WO2000074049A1

WO2000074049A1 - Method and system for providing a disk drive in a compact flash form factor

Info

Publication number: WO2000074049A1
Application number: PCT/US2000/011922
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gilbert D. Springer; Harrold Beecroft
Original assignee: Halo Data Devices, Inc.
Priority date: 1999-05-27
Filing date: 2000-05-02
Publication date: 2000-12-07

Abstract

A method and system for storing and retrieving data on a disk drive are disclosed. The method and system include providing a housing, a disk (140), a motor (120), and an actuator (150). The disk is for storing the data. The motor is coupled with the disk and is for spinning the disk. The actuator includes a head (160). The actuator is for moving the head in proximity to the disk. The system and method also include providing electronics (131, 132, 133) and providing an electrical interface. The electronics are coupled with the head and control the actuator and the head. The electronics also provide a read signal from and a write signal to the head. The electrical interface is coupled with the electronics and the head. The disk, the motor, the actuator, and the electronics are contained within the housing. The housing and electrical interface are compatible with a reduced size standard. For example, the housing and electrical interface may be compatible with a CompactFlash (tm) standard. Thus, a disk drive compatible with the CompactFlash (tm) standard or other reduced size standard can be provided.

Description

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING A DISK DRIVE IN A COMPACT FLASH FORM FACTOR

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present invention is related to co-pending U.S. Patent Application serial no. 08/653,168 filed on May 24, 1994 and entitled "THIN FILM ELECTRIC MOTORS".

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to disk drives, more particularly to a method and system for providing a disk drive in a small form factor, such as a compact flash form factor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Data may be stored using a variety of conventional mechanisms. One conventional storage device is a conventional disk drive. In the conventional disk drive, data is magnetically stored on a disk. In many conventional floppy disk drives, for example for desktop or laptop computers, the disk is typically on the order of three and one half inches in diameter. Such a conventional disk is capable of storing 4 megabytes (MB) of data. Similarly, hard disks existing within computers are typically larger and capable of storing up to several gigabytes of data.

Although conventional disk drives function, it is desirable for the storage device to be smaller. For example, apparatus for many applications are designed to be portable. Digital cameras, which store data digitally rather than on film, and personal digital assistants are examples of two such applications. The storage device for such applications is desired to be small and portable. Conventional disk drives, even conventional floppy disk drives, are larger than desired for such applications. Therefore, smaller storage devices are desired for many applications. Because many current applications use portable devices, it would also be desirable for the smaller storage devices to consume a reduced amount of power.

Standards have been proposed for applications utilizing smaller storage devices. For example, Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) has proposed a PCMCIA compatible device known as a PC card. The Type II PC cards are typically used for memory. A Type II PC card is 85.6mm long by 54 mm wide, approximately five millimeters thick, and utilizes a sixty-eight pin electrical interface that is ATA (AT attachment) compatible. Thus, Type II PC cards can be used for providing a smaller storage device.

In order to provide an even smaller storage device, the CompactFlash™ standard has been developed. The CompactFlash™ standard was originally introduced by SanDisk Corporation in 1994. The CompactFlash™ standard utilizes a conventional CompactFlash™ card (conventional CF card) for storage. The conventional CF card includes semiconductor memory as well as an electrical interface for plugging the conventional CF card into a device. The semiconductor memory includes multiple memory cells on one or more semiconductor chips. The conventional CF card has dimensions of 43mm x 36 mm x 3.3 mm. The thickness of the conventional CF card is thus approximately half that of a PCMCIA type II card. The conventional CF card has a fifty pin electrical interface that conforms to ATA (AT attachment) specifications. Thus, although a PCMCIA card has sixty-eight pins, the conventional CF card can be used with a passive adapter for PCMCIA standards. Thus, the conventional CF card can be utilized with CompactFlash™ compatible or PCMCIA compatible devices.

Although the conventional CF card provides a small storage device, there are drawbacks to its use. The small size of the conventional CF card for the CompactFlash™ standard limits the number of semiconductor chips that can be placed in the conventional CF. However, many conventional applications utilize a relatively large amount of memory. A conventional CF card storing one bit per memory cell may be incapable of providing the desired amount of memory for such conventional applications.

