HDD Enclosure Wrapped with PVDC Barrier for Vibration Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Housing hard disk drives (HDDs) in system chassis environments leads to operational performance degradation due to vibrations generated by cooling fans, affecting head positioning accuracy and areal density, especially with high-frequency noise and increasing rotational speeds.
Innovation Solution
A data storage device assembly using a flexible sheet of polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC) as a barrier material, either wrapped around the enclosure or adhered with intermittent adhesive, creating a layer of air between the material and the enclosure to absorb and insulate against vibrational noise, thereby improving head positioning accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If HDDs are housed in system chassis with cooling fans, then cooling function is provided, but vibrational noise degrades operational performance and head positioning accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible barrier material is introduced as an intermediary between the HDD enclosure and the external environment. This material selectively blocks vibrational noise from cooling fans while allowing thermal energy to pass through, thus mediating between the conflicting requirements of cooling and vibration isolation
Solution Approach 2:
A flexible sheet of barrier material is wrapped around the HDD enclosure to create a vibration-isolating shell. The flexible nature of this thin film allows it to conform to the enclosure while providing effective isolation of high-frequency vibrational noise from cooling fans
2Object-affected harmful factors
If barrier material is directly adhered to enclosure, then vibration isolation is improved, but air circulation for cooling is blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The barrier material is segmented from the enclosure surface by creating an air gap between them. This segmentation allows the material to provide vibration isolation while the air gap maintains airflow paths for cooling, preventing the material from blocking air circulation
Solution Approach 2:
An air gap is introduced between the barrier material and the enclosure to facilitate air circulation. This pneumatic space allows cooling air to flow freely while the barrier material maintains its vibration-isolating function
3Productivity
If high rotational speeds are used to increase productivity, then data storage throughput improves, but sensitivity to vibrational noise increases
Solution Approach 1:
The high-frequency vibrational noise from cooling fans, which becomes more harmful at higher rotational speeds, is converted into a manageable issue by using a specialized barrier material that selectively attenuates these frequencies. The material transforms the harmful high-frequency noise into reduced vibration transmission
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
The solution effectively reduces vibrational noise, enhancing the operational performance of HDDs by improving head positioning accuracy and non-repeatable runout, even in environments with high-frequency noise and high-speed cooling fans.
Implementation Method 1
at least in part due to the sound absorption and/or sound insulation properties of the material
Implementation Method 2
at least in part due to the sound absorption and/or sound insulation properties of the material
Implementation Method 3
creating a layer of air between the material and the enclosure to absorb and insulate against vibrational noise
Data Source
AI summary
A data storage device (DSD) is assembled with a flexible sheet of barrier material covering at least a portion of the top cover and/or bottom base of the DSD enclosure, whereby a layer of air is between the sheet of barrier material and the cover and/or base. Polyvinlyidene chloride (PVDC) may be used as the barrier material. A wrap-around structure may be used for the barrier material, enveloping the DSD so that an open end can be positioned open to a primary direction of airflow, such that a respective layer of air is created between the barrier material and each of the cover and/or base. An adhesive may be positioned around the outer edge of the cover and/or base, to adhere the sheet of barrier material to the respective cover and/or base while allowing the air layer to fill the space therebetween.