IP Library Granted Patent US 7,391,588
Granted Patent B2
US 7,391,588 · App. 11/442,238 · Granted Jun 24, 2008

Hard disk drive connector having connector pins that deform away from a central shorting post in response to an external force

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,391,588
App. No.
11/442,238
Granted
Jun 24, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

A connector, and a hard disk drive having the connector, the connector including connecting pins arranges so as to be spaced apart from one another; and a connecting member to contact the connecting pins and cause an electrical short in response to no external force being applied to the connecting pins; wherein the electrical short is removed in response to an external force being applied to the connecting pins. The connecting pins are moved so as not to contact the connecting member in response to an external force being applied to the connecting pins.

Claims (32)

1. A connector comprising:

a bracket comprising an insulating material;

connecting pins arranged in the bracket so as to be spaced apart from one another, and comprising a conductive material; and

a common connecting portion extending in a direction that the connecting pins are arranged, and comprising a conductive material;

wherein the connecting pins all contact the common connecting portion to form short circuits before an external force is applied thereto, and the connecting pins each are resiliently deformed to be spaced apart from the common connecting portion in response to the external force being applied.

2. The connector according to claim 1 , wherein hook portions are provided at portions of the connecting pins at which the external force is applied, edge portions of the hook portions contact a side portion of the common connecting portion before the external force is applied to the hook portions, end the edge portions of the hook portions are separated from the common connecting portion in response to the external force being applied to the hook portions.

3. The connector according to claim 2 , wherein the hook portions are formed to be partially protruded a predetermined distance from the bracket.

4. The connector according to claim 3 , wherein the edge portions of the hook portions are formed to be curved.

5. The connector according to claim 2 , wherein the bracket includes a block that the common connecting portion is disposed correspondingly thereto.

6. The connector according to claim 5 , wherein the connecting pins are arranged in first and second rows parallel to each other, and the block is disposed between the first and second rows.

7. The connector according to claim 6 , wherein a protrusion is formed to one of the common connecting portion and the block, and a groove into which the protrusion is inserted is formed on a remaining one of the common connecting portion and the block.

8. The connector according to claim 6 , wherein a width of the common connecting portion is substantially identical to that of the block, and the edge portions of the connecting pins are slidably moved along the side portions of the common connecting portion and the block in response to the connecting pins being resiliently deformed by the external force.

9. The connector according to claim 6 , wherein partition members are provided to the bracket such that portions of the partition members are disposed between the connecting pins.

10. A hard disk drive comprising:

a base member;

at least one disk rotatably mounted on the base member;

a head stack assembly rotatably mounted on the base member to record data on the disk and to read data recorded on the disk;

a voice coil motor to provide the head stack assembly with a rotating force using interaction with a coil provided in the head stack assembly; and

a connector to connect the head stack assembly and a main circuit board controlling the same, the connector comprising:

a bracket comprising an insulating material,

connecting pins arranged in the bracket so as to be spaced apart from one another, and comprising a conductive material, and

a common connecting portion extending in a direction that the connecting pins are arranged, and comprising a conductive material,

wherein the connecting pins all contact the common connecting portion to form short circuits before the connecting pins are connected to the main circuit board, and the connecting pins each are resiliently deformed to be spaced apart from the common connecting portion in response to the connecting pins being connected to the main circuit board.

11. The hard disk drive according to claim 10 . wherein hook portions are provided at portions of the connecting pins to connect to the main circuit board, edge portions of the hook portions contact a side portion of the common connecting portion before the hook portions are connected with the main circuit board, and the edge portions of the hook portions are separated from the common connecting portion in response to the hook portions being connected with the main circuit board.

12. The hard disk drive according to claim 11 , wherein the hook portions are formed to be partially protruded a predetermined distance from the bracket.

13. The hard disk drive according to claim 12 , wherein the edge portions of the hook portions are formed to be curved.

14. The hard disk drive according to claim 11 , wherein the bracket includes a block such that the common connecting portion is disposed correspondingly thereto.

15. The hard disk drive according to claim 14 , wherein the connecting pins are arranged in first and second rows parallel to each other, and the block is disposed between the first and second rows.

16. The hard disk drive according to claim 14 , wherein a protrusion is formed to one of the common connecting portion and the block, and a groove into which the protrusion is inserted is formed on a remaining one of the common connecting portion and the block.

17. The hard disk drive according to claim 14 , wherein a width of the common connecting portion is substantially identical to that of the block, and the edge portions of the connecting pins are slidably moved along the side portions of the common connecting portion and the block in response to the connecting pins being resiliently deformed by the external force.

18. The hard disk drive according to claim 14 , wherein partition members are provided to the bracket such that portions of the partition members are disposed between the connecting pins.

19. The hard disk drive according to claim 10 , wherein the head stack assembly and the connector are connected by a flexible printed cable.

Assignments (3)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REMOVE ERRONEOUSLY FILED NO. 7255478 FROM SCHEDULE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 028153 FRAME: 0689. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Oct 5, 2016
From: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
To: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 040001/0920 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 3, 2012
From: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
To: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL
Reel/Frame 028153/0689 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 30, 2006
From: CHO, KYOUNG-MAN; LEE, JAE-SUK
To: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 017948/0996 →