Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.v.

International Business Machines Corporation

Western Digital Technologies, Inc.

Hgst Netherlands, B.v.

Maxtor Corporation

Robert Carl Reinhart

Edgar Dennis Rothenberg

Jr-Yi Shen

James B Sullivan

Kirk Barrows Price

Ta-Chang Fu

Jen-Yuan Chang

Jeffrey Kerner

See C Young

John Thomas Contreras

Ferdinand Hendriks

Masahito Kobayashi

Arthur M Lin

Andre Sirilutporn Chan

Charles Allan Brown

Steven Alf Hanssen

Herman Russell Wendt

Hitoshi Shindo

Stanley Yen Wong

Manoj Keshavan

Kunihiro Shida

Kevin Tzou

Zhong-Qing Gong

Junzo Noda

Rodney B Ngai

Khaled M Fawzi

Ronald Lee Weaver

Raymond J Cosimano

William F Ott, Iii

Gregory Joseph Arnone

Heidi Lee Merkins

Shigenori Takada

Susan G Scanlon

Alec D Parken

Gerald J Demorat

Michael J Esmond

Steve Hanssen

A data storage device is disclosed comprising a plurality of disks each comprising a top disk surface and a bottom disk surface, and a plurality of actuator arms each comprising a first fine actuator configured to actuate a top head over one of the top disk surfaces and a second fine actuator configured to actuate a bottom head over one of the bottom disk surfaces. A first fine driver controls the fine actuators of an even interleave of the actuator arms, and a second fine driver controls the fine actuators of an odd interleave of the actuator arms.

Data storage device interleave driving secondary actuators

A method of operating a data storage device is disclosed comprising an enclosure comprising a first head actuated over a first disk surface and a second head actuated over a second disk surface. A manufacture printed circuit board (PCB) is coupled to the enclosure, wherein the manufacture PCB comprises at least one dual channel configured to execute concurrent access operations. While the manufacture PCB is coupled to the enclosure, the data storage device is operated as a dual channel device. The manufacture PCB is decoupled from the enclosure and a product PCB is coupled to the enclosure, wherein the product PCB comprises a single channel configured to execute a single access operation.

Data storage device configured with manufacture PCB for concurrent write/read operation

The present invention generally relates to a head comb for use in a hard disk drive. In one embodiment, the head comb comprises a core body having a bore formed therethrough. The bore is bound by walls having a top extension extending into the opening and a bottom extension extending into the opening. The top extension has a first height, and the bottom extension has a second height that is different than the first height.

Asymmetric comb bore in actuator design

Embodiments of the present invention pertain to sealing an enclosure for a disk drive form factor. According to one embodiment, material is removed from a base casting for the disk drive form factor to enable insertion of a component. The removal of the material results in a portion of the base casting being thin enough to potentially cause an inadvertent hole in the base casting. A hole is purpose created in the base casting to avoid development of the inadvertent hole. A seal is used to cover the created hole in a manner that allows for insertion of the component.

Sealing an enclosure for a disk drive form factor

A flex cable assembly for a head stack assembly of a hard disk drive comprises a flex cable for conducting data signals from the head stack assembly to a connector. The flex cable comprises a dynamic loop section between a termination for the head stack assembly and the connector. A constrained layer damper is attached adjacently to an area of the flex cable that is configured to receive the coupler. The constrained layer damper extends into the dynamic loop section of the flex cable.

Flex cable assembly damper

A hard disk drive flex cable assembly, for conveying data between a connector to a host system and a head stack assembly, comprises a flex cable, which in part has a first end for coupling to the connector, and a second end for coupling to the head stack assembly; and a stiffener coupled to the second end, wherein the stiffener supports at least one termination pad of the second end on three sides of the termination pad.

Flex cable assembly for robust right angle interconnect

A hard disk drive flex cable assembly conveys data between a connector to a host system and a head stack assembly. It comprises a flex cable which in part has a first end for coupling to the connector, and a second end for coupling to the head stack assembly; and a stiffener coupled to the second end. The stiffener comprises an end formed to approximate a J-shape. A filling material is applied to the concave surface of the J-shape, whereby a dynamic response frequency of the flex cable assembly is moved away from a dynamic response frequency of the head stack assembly upon which the flex cable assembly is coupled.

