Stiffening Electric Motor Assembly via PCB Structural Connections
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric motors in hard disk drives experience undesirable vibrations and acoustical issues due to the movement properties of their components, which are not adequately controlled by existing manufacturing methods, leading to resonant vibrations and shock responses.
Innovation Solution
The adjustment of movement properties by strategically locating and connecting components within the hard disk drive, such as attaching a printed circuit board assembly to the base and cover, and adding additional structural components to increase stiffness and damping, thereby controlling vibration and shock responses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If component sizes are reduced to make the electric motor smaller, then the size of the electric motor is reduced, but the acoustical properties and performance deteriorate due to increased vibrations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the movement properties parameters (stiffness and damping) of the motor assembly by strategically locating and connecting components. Specifically, it modifies the stiffness parameter by connecting the printed circuit board assembly to both the base and cover at optimized positions, and adjusts the damping parameter through the same strategic component placement, thereby controlling vibrations without increasing motor size
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by strategically locating components at specific positions within the motor assembly. The printed circuit board assembly is connected at optimized locations on both the base and cover, creating localized stiffness and damping enhancements precisely where needed to control vibrations, rather than uniformly increasing the size of the entire motor
2Object-generated harmful factors
If manufacturing precision is increased to improve acoustical properties, then the acoustical properties improve, but the manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing manufacturing precision of individual components, the patent changes the system-level movement properties parameters (stiffness and damping) through strategic component placement and connections. This approach improves acoustical properties by controlling vibrations at the assembly level rather than requiring higher precision in manufacturing individual parts
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the printed circuit board assembly as an intermediary element to connect the base and cover at optimized positions. This intermediary component serves as a structural element that provides stiffness and damping, improving acoustical properties without requiring higher precision manufacturing of the primary motor components (stators, magnets, coils)
3Object-generated harmful factors
If additional structural components are added to increase stiffness, then the vibration control improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the printed circuit board assembly multi-functional by using it both for its electrical function and as a structural component for vibration control. The same component that carries electrical circuits is also strategically connected to provide stiffness and damping, eliminating the need for additional dedicated structural components and reducing overall device complexity
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus includes a first component and a second component. The second component is located at a first position. The second component includes a first connection to the first component. The first position and the first connection are configured to stiffen an electric motor assembly.