Patent · US Expired

Low profile disk drive apparatus incorporating a three-tiered housing

US5463507A · kind A · utility

3Cited by
8References
4Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 2, 1993
Grant dateOct 31, 1995
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 2, 2013

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG11B33/1493
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

The present invention provides a disk drive apparatus for use in computer systems where size and weight are of paramount concern. The disk drive apparatus includes a 2.5 inch disk that provides between 20-40 megabytes of storage within a footprint area of approximately 2.8 inches by approximately 4.0 inches. Further, the disk drive has a height of 0.630 inch or less. The height dimension is achieved, in part, by providing a low profile spin motor to rotate the disk. The low profile spin motor uses high energy magnets made of rare earth materials. The disk drive also employs a rotary actuator having a voice coil assembly of reduced height by using the housing as a flux return path for the magnetic fields produced by the voice coil motor. Also provided is a three-tiered housing that contains the disk which, when connected to a printed circuit board, produces the low profile disk drive apparatus.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.