Seagate Technology Incorporated

Yongjie Tang

Xiong Liu

YiRen Hong

ChorShan Cheng

Mo Xu

YiChao Ma

Tak Koon Ooi

Takkoon Ooi

Niroot Jierapipatanakul

ChoonKiat Lim

CheeWai Seetoh

Gordon A Harwood

Than Zaw Myint

Pow-Hing Yong

An exemplary data storage device includes an actuator arm assembly, a top guide rail, a bottom guide rail, and a first ball bearing. The actuator arm assembly includes a first post defining a pivot axis that is inclined between about 5 degrees and about 25 degrees from a horizontal plane defined by a data storage disk surface. The top guide rail includes a first rolling surface that is parallel to the pivot axis. The bottom guide rail is spaced from the top guide rail and includes a second rolling surface that is parallel to the first rolling surface. The first ball bearing includes a first inner race and a first outer race, the first inner race surrounding the first post, and the first outer race in contact with the first rolling surface or the second rolling surface. An exemplary method of assembling a data storage device is also described.

Ball bearing cartridge for linear actuator

A data storage device includes a ferromagnetic center pole, a drive coil for an actuator arm assembly, and a magnetic assembly surrounding the drive coil. The drive coil surrounds the center pole and has a top, a bottom, and first and second sides; the first side is attached to the actuator arm assembly. The magnetic assembly includes a top magnet disposed above and spaced from the center pole, a bottom magnet disposed below and spaced from the center pole, and a side magnet disposed proximate the second side of the coil and spaced from the center pole. In another embodiment, a linear actuator comprises a ferromagnetic center pole, a drive coil supported for linear motion on a rail, and a magnetic assembly. A method including linearly moving a drive coil along a center pole by a magnetic field is also described.

Triple magnet linear actuator motor

Apparatus for latching an actuator, such as used in a data storage device. A moveable electrical coil is disposed adjacent a magnetically permeable structure. The coil is latched by magnetic flux passing across a gap extending into the structure which establishes a retention force upon the coil. The coil is subsequently unlatched by application of current to the coil which reduces the magnetic flux across the gap and hence, the magnitude of the retention force upon the coil. The current also concurrently induces movement of the coil away from the gap. The structure preferably comprises a unitary, c-shaped structure comprising a base member, a support member and a pole member, with the coil configured to surround and travel along a lateral extent of the pole member. A permanent magnet is nested on the base member. A plate is preferably coupled to the coil for abutment across the gap.

Actuator latch with variable retention force

A voice coil motor pole assembly for supporting a latch is disclosed. The pole assembly includes a pin serving as an axle for the latch. The pole assembly also includes a protrusion that extends over a portion of the latch when the latch is mounted on the pin to thereby prevent the latch from being dislodged from the pin.

Assembly for facilitating latch installation

An apparatus restricting motion of an actuator assembly to preclude damage to a read/write head or a disc of a disc drive, the apparatus includes a pole piece with a crash stop mounting aperture and an overmolded crash stop communicating with the crash stop mounting aperture. The overmolded crash stop includes a retention channel formed by a top retention portion, a bottom retention portion and a main body portion during a process of molding the overmolded crash stop to the pole piece. The main body portion conforms to the crash stop mounting aperture, thereby precluding motion of the overmolded crash stop relative to the pole piece in a lateral direction, while the top retention portion and the bottom retention portion constrain motion of the overmolded crash stop relative to the pole piece in the vertical direction.

Overmolded crash stop for a disc drive

An apparatus and method of indirectly measuring half frequency whirl in a spindle motor having a rotor adapted to rotate a disc having a track which is followed by a transducer head that is actuated by a control system is provided. Vibration signals produced at the transducer head while the transducer head follows the track are detected. The half frequency whirl is determined as a function of the detected vibration signals.

Method and apparatus for measuring half frequency whirl in a spindle motor

A crash stop assembly limits pivotal movement of an actuator assembly mounted on a base plate of a disc drive. The disc drive includes a signal channel extending from the actuator assembly to a disc drive circuit board, and the crash stop assembly includes a connector bracket secured to the base plate and supporting the signal channel. The crash stop assembly further includes a crash stop secured to the connector bracket and extending therefrom, and the crash stop includes a contact surface that contacts the actuator assembly to limit pivotal movement of the actuator assembly.

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Singapore, Singapore

Yongjie Tang