Seagate Technology Incorporated

Maxtor Corporation

Aaron Steve Macpherson

Gary Frank Kelsic

Robert A Alt

Joe Amade Wood

Richard W Deichert

Rick K Thompson

Rishi Kant

Terence H West

George Inslee Brent

Dave Paul McReynolds

Robert Mitchell Gibbs

Bruce Joseph Oxley

Richard Kendle Thompson

Daniel Scott Thompson

Tom Konetski

Method and apparatus for attenuating resonances in a flex circuit which interconnects a stationary element and a moveable element, such as a connector and a head stack assembly (HSA) in a data storage device. An intermediary portion of the flex circuit forms a dynamic loop between the stationary element and the moveable element. A damper member is attached to the flex circuit so as to continuously extend adjacent the stationary element and along less than an overall extent of the dynamic loop. The damper member attenuates resonances excited in the flex circuit during movement of the moveable element.

Damping member for a moveable flex circuit

A breather filter is assembled within a disc drive by positioning the filter atop a flex circuit bracket on a base plate of the drive. A breather port is formed through a top cover of the disc drive, and an inlet of the breather filter is sealed against the top cover of the drive. Compressing the top cover against the top of the breather filter helps to retain the filter in position between the flex circuit bracket and the top cover without an adhesive connection to the top cover. The connection of the breather filter to the flex circuit bracket allows a top-down assembly of the disc drive so that an adhesive connection between the filter and the top cover of the drive is not required.

Disc drive breather filter mounted to a flex circuit bracket

A stacked actuator assembly has symmetrical actuator arms and spacers stacked on a rotatable sleeve. The assembly may have circuit elements or other elements attached on one side of the assembly. The weight of these elements is counter balanced by a screw or pin mounted on the other side of the assembly. The screw passes through the stacked armature arms and spacers to clamp the arms and spacers relative to each other and prevent them from rotating relative to each other. In addition, the spacers may be position registered relative to each other by registration members molded into the spacers. The registration members in adjacent spacers mate with each other to register the spacers relative to each other. The stacked actuator assembly may be assembled on a jig. The jig has a mounting hole or post to receive the sleeve for the stacked actuator assembly, and it has a post to register the arms when they are stacked on the sleeve. It has a spacer registration member to register the first spacer stacked on the sleeve; thereafter, the additional spacers stacked on the assembly register relative to each other. Alternatively, the jig may have a second post to register the position of the spacer that carries the coil of the voice coil motor.

Stacked actuator arm assembly clamp

A flex circuit bracket for use in a data storage device housing and a method of fabrication therefor. The flex circuit bracket supports a flex circuit assembly and establishes a diffusion path between the housing interior and an external environment. A rigid plate has a diffusion path and opposing exterior and interior surfaces. A laminated flex circuit embeds a number of conductive traces and includes a web portion and an extended portion. The web portion is affixed to the exterior surface of the plate to form the diffusion path. An additional plate can be provided so that the web portion is affixed to the exterior surfaces of both plates and folded to establish the diffusion path. A connector is preferably affixed to the web portion, and the bracket is mounted to the housing so that the connector extends through a bulkhead aperture and mates with a printed circuit board.

Flex circuit bracket which establishes a diffusion path for a data storage device housing

A stacked actuator for controllably positioning a data transducing head adjacent a data recording surface in a disc drive, and a method for fabricating the stacked actuator. The stacked actuator is formed from a plurality of stackable members arranged into a component stack. A counterbalance fastener is installed on a first side of the component stack to secure the stackable members together. A flex circuit assembly is subsequently affixed to a second side of the component stack opposite the first side. The mass and location of the counterbalance fastener are selected to counterbalance the mass of the flex circuit assembly so that the completed actuator is nominally balanced about an actuator rotational axis.

Counterbalance fastener for a disc drive stacked actuator

A shroud feature and method for incorporating an airflow shroud feature in a disc drive assembly. The airflow shroud feature is connected to the cover of the disc drive rather than the base plate. When the disc drive cover incorporating the shroud feature is placed on the disc drive, the shroud feature surrounds at least a portion of the circumference of the outer peripheral surface of the disc to reduce turbulence when the disc is operated. The shroud is rigidly connected to the top cover by engagement of the shroud with a physical feature of the top cover. The shroud operably directs air-flow along the peripheral edge of the disc during drive operation when the cover is installed on the base plate.

