Western Digital Technologies, Inc.

Other

Western Digital Corporation

David K Myers

Nicholas D Smyth

Scott Edward Watson

Diep Nguyen

Bikash Sukla

Lidu Huang

Nils E Larson

John Robert Edwards

Daniel T Nguyen

Jon Jacoby

Jon M Garbarino

Marc Davidson

Terrance J Willis

Qing Zhang

Yau-Shing Lee

Enoch Mylabathula

Hongqi Li

Thomas J Hitchner

Baekho Heo

Kenneth Allen

Raymond Quines

Garold W Plonczak

William Wei Yi Yu

Perry E Hall

Lawrence H Lo

Lon R Shell

John V Gilliland

An approach to a reduced-head hard disk drive (HDD) involves an actuator elevator subsystem that includes a ball screw cam assembly with an axial flux permanent magnet (AFPM) motor affixed to a cam screw to drive rotation of the screw, which drives translation of an actuator arm assembly so that a corresponding pair of read-write heads can access different magnetic-recording disks of a multiple-disk stack.

Axial flux permanent magnet motor for ball screw cam elevator mechanism for reduced-head hard disk drive

An approach to a reduced-head hard disk drive (HDD) involves an actuator elevator subsystem that includes a ball screw cam assembly with a hybrid permanent magnet (PM)-variable reluctance (VR) stepper motor disposed therein, to rotate the cam screw, which vertically translates an actuator arm assembly so that a corresponding pair of read-write heads can access different magnetic-recording disks of a multiple-disk stack. A suitably configured hybrid stepper motor can provide 200 full steps/rev for a 3.8 mm translation. Thus, to meet or surpass a step resolution of 6 &#x3bc;m/&#x3bc;step or 0.5625&#xb0;/&#x3bc;step, the hybrid stepper motor would only need to be operated at 4 micro-step mode in order to achieve a 0.45&#xb0;/&#x3bc;step or 0.00475 mm/&#x3bc;step, which enables a smoother motion since the available holding torque at the 4micro-step provides sufficient torque margin to overcome load torque, frictional torque, and detent torque.

In-pivot hybrid stepper motor for ball screw cam elevator mechanism for reduced-head hard disk drive

An approach to a reduced-head hard disk drive involves an actuator subsystem that includes a ball screw cam assembly wherein the number of starts of a multi-start lead screw equals the number of balls riding in a corresponding start. A stepper motor may be employed to drive rotation of a pulley or gear to which a drive belt or drive chain is attached, to transmit power to the lead screw via the drive belt or chain, thereby driving rotation of the lead screw to drive translation of an actuator arm assembly along the axis of the lead screw so that a corresponding pair of read-write heads can access different magnetic-recording disks of a multiple-disk stack.

Belt-driven rotary cam elevator mechanism for reduced-head data storage device

An approach to a reduced-head hard disk drive (HDD) involves an actuator elevator assembly for moving an actuator assembly along at least one support feature to provide a head slider access to at least two different disk media of a disk stack. The HDD includes a piezoelectric-based locking mechanism, including at least one piezoelectric actuator, movably coupled with the support feature, such that actuation of the actuator either locks or unlocks the locking mechanism relative to the support feature. When unlocked, the actuator assembly can be translated along the length of the disk stack via the actuator elevator assembly.

Piezoelectric-based locking of actuator elevator mechanism for cold storage data storage device

An approach to a reduced-head hard disk drive (HDD) includes a load/unload (LUL) ramp subsystem that includes a translatable ramp assembly that includes a biasing member and a magnet coupled thereto, which is magnetically engaged with a guide post to provide a bias force at an interface of a lead screw and the ramp assembly. The bias force acts upon the interface by reducing a gap between outer threads of the lead screw and inner threads of a mating threaded interface structure of the ramp assembly that would otherwise cause lead screw hysteresis without the bias force.

Eliminating lead screw hysteresis for vertically translating load/unload ramp mechanism for data storage device

An approach to a reduced-head hard disk drive (HDD) involves an actuator subsystem that includes a ball screw cam assembly wherein the number of starts of a multi-start screw equals the number of balls riding in a corresponding start. A stepper motor may be disposed within the screw, to drive rotation of the screw, which drives translation of an actuator arm assembly so that a corresponding pair of read-write heads can access different magnetic-recording disks of a multiple-disk stack. The actuator subsystem may further include a cam locking mechanism for coupling and decoupling the actuator arm with a coil support structure and corresponding voice coil, so that the cam mechanism is able to move under the control of a voice coil motor when input/output operations are performed and is able to move the actuator arm assembly during translation operations.

