Quantum Corporation

Maxtor Corporation

Jonathan C Hofland

Stephen Paul Williams

C Douglas Richards

Stephen Viskochil

An improved E-block for positioning one or more transducer assemblies proximate one or more rotating storage disks of a disk drive is provided herein. The E-block includes an actuator hub and one or more actuator arms which cantilever away from the actuator hub for holding the transducer assemblies proximate the rotating storage disks. As provided herein, at least one of the actuator arms is a depopulated actuator arm which retains less than two transducer assemblies. Each depopulated actuator arm includes at least one, weighted segment integrally formed into the depopulated actuator arm. Further, each depopulated actuator arm has an arm thickness which is less than an arm thickness for a double head actuator arm. The weighted segment and the reduced arm thickness allow the depopulated actuator arm(s) to vibrate similar to a populated actuator arm(s). This allows the disk drive to be designed and tuned to improve fragility and resonance characteristics of the E-block.

E-block having improved resonance characteristics and improved fragility

A circuit connector for connecting a flex inter-connect circuit to an electronic circuit is provided herein. The flex inter-connect circuit includes a trace which is substantially enclosed within an insulator and a first pair of opposed inter-connect apertures which extend substantially through the insulator to the trace. The circuit connector includes a first pair of substantially opposed bumps which are bonded to the trace and extend from the inter-connect apertures. A coating of fusible material covers a portion of one of the bumps and bonds the circuit connector to the electronic circuit. As provided herein, the substantially opposed bumps provide good heat transfer to the fusible material so that a lower temperature can be used to bond the circuit connector to the electronic circuit.

Circuit connector

A combinational actuator latch and crash stop apparatus and method are provided. In one embodiment, an air lock apparatus includes a wind vane portion adapted to have a wind force exerted thereon. The wind force is generated by a rotating disk. The combinational air lock and crash stop apparatus also includes an airlock latch portion coupled to the wind vane portion. The airlock latch portion is adapted to lock the actuator arm into a selected position. Specifically, the airlock latch portion is adapted to lock an actuator arm into a position such that the distal end of the actuator arm and a head attached to the distal end of the actuator arm will be locked at or near the inner diameter of the disk. The present combinational air lock and crash stop apparatus further includes a crash stop coupled to the airlock latch portion. The crash stop is adapted to restrict the rotation of the actuator arm such that the distal end of the actuator arm and the head are prevented from being moved outwardly beyond the outer diameter of the disk.

Crash stop airlock mechanism

An aerodynamic actuator filter-latch for releasably locking a rotary voice coil actuator within a hard disk drive includes a shaft and a rotating latch structure on the shaft. The latch structure includes an airvane portion extending across a rotating disk adjacent one of the major surfaces thereof, a central portion including an air filter for removing minute particulate contaminants from air within the enclosed head and disk assembly, the air filter being located adjacent to a periphery of the disk, and an actuator latch portion extending toward the rotary voice coil actuator. The aerodynamic actuator filter-latch also includes a bias force mechanism for biasing the latch structure toward an actuator latch position in the absence of airflow. Rotation of the data storage disk causes the latch structure to rotate to a release position while some resultant airflow through the air filter removes contaminants.

Growing community of inventors

San Jose, CA, United States of America

Jonathan C Hofland