Protection of disk drive from external electromagnetic waves

Abstract

A disk drive includes a metal base that has a rectangular bottom wall and side walls formed on each side of the rectangular bottom wall, the side walls including a first side wall on a shorter side, a metal cover that is fixed to the metal base with a plurality of metal screws, including two screws disposed at opposite ends of the side wall, a gap being formed between an upper end of the first side wall and the metal cover, a magnetic disk disposed on the metal base, at a position offset from a center of the metal base in a longitudinal direction towards the first side wall, and a head. The first side wall and the metal cover are electrically connected at an intermediate position of the first side wall between said opposite ends of the first side wall.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A disk drive comprising:
 a metal base that has a rectangular bottom wall and side walls formed on each side of the rectangular bottom wall, the side walls including a first side wall on a shorter side;   a metal cover that is fixed to the metal base with a plurality of metal screws, including two screws disposed at opposite ends of the first side wall, a gap being formed between an upper end of the first side wall and the metal cover;   a magnetic disk disposed on the metal base, at a position offset from a center of the metal base in a longitudinal direction towards the first side wall; and   a head configured to write data to and read data from the magnetic disk, wherein   the first side wall and the metal cover are electrically connected at an intermediate position of the first side wall between said opposite ends of the first side wall.   
     
     
         2 . The disk drive according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a conductive member attached to the metal cover and the intermediate position of the first side wall for electrical connection therebetween.   
     
     
         3 . The disk drive according to  claim 2 , wherein the conductive member is formed of copper. 
     
     
         4 . The disk drive according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a gasket disposed between a top surface of the first side wall and a bottom surface of the metal cover, the gap being formed corresponding to the gasket.   
     
     
         5 . The disk drive according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the metal cover includes a protrusion that protrudes towards the first side wall at the intermediate position, and the protrusion is in contact with the first side wall.   
     
     
         6 . The disk drive according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the first side wall includes a recessed portion in which the protrusion fits.   
     
     
         7 . The disk drive according to  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a gasket disposed between a top surface of the first side wall and a bottom surface of the metal cover, the gap being formed corresponding to the gasket, wherein   the protrusion of the metal cover is located outside a region of the metal cover that is in contact with the gasket.   
     
     
         8 . The disk drive according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a connector that is disposed for connection with an external device along the first side wall.   
     
     
         9 . The disk drive according to  claim 1 , wherein
 at least two loop antennas are formed in the gap.   
     
     
         10 . A disk drive comprising:
 a metal base that has a rectangular bottom wall and side walls formed on each side of the rectangular bottom wall, the side walls including a first side wall on a shorter side;   a metal cover above the metal base, a gap being formed between the first side wall and the metal cover;   a magnetic disk disposed on the metal base, at a position offset from a center of the metal base in a longitudinal direction towards the first side wall; and   a head configured to write data to and read data from the magnetic disk, wherein   the metal cover and the first side wall are electrically connected at first, second, and third positions of the first side wall, the second position being between the first and third positions,   a first loop antenna is formed in a part of the gap between the first position and the second position of the side wall, and   a second loop antenna is formed in another part of the gap between the second position and the third position of the side wall.   
     
     
         11 . The disk drive according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a conductive member attached to the metal cover and the first side wall at the second position.   
     
     
         12 . The disk drive according to  claim 11 , wherein the conductive member is formed of copper. 
     
     
         13 . The disk drive according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a gasket disposed between a top surface of the first side wall and a bottom surface of the metal cover, the gap being formed corresponding to the gasket.   
     
     
         14 . The disk drive according to  claim 10 , wherein
 the metal cover includes a protrusion that protrudes towards the first side wall at the second position, and the protrusion is in contact with the first side wall.   
     
     
         15 . The disk drive according to  claim 14 , wherein
 the first side wall includes a recessed portion in which the protrusion fits.   
     
     
         16 . The disk drive according to  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a gasket disposed between a top surface of the first side wall and a bottom surface of the metal cover, the gap being formed corresponding to the gasket, wherein   the protrusion of the metal cover is located outside a region of the metal cover that is in contact with the gasket.   
     
     
         17 . The disk drive according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a connector that is disposed for connection with an external device along the first side wall.   
     
     
         18 . A method for protecting a disk drive from external electromagnetic waves, comprising:
 assembling a disk drive including:
 a metal base that has a rectangular bottom wall and side walls formed on each side of the rectangular bottom wall, the side walls including a first side wall on a shorter side; 
 a metal cover that is fixed to the metal base with a plurality of metal screws, including two screws disposed at opposite ends of the first side wall, a gap being formed between an upper end of the first side wall and the metal cover; 
 a magnetic disk disposed on the metal base, at a position offset from a center of the metal base in a longitudinal direction towards the first side wall; and 
 a head configured to write data to and read data from the magnetic disk; and 
   attaching a conductive member to the metal cover and the first side wall, at an intermediate position of the first side wall between said opposite ends of the first side wall.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein
 the disk drive further includes a gasket disposed between a top surface of the first side wall and a bottom surface of the metal cover, the gap being formed corresponding to the gasket.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein
 the disk drive further includes a connector that is disposed for connection with an external device along the first side wall.