Motors & Drives Information

SMART FLOPPY DRIVE FROM CITIZEN TOKYO, JAPAN, 1990 NOV 2 (NB) -- Citizen Watch has successfully developed a 3.5-inch FDD (floppy disk drive) unit which it claims the world's first FDD to incorporate an EEPROM (electrically erasable and programmable read only memory) for its control IC (integrated circuit). The EEPROM allows the firm to customize the drive, dubbed V series, at the final stage of production, thus can minimize the time required between an order and delivery.

At the same time, Citizen says the EEPROM can simplify its production lines since it is unnecessary to change other circuit components according to each customer specification.

The V series drive weighs 168 grams and measures 15 mm in height, 96 mm in width, and 126 mm in depth, and was developed for use in notebook-type computers and other portable information equipment. This light weight and compactness has been realized by Citizen's ultrathin, precision design disk drive technology, aluminum plate frame and control circuit board as well as the ultrasmall stepping and spindle motors.

The V Series drive will be available in two configurations -- the 2MB/1MB (megabyte) V1DA and the 1.6MB/1MB V1DB. Evaluation samples will be available in early December of this year at 30,000 yen ($230) per unit. Citizen will start volume production in January of next year.

# posted by Medical Information : 2:54 AM