Seagate Technology Incorporated

Integral Peripherals, Inc.

Mobile Storage Technology, Inc.

Robert A Alt

David M Furay

James H Morehouse

Bruce D Emo

James A Dunckley

Gary Frank Kelsic

Aaron Steve Macpherson

Steven Bernard Volk

David Lapp

Frederick Paul Renken

Jason A Sorrell

Richard K Thompson

David L Schell

Kenneth Lee Pottebaum

John Charles Purkett

Iraj Jabbari

Serge Jacques Fayeulle

Jackson Wagner Nichols

Jeffrey Leonard Bruce

Thomas L Andrews

Gary E Counts

Jeffrey James Croxall

KarWei Koay

Richard Kendle Thompson

Rick K Thompson

Matthew R Lepore

Ronald J Loomis

E Paul Lee

Steven J Mertens

Certain exemplary aspects of the present disclosure are directed towards an apparatus including a base deck forming a sealed cavity. A filter coupled to a surface of the base deck within the cavity filters particulate from a flow of gas in the cavity. The recirculation filter including a protrusion extending over a surface of a storage medium within the cavity that diverts gas from a surface of the storage medium toward the filter. A bypass channel, defined by a portion of the cavity and a portion of the filter, in conjunction with the protrusion forms a pressure differential that draws a first portion of the diverted gas through the filter by bypassing the filter with a second portion of the diverted gas.

Particulate filter

Apparatus and method for mitigating impedance changes in a microactuator conductive joint. In accordance with some embodiments, a microactuating element has a conductive input junction, the junction having dissimilar metals in contact with one another. The microactuating element is adapted to mechanically deform to displace a control object responsive to a micractuation control signal that is applied to the junction. A control circuit applies a bi-directional transition signal to the conductive input junction to reduce an increased impedance of the junction.

Impedance mitigation of a microactuator conductive joint

A method and combination for mitigating turbulent air flow across an actuator of a data storage device. The combination includes a base deck having a retention cam surface adjacent a mounting pin, and an air diverter having a mounting aperture and a spring portion with a cam follower. The air diverter is confined adjacent the base deck in an operating position by executing the steps of the method to form the combination. The method includes the steps of; providing the base deck, disposing the air diverter onto the mounting pin, attaching a spindle motor with a disc to the base deck, securing an actuator supporting a read/write head to the base deck and affixing a top cover to the base deck, which places the air diverter under a compressive load between the top cover and the base deck thereby fixing the air diverter in the operating position.

Single piece air diverter for a data storage device

A method and combination for mitigating turbulent air flow across an actuator of a data storage device. The combination includes a base deck having a retention cam surface adjacent a mounting pin, and an air diverter having a mounting aperture and a spring portion with a cam follower. The air diverter is confined adjacent the base deck in an operating position by executing the steps of the method to form the combination. The method includes the steps of, providing the base deck, disposing the air diverter onto the mounting pin, attaching a spindle motor with a disc to the base deck, securing an actuator supporting a read/write head to the base deck and affixing a top cover to the base deck, which places the air diverter under a compressive load between the top cover and the base deck thereby fixing the air diverter in the operating position.

An apparatus which provides improved fluidic control includes a circumferentially extending windage plate adapted for placement adjacent a rotatable disc surface. The plate operates to direct fluidic currents established by rotation of the surface. One or more snubber members are supported by the plate to prevent localized contact between the plate and the surface as a result of deflection induced by application of a mechanical shock. Preferably, an access element is moveable along a movement path adjacent the rotatable surface. An air dam comprising a localized increased thickness portion of the plate at a leading or trailing edge of the plate preferably further directs the fluidic flow, and the snubber member-further prevents contact between the air dam and the rotatable surface. The rotatable surface preferably comprises a data recording surface and the access element preferably comprises a data transducing head.

