Temperature Control Within Disk Drive Testing Systems

Abstract

A disk drive test slot thermal control system includes a test slot. The test slot includes a housing and an air mover (e.g., a blower or a fan). The housing includes an outer surface, and an internal cavity. The internal cavity includes a test compartment for receiving and supporting a disk drive transporter carrying a disk drive for testing. The housing also includes an inlet aperture extending from the outer surface of the housing to the internal cavity. The air mover can be disposed outside of the internal cavity to provide an air flow towards the test compartment through the inlet aperture.

1 . A disk drive test slot thermal control system comprising:
 a test slot comprising:
 a housing comprising:
 an outer surface, 
 an internal cavity defined by the housing and comprising a test compartment for receiving and supporting a disk drive transporter carrying a disk drive for testing, and 
 an inlet aperture extending from the outer surface of the housing to the internal cavity; and 
 
   an air mover disposed outside of the internal cavity and configured to provide an air flow towards the test compartment through the inlet aperture.   
     
     
         2 . The disk drive test slot thermal control system of  claim 1 , wherein, in the absence of a disk drive and a disk drive transporter, the housing carries substantially no moving parts. 
     
     
         3 . The disk drive test slot thermal control system of  claim 1 , wherein the housing defines an outlet aperture extending from the outer surface to the internal cavity, and wherein the air mover comprises an air outlet in fluid communication with the inlet aperture and an air inlet in fluid communication with the outlet aperture. 
     
     
         4 . The disk drive test slot thermal control system of  claim 1 , wherein the air mover is mounted in an air mover housing. 
     
     
         5 . The disk drive test slot thermal control system of  claim 4 , wherein the air mover housing is formed of a flexible material. 
     
     
         6 . The disk drive test slot thermal control system of  claim 4 , wherein the air mover housing comprises one or more isolators which connect the air mover to the air mover housing. 
     
     
         7 . The disk drive test slot thermal control system of  claim 4 , further comprising a test rack, the test rack comprising a chassis, the chassis defining a slot bank configured to receive and support the test slot, wherein the air mover housing is mounted to the chassis. 
     
     
         8 . The disk drive test slot thermal control system of  claim 1 , further comprising a thermoelectric device configured to cool or heat an air flow exiting the air mover. 
     
     
         9 . The disk drive test slot thermal control system of  claim 8 , wherein the thermoelectric device comprises a passive device. 
     
     
         10 . The disk drive test slot thermal control system of  claim 9 , wherein the thermoelectric device comprises a thermoelectric cooler. 
     
     
         11 . The disk drive test slot thermal control system of  claim 8 , wherein the thermoelectric device comprises a bulk thermoelectric cooler or a thin film thermoelectric cooler. 
     
     
         12 . The disk drive test slot thermal control system of  claim 8 , wherein the air mover is mounted in an air mover housing, and wherein the air mover housing comprises an opening configured to direct an air flow from the air mover towards the thermoelectric device. 
     
     
         13 . The disk drive test slot thermal control system of  claim 8 , wherein the thermoelectric device is disposed downstream of the air mover and upstream of the inlet aperture. 
     
     
         14 . The disk drive test slot thermal control system of  claim 8 , further comprising a cooling conduit, wherein the thermoelectric device is mounted to the cooling conduit, and wherein the cooling conduit is configured to absorb heat dissipated by the thermoelectric device. 
     
     
         15 . The disk drive test slot thermal control system of  claim 14 , wherein the cooling conduit is liquid cooled. 
     
     
         16 . The disk drive test slot thermal control system of  claim 8 , further comprising a heatsink connected to the thermoelectric device, wherein the air mover is configured to direct an air flow towards the heatsink. 
     
     
         17 . The disk drive test slot thermal control system of  claim 8 , wherein the test slot comprises a ducting conduit disposed within the internal cavity and configured to convey an air flow from the inlet aperture towards the test compartment. 
     
     
         18 . The disk drive test slot thermal control system of  claim 17 , wherein the ducting conduit is configured to direct an air flow underneath a disk drive disposed within the test compartment. 
     
     
         19 . The disk drive test slot thermal control system of  claim 17 , further comprising an electric heating device disposed within the internal cavity and configured to heat an air flow being conveyed through the ducting conduit. 
     
     
         20 . The disk drive test slot thermal control system of  claim 19 , further comprising a heatsink disposed within the ducting conduit and connected to the electric heating device, wherein the electric heating device is configured to heat the heatsink. 
     
     
         21 . The disk drive test slot thermal control system of  claim 19 , further comprising test electronics in electrical communication with the thermoelectric device and the electric heating device and configured to control current flows to the thermoelectric device and the electric heating device. 
     
     
         22 . The disk drive test slot thermal control system of  claim 21 , further comprising one or more temperature sensors disposed within the internal cavity, wherein the one or more temperature sensors are electrically connected to the test electronics, and wherein the test electronics are configured to control flows of current to the thermoelectric device and the electric heating device based, at least in part, on signals received from the one or more temperature sensors. 
     
