Integral Peripherals, Inc.

Mobile Storage Technology, Inc.

Conner Peripherals, Inc.

Prairietek Corporation

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

David M Furay

James H Morehouse

James A Dunckley

Steven Bernard Volk

Robert A Alt

John H Blagaila

Bruce D Emo

Michael R Utenick

James F Hopper

John A Mount

F Eugene Dion

Jimmy L Woods

Thomas A Klein

Scott A Shelstad

Terry G Johnson

Richard K Thompson

Bernard J Rondestvedt

Thomas L Andrews

H Ross Chessman

Thomas L Andrews, Jr

A hard disk drive assembly is electrically connected to a printed circuit board assembly motherboard using a connector on the hard disk drive assembly connected with a mating connector mounted on the motherboard. The hard disk drive assembly is secured to standoffs that allow sufficient space between the hard disk drive assembly and the motherboard for an integrated circuit package to be positioned between the hard disk drive assembly and the motherboard.

Low profile hard disk drive assembly mounting to computer motherboard

In one embodiment, a rigid disk drive including a rotary actuator having a lift tab extending asymmetrically from the end of the load beam which supports a slider with read/write element is disclosed. The free end of the lift tab cooperates with a cam surface on a cam assembly to provide dynamic loading and unloading of the slider while imparting a roll to the slider as it is loaded to and unloaded from the disk. In another embodiment, the lift tab extends from the end of the load beam along an axis generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the load beam, but the axis of the lift tab is offset from the longitudinal axis of the load beam. In a further embodiment, a disk drive including a rotary actuator having a load beam which includes a lift tab extending from the free end, with the lift tab cooperating with a cam assembly which is located adjacent to the edge of recording media, but not extending over a surface of the media is provided.

Rigid disk drive with dynamic head loading apparatus and method of

A method of manufacturing a rigid disk drive of the dynamic head loading type which includes a rotary actuator, and a load beam having a lift tab which cooperates with a cam surface of a cam assembly to load and unload a read/write recording element with respect to a surface of a disk. The method includes positioning the left tab so that it extends along an axis which is displaced with respect to a center line of the load beam. The method also includes providing the cam surface with a detent. The method of manufacturing further includes providing a portion of said lift tab with a cylindrical shape.

Method of manufacturing rigid disk drive with dynamic head loading

Rigid disk drive with dynamic head loading apparatus

A disk drive apparatus includes actuator arms, each with a load beam mounted thereon, and a head mounted to a side of the load beam, with a lift rod mounted to that side of the load beam. An electrical conductor is connected to the head and extends along that side of the load beam. Each actuator arm defines a bore, and an annular member is included, having a first portion which is dimensioned to be an interference fit with a bore of the actuator arm, and a second portion adapted to cooperate with a portion of the actuator arm to hold a portion of the load beam therebetween with the first portion of the annular member positioned in the bore of the actuator arm. The disk drive apparatus includes a base and first and second covers on either side thereof, and a disk drive motor mounted to the base and extending from adjacent the first cover to adjacent the second cover. A voice coil actuator assembly extends from adjacent the first cover to adjacent the second cover.

Disk drive load beam structure having lift rod and head mounted on same

Disclosed is a rigid disk drive information storage device which includes a rigid disk having an outside diameter in the range of about 33-34 mm., with a housing having a footprint that includes a width of about 35 mm. and utilizing a rotary actuator for positioning read/write recording elements across the surface of the disk. The disk storage devices further includes a footprint with length of about 50.8 mm., and includes in one embodiment dynamic head loading apparatus for loading the read/write recording elements into operative relationship with the disk. In another embodiment the rigid disk drive utilizes contact start stop loading and unloading of the read/write recording elements. An inertial latch is also provided for preventing rotation of the actuator when the drive is subjected to a rotational force.

Microminiature hard disk drive

A connector assembly including a connector mounted to a printed wiring board and attached to a head disk assembly for strain relief is provided. The connector includes a plurality of through hole pins or surface mounted pins soldered to the printed wiring board. In one embodiment the connector also includes a connector hole that is formed in and extends through the connector. In one embodiment the connector assembly also includes a plurality of screws which pass through the printed wiring board, the connector, and threaded holes of the head disk assembly.

Electrical connector fastened to a rigid member for improved connector

A removable disk drive is combined with a protective device for use in a computer. The protective device is constructed as a jacket made of resilient material, the jacket enclosing at least a portion of the surface of the disk drive. In one embodiment, the disk drive includes a substantially rigid disk in a housing having a footprint that includes a first dimension of about 35 mm. In another embodiment, the removable disk drive includes a housing and a substantially rigid disk having a diameter in the range of from about 33 mm to about 34 mm.

Removable disk drive and protective device

Disclosed is a rigid disk drive information storage device which includes a rigid disk having a diameter in the range of about 45-50 mm., with a housing having a footprint that includes a width of about 51 mm. and utilizing a rotary actuator for positioning read/write recording elements across the surface of the disk. The disk storage devices further includes a footprint with a length of about 70 mm., includes dynamic loading apparatus for loading the read/write recording elements into operative relationship with the disk and further includes an inertial latch for preventing rotation of the actuator when the drive is subjected to a rotational force.