To provide the desired amount of memory at the size of the conventional CF card, multiple bits are stored in each memory cell of the semiconductor chips. For example, four bits may be store in each memory cell. To write to a cell thus requires quadruple the time taken to write a memory cell which stores a single bit. The conventional CF card having four-bit memory cells can typically write approximately one hundred kilobytes per second. As discussed above, some conventional applications require relatively large amounts of memory. In addition, individual files stored by some conventional applications are relatively large. For example, conventional digital cameras current compress images to files of approximately seven hundred kilobytes in size. It would require approximately seven seconds to store a single image file using a conventional CF card which has four-bit memory cells in semiconductor flash memory. Thus, access times for such a conventional CF card may be relatively slow.

Accordingly, what is needed is a system and method for providing a compact storage device. It would be desirable if the access times for and power consumed by such a compact storage device were lower. The present invention addresses such a need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a method and system for storing and retrieving data. The method and system comprise providing a housing, a disk, a motor, electronics, and an actuator coupled with a head. The disk is for storing the data. The motor is coupled with the disk and is for spinning the disk. The actuator is for moving the head in proximity to the disk. The electronics are coupled with the head and control the actuator and the head. The electronics also provide a read signal to and a write signal from the head. The system and method also comprise providing an electrical interface. The electrical mterface is coupled with the electronics and the head. The disk, the motor, the actuator, and the electronics are contained within the housing. The housing and electrical interface are compatible with a reduced size standard. For example, the housing and electrical interface may be compatible with a CompactFlash™ standard. Thus, a disk drive compatible with the CompactFlash™ standard or other reduced size standard can be provided.

According to the system and method disclosed herein, the present invention provides a disk drive which

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a block diagram of a reduced size disk drive in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2A is a top view of one embodiment of a disk drive in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2B is a side view of one embodiment of a disk drive in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 3 A is a diagram of one embodiment of a flexure assembly for use in an actuator in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 3B is a diagram of a second embodiment of a quasi-contact head flexure assembly for use in an actuator in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 4 is a side view of another embodiment of a disk drive in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 5 A is a perspective view of one embodiment of a motor used in the disk drive in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 5B is a top view of one embodiment of a rotor used in the disk drive in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 5C is a top view of one embodiment of a stator used in the disk drive in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 6A is a perspective view of one embodiment of a thin film motor used in the disk drive in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 6B is a diagram of the poles developed for use with a thin film rotor or stator used in a disk drive in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 6C is a top view of one embodiment of a rotor or stator for a thin film motor used in the disk drive in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an improvement in storage devices. The following description is presented to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention and is provided in the context of a patent application and its requirements. Various modifications to the preferred embodiment will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art and the generic principles herein may be applied to other embodiments. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiment shown, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features described herein. The present invention provides a method and system for storing and retrieving data. The method and system comprise providing a housing, a disk, a motor, and an actuator coupled with a head. The disk is for storing the data. The motor is coupled with the disk and is for spinning the disk. The actuator is for moving the head in proximity to the disk. The system and method also comprise providing electronics and providing an electrical interface. The electronics are coupled with the head and control the actuator and the head. The electronics also provide a read signal to and a write signal from the head. The electrical interface is coupled with the electronics and the head. The disk, the motor, the actuator, and the electronics are contained within the housing. The housing and electrical interface are compatible with a reduced size standard. For example, the housing and electrical interface may be compatible with a CompactFlash™ standard. Thus, a disk drive compatible with the CompactFlash™ standard or other reduced size standard can be provided.

The present invention will be described in terms of a CompactFlash™ standard and a particular motor. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that this method and system will operate effectively for other standards having a reduced size, as well as other motors. The present invention will also be described in the context of particular mechanisms for controlling the components of the disk drive as well as a particular layout. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily realize that the present invention is consistent with other control mechanisms and other layouts which allow the disk drive to be compatible with reduced-size standards.