Low-profile ball screw cam elevator mechanism for cold storage data storage device

In-pivot stepper motor for ball screw cam elevator mechanism for cold storage data storage device

An approach to a reduced-head hard disk drive (HDD) involves a load/unload (LUL) ramp subsystem that includes a ramp assembly that includes a translatable lever member and a LUL ramp member coupled thereto, and interconnected elevator interfaces coupled with the ramp by way of a set of flexures. The ramp subsystem is configured such that in response to a sufficient force being applied to the lever by the HSA, a distal end of the ramp is positioned so that an outer perimeter of a recording disk of an HDD is free of a channel at the distal end of the ramp. The subsystem may further include a motor configured to drive rotation of a lead screw to which the ramp assembly is attached, to drive vertical translation of the ramp assembly, thereby providing for loading the vertically-translatable HSA onto and off of each of the disks of a multiple-disk stack.

Vertically translating load/unload ramp mechanism for cold storage data storage device

A loader toolbar that can be attached to loaders, skid steer or tractor front end loaders that are compliant with the standard industry interface. The loader toolbar is designed to be a platform from which an array of agriculture and construction tools can easily and quickly be attached. The tools are pinned to the tool bar and can be installed or removed in minutes. The tool bar is designed to take advantage of the mechanical leverage of a fulcrum or pivot point for those tools such a tree extractor when prying or pulling tree by its roots. The loaded toolbar does not rely entirely on the hydraulics of the skid steer. The non-reliance on hydraulics, combined with the inherent maneuverability of a skid steer, allows operator to position tools to accomplish task safely and efficiently.

Loader toolbar and method of use

A magnetic hard disk drive apparatus includes a first slider with a magnetic head for recording to the disk, the first slider supported by a first suspension arm, and a second slider having a magnetic head, the second slider supported by a second suspension arm. The apparatus further includes a ramp configured to guide and hold the first and second suspension arms in place when parked, and a separator configured to be suspended beyond leading edges of the first and second sliders, such that the first and second sliders are suspended between the separator and the ramp.

Magnetic head separator connected to a ramp

A disk drive assembly having a base; a voice coil motor assembly (VCM) comprising a VCM cover; a post extending from the base toward the VCM cover; and a latch movable mounted on the post such that the post extends there through, wherein the post comprises a cover supporting portion configured to support the VCM cover, and prevent the VCM cover from compressing the latch and causing the latch to contact both the VCM cover and the base simultaneously when a load is applied to a portion of the VCM cover above the latch.

Storage device with a cover supporting portion

An apparatus for a magnetic storage drive includes a magnetic head assembly having a first slider and a second slider arranged with a gap between the first and second sliders, the first slider comprising a first magnetic head and the second slider comprising a second magnetic head. The apparatus includes a ramp constructed of a first material, the ramp being configured to guide and hold the magnetic head assembly in place when parked; and a fin constructed of a second material different than the first material, the fin arranged with the ramp to protect the first slider from contacting the second slider when the magnetic head assembly is parked on the ramp.

Magnetic head separator fin material to prevent particulate contamination on slider

A disk drive has a disk drive base with a central cavity surrounded by a peripheral wall. The disk drive also includes a top cover attached to the disk drive base and disposed over the central cavity to define a disk drive enclosure. A disk is rotatably attached to the disk drive base within the central cavity, and is disposed within the disk drive enclosure. The top cover has a central top face that defines a central top face plane. A foil seal is adhered to the central top face. The central top face of the top cover includes a first channel that has a bottom land that is depressed towards the disk relative to the central top face plane, and the foil seal covers the first channel. The first channel is vented to the central cavity by a hole through the bottom land of the first channel.

Disk drive having a top cover channel vented to a central cavity via a hole through a bottom land

A disk drive has a disk drive base with a central cavity surrounded by a peripheral wall that has a peripheral top face. The disk drive has a top cover with an outer periphery spaced from the peripheral wall by a peripheral clearance gap. A foil seal is adhered to a central top face of the top cover and the peripheral top face of the peripheral wall, and spans the peripheral clearance gap. The top cover includes a first channel that is depressed relative to the central top face. The foil seal covers the first channel, and the first channel is vented to the central cavity by a venting channel that connects the first channel to the peripheral clearance gap.

Disk drive having a top cover channel vented to a central cavity via a peripheral clearance gap

A disk drive comprises a drive enclosure defining a generally rectangular form factor; an electromechanical assembly contained within the drive enclosure, and a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) at least partially contained within the drive enclosure. The drive enclosure possesses at least one of the following characteristics: the drive enclosure defines chamfers on at least one of four corners of the generally rectangular form factor; and the drive enclosure defines a first surface and a second surface that defines an interior second surface portion and a peripheral second surface portion and wherein the interior second surface portion is further away from the first surface than is the peripheral second surface portion.

Growing community of inventors

Campbell, CA, United States of America

David K Myers