Maxtor Corporation

Hgst Netherlands, B.v.

Gale D Johnson

Mark A Buzek

David O Whitt, Iii

James A Dunckley

Michael Joseph Russell

Herbert Ross Chessman

D Michael Keffeler

A hard disk drive disk clamp is described, in which flex is introduced into the clamp in the radial direction so that, for example, as the disk expands radially at a different rate than the clamp as the temperature increases, less distortion is affected to the disk because the clamp can flex radially. With less disk distortion there is less repeatable runout (RRO) and more precise track following. The disk clamp may have an I-shaped cross-section along the outer portion of the disk clamp, at the contact area with the disk, to provide the radial flex.

Hard disk drive disk clamp having reduced radial stiffness

Multiple balancing plugs () preferably have a common length and a common offset center of gravity () in the length dimension for providing dual plane balancing of a rotatable body (). The rotatable body () includes a plurality of balancing plug holes () for receipt of a balancing plug () as desired/required to address an imbalance associated with the rotatable body (). One or more balancing plugs () may be disposed within the rotatable body () in a first orientation such that their respective centers of gravity () are disposed within a first plane (). One or more balancing plugs () may be disposed within the rotatable body () in a second, opposite orientation such that their respective centers of gravity () are disposed within a second plane () that is spaced from the first plane ().

Balancing a rotatable body in multiple planes using invertible balancing plugs

An actuator arm latch assembly for a disk drive is disclosed which restrains movement of a disk drive actuator arm assembly during exposure of the disk drive to a shock event. In one embodiment, the actuator arm latch assembly is activated by the disk drive being exposed to a shock event that is directed along/about a first shock axis (e.g., within a reference plane that contains a disk drive base plate), and also is activated when the disk drive is exposed to a shock event that is directed along/about a second shock axis that is both non-parallel and non-colinear with the first shock axis (e.g., within a reference plane that is disposed at an angle to the disk drive base plate, and including perpendicular thereto).

Disk drive actuator arm latch assembly

A method for installing a printed circuit board assembly on a disk drive base plate is disclosed, as well as the corresponding structure used for this installation. Generally, the printed circuit board assembly includes a pair of bosses that are each disposed within a corresponding concave slot on the base plate. When installing the printed circuit board assembly, the bosses are disposed within their corresponding slot while the printed circuit is disposed at an angle relative to the base plate. Thereafter, the printed circuit board assembly is pivoted toward and into interfacing relation with the base plate at least generally about the bosses.

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Loveland, CO, United States of America

Gale D Johnson