Sealed Bulkhead Feed-Through Positioning Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hermetically sealed hard disk drives (HDDs) face challenges in achieving a low leakage rate while maintaining cost-effectiveness and manufacturability with traditional electrical feed-through connectors, particularly in ensuring proper positioning and adhesive thickness for reliable sealing.
Innovation Solution
A sealed bulkhead electrical feed-through connector with positioning protrusions and recessed surfaces is used, which includes multiple insulating layers with electrical terminals interconnected by vias, providing precise z-direction height control through mating protrusions and recessed surfaces to ensure accurate positioning and adhesive thickness for optimal sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional electrical feed-through connectors are used in hermetically sealed HDDs, then electrical connection is achieved, but positioning precision and adhesive thickness control deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is segmented into distinct functional elements: positioning protrusions that extend from the connector body and correspond to recesses in the base, and a sealing surface that interfaces with the base. This segmentation allows independent optimization of positioning and sealing functions, achieving precise positioning without overall structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning protrusions and recesses are self-aligning features that automatically ensure correct positioning during assembly. The protrusions fit into the recesses to define the connector's position relative to the base, and the sealing surface automatically conforms to the base sealing surface, eliminating the need for complex external positioning mechanisms
2Reliability
If low permeability feed-through connectors are used, then leakage rate is reduced, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connector uses a PCB substrate with standard electrical terminals instead of expensive specialized low-permeability materials like glass-metal feed-throughs. The PCB-based construction with adhesive sealing provides sufficient hermetic sealing for the application while dramatically reducing material and manufacturing costs
Solution Approach 2:
The connector employs a composite structure combining PCB material for electrical connectivity, adhesive material for hermetic sealing, and positioning protrusions for mechanical alignment. This composite approach achieves reliable sealing and electrical connection using cost-effective materials rather than expensive specialized components
3Reliability
If precise positioning control is implemented, then sealing reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning protrusions are pre-formed on the connector during PCB fabrication, and corresponding recesses are pre-formed on the base. During assembly, these pre-formed features automatically align and engage, ensuring precise positioning and proper adhesive thickness without requiring complex real-time control mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning system is self-service in that the protrusions and recesses automatically define the correct position and orientation of the connector relative to the base during assembly. The mechanical interfit of these features self-aligns the components, eliminating the need for external positioning devices or complex control systems
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical feed-through, such as a PCB connector, involves at least one positioning protrusion protruding from a main body, and may further include multiple positioning protrusions protruding in respective directions from the main body. A data storage device employing such a feed-through includes an enclosure base with which the feed-through is coupled. The base includes an annular recessed surface surrounding an aperture that is encompassed by the feed-through and is at a first level, and at least one recessed positioning surface at a higher level than the first level, and extending in a direction away from the annular recessed surface. The positioning protrusion of the electrical feed-through contacts the recessed positioning surface of the base, such that the position of the feed-through is constrained by the recessed positioning surface.