MASS DATA STORAGE DEVICE CARTRIDGE FLEXIBLE INTERCONNECT

• US 20090293075A1
• Filed: 05/26/2009
• Published: 11/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC (Seagate Technology Holdings Plc)
• Original Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC (Seagate Technology Holdings Plc)
• Inventors: Brown, Brent R., Dozier, Matthew James, Allsup, David Scott, Janik, Peter R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,213,173 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 720/600
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/121 the apparatus comprising a single recording/reproducing device

Abstract

This disclosure includes a portable data storage device comprising a mass data storage device, a cartridge housing enclosing a mass data storage device, and a flexible interconnect. The flexible interconnect includes an external electrical connector mechanically coupled to the cartridge, an internal electrical connector mechanically and electrically coupled to a data port of the mass data storage device, and a set of flexible electrical conductors electrically coupling the external electrical connector to the internal electrical connector. The flexible electrical conductors are routed within the cartridge such that no portion of the set of flexible electrical conductors lies in a volume defined by the space between the external electrical connector and the internal electrical connector.

Claims

1. A portable data storage device comprising:

a mass data storage device;

a cartridge housing enclosing the mass data storage device; and

a flexible interconnect, the flexible interconnect including;

an external electrical connector mechanically coupled to the cartridge;

an internal electrical connector mechanically and electrically coupled to a data port of the mass data storage device; and

a set of flexible electrical conductors electrically coupling the external electrical connector to the internal electrical connector,

wherein the external electrical connector is offset relative to the internal electrical connector in a direction perpendicular to an insertion direction of the internal electrical connector.

2. The portable data storage device of claim 1, wherein the external electrical connector is adjacent to a surface of the cartridge housing that is parallel to an insertion direction of the external electrical connector.

3. The portable data storage device of claim 1, wherein an insertion direction of the external electrical connector is substantially parallel to the insertion direction of the internal electrical connector.

4. The portable data storage device of claim 1, wherein the set of flexible electrical conductors exerts substantially no mechanical force on the mass data storage device.

5. The portable data storage device of claim 1, wherein the flexible electrical conductors are routed within the cartridge such that no portion of the set of flexible electrical conductors lies in a volume defined by the space between the external electrical connector and the internal electrical connector.

6. The portable data storage device of claim 5, wherein the space between the external electrical connector and the internal electrical connector allows the mass data storage device to travel three millimeters towards the external electrical connector without interference from the set of flexible electrical conductors.

7. The portable data storage device of claim 1, wherein the external electrical connector and the internal electrical connector are separated by at least three millimeters.

8. The portable data storage device of claim 1, further comprising an elastic shock mount between the mass data storage device and an internal surface of the cartridge housing.

9. The portable data storage device of claim 8, wherein the elastic shock mount is configured to allow the mass data storage device to travel at least one millimeter in any direction within the cartridge without contacting the cartridge housing.

10. The portable data storage device of claim 8, wherein the elastic shock mount is configured to allow the mass data storage device to travel at least three millimeters in any direction within the cartridge without contacting the cartridge housing.

11. The portable data storage device of claim 1, wherein the mass data storage device is a disc drive.

12. A portable data storage device comprising:

a mass data storage device;

a cartridge housing enclosing a mass data storage device; and

a flexible interconnect, the flexible interconnect including;

an external electrical connector mechanically coupled to the cartridge;

an internal electrical connector mechanically and electrically coupled to a data port of the mass data storage device; and

a set of flexible electrical conductors electrically coupling the external electrical connector to the internal electrical connector, wherein the flexible electrical conductors are routed within the cartridge such that no portion of the set of flexible electrical conductors lies in a volume defined by the space between the external electrical connector and the internal electrical connector.

13. The portable data storage device of claim 12, wherein the set of flexible electrical conductors form a u-shaped bend between the external electrical connector and the internal electrical connector.

14. The portable data storage device of claim 12, wherein the set of flexible electrical conductors connect to a top side of the external electrical connector and to a top side of the internal electrical connector.

15. The portable data storage device of claim 14, wherein the external electrical connector is adjacent to a bottom surface of the cartridge housing.

16. The portable data storage device of claim 12, wherein the set of flexible electrical conductors exerts substantially no mechanical force on the mass data storage device.

17. The portable data storage device of claim 12, further comprising an elastic shock mount between the mass data storage device and an internal surface of the cartridge housing.

18. The portable data storage device of claim 17, wherein the external electrical connector and the internal electrical connector are separated by at least three millimeters.

19. A cartridge for a portable data storage device comprising:

a cartridge housing for enclosing a mass data storage device;

a elastic shock mount between the mass data storage device and an internal surface of the cartridge housing, wherein the elastic shock mount is configured to isolate the mass data storage device from the internal surface of the cartridge housing; and

a flexible interconnect, the flexible interconnect including;

an external electrical connector mechanically coupled to the cartridge;

an internal electrical connector configured to mechanically and electrically coupled to a data port of the mass data storage device; and

a set of flexible electrical conductors electrically coupling the external electrical connector to the internal electrical connector,

wherein the external electrical connector is configured such that the external electrical connector is offset relative to the internal electrical connector in a direction perpendicular to an insertion direction of the internal electrical connector when the mass data storage device is enclosed within the cartridge housing and isolated from the internal surface of the cartridge housing by the elastic shock mount and when the internal electrical connector is mechanically and electrically coupled to the data port of the mass data storage device.

20. The cartridge of claim 19, wherein the flexible interconnect is configured such that the flexible electrical conductors are routed within the cartridge such that no portion of the set of flexible electrical conductors lies in a volume defined by the space between the external electrical connector and the internal electrical connector when the mass data storage device is enclosed within the cartridge housing and isolated from the internal surface of the cartridge housing by the elastic shock mount and when the internal electrical connector is mechanically and electrically coupled to the data port of the mass data storage device.