Seagate Technology Incorporated

Boon Seng Ong

Niroot Jierapipatanakul

PohLye Lim

YiRen Hong

Mo Xu

Poh Lye Lim

Pei Koh Lee

Victor Chi Siang Choo

Lai Kein Chang

Chi Siang Victor Choo

Natarajan Annamalai

In general, the invention is directed to apparatus that provides one or more low-impedance paths to ground in a data storage device, such as a disc drive, through one or more conductive posts. When a shield, circuit board and base of the data storage device are fastened to one another, the conductive posts are driven into contact with a ground contact on the circuit board or the shield or both.

Ground post in data storage device

An apparatus and method for balancing a disc stack assembly of a disc drive where a clamp is used as a counter-balance as well as for securing a disc to the disc stack assembly. The clamp and spindle motor are configured for positive engagement and alignment with the use of a minimal number of parts. The clamp includes a cavity through which a protrusion or a shaft of the spindle motor hub may extend. The clamp may be further secured in a desired orientation by the use of a single fastener.

Disk clamp balancing in a disc stack assembly

Method and apparatus for protecting a data storage device from fluid-borne contaminants. The device includes a housing in which a rotatable disc is disposed. The housing is formed from first and second rigid housing members. The first housing member is provided with an exterior filter support surface, an opposing interior surface and at least one filter access aperture. A contaminant adsorbent filter is placed on the exterior filter support surface, and a seal is applied to the first housing member to encapsulate the filter. During subsequent rotation of the disc, fluidic currents pass across the interior surface, through the at least one filter access aperture and to the adsorbent filter. Preferably, the filter is installed after the first and second housing members are mated. The filter support surface is preferably formed as part of a recess in the first housing member which projects into the housing.

Rigid housing member for a data storage device with integrated contaminant adsorbent filter

A disc clamp for a disc drive used to secure a disc stack in position when the disc is mounted to a hub. The disc clamp is annular with a central opening and has three tabs. The three equidistantly spaced tabs extend radially inward from the circumferential edge of the central opening. The disc clamp is resiliently flexible and has a continuous annular disc contact region adjacent to an outer circumferential edge. The disc clamp also has at least three screw openings each for receiving a screw fastener to fasten the disc clamp to the hub in the clamping position. The disc clamp resiliently flexes in the clamping position to cause the annular disc contact region to bear against the surface of the outermost stacked disc to clamp the disc stack against radial and axial movement.

Disc clamp for improved disc stack balance

Growing community of inventors

Singapore, Singapore

Boon Seng Ong