Contamination control for a disc drive

• US 8,760,797 B1
• Filed: 06/13/2013
• Issued: 06/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC (Seagate Technology Holdings Plc)
• Original Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC (Seagate Technology Holdings Plc)
• Inventors: Beatty, Paul Allison, Lapp, David R.
• Primary Examiner(s): HINDI, NABIL Z
• Application Number:
  US13/917,326
• Time in Patent Office: 376 Days
• Field of Search: 360/97.01, 360/97.02, 360/97.12, 360/97.18, 360/97.15, 360/97.19, 360/99.16, 360/99.17, 360/99.18, 360/99.24, 96/4, 96/13, 96/14
• US Class Current: 360/97.12
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/1453 by moisture
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/1486 Control/regulation of the pressure, e.g. the pressure inside the housing of a drive

Abstract

Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward a disc drive apparatus having an inner enclosure structure that resides within an outer disc drive enclosure. The inner enclosure structure includes an environment-adsorption material, an inner volume of gas, and an aperture-defining membrane. The environment-adsorption material combines a first-type of molecules with a second-type of molecules that are present in the outer disc drive enclosure. Additionally, the aperture-defining membrane facilitates diffusion of the second-type of molecules into the inner enclosure structure and into contact with the environment-adsorption material to adsorb the second-type of molecules into the first-type of molecules, which reduces the volumetric pressure in the outer disc drive enclosure.

Claims

1. A disc drive apparatus comprising:

an inner enclosure structure configured and arranged for residing within an outer disc drive enclosure, the inner enclosure structure containing therein

an environment-adsorption material configured and arranged for combining a first-type of molecules contained within the environment-adsorption material with a second-type of molecules present in the outer disc drive enclosure, and

an inner volume of gas surrounding the environment-adsorption material with a volumetric pressure less than a volumetric pressure contained in the outer disc drive enclosure; and

an aperture-defining membrane configured and arranged for covering at least a portion of the inner enclosure structure and for facilitating a diffusion of the second-type of molecules into the inner enclosure structure and into contact with the environment-adsorption material, the environment-adsorption material containing the first-type of molecules for adsorbing the second-type of molecules into the first-type of molecules, therein reducing the volumetric pressure in the outer disc drive enclosure.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the aperture-defining membrane is marked to identify a region through which an aperture is provided, and the outer enclosure within which the inner enclosure structure is located and within which an ambient gas is contained outside of the inner enclosure structure.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the aperture-defining membrane is aligned with and configured and arranged to be accessed through an access port of the outer disc drive enclosure, the apparatus further including an electromagnetic disc, a head-actuation assembly, and motor in the outer disc drive enclosure, the head-actuation assembly and the motor being configured and arranged to read and write data on the electromagnetic disc, and wherein the aperture-defining membrane in combination with the environment-adsorption material is further configured and arranged to reduce turbulence and drag related to the head-actuation assembly and the motor, increasing heat-transfer in the disc drive apparatus and facilitating environmental protection of, and lessening impact due to the second-type of molecules on, an electromagnetic disc, the head-actuation assembly and the motor.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further including an electromagnetic disc, a head-actuation assembly, and motor in the outer disc drive enclosure, the head-actuation assembly and the motor being configured and arranged to read and write data on the electromagnetic disc, and wherein the outer disc drive enclosure is configured and arranged for containing an ambient gas and the inner enclosure structure, the aperture-defining membrane is marked to identify a region through which an aperture is provided, and the aperture-defining membrane in combination with the environment-adsorption material is further configured and arranged to reduce turbulence and drag related to the head-actuation assembly and the motor, increasing heat-transfer in the disc drive apparatus and facilitating environmental protection of, and lessening impact due to the second-type of molecules on, an electromagnetic disc, the head-actuation assembly and the motor.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second-type of molecules is selected from the group consisting of oxygen, water, and combinations thereof.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the aperture-defining membrane is further configured and arranged to facilitate adsorption of the first-type of molecules with the second-type of molecules commensurate with a minimum time period during which the first-type of molecules of the environment-adsorption material interact through dispersion via a puncture through the aperture-defining membrane.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inner enclosure structure is configured and arranged with two separate compartments wherein both contain environment-adsorption material and may be punctured independently.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the membrane is further configured and arranged to function as a tamper-indicator to verify that the membrane is only punctured proximate to ship-date.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the environment-adsorption material is encased in polytetrafluoroethylene.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the environment-adsorption material is selected from the group consisting of a desiccant, activated carbon, chemical getters, chemical acid buffers, and combinations thereof.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the aperture-defining membrane is further configured and arranged to be punctured by a remote automated process post assembly.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the aperture-defining membrane is further configured and arranged to indicate post-factory service intervals via puncturing of the membrane.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the aperture-defining membrane is configured and arranged to include a mark on an exterior side of the membrane indicating a location at which to puncture the membrane.

14. A method comprising:

providing an outer disc drive enclosure;

mounting an inner enclosure structure within the outer disc drive enclosure, wherein the inner enclosure structure is configured and arranged to contain an inner volume of gas surrounding an environment-adsorption material with a volumetric pressure less than a volumetric pressure contained in the outer disc drive enclosure;

diffusing a second-type of molecules into the inner enclosure structure and into contact with the environment-adsorption material, containing a first-type of molecules; and

adsorbing the second-type of molecules into the first-type of molecules, thereby reducing the volumetric pressure in the outer disc drive enclosure.

15. The method of claim 14, further including the step of using an aperture-defining membrane to facilitate the adsorption of the second-type of molecules by the first-type of molecules, thereby facilitating protection of an electromagnetic disc, a head-actuation assembly, and a motor from the second-type of molecules present in the outer disc drive enclosure.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the diffusing and adsorbing steps occur repetitively over a time period defined as a function of an adsorption ability of the environment-adsorption material, and

further including the step of puncturing an aperture of an aperture-defining membrane thereby facilitating the steps of diffusing and adsorbing.

17. The method of claim 14, further including the step of puncturing an aperture of an aperture-defining membrane by utilizing an extrusion on a top cover of the outer disc drive enclosure that punctures the membrane.

18. The method of claim 14, further including the step of encompassing the outer disc drive enclosure with a low-oxygen and low-humidity atmospheric environment, wherein an aperture of an aperture-defining membrane has been punctured prior to sealing the inner enclosure structure within the outer disc drive enclosure.

19. The method of claim 14, further including the step of puncturing an aperture of an aperture-defining membrane via a source external from the outer disc drive enclosure.

20. The method of claim 14, further including the step of puncturing an aperture of an aperture-defining membrane after sealing the outer disc drive enclosure via an automated process within the outer disc drive enclosure, whereby the aperture is not punctured until a sensor indicative of an atmospheric environment within the outer disc drive enclosure determines conditions have exceeded a set threshold.