To more particularly illustrate the method and system in accordance with the present invention, refer now to Figure 1 , depicting a block diagram of one embodiment of a storage device 100 in accordance with the present invention. The storage device 100 is a disk drive 100 that is compatible with a reduced size standard, such as CompactFlash™. Thus, the disk drive 100 may take the form substantially similar to that of a CompactFlash™ card (CF card). The disk drive 100 includes a housmg 110, a motor 120, electronics 130, a disk 140, an actuator 150, one ore more heads such as the heads 160 and 162, and an electrical interface 170. The housing 110 holds the components of the disk drive 100 and has a size which conforms with a reduced size standard, such as that of a CF card. The disk 140 is for magnetically storing data. In one embodiment, both sides of the disk 140 can be written to and read from. However, in a preferred embodiment, only one side of the disk 140 is written to and read from. The actuator 150 holds the heads 160 and 162. The actuator 150 is used to move the heads 160 and 162 close to the disk 140 when the heads 160 and 162 are to be used. The actuator 150 may thus considered to include a mechanism for moving the heads 160 and 162, such as magnets or coils which are not physically attached directly to the remaining portions of the actuator 150. The heads 160 and 162 may have the same or different functions. For example, the head 160 may be a read head, while the head 162 is a write head. In a preferred embodiment, however, a single merged head, including a read head and a write head, is used. The electronics 130 provide signals to and from the actuator 150 and the motor 120, which is used to spin the disk 140 during use. In a preferred embodiment, the motor 120 is a thin film motor, as discussed below. However, in an alternate embodiment, another type of motor consistent with the reduced size of the housing 110 can be used.

The layout of the disk drive 100 will be explained with reference to Figures 2 A and 2B. Figure 2A is a top view of the layout for one embodiment of the disk drive 100. Figure 2B is a side view of the layout for one embodiment of the disk drive 100. Note that two different reduced size standards are indicated, a minicard, and a CF card. In a preferred embodiment, the disk drive 100 is compatible with a CF card. However, the minicard layout is shown to indicate that in alternate embodiments, the disk drive 100 could be compatible with a different reduced size standard. The disk drive 100 includes the housing 110, motor 120, the disk 140, actuator 150, head 160, and electronics 130. In one implementation, the disk 140 is a glass disk. The electronics 130 includes semiconductor chips 131, 132, 133, 134, and 135. The semiconductor chips 131, 132, 133, 134, and 135 are used in controlling the actuator 150 and motor 120. The chips 131, 132, 133, 134, and 135 are also used in controlling and providing a write signal to and a read signal from the head 160. The motor preferably includes a rotor and a stator (not explicitly shown in Figures 2 A and 2B). Note that a single head 160 is depicted. Consequently, the head 160 is preferably a merged head.

In order to ensure that the embodiment of the disk drive 100 shown in Figures 2 A and 2B is compatible with a CompactFlash™ standard, the layout and sizes of various components of the disk drive 100 have been established. The housing 110 should measure approximately 43 mm by approximately 36 mm by approximately 3.3 mm. In addition, the electrical interface 170 is shown to include fifty pins 172. In addition, the disk 140 is slightly less than one inch in diameter. If the electrical mterface 170 is made slightly smaller, a larger disk, for example approximately 1.3 inches, might be used. Furthermore, only one side of the disk 140 is used for recording. As a result, a single head 160 and a single amplifier (not explicitly depicted) can be used for the recording, making the disk drive 100 more economically feasible. Furthermore, the chips 131, 132, 133, 134, and 135 have been laid out to allow space for the disk 140 and to allow the actuator 150 to move in order to pass the head 160 over the disk 140. In addition, as depicted in Figures 2A and 2B, the chips 131, 132, 133, 134, and 135 are preferably contained in a cavity separate from the portion of the housing 110 containing disk 140, the actuator 150, the motor 120, and the head 160. This cavity is shielded to prevent an interaction between the magnetic fields generated in recording on and reading from the disk 140. The chip 132 controls the motor and preferable is mounted in the same layer as the stator of the motor. The motor 120 depicted in Figure 2B is a thin film motor, discussed below. However, in another embodiment, a different type of motor may be used. The chips 131, 132, 133, 134, and 135 are used to provide a processor, a PCMCIA/ ATA interface, 1394 (firewire) interface, or USB interface, error correction servo controller and a read write channel. Thus, the disk drive 100 is a stand-alone functional unit. In addition to being shielded, the chips 131-135 are preferably selected to have the smallest line pitch in order to reduce power consumption.

