Vibration isolation within disk drive testing systems

• US 8,305,751 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2008
• Issued: 11/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Teradyne Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Teradyne Incorporated
• Inventors: Merrow, Brian S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gandhi, Jayprakash N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wu, Jerry
• Application Number:
  US12/105,105
• Publication Number:
  US 20090261229A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,664 Days
• Field of Search: 36167931-6794, 36167955-6796, 361724-727, 312/223.1, 312/223.2, 212/26, 439/60, 439151-160, 439/327, 439/328, 439/331, 369/75.11, 369/75.21, 369/76, 369/77.11, 369/77.21, 369/78, 369/79, 369/80, 369/81, 369/82
• US Class Current: 361/679.37
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/042 due to external shock or vibration
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/048 Testing of disk drives, e.g. to detect defects or prevent sudden failure
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2516 Hard disks
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/08 Insulation or absorption of undesired vibrations or sounds
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/128 of the plurality of recording/reproducing devices, e.g. disk drives, onto a chassis

Abstract

A disk drive test slot includes a housing that defines a test compartment for receiving and supporting a disk drive transporter carrying a disk drive for testing. The housing also defines an open end that provides access to the test compartment for insertion and removal of disk drive transporter carrying a disk drive for testing. The disk drive test slot also includes a mounting plate connected to the housing. One or more isolators are disposed between the housing and the mounting plate. The one or more isolators are operable to inhibit transmission of vibrational energy between the housing and the mounting plate.

Claims

1. A disk drive test slot comprising:

a housing defining;

a test compartment for receiving and supporting a disk drive transporter carrying a disk drive for testing, and

an open end providing access to the test compartment for insertion and removal of the disk drive transporter carrying the disk drive for testing;

a mounting plate connected to the housing; and

one or more isolators disposed between the housing and the mounting plate, said one or more isolators being operable to inhibit transmission of vibrational energy between the housing and the mounting plate, wherein the one or more isolators are displaceable in a negative Y direction relative to flange members that are U-shaped or fork-shaped extending from the mounting plate, the flange members being configured to engage respective second isolators;

wherein a main body member associated with the mounting plate comprises one or more self-clinching studs connecting the main body member to at least one of the one or more isolators.

2. A disk drive test slot comprising:

a housing defining;

a test compartment for receiving and supporting a disk drive transporter carrying a disk drive for testing, and

an open end providing access to the test compartment for insertion and removal of the disk drive transporter carrying the disk drive for testing;

a mounting plate connected to the housing; and

one or more isolators disposed between the housing and the mounting plate, said one or more isolators being operable to inhibit transmission of vibrational energy between the housing and the mounting plate, wherein the one or more isolators are displaceable in a negative Y direction relative to flange members that are U-shaped or fork-shaped extending from the mounting plate, the flange members being configured to engage respective second isolators;

wherein the one or more isolators comprise a male-female isolator.

3. The disk drive test slot of claim 2, wherein the male-female isolator comprises a body formed of urethane elastomer.

4. A disk drive test slot comprising:

a housing defining;

a test compartment for receiving and supporting a disk drive transporter carrying a disk drive for testing, and

an open end providing access to the test compartment for insertion and removal of the disk drive transporter carrying the disk drive for testing;

a mounting plate connected to the housing; and

one or more isolators disposed between the housing and the mounting plate, said one or more isolators being operable to inhibit transmission of vibrational energy between the housing and the mounting plate, wherein the one or more isolators are displaceable in a negative Y direction relative to flange members that are U-shaped or fork-shaped extending from the mounting plate, the flange members being configured to engage respective second isolators;

wherein the respective second isolators comprise respective grommets, and wherein the respective grommets are displaceable relative to the mounting plate.

5. The disk drive test slot of claim 4, wherein the housing comprises a plurality of contact pins each of which engage a corresponding one of the respective grommets.

