Disk Drive Base Shock Sensor Mounting for Vibration Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
As track density increases in disk drives, there is a need for more sensitive and quicker responding shock and vibration sensing to prevent mechanical disturbances from affecting data integrity, while existing ceramic capacitors induce vibration and are larger for the same capacitance.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves attaching piezoelectric transducers as motion sensors to the disk drive base, with conductive terminals or flexible printed circuits, to enhance sensitivity and response speed, and using resilient conductive prongs for reliable electrical connections, reducing vibration propagation from ceramic capacitors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If piezoelectric transducers are mounted on the PCB, then ease of assembly is improved, but sensitivity and response speed are insufficient for high track density applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions the sensor mounting location from the two-dimensional PCB surface to the three-dimensional external surface of the disk drive base, specifically positioning sensors adjacent to the PCB. This spatial repositioning enables closer proximity to vibration sources while maintaining assembly feasibility, thereby improving both sensitivity and response speed without sacrificing ease of manufacture.
2Quantity of substance
If track density increases, then data storage capacity is improved, but requirements for sensor speed and sensitivity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the shock and vibration sensors in advance on the external surface of the disk drive base, adjacent to the PCB, optimally located before operational demands arise. This preliminary positioning ensures that when high track density operations require rapid response, the sensors are already in the optimal location to detect mechanical disturbances immediately, enabling quicker response speeds that match the increased data storage capacity requirements.
3Volume of moving object
If ceramic capacitors are used on the PCB, then capacitance is compressed into smaller packages, but vibration is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the shock and vibration sensing function from the PCB environment where ceramic capacitors generate harmful vibrations, and relocates it to the external surface of the disk drive base. By taking out the sensors from the vibration-prone PCB area and positioning them adjacent to the base structure, the system maintains the compact ceramic capacitors on the PCB while isolating the sensing function from capacitor-induced vibrations, thereby reducing harmful vibration interference.
4Measurement precision
If sensors are placed closer to vibration sources, then sensitivity is improved, but isolation from PCB vibrations becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces the external surface of the disk drive base as an intermediary structure between the PCB and the sensors. By mounting sensors on this intermediate surface adjacent to the PCB rather than directly on the PCB, the system achieves closer proximity to vibration sources for improved sensitivity while using the base structure as a mediator to provide mechanical isolation from PCB-mounted components like ceramic capacitors, thereby reducing vibration interference.
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
This approach provides quicker motion sensor response and improved isolation from disk drive PCB vibrations, enhancing shock and vibration sensing while maintaining compactness, and facilitates spindle runout detection for efficient operation with lower-cost spindle motors.
Implementation Method 1
Piezo electric transducers that are used as shock or vibration sensors
Data Source
AI summary
A disk drive includes a disk drive base, a disk drive top cover, and a head actuator pivotably attached to the disk drive base. The disk drive base and the disk drive top cover together form a disk drive enclosure that encloses the head actuator. At least one read head is attached to the head actuator. A disk drive printed circuit board (PCB) is attached to the disk drive base outside the disk drive enclosure. A motion sensor is attached to the disk drive base outside the disk drive enclosure. The motion sensor is disposed between the disk drive PCB and the disk drive base. The first motion sensor is electrically connected to the disk drive PCB by a plurality of resilient conductive prongs that are preloaded between the disk drive PCB and the first motion sensor.