The disk drive 100 also preferably includes a proprietary self-servo mechanism. Thus, the disk drive 100 can use the head 100 to write a servo burst to the disk 140 in order to servo the head 160. As a result, the disk 140 need not be preformatted in order to servo the head 160. For the same reasons, the disk drive 100 need not utilize a separate servo writer. This allows the disk drive 100 to remain compact without requiring the use of a preformatted disk 140.

The actuator 150 is shown in two positions to depict how the actuator can rotate within the housing 110. The actuator 150 includes an arm 155 for supporting the head 160. The actuator 150 is used for moving the head 160 in proximity to the disk 140 for reading from and writing to the disk. In order to do so, the actuator 150 has a pivot 152 that includes two mounting fasteners 153 and 154. In order to move, the actuator includes a coil 151 which interacts with the magnets 156 and 157. Although the magnets 156 and 157 may be considered part of the actuator 150 in that the magnets 156 and 157 aid in moving the actuator 150, the magnets 156 and 157 are not physically attached to the remaining portions of the actuator 150. When a current is driven through the coil 151, the coil 151 experiences a magnetic force due to the magnets 156 and 157. As a result, the actuator 150 rotates around the pivot 152 by a particular angle. The angle through which the actuator 150 rotates depends on the current driven through the coil 151. Thus, the actuator arm 155 can place the head 160 at the desired position over the disk 140. The position in which the actuator arm 155 places the head 160 is set to ensure that the head 160 is in the proper position for reading from or writing to the disk 140. Thus, any offset between a read head and a write head within the head 160 is accounted for. In addition, in order to ensure that the actuator 150 can rotate, a cable which provides current to the coil 151 must be flexible to account for the motion of the actuator 150.

Figures 3 A and 3B depict two embodiments of portions of the actuator 150. Figure 3A depicts a thin film head flexure assembly 150', while Figure 3B depicts a quasi-contact head flexure assembly 150". The flexure assemblies 150' and 150" include pivots 152' and 152", respectively. In addition, the flexure assemblies 150' and 150" include arms 155' and 155" for supporting a head. The actuator including the assemblies 150' and 150" would also include two substantially spherical bearings (not shown in Figures 3 A and 3B) as well as a coil (not shown in Figures 3A and 3B) and other components of the actuator 150. As discussed above, the actuator 150 which may use the flexure assemblies 150' and 150" may use either a moving magnet or a moving coil.

Figure 4 depicts a side view of another embodiment of a disk drive 200 in accordance with the present invention. The disk drive 200 is substantially the same as the disk drive 100. Consequently, portions of the disk drive 200 are labeled similarly to analogous components of the disk drive 100. The disk drive 100 includes a housing 210, a motor 220, electronics 230, a disk 240, an actuator 250, a head 260, as well as an electrical interface (not depicted in Figure 4). In addition, the size and layout of components in the disk drive 200 are similar to analogous components of the disk drive 100. For example, the housing 210 is measures approximately 43 mm by approximately 36 mm by approximately 3.3 mm. Similarly, the electrical interface (not explicitly shown in Figure 4) for the disk drive 200 is preferably ATA compatible and includes fifty pins 172. The electronics 230 include the chip 230 shown in Figure 4. The chips for the disk drive 200 have a layout that is substantially the same as for the chips 131, 132, 133, 134, and 135 of the disk drive 100 depicted in Figures 2A and 2B. Referring back to Figure 4, the motor 220 includes a rotor 222 and a stator 224. In one embodiment, the disk 240 is coupled with the rotor 222. In a preferred embodiment, the motor 220 is a thin film motor. In such an embodiment, it is possible to incorporate the disk 240 into the rotor 222.

