High density data storage module
View Patent ↗A data storage module for a high density data storage device. The storage module includes a planar rotor having top, bottom, left and right edges. The rotor is suspended within a frame surrounding the top, bottom, left and right edges of the rotor. The rotor is suspended by a plurality of flexures, wherein the flexures adjacent to the top edge are aligned with the top edge, the flexures adjacent to the bottom edge are aligned with the bottom edge, the flexures adjacent the left edge are aligned with the left edge, and the flexures adjacent to the right edge are aligned with the right edge.
1. A storage module for a data storage device, the storage module comprising:
a rotor bounded by top, bottom, left and right edges;
a frame for supporting the rotor;
a first pair of coupling beams extending from the top edge of the rotor;
a second pair of coupling beams extending from the bottom edge of the rotor;
a first coupling mass positioned adjacent the top edge of the rotor;
a second coupling mass positioned adjacent the bottom edge of the rotor;
a first set of flexures extending between the first pair of coupling beams and the first coupling mass;
a second set of flexures extending between the second pair of coupling beams and the second coupling mass;
a first flexure mount extending from the frame and positioned adjacent the left edge of the rotor;
a second flexure mount extending from the frame and positioned adjacent the right edge of the rotor;
a third set of flexures extending between the first flexure mount and the first and second coupling masses; and
a fourth set of flexures extending between the second flexure mount and the first and second coupling masses.
2. The storage module of claim 1 , wherein the first and second pair of coupling beams have an axial orientation which is generally aligned with the left and right edges of the rotor.
3. The storage module of claim 1 , wherein the first and second set of flexures have an axial orientation which is generally aligned with the top and bottom edges of the rotor.
4. The storage module of claim 1 wherein the third and fourth set of flexures have an axial orientation which is generally aligned with the left and right edges of the rotor.
5. The storage module of claim 1 , wherein the first and second set of flexures each comprise at least two individual flexures.
6. The storage module of claim 1 , wherein the first and second set of flexures each comprise four individual flexures.
7. The storage module of claim 1 , wherein the third and fourth set of flexures each comprise at least two individual flexures.
8. The storage module of claim 1 , wherein the third and fourth set of flexures each comprise four individual flexures.
9. The storage module of claim 1 , wherein the first and second coupling masses are rigid structures.
10. The storage module of claim 1 , wherein the axial orientation of the first and second sets of flexures intersect the third and fourth sets of flexures.
11. The storage module of claim 1 , further comprising a micro-mover interacting with the rotor to move the rotor.
12. The storage module of claim 11 , wherein the micro-mover is positioned adjacent a back face of the rotor, opposite the front face of the rotor.
13. The storage module of claim 1 , wherein the rotor is rectangular in shape, and wherein the coupling beams extend from each corner of the rotor.
14. The storage module of claim 1 , wherein the rotor includes a storage medium.
15. The storage module of claim 14 , wherein the storage medium comprises a plurality of storage areas for data storage, the storage areas each being in one of a plurality of states to represent the data stored in that area.
16. A data storage module for a data storage device, the storage module comprising:
a rotor having top, bottom, left and right edges;
a frame surrounding the top, bottom, left and right edges of the rotor; and
a plurality of flexures suspending the rotor within the frame, wherein the flexures adjacent to the top edge are aligned with the top edge, the flexures adjacent to the bottom edge are aligned with the bottom edge, the flexures adjacent the left edge are aligned with the left edge, and the flexures adjacent to the right edge are aligned with the right edge.
17. The storage module of claim 16 , wherein the axial orientation of the flexures adjacent to the top and bottom edges intersects the flexures adjacent to the left and right edges along their lengths.
18. The storage module of claim 16 , wherein the flexures are thin-walled micro-fabricated beams.
19. A method for increasing the packing density of a plurality of storage module rotors in a frame of a storage device comprising:
supporting each of a plurality of rotors within a frame using flexures extending between edges of the rotor and the frame, wherein the flexures are positioned around the periphery of the rotor, wherein the flexures adjacent each edge of the rotor are aligned with the adjacent rotor edge.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the flexures are thin-walled micro-fabricated beams.
21. The method of claim 19 , further comprising:
aligning a first set of flexures on opposite sides of one of the plurality of rotors such that the axes of the first set of flexures intersects a second set of flexures positioned at right angles to the first set of flexures.