Recirculation filter for use in a disk drive

• US 6,208,484 B1
• Filed: 06/11/1999
• Issued: 03/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Maxtor Corporation (Seagate Technology Holdings Plc)
• Original Assignee: Maxtor Corporation (Seagate Technology Holdings Plc)
• Inventors: Voights, Ronald L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tupper, Robert S.
• Application Number:
  US09/330,435
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• Field of Search: 360/97.02, 360/97.03, 360/97.04
• US Class Current: 360/97.02
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/1446 Reducing contamination, e.g. by dust, debris
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/1486 Control/regulation of the pressure, e.g. the pressure inside the housing of a drive

Abstract

A recirculation filter is optimally placed within a disk drive to achieve enhanced filtration performance. The recirculation filter is located in a corner of the disk drive proximate to the pivot point of the actuator arm assembly. In a preferred embodiment, air flowing through the recirculation filter then travels through the voice coil motor, providing a source of clean air for cooling the VCM during disk drive operation.

Claims

1. A disk drive comprising:

a baseplate forming a base for said disk drive;

at least one disk for storing data within substantially concentric data tracks;

a spin motor, coupled to said baseplate and said at least one disk, for spinning said at least one disk about an axis of rotation, wherein the spinning of said at least one disk generates circulating air currents within said disk drive;

a transducer for sensing data from a surface of said at least one disk as said at least one disk rotates about said axis of rotation;

an actuator arm coupled to said transducer for use in positioning said transducer with respect to said at least one disk;

a motor, coupled to said baseplate and said actuator arm, for imparting controlled motion to said actuator arm to position said transducer adjacent to desire track of said at least one disk in response to a control signal; and

a recirculation filter located beside an outer edge of said at least one disk and proximate to said actuator arm for receiving and removing airborne particles from the air currents circulating within said disk drive, wherein said recirculation filter includes a frame having a lower portion which is held within a recessed pocket portion of said baseplate, and a shape of said lower portion of said frame conforms to a shape of said recessed pocket portion.

2. The disk drive, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said recirculation filter is located on a side of said actuator arm in a direction opposite that of disk rotation.

3. The disk drive, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said recirculation filter is located in a corner of said baseplate immediately preceding, with respect to a direction of disk rotation, a pivot point of said actuator arm.

4. The disk drive, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said recirculation filter is stationary.

5. The disk drive, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said frame includes an upper portion having an opening, said opening having a filter medium fixed across it so that air currents flowing through said opening also flow through said filter medium.

6. The disk drive, as claimed in claim 5, wherein:

said upper portion of said frame includes an integral locking tab on a side thereof, said locking tab being held within an orifice in a side wall of said baseplate for providing support to said recirculation filter.

7. The disk drive, as claimed in claim 5, wherein:

said upper portion of said frame and said filter medium follow the circular contour of the outer perimeter of said at least one disk.

8. The disk drive, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said baseplate includes a recessed portion proximate to an input of said recirculation filter, said recessed portion creating a low pressure zone along said baseplate that channels circulating air into said recirculation filter.

9. The disk drive, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said baseplate includes a dam structure in an area near said recirculation filter for creating a zone of high pressure between said baseplate and a lower surface of said at least one disk for channeling air into said recirculation filter, wherein said dam structure includes a raised portion of an upper surface of said baseplate.

10. The disk drive, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a cover plate for covering an internal chamber of said disk drive, said cover plate including a dam structure in an area near said recirculation filter for creating a zone of high pressure between said cover plate and an upper surface of said at least one disk for channeling air outward toward said recirculation filter, wherein said dam structure comprises a dropped portion of a lower surface of said cover plate.

11. The disk drive, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a cover plate for covering an internal chamber of said disk drive, said cover plate including a recessed portion proximate to a location of said recirculation filter, said recessed portion creating a low pressure zone along said cover plate that channels circulating air outward toward said recirculation filter.

12. The disk drive, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said recirculation filter is positioned between said at least one disk and said motor so that air flowing through said recirculation filter then flows through said motor.

13. A disk drive comprising:

a baseplate forming a base for said disk drive;

at least one disk for storing data within substantially concentric data tracks;

a spin motor, coupled to said baseplate and said at least one disk, for spinning said at least one disk about an axis of rotation, wherein the spinning of said at least one disk generates circulating air currents within said disk drive;

a transducer for sensing data from a surface of said at least one disk as said at least one disk rotates about said axis of rotation;

an actuator arm coupled to said transducer for use in positioning said transducer with respect to said at least one disk;

a motor, coupled to said baseplate and said actuator arm, for imparting controlled motion to said actuator arm to position said transducer adjacent to a desired track of said at least one disk in response to a control signal; and

a recirculation filter located between said at least one disk and said motor for receiving and removing airborne particles from air currents generated by said at least one disk, wherein said air currents flow through said recirculation filter and then about said motor, said recirculation filter includes a frame having a lower portion which is held within a recessed pocket portion of said baseplate, and a shape of said lower portion of said frame conforms to a shape of said recessed pocket portion.