The actuator 250 includes an arm 255, a pivot 252 having mounting fasteners 253 and 254, which are similar to the fasteners 153 and 154 shown in Figure 2B. Referring back to Figure 4, as with the remaining components of the disk drive 200, the actuator 250 is similar to the actuator 150 in many respects. However, the actuator 250 of Figure 4 differs from the actuator 150 depicted in Figures 2 A and 2B. Referring back to Figure 4, the actuator 250 includes a magnet 251 which interacts with coils 256 and 257. Although the coils 256 and 257 may be considered part of the actuator 250 in that the coils 256 and 257 aid in moving the actuator 250, the coils 256 and 257 are not physically attached to the remaining portions of the actuator 250. When a current is driven through the coils 256 and 257, the magnet 251 experiences a magnetic force, causing the actuator 250 to rotate around the pivot 252 by a particular angle. The angle through which the actuator 250 rotates depends upon the current driven through the coils 256 and 257. Thus, by controlling the current through the coils 256 and 257, the position of the head 260 with respect to the disk 140 can be controlled. The position in which the actuator arm 255 places the head 260 is set to ensure that the head 260 is in the proper position for reading from or writing to the disk 240. Thus, any offset between a read head and a write head within the head 260 is accounted for.

The actuator 250 is a preferred embodiment of the actuator to be used in the disk drive 200. The actuator 250 is preferred over the actuator 150, because in the actuator 250, the magnet 251 moves. The coils 256 and 257 remain stationary. As a result, heavier, flexible leads which can account for the hysteresis effects of the actuator 250 need not be used. In addition, it is believed that the actuator 250 will be cheaper to manufacture than the actuator 150 depicted in Figures 2A and 2B. Referring back to Figure 4, a moving coil may have hysteresis associated with it. This is because the cable providing an electrical signal to the coil may have hysteresis associated with it. This hysteresis may be due to changes in the properties of the cable because of temperature changes, aging of the cable, the history of the cable. The hysteresis may change the resistance of the coil to motion, which may change the current required to rotate the actuator 250 in a nonlinear fashion. Consequently, use of the moving magnet 251 is preferred.

Figures 5 A through 5C depict one embodiment of a variable reluctance motor 300 which can be used as the motor 120 or 220 in the disk drive 100 or 200, respectively. The motor 300 is an axial gap motor which can be built thin enough and with small enough resistance to rotation that the motor 300 can be used in the disk drive 100 or 200 that is consistent with a reduced size standard. Figure 5 A depicts the primary components of the motor 300, the rotor 310, the stator 320, and pivot 330 that includes bearings (not shown). The bearings used could include a single ball bearing used as the pivot, a journal fluid bearing, or another type of bearing. Figure 5B depicts a top view of the rotor 310. Figure 5C depicts a top view of a portion of the stator 320. Referring to Figures 5A, 5B, and 5C, the rotor 310 includes magnets 311, 312, 313, 314, 315, 316, 317, and 318. The rotor 310 may also include apertures 319 which allow air to flow into the gap between the rotor 310 and the stator 320. The influx of air into this gap allows an air bearing to be established between the rotor 310 and stator 320, via the Bernoulli effect. The stator 320 includes coils 321, 322, 323, 324, 325, 326, 327, and 328. The coils 312-328 are essentially solenoids having their axes aligned substantially radially with respect to the center of the stator 320. When a current is driven through the coils 321-328, the coils 321-328 interact with the magnets 311-318 to spin the rotor 310. Furthermore, the power consumed by the motor 300 is relatively small-approximately two watts at start, approximately 0.4 watts during run-up, and approximately 0.2 watts during run. Consequently, the motor 320 can be used to spin the disk 140 or 240 of the disk drive 100 or 200, respectively. Figures 6 A, 6B, and 6C depict a thin film motor 400, which is preferred for use as the motor 120 or 220 for the reduced size disk drives 100 or 200, respectively. A thin film motor which can be used in disk drives is described in co-pending U.S. Patent Application serial no. 08/653,168 filed on May 24, 1994, entitled "THIN FILM ELECTRIC MOTORS" and assigned to the assignee of the present invention. Applicant hereby incorporates by reference the above-mentioned co-pending patent application.

