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:
Sep. 20, 2005
Filed:
Dec. 23, 2002
Jeffry Arnold Leblanc, Aptos, CA (US);
Alan Lyndon Grantz, Aptos, CA (US);
Troy Michael Herndon, San Jose, CA (US);
Michael David Kennedy, Boulder Creek, CA (US);
Robert Alan Nottingham, Santa Cruz, CA (US);
Anthony Joseph Aiello, Aptos, CA (US);
Klaus Dieter Kloeppel, Watsonville, CA (US);
Paco Flores, Felton, CA (US);
Jeffry Arnold LeBlanc, Aptos, CA (US);
Alan Lyndon Grantz, Aptos, CA (US);
Troy Michael Herndon, San Jose, CA (US);
Michael David Kennedy, Boulder Creek, CA (US);
Robert Alan Nottingham, Santa Cruz, CA (US);
Anthony Joseph Aiello, Aptos, CA (US);
Klaus Dieter Kloeppel, Watsonville, CA (US);
Paco Flores, Felton, CA (US);
Seagate Technology LLC, Scotts Valley, CA (US);
Abstract
A disc drive design comprising a shaft and sleeve supported for relative rotation by a journal type fluid dynamic bearing utilizing grooves on one of the shaft or sleeve surfaces. At least a part of the shaft is generally conical in cross-section, so that a downward force component is developed to balance upward pressure on end of shaft; this conical region typically includes a fluid dynamic bearing (grooves being on either the shaft or sleeve). A grooved pattern of a design similar to that usually found on a thrust plate may be defined on an axial end surface of the shaft or the counterplate facing the axial end of the shaft, so that thrust is created to maintain separation of the end of the shaft and the facing counterplate plate during relative rotation. A diamond-like coating (DLC) may be applied to the counterplate surface or to the end of the shaft; further, either the counterplate or shaft may be made out of ceramic material to enhance this performance. This coating may also be applied to the conical surface of the shaft or the facing surface of the sleeve.