     
         23 . The disk drive test slot thermal control system of  claim 21 , wherein the test electronics are disposed outside of the internal cavity. 
     
     
         24 . The disk drive test slot thermal control system of  claim 8 , further comprising test electronics in electrical communication with the thermoelectric device and configured to control a flow of current to the thermoelectric device. 
     
     
         25 . The disk drive test slot thermal control system of  claim 24 , further comprising one or more temperature sensors disposed within the internal cavity, wherein the one or more temperature sensors are in electrical communication with the test electronics, and wherein the test electronics are configured to control a flow of current to the thermoelectric device based, at least in part, on signals received from the one or more temperature sensors. 
     
     
         26 . The disk drive test slot thermal control system of  claim 25 , wherein the test electronics are disposed outside of the internal cavity. 
     
     
         27 . The disk drive test slot thermal control system of  claim 1 , further comprising an electric heating device configured to heat an air flow exiting the air mover. 
     
     
         28 . The disk drive test slot thermal control system of  claim 27 , wherein the electric heating device comprises a resistive heater. 
     
     
         29 . The disk drive test slot thermal control system of  claim 27 , wherein the electric heating device is disposed downstream of the air mover and downstream of the inlet aperture. 
     
     
         30 . The disk drive test slot thermal control system of  claim 27 , further comprising test electronics electrically connected to the electric heating devices and configured to control a current flow to the electric heating device. 
     
     
         31 . The disk drive test slot thermal control system of  claim 30 , further comprising one or more temperature sensors disposed within the internal cavity, wherein the one or more temperatures sensor are electrically connected to the test electronics, and wherein the test electronics are configured to control a current flow to the electric heating device based, at least in part, on signals received from the one or more temperature sensors. 
     
     
         32 . The disk drive test slot thermal control system of  claim 31 , wherein the test electronics are disposed outside of the internal cavity. 
     
     
         33 . The disk drive test slot thermal control system of  claim 1 , further comprising test electronics configured to communicate one or more test routines to a disk drive within the test compartment. 
     
     
         34 . The disk drive test slot thermal control system of  claim 33 , further comprising a test slot connector disposed within the internal cavity and configured to engage a mating connector on a disk drive, wherein the test slot connector is electrically connected to the test electronics. 
     
     
         35 . The disk drive test slot thermal control system of  claim 34 , further comprising a printed wiring board disposed within the internal cavity of the housing and arranged to be substantially coplanar with a disk drive within the test compartment, wherein the test slot connector is mounted to the printed wiring board. 
     
     
         36 . The disk drive test slot thermal control system of  claim 34 , wherein the test electronics are disposed outside of the internal cavity. 
     
     
         37 . The disk drive test slot thermal control system of  claim 36 , further comprising a connection interface circuit disposed within the internal cavity, wherein the connection interface circuit is configured to provide electrical communication between the test slot connector and the test electronics. 
     
     
         38 . The disk drive test slot thermal control system of  claim 1 , wherein the air mover comprises a blower or a fan. 
     
     
         39 . A method of adjusting air temperature within a disk drive test slot, the method comprising:
 inserting a disk drive transporter carrying a disk drive into a housing of a disk drive test slot;   actuating an air mover mounted externally to the housing to deliver an air flow into the housing; and   actuating an thermoelectric device thereby cooling an air flow entering the housing.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising actuating an electric heating device thereby heating an air flow within the housing. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising actuating the thermoelectric device thereby heating an air flow entering the housing. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein actuating the thermoelectric device comprises causing an electric current to be delivered to the thermoelectric device. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising executing a test program, wherein the test program automatically adjusts a current flow to the thermoelectric device. 
     
     
         44 . A disk drive test slot thermal control system comprising:
 a test slot comprising:
 a housing comprising:
 an outer surface, 
 an internal cavity defined by the housing and comprising a test compartment for receiving and supporting a disk drive transporter carrying a disk drive for testing, and 
 
   an air mover comprising a rotating blade and configured to provide an air flow towards the test compartment, wherein the blade is mounted for out-of-plane rotation relative to a disk drive within the test compartment.   
     
     
         45 . A disk drive test system comprising:
 a test slot assembly comprising:
 a plurality of test slots, each of the test slots comprising:
 a housing comprising:
 an outer surface, 
 an internal cavity defined by the housing and comprising a test compartment for receiving and supporting a disk drive transporter carrying a disk drive for testing, and 
 an inlet aperture extending from the outer surface to the internal cavity; and 
 
 
   an air mover assembly associated with corresponding ones of the plurality of test slots, said air mover assembly disposed outside of the internal cavities of the associated test slots and configured to provide corresponding air flows towards the test compartments of each of the associated test slots through the respective inlet apertures.   
     
     
         46 . The disk drive test system of  claim 45 , wherein the air mover assembly comprises a plurality of air movers each associated with a corresponding one of the test slots. 
     
