Two-stage sealing of a data storage assembly housing to retain a low density atmosphere

1. A data storage device comprising:

a sealed housing which encloses a data storage medium, the sealed housing comprising a substantially planar first housing plate with respective length, width and thickness dimensions and a circumferentially extending first peripheral edge, a substantially planar second housing plate with a circumferentially extending second peripheral edge, and a circumferentially extending first sealing member contactingly disposed between the respective first and second peripheral edges;

a substantially planer third housing plate extending adjacent the first planar housing plate with respective length and width dimensions substantially corresponding to said length and width dimensions of the first housing plate and a circumferentially extending third peripheral edge; and

a circumferentially extending second seal member contactingly disposed between the second and third peripheral edges to form a hermetic seal for a low density gas retained within the sealed housing.

2. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a layer of adhesive between respective medial portions of the first housing plate and the third housing plate to affix the third housing plate to the first housing plate.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first housing plate has a fill port aperture extending therethrough to facilitate placement of the low density gas into the sealed housing prior to attachment of the third housing plate to the second housing plate by way of the second sealing member, and wherein the third housing plate and the second sealing member hermetically seal the fill port aperture.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first sealing member is characterized as an elastomeric seal.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the second sealing member is characterized as an epoxy.

6. The device of claim 5 , wherein the epoxy is characterized as a type which generates an outgassing contaminant during curing which can interfere with operation of the storage medium, and wherein the first sealing member is formed of a material selected to restrict passage of said outgassing contaminant into the sealed housing adjacent the medium.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the second sealing member is characterized as a solder paste which is selectively heated to melt and form the hermetic seal.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the third housing plate comprises an aperture extending therethrough to allow air between the first and third housing plates to escape as the third housing plate is lowered onto the first housing plate, and wherein the device further comprises a third sealing member applied to the third housing plate to hermetically seal the aperture.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the first housing plate is characterized as a first thickness, and wherein the third housing plate has a second thickness less than the first thickness.

10. The device of claim 1 , wherein a circumferentially extending groove is formed between the first and second housing plates, and wherein the third peripheral edge and the second sealing member are disposed within said groove.

11. A data storage device comprising:

a sealed housing comprising a base plate supporting a storage medium, a structural cover removably attached to the base plate to form an internal environment within the device, and a circumferentially extending first sealing member between the respective base plate and structural cover to form an internal environment filled with a low density gas; and

a substantially planar sealing cover with a medial portion attached to a medial portion of the structural cover; and

a circumferentially extending second sealing member between a circumferentially extending peripheral edge of the sealing cover and a circumferentially extending peripheral edge of the base plate to form a hermetic seal that retains the low density gas over a service lifetime of the device.

12. The device of claim 11 , further comprising a layer of adhesive between the respective medial portions of the structural cover and the sealing cover.

13. The device of claim 11 , wherein the structural cover has a fill port aperture extending therethrough to facilitate placement of the low density gas into the sealed housing prior to attachment of the sealing cover to the base plate by way of the second sealing member, and wherein the sealing cover and the second sealing member hermetically seal the fill port aperture.

14. The device of claim 11 , wherein the first sealing member is characterized as an elastomeric seal.

15. The device of claim 11 , wherein the second sealing member is characterized as an epoxy.

16. The device of claim 11 , wherein the base plate comprises a recessed shoulder surface which contactingly engages the first sealing member and a raised flange extending from the recessed shoulder surface to an elevation nominally equal to an elevation of an outer surface of the structural cover.

17. The device of claim 11 , wherein the sealing cover linearly extends across the outer surface of the structural cover to a raised flange.

18. The device of claim 17 , wherein the sealing cover comprises a first plate portion which contactingly extends across the outer surface of the structural cover and a downwardly depending circumferentially extending flange portion that extends adjacent the raised flange of the base plate.

19. The device of claim 17 , wherein the raised flange of the base plate is between the downwardly depending circumferentially extending flange portion and the structural cover.

20. The device of claim 17 , wherein the downwardly depending circumferentially extending flange portion is between the raised flange of the base plate and the structural cover.