Abstract: A storage system (14) that stores data from a host system (12) includes a plurality of disk drives (30), and a controller (32) that controls the disk drives (30). At least one of the disk drives (30) is in a stand-by mode and one of the disk drives (30) is in a write/read mode at approximately the same time. In one embodiment, the controller (32) directs data to a first subset (500) of disk drives (30) and a second subset (502) of disk drives (30) simultaneously. In this embodiment, at least one of the subsets (500)(502) can include five disk drives (30). Further, during a data transfer, one third of the disk drives (30) can be in the write/read mode while two-thirds of the disk drives (30) are in the stand-by mode.

Abstract: A surfboard assembly (10) includes at least two of a surfboard (12), a foot retainer (18) and a foot pad (16). The surfboard (12) includes a board apparatus (20) having a body region (34), a surface layer (36) and one or more board magnetic regions (14). The surface layer (36) is secured to the body region (34), and each board magnetic region (14) is secured to the board apparatus (20). Each board magnetic region (14) can have a substantially flat configuration and can be formed from a magnetic material. The board magnetic regions (14) can be secured to the surface layer (36) and/or the body region (34). The foot retainer (18) includes a retainer magnetic region (69