     
         47 . The disk drive test system of  claim 46 , wherein the air mover assembly comprises an air mover housing, and wherein the plurality of air movers are mounted in the air mover housing. 
     
     
         48 . The disk drive test system of  claim 47 , wherein the air mover housing is formed of a flexible material. 
     
     
         49 . The disk drive test system of  claim 47 , wherein the air mover housing comprises a plurality isolators which connect the air movers to the air mover housing. 
     
     
         50 . The disk drive test system of  claim 47 , further comprising a test rack, the test rack comprising a chassis, the chassis defining a slot bank configured to receive and support the plurality of test slots, wherein the air mover housing is mounted to the chassis. 
     
     
         51 . The disk drive test system of  claim 46 , further comprising one or more thermoelectric devices configured to cool or heat air flows exiting the air movers. 
     
     
         52 . The disk drive test system of  claim 51 , wherein the thermoelectric devices comprise one or more passive components. 
     
     
         53 . The disk drive test system of  claim 52 , wherein at least one of the thermoelectric devices comprises a thermoelectric cooler. 
     
     
         54 . The disk drive test system of  claim 51 , wherein at least one of the thermoelectric devices comprises a bulk thermoelectric cooler or a thin film thermoelectric cooler. 
     
     
         55 . The disk drive test system of  claim 46 , further comprising a plurality of thermoelectric devices each associated with a corresponding one of the air movers and each configured to cool or heat an air flow exiting the associated one of the air movers. 
     
     
         56 . The disk drive test system of  claim 55 , wherein the thermoelectric devices are disposed downstream of the air movers and upstream of the inlet apertures of associated ones of the test slots. 
     
     
         57 . The disk drive test system of  claim 55 , wherein the air mover assembly comprises an air mover housing, wherein the plurality of air movers are mounted in the air mover housing, and wherein the air mover housing is configured to direct air flows from each of the air movers towards associated ones of the thermoelectric devices. 
     
     
         58 . The disk drive test system of  claim 57 , wherein the air mover housing is formed of a flexible material. 
     
     
         59 . The disk drive test system of  claim 57 , wherein the air mover housing comprises a plurality isolators which connect the air movers to the air mover housing. 
     
     
         60 . The disk drive test system of  claim 55 , further comprising a cooling conduit, wherein the thermoelectric devices are mounted to the cooling conduit, and wherein the cooling conduit is configured to absorb heat dissipated by the thermoelectric devices. 
     
     
         61 . The disk drive test system of  claim 60 , wherein the cooling conduit is liquid cooled. 
     
     
         62 . The disk drive test system of  claim 55 , further comprising a plurality of heatsinks each connected to an associated one of the thermoelectric devices, wherein each of the air movers is configured to direct an air flow towards the heatsink of the associated one of the thermoelectric devices. 
     
     
         63 . The disk drive test system of  claim 55 , further comprising a plurality of electric heating devices each associated with a corresponding one of the test slots, wherein each of the electric heating devices is configured to heat an air flow being conveyed through the inlet aperture of the associated test slot. 
     
     
         64 . The disk drive test system of  claim 63 , wherein each of the electric heating devices is disposed within the internal cavity of the associated test slot. 
     
     
         65 . The disk drive test system of  claim 63 , wherein at least one of the electric heating devices comprises a resistive heater. 
     
     
         66 . The disk drive test system of  claim 63 , further comprising test electronics in electrical communication with the thermoelectric devices and the electric heating devices and configured to control current flows to the thermoelectric devices and the electric heating devices. 
     
     
         67 . The disk drive test system of  claim 66 , further comprising a plurality of temperature sensors each associated with a corresponding one of the test slots, wherein the temperature sensors are electrically connected to the test electronics, and wherein the test electronics are configured to control flows of current to the thermoelectric devices and the electric heating devices based, at least in part, on signals received from the temperature sensors. 
     
     
         68 . The disk drive test system of  claim 67 , wherein each of the temperature sensors is disposed within the internal cavity of the associated one of the test slots. 
     
     
         69 . The disk drive test system of  claim 66 , wherein the test electronics are disposed outside of the internal cavities of the test slots. 
     
     
         70 . The disk drive test system of  claim 45 , comprising a plurality of air mover assemblies each associated with a corresponding pair of the test slots, wherein each of the air mover assemblies is disposed outside of the internal cavities of the associated test slots and is configured to provide corresponding air flows towards the test compartments of the associated test slots through the respective inlet apertures. 
     
     
         71 . The disk drive test system of  claim 70 , wherein each of the air mover assemblies comprises a pair of air movers, and wherein each of the air movers is associated with a corresponding one of the test slots. 
     
     
         72 . The disk drive test system of  claim 71 , wherein each of the air mover assemblies comprises an air mover housing in which the associated air movers are mounted. 
     
     
         73 . The disk drive test system of  claim 71 , wherein each of the air movers comprises a rotating blade that is mounted for out-of-plane rotation relative to a disk drive within the test compartment of the associated one of the test slots.