Conner Peripherals, Inc.

Dphi Acquisitions, Inc.

Seagate Technology Incorporated

Caleb Technology Corporation

Dphi Aquisitions, Inc.

Glade N Bagnell

Edwin Jack Wadsworth

Frederick Mark Stefansky

Robert David Freeman

Shane G Nowell

Joseph Paul Manes

John P Squires

Brian Lee Rappel

Kurt M Anderson

Charles M Sander

Stephen A Misuta

Thomas Edward Berg

David William Niss

Christopher F Banks

James H Parsons

William F Repphun

A data storage cartridge is positioned in a disk drive. The cartridge is positioned in the X and Y dimensions by contact between an alignment opening in the cartridge and an XY alignment pin in the disk drive and in the theta (rotational) dimension by contact between an edge of the cartridge and a theta datum in the disk drive. The cartridge is positioned in the Z dimension by contact between the cartridge and at least three Z datums.

Mechanism and method for positioning data cartridge in disk drive

A disk drive includes a housing, a cartridge tray, and a cam plate. The cartridge tray is adapted to hold a cartridge that includes a data storage disk. The housing has a pair of vertical cartridge tray pin slots which hold tray pins that are part of the cartridge tray. The cam plate includes a pair of cam slots formed at an oblique angle to the cartridge tray pin slots. The tray pins extend through the cam slots into the cartridge tray pin slots. Movement of the cam plate back and forth causes the tray pins and cartridge tray to move vertically between a loaded position, where data can be read from or written to the data storage disk, to an unloaded position. The use of two cartridge tray pins allows the cartridge tray to rotate about an axis defined by the tray pins, and this action assists in locating the cartridge precisely in a repeatable position, in contact with a plurality of datums, when it is fully loaded.

Data cartridge load/unload mechanism for disk drive

A first-surface optical disk including features, such as a slot defined on an edge of the housing for providing clearance for a blocking tab in a drawer mechanism so as to allow the cartridge assembly to be fully inserted into the drawer mechanism when the shutter member is in the second position.

Low profile cartridge for data storage disk

Various configurations of cartridges for optical disks, particularly first-surface optical disks, are provided. The cartridges include a plurality of protectors for use in safeguarding the optical disk when certain conditions are present or certain events occur. The protectors include an elongated shutter that covers the hub assembly, at least annular slot portions inside of the cartridge to restrain movement of the disk within the cartridge, a locking subassembly to hold the shutter in a desired position, and a mechanism for preventing complete insertion of the cartridge into an optical drive when the cartridge is in the wrong orientation relative to the drive.

Low profile and medium protecting cartridge assembly

A carriage assembly for a computer disk drive is provided. The carriage assembly comprises a movable carriage for supporting read/write heads for movement relative to one or more magnetic disks, the movable carriage having one or more slots. A guiding structure supports the movable carriage for guiding the movement of the movable carriage, the guiding structure having one or more slots. A plurality of spherical balls is provided with each spherical ball located between a slot of the movable carriage and a slot of the guiding structure.

Movable carriage assembly supporting glad/write heads for a disk drive

A half-height, 31/2-inch form factor disk drive architecture. The architecture includes at least six storage disks for storing data and a plurality of interactive read/write heads, two per disk, for reading information from and writing information on the storage disks. An actuator assembly, responsive to control signals, for selectively positioning the read/write heads with respect to the storage disks, and a latching mechanism are also included. Control electronics are provided on a printed circuit board to generate control signals to control the actuator means, and to provide information signals to and receive information signals from the read/write heads. The architecture also includes a housing defining the maximum height, length, and width of the disk drive, the housing having a maximum height of approximately one and 65/100 ths inches (1.65'), and including: a base having a first side and a second side, the base for supporting the storage disks about a first support post, the base supporting the actuator assembly about a second support post; a cover secured to the first and second support posts and sealably attached to the top of the base to enclose the storage disks, the interactive read/write heads, and the actuator assembly; and a shock frame, having a first and second sides mounted adjacent the first and second sides of the base, the shock frame secured to the cover.

Disk drive architecture including a current-induced latching device

A multiple actuator disk drive utilizes multiple heads, associated with respective ones of multiple actuators, to read data from and write data to all tracks on the surface of a disk. The positioning of each head by the respective actuator is controlled by embedded servo-information recorded in the data tracks. The data tracks have a density of greater than 2000 tracks per inch. Utilizing two actuators provides access times which are reduced with respect to the access times provided by disk drives having a single actuator and an increased data transfer rate.

Multiple actuator disk drive

A multiple actuator disk drive utilizes multiple heads, associated with respective ones of multiple actuators, to read data from and write data to all tracks on the surface of a disk. The positioning of each head by the respective actuators is controlled by embedded servo-information recorded in the data tracks. The data tracks have a density of greater than 2000 tracks per inch. Utilizing two actuators provides access times which are reduced with respect to the access times provided by disk drives having a single actuator and an increased data transfer rate.

A latch mechanism for locking an actuator arm in a disk drive includes a latch pivotably supported in the disk drive for engaging the actuator arm and an electromagnet for capturing and holding the latch to disengage the latch from the actuator arm. A spring is provided to bias the latch to engage with the actuator arm. A swivel plate is provided on the actuator arm and the electromagnet captures the swivel plate; in particular, the electromagnet has two poles and the swivel plate contacts one of the poles and an air gap exists between the swivel plate and the other pole. The air gap allows the electromagnet to release the swivel plate. The swivelling action of the swivel plate causes the swivel plate to seat with the entire surface of the one pole of the electromagnet, increasing the ability of the electromagnet to hold the swivel plate once the swivel plate has been captured.

Latch mechanism for disk drives

A disk drive assembly which is resistant to physical shocks and thermally caused distortion, including an end plate, a casing attached to the end plate, and a base plate enclosed in the casing and mounted to the end plate. The base plate supports a rotatably disk and an actuator assembly for reading information from and recording information on the disk. The end plate and the casing form a seal to provide a controlled environment within the casing and the base plate is attached to the end plate in the controlled environment.

Disk drive architecture

A disk drive assembly which is resistant to physical shocks and thermally caused distortion, including an end plate, a casing attached to the end plate, and a base plate enclosed in the casing and mounted to the end plate. The end plate supports a rotatable disk and an actuator assembly for reading information from and recording information on the disk. The end plate and the casing form a seal to provide a controlled environment within the casing and the base plate is attached to the end plate in the controlled environment.

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Longmont, CO, United States of America

Glade N Bagnell