IP Library Granted Patent US 6,934,118
Granted Patent B2
US 6,934,118 · App. 10/352,513 · Granted Aug 23, 2005

Car disk drive unit

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,934,118
App. No.
10/352,513
Granted
Aug 23, 2005
Kind
B2
Abstract

To provide a car disk drive unit operating in a stable condition which is hardly affected by temperature changes in a vehicle, a car disk drive unit 1 of the present invention comprises: a casing 3 for accommodating a disk drive 2; a Peltier element 4 used as means for controlling the temperature being close to the upper surface of the casing 3 through an intermediate plate 18; a heat sink 5 being close to a base slice 50 on the lower surface of the Peltier element 4; an electric fan 6 for ventilating air to the heat sink 5; and a housing 11 for accommodating the casing 3 in the upper part as well as securing the heat sink 5 and the electric fan 6 to the lower part.

Claims (15)

1. A car disk drive unit comprising:

a casing for accommodating a disk drive; and

an assembly for controlling the temperature provided in the casing, comprising a Peltier element having one surface thereof adjacent to one surface of the casing, a heat sink adjacent to another surface of the Peltier element, and an electric fan for ventilating to the heat sink.

2. The disk drive unit of claim 1 , wherein the temperature controlling assembly further comprises a heater for heating in the casing.

3. The disk drive unit of claim 1 , further comprising means for detecting a temperature in the casing, and means for controlling an electric current respectively supplied to the disk drive, the temperature controlling assembly, and the electric fan based on a detection signal transmitted from the temperature detecting means.

4. The disk drive unit of claim 1 , wherein the temperature controlling assembly is placed in a position to affect a spindle motor and an actuator of the disk drive.

5. The disk drive unit of claim 1 , wherein the casing is made of a thermal conductive material.

6. The disk drive unit of claim 1 , further comprising a housing for accommodating the casing, the temperature controlling assembly, the heat sink, and the electric fan.

7. The disk drive unit of claim 6 , wherein an inner surface of the housing is clad with a heat insulator encompassing the casing.

8. The disk drive unit of claim 7 , wherein the heat insulator is made of expanded polyurethane.

9. The disk drive unit of claim 1 , further comprising an air vent formed by penetrating the casing and a desiccating agent for dehumidifying in the casing located near the air vent.

10. The disk drive unit of claim 9 , wherein the casing has a pocket part for accommodating the desiccating agent where the desiccating agent is inserted.

11. The disk drive unit of claim 10 , wherein the desiccating agent is insertable into and removable from the pocket part.

12. The disk drive unit of claim 6 , wherein the casing is supported by interposing an elastic material in the housing.

13. The disk drive unit of claim 1 , wherein the casing is connected to the temperature controlling assembly by joining a thermal conductive member made of a thermal conductive material there between.

Assignments (6)
PATENT COLLATERAL AGREEMENT - DDTL LOAN AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 21, 2023
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 067045/0156 →
PATENT COLLATERAL AGREEMENT - A&R LOAN AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 21, 2023
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 064715/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL 052915 FRAME 0566 Recorded Feb 8, 2022
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 059127/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 6, 2020
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 052915/0566 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 5, 2016
From: HGST NETHERLANDS B.V.
To: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 040820/0802 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 25, 2012
From: HITACHI GLOBAL STORAGE TECHNOLOGIES NETHERLANDS B.V.
To: HGST NETHERLANDS B.V.
Reel/Frame 029341/0777 →