Seagate Technology Incorporated

Matthew Glenn Duvall

Kenneth Lee Pottebaum

David S Allsup

Stephen R Genheimer

Jackson Wagner Nichols

Alvin E Cox

Cory Bert Welscher

Ryan Todd Lyle

James W Dulaney

Wonbo Shim

Carrie R McKie

Maureen A Aragon

An apparatus which provides improved positional control for an access element moveable adjacent a rotatable surface, such as a data transducing head adjacent a data recording disc in a data storage device. The apparatus comprises a fluidic stripper with one or more cantilevered arms which project proximate a corresponding array of one or more rotatable surfaces. Each arm comprises an edge surface which extends proximate to and in facing relationship with a movement path of an access element across the associated rotatable surface to impede fluidic currents established by rotation of the rotatable surface. Each arm further supports a ramp structure which receivingly supports the access element at a position away from the rotatable surface and proximate the innermost diameter during a deactivated mode when the rotatable surface is stationary.

Fluidic stripper assembly with load/unload ramp

Method and apparatus for reducing and dispersing wear to the surface of a rotatable disc in a disc drive using an adaptive dither process. The disc drive includes an actuator assembly that is secured in a parked position by a latch when not in use. The method includes determining an open latch current required to open the latch as the actuator assembly is moved from the parked position to a position over a user data storage portion of the disc. A dither current is subsequently applied to the actuator assembly to induce a reciprocating lateral displacement of the actuator assembly when the actuator assembly is secured in the parked position, wherein the maximum amplitude of the dither current is selected to be less than the open latch current.

Wear reduction of a disc surface using an adaptive dither process

A disc drive is provided with rotatable discs and an actuator assembly having heads adjacent the discs. A flex circuit assembly providing electrical connection between the heads and the disc drive circuitry comprises flex strips routed on the actuator assembly from the heads and a flex affixed on the actuator assembly. A flex support snubber mounted on the side of the actuator assembly has a body portion with a plurality of arms extending therefrom. Each pair of the arms form a groove so that the arms are disposed above and below discs while the discs extend into the grooves. A plurality of slits are interposed between the grooves to support the flex strips therein. An opposite end of the flex support snubber curves to form a U-shaped snubber bend for turning and guiding a dynamic portion of the flex.

Flex support snubber

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Oklahoma City, OK, United States of America

Matthew Glenn Duvall