Hard disk drive with a vibration isolation frame

• US 10,019,043 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2015
• Issued: 07/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Western Digital Technologies Incorporated (Western Digital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Western Digital Technologies Incorporated (Western Digital Corporation)
• Inventors: Eguchi, Takehiko, Tomida, Kenji, Okazaki, Toshihisa
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Binh
• Assistant Examiner(s): BURTNER, DOUGLAS R
• Application Number:
  US14/967,667
• Publication Number:
  US 20170168527A1
• Time in Patent Office: 939 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/182 with special features, e.g. for use in industrial environments; grounding or shielding against radio frequency interference [RFI] or electromagnetical interference [EMI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/187 Mounting of fixed and removable disk drives

Abstract

Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to a hard disk drive system with improved isolation from operational vibration. More particularly, embodiments disclosed herein provide a hard disk drive system with a vibration isolation frame and flexible connection without deviation from standard form factor. The standard form factor is the form factor of the hard disk drive with the base plate, but without the isolation frame. The hard disk drive with the isolation frame has the same form factor as the hard disk drive without the isolation frame, but with the base plate. Examples of form factors that may be utilized include the form factors for 3.5 inch and 2.5 inch hard disk drives. It is to be understood that 3.5 inch and 2.5 inch form factors are simply examples. Other size form factors are contemplated as well.

Claims

1. A hard disk drive system, comprising:

a hard disk drive mounted to a base plate;

a printed circuit board mounted to the base plate; and

an isolation frame mounted to the base plate, wherein;

the isolation frame comprises one or more isolation mounts comprising a lower plate fixed to the isolation frame, an upper plate fixed to the base plate and a flexible portion having at least one concave section and one convex section that are mirrored wherein the flexible portion is positioned between the lower plate and the upper plate, wherein the one or more isolation mounts are disposed between the base plate and the isolation frame; and

the dimension of the outer edge of the isolation frame is approximately equal to the dimension of the outer edge of the base plate.

2. The hard disk drive system of claim 1, wherein the isolation frame further comprises one or more rubber bushings disposed between the base plate and the isolation frame.

3. The hard disk drive system of claim 1, wherein the isolation frame comprises steel.

4. The hard disk drive system of claim 1, wherein the one or more isolation mounts comprise rubber.

5. The hard disk drive system of claim 4, wherein a natural frequency of the rubber comprising the one or more isolation mounts is less than about 400 Hz and greater than about 30 Hz.

6. The hard disk drive system of claim 1, further comprising:

an interface connector, wherein the interface connector is electrically connected to the printed circuit board via a flexible cable.

7. The hard disk drive system of claim 6, wherein the flexible cable comprises a flexible printed circuit.

8. The hard disk drive system of claim 7, wherein the flexible printed circuit comprises one or more slits.

9. The hard disk drive system of claim 8, wherein if the flexible printed circuit comprises more than one slit, the slits are parallel to one another.

10. The hard disk drive system of claim 6, wherein the flexible cable comprises one or more cables coated in plastic.

11. The hard disk drive system of claim 1, further comprising a layer of acoustic foam disposed between the base plate and the printed circuit board.

12. The hard disk drive system of claim 1, wherein the outer edge of the base plate has a notch formed therein.

13. The hard disk drive of claim 12, wherein the outer edge of the isolation frame has a flange, and wherein the flange is disposed within the notch.

14. A vibration isolation system for a hard disk drive system, comprising:

an isolation frame comprising one or more isolation mounts, wherein;

the one or more isolation mounts comprising a lower plate fixed to the isolation frame, an upper plate fixed to a base plate and a flexible portion between the lower plate and the upper plate having at least one concave section and one convex section that are mirrored, wherein the one or more isolation mounts are adapted to be disposed between the isolation frame and the base plate of a hard disk drive system; and

the dimension of the outer edge of the isolation frame is approximately equal to the dimension of the outer edge of the base plate.

15. The vibration isolation system of claim 14, wherein the isolation frame further comprises one or more rubber bushings disposed between the base plate and the isolation frame.

16. The vibration isolation system of claim 14, wherein the isolation frame comprises steel.

17. The vibration isolation system of claim 14, wherein the one or more isolation mounts comprise rubber.

18. The vibration isolation system of claim 17, wherein a natural frequency of the rubber comprising the one or more isolation mounts is less than about 400 Hz and greater than about 30 Hz.

19. The vibration isolation system of claim 14, further comprising a layer of acoustic foam disposed on the base plate.

20. The vibration isolation system of claim 14, wherein the outer edge of the base plate has a notch formed therein, wherein the outer edge of the isolation frame has a flange, and wherein the flange is disposed within the notch.