IP Library Granted Patent US 7,957,095
Granted Patent B1
US 7,957,095 · App. 12/419,142 · Granted Jun 7, 2011

Disk drive having a stationary plate facing a disk and with a recirculation filter coupled to grooves in the stationary plate

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,957,095
App. No.
12/419,142
Granted
Jun 7, 2011
Kind
B1
Abstract

A novel disk drive is disclosed and claimed. The disk drive includes a disk and a spindle motor to which the disk is attached to rotate about an axis of rotation. The disk drive also includes a stationary plate facing and disposed over the disk, wherein the stationary plate includes a plurality of grooves through which rotation-induced air flows from an inlet end to an outlet end. The disk drive also includes a recirculation filter coupled to and immediately adjacent said outlet end of said plurality of grooves.

Claims (34)

1. A disk drive comprising:

an upper disk;

a lower disk;

a spindle motor to which the upper disk and lower disk are attached to rotate about an axis of rotation;

a stationary plate disposed between said upper disk and lower disk, said stationary plate comprising

a plurality of grooves through which rotation-induced air flows from an inlet end to an outlet end,

a top side facing said upper disk, and

a bottom side facing said lower disk; and

a recirculation filter coupled to and immediately adjacent said outlet end of said plurality of grooves,

wherein the inlet end of one of the plurality of grooves is closer to the axis of rotation than the outlet end of the same groove.

2. The disk drive of claim 1 , wherein said inlet end has an inlet angle of between 0 degrees and 45 degrees relative to a rotational motion of an adjacent disk to the inlet end.

3. A disk drive comprising:

an upper disk;

a lower disk;

a spindle motor to which the upper disk and lower disk are attached to rotate about an axis of rotation;

a stationary plate disposed between said upper disk and lower disk, said stationary plate comprising

a plurality of grooves through which rotation-induced air flows from an inlet end to an outlet end,

a top side facing said upper disk, and

a bottom side facing said lower disk; and

a recirculation filter coupled to and immediately adjacent said outlet end of said plurality of grooves, and

a voice coil motor positioned adjacent to said recirculation filter without any intervening structure where said rotation-induced air impinges on said voice coil motor.

4. A disk drive comprising:

a disk;

a spindle motor to which the disk is attached to rotate about an axis of rotation;

a stationary plate facing and disposed over said disk, wherein the stationary plate includes a plurality of grooves through which rotation-induced air flows from an inlet end to an outlet end; and

a recirculation filter coupled to and immediately adjacent said outlet end of said plurality of grooves,

wherein the inlet end of one of the plurality of grooves is closer to the axis of rotation than the outlet end of the same groove.

5. The disk drive of claim 4 , wherein said inlet end has an inlet angle of between 0 degrees and 45 degrees relative to a rotational motion of said disk.

6. A disk drive comprising:

a disk;

a spindle motor to which the disk is attached to rotate about an axis of rotation;

a stationary plate facing and disposed over said disk, wherein the stationary plate includes a plurality of grooves through which rotation-induced air flows from an inlet end to an outlet end; and

a recirculation filter coupled to and immediately adjacent said outlet end of said plurality of grooves, and

a voice coil motor positioned adjacent to said recirculation filter without any intervening structure where said rotation-induced air impinges on said voice coil motor.

Assignments (5)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL 038744 FRAME 0481 Recorded Feb 8, 2022
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 058982/0556 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 5, 2018
From: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 045501/0714 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 17, 2016
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 038722/0229 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 17, 2016
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 038744/0281 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 17, 2016
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 038744/0481 →