Conductive Heating Assembly for Disk Drive Testing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Disk drive testing systems face challenges in maintaining minimal temperature fluctuations and reducing vibration, which can affect the reliability of test results and increase manufacturing costs due to the sensitivity of modern disk drives to vibration and temperature variations.

Innovation Solution

A storage device transporter with a conductive heating assembly that uses thermal conduction to heat storage devices, integrated with a clamping mechanism and temperature sensors, is used within a test slot assembly to maintain precise temperature control and minimize vibration through the elimination of moving parts like blowers or fans.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If cooling or heating air is used to control temperature of storage devices, then temperature control is achieved, but vibration is introduced affecting test reliability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature controlVSAvoidvibration

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical convection-based heating system (fans and air flow) with a thermal conduction-based heating system using a heating element in direct thermal contact with the storage device. This substitution eliminates the harmful vibration introduced by moving air while maintaining effective temperature control through direct thermal coupling between the heating element and the storage device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent eliminates the use of pneumatic systems (air flow, fans, blowers) for heating and instead employs a solid-state thermal conduction approach where a heating element is placed in direct physical contact with the storage device, thereby removing the source of vibration while achieving the same temperature control objective.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

2Loss of energy

If common heating or cooling air is used for multiple storage devices, then energy efficiency is improved, but temperature uniformity across devices deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy efficiencyVSAvoidtemperature uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the heating system into individual, independent heating elements for each storage device rather than using a single common air flow system. Each storage device has its own dedicated heating element that can be independently controlled, ensuring uniform temperature distribution across all devices while maintaining energy efficiency through localized heating.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If higher capacity and faster rotational speeds are implemented in disk drives, then performance is improved, but sensitivity to vibration increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveperformanceVSAvoidvibration sensitivity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical vibration sources (air flow systems) with a static thermal conduction system, thereby protecting high-performance storage devices with increased vibration sensitivity from harmful vibrations while maintaining the performance benefits of higher capacity and faster rotational speeds.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Conductive heating provides efficient temperature control with reduced energy consumption and minimized vibration, enhancing the accuracy and reliability of disk drive testing while lowering manufacturing costs.

Implementation Method 1

a conductive heating assembly that is associated with the frame. The conductive heating assembly is arranged to heat a storage device supported by the frame by way of thermal conduction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS8466699B2Heating storage devices in a testing system

Publication Date: 2013.06.18 TERADYNE INC

AI summary

A storage device transporter is provided for transporting a storage device and for mounting a storage device within a test slot. The storage device transporter includes a frame that is configured to receive and support a storage device. The storage device transporter also includes a conductive heating assembly that is associated with the frame. The conductive heating assembly is arranged to heat a storage device supported by the frame by way of thermal conduction.