6. The disk drive test slot of claim 5, wherein the contact pins are disposed at a first end of the housing opposite the open end.

7. The disk drive test slot of claim 4, wherein the mounting plate comprises:

a main body member;

wherein the flange members are connected to main body member and configured to receive and support the respective grommets.

8. The disk drive test slot of claim 7, wherein the flange members are configured to support the respective grommets in a position spaced apart from the main body member.

9. The disk drive test slot of claim 4, wherein the housing is connected to the respective grommets in such a manner as to preload the respective grommets.

10. The disk drive test slot of claim 4, wherein the respective grommets are formed of thermoplastic vinyl.

11. The disk drive test slot of claim 4, wherein the one or more isolators further comprise one or more male-female isolators disposed between the housing and the mounting plate.

12. The disk drive test slot of claim 4, wherein the one or more isolators comprise a plurality of said isolators each disposed between the housing and the mounting plate, wherein the plurality of isolators are each operable to inhibit transmission of vibrational energy between the housing and the mounting plate.

13. A disk drive testing system comprising:

a plurality of test slots, each test slot comprising;

a housing defining;

a test compartment for receiving and supporting a disk drive transporter carrying a disk drive for testing, and

an open end providing access to the test compartment for insertion and removal of a disk drive transporter carrying a disk drive for testing,

a mounting plate, and

one or more isolators disposed between the housing and the mounting plate, said one or more isolators being operable to inhibit transmission of vibrational energy between the housing and the mounting plate, wherein the one or more isolators are displaceable in a negative Y direction relative to flange members that are U-shaped or fork-shaped extending from the mounting plate, the flange members being configured to engage respective second isolators; and

a chassis defining a plurality of test slot receptacles each configured to receive and support one of the test slots, wherein the test slots are each independently removable from the chassis;

wherein, in the absence of a disk drive and a disk drive transporter, the test slot housing carries substantially no moving parts.

14. A disk drive testing system comprising:

a plurality of test slots, each test slot comprising;

a housing defining;

a test compartment for receiving and supporting a disk drive transporter carrying a disk drive for testing, and

an open end providing access to the test compartment for insertion and removal of a disk drive transporter carrying a disk drive for testing;

a mounting plate assembly connected to the housing; and

one or more isolators disposed between the housing and the mounting plate, said one or more isolators being operable to inhibit transmission of vibrational energy between the housing and the mounting plate, wherein the one or more isolators are displaceable in a negative Y direction relative to flange members that are U-shaped or fork-shaped extending from the mounting plate, the flange members being configured to engage respective second isolators; and

a chassis defining a plurality of test slot receptacles each configured to receive and support one of the test slots, wherein each of the test slot receptacles comprises a corresponding card guide assembly configured to releasably engage one of the mounting plate assemblies;

wherein the test slots are each independently removable from the chassis.

15. A disk drive testing system comprising:

a plurality of test slots, each test slot comprising;

a housing defining;

a test compartment for receiving and supporting a disk drive transporter carrying a disk drive for testing,

an open end providing access to the test compartment for insertion and removal of a disk drive transporter carrying a disk drive for testing; and

a mounting plate assembly connected to the housing; and

one or more isolators disposed between the housing and the mounting plate, said one or more isolators being operable to inhibit transmission of vibrational energy between the housing and the mounting plate, wherein the one or more isolators are displaceable in a negative Y direction relative to flange members that are U-shaped or fork-shaped extending from the mounting plate, the flange members being configured to engage respective second isolators; and

a chassis defining a plurality of test slot receptacles each configured to receive and support one of the test slots, wherein each of the test slot receptacles comprises a corresponding card guide assembly configured to releasably engage one of the mounting plate assemblies;

wherein the mounting plate assemblies are operable to inhibit transmission of vibrational energy between the test slot housings and the chassis.