Miniature hard disk drive with EMI protection and single permanent

A disk drive information storage device having a pair of disks for storing information, the storage device including a clamp for mounting disks on a hub, the clamp including an annular element having a first set of fingers extending from the annular element in the first direction parallel to the central axis of the annular element, the first set of fingers providing a radial force on the inside edge of one of the disks, and the clamp including a second set of fingers extending from the annular element in a second direction parallel to the central axis of the annular element and opposite to the first direction, the fingers of the second set being for imposing a radially force on an inside edge of a second disk. In another embodiment, a disk drive information storage device with a pair of disks includes a spindle motor having a rotor which includes a disk-shaped portion having an outer diameter, and an upper surface for supporting one of the pair of disks. A second one of the pair of disks is connected to the rotor on a side of the first disk opposite the spindle motor. A clamp having an outer diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the disk-shaped portion of the rotor is connected to a cylindrical portion of the rotor between the first and second disk. An actuator is provided to support first and second read/write heads, with the actuator being movable to position the first and second read/write heads such that the first read/write head reads information from or writes information to a portion of a second surface of the first disk between the outer diameter of the disk-shaped portion of the rotor and the outside diameter of the clamp. In one embodiment, the disk drive information storage device comprises a housing having a footprint that includes a first dimension of about 35 mm. In another embodiment, at least one of the disks of the pair of disks in the disk drive information storage device has a diameter in the range of from about 33 mm to about 34 mm.

Microminiature disk drive with clamp having fingers for radially

The present invention provides a disk drive apparatus for use in computer systems and especially in computer systems where size and weight are of paramount concern, such as lap top computer systems. The preferred embodiment of the disk drive apparatus includes a 21/2' magnetic disk that preferably provides 20 to 40 megabytes of storage within a foot print area of approximately 2.8 inches by approximately 4.0 inches. Further, the disk drive apparatus possesses a height dimension of 0.630 inches or less. This height dimension is achieved, in part, by providing a low profile spin motor to rotate the magnetic disk. The low profile spin motor uses high energy magnets that are preferably made of a material that includes a rare earth, such as neodymium or samarium. The disk drive apparatus also employs a rotary actuator having a voice coil assembly of reduced height that is achieved by using the housing as a flux return path for magnet fields produced by the voice coil assembly. The present invention also provides an improved ambient filter that reduces the penetration of ambient water vapor into the housing of the disk drive apparatus. An improved desiccant located, at least in part, within the housing is also provided by the present invention. Additionally, the invention provides a flex circuit having a geometry that results in substantially zero torque applied to the rotary actuator. Also provided is a distributed frame apparatus that, besides connecting the housing to a printed circuit board, also provides side, top and/or bottom mounting capability and shock absorbing capability. The distributed frame also avoids the need for grounding.

Disk drive apparatus

A disk drive package including a pair of side rails and a connector is disclosed. The disk drive may advantageously be connected to a personal computer, in a location normally reserved for a memory card. The disk drive may be constructed to conform to specifications issued by the Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA).

Disk drive with rail mounting arrangement

Disclosed is a disk drive information storage device having a housing and a disk means for recording and reproducing information. The disk drive information storage device utilizes an actuator comprising a body portion supported by the housing for rotation about an axis, and a load beam connected to the body portion for rotation of a first end of the load beam in a plane substantially parallel to a surface of the disk means. The load beam includes an elongated lift tab having a free end which extends beyond the first end of the load beam, with the lift tab extending along an axis which is skewed from the centerline of the load beam. A slider body including a transducer for recording and reproducing information from the disk is supported by the load beam at a position intermediate the first end of the load beam and the axis of rotation of the body portion. A cam assembly is provided on the housing adjacent to the edge of the disk means, the cam assembly including a cam surface positioned in operative relationship with the lift tab. In one embodiment, the housing has a first external dimension of about 51 mm. In another embodiment, the disk means has a diameter in the range of from about 45 mm to about 50 mm.

Miniature disk drive with dynamic head loading with skewed lifting tab

Disclosed is a disk drive information storage device having a housing and a disk means for recording and reproducing information. The disk drive information storage device utilizes a rotary actuator which includes a load beam and structure for dynamically loading a transducer into operative relationship with a surface of the disk means. The transducer is supported adjacent to one end of the load beam. The load beam includes at its outermost end a lift tab which extends from the load beam along an axis which is skewed from the centerline of the load beam, with the lift tab including a curvilinear portion. A cam assembly is provided on the housing adjacent to the edge of the disk means, the cam assembly including a cam surface positioned in operative relationship with the lift tab. In one embodiment, the housing has a first external dimension of about 51 mm. In another embodiment, the disk means has a diameter in the range of from about 45 mm to about 50 mm.

Growing community of inventors

Boulder, CO, United States of America

David M Furay