Integral Peripherals, Inc.

Mobile Storage Technology, Inc.

Storage Technology Corporation

Conner Peripherals, Inc.

Prairietek Corporation

Seagate Technology Incorporated

Amcodyne Incorporated

James H Morehouse

David M Furay

James A Dunckley

Steven Bernard Volk

John H Blagaila

Bruce D Emo

Robert A Alt

Michael R Utenick

James F Hopper

John A Mount

F Eugene Dion

Thomas L Andrews

Terry G Johnson

Richard K Thompson

Thomas A Klein

Jimmy L Woods

Scott A Shelstad

Kurt M Anderson

H Ross Chessman

Stephen R Cowen

Mark A Swenson

Bernard J Rondestvedt

Gary E Counts

Nelson Chenkin

August P Epina

Dan A Hunter

Thomas L Andrews, Jr

David H Furay

Robert J Ganter

Disclosed is a method to reduce external signal interference with signals in a computer disk storage system including a disk drive. An electrically conductive housing is provided for the disk drive to enclose and support within the housing analog circuitry, a motor for rotating media for the storage of information, and circuitry for converting analog signals to digital signals. Circuitry and conductors which carry analog signals are enclosed within the electrically conductive housing and signal conversion circuitry is provided within the housing to convert analog signals into digital signals before transmission to the exterior of the housing.

Method for reducing external signal interference with signals in a computer disk storage system

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 is disclosed for primary use with portable, laptop or other information storage systems. The disk drive apparatus includes one or more about 2.5 inch hard disks. The disk drive apparatus also has electronics, including hardware and software, for detecting a lapse of first and second predetermined time intervals since a last disk access. The disk drive apparatus also includes power conservation means which power down a first portion of disk drive components after a first predetermined time interval has elapsed and for powering down a second portion of disk drive components after a second predetermined time interval has elapsed.

Disk drive apparatus with power conservation capability

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 with adaptive runout compensation

Microminiature hard disk drive

A disk drive apparatus, by using an integrated base structure made up of a base portion and a printed circuit board, and an integrated cover structure made up of a cover casting and a printed circuit board, is able to achieve an overall thickness of 5 millimeters, so that such disk drive apparatus can meet the current PCMCIA card standard for Type II cards.

Disk drive apparatus

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

A method for optimizing the storage capacity of miniature disk drives without affecting reliability or yields of the disk drives uses an iterative seek process to define track zero. Initially, a physical reference point is defined and a transducer is moved in coarse steps from the physical reference point until interference with a stationery loading ramp or other mechanical component, hereinafter, 'ramp,' is detected. Upon detection of interference, the transducer is moved one coarse step away from the ramp and then the transducer is moved in fine steps towards the ramp until interference is again detected. Upon detection of interference, the transducer is moved away from the ramp a predetermined distance. After the transducer is moved the predetermined distance, a check is made for interference. If interference is detected, the transducer is moved in fine step towards the center of the disk until interference is no longer detected. When interference is no longer detected, the transducer is moved a predetermined distance and the resulting location of the transducer is defined as track zero.

Method for optimizing track location during servo writing

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.

Growing community of inventors

Jamestown, CO, United States of America

James H Morehouse