Top cover shroud for a disc drive

The outer surface of the cartridge sleeve is provided with features which increase the frictional coefficient between the cartridge sleeve and a tolerance ring placed around the cartridge. The cartridge and ring are then press-fit into the actuator bore together. The increased friction between the cartridge and ring prevents slip between them, eliminating the need to increase compressive forces between the ring and the bore and bearing.

Cartridge bearing with frictional sleeve

A thermally conducting and electrically insulating overmold encapsulates and supports an actuator coil in a disc drive assembly. The overmold is made from a base resin mixed with a ceramic filler compound such as boron nitride, alumina, aluminum nitride, magnesium oxide, zinc oxide, silicon carbide, beryllium oxide, chromium oxide or some combination thereof. The base resin is preferably polypheneline sulfide. Glass filler and/or a coupling agent are also preferably added. The overmold reduces off track read/write head position errors due to popping caused by thermal expansion and contraction of the actuator coil.

Thermally conductive overmold for a disc drive actuator assembly

A method of assembling disc drive components involving the use of a shipping comb to deliver one or more head gimbal assemblies to a ramp in a disc drive. The shipping comb is configured to engage the head gimbal assembly by its load beam. The load beam is part of a head gimbal assembly which includes a suspension such that the load beam extends from the head gimbal assembly away from the suspension. In the assembly process, a proximal end of the shipping comb is brought into abutment with a distal end of the ramp. The shipping comb may have first features at its proximal end which are configured for mating with second features at the distal end of the ramp.

Disc drive ramp that accomodates shipping comb

An actuator assembly suitable for a disc drive with at least one rotating disc for storing information. The actuator assembly has an actuator body having a mounting opening with at least a portion of the mounting opening being threaded and a bearing cartridge having an outer surface with at least a portion of the outer surface being threaded. The bearing cartridge is threadably received within the mounting opening of the actuator body so that the actuator body is releasably secured to the bearing cartridge. A method for securing an actuator body to a bearing cartridge in an actuator assembly of a disc drive is also provided.

Threadably mountable drive actuator bearing assembly

A disc drive having a base plate and an information storage disc supported for rotation by a drive motor on the base plate. The disc drive further includes a rotary actuator assembly mounted on the base plate adjacent the information storage disc. The actuator assembly has an actuator arm carrying a transducer at a distal end thereof and a voice coil motor operably attached to the actuator arm for movement of the transducer over the disc. The voice coil motor has a vertically extending shroud flange positioned adjacent the outer peripheral edge of the disc, whereby the shroud flange directs air-flow along the peripheral edge of the disc during drive operation.

Disc drive voice coil motor with shroud feature

Disclosed is a non-contact magnetic latch mechanism for holding a disc drive actuator in its park position. The latch includes a magnetically permeable element coupled to the actuator. The magnetically permeable element is positioned so as to be attracted to the magnetic field produced by the actuator voice coil magnets when the actuator is in or near its park position. The size, shape and location of the magnet may be selected so as to vary the latch torque and the range of influence of the latch on the actuator.

Non-contact magnetic latch for disc drive actuator

A method for assembling a mechanical system is disclosed. A magnet is installed into the system. An actuator having a magnetic element is also assembled into the system such that the actuator is movable between two extremes. At one of the extremes, the actuator is latched in place by way of the magnetic element, which forms a magnetic circuit with the magnet.

Method for latching a disc driver actuator

The present invention provides for an improved ramp such that the head gimbal assemblies (HGAs) are prevented from moving off the ramp away from the discs. In a preferred embodiment, a ramp has a surface against which a load beam of a HGA rests when the HGA is in the unloaded position. The surface includes a sharp detent configured for retaining the load beam and thus preventing the load beam from sliding off the surface.

Disc drive ramp with sharp detent

A resilient linear latch and crash stop device incorporates a magnetic latch and a linear impact absorbing crash stop into a single composite body made up of a magnet member for contacting a strike plate on the actuator arm, an energy absorbing member, and a latch base body assembled together. The energy absorbing member fastens the magnet member to the base body and absorbs impact energy in a generally linear fashion throughout the range of anticipated impact magnitudes. The energy absorbing member is a generally rectangular elastomeric bellows member formed in place and sandwiched between the magnetic mounting plate and the base body. The elastomeric bellows member has a vertically open tubular passage therethrough that preferably has a bell shaped horizontal cross sectional shape.

Growing community of inventors

Fort Collins, CO, United States of America

Aaron Steve Macpherson