Patents by Inventor Soon How Lee

Soon How Lee has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Method and apparatus for centering discs in disc drives
    Patent number: 6453541
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for centering a disc drive assembly are disclosed. The assembly includes a rotational hub of a spindle motor, several annular spacer elements, and several disc platters loosely assembled into a disc pack. The rotational hub, each of the discs, and each of the spacer elements are centered respectively using a corresponding set of three springs as points of contact. The alignment and positioning of the springs are precisely controlled. Once centered, a retaining nut is fastened to a threaded portion of the spindle motor to firmly clamp the disc pack together before withdrawing the springs. Hub centering springs, disc centering springs, and spacer element springs are all adapted to provide the three points of contact for each component of the disc pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Duncan Guthrie, Soon How Lee, Ricky Chong Ho Tan
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CENTERING DISCS IN DISC DRIVES
    Publication number: 20020112342
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for centering a disc drive assembly are disclosed. The assembly includes a rotational hub of a spindle motor, several annular spacer elements, and several disc platters loosely assembled into a disc pack. The rotational hub, each of the discs, and each of the spacer elements are centered respectively using a corresponding set of three springs as points of contact. The alignment and positioning of the springs are precisely controlled. Once centered, a retaining nut is fastened to a threaded portion of the spindle motor to firmly clamp the disc pack together before withdrawing the springs. Hub centering springs, disc centering springs, and spacer element springs are all adapted to provide the three points of contact for each component of the disc pack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2001
    Publication date: August 22, 2002
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Duncan Guthrie, Soon How Lee, Ricky Chong Ho Tan