Irreversible Adsorbents for Oxygen and Siloxane Removal in HDDs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sealed hard disk drives (HDDs) face defects due to contaminants like oxygen and siloxane, which conventional adsorbents like activated carbon are ineffective in removing, and these adsorbents can deteriorate over time, leading to potential head crashes.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating irreversible adsorbing materials, such as pin-type, sheet-type, or bag-type adsorbents, into the HDDs, which are designed to irreversibly adsorb contaminants like oxygen and siloxane, minimizing exposure to air during manufacturing to maintain adsorption performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional adsorbents like activated carbon are used, then they can adsorb organic substances and adjust humidity, but they cannot effectively remove oxygen and siloxane contaminants
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple types of adsorbents (activated carbon for organic substances, silica gel for humidity, and oxygen/siloxane-specific adsorbents) into a single adsorbent assembly, creating a multi-functional system that can simultaneously address various contaminant types including organic gases, moisture, oxygen, and siloxane
2Reliability
If reversible porous bodies like activated carbon are used, then they can be regenerated and removed in large amounts, but they may desorb adsorbed gas later causing defects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the adsorbent system into separate functional components (activated carbon for organics, silica gel for moisture, and irreversible adsorbents for oxygen/siloxane), each housed in separate containers within the adsorbent assembly, allowing selective replacement or maintenance of individual components
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs irreversible adsorbents that permanently bind oxygen and siloxane, sacrificing regenerability to ensure permanent removal of these critical contaminants, with the adsorbent assembly designed as a replaceable unit
3Object-affected harmful factors
If irreversible adsorbing materials are used, then they can permanently remove oxygen and siloxane, but they deteriorate adsorption performance when exposed to air
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates irreversible adsorbents into the sealed HDD housing immediately before final sealing, ensuring they are positioned and activated before the housing is hermetically sealed, thereby minimizing their exposure time to air and preventing performance deterioration
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a controlled environment during the adsorbent installation process, minimizing air exposure to irreversible adsorbents by performing incorporation operations in a clean room or controlled atmosphere conditions prior to housing sealing
4Object-affected harmful factors
If special adsorbents are added to remove oxygen and siloxane, then contaminant removal capability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple specialized adsorbents (activated carbon, silica gel, and oxygen/siloxane adsorbents) into a single consolidated adsorbent assembly with multiple containers, simplifying installation and maintenance while maintaining comprehensive contaminant removal capabilities
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 use of irreversible adsorbing materials effectively reduces the risk of head crashes by ensuring sufficient adsorption of contaminants, while minimizing the deterioration of adsorption performance and allowing for easy replacement during maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
incorporating irreversible adsorbing materials, such as pin-type, sheet-type, or bag-type adsorbents, into the HDDs, which are designed to irreversibly adsorb contaminants like oxygen and siloxane
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment, a magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus includes irreversible adsorbing materials in a sealed housing for the magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus.