CA2000477A1 - High density disk drive with magnetic clutch and a removable cartridge - Google Patents
High density disk drive with magnetic clutch and a removable cartridgeInfo
- Publication number
- CA2000477A1 CA2000477A1 CA002000477A CA2000477A CA2000477A1 CA 2000477 A1 CA2000477 A1 CA 2000477A1 CA 002000477 A CA002000477 A CA 002000477A CA 2000477 A CA2000477 A CA 2000477A CA 2000477 A1 CA2000477 A1 CA 2000477A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- disc
- housing
- cartridge
- disc drive
- head
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
- 238000012546 transfer Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 16
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 claims description 49
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 claims description 28
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 claims description 28
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 claims description 28
- 230000035939 shock Effects 0.000 claims description 6
- 239000011261 inert gas Substances 0.000 claims description 5
- 239000000945 filler Substances 0.000 claims 1
- 238000011109 contamination Methods 0.000 description 4
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 description 3
- XKRFYHLGVUSROY-UHFFFAOYSA-N Argon Chemical compound [Ar] XKRFYHLGVUSROY-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 101100365539 Drosophila melanogaster Sesn gene Proteins 0.000 description 2
- 239000000356 contaminant Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000013500 data storage Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000013461 design Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 241000896693 Disa Species 0.000 description 1
- 241000950314 Figura Species 0.000 description 1
- HOKDBMAJZXIPGC-UHFFFAOYSA-N Mequitazine Chemical compound C12=CC=CC=C2SC2=CC=CC=C2N1CC1C(CC2)CCN2C1 HOKDBMAJZXIPGC-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- BQCADISMDOOEFD-UHFFFAOYSA-N Silver Chemical compound [Ag] BQCADISMDOOEFD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910000831 Steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229910052786 argon Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 238000009833 condensation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000005494 condensation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000004020 conductor Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000000881 depressing effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000004146 energy storage Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005516 engineering process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 210000004124 hock Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 230000013011 mating Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000003032 molecular docking Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000012552 review Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000001228 spectrum Methods 0.000 description 1
- 108010003641 statine renin inhibitory peptide Proteins 0.000 description 1
- 239000010959 steel Substances 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
- G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
- G11B17/00—Guiding record carriers not specifically of filamentary or web form, or of supports therefor
- G11B17/02—Details
- G11B17/022—Positioning or locking of single discs
- G11B17/028—Positioning or locking of single discs of discs rotating during transducing operation
- G11B17/03—Positioning or locking of single discs of discs rotating during transducing operation in containers or trays
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
- G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
- G11B17/00—Guiding record carriers not specifically of filamentary or web form, or of supports therefor
- G11B17/02—Details
- G11B17/04—Feeding or guiding single record carrier to or from transducer unit
- G11B17/041—Feeding or guiding single record carrier to or from transducer unit specially adapted for discs contained within cartridges
- G11B17/043—Direct insertion, i.e. without external loading means
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
- G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
- G11B19/00—Driving, starting, stopping record carriers not specifically of filamentary or web form, or of supports therefor; Control thereof; Control of operating function ; Driving both disc and head
- G11B19/20—Driving; Starting; Stopping; Control thereof
- G11B19/2009—Turntables, hubs and motors for disk drives; Mounting of motors in the drive
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
- G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
- G11B21/00—Head arrangements not specific to the method of recording or reproducing
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
- G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
- G11B23/00—Record carriers not specific to the method of recording or reproducing; Accessories, e.g. containers, specially adapted for co-operation with the recording or reproducing apparatus ; Intermediate mediums; Apparatus or processes specially adapted for their manufacture
- G11B23/02—Containers; Storing means both adapted to cooperate with the recording or reproducing means
- G11B23/03—Containers for flat record carriers
- G11B23/0301—Details
- G11B23/0318—Containers with incorporated transducing heads
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
- G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
- G11B23/00—Record carriers not specific to the method of recording or reproducing; Accessories, e.g. containers, specially adapted for co-operation with the recording or reproducing apparatus ; Intermediate mediums; Apparatus or processes specially adapted for their manufacture
- G11B23/50—Reconditioning of record carriers; Cleaning of record carriers ; Carrying-off electrostatic charges
- G11B23/505—Reconditioning of record carriers; Cleaning of record carriers ; Carrying-off electrostatic charges of disk carriers
- G11B23/507—Reconditioning of record carriers; Cleaning of record carriers ; Carrying-off electrostatic charges of disk carriers combined with means for reducing influence of physical parameters, e.g. temperature change, moisture
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
- G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
- G11B25/00—Apparatus characterised by the shape of record carrier employed but not specific to the method of recording or reproducing, e.g. dictating apparatus; Combinations of such apparatus
- G11B25/04—Apparatus characterised by the shape of record carrier employed but not specific to the method of recording or reproducing, e.g. dictating apparatus; Combinations of such apparatus using flat record carriers, e.g. disc, card
- G11B25/043—Apparatus characterised by the shape of record carrier employed but not specific to the method of recording or reproducing, e.g. dictating apparatus; Combinations of such apparatus using flat record carriers, e.g. disc, card using rotating discs
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
- G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
- G11B33/00—Constructional parts, details or accessories not provided for in the other groups of this subclass
- G11B33/12—Disposition of constructional parts in the apparatus, e.g. of power supply, of modules
- G11B33/121—Disposition of constructional parts in the apparatus, e.g. of power supply, of modules the apparatus comprising a single recording/reproducing device
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
- G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
- G11B2220/00—Record carriers by type
- G11B2220/20—Disc-shaped record carriers
Landscapes
- Moving Of Heads (AREA)
- Rotational Drive Of Disk (AREA)
Abstract
HIGH DENSITY DISC DRIVE WITH MAGNETIC CLUTCH
AND A REMOVABLE CARTRIDGE
A disc drive 20 including a spindle motor assembly 42 having a magnetic clutch plate 46 and an actuator 47 receives a hermetically sealed cartridge 22 containing a plurality of discs 72, 74 with associated heads 80, 81 mounted in the cartridge 22. Associated with an arm assembly 84 which supports heads 80, 81 is a component 50 for use with the actuator 47. With the cartridge 22 inserted in the drive 20, the actuator 47 operates to a cause the heads 80, 81 to traverse relative to the discs 72, 74 as the spindle motor assembly 42 uses a magnetic field to engage a magnetic plate 77 associated with cartridge 22 in order to spin the discs 72, 74. Data transfer connectors 52, 54 axe associated with both the drive 20 and the cartridge 22 in order to allow for the transfer of data between the cartridge 22 and the drive 20.
WP1/SRM/SYQU/6400-6415.1 (PCT Appln. 9/14/89)
AND A REMOVABLE CARTRIDGE
A disc drive 20 including a spindle motor assembly 42 having a magnetic clutch plate 46 and an actuator 47 receives a hermetically sealed cartridge 22 containing a plurality of discs 72, 74 with associated heads 80, 81 mounted in the cartridge 22. Associated with an arm assembly 84 which supports heads 80, 81 is a component 50 for use with the actuator 47. With the cartridge 22 inserted in the drive 20, the actuator 47 operates to a cause the heads 80, 81 to traverse relative to the discs 72, 74 as the spindle motor assembly 42 uses a magnetic field to engage a magnetic plate 77 associated with cartridge 22 in order to spin the discs 72, 74. Data transfer connectors 52, 54 axe associated with both the drive 20 and the cartridge 22 in order to allow for the transfer of data between the cartridge 22 and the drive 20.
WP1/SRM/SYQU/6400-6415.1 (PCT Appln. 9/14/89)
Description
'f",~3'?~ ;77 ~IGH DE~ITY ~ISG ~RI~E WITH M~ETIC ~LUT~ ~N~
A ~ V~ In~
Inventors: Syed H. Iftikar John J. Mandish FT~D OF~THE INVENTION
The present invention i9 related to a disc drive and in particular a high density di~c drive capable of selectively receiving a sealed removable cartridge containing media on which data may be stored.
BA~RGRQUND OF TH~ INV~NTI~
With ~he exception of the present As~iynee, Syquest Technology, attempts to provids for a disc drive which can raceive a removable aartridge containing data storage media have met with only limited suacess. Problems (1) inherent in providing a cartridge receiver mechanism for accurately aligning a cartridge and a disc with respect to read/write heads and a spindle motor, and t2) associated with loading and unloading raad/write heads onto the disc without damage to aither the heads or the disc, are difficult to de~ign for as capacities are increased, and therefor8 place limitations on the amount of data that can be stored. As a further data stora~e limitation, the cartridges usually contain only one disc for dat storage. ~hu6, the market for ~uch removable cartridgss disc drives is a highly specialized one.
Such drives ara typically providsd where the removable cartrid~e ~ust be locked up between uses for se~urity reasons.
On the high end of the spectrum, during ths mid-nineteen eventie~, IBM introduced a Winchester drive (IBM 3340) with a removable data ~odule having a capacity of 30 megabytes. This disc drive was used WP1/S~M/S~QUJ6~00-6415.1 (PCT Appln~ 9/14/89) Y~
with large IBM mainframe~ and not with micro and personal computer~. Thi~ data module used a plurality of 14-inch di~c~ and welghted approximately 20 pour.ds.
The disc drive had a co~plex mechanism with levers and gears to receive the data module. The data module required a number of connections to the di~c drive in order for the module and drive to operate. First there needed to be a mechanical connector for tr nsporting electrical ~ignal~ between the drive and the data module. Then there were alignment device6 ~uch as docking pin# to hold the data module in alignment with the drive. Further a spindle mechanism including a belt and pulley needed to be operably engaged with the module in order to spi~ the discs at an accurate speed.
A mechanical connection needed to be made between a carriage which supported multiple read,'write head~, which were positionable relative to the disc~, and a voics coil actuator which was part of ths drive.
Finally, a ~hutter mechanism had to be incorporated in order to allow the actuator mechani~m to be insertable into the data module so that the actuator mechanism could engage with the carrlage which supported the read/write he~ds.
Quite naturally, while such a d vice had co~mercial success, it wa~ expensive and cumbersome to use and not fiuitable for the price-competitive low-end ~arkets which demands the capabilitie6 and performance of high-e~d machine~. Further contamination of the discs and head~ wa~ possible due to the need to open the shutter mecha~is~ each time the data module was engaged with the di~c drive.
Another product manufactured by New World Computer8 had a data module with a five ~egabyte ~torage capacity. As with the IBM 3340, the module had WP1/SRM/S~QU/64~0-6415.1 (PCT Appln. 9/14/89) media, spindle and read/write head~, all locatsd inside of the module. The heads were of a multiple element, fixed-arm design. This d~sign wa~ ~uite expensive to implement due to the multiple head elements required per di~c ~urface, and had limited performance.
Considering the prior art, there is still a need for an accurate, relatively inexpensive, high capacity disc drive with a removable cartridga.
SuMMAB~ QF THE I~VF,~
The present invention is directed toward~
providing a high capacity aisc drive arrangement using a sealed removable cartridge which i5 al~o oapable of a fixed drive implementation.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a di~c drive having a simplified cartridge receiver mechanism that doe~ not have the alignment constraints of prior devices.
It is an object of the present in~ention to provide for a disc drive which can receive a cartridge, urged into the drive in a straight-in motion, without having the position of the cartridge manipulated by the receiver mechanism of the drive in order to have the cartridge set down on a spindle motor in an aligned manner.
It i9 a further object of the present invention to provide or a spindle mechanis~ which can operably engage a hub assembly which positions the disc inside of a sealed cartridge, so as to cause the disc to rotate without the spindle physically engaging the hub assembly.
It is an object of the present in~ention to provide for a spindle motor having a magnetic clutch WP1/SRM/SYQU/6400-6415.1 lPCT Appln. 9/14/89) ~n~D~77 mechanlsm which engages a magnetic armature plate of the hub assembly located in the cartridge.
It i8 an object of the pre3ent invention to provide fo~ an actuator such a~ for example a voice coil motor which i8 in part located in the driva and in part in a sealed cartridge.
It i yet an object of the invention to provide for da~a tran~far between the di~c drive and cartridge in a manner that does not require a phy6ical or hard connection between the cartridge and the di~c drive.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide for a disc drive which does not have to be connected in any physical way to a sealed cartridge inserted therein and does not require acceæ6 into the cartridge for the loading of heads onto a disc and for the actuation of the head~.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide for a disc drive which can accept at least two cartridges, the second cartridge of which can be used ~or either (1) providing a back-up ~or data stored on the fir#t cartridge and/or (2~ u~ed as additional storag~ space.
It is another object of the present invention to provide for a disc drive which can be used selectively as a removable cartridge di~c drive or as a Pixed disc drive.
It is an object o~ th~ prese~t invention to ~rovide a cartridge that doe not have the alig~ment constraints of pri~r devioe~.
It i~ a ur~her object of the present invention to provide a cartridge with a hub a~sembly which position~ a di c inside of the sealed cartrid~e and which can engage a ~pi~dle me~hanism of a disc WP1/SRM/SYQU/6400-6415.1 (PCT Appln. 9/14/89) ~ r~4 7 7 drive, so as to cause the disc to rotate without the spindle mechanism physically engaging the hub a~sembly.
It is an object of the present invention to provide for a maynetic armature plats as part of the hub assembly located in the cartridge which engages magnetic clutch mechanism o~ the ~pindle mechanism.
The invention includes a disc drive adapted for receiving a sealed removable cartridge containing a disc and a head mounted relative to the disc. The disc drive comprises a housing including a door mean~
adapted for recaiving the sealed cartridge, and a cartrldge receiver mechanism. A spindle motor mechanism is adapted for causing the disc to ~pin with the cartridge rsceived in the recPiver mechanism. ~he spindle motor i5 spaced from and does not come into contact with the cartridge. Further an actuator machani~m is provided which is d;Lsposed partially in the disc drive and partially in the sealed cartridge.
A mechanism is provided for communicating data between the sealed cartridge and housing without a conventional connection being made between the two.
The invention inaludes a sealea cartrid~e adapted for selective use in disc drive which comprise~ a ~ealed housing, a di~c positioned in the hou~ing and a head positioned in the housing in association with the disc. The cartridge includes a device for rotationally mounting the disc in the hou8ing and a device for movably mounting the head in the housing so that the head can move relative to the disc. Further a cartridge actuator mechanism adapted for use with an actuator arrangement of a disc drive is provided in order that the ac~uator means and the actuator arrangement san cooperate to move the head relative to the disc. A ~agnetic coupling mechanism is WP1/SRM/S~QU~6~00-6415.1 (PCT Appln. 9/14/89) ~J;~ 7~
adapted for magnetically aoupling the disc to the di~c driYe in order that the disc driYe can cause the dis~
to rotate without the magnetic coupling means phy~ically touching the disc drive.
In an aspect of the invention, the spindle motor i~clude~ a magnetic mechani3m adapted for magnetically engaging the disc located in the sealed cartridge, for urging the disc to rotate.
In yet another aspect of the invention, the actuator mechanism include a coil assembly which can be di~po~ed adjacent the receiver mechanism o the disc drive with a permanent magnet provided in the sealed cartrid~e, the coil and the permanent magnet cooperating to form the actuator which allows the heads to move relative to the disc.
In yet another aspect of the present invention the permanent magnet of the actuator can be located in the disc drive with the coil located in the ~ealed cartridge.
I~ a further aspect of the invention a communication meahanism such as for example an infrared source and sensor are u~ed to transmit data between the sealed c~rtridge and the housing.
In yet another a~pect of the invention, a disc drive is provided which can accept two sealed cartridges with the spindle ~echanism located between the two ealed cartridgeq. The spindle mechanism of the device incl~des, on oppoæite sides thereof, mechanisms for operably engaging the hub assembly of each ~artridge, with the upper cartridge inserted right ~ide up and the lower cartridge inserted up~ide down.
In yet another aspect of the invention a meahanism is provided for configuring the disc drive a WP1/SRM/SYQU/6400-~415.1 (PC~ Appln. 9/14/89) a fixed disc drive u~ing cartridges, which are permanently sec~red inside the housing of the disc drive.
Thus it is evident that the present invention provides for a disc drive with a simplified receiver mechanism not con trained by the alignment con~idçrations of prior device~. As the alignment con~iderations are greatly reduced, tha need for highly accurate spindle motors with accurate bearing m~chanisms i~ reduced. The major requirement then being that the speed of the spindle motor be maintainsd accurately.
Further the present invention provides for an actuator mechaniam partially located in a disc drive and partially located in the cartridge 50 that the cartridge can be hermetically sealed i~ a clean room, eliminating contamination probl~m~, and ~o that problems associated with the head loading and unloading can be eliminated a~ the heads are always loadsd on the disc.
~RIEF DE~ç~l~TIo~ Q~ THE ~IGURES
~ igure 1 d~plct~ an embodiment of the disc drive of the invention which can accept an embodiment of a sealed cartridge of the in~ention and includes an actuator coil positioned in the dxive.
Figure 2 depicts a sectional view taken through line 2-2 in Figure 1 with a cartridge in~erted into the drive.
Figure 3 depict~ an e~bodiment of ths invention similar to Figure 1 but with an actuator permanent magnet located in the drive.
Figure 4 d~picts an embodiment of a disc WP1/SRM/SYQU/6400-6415.1 (PCT ApplnO 9/14/89~
drive of the invention which can receive two cartridges of the invention.
Fig~re 5 depicts a sectional view of Figure 4 through line 5-5 with two cartridges inserted into the disc drive.
Figure 6 depicts a disc drive which accepts two cartridges and which cartridges can be sPcured permanently in the drive to provide for a disc drive with fixed cartridges and thus fixed discs.
Figure 7 i8 a top, partially cut away visw of another embodiment of the ca~tridge invention.
Figure 8 is a section view taken through line 8-8 of Figure 7.
Figure 9 is a section view taken through line 9-9 of Figure 7.
Figure 10 is still another embodiment of the drive and cartridge of the present invention shown in a view similar to the view of Figure 8.
Figure 11 is a top view with the top plate and certain ele~ents removed of another embodiment of the drive of the present invention.
DET~IL~_D~SCRIP~ION QF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
With reference to the figures and in particular Figure 1 a disc drive 20 and a sealed removable cartridge 22 of thG inve~tion are depicted.
Disc drive 20 includes a housing 24 with side mounting brackets 26. Housing 24 further includeR a faceplate 28. Faceplate 28 includes a cartridge ejection button 30 and a mode selection button 32. ~he faceplate 28 further includes a hinged door 34 which is urged out of the way by the sealed cartridge 22 as it is in erted into the disc drive 20.
WP1/SRM/SYQU/6400-6415.1 (PCT Appln. 9/14/89) A receiver mechanism 36 for ths di~c drive include3 tracks 38 upon which the ~ealed cartridge ~2 slides as it is inserted into the drive 20. These tracks 38 allow the cartridge 22 to be inserted in a straight-in manner. The receiver mechani~m 35 includes a stop 40 which limitæ the rea~ward motion of cartriage 22 as it is in~erted into the drive 20.
The di~c drive 20 further includes a spindle motor assembly 42 which is mounted to the housing 24.
The spindl~ motor assembly 42 includes a motor 44 and a clutch plate 46 which is comprised in a preferred embodiment of sight alternati~g north and ~outh poles.
It is to be understood that $here may be aR few as only a ~ingle north and a single south pole in the clutch plate 46 ag well as many more than the eight alternating north and south poles. As can be seen in Figure 2, with the cartridge 22 inserted into the housing 24, cartri.dge 22 as will be described more fully hereinbelow, i9 spaced from the clutch plate 46 and the spindle motor asse~bly 42 ~o that there is no physical connection between the clutch plate 46 and the spindle motor assembly 42.
I~ Figure 1 the disc drive 20 further includes an actuator 47 which in a prefsrrea embodiment is comprised of a coil 48 such as used, in voice coil motor actuators for disc drives in general. This ~oil 48 is positioned in the disc drive 20 in such a way that it can be u~ed, i~ conjunction with permanent magnet 50 in cartridge 22, to actuate the read/write head~ positioned in the sealed cartridge 22 as will be expl~ined hereinbelow.
Further the disc drive 20 includes a data transfer connector 52 which i3 compatible with a connector o~ the cartridge 22 a~ will be explained WPl/SRM/SYQU/~400-6415.1 (PCT Appln. 9/14/89) 'S~ 77 hereinbelow. In a preferred embodiment this connector 52 includes an infrared ~enRor and an infrared ~ou~ce for allowing data to be tran~ferred between the drive 20 and the cartridge 22 without phy~ical contact between the connector 52 on the drive 20 and the connector 54 on the 6ealed cartridge 22. It is to be understood that the connectors 52, 54 can alternatively be comprised of tran~formers in order to transmit data to and from the sealed cartridge 22. Further as an alternative embodiment the connector 52 can include contact points which are physically directly contacted with the contact points of the connector 54 on the cartridge 22. Still further a prong and r~ceptacle arrangement such as shown in Figure 3 can be used to transfer data. It is to be understood that if the cartridge 22 is not provided with battsry power for operating the circuitry associated with data communication, ag explained below, that power can also be conducted through ths connector 52 to the connector 54 by a direct contact mechanism or a plug to receptacle mechani~m.
Disc drive 20 includes a cartridge loading and unloading motor 56 which pow~ers a roller 58, which in a preferred embodiment can be comprised of rub~er, in a clockwise directi~n in order to load the cartridge into the hou~lng 24 and in a counterclockwise manner in order to unload the cartridge 22 fro~ the housing 24.
Cartridge loading motor 56 brings the cartridge 22 to rest against stop 40. Depres6ing button 30 causes motor 56 to eject cartridge 22 fro~ di~c drive 20.
The disc drive 20 further includes a cartridge locking plunger 60 which is shown in Figure 1 in solid lines in an unlocked position and in phantom lines in a locked po~ition. Thi~ cartridge locking ~P1/SRM/SYQU/6400-641~.1 lPCT Appln. 9/14/89) plunger 60 ~auses a cartridge to be locked in to the housing 24 against the ~top 40. Depressing button 30 also releases plunger 60 from the loaded position.
The cartridge 22 of the invention is also depicted in Figure 1. Cartridge 22 include6 a housing 70 which in a preferred embodiment is co~prised of a rugged plastic material. Located inside of the cartridge 22 in a preferred embodimsnt are two data storage discs 72, 74. These discs 72, 74 are mounted for rotation about axis 75 on a hub assembly 76. Hub assembly 76 include6 armature plates 77, 83 which are located externally to cartridge housing 70 adjacent lower side 79 and upper side 85 of the sealed cartridge 22. In a preferred embodiment plates 77, 83 are comprised of alternating north and ~outh macJnetic poles that can be engaged by the cluto,h plate as describsd below.
With each major sur~ac:e such as major surface 78 of the disa 72, a head such as read/write head 80, is associated. Other heads 81 are shown in a phantom below head 80. Thus in a preferred embodimant having two discs, four read/write head~ are associated, one each assoeiated with each of the major surfaces of each disc. The heads 80, B1 are supported by a head arm assemhly 82. The head ar~ assembly 82 is secured to an actuator assembly 84 which is provided for rotation about axis 86. The axis 86 of rotation for head arm a~sembly 82 is substantially par~llel, in a preferred embodiment, to that of ~Xi9 75 of the hub assembly 76.
Secured to the actuator assembly 84 is the above-mentioned magnet 80. Thu~ movement of the magnet 50, which in a preferred embodiment i~ a permanent magnet, as caused by the coil 48 in the drive re~ults in the WP1/S~M/SYQU/6400-6415.1 (PCT Appln. 9/14/89~
mo~ement of the read/write heads 80, 81 relative to the di~cs.
An internal housing 90, which in a preferred embodiment i~ comprised of steel, is located inside of the cartrldge hou~ing 70 and is used to mount the axis 75, 86 in order to provide the 3ppropriate structural inte~rity for keeping these axis properly aligned.
Communicating with the read/write heads 80, 81 i an appropriate read/write ciLcuitry 92 which is located inside the cartridge 20 and which i6 associated with an energy storage device 6uch as the battery 94, which powers the read/write circuitry 92. A cable 96 provides communication between th~ heads 80, 81 and the read/writs circ~itry 92, while another cable 98 provide~ oommunication between the read/write circuitry 92 and the connector 54.
Also provided in the c,artridge 22 i6 an air filter 100 which filters the gas which is provided in the cartridge 22.
In a preferred embodimlent it is to be understood that an inert gas such as argon i8 u~ed to fill the cartridge. This inert gas allows the heads 80, 81 to fly lower and closer to the disc6 and thus increase the capacity of the disc to store data.
Further, as there is no atmosphere in cartridge 22, there is no condensation, and friction is reduced.
After the gas is injected into the cartridge 22, cartridge 22 is hermetically sealed to all but eliminate contamination damage to the discs and heads.
In operation, the cartridg~ 22 is inssrted into the door 34 of the disc drive 20 with the cartridse load motox 56 urging the cartridge into the disc driYe 20 and again~t the 6top 40.
WP1~SRM/SY~U/6~00-6415.1 (PCT Appln. 9/14/89) a~7 With the cartrid~e 22 fully inserted into the drive 20 the armature plate 77, which i8 the circular magnetic plate located adjacent to the lower side 79 of the cartrid~e 22 co~e8 lnto alignment with the magnetic clutch plate 46 of the spindle motor assembly 42. In a preferred embodiment, the eight north and ~outh pole segment~ of the armature plate 77 engage with the eight north and 60uth pole segment~ o~ the clutch plate 46, as cau~ed by the spindle motor 44, causes the armature plate 77 and thus the di~cs 72, 74 to spin at the proper rotational velocity.
The cartridge lockinq plunger 60 locks the cartridge in place with the permanent magnet 50 aligned underneath the coil 48 of tne actuator 47. With power being supplied to th~ coil 48, ths magnet 50 is urged to move and properly position the head~ relative to the di~c. With the heads properly positioned, data can be transferred to or read from the discs by the use of the connectors 52, 54 which provide for the transfer of information from the cartridge to the di~c drive.
An alter~ate embodiment of the invention is depicted in Figure 3. In thi~ embodiment the actuator 110 associated with the drive 20 includes first and ~econd magn~ts 112, 114 which in a preferred embodiment are permanent magnets. The cartridge 22 includes an actua~or a~6embly 116 and a coil 118. Unlike the read/write circuitry 92, the coil 118 draws substantial power, requiring that power to be provided to the cartridge directly from drive 20 in order to operate the coil as~e~bly 11a. Thi6 being the case, a standard prong and receptacle arrangement i~ provided with prongs 120 extending from the data tran~fer connector 52 in the drive 20 for mating with the receptacles in the data tran~fer connector 54 of the cartridge 22.
WP1/SRM/S~QU/6400-6~15.1 (PCT Appln. 9/14/89) f~ 7 Another altPrnative embodiment 130 of the invention is shown in Figures ~ and 5. In di~c drive 130, elementR which are similar to those shown in the embodiments in Figures 1 through 3 are numbered identically. In Figure 4 it can be sesn that the disc drive 130 is provided for receiving two cartridges, cartridge 22 and cartridge 23. Cartridge 22 iB
inserted as described hereinabove. Cartridge 23 i~
inserted through a ~econd door 132. It is to be under~tood that cartridges 22 and 23 are identical.
The drive 130 include an actuator a~sembly 134 which has fir~t and second coils 136, 138. Each coil is used to actuate the magnets associated with the heads into the cartridges 22, 23 in order to cause the heads to traverse the discs. Disc drive 130 includes first and second connectors 140, 142 for providing data transfer connections to the cartxidges that are in3erted in the drive as discussed hereinabove.
The spindle motor as~embly 144 is mounted through a plate 146 which divides the drive 130 into two compartments, one compartmenl- for each of the cartridges 22, 23. The spindle motor assembly 144 includes a spindle motor 148, upper and low r magnetic clutch plates 150, 152 similar in design and concept to the magn~tic clutch plate 46 in Figure 1. A cartridge 22 inserted through the upper door 34 would have an armature plate, such as armature plate 77 in alignment with the upper magnetic clutch plate 150, while the ar~ature plate 83 of cartridge 23 would be in alignment with the lower magnetic clutch plate 152.
Drive 130 includes a mode selector switch 154 which allows the drive 130 to be placed in one of the several modes. The fir~t mode allows a host computer WPl/SRM/SYQU/6400-6415.1 (PCT Appln. 9/14/~93 g~4177 to selectively place data on one or the other cartridge as directed by the host.
The second mode allows for automatic and instantaneous backup, in that data is recorded ~imultançou ly on both the first cartridge as the primary cartridge and on the second cartridge as the backup cartridge.
Anothsr embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 6. In this embo~iment cartridges 22 and 23 are permanently affixed into drive 160 by appropriate securing mechanisms such as screws 162, 164. Thus the disc drive of the invention can be converted into a fixed drive with th~ capacity of currently available fixed drives. It is to be understood that in a preferred embodiment, each disc in the cartridge contains approximately fifty to one hundred megabytes of information and thus each cartridge can contain approximately one hundred to two hundred megabytes of information. The two cartridges fixed into drive 160 giving thi~ drive 160 the capability of storing up to 400 megabytes of data.
Another embodiment 200 of the removable cartridge of the present invention is depicted in Figures 7, 8, and 9. This embodiment includes an outer housing 202 and an inner housing 204. The outer housi~g 202 includes a top 206 and a base 208 and the inner hou6ing 204 includes a top 210 and a ~ase 212.
In Flgure 7 the top 206 of the cartridge 200 haæ been partially cut away ln order to reveal the positioning of the inner housing 204. The inner housing 204 is ~ounted to the ba~e 208 of the outer housing 202 with ~hock ~ounts 214. In a preferred embodiment the shock mounts 214 can include, by way of example only~ ru.bber mounts u~ed to secure the inner housing 204 to the WP1/SRM/SYQU/6400-6415.1 (PCT Appln. 9/14/B9~
y~
outer housing ~02. The top 206 and the base 208 of the outer housing 202 are sealed together by methods known in the trade in order to prevent additional contaminants from reaching inside of the outer housing.
Similarly, the top 210 and the base 212 of the inner housi.ng 204 are s~aled in order to prevent additio~al contaminants from reaching the insid~ of the inner housing.
The present embodiment has the advantage that should the cartridge 200 be dropped, the housing and the shock mounts insulate the discs 216, 218 from the shock of impact.
The four head~ 220 mounted on the head arm assembly 222 are al80 insulated from shock by the shocX
mounts 214. The heads 220 and the head arm assembly 222 are shown in phantom in Figure 7. Also shown in phantom in Figure 7 i8 the actuator assembly 224. The head arm assembly 222 and the actuator assembly ~24 pivot about axis 226 as is demon~trated ~y the three po~itions of the heads 220 shown in phantom in Figure 7. A8 can be sesn in Figure 9, the actuator a~sembly 224 includes a voice coil type mechanism 228 which has upper and lower permanent magnet~ 230, 232 and an electromagnet 234. The permanent magnets 230, 232 ~hich are affixed to the top 210 and base 212 of the inner house 204, respsctively. The electromagnet 224 is mounted on an extension of the head arm assembly 222 pivot about axis 226 such that a~ the ~urrent to the el~ctromagnet 234 and the position of the arm a~sembly 222 and headÆ 220 change in order to position the head6 at a desired location relative to the tracks on the di~cs 216, 218. A connector 236 is provided for communicating data signals to and from the heads 220 and position signal~ to the actuator a~Eembly 224. The WP1/SRM/SYQU/6400-6415.1 ~PCT Appln. 9/14~89) connector 236 mates with a conductor positioned in the drive a~ demonstrated by the other embodiments.
In viewing Figure 10, an alternative embodiment 250 o the re~ovable ca.rtridge i8 depicted positioned in a drive 262. In this embodiment, each cartridge includes upper and lower magnetic armature plates 252, 254. These armature plates 252, 254 extend from the outer housing 256 of the cartridge 250. In this arrangement, the cartridge 250 can ba positioned in either the upper receiving mechanism 258 or the lower receiving mechanism 260 of the drive 262 without inverting the cartridge as in eith~r receiving mechanism 258, 260, both the upper clutch plate 264 and the lower clutch plate 266 of the ~pindle motor 268 are ma~netic and can engage either the upper armature plate 252 or the lower armature plate 254 which is placed adjacent thereto.
In this embodiment, the cartridge 250 includes shutter mechanis~s 8uch as ~hutter mechanism 270 which are used to cover both the upper and lower armature plate 252, 254. The ~hutter mechanism 270 is comprised of a material, known in the art, which can provide a magnetic field hield. The shutter mechanisms are spring loaded by spring mechanism 272.
Just prior to the cartridge 250 being ejected ~rom the drive, the drive releas~s the spring mechanism 272 SQ
that the spring ~echanism 272 can cause the shutter 270 to be positioned over the magnetic armature plates 252, 254 in order to break the magnetic bo~d between the armature plate~ and the clutch plates. With ths cartridge removed from the drive, the ~hutter prevents metallic object~ from being attracted to the armature plates. When the cartrid~e i8 positioned in the drive, the dr~ve overrides the spring mechanism 272 to WP1/S~M/SYQU/6400-6415.1 (PCT ~ppln. 9/14/89~
urge the shutter 270 away from its covering ~08ition exposing the magnetic field of the arm~ture plate 254 to the mag~etic field of the clutch plate 264 of the spindle motor 268. In Figura 10, shutters 274, 276 have been urged into non-shielding positions.
Figurs 11 depicts yet anothsr alternative embodiment 300 of the drive with a cartridgP loading mechanism 302. This loading mechanism 302 includes an upper loading mechani~m 304 and a lower loading mechanism 306. The upper loading mechanism 304 is used to urge the cartridge into and eject the cartridge out of the upper receiving mechanism while the lower loading meahanism 306 i~ used similarly in conjunction with the lower port. The upper loading mechanism 304 includes a motor 308 and a pulley arrangement 301 which link~ the motor to a apring loaded mounting frame 312, which mounts rollers 314, 316 in order to urge the cartridge into the housin~ and eject the cartridge from the housing. Associated with thls frame is a microswitch 315. As the cartridge is urged into the housing and contacts with the rollers 314, 316, the spring loaded frame 312 i5 urged from its rest position triggering microswitch 315 which causes the motor 308 to turn on causing the rollPrs 314, 316 to urge the cartridge into the drive. An eject button on the face of the drive causes the motor to drive the rollers 314, 216 in the opposite direction ejecting the cartridge.
The lower load mechanism 306 works in a similar manner.
Induatxial ~li~a~2i lity From the description of the preferred embodiment and the operation of the invention it is readily apparent that the disc drive 20 of the present invention provide~ for a simple, efficient, and WP1/SRM~SYQU/6400-~415.1 (PCT Appln. 9/14/89) economical drive and hermetically sealad cartridge.
The drive contains a spindle motor having a ~agnetic clutch plate for magnetically engaging the magnetic armature plata of the cartridge 80 that there i~ not contact between the cartridge and tAe spindle m~tor assembly. Thus the receiver mechanism of the disc drive i8 not required to align the discs ~ith the spindl2 motor using the expensive techniques of the prior art devices.
Further the actuator is divid~d into components, one located in the driv~ and the other in the cartridge so that the cartridge can be completely sealed with the heads 80, 81 permanently located in the cartridge 22 and positioned with respect to the discs 72, 74. A~ ths cartridge is truly sealed, unlike prior art davices which require shutter doors to allow access into the cartridge, cartridge contamination can all but be eliminated.
The present invention also provides for a data transfer connector which is an infrared signal sender and sensor so that the cartridge and the housing do not have to be connected.
Further it i3 evident that the cartridge 22 is ruggedized so that it can withstand harsh treatment while being transported from device to device.
Other aspects and objects of the invention can be obtained from review of the figures and the appended claims.
It is to be understood that other e~bodiments of the present invention can be provided which fall within the spirit and scope of the present claims.
WP1/SRM/SYQU/~400-6415.1 (PCT Appln. 9/14/89)
A ~ V~ In~
Inventors: Syed H. Iftikar John J. Mandish FT~D OF~THE INVENTION
The present invention i9 related to a disc drive and in particular a high density di~c drive capable of selectively receiving a sealed removable cartridge containing media on which data may be stored.
BA~RGRQUND OF TH~ INV~NTI~
With ~he exception of the present As~iynee, Syquest Technology, attempts to provids for a disc drive which can raceive a removable aartridge containing data storage media have met with only limited suacess. Problems (1) inherent in providing a cartridge receiver mechanism for accurately aligning a cartridge and a disc with respect to read/write heads and a spindle motor, and t2) associated with loading and unloading raad/write heads onto the disc without damage to aither the heads or the disc, are difficult to de~ign for as capacities are increased, and therefor8 place limitations on the amount of data that can be stored. As a further data stora~e limitation, the cartridges usually contain only one disc for dat storage. ~hu6, the market for ~uch removable cartridgss disc drives is a highly specialized one.
Such drives ara typically providsd where the removable cartrid~e ~ust be locked up between uses for se~urity reasons.
On the high end of the spectrum, during ths mid-nineteen eventie~, IBM introduced a Winchester drive (IBM 3340) with a removable data ~odule having a capacity of 30 megabytes. This disc drive was used WP1/S~M/S~QUJ6~00-6415.1 (PCT Appln~ 9/14/89) Y~
with large IBM mainframe~ and not with micro and personal computer~. Thi~ data module used a plurality of 14-inch di~c~ and welghted approximately 20 pour.ds.
The disc drive had a co~plex mechanism with levers and gears to receive the data module. The data module required a number of connections to the di~c drive in order for the module and drive to operate. First there needed to be a mechanical connector for tr nsporting electrical ~ignal~ between the drive and the data module. Then there were alignment device6 ~uch as docking pin# to hold the data module in alignment with the drive. Further a spindle mechanism including a belt and pulley needed to be operably engaged with the module in order to spi~ the discs at an accurate speed.
A mechanical connection needed to be made between a carriage which supported multiple read,'write head~, which were positionable relative to the disc~, and a voics coil actuator which was part of ths drive.
Finally, a ~hutter mechanism had to be incorporated in order to allow the actuator mechani~m to be insertable into the data module so that the actuator mechanism could engage with the carrlage which supported the read/write he~ds.
Quite naturally, while such a d vice had co~mercial success, it wa~ expensive and cumbersome to use and not fiuitable for the price-competitive low-end ~arkets which demands the capabilitie6 and performance of high-e~d machine~. Further contamination of the discs and head~ wa~ possible due to the need to open the shutter mecha~is~ each time the data module was engaged with the di~c drive.
Another product manufactured by New World Computer8 had a data module with a five ~egabyte ~torage capacity. As with the IBM 3340, the module had WP1/SRM/S~QU/64~0-6415.1 (PCT Appln. 9/14/89) media, spindle and read/write head~, all locatsd inside of the module. The heads were of a multiple element, fixed-arm design. This d~sign wa~ ~uite expensive to implement due to the multiple head elements required per di~c ~urface, and had limited performance.
Considering the prior art, there is still a need for an accurate, relatively inexpensive, high capacity disc drive with a removable cartridga.
SuMMAB~ QF THE I~VF,~
The present invention is directed toward~
providing a high capacity aisc drive arrangement using a sealed removable cartridge which i5 al~o oapable of a fixed drive implementation.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a di~c drive having a simplified cartridge receiver mechanism that doe~ not have the alignment constraints of prior devices.
It is an object of the present in~ention to provide for a disc drive which can receive a cartridge, urged into the drive in a straight-in motion, without having the position of the cartridge manipulated by the receiver mechanism of the drive in order to have the cartridge set down on a spindle motor in an aligned manner.
It i9 a further object of the present invention to provide or a spindle mechanis~ which can operably engage a hub assembly which positions the disc inside of a sealed cartridge, so as to cause the disc to rotate without the spindle physically engaging the hub assembly.
It is an object of the present in~ention to provide for a spindle motor having a magnetic clutch WP1/SRM/SYQU/6400-6415.1 lPCT Appln. 9/14/89) ~n~D~77 mechanlsm which engages a magnetic armature plate of the hub assembly located in the cartridge.
It i8 an object of the pre3ent invention to provide fo~ an actuator such a~ for example a voice coil motor which i8 in part located in the driva and in part in a sealed cartridge.
It i yet an object of the invention to provide for da~a tran~far between the di~c drive and cartridge in a manner that does not require a phy6ical or hard connection between the cartridge and the di~c drive.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide for a disc drive which does not have to be connected in any physical way to a sealed cartridge inserted therein and does not require acceæ6 into the cartridge for the loading of heads onto a disc and for the actuation of the head~.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide for a disc drive which can accept at least two cartridges, the second cartridge of which can be used ~or either (1) providing a back-up ~or data stored on the fir#t cartridge and/or (2~ u~ed as additional storag~ space.
It is another object of the present invention to provide for a disc drive which can be used selectively as a removable cartridge di~c drive or as a Pixed disc drive.
It is an object o~ th~ prese~t invention to ~rovide a cartridge that doe not have the alig~ment constraints of pri~r devioe~.
It i~ a ur~her object of the present invention to provide a cartridge with a hub a~sembly which position~ a di c inside of the sealed cartrid~e and which can engage a ~pi~dle me~hanism of a disc WP1/SRM/SYQU/6400-6415.1 (PCT Appln. 9/14/89) ~ r~4 7 7 drive, so as to cause the disc to rotate without the spindle mechanism physically engaging the hub a~sembly.
It is an object of the present invention to provide for a maynetic armature plats as part of the hub assembly located in the cartridge which engages magnetic clutch mechanism o~ the ~pindle mechanism.
The invention includes a disc drive adapted for receiving a sealed removable cartridge containing a disc and a head mounted relative to the disc. The disc drive comprises a housing including a door mean~
adapted for recaiving the sealed cartridge, and a cartrldge receiver mechanism. A spindle motor mechanism is adapted for causing the disc to ~pin with the cartridge rsceived in the recPiver mechanism. ~he spindle motor i5 spaced from and does not come into contact with the cartridge. Further an actuator machani~m is provided which is d;Lsposed partially in the disc drive and partially in the sealed cartridge.
A mechanism is provided for communicating data between the sealed cartridge and housing without a conventional connection being made between the two.
The invention inaludes a sealea cartrid~e adapted for selective use in disc drive which comprise~ a ~ealed housing, a di~c positioned in the hou~ing and a head positioned in the housing in association with the disc. The cartridge includes a device for rotationally mounting the disc in the hou8ing and a device for movably mounting the head in the housing so that the head can move relative to the disc. Further a cartridge actuator mechanism adapted for use with an actuator arrangement of a disc drive is provided in order that the ac~uator means and the actuator arrangement san cooperate to move the head relative to the disc. A ~agnetic coupling mechanism is WP1/SRM/S~QU~6~00-6415.1 (PCT Appln. 9/14/89) ~J;~ 7~
adapted for magnetically aoupling the disc to the di~c driYe in order that the disc driYe can cause the dis~
to rotate without the magnetic coupling means phy~ically touching the disc drive.
In an aspect of the invention, the spindle motor i~clude~ a magnetic mechani3m adapted for magnetically engaging the disc located in the sealed cartridge, for urging the disc to rotate.
In yet another aspect of the invention, the actuator mechanism include a coil assembly which can be di~po~ed adjacent the receiver mechanism o the disc drive with a permanent magnet provided in the sealed cartrid~e, the coil and the permanent magnet cooperating to form the actuator which allows the heads to move relative to the disc.
In yet another aspect of the present invention the permanent magnet of the actuator can be located in the disc drive with the coil located in the ~ealed cartridge.
I~ a further aspect of the invention a communication meahanism such as for example an infrared source and sensor are u~ed to transmit data between the sealed c~rtridge and the housing.
In yet another a~pect of the invention, a disc drive is provided which can accept two sealed cartridges with the spindle ~echanism located between the two ealed cartridgeq. The spindle mechanism of the device incl~des, on oppoæite sides thereof, mechanisms for operably engaging the hub assembly of each ~artridge, with the upper cartridge inserted right ~ide up and the lower cartridge inserted up~ide down.
In yet another aspect of the invention a meahanism is provided for configuring the disc drive a WP1/SRM/SYQU/6400-~415.1 (PC~ Appln. 9/14/89) a fixed disc drive u~ing cartridges, which are permanently sec~red inside the housing of the disc drive.
Thus it is evident that the present invention provides for a disc drive with a simplified receiver mechanism not con trained by the alignment con~idçrations of prior device~. As the alignment con~iderations are greatly reduced, tha need for highly accurate spindle motors with accurate bearing m~chanisms i~ reduced. The major requirement then being that the speed of the spindle motor be maintainsd accurately.
Further the present invention provides for an actuator mechaniam partially located in a disc drive and partially located in the cartridge 50 that the cartridge can be hermetically sealed i~ a clean room, eliminating contamination probl~m~, and ~o that problems associated with the head loading and unloading can be eliminated a~ the heads are always loadsd on the disc.
~RIEF DE~ç~l~TIo~ Q~ THE ~IGURES
~ igure 1 d~plct~ an embodiment of the disc drive of the invention which can accept an embodiment of a sealed cartridge of the in~ention and includes an actuator coil positioned in the dxive.
Figure 2 depicts a sectional view taken through line 2-2 in Figure 1 with a cartridge in~erted into the drive.
Figure 3 depict~ an e~bodiment of ths invention similar to Figure 1 but with an actuator permanent magnet located in the drive.
Figure 4 d~picts an embodiment of a disc WP1/SRM/SYQU/6400-6415.1 (PCT ApplnO 9/14/89~
drive of the invention which can receive two cartridges of the invention.
Fig~re 5 depicts a sectional view of Figure 4 through line 5-5 with two cartridges inserted into the disc drive.
Figure 6 depicts a disc drive which accepts two cartridges and which cartridges can be sPcured permanently in the drive to provide for a disc drive with fixed cartridges and thus fixed discs.
Figure 7 i8 a top, partially cut away visw of another embodiment of the ca~tridge invention.
Figure 8 is a section view taken through line 8-8 of Figure 7.
Figure 9 is a section view taken through line 9-9 of Figure 7.
Figure 10 is still another embodiment of the drive and cartridge of the present invention shown in a view similar to the view of Figure 8.
Figure 11 is a top view with the top plate and certain ele~ents removed of another embodiment of the drive of the present invention.
DET~IL~_D~SCRIP~ION QF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
With reference to the figures and in particular Figure 1 a disc drive 20 and a sealed removable cartridge 22 of thG inve~tion are depicted.
Disc drive 20 includes a housing 24 with side mounting brackets 26. Housing 24 further includeR a faceplate 28. Faceplate 28 includes a cartridge ejection button 30 and a mode selection button 32. ~he faceplate 28 further includes a hinged door 34 which is urged out of the way by the sealed cartridge 22 as it is in erted into the disc drive 20.
WP1/SRM/SYQU/6400-6415.1 (PCT Appln. 9/14/89) A receiver mechanism 36 for ths di~c drive include3 tracks 38 upon which the ~ealed cartridge ~2 slides as it is inserted into the drive 20. These tracks 38 allow the cartridge 22 to be inserted in a straight-in manner. The receiver mechani~m 35 includes a stop 40 which limitæ the rea~ward motion of cartriage 22 as it is in~erted into the drive 20.
The di~c drive 20 further includes a spindle motor assembly 42 which is mounted to the housing 24.
The spindl~ motor assembly 42 includes a motor 44 and a clutch plate 46 which is comprised in a preferred embodiment of sight alternati~g north and ~outh poles.
It is to be understood that $here may be aR few as only a ~ingle north and a single south pole in the clutch plate 46 ag well as many more than the eight alternating north and south poles. As can be seen in Figure 2, with the cartridge 22 inserted into the housing 24, cartri.dge 22 as will be described more fully hereinbelow, i9 spaced from the clutch plate 46 and the spindle motor asse~bly 42 ~o that there is no physical connection between the clutch plate 46 and the spindle motor assembly 42.
I~ Figure 1 the disc drive 20 further includes an actuator 47 which in a prefsrrea embodiment is comprised of a coil 48 such as used, in voice coil motor actuators for disc drives in general. This ~oil 48 is positioned in the disc drive 20 in such a way that it can be u~ed, i~ conjunction with permanent magnet 50 in cartridge 22, to actuate the read/write head~ positioned in the sealed cartridge 22 as will be expl~ined hereinbelow.
Further the disc drive 20 includes a data transfer connector 52 which i3 compatible with a connector o~ the cartridge 22 a~ will be explained WPl/SRM/SYQU/~400-6415.1 (PCT Appln. 9/14/89) 'S~ 77 hereinbelow. In a preferred embodiment this connector 52 includes an infrared ~enRor and an infrared ~ou~ce for allowing data to be tran~ferred between the drive 20 and the cartridge 22 without phy~ical contact between the connector 52 on the drive 20 and the connector 54 on the 6ealed cartridge 22. It is to be understood that the connectors 52, 54 can alternatively be comprised of tran~formers in order to transmit data to and from the sealed cartridge 22. Further as an alternative embodiment the connector 52 can include contact points which are physically directly contacted with the contact points of the connector 54 on the cartridge 22. Still further a prong and r~ceptacle arrangement such as shown in Figure 3 can be used to transfer data. It is to be understood that if the cartridge 22 is not provided with battsry power for operating the circuitry associated with data communication, ag explained below, that power can also be conducted through ths connector 52 to the connector 54 by a direct contact mechanism or a plug to receptacle mechani~m.
Disc drive 20 includes a cartridge loading and unloading motor 56 which pow~ers a roller 58, which in a preferred embodiment can be comprised of rub~er, in a clockwise directi~n in order to load the cartridge into the hou~lng 24 and in a counterclockwise manner in order to unload the cartridge 22 fro~ the housing 24.
Cartridge loading motor 56 brings the cartridge 22 to rest against stop 40. Depres6ing button 30 causes motor 56 to eject cartridge 22 fro~ di~c drive 20.
The disc drive 20 further includes a cartridge locking plunger 60 which is shown in Figure 1 in solid lines in an unlocked position and in phantom lines in a locked po~ition. Thi~ cartridge locking ~P1/SRM/SYQU/6400-641~.1 lPCT Appln. 9/14/89) plunger 60 ~auses a cartridge to be locked in to the housing 24 against the ~top 40. Depressing button 30 also releases plunger 60 from the loaded position.
The cartridge 22 of the invention is also depicted in Figure 1. Cartridge 22 include6 a housing 70 which in a preferred embodiment is co~prised of a rugged plastic material. Located inside of the cartridge 22 in a preferred embodimsnt are two data storage discs 72, 74. These discs 72, 74 are mounted for rotation about axis 75 on a hub assembly 76. Hub assembly 76 include6 armature plates 77, 83 which are located externally to cartridge housing 70 adjacent lower side 79 and upper side 85 of the sealed cartridge 22. In a preferred embodiment plates 77, 83 are comprised of alternating north and ~outh macJnetic poles that can be engaged by the cluto,h plate as describsd below.
With each major sur~ac:e such as major surface 78 of the disa 72, a head such as read/write head 80, is associated. Other heads 81 are shown in a phantom below head 80. Thus in a preferred embodimant having two discs, four read/write head~ are associated, one each assoeiated with each of the major surfaces of each disc. The heads 80, B1 are supported by a head arm assemhly 82. The head ar~ assembly 82 is secured to an actuator assembly 84 which is provided for rotation about axis 86. The axis 86 of rotation for head arm a~sembly 82 is substantially par~llel, in a preferred embodiment, to that of ~Xi9 75 of the hub assembly 76.
Secured to the actuator assembly 84 is the above-mentioned magnet 80. Thu~ movement of the magnet 50, which in a preferred embodiment i~ a permanent magnet, as caused by the coil 48 in the drive re~ults in the WP1/S~M/SYQU/6400-6415.1 (PCT Appln. 9/14/89~
mo~ement of the read/write heads 80, 81 relative to the di~cs.
An internal housing 90, which in a preferred embodiment i~ comprised of steel, is located inside of the cartrldge hou~ing 70 and is used to mount the axis 75, 86 in order to provide the 3ppropriate structural inte~rity for keeping these axis properly aligned.
Communicating with the read/write heads 80, 81 i an appropriate read/write ciLcuitry 92 which is located inside the cartridge 20 and which i6 associated with an energy storage device 6uch as the battery 94, which powers the read/write circuitry 92. A cable 96 provides communication between th~ heads 80, 81 and the read/writs circ~itry 92, while another cable 98 provide~ oommunication between the read/write circuitry 92 and the connector 54.
Also provided in the c,artridge 22 i6 an air filter 100 which filters the gas which is provided in the cartridge 22.
In a preferred embodimlent it is to be understood that an inert gas such as argon i8 u~ed to fill the cartridge. This inert gas allows the heads 80, 81 to fly lower and closer to the disc6 and thus increase the capacity of the disc to store data.
Further, as there is no atmosphere in cartridge 22, there is no condensation, and friction is reduced.
After the gas is injected into the cartridge 22, cartridge 22 is hermetically sealed to all but eliminate contamination damage to the discs and heads.
In operation, the cartridg~ 22 is inssrted into the door 34 of the disc drive 20 with the cartridse load motox 56 urging the cartridge into the disc driYe 20 and again~t the 6top 40.
WP1~SRM/SY~U/6~00-6415.1 (PCT Appln. 9/14/89) a~7 With the cartrid~e 22 fully inserted into the drive 20 the armature plate 77, which i8 the circular magnetic plate located adjacent to the lower side 79 of the cartrid~e 22 co~e8 lnto alignment with the magnetic clutch plate 46 of the spindle motor assembly 42. In a preferred embodiment, the eight north and ~outh pole segment~ of the armature plate 77 engage with the eight north and 60uth pole segment~ o~ the clutch plate 46, as cau~ed by the spindle motor 44, causes the armature plate 77 and thus the di~cs 72, 74 to spin at the proper rotational velocity.
The cartridge lockinq plunger 60 locks the cartridge in place with the permanent magnet 50 aligned underneath the coil 48 of tne actuator 47. With power being supplied to th~ coil 48, ths magnet 50 is urged to move and properly position the head~ relative to the di~c. With the heads properly positioned, data can be transferred to or read from the discs by the use of the connectors 52, 54 which provide for the transfer of information from the cartridge to the di~c drive.
An alter~ate embodiment of the invention is depicted in Figure 3. In thi~ embodiment the actuator 110 associated with the drive 20 includes first and ~econd magn~ts 112, 114 which in a preferred embodiment are permanent magnets. The cartridge 22 includes an actua~or a~6embly 116 and a coil 118. Unlike the read/write circuitry 92, the coil 118 draws substantial power, requiring that power to be provided to the cartridge directly from drive 20 in order to operate the coil as~e~bly 11a. Thi6 being the case, a standard prong and receptacle arrangement i~ provided with prongs 120 extending from the data tran~fer connector 52 in the drive 20 for mating with the receptacles in the data tran~fer connector 54 of the cartridge 22.
WP1/SRM/S~QU/6400-6~15.1 (PCT Appln. 9/14/89) f~ 7 Another altPrnative embodiment 130 of the invention is shown in Figures ~ and 5. In di~c drive 130, elementR which are similar to those shown in the embodiments in Figures 1 through 3 are numbered identically. In Figure 4 it can be sesn that the disc drive 130 is provided for receiving two cartridges, cartridge 22 and cartridge 23. Cartridge 22 iB
inserted as described hereinabove. Cartridge 23 i~
inserted through a ~econd door 132. It is to be under~tood that cartridges 22 and 23 are identical.
The drive 130 include an actuator a~sembly 134 which has fir~t and second coils 136, 138. Each coil is used to actuate the magnets associated with the heads into the cartridges 22, 23 in order to cause the heads to traverse the discs. Disc drive 130 includes first and second connectors 140, 142 for providing data transfer connections to the cartxidges that are in3erted in the drive as discussed hereinabove.
The spindle motor as~embly 144 is mounted through a plate 146 which divides the drive 130 into two compartments, one compartmenl- for each of the cartridges 22, 23. The spindle motor assembly 144 includes a spindle motor 148, upper and low r magnetic clutch plates 150, 152 similar in design and concept to the magn~tic clutch plate 46 in Figure 1. A cartridge 22 inserted through the upper door 34 would have an armature plate, such as armature plate 77 in alignment with the upper magnetic clutch plate 150, while the ar~ature plate 83 of cartridge 23 would be in alignment with the lower magnetic clutch plate 152.
Drive 130 includes a mode selector switch 154 which allows the drive 130 to be placed in one of the several modes. The fir~t mode allows a host computer WPl/SRM/SYQU/6400-6415.1 (PCT Appln. 9/14/~93 g~4177 to selectively place data on one or the other cartridge as directed by the host.
The second mode allows for automatic and instantaneous backup, in that data is recorded ~imultançou ly on both the first cartridge as the primary cartridge and on the second cartridge as the backup cartridge.
Anothsr embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 6. In this embo~iment cartridges 22 and 23 are permanently affixed into drive 160 by appropriate securing mechanisms such as screws 162, 164. Thus the disc drive of the invention can be converted into a fixed drive with th~ capacity of currently available fixed drives. It is to be understood that in a preferred embodiment, each disc in the cartridge contains approximately fifty to one hundred megabytes of information and thus each cartridge can contain approximately one hundred to two hundred megabytes of information. The two cartridges fixed into drive 160 giving thi~ drive 160 the capability of storing up to 400 megabytes of data.
Another embodiment 200 of the removable cartridge of the present invention is depicted in Figures 7, 8, and 9. This embodiment includes an outer housing 202 and an inner housing 204. The outer housi~g 202 includes a top 206 and a base 208 and the inner hou6ing 204 includes a top 210 and a ~ase 212.
In Flgure 7 the top 206 of the cartridge 200 haæ been partially cut away ln order to reveal the positioning of the inner housing 204. The inner housing 204 is ~ounted to the ba~e 208 of the outer housing 202 with ~hock ~ounts 214. In a preferred embodiment the shock mounts 214 can include, by way of example only~ ru.bber mounts u~ed to secure the inner housing 204 to the WP1/SRM/SYQU/6400-6415.1 (PCT Appln. 9/14/B9~
y~
outer housing ~02. The top 206 and the base 208 of the outer housing 202 are sealed together by methods known in the trade in order to prevent additional contaminants from reaching inside of the outer housing.
Similarly, the top 210 and the base 212 of the inner housi.ng 204 are s~aled in order to prevent additio~al contaminants from reaching the insid~ of the inner housing.
The present embodiment has the advantage that should the cartridge 200 be dropped, the housing and the shock mounts insulate the discs 216, 218 from the shock of impact.
The four head~ 220 mounted on the head arm assembly 222 are al80 insulated from shock by the shocX
mounts 214. The heads 220 and the head arm assembly 222 are shown in phantom in Figure 7. Also shown in phantom in Figure 7 i8 the actuator assembly 224. The head arm assembly 222 and the actuator assembly ~24 pivot about axis 226 as is demon~trated ~y the three po~itions of the heads 220 shown in phantom in Figure 7. A8 can be sesn in Figure 9, the actuator a~sembly 224 includes a voice coil type mechanism 228 which has upper and lower permanent magnet~ 230, 232 and an electromagnet 234. The permanent magnets 230, 232 ~hich are affixed to the top 210 and base 212 of the inner house 204, respsctively. The electromagnet 224 is mounted on an extension of the head arm assembly 222 pivot about axis 226 such that a~ the ~urrent to the el~ctromagnet 234 and the position of the arm a~sembly 222 and headÆ 220 change in order to position the head6 at a desired location relative to the tracks on the di~cs 216, 218. A connector 236 is provided for communicating data signals to and from the heads 220 and position signal~ to the actuator a~Eembly 224. The WP1/SRM/SYQU/6400-6415.1 ~PCT Appln. 9/14~89) connector 236 mates with a conductor positioned in the drive a~ demonstrated by the other embodiments.
In viewing Figure 10, an alternative embodiment 250 o the re~ovable ca.rtridge i8 depicted positioned in a drive 262. In this embodiment, each cartridge includes upper and lower magnetic armature plates 252, 254. These armature plates 252, 254 extend from the outer housing 256 of the cartridge 250. In this arrangement, the cartridge 250 can ba positioned in either the upper receiving mechanism 258 or the lower receiving mechanism 260 of the drive 262 without inverting the cartridge as in eith~r receiving mechanism 258, 260, both the upper clutch plate 264 and the lower clutch plate 266 of the ~pindle motor 268 are ma~netic and can engage either the upper armature plate 252 or the lower armature plate 254 which is placed adjacent thereto.
In this embodiment, the cartridge 250 includes shutter mechanis~s 8uch as ~hutter mechanism 270 which are used to cover both the upper and lower armature plate 252, 254. The ~hutter mechanism 270 is comprised of a material, known in the art, which can provide a magnetic field hield. The shutter mechanisms are spring loaded by spring mechanism 272.
Just prior to the cartridge 250 being ejected ~rom the drive, the drive releas~s the spring mechanism 272 SQ
that the spring ~echanism 272 can cause the shutter 270 to be positioned over the magnetic armature plates 252, 254 in order to break the magnetic bo~d between the armature plate~ and the clutch plates. With ths cartridge removed from the drive, the ~hutter prevents metallic object~ from being attracted to the armature plates. When the cartrid~e i8 positioned in the drive, the dr~ve overrides the spring mechanism 272 to WP1/S~M/SYQU/6400-6415.1 (PCT ~ppln. 9/14/89~
urge the shutter 270 away from its covering ~08ition exposing the magnetic field of the arm~ture plate 254 to the mag~etic field of the clutch plate 264 of the spindle motor 268. In Figura 10, shutters 274, 276 have been urged into non-shielding positions.
Figurs 11 depicts yet anothsr alternative embodiment 300 of the drive with a cartridgP loading mechanism 302. This loading mechanism 302 includes an upper loading mechani~m 304 and a lower loading mechanism 306. The upper loading mechanism 304 is used to urge the cartridge into and eject the cartridge out of the upper receiving mechanism while the lower loading meahanism 306 i~ used similarly in conjunction with the lower port. The upper loading mechanism 304 includes a motor 308 and a pulley arrangement 301 which link~ the motor to a apring loaded mounting frame 312, which mounts rollers 314, 316 in order to urge the cartridge into the housin~ and eject the cartridge from the housing. Associated with thls frame is a microswitch 315. As the cartridge is urged into the housing and contacts with the rollers 314, 316, the spring loaded frame 312 i5 urged from its rest position triggering microswitch 315 which causes the motor 308 to turn on causing the rollPrs 314, 316 to urge the cartridge into the drive. An eject button on the face of the drive causes the motor to drive the rollers 314, 216 in the opposite direction ejecting the cartridge.
The lower load mechanism 306 works in a similar manner.
Induatxial ~li~a~2i lity From the description of the preferred embodiment and the operation of the invention it is readily apparent that the disc drive 20 of the present invention provide~ for a simple, efficient, and WP1/SRM~SYQU/6400-~415.1 (PCT Appln. 9/14/89) economical drive and hermetically sealad cartridge.
The drive contains a spindle motor having a ~agnetic clutch plate for magnetically engaging the magnetic armature plata of the cartridge 80 that there i~ not contact between the cartridge and tAe spindle m~tor assembly. Thus the receiver mechanism of the disc drive i8 not required to align the discs ~ith the spindl2 motor using the expensive techniques of the prior art devices.
Further the actuator is divid~d into components, one located in the driv~ and the other in the cartridge so that the cartridge can be completely sealed with the heads 80, 81 permanently located in the cartridge 22 and positioned with respect to the discs 72, 74. A~ ths cartridge is truly sealed, unlike prior art davices which require shutter doors to allow access into the cartridge, cartridge contamination can all but be eliminated.
The present invention also provides for a data transfer connector which is an infrared signal sender and sensor so that the cartridge and the housing do not have to be connected.
Further it i3 evident that the cartridge 22 is ruggedized so that it can withstand harsh treatment while being transported from device to device.
Other aspects and objects of the invention can be obtained from review of the figures and the appended claims.
It is to be understood that other e~bodiments of the present invention can be provided which fall within the spirit and scope of the present claims.
WP1/SRM/SYQU/~400-6415.1 (PCT Appln. 9/14/89)
Claims (96)
1. A disc drive adapted for receiving a sealed removable cartridge containing a disc mounted on a hub arrangement having a magnetic armature plate, and a read/write head mounted relative to the disc with an actuator component operably connected to the read/write head, wherein said disc drive comprises:
a housing including a cartridge receiver means adapted for receiving the cartridge;
a spindle motor means provided in said housing and adapted for causing the disc to spin, said spindle motor means mounted in said housing such that with the cartridge received in said receiver mechanism said spindle motor means is spaced from the cartridge;
said spindle motor means including a magnetic means adapted for magnetically engaging the magnetic armature plate of the cartridge;
an actuator means adapted for being paced from the cartridge and operably causing movement of the actuator component located in the cartridge in order to cause the read/write head to move relative to the disc; and means adapted for communicating data between the cartridge and said housing.
a housing including a cartridge receiver means adapted for receiving the cartridge;
a spindle motor means provided in said housing and adapted for causing the disc to spin, said spindle motor means mounted in said housing such that with the cartridge received in said receiver mechanism said spindle motor means is spaced from the cartridge;
said spindle motor means including a magnetic means adapted for magnetically engaging the magnetic armature plate of the cartridge;
an actuator means adapted for being paced from the cartridge and operably causing movement of the actuator component located in the cartridge in order to cause the read/write head to move relative to the disc; and means adapted for communicating data between the cartridge and said housing.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said receiver means is stationary with respect to said housing.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said receiver means is positioned to allow the cartridge to slide into the drive into a position adjacent to said spindle motor.
WP1/SRM/SYQU/6400-6415.1 (PCT Appln. 9/14/89)
WP1/SRM/SYQU/6400-6415.1 (PCT Appln. 9/14/89)
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said magnet means includes a multiplicity of sectors having alternating polarities.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said actuator means includes a coil assembly.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said actuator means includes a magnet assembly.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said communicating means includes means for communicating an electrical signal.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said communicating means includes means or communicating a light signal.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said communicating means includes means for communicating a magnetic signal.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said communicating means includes a means for sending and receiving infrared signals.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said communicating means includes a transformer.
12. A disc drive adapted for receiving a removable cartridge containing a disc and a head mounted relative to the disc, the disc drive comprising:
WP1/SRM/SYQU/6400-6415.1 (PCT Appln. 9/14/89) a housing including a cartridge receiver means adapted for receiving the cartridge;
a spindle motor means provided in said housing and adapted for causing the disc to spin, said spindle motor means mounted in said housing such that with the cartridge received in said receiver mechanism, said spindle motor means is spaced from the cartridge;
an actuator means provided in said housing and adapted for being spaced from the cartridge and for causing the head to move relative to the disc;
and means adapted for communicating data between the cartridge and said housing.
WP1/SRM/SYQU/6400-6415.1 (PCT Appln. 9/14/89) a housing including a cartridge receiver means adapted for receiving the cartridge;
a spindle motor means provided in said housing and adapted for causing the disc to spin, said spindle motor means mounted in said housing such that with the cartridge received in said receiver mechanism, said spindle motor means is spaced from the cartridge;
an actuator means provided in said housing and adapted for being spaced from the cartridge and for causing the head to move relative to the disc;
and means adapted for communicating data between the cartridge and said housing.
13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said receiver means is stationary with respect to said housing.
14. The apparatus of claim l wherein said receiver means is positioned to allow the cartridge to slide into the drive into a position adjacent to said spindle motor.
15. The apparatus of claim I wherein said spindle motor means includes magnet means adapted fox magnetically engaging the disc located in the cartridge for urging the disc to rotate.
16. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said magnet means includes a multiplicity of sectors having alternating polarities.
17. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said WP1/SRM/SYQU/6400-6415.1 (PCT Appln. 9/14/89) actuator means includes first and second coil assembly.
18. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said actuator means includes a magnet assembly.
19. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said communicating means includes means for communicating an electrical signal.
20. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said communicating means includes means for communicating a light signal.
21. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said communicating means includes means for communicating a magnetic signal.
22. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein aid communicating means includes a means for sending and receiving infrared signals.
23. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said communicating means includes a transformer.
24. A disc drive adapted for receiving selectively a first and a second sealed removable cartridge containing first and second discs respectively and first and second heads respectively, each head mounted relative to a respective disc, the disc drive comprising:
a housing including a first and a second receiver means adapted for receiving the first and the second cartridges;
WP1/SRM/SYQU/6400-6415.1 (PCT Appln. 9/14/89) a spindle motor means adapted for causing both the first and second discs to spin;
means for positioning said spindle motor means in said housing such that with the first and second cartridges received in said receiver mechanism, said spindle motor means is located between the first and second cartridges and is spaced for the first and second cartridges;
an actuator means disposed in said housing and adapted for causing the first and second heads to move relative to the first and second discs respectively; and means adapted for communicating data between the cartridges and said housing.
a housing including a first and a second receiver means adapted for receiving the first and the second cartridges;
WP1/SRM/SYQU/6400-6415.1 (PCT Appln. 9/14/89) a spindle motor means adapted for causing both the first and second discs to spin;
means for positioning said spindle motor means in said housing such that with the first and second cartridges received in said receiver mechanism, said spindle motor means is located between the first and second cartridges and is spaced for the first and second cartridges;
an actuator means disposed in said housing and adapted for causing the first and second heads to move relative to the first and second discs respectively; and means adapted for communicating data between the cartridges and said housing.
25. The disc drive of claim 24 including mode means adapted for selectively causing:
(a) substantially identical data to be recorded substantially simultaneously on the first disc and on the second disc; and (b) data to be recorded first on the first disc and then on the second disc.
(a) substantially identical data to be recorded substantially simultaneously on the first disc and on the second disc; and (b) data to be recorded first on the first disc and then on the second disc.
26. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said spindle motor means includes magnet means adapted for magnetically engaging the first and second discs located in the first and second cartridges for urging the first and second discs to rotate.
27. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein aid actuator means includes a first and a second coil assembly disposed adjacent said first and second receiver means respectively.
WP1/SRM/SYQU/6400-6415.1 (PCT Appln. 9/14/89)
WP1/SRM/SYQU/6400-6415.1 (PCT Appln. 9/14/89)
28. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said actuator means includes a magnet assembly disposed adjacent said first and second receiver means.
29. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said communicating means includes means for communicating an electrical signal.
30. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said communicating means includes means for communicating a light signal.
31. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said communicating means includes means for communicating a magnetic signal.
32. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said communicating means includes a means for sending and receiving infrared signals.
33. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein communicating means includes a transformer.
34. A fixed disc drive including:
a sealed cartridge containing a disc, and a head mounted relative to the disc;
a housing including cartridge receiver means adapted for receiving said cartridge;
means for permanently securing said cartridge to said cartridge receiver means;
a spindle motor means adapted for causing the disc to spin, said spindle motor means mounted in said housing such that with the cartridge WP1/SRM/SYQU/6400-6415.1 (PCT Appln. 9/14/89) received in said receiver mechanism said spindle motor means is spaced from the cartridge; and means adapted for communicating data between said cartridge and said housing.
a sealed cartridge containing a disc, and a head mounted relative to the disc;
a housing including cartridge receiver means adapted for receiving said cartridge;
means for permanently securing said cartridge to said cartridge receiver means;
a spindle motor means adapted for causing the disc to spin, said spindle motor means mounted in said housing such that with the cartridge WP1/SRM/SYQU/6400-6415.1 (PCT Appln. 9/14/89) received in said receiver mechanism said spindle motor means is spaced from the cartridge; and means adapted for communicating data between said cartridge and said housing.
35. A disc drive adapted for receiving a removable cartridge containing a disc mounted on a hub arrangement having a magnetic armature plate, wherein said disc drive comprises:
a housing including a cartridge receiver means adapted for receiving the cartridge;
a spindle motor means provided in said housing and adapted for causing the disc to spin, said spindle motor means mounted in said housing such that with the cartridge received in Raid receiver mechanism said spindle motor means is spaced from the cartridge;
said spindle motor means including a magnetic means adapted for magnetically engaging the magnetic armature plate of the cartridge.
a housing including a cartridge receiver means adapted for receiving the cartridge;
a spindle motor means provided in said housing and adapted for causing the disc to spin, said spindle motor means mounted in said housing such that with the cartridge received in Raid receiver mechanism said spindle motor means is spaced from the cartridge;
said spindle motor means including a magnetic means adapted for magnetically engaging the magnetic armature plate of the cartridge.
36. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein said receiver means is stationary with respect to said housing.
37. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein said receiver means is positioned to allow the cartridge to slide into the drive into a position adjacent to said spindle motor.
38. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein said magnet means includes a multiplicity of sectors having alternating polarities.
WP1/SRM/SYQU/6400-6415.1 (PCT Appln. 9/14/89)
WP1/SRM/SYQU/6400-6415.1 (PCT Appln. 9/14/89)
39. A disc drive adapted for receiving a removable cartridge containing a disc, the disc drive comprising:
a housing including a cartridge receiver means adapted for receiving the cartridge;
a spindle motor means provided in said housing and adapted for causing the disc to spin, said spindle motor means mounted in aid housing such that with the cartridge received in said receiver mechanism, said spindle motor means is spaced from and does not come in contact with the cartridge.
a housing including a cartridge receiver means adapted for receiving the cartridge;
a spindle motor means provided in said housing and adapted for causing the disc to spin, said spindle motor means mounted in aid housing such that with the cartridge received in said receiver mechanism, said spindle motor means is spaced from and does not come in contact with the cartridge.
40. The apparatus of claim 39 wherein said spindle motor means includes magnet means adapted for magnetically engaging the disc located in the cartridge for urging the disc to rotate.
41. The apparatus of claim 39 wherein said magnet means includes a multiplicity of sectors having alternating polarities.
42. A disc drive adapted for receiving selectively a first and a second sealed removable cartridge containing first and second discs respectively and first and second heads respectively, each head mounted relative to a respective disc, the disc drive comprising:
a housing including a first and a second receiver means adapted for receiving the first and the second cartridges;
a spindle motor means adapted for causing both the first and second discs to spin;
means for positioning said spindle motor means in said housing such that with the first and WP1/SRM/SYQU/6400-6415.1 (PCT Appln. 9/14/89) second cartridges received in said receiver mechanism, said spindle motor means is located between the first and second cartridges and is spaced for the first and second cartridges; and means adapted for communicating data between the cartridges and said housing.
a housing including a first and a second receiver means adapted for receiving the first and the second cartridges;
a spindle motor means adapted for causing both the first and second discs to spin;
means for positioning said spindle motor means in said housing such that with the first and WP1/SRM/SYQU/6400-6415.1 (PCT Appln. 9/14/89) second cartridges received in said receiver mechanism, said spindle motor means is located between the first and second cartridges and is spaced for the first and second cartridges; and means adapted for communicating data between the cartridges and said housing.
43. The disc drive of claim 4, including mode means adapted for selectively causing:
(a) substantially identical data to be recorded substantially simultaneously on the first disc and on the second disc; and (b) data to be recorded first on the fir t disc and then on the second disc.
(a) substantially identical data to be recorded substantially simultaneously on the first disc and on the second disc; and (b) data to be recorded first on the fir t disc and then on the second disc.
44. The apparatus of claim 42 wherein said spindle motor means includes magnet means adapted for magnetically engaging the first and second discs located in the first and second cartridges for urging the first and second discs to rotate.
45. The apparatus of claim 35 including:
roller means adapted for selectively causing a cartridge to be positioned in the receiver means and ejected from the receiver means.
roller means adapted for selectively causing a cartridge to be positioned in the receiver means and ejected from the receiver means.
46. The apparatus of claim 1 including:
roller means adapted for selectively causing a cartridge to be positioned in the receiver means and ejected from the receiver means.
roller means adapted for selectively causing a cartridge to be positioned in the receiver means and ejected from the receiver means.
47. The apparatus of claim 12 including:
roller means adapted for selectively WP1/SRM/SYQU/6400-6415.1 (PCT Appln. 9/14/89) causing a cartridge to be positioned in the receiver means and ejected from the receiver means.
roller means adapted for selectively WP1/SRM/SYQU/6400-6415.1 (PCT Appln. 9/14/89) causing a cartridge to be positioned in the receiver means and ejected from the receiver means.
48. The apparatus of claim 42 including:
roller means adapted for selectively causing a cartridge to be positioned in the first and second receiver means and ejected from the first and second receiver means.
roller means adapted for selectively causing a cartridge to be positioned in the first and second receiver means and ejected from the first and second receiver means.
49. A sealed cartridge adapted for selective use in a disc drive comprising;
a sealed housing;
a disc positioned in said housing;
a head positioned in said housing in association with said disc;
means for rotationally mounting said disc in said housing;
means for movably mounting said head in said housing so that the head can move relative to the disc;
actuator means adapted for use in association with an actuator arrangement of the disc drive in order that said actuator means and the actuator arrangement can cooperate to move said head relative to said disc; and magnetic coupling means adapted for magnetically coupling said disc to the disc drive, in order to allow the disc drive to rotate said disc, without the magnetic coupling means physically touching the disc drive.
a sealed housing;
a disc positioned in said housing;
a head positioned in said housing in association with said disc;
means for rotationally mounting said disc in said housing;
means for movably mounting said head in said housing so that the head can move relative to the disc;
actuator means adapted for use in association with an actuator arrangement of the disc drive in order that said actuator means and the actuator arrangement can cooperate to move said head relative to said disc; and magnetic coupling means adapted for magnetically coupling said disc to the disc drive, in order to allow the disc drive to rotate said disc, without the magnetic coupling means physically touching the disc drive.
50. The apparatus of claim 49 wherein said actuator means includes a coil.
WP1/SRM/SYQU/6400-6415.1 (PCT Appln. 9/14/89)
WP1/SRM/SYQU/6400-6415.1 (PCT Appln. 9/14/89)
51. The apparatus of claim 49 wherein said actuator means includes a permanent magnet.
52. The apparatus of claim 49 wherein said magnetic coupling means includes a magnet operably secured to said disc and having sequentially positioned alternating magnetic poles.
53. The apparatus of claim 49 including connection means adapted for transferring data between said head and the disc drive.
54. The apparatus of claim 53 wherein Raid connection means includes:
means for using light to transfer data.
means for using light to transfer data.
55. The apparatus of claim 53 wherein said connector means includes:
means for using infrared wavelengths to transfer data.
means for using infrared wavelengths to transfer data.
56. The apparatus of claim 53 wherein said connector means includes a coil.
57. The apparatus of claim 53 including:
battery means communicating with said connection means for facilitating the transfer of data between the head and the disc drive through the connector means.
battery means communicating with said connection means for facilitating the transfer of data between the head and the disc drive through the connector means.
58. The apparatus of claim 53 wherein said connector means includes means for transferring electrical current into said cartridge for operating said actuator means.
WP1/SRM/SYQU/6400-6415.1 (PCT Appln. 9/14/89)
WP1/SRM/SYQU/6400-6415.1 (PCT Appln. 9/14/89)
59. The apparatus of claim 49 wherein said disc is hermetically sealed inside said housing.
60. The apparatus of claim 59 wherein:
said housing is filler with an inert gas.
said housing is filler with an inert gas.
61. The apparatus of claim 49 wherein said housing includes:
a plastic outer casing; and a metallic inner casing means for supporting said rotatably mounting means and said movably mounting means.
a plastic outer casing; and a metallic inner casing means for supporting said rotatably mounting means and said movably mounting means.
62. The apparatus of claim 49 wherein:
at least two discs are positioned in said housing; and at least four heads are positioned in said housing in association with said discs.
at least two discs are positioned in said housing; and at least four heads are positioned in said housing in association with said discs.
63. A cartridge adapted for selected use in a disc drive comprising:
a housing;
a disc positioned in said housing;
a head positioned in said housing in association with said disc;
means for rotationally mounting said disc in said housing;
means for movably mounting said head in said cartridge so that the head can move relative to the disc;
magnetic coupling means adapted for magnetically coupling said disc to the disc drive, in order to allow the disc drive to rotate said disc, WPl/SRM/SYQU/6400-6415.1 (PCT Appln. 9/14/89) without the magnetic coupling means physically touching the disc drive.
a housing;
a disc positioned in said housing;
a head positioned in said housing in association with said disc;
means for rotationally mounting said disc in said housing;
means for movably mounting said head in said cartridge so that the head can move relative to the disc;
magnetic coupling means adapted for magnetically coupling said disc to the disc drive, in order to allow the disc drive to rotate said disc, WPl/SRM/SYQU/6400-6415.1 (PCT Appln. 9/14/89) without the magnetic coupling means physically touching the disc drive.
64. The apparatus of claim 63 further including actuator means for causing said head to traverse across said disc.
65. The apparatus of claim 64 wherein said actuator means includes a coil.
66. The apparatus of claim 64 wherein said actuator means includes a permanent magnet.
67. The apparatus of claim 63 wherein said magnetic coupling means includes a magnet operably secured to said disc and having sequentially positioned alternating magnetic poles.
68. The apparatus of claim 63 including connection means adapted for transferring data between said head and the disc drive.
69. The apparatus of claim 68 wherein said connection means includes:
means for using light to transfer data.
means for using light to transfer data.
70. The apparatus of claim 68 wherein said connector means includes:
means for using infrared wave lengths to transfer data.
means for using infrared wave lengths to transfer data.
71. The apparatus of claim 68 wherein said connector means includes:
a coil.
WP1/SRM/SYQU/6400-6415.1 (PCT Appln. 9/14/89)
a coil.
WP1/SRM/SYQU/6400-6415.1 (PCT Appln. 9/14/89)
72. The apparatus of claim 68 including:
battery means communicating with said connector means for facilitating the transfer of data between the head and the disc drive through the connector means.
battery means communicating with said connector means for facilitating the transfer of data between the head and the disc drive through the connector means.
73. The apparatus of claim 68 wherein said connector means includes means for transferring electrical current into said cartridge for operating said actuator means.
74. The apparatus of claim 63 wherein said disc is hermetically sealed inside said housing.
75. The apparatus of claim 74 wherein:
said housing is filed with an inert gas.
said housing is filed with an inert gas.
76. The apparatus of claim 63 wherein said housing includes:
a plastic outer casing; and a metallic inner casing means for supporting said rotatably mounting means and said movably mounting means.
a plastic outer casing; and a metallic inner casing means for supporting said rotatably mounting means and said movably mounting means.
77. The apparatus of claim 63 wherein:
at least two discs are positioned in said housing; and at least four heads are positioned in said housing in association with said discs.
at least two discs are positioned in said housing; and at least four heads are positioned in said housing in association with said discs.
78. A cartridge adapted for selective use in a disc drive comprising:
a housing;
a disc positioned in said housing;
WP1/SRM/SYQU/6400-6415.1 (PCT Appln. 9/14/89) a head positioned in said housing in association with said disc;
means for rotationally mounting said disc in said housing;
means for movably mounting said head in said cartridge so that the head can move relative to the disc;
coupling means adapted for coupling said disc to the disc drive, in order to allow the disc drive to rotate said disc, without the coupling means physically touching the disc drive.
a housing;
a disc positioned in said housing;
WP1/SRM/SYQU/6400-6415.1 (PCT Appln. 9/14/89) a head positioned in said housing in association with said disc;
means for rotationally mounting said disc in said housing;
means for movably mounting said head in said cartridge so that the head can move relative to the disc;
coupling means adapted for coupling said disc to the disc drive, in order to allow the disc drive to rotate said disc, without the coupling means physically touching the disc drive.
79. A sealed cartridge adapted for selective use in a disc drive comprising:
a sealed outer housing;
a sealed inner housing;
means for mounting said inner housing inside of said outer housing in order to insulate said inner housing from shock;
a disc positioned in said inner housing;
a head positioned in said inner housing in association with said disc;
means for rotationally mounting said disc in said inner housing;
means for movably mounting said head in said inner housing so that the head can move relative to the disc;
actuator means for moving said head relative to said disc; and magnetic coupling means adapted for magnetically coupling said disc to the disc drive, in order to allow the disc drive to rotate said disc, without the magnetic coupling means physically touching the disc drive.
WP1/SRM/SYQU/6400-6415.1 (PCT Appln. 9/14/89)
a sealed outer housing;
a sealed inner housing;
means for mounting said inner housing inside of said outer housing in order to insulate said inner housing from shock;
a disc positioned in said inner housing;
a head positioned in said inner housing in association with said disc;
means for rotationally mounting said disc in said inner housing;
means for movably mounting said head in said inner housing so that the head can move relative to the disc;
actuator means for moving said head relative to said disc; and magnetic coupling means adapted for magnetically coupling said disc to the disc drive, in order to allow the disc drive to rotate said disc, without the magnetic coupling means physically touching the disc drive.
WP1/SRM/SYQU/6400-6415.1 (PCT Appln. 9/14/89)
80. The apparatus of claim 79 wherein said actuator means includes a voice coil motor.
81. The apparatus of claim 79 wherein:
said movably mounting means includes an arm to which said head is mounted; and wherein said actuator means includes a permanent magnet secured to one of said inner housing and said arm and an electromagnetic mounted to the other of said inner housing and said arm.
said movably mounting means includes an arm to which said head is mounted; and wherein said actuator means includes a permanent magnet secured to one of said inner housing and said arm and an electromagnetic mounted to the other of said inner housing and said arm.
82. The apparatus of claim 79 wherein:
said outer housing includes first and second major planar surfaces; and said magnetic coupling means includes a first magnetic coupling surface located adjacent said first major planar surface and a second magnetic coupling surface located adjacent said second major planar surface.
said outer housing includes first and second major planar surfaces; and said magnetic coupling means includes a first magnetic coupling surface located adjacent said first major planar surface and a second magnetic coupling surface located adjacent said second major planar surface.
83. The apparatus of claim 79 including:
shutter means for covering said magnetic coupling means in association with the removal of the cartridge from a disc drive.
shutter means for covering said magnetic coupling means in association with the removal of the cartridge from a disc drive.
84. The apparatus of claim 83 wherein said shutter means is biased toward a covering position.
85. The apparatus of claim 79 wherein said magnetic coupling means includes a magnet operably secured to said disc and having sequentially positioned alternating magnetic poles.
WP1/SRM/SYQU/6400-6415.1 (PCT Appln. 9/14/89)
WP1/SRM/SYQU/6400-6415.1 (PCT Appln. 9/14/89)
86. The apparatus of claim 79 including connection means adapted for transferring data between said head and the disc drive.
87. The apparatus of claim 86 wherein said connection means includes:
means for using light to transfer data.
means for using light to transfer data.
88. The apparatus of claim 86 wherein said connector means includes:
means for using infrared wavelengths to transfer data.
means for using infrared wavelengths to transfer data.
89. The apparatus of claim 86 wherein said connector means includes a coil.
90. The apparatus of claim 86 including:
battery means communicating with said connection means for facilitating the transfer of data between the head and the disc drive through the connector means.
battery means communicating with said connection means for facilitating the transfer of data between the head and the disc drive through the connector means.
91. The apparatus of claim 79 wherein said disc is hermetically sealed inside said inner housing.
92. The apparatus of claim 79 wherein:
said inner housing is filled with an inert gas.
said inner housing is filled with an inert gas.
93. A sealed cartridge adapted for selective use in a disc drive comprising:
a sealed housing;
a disc positioned in said housing;
WPl/SRM/SYQU/6400-6415.1 (PCT Appln. 9/14/89) a head positioned in said housing in association with said disc;
said head mounted on an arm;
means for rotationally mounting said disc in said housing;
means for movably mounting said arm in said housing so that the head can move relative to the disc;
actuator means located in said housing for moving said head relative to said disc, said actuator means including a permanent magnetic secured to one of said housing and said arm and an electromagnetic mounted to the other of said housing and said arm; and coupling means adapted for coupling said disc to disc drive, in order to allow the disc drive to rotate said disc.
a sealed housing;
a disc positioned in said housing;
WPl/SRM/SYQU/6400-6415.1 (PCT Appln. 9/14/89) a head positioned in said housing in association with said disc;
said head mounted on an arm;
means for rotationally mounting said disc in said housing;
means for movably mounting said arm in said housing so that the head can move relative to the disc;
actuator means located in said housing for moving said head relative to said disc, said actuator means including a permanent magnetic secured to one of said housing and said arm and an electromagnetic mounted to the other of said housing and said arm; and coupling means adapted for coupling said disc to disc drive, in order to allow the disc drive to rotate said disc.
94. The apparatus of claim 93 wherein:
said coupling means include magnetic coupling means adapted for magnetically coupling said disc to the disc drive in order to allow the disc drive to rotate said disc, without the magnetic coupling means physically touching the disc drive.
said coupling means include magnetic coupling means adapted for magnetically coupling said disc to the disc drive in order to allow the disc drive to rotate said disc, without the magnetic coupling means physically touching the disc drive.
95. The apparatus of claim 93 wherein said actuator means includes a voice coil motor.
96. A cartridge adapted for selected use in a disc drive comprising:
an outer housing;
an inner housing;
WP1/SRM/SYQU/6400-6415.1 (PCT Appln. 9/14/89) means for mounting said inner housing inside of said outer housing in order to insulate said inner housing from shock;
a disc positioned in said housing;
means for rotationally mounting said disc in said housing;
means adapted for coupling said disc to the disc drive, in order to allow the disc drive to rotate said disc.
WP1/SRM/SYQU/6400-6415.1 (PCT Appln. 9/14/89)
an outer housing;
an inner housing;
WP1/SRM/SYQU/6400-6415.1 (PCT Appln. 9/14/89) means for mounting said inner housing inside of said outer housing in order to insulate said inner housing from shock;
a disc positioned in said housing;
means for rotationally mounting said disc in said housing;
means adapted for coupling said disc to the disc drive, in order to allow the disc drive to rotate said disc.
WP1/SRM/SYQU/6400-6415.1 (PCT Appln. 9/14/89)
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US07/270,948 US4974103A (en) | 1988-11-14 | 1988-11-14 | High density disc drive with magnetic clutch for use with a sealed removable cartridge |
| US270,948 | 1988-11-14 | ||
| US07/270,005 US4965691A (en) | 1988-11-14 | 1988-11-14 | Sealed removable cartridge for use with a high density disc drive with magnetic clutch |
| US270,005 | 1988-11-14 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2000477A1 true CA2000477A1 (en) | 1990-05-14 |
Family
ID=26954015
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002000477A Abandoned CA2000477A1 (en) | 1988-11-14 | 1989-10-11 | High density disk drive with magnetic clutch and a removable cartridge |
Country Status (4)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| KR (1) | KR900702505A (en) |
| AU (1) | AU4667789A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2000477A1 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1990005974A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE69031053T2 (en) * | 1989-04-25 | 1998-01-29 | Canon Kk | Information recording / reproducing apparatus and information recording medium |
| JP2853337B2 (en) * | 1990-12-13 | 1999-02-03 | 三菱電機株式会社 | Magnetic disk drive |
| EP0722606A4 (en) * | 1993-07-23 | 1997-02-26 | Syquest Technology | Removable cartridge disk drive with a 1.8 inch form factor |
| JP2842521B2 (en) | 1994-12-28 | 1999-01-06 | 三菱電機株式会社 | Interchangeable storage device, recording medium cartridge, and method of using slot for card type device |
Family Cites Families (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPS5525861A (en) * | 1978-08-15 | 1980-02-23 | Nec Corp | Magnetic disc cartridge |
| JPS56137555A (en) * | 1980-03-27 | 1981-10-27 | Sony Corp | Optical disc cassette and disc driving method |
| US4359762A (en) * | 1980-05-13 | 1982-11-16 | Stollorz Herbert R | Removable storage module and module |
| US4367503A (en) * | 1980-12-24 | 1983-01-04 | International Business Machines Corporation | Fermetically sealed disk file |
| US4581667A (en) * | 1982-04-19 | 1986-04-08 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Magnetic hold-down for recording disc |
| DE3626941A1 (en) * | 1986-08-08 | 1988-02-11 | Bosch Gmbh Robert | CENTERING DEVICE FOR MAGNETIC TAPE CASSETTES OF DIFFERENT DIMENSIONS IN A CASSETTE CHAMBER |
-
1989
- 1989-10-03 WO PCT/US1989/004387 patent/WO1990005974A1/en not_active Ceased
- 1989-10-03 AU AU46677/89A patent/AU4667789A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1989-10-03 KR KR1019900701450A patent/KR900702505A/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1989-10-11 CA CA002000477A patent/CA2000477A1/en not_active Abandoned
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| KR900702505A (en) | 1990-12-07 |
| WO1990005974A1 (en) | 1990-05-31 |
| AU4667789A (en) | 1990-06-12 |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| US4965691A (en) | Sealed removable cartridge for use with a high density disc drive with magnetic clutch | |
| US4974103A (en) | High density disc drive with magnetic clutch for use with a sealed removable cartridge | |
| US5175657A (en) | Disc drive with magnetic coupling to a head actuator in a removable disc cartridge and with spindle motor rotor configured into the removable disc cartridge | |
| EP0490069B1 (en) | Magnetic disk drive | |
| US4833554A (en) | Hard disk drive module and receptacle therefor | |
| US5214550A (en) | Miniature removable rigid disk drive and cartridge system | |
| US6867942B2 (en) | Storage device mounted in portable data storage media type cartridges | |
| US5113297A (en) | Magnetic disk drive having a mechanism for preventing a disk cartridge from being inserted therein with wrong orientation and for fixing the disk cartridge inserted therein with correct orientation | |
| EP1393312A1 (en) | Gripper assembly for interfacing with portable storage devices in a storage library | |
| EP2189982B1 (en) | Housing cell, and magazine | |
| JP2005515576A (en) | Portable data storage drive cartridge | |
| CA2000477A1 (en) | High density disk drive with magnetic clutch and a removable cartridge | |
| US6450434B1 (en) | Wide tape holding frame | |
| JP3383167B2 (en) | Card type optical disk cartridge and drive device thereof | |
| WO1991005334A1 (en) | Disc drive with spindle motor rotor configuration in a removable disc cartridge | |
| JP4083865B2 (en) | In-vehicle disk and tape player | |
| US20040021986A1 (en) | Disk cartridge and disk drive thereof | |
| JPH1097781A (en) | Optical disk drive | |
| JPH1097782A (en) | Optical disk drive | |
| US20040027721A1 (en) | Disk cartridge and disk drive therefor | |
| JPH04121888A (en) | Disk driving device | |
| JP2001143411A (en) | Voice coil motor for disk drive | |
| JPH06231523A (en) | Disk device | |
| JPH0482047A (en) | Disk device | |
| JPH10247371A (en) | Card type optical disk cartridge |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Dead |