The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 11, 1998
Filed:
Feb. 21, 1997
Marc J Lalouette, Fremont, CA (US);
Jeremy M Cowperthwaite, Morgan Hill, CA (US);
Quantum Corporation, Milpitas, CA (US);
Abstract
A latch for retaining a transducer substantially in a landing zone of a storage disk of a disk drive is provided herein. The disk drive includes an actuator assembly having an actuator contact area which moves on an actuator path. The latch includes a latch arm, a latch contact area, a return device, an air vane, and a secondary stop. The latch arm rotates between an engaged position in which the latch contact area is positioned in the actuator path and a disengaged position in which the latch contact area is positioned outside the actuator path. The return member includes a ferromagnetic body which moves along a body path which is closest to a magnet of the actuator assembly when the latch arm is in the engaged position. The attraction between the ferromagnetic body and the magnet retains the latch arm in the engaged position during non-rotation of the disk. The secondary stop is spaced apart from a latch crash stop of the disk drive when the latch arm is in the engaged position. The secondary stop contacts the latch crash stop of the disk drive upon sufficient movement of the latch arm. This dampens movement of the latch arm. Further, the latch contact area is also designed to dampen movement of the latch arm.