storage device from fluid-borne contaminants. The device includes a housing in which a rotatable disc is supported, the disc having a data recording surface and an outermost perimeter. A filter assembly includes a first filter adjacent to the data recording surface and a second filter disposed beyond the outermost perimeter of the disc. During disc rotation, fluidic currents are generated and impinge a leading edge guide surface of the first filter. A first portion of the currents passes into a gap between the first filter and the data recording surface. A second portion of the currents passes along the leading edge guide surface to the second filter. The first filter is preferably characterized as a chemical adsorbent filter which adsorbs vapor phase (gaseous) contaminants, and the second filter is preferably characterized as a pass-through recirculation filter which captures particulate contaminants.

Fluid-borne contaminant protection using a filter assembly with a leading edge guide surface

A base plate for a spindle motor is provided defining a minimal axial gap with a relatively rotatable magnet. In an example, a surface of the base plate is positioned at 0.1 mm from an adjacent surface of a relatively rotatable magnet. The base plate is comprised of a composite material such that stiffness is improved and acoustic vibration is reduced, while maintaining low power consumption and a fast start-up time. A first material, being a nonmagnetic material is employed adjacent to a motor magnet, and a second material having a preferred stiffness is employed at a greater radial distance from the magnet than the radial distance between a stator and the magnet.

Base plate for spindle motor

An apparatus and method for balancing a disc stack assembly of a disc drive where a clamp is used as a counter-balance as well as for securing a disc to the disc stack assembly. The clamp and spindle motor are configured for positive engagement and alignment with the use of a minimal number of parts. The clamp includes a cavity through which a protrusion or a shaft of the spindle motor hub may extend. The clamp may be further secured in a desired orientation by the use of a single fastener.

Disk clamp balancing in a disc stack assembly

Method and apparatus for protecting a data storage device from fluid-borne contaminants. The device includes a housing in which a rotatable disc is disposed. The housing is formed from first and second rigid housing members. The first housing member is provided with an exterior filter support surface, an opposing interior surface and at least one filter access aperture. A contaminant adsorbent filter is placed on the exterior filter support surface, and a seal is applied to the first housing member to encapsulate the filter. During subsequent rotation of the disc, fluidic currents pass across the interior surface, through the at least one filter access aperture and to the adsorbent filter. Preferably, the filter is installed after the first and second housing members are mated. The filter support surface is preferably formed as part of a recess in the first housing member which projects into the housing.

Rigid housing member for a data storage device with integrated contaminant adsorbent filter

Stator and base plate interface alignment is provided for a spindle motor, meeting design specifications such that motor performance is maintained. A portion of a surface of the stator is separated from the base plate. Accurate stator z-height, parallelism and concentricity are provided for use with a low profile disc drive memory system. In an aspect, laminations are formed about a stator and the bottom layer laminations are formed with a smaller diameter than the top layer lamination. The stator bottom layer laminations seat on a flat base plate machined surface, avoiding a base plate corner radius. Precise machining of a small corner interface of the base plate where a stator is typically seated and aligned with the base plate is made unnecessary. Component machining costs, wear and tear to machining systems, and machining process cycle times are reduced.

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Singapore, Singapore

PohLye Lim