14. The disk drive, as claimed in claim 13, wherein:

said recirculation filter is stationary.

15. A disk drive comprising:

a baseplate forming a base for said disk drive;

at least one disk for storing data within substantially concentric data tracks;

a spin motor, coupled to said baseplate and said at least one disk, for spinning said at least one disk about an axis of rotation, wherein the spinning of said at least one disk generates circulating air currents within said disk drive;

a transducer for sensing data from a surface of said at least one disk as said at least one disk rotates about said axis of rotation;

an actuator arm coupled to said transducer for use in positioning said transducer with respect to said at least one disk;

a motor, coupled to said baseplate and said actuator arm, for imparting controlled motion to said actuator arm to position said transducer adjacent to a desired track of said at least one disk in response to a control signal; and

a recirculation filter located beside an outer edge of said at least one disk for receiving and removing airborne particles from the air currents generated by said at least one disk;

wherein said baseplate includes means for channeling air currents circulating between said at least one disk and a floor of said baseplate outward toward said recirculation filter, and said means for channeling includes a recessed portion of said baseplate floor.

16. The disk drive, as claimed in claim 15, wherein:

said recirculation filter is stationary.

17. The disk drive, as claimed in claim 15, wherein:

said means for channeling includes a raised dam structure coupled to said baseplate floor.

18. The disk drive, as claimed in claim 15, further comprising:

a cover plate for covering the disk drive, said cover plate including second means for channeling air currents circulating between said at least one disk and a lower surface of said cover plate outward toward said recirculation filter.

19. The disk drive, as claimed in claim 18, wherein:

said second means for channeling includes a recessed portion of said lower surface of said cover plate.

20. The disk drive, as claimed in claim 18, wherein:

said second means for channeling includes a dam structure coupled to said lower surface of said cover plate.

21. A disk drive comprising:

a baseplate forming a base for said disk drive;

at least one disk for storing data within substantially concentric data tracks;

a spin motor, coupled to said baseplate and said at least one disk, for spinning said at least one disk about an axis of rotation, wherein the spinning of said at least one disk generates circulating air currents within said disk drive;

a transducer for sensing data from a surface of said at least one disk as said at least one disk rotates about said axis of rotation;

an actuator arm coupled to said transducer for use in positioning said transducer with respect to said at least one disk;

a motor, coupled to said baseplate and said actuator arm, for imparting controlled motion to said actuator arm to position said transducer adjacent to a desired track of said at least one disk in response to a control signal; and

a recirculation filter located beside an outer edge of said at least one disk and proximate to said actuator arm for receiving and removing airborne particles from the air currents circulating within said disk drive;

wherein said said baseplate includes a recessed portion proximate to an input of said recirculation filter, said recessed portion creating a low pressure zone along said baseplate that channels circulating air into said recirculation filter.

22. A disk drive comprising:

a baseplate forming a base for said disk drive;

at least one disk for storing data within substantially concentric data tracks;

a spin motor, coupled to said baseplate and said at least one disk, for spinning said at least one disk about an axis of rotation, wherein the spinning of said at least one disk generates circulating air currents within said disk drive;

a transducer for sensing data from a surface of said at least one disk as said at least one disk rotates about said axis of rotation;

an actuator arm coupled to said transducer for use in positioning said transducer with respect to said at least one disk;

a motor, coupled to said baseplate and said actuator arm, for imparting controlled motion to said actuator arm to position said transducer adjacent to a desired track of said at least one disk in response to a control signal;

a recirculation filter located beside an outer edge of said at least one disk and proximate to said actuator arm for receiving and removing airborne particles from the air currents circulating within said disk drive; and

a cover plate for covering an internal chamber of said disk drive, said cover plate including a recessed portion proximate to a location of said recirculation filter, said recessed portion creating a low pressure zone along said cover plate that channels circulating air outward toward said recirculation filter.

23. A disk drive comprising:

a baseplate forming a base for said disk drive;

at least one disk for storing data within substantially concentric data tracks;

a spin motor, coupled to said baseplate and said at least one disk, for spinning said at least one disk about an axis of rotation, wherein the spinning of said at least one disk generates circulating air currents within said disk drive;

a transducer for sensing data from a surface of said at least one disk as said at least one disk rotates about said axis of rotation;

an actuator arm coupled to said transducer for use in positioning said transducer with respect to said at least one disk;

a motor, coupled to said baseplate and said actuator arm, for imparting controlled motion to said actuator arm to position said transducer adjacent to a desired track of said at least one disk in response to a control signal;

a recirculation filter located beside an outer edge of said at least one disk for receiving and removing airborne particles from the air currents generated by said at least one disk; and

a cover plate for covering the disk drive, said cover plate including second means for channeling air currents circulating between said at least one disk and a lower surface of said cover plate outward toward said recirculation filter, wherein said second means for channeling includes a recessed portion of said lower surface of said cover plate.