Seagate Technology Incorporated

Allan Kai Luk

Gary Edwin Bement

Frederick Paul Renken

Yue Ma

Jerome Frederick Griep

A shock test apparatus for evaluating the shock performance of individual disc drive components includes a base portion and a top cover connected to the base portion to define an interior volume. First and second disc drive components are secured within the interior volume of the apparatus to engage one another in the absence of a shock event. A shock pulse generator includes an actuator for imparting a shock pulse to one of the disc drive components. A second shock pulse generator can be used to impart a shock pulse to the second disc drive component. Measurements are made of both the shock imparted to the disc drive components and the interaction between the first and second disc drive components during the shock event.

Disc drive component level shock tester

A system and method in which a commercial non-contact optical surface analyzer is utilized to characterize the severity of a head slap event through examination of the surface of a data storage disc. The optical surface analyzer selected has the capability of detecting surface topography using a high-resolution scanning head. When performing the analysis, the data storage disc may be removed from the disc drive and placed on a spindle. The data storage disc surface topography scan takes place while the disc is spinning. A full scan of the entire data storage disc surface can be done, as well as a zoomed scan on a specific area of the data storage disc surface, thereby allowing for a higher resolution scan on the surface encompassing a head slap event. Data captured by the optical surface analyzer can then be exported to a commercial mathematical program for analysis and presentation.

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Thornton, CO, United States of America

Allan Kai Luk