HDD Recording Medium Support Member for Vibration Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increased demand for storage capacity in HDDs, achieved by reducing the thickness of disk-shaped recording media substrates, compromises their rigidity, making them prone to bending under external vibrations or shocks, which can lead to contact with other components and operational failure.
Innovation Solution
A storage apparatus design that incorporates a support member to contact and support the recording medium only during external vibrations or shocks, with the support member potentially functioning as the ramp mechanism or flow straightening plate, distributed at multiple locations to enhance rigidity and prevent damage to the recording surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the thickness of the substrate of the disk-shaped recording medium is reduced to increase storage capacity, then the storage capacity per unit volume increases, but the rigidity of the substrate deteriorates and the recording medium may easily bend under external vibration or shock
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a support member with a specific structure that provides mechanical reinforcement to the thin substrate. The support member includes a base portion and a protruding portion that extends toward the recording surface, creating a composite structure that combines the thin flexible substrate with the rigid support elements, thereby maintaining both high storage capacity and adequate rigidity.
Solution Approach 2:
The support member extends in the thickness direction (third dimension) of the substrate, providing reinforcement without increasing the planar footprint. The protruding portion rises from the base portion to support the recording medium from below, utilizing the vertical dimension to compensate for reduced substrate thickness while maintaining the same disk area for data storage.
2Quantity of substance
If the thickness of the substrate is reduced to accommodate more disk-shaped recording media, then the storage capacity per standardized HDD increases, but the recording medium may easily bend and make contact with other parts under strong external vibration or shock
Solution Approach 1:
The support member creates a composite structural system where the thin recording medium substrate is reinforced by the rigid support member with its base portion and protruding portion. This composite structure prevents excessive bending and contact with other components during vibration or shock events, thereby improving reliability while maintaining the ability to accommodate multiple thin media.
Solution Approach 2:
The support member acts as an intermediary element between the thin recording medium and the housing or other components. It provides mechanical support and spacing, preventing direct contact between the fragile thin substrate and other parts of the HDD during external shocks, thus protecting the recording medium while allowing high media density.
3Reliability
If a support member is added to support the recording medium during vibration or shock, then the resistance to external vibration or shock improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support member is designed to serve multiple functions: it provides structural reinforcement to the thin substrate, maintains spacing between the recording medium and other components, and acts as a shock-absorbing element during vibration events. By consolidating these functions into a single component, the patent improves reliability without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The support member utilizes a thin-film or flexible structural design that can deform elastically during vibration or shock events, absorbing impact energy while maintaining support functionality. This approach provides vibration resistance without requiring bulky or complex rigid structures, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A storage apparatus includes a disk-shaped recording medium, a motor configured to drive and rotate the recording medium, a head configured to read information from and write information to the recording medium, and a support member configured to support the recording medium when the recording bends in response to external vibration or shock. The support member supports the recording medium by making contact with the recording medium only when the external vibration or shock is applied to the storage apparatus.