Flex cable assembly for vibration reduction in HDD applications

An integrated pivot-carriage for a hard disk drive for improving a pivot bonding process. Embodiments include a pivot-bearing assembly comprising an upper bearing, a lower bearing and a pivot-bearing spacer there between; a carriage comprising: a center-bore within which a pivot-shaft coupled with the pivot-bearing assembly is disposed; and a plurality of pivot-bonding glue dispensers, each of the pivot-bonding glue dispensers comprising: a glue inlet; a glue outlet; and an enclosing wall defining an interior flow passage between the glue inlet and the glue outlet, the interior flow passage configured for conveying bonding glue there through; and a glue receiving region coupling the glue outlet with a bearing of the upper and the lower bearing, the glue receiving region configured for receiving bonding glue dispensed thereto, thereby bonding the pivot-bearing assembly with the carriage.

Integrated pivot-carriage for improving pivot bonding process

A hard disk drive has a recirculation filter that shrouds the rims of disks at the inlet and outlet of the filter. The shroud is aerodynamically shaped to reduce flow-induced disk vibration of the read/write head. A significant improvement in non-repeatable run-out is provided when the inlet and outlet are shrouded along the rims of the disks.

System, method and apparatus for disk drive recirculation filter having inlet and outlet disk rim shrouding

Outer arm constrained layer dampers to improve actuator dynamics are disclosed. One embodiment provides a housing and disk pack mounted to the housing and having a plurality of disks that are rotatable relative to the housing. In addition, an actuator is coupled to the housing, the actuator having a plurality of suspensions arms for reaching over the plurality of disks. A first damper is coupled with an outside (or inside) portion of a top outside suspension arm of the plurality of suspensions arms. In addition, a second damper is coupled with an outside (or inside) portion of a bottom suspension arm of the plurality of suspensions arms. In so doing, vibration modes involving deformation of the top suspension arm and the bottom suspension arm are damped.

Outer actuator arm constrained layer dampers

A disk drive includes a stop, a head stack assembly and a latch having a latch arm that is movable between a closed position and an open position. The latch includes a first retainer that urges the latch arm toward the open position, and a second retainer that urges the latch arm toward the closed position. The latch includes a mover that contacts the latch arm upon a sufficient shock to the disk drive and causes the latch arm to move to the closed position. The disk drive includes an actuator motor that momentarily urges the head stack assembly against the latch during startup of the disk drive, thereby moving the latch arm to the open position.

Bi-stable inertial latch for hard disk drives

A coil assembly for disk drive components is presented which includes a coil winding free of lubricants that cause stiction problems during the operation of the disk drive assembly. An actuator coil and spindle motor winding are disclosed which include a conductor, an insulating layer over the conductor, a bond coat overlying the insulating layer, and a lubricant coating on the insulating layer. The lubricant coating is a hydrocarbon based oil having a molecular weight within ranges that will not volatilize and condense on the surface of the disks in the drive.

Coil wire lubricant for use in magnetic disk drives

The present invention is a magnetic disk drive for reading or writing magnetically, comprising: (i) a base plate; (ii) a plurality of magnetic disks; (iii) a hub fixedly attached to the disks for supporting the disks; (iv) a motor operable to rotate the hub; (v) a plurality of magnetic read/write heads, each associated with the surface of a disk; (vi) an actuator for supporting the heads and moving the heads across the disks; (vii) a support shaft attached to the base plate; and (viii) a load/unload structure for displacing the heads from the disk comprising an elongated body, a base portion fixedly attached to the base plate and a plurality of ramps extending outwardly from the body. The body of the structure is mounted through one or more holes in the body onto the support shaft so that the support shaft extends along the length of the body to support the structure.

Magnetic disk drive with load/unload structure including a base, a body, ramps, and a H/L ratio of 2 or greater

A disk drive magnetic actuator latch mechanism for use in hard disk drives. The present invention discloses a latch mechanism which includes a latch lever having a magnetic member attached to or molded into each end of the lever. The lever is pivotally mounted about a pivot pin in the vcm assembly. The magnet member located on the latch lever tail is positioned between the vcm magnets when the mechanism is in the latched state. The unlatching force is provided by the presence of the magnetic member in the vcm gap, as the attraction of the member in the vcm field resists rotation of the latch lever.

Disk drive magnetic actuator latch mechanism having a latch lever with

An electronic cage for housing electronic components (circuit boards and power supplies) therein, wherein the cage includes a box-like component receiving area defined by a plurality of upstanding side walls and a floor member. Part of the floor member projects from the box-like receiving area to thus expose various electronic devices (e.g., modules, connectors) located on a common, large board which may be positioned within the cage. Significantly, the cage is of one-piece construction, preferably of injection molded structural foam.

Growing community of inventors

San Jose, CA, United States of America

Robert Carl Reinhart