Antek Peripherals Inc.

The problem

• The hard disk drive (HDD) consumes 7 watts idling and 11 watts reading and writing information.  In Data Centers 1,000 HDDs will burn 7,000 watts performing no useful function.  Another 14,000 watts will be required to cool the units to prevent read errors and device failures.  The US EPA reports domestic Data Centers will consume >100 billion watts of electricity costing more than $8 billion annually. http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0de87f2b4bcbe56e852572a000651fde/4be8c9799fbceb028525732c0053e1d5!OpenDocument 
• With the adoption of Solid State Drives (SSDs) in Data Centers the HDD is getting relegated to "near-line" and archival storage functions in tiered architectures. The 30+ year old HDD technology uses thick disks which operate continuously to provide low latency to data, consuming power and generating heat. 
• Mobile computing and portable appliances need thinner HDDs (sub 5mm tall), faster "on/off" operation, longer operating life on a battery charge, and increased shock endurance.

What we do

Antek Peripherals is developing thin metal disks to reduce spinning inertia in the HDD by more than 6 times.  This will lower power consumption, allow the unit to start-up faster, and many more disk platters can be housed in the same device greatly increasing storage capacity.  Ultra thin disk drives can be realized as economical alternatives to multi-level semiconductor (SSD) memory, particularly in mobile appliances.

Some thin metal drive (MFD) configurations:

 6-Platter 2.5" MFD (Bulk storage)

  - High capacity & low power consumption

•  Capacity               3.0TB (50% more storage)
•  Operating power    2.5 watts/TB (60% savings) 
•  Spin-up time         <1 second (85% faster)
•  Power supply       +5V only (+12V not required)

1-Platter 2.5" MFD (Mobile storage)

 - Economical, high speed, ultra thin

• Capacity              500GB  
• Disk speed          10Krpm
• Power supply       +5V