Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Japan, Ltd.

Hitachi, Ltd.

Tetsuo Yuki

Tsuyoshi Takahashi

Yuji Nishimura

Tatsuya Ito

Masatoshi Ishikawa

Tadashi Okumura

Tomio Suzuki

Masahiko Sega

Takashi Matsuki

Naoto Uemura

Hiroyuki Mitsuhashi

A falling sensor is provided, which detects a falling of a magnetic disk drive or an information processing device installed with said magnetic disk drive and which is effective for avoiding physical damages of magnetic heads and magnetic disk media. The magnetic disk drive or the information processing device, include an unload mechanism moving or evacuating said magnetic head from a surface of said magnetic disk media, and a falling sensor comprising a conductive flexible beamsor members having a compatible function, a conductive weightsupported by these beams and a conductive wallarranged to be made contact or non-contact with said weight. The sensor can detect a falling of the magnetic disk drive or the information processing device which is typically a notebook personal computer installing with the magnetic disk drive, and evacuate the magnetic head by the unload mechanism. The conductive wallcan be formed as a tubular member.

Falling sensor and the information processing device making use of it

A falling sensor is provided, which detects a falling of a magnetic disk drive or an information processing device installed with the magnetic disk drive and which is effective for avoiding physical damage of magnetic heads and magnetic disk media. The magnetic disk drive or the information processing device, include an unload mechanism moving or evacuating the magnetic head from a surface of the magnetic disk media, and a falling sensor comprising a conductive flexible beam or member having a compatible function, a conductive weight supported by these beams and a conductive wall arranged to be made in contact or non-contact with the weight. The sensor can detect a falling of the magnetic disk drive or the information processing device, which is typically a notebook personal computer installed with the magnetic disk drive, and evacuate the magnetic head by the unload mechanism.

A falling sensor is provided, which detects a falling of a magnetic disk drive or a information processing device installed with the magnetic disk drive and which is effective for avoiding physical damage of magnetic heads and magnetic disk media. The magnetic disk drive or the information processing device, include an unload mechanism moving or evacuating the magnetic head from a surface of the magnetic disk media, and a falling sensor comprising a conductive flexible beam or member having a compatible function, a conductive weight supported by these beams and a conductive wall arranged to be made in contact or non-contact with the weight. The sensor can detect a falling of the magnetic disk drive or the information processing device, which is typically a notebook personal computer installed with the magnetic disk drive, and evacuate the magnetic head by the unload mechanism. The conductive wall can be formed of a tubular member.

A magnetic disk device has a large capacity with a small and thin structure and includes a spindle system, an actuator system, a control package for controlling the systems, and a PCMCIA connector. The spindle system is of an in-hub structure wherein two magnetic disks are rotated in inside diameter portions of the magnetic disks. The actuator system has sliders mounting magnetic heads for writing and reading magnetic information to and from the magnetic disks, guide arms and suspension structures. The suspension structures also include a coil, a magnetic circuit for imparting a drive force in cooperation with the coil, a coil holder for supporting the coil, a pivot sleeve for rocking the guide arms, the coil holder and spacers which are integrally laminated to each other, bearings and a pivot shaft. The PCMCIA connector connects to the control package and is fixed by the housing and a package cover.

PC card type magnetic disk device

A magnetic disk apparatus has a rail support which supports guide rails for guiding a carriage on which heads are mounted. The rail support is positioned outside a magnet of a voice coil motor and mounted on a frame. The guide rails are disposed so as to extend across a cavity in the rail support and have their opposite end portions attached to the rail support. The guide rails do not vibrate even if the voice coil motor receives a reaction during head seeking, whereby the head positioning accuracy can be improved and the storage capacity can be increased. The rigidity of the guide rails is increased by supporting the opposite ends of the guide rails. This structure and a coaxial arrangement of a motor coil allow the overall length of the carriage and, hence, the overall size of the apparatus to be reduced.

Growing community of inventors

Hiratsuka, Japan

Tetsuo Yuki