Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for electrostatic discharge protection in a removable cartridge

US6628474B1 · kind B1 · utility

12Cited by
131References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 9, 2000
Grant dateSep 30, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 9, 2020

Classification

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

Abstract

An information storage device (10, 510, 610, 710) includes a cradle (12, 512, 612, 712) which can removably receive a cartridge (11, 411, 511, 611, 711) that contains a rotatable hard disk (91, 326-327). The cartridge contains a pivotal actuator arm (101), which supports a read/write head (107, 331-334) for movement adjacent the disk. Circuitry is provided within the sealed housing (59), including a preamplifier (111) for the head. A connector (71) is provided on the exterior of the housing, and is coupled to electrical components within the cartridge, including the head and preamplifier. Structure is provided to prevent static electricity from damaging electrical components when the cartridge is not installed in a cradle. One approach is to provide an electrostatic discharge buffer (112) between the connector and electrical components within the cartridge. An alternative approach is to provide a cover (73) which has a conductive layer (76) that shorts out terminals of the connector when the cartridge is not inserted in the cradle.

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