16. A disk drive testing system comprising:

a plurality of test slots, each test slot comprising;

a housing defining;

a test compartment for receiving and supporting a disk drive transporter carrying a disk drive for testing,

an open end providing access to the test compartment for insertion and removal of a disk drive transporter carrying a disk drive for testing; and

a mounting plate assembly connected to the housing; and

one or more isolators disposed between the housing and the mounting plate, said one or more isolators being operable to inhibit transmission of vibrational energy between the housing and the mounting plate, wherein the one or more isolators are displaceable in a negative Y direction relative to flange members that are U-shaped or fork-shaped extending from the mounting plate, the flange members being configured to engage respective second isolators; and

a chassis defining a plurality of test slot receptacles each configured to receive and support one of the test slots, wherein each of the test slot receptacles comprises a corresponding card guide assembly configured to releasably engage one of the mounting plate assemblies;

wherein the mounting plate comprises a mounting flange sized to fit within one of the corresponding card guide assemblies thereby providing a mechanical connection between the associated test slot and the chassis.

17. A disk drive testing system comprising:

a plurality of test slots, each test slot comprising;

a housing defining;

a test compartment for receiving and supporting a disk drive transporter carrying a disk drive for testing,

an open end providing access to the test compartment for insertion and removal of a disk drive transporter carrying a disk drive for testing; and

a mounting plate assembly connected to the housing; and

one or more isolators disposed between the housing and the mounting plate, said one or more isolators being operable to inhibit transmission of vibrational energy between the housing and the mounting plate, wherein the one or more isolators are displaceable in a negative Y direction relative to flange members that are U-shaped or fork-shaped extending from the mounting plate, the flange members being configured to engage respective second isolators; and

a chassis defining a plurality of test slot receptacles each configured to receive and support one of the test slots, wherein each of the test slot receptacles comprises a corresponding card guide assembly configured to releasably engage one of the mounting plate assemblies;

wherein the test slots are interchangeable with each other within the test slot receptacles.

18. A disk drive testing system comprising:

a plurality of test slots, each test slot comprising;

a housing defining;

a test compartment for receiving and supporting a disk drive transporter carrying a disk drive for testing, and

an open end providing access to the test compartment for insertion and removal of a disk drive transporter carrying a disk drive for testing,

a mounting plate, and

one or more isolators disposed between the housing and the mounting plate, said one or more isolators being operable to inhibit transmission of vibrational energy between the housing and the mounting plate, wherein the one or more isolators are displaceable in a negative Y direction relative to flange members that are U-shaped or fork-shaped extending from the mounting plate, the flange members being configured to engage respective second isolators; and

a chassis defining a plurality of test slot receptacles each configured to receive and support one of the test slots, wherein the test slots are each independently removable from the chassis.

19. A disk drive testing system comprising:

a plurality of test slots, each test slot comprising;

a housing defining;

a test compartment for receiving and supporting a disk drive transporter carrying a disk drive for testing, and

an open end providing access to the test compartment for insertion and removal of a disk drive transporter carrying a disk drive for testing,

a mounting plate, and

one or more isolators disposed between the housing and the mounting plate, said one or more isolators being operable to inhibit transmission of vibrational energy between the housing and the mounting plate, wherein the one or more isolators are displaceable in a negative Y direction relative to flange members that are U-shaped or fork-shaped extending from the mounting plate, the flange members being configured to engage respective second isolators; and

a chassis defining a plurality of test slot receptacles each configured to receive and support one of the test slots, wherein the test slots are each independently removable from the chassis;

wherein the test slot receptacles are each configured to releasably engage one of the test slot mounting plates thereby mechanically connecting the associated test slot to the chassis.

