Miniature hard disk drive with spin motor for portable computer

Abstract

Disclosed is a disk drive information storage device which, in one embodiment, includes a disk having a diameter in the range of about 45 to 50 min., with a housing and a spin motor. In another embodiment, the disk drive information storage device includes a disk, a housing having a first external dimension of about 51 mm., and a spin motor. The spin motor includes a rotor and a stator, with either the rotor or the stator having a plurality of winding structures associated therewith, and the other having a plurality of magnetic poles. Each winding structure is made up of two winding portions, with only one winding portion being used to drive the rotor relative to the stator upon drive currents being applied to the winding structure, but with both winding portions being used to generate back electromotive force when drive current is cut off from the winding structure. This generated electromotive force is used to actuate an actuator drive motor to unload the read/write heads from the disk surface. As an alternative, each winding is made of a single winding, and the winding structures are used successively to drive the motor relative to the stator, but with at least two winding portions generating back electromotive force when drive current is cut off. The housing of the disk drive information storage device, in one embodiment, further includes a second external dimension of about 70 mm. and a dynamic loading apparatus for loading the read/write recording elements into the operative relationship with the disk.