Disc drive

Abstract

In a disc drive for achieving cooling of an electronic part therein, as well as, suppressing transmission of noises generated from a disc clamper, etc., a channel member 18 for introducing an outside air into an inside is disposed between a supporting member 15 and a top-cover 10, within an inside thereof is formed a vortex-like channel, extending from a center to an outer periphery thereof. At the center of the channel member 18 is formed an opening 19 for introducing the outside air into the inside of the disc drive, and on the top-cover 10 are provided plural numbers of openings 20 for taking the outside air into the channel member 18. When an optical disc 6 rotates, pressure generated on an upper surface thereof comes to be negative to the outside air, then the outside air is taken from the openings 20, through the vortex-like channel of the channel member 18 and the opening 19, into the inside of the drive, so as to pass through electronic parts, such as, an optical pickup, etc., thereby cooling them. Noises generated from the disc clamper 17 are attenuated within the vortex-like channel of a long route, which is formed within the channel member 18.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

Those and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view for showing the structures, briefly, of an inside of an optical disc drive, into which a first embodiment of the present invention is applied;

FIG. 2 is a horizontal cross-section view for showing the structures, briefly, of the inside of the optical disc drive, into which the first embodiment of the present invention is applied;

FIG. 3 is a view for showing the structures of flow passages for introducing an outside air, in the optical disc drive, into which the first embodiment of the present invention is applied;

FIG. 4 is a view for showing a manner of airflow within the inside of the optical disc drive, into which the first embodiment of the present invention is applied, in particular, when it is driven;

FIG. 5 is a view for showing the structures of flow passages for introducing the outside air, according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a view for showing the structures of flow passages for introducing the outside air, according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view for showing the structures, briefly, of an inside of the optical disc drive, into which a fourth embodiment of the present invention is applied; and

FIG. 8 is a view for showing the brief inside structures and airflows within an inside, of the optical disc drive, into which the fourth embodiment of the present invention is applied.

Claims

1. A disc drive, for driving a disc-like data recording medium, comprising: a housing, being formed with an opening for sucking an outside air on an upper surface thereof and an opening for discharging air on a side surface thereof;a disc drive means, being disposed within an inside of said housing, for supporting a central portion of the disc-like data recording medium, so as to drive it, rotationally; anda noise generation attenuating member, being disposed between the upper surface of said housing and said disc drive means, having an attenuation channel communicating with said opening for sucking an outside air, extending along said upper surface, and formed with an opening on an inner side of said housing.

2. The disc drive as described in the claim 1, wherein on the opening for sucking the outside air formed on the upper surface is attached a filter for preventing foreign matters from mixing therein.

3. The disc drive as described in the claim 2, wherein on the opening of said noise generation attenuating member, which is formed on a side of said disc drive means, is attached a filter for preventing foreign matters from mixing therein.

4. The disc drive as described in the claim 3, wherein the attenuation channel of said noise generation attenuating member is formed into a vortex-like shape, the opening formed on the inner side of said housing is located at a position corresponding to a center of rotation of said disc drive means, and the openings on the upper surface for sucking the outside air are formed in plural numbers thereof, along an outer peripheral flow passage of said vortex-like attenuation channel.

5. The disc drive as described in the claim 3, wherein said noise generation attenuating member has a circular shape, the opening formed on the inner side of said housing is located at a position corresponding to a center of rotation of said disc drive means, said attenuation channels are formed in plural numbers thereof, extending in radial directions from the opening on the side of said disc drive means, and the openings on the upper surface for sucking the outside air are formed in vicinity of outer ends of the plural numbers of attenuation channels in said circular-shaped noise generation attenuating member, respectively.

6. The disc drive as described in the claim 5, wherein the attenuation channels extending in radial directions are formed along curved lines.

7. The disc drive as described in the claim 3, wherein the opening for sucking the outside air formed on the upper surface is located at a position corresponding to a center of rotation of said disc drive means, said noise generation attenuating member has a bottom surface positioned on the side of said disc drive means and a side surface formed on a periphery of the bottom surface, surrounding a surface including the opening formed on said upper surface, and the opening formed on the inner side of said housing is formed on said side surface.