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:
Feb. 03, 2004
Filed:
Mar. 15, 2001
Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., Osaka, JP;
Abstract
A hydrodynamic gas bearing structure and a hard disk drive (HDD) including a hydrodynamic gas bearing structure are provided in which electrostatic charge built up in the rotatable components is safely discharged to the fixed components. A conductive structure is installed between the rotatable and fixed components at or in the vicinity of the axis of rotation of the rotatable components. The conductive structure provides a safe discharge path for electrostatic charge dissipation. The conductive structure located at or in the vicinity of the axis of the rotation is barely influenced by the relative rotation between the rotatable and fixed components as well as air flow for generating hydrodynamic pressure. The conductive structure can be a magnetic fluid or a conductive, flexible strip. In a HDD a dummy disk and a dummy head are provided to dissipate electrostatic charge.