Figure 6A is a perspective view of the thin film motor 400. The thin film motor 400 includes a thin film rotor 410 and a thin film stator 420. The thin film rotor 410 and thin film stator 420 are separated by a space 402. The space 402 is preferably controlled by the Bernoulli affect. The thin film stator 420 preferably includes apertures 422 for allowing air to be drawn into the space 402 between the thin film rotor 410 and the thin film stator 420. In an alternate embodiment, the thin film rotor 410 could include the apertures 422. Rotation of the thin film rotor 410 causes a sub-ambient air pressure to develop between the thin film rotor 410 and the thin film stator 420. Magnetic forces between the thin film rotor 410 and the thin film stator 420 as well as the weight of the thin film rotor 410 or the thin film stator 420 are balanced by pressure when the space 402 reaches a steady state size. Note, however, that because the thin film rotor 410 and the thin film stator 420 are very thin and light, the weight of the thin film rotor 410 or thin film stator 420 may be negligible, allowing the thin film motor 400 to operate in a number of orientations. In addition, the thin film rotor 410 is preferably flexible to allow the thin film rotor 410 to adjust to pressure changes along its surface.

Figure 6B depicts a portion 450 of the thin film rotor 410 or the thin film stator 420 that includes the poles 456. The thin film rotor 410 and thin film stator 420 are preferably made of Metglas, made by Allied Signal, Inc. However, another high permeability, low inductance material could be used. In addition, it is desirable for the material used for the thin film rotor 410 and thin film stator 420 to have a high saturation point, a low coercivity, and an amorphous structure. Metglas is an amorphous material that includes approximately forty-five percent nickel, forty-two percent nickel, and trace amounts of molybdenum and boron. For this composition, Metglas is magnetic and has the desired properties. However, Metglas can be nonmagnetic. Adding impurities such as silicon, chromium, or phosphorus typically makes nonmagnetic Metglas. Metglas is typically formed by depositing a molten material onto a chilled, spinning copper wheel. The material rapidly cools, forming a thin amorphous ribbon of Metglas. Because the Metglas takes the form of a thin ribbon, the Metglas has a face which is relatively wide when compared to the edge.

To form the thin film rotor 410 or thin film stator 420 using magnetic Metglas, the poles 456 are formed on the face of the Metglas ribbon. The poles 456 are fabricated in the Metglas using photolithography. In one embodiment, trenches 458 are etched in the face of the Metglas, then filled with a nonmagnetic material 452. The face 454 of the Metglas is then lapped to provide a smooth surface 454 for the thin film rotor 410 or thin film stator 420.

Figure 6C depicts the orientation of the poles 456 in a portion of the thin film rotor 410 or stator 420. Because of the orientation of the poles 456, the thin film rotor 410 can rotate with respect to the thin film stator 420. In one embodiment the thin film rotor 410 is attached to the disk 140 or 240. For example, the thin film rotor 410 may be glued to the disk 140 or 240, such as a glass disk, in a manner similar to a decal. In another embodiment, the disk 140 or 240 and the thin film rotor 410 are merged into a single component. In such an embodiment, the disk 140 or 240 would function both as a recording medium and as a rotor.

Although either the motor 300 or the thin film motor 400 can be used in the disk drive 100 or 200, the thin film motor 400 is preferred. Because of its thickness, the thin film rotor 410 has very low inertia. As a result, it can be brought up to the desired angular velocity relatively quickly. Thus, the time taken and power consumed to spin the thin film rotor 410 and, therefore, the disk 140 or 240 at the desired rate is reduced. Furthermore, the thin film motor 400 can be turned on and off relatively rapidly. This also reduces the power consumed by the thin film motor 400 and, therefore, the disk drive 100 or 200.

Thus, the disk drives 100 and 200 are compatible with a reduced size standard, such as a CF card. Because data is magnetically stored on the disk 140 or 240, the capacity of the disk drive 100 or 200 can be significantly higher than many CF cards that use a semiconductor memory. Furthermore, the disk drives 100 and 200 use magnetic storage, the access times are significantly faster than for a CF card having a semiconductor memory in which multiple bits are stored per memory cell. For example, the disk drives 100 and 200 have transfer rates on the order of five to eleven megabytes per second. This is over ten times more than a CF card storing four bits per cell, which has a transfer rate of approximately one hundred kilobytes per second. As discussed above, current digital cameras require approximately seven hundred kilobytes to store a compressed image. Approximately one image can be stored per seven seconds using a conventional CF card having a flash memory. In contrast, the disk drive 100 or 200 can store approximately seven images per second. Because the rotors for the motors 120, 220, 300, and 400 can be spun relatively easily, this increase in transfer rate may be provided without requiring a similar increase in power consumption. Thus, a disk drive that has a relatively large transfer rate and a relatively large storage capacity can be provided in a format which is compatible with a reduced size standard, such as a CompactFlash™ standard. For example, the capacity of the disk drive 100 was approximately 95 MB in 1996 and approximately 250 MB in 1999.

