Ruggedized Host Module

• US 20060181845A1
• Filed: 03/13/2006
• Published: 08/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Olixir Technologies Corp.
• Original Assignee: Olixir Technologies Corp.
• Inventors: Shah, Darshan P., Visitacion, Allan L., Shah, Prabodh L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,251,131 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.400
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/12 Disposition of constructional parts in the apparatus, e.g. of power supply, of modules

Abstract

An energy dissipative element (24) protects hard disk drives (22, 72, 92) from shocks and vibrations. A closed elastic envelope (48) houses a body of open cell foam (54), a volume of viscous liquid (56), and a compressible gas (64). Under compression or expansion of the foam (54), viscous liquid (56) flows through cell orifices and thereby dissipates energy resulting from external force applied against the elastic wall (48). The energy dissipative elements (24) are applied between a disk drive housing (22) and an outer case (26) to create a ruggedized portable disk drive module (20).

Claims

1. A host module assembly for protecting a hosted device from shock and vibration, comprising:

a case configured with at least one external corner and adapted to receive a hosted device within said case and to receive at least one mechanical energy dissipative element between the hosted device and the case;

a hosted device located within the case;

at least one mechanical energy dissipative element located between said hosted device and the case; and

at least one bumper formed of elastomer material and engaged with said at least one corner.

2. The host module assembly of claim 1, wherein:

said case comprises a major upper case surface and a major lower case surface; and

said bumper is configured with an upper bumper surface extending above said upper case surface and a lower bumper surface extending below said lower case surface, wherein one of upper or lower bumper surfaces defines a boss and the other of said upper or lower bumper surfaces defines a boss recess.

3. The host module assembly of claim 1, wherein:

said case is an assemblage of at least a base unit and a cover unit that meet at a joining line to form said case; and

said bumper is attached over a portion of both said base unit and said cover unit, securing together the base unit and cover unit.

4. A host module assembly for protecting a hosted device from shock and vibration, comprising:

a case formed of a top portion defining a top wall, a bottom portion defining a bottom wall, and a sidewall defining an external corner, wherein said external corner includes a fastener mount formed of a part of said top portion and a part of said bottom portion and carrying a fastener that attaches together the top portion and bottom portion, and wherein said case is adapted to receive a hosted device within the case and is adapted to receive a mechanical energy dissipative element between the hosted device and the case;

a hosted device located within the case;

a mechanical energy dissipative element located between said hosted device and the case; and

a resilient bumper engaged over said fastener mount and covering said fastener.

5. The host module assembly of claim 4, wherein:

said resilient bumper is configured with a top face that extends above said top wall and a bottom face that extends below said bottom wall; and

one of said top and bottom faces defining a boss and the other of said top and bottom faces defining a recess shaped similarly to said boss.