20. A disk drive testing system comprising:

a plurality of test slots, each test slot comprising;

a housing defining;

a test compartment for receiving and supporting a disk drive transporter carrying a disk drive for testing, and

an open end providing access to the test compartment for insertion and removal of a disk drive transporter carrying a disk drive for testing,

a mounting plate, and

one or more isolators disposed between the housing and the mounting plate, said one or more isolators being operable to inhibit transmission of vibrational energy between the housing and the mounting plate, wherein the one or more isolators are displaceable in a negative Y direction relative to flange members that are U-shaped or fork-shaped extending from the mounting plate, the flange members being configured to engage respective second isolators; and

a chassis defining a plurality of test slot receptacles each configured to receive and support one of the test slots, wherein the test slots are each independently removable from the chassis;

wherein the one or more isolators are operable to inhibit transmission of vibrational energy between the test slot housings and the chassis.

21. A disk drive testing system comprising:

a plurality of test slots, each test slot comprising;

a housing defining;

a test compartment for receiving and supporting a disk drive transporter carrying a disk drive for testing, and

an open end providing access to the test compartment for insertion and removal of a disk drive transporter carrying a disk drive for testing,

a mounting plate, and

one or more isolators disposed between the housing and the mounting plate, said one or more isolators being operable to inhibit transmission of vibrational energy between the housing and the mounting plate, wherein the one or more isolators are displaceable in a negative Y direction relative to flange members that are U-shaped or fork-shaped extending from the mounting plate, the flange members being configured to engage respective second isolators; and

a chassis defining a plurality of test slot receptacles each configured to receive and support one of the test slots, wherein the test slots are each independently removable from the chassis;

wherein the one or more isolators comprise grommets.

22. A disk drive testing system comprising:

a plurality of test slots, each test slot comprising;

a housing defining;

a test compartment for receiving and supporting a disk drive transporter carrying a disk drive for testing, and

an open end providing access to the test compartment for insertion and removal of a disk drive transporter carrying a disk drive for testing,

a mounting plate, and

one or more isolators disposed between the housing and the mounting plate, said one or more isolators being operable to inhibit transmission of vibrational energy between the housing and the mounting plate, wherein the one or more isolators are displaceable in a negative Y direction relative to flange members that are U-shaped or fork-shaped extending from the mounting plate, the flange members being configured to engage respective second isolators; and

a chassis defining a plurality of test slot receptacles each configured to receive and support one of the test slots, wherein the test slots are each independently removable from the chassis;

wherein the one or more isolators comprise male-female isolators.

23. A disk drive testing system comprising:

a plurality of test slots, each test slot comprising;

a housing defining;

a test compartment for receiving and supporting a disk drive transporter carrying a disk drive for testing, and

an open end providing access to the test compartment for insertion and removal of a disk drive transporter carrying a disk drive for testing,

a mounting plate, and

one or more isolators disposed between the housing and the mounting plate, said one or more isolators being operable to inhibit transmission of vibrational energy between the housing and the mounting plate, wherein the one or more isolators are displaceable in a negative Y direction relative to flange members that are U-shaped or fork-shaped extending from the mounting plate, the flange members being configured to engage respective second isolators; and

a chassis defining a plurality of test slot receptacles each configured to receive and support one of the test slots, wherein the test slots are each independently removable from the chassis;

wherein, in the absence of a disk drive and a disk drive transporter, the test slot housings carry substantially no moving parts.

24. A disk drive testing system comprising:

a plurality of test slots, each test slot comprising;

a housing defining;

a test compartment for receiving and supporting a disk drive transporter carrying a disk drive for testing, and

an open end providing access to the test compartment for insertion and removal of a disk drive transporter carrying a disk drive for testing,

a mounting plate, and

one or more isolators disposed between the housing and the mounting plate, said one or more isolators being operable to inhibit transmission of vibrational energy between the housing and the mounting plate, wherein the one or more isolators are displaceable in a negative Y direction relative to flange members that are U-shaped or fork-shaped extending from the mounting plate, the flange members being configured to engage respective second isolators; and

a chassis defining a plurality of test slot receptacles each configured to receive and support one of the test slots, wherein the test slots are each independently removable from the chassis;

wherein the test slots are interchangeable with each other within the test slot receptacles.