A method and system has been disclosed for providing a disk drive that is compatible with a reduced size standard, such as CompactFlash™. Although the present invention has been described in accordance with the embodiments shown, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that there could be variations to the embodiments and those variations would be within the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, many modifications may be made by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A disk drive for storing and retrieving data comprising: a housing; a disk for storing the data; a motor coupled with the disk for spinning the disk; a head; an actuator coupled with the head, the actuator for moving the head in proximity to the disk; electronics coupled with the head for controlling the actuator and the head and for providing a read signal to and a write signal from the head; and an electrical interface coupled with the electronics and the head; wherein the disk, the motor, the actuator, and the electronics are contained within the housing, and wherein the housing and electrical interface are compatible with a reduced size standard.

2. The disk drive of claim 1 wherein the housing is approximately 43 mm by approximately 36 mm by approximately 3.3 mm.

3. The disk drive of claim 1 wherein the electrical interface is AT Attachment compatible.

4. The disk drive of claim 1 wherein the electrical interface is 1394 firewire compatible.

5. The disk drive of claim 1 wherein the electrical interface is USB compatible.

6. The disk drive of claim 1 wherein the standard that the housing and electrical interface are compatible with is a CompactFlash™ standard.

7. The disk drive of claim 1 wherein the motor further includes a thin film motor.

8. The disk drive of claim 7 wherein the thin film motor further includes a rotor and a stator, the rotor being coupled to the disk.

9. The disk drive of claim 7 wherein the thin film motor further includes a stator and wherein the disk further functions as a rotor for the thin film motor.

10. The disk drive of claim 1 wherein the actuator further includes a coil and wherein the system further includes a plurality of magnets, the coil and the plurality of magnets for controlling a position of the actuator.

11. The disk drive of claim 1 wherein the actuator further includes at least one magnet and wherein the electronics further include at least one coil, the at least one coil and the at least one magnet for controlling a position of the actuator.

12. The disk drive of claim 1 wherein the motor is an axial gap motor.

13. A method for storing and retrieving data on a disk drive comprising the steps of: allowing a user to magnetically store data on a disk in the disk drive, the disk drive including a housing, the disk, a motor coupled with the disk for spinning the disk, an actuator coupled with a head, the actuator for moving the head in proximity to the disk, electronics coupled with the head for controlling the actuator and the head and for providing a read signal to and a write signal from the head, and an electrical interface coupled with the electronics and the head, the disk, the motor, the actuator, and the electronics being contained within the housing, the housing and electrical interface being compatible with a reduced size standard; and allowing the user to retrieve the data magnetically stored on the disk in the disk drive.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the housing is approximately 43mm by approximately 36 mm by approximately 3.3 mm.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the electrical interface is AT Attachment compatible.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the electrical interface is 1394 firewire compatible.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein the electrical interface is USB compatible.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein the standard that the housing and electrical interface are compatible with is a CompactFlash™ standard.

19. The method of claim 13 wherein the motor further includes a thin film motor.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the thin film motor further includes a rotor coupled to the disk and a stator.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein the thin film motor further includes a stator and wherein the disk further functions as a rotor for the thin film motor.

22. The method of claim 13 wherein the actuator further includes a coil and wherein the system further includes a plurality of magnets, the coil and the plurality of magnets for controlling a position of the actuator.

23. The method of claim 13 wherein the actuator further includes at least one magnet and wherein the electronics further include at least one coil, the at least one coil and the at least one magnet for controlling a position of the actuator.

24. The method of claim 13 wherein the motor is an axial gap motor.