Bearing structures, spindle motor, and hard disk drive
US6686673B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 15, 2001 |
| Grant date | Feb 3, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 15, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11B33/14
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A hydrodynamic gas bearing structure and a hard disk drive (HDD) including a hydrodynamic gas bearing structure are provided in which electrostatic charge built up in the rotatable components is safely discharged to the fixed components. A conductive structure is installed between the rotatable and fixed components at or in the vicinity of the axis of rotation of the rotatable components. The conductive structure provides a safe discharge path for electrostatic charge dissipation. The conductive structure located at or in the vicinity of the axis of the rotation is barely influenced by the relative rotation between the rotatable and fixed components as well as air flow for generating hydrodynamic pressure. The conductive structure can be a magnetic fluid or a conductive, flexible strip. In a HDD a dummy disk and a dummy head are provided to dissipate electrostatic charge.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.