Windage plate with snubber member to limit mechanical deflection

An apparatus provides improved positional control for an access element moveable adjacent a rotatable surface, such as a data transducing head adjacent a data recording surface of a data storage device. A circumferentially extending windage plate is adapted for placement adjacent the rotatable surface. The plate includes an edge surface configured to extend adjacent a movement path of an access element across the rotatable surface. The edge surface supports a ramp structure adapted to receivingly support the access element at a position away from the rotatable surface.

Separator plate with head load/unload

A method for fabricating a disc drive load/unload ramp incorporates a disc drive compatible lubricant as the mold releasing agent. A mold having a load/unload ramp cavity is sprayed with a predetermined amount of disc drive compatible lubricant so that the finished load/unload ramp exhibits a predetermined thickness of lubricant. Alternatively, a known amount of disc drive compatible lubricant is combined with the load/unload ramp polymer during the melting stage of the molding process to yield a load/unload ramp exhibiting a predetermined thickness of lubricant. In either case, the lubrication of the load/unload ramp is integrated into the fabrication process in order to obtain a one step finished pre-lubricated product.

Method of fabricating a lubricant-integrated load/unload ramp for a disc drive

A shroud feature and method for incorporating an airflow shroud feature in a disc drive assembly. The airflow shroud feature is connected to the cover of the disc drive rather than the base plate. When the disc drive cover incorporating the shroud feature is placed on the disc drive, the shroud feature surrounds at least a portion of the circumference of the outer peripheral surface of the disc to reduce turbulence when the disc is operated. The shroud is rigidly connected to the top cover by engagement of the shroud with a physical feature of the top cover. The shroud operably directs air-flow along the peripheral edge of the disc during drive operation when the cover is installed on the base plate.

Top cover shroud for a disc drive

The outer surface of the cartridge sleeve is provided with features which increase the frictional coefficient between the cartridge sleeve and a tolerance ring placed around the cartridge. The cartridge and ring are then press-fit into the actuator bore together. The increased friction between the cartridge and ring prevents slip between them, eliminating the need to increase compressive forces between the ring and the bore and bearing.

Cartridge bearing with frictional sleeve

A method of assembling disc drive components involving the use of a shipping comb to deliver one or more head gimbal assemblies to a ramp in a disc drive. The shipping comb is configured to engage the head gimbal assembly by its load beam. The load beam is part of a head gimbal assembly which includes a suspension such that the load beam extends from the head gimbal assembly away from the suspension. In the assembly process, a proximal end of the shipping comb is brought into abutment with a distal end of the ramp. The shipping comb may have first features at its proximal end which are configured for mating with second features at the distal end of the ramp.

Disc drive ramp that accomodates shipping comb

Disclosed is a non-contact magnetic latch mechanism for holding a disc drive actuator in its park position. The latch includes a magnetically permeable element coupled to the actuator. The magnetically permeable element is positioned so as to be attracted to the magnetic field produced by the actuator voice coil magnets when the actuator is in or near its park position. The size, shape and location of the magnet may be selected so as to vary the latch torque and the range of influence of the latch on the actuator.

Non-contact magnetic latch for disc drive actuator

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

In accordance with this invention, an air bearing slider has a mounting side which has a relieved portion formed by a stepped-contour or a tapered contour. The stepped-contour includes an adherent surface adjacent the rear face of the air bearing slider and a notch surface adjacent the front face of the air bearing slider. The notch surface is closer to the air bearing surface than the adherent surface. The tapered contour includes an adherent surface adjacent the rear face and a taper surface adjacent the front face such that the taper surface is at an angle to the adherent surface. The clearance provided by the relieved portion eliminates interference between the air bearing slider and the load beam surround portions which support the air bearing slider. Depth of the relieved portion of the air bearing slider can be altered easily during grinding for customized multiple drive designs without major retooling effort. To eliminate any potential contact between the corners of the adherent surface of the air bearing slider and the load beam surround portions, cutouts and/or etched regions are provided to the load beam surround portions adjacent to the adherent surface. The relieved portion of the air bearing slider can overlap the load beam surround portions such that the overlaps limit angular excursion of the air bearing slider when the air bearing slider is unloaded from the disk.

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Longmont, CO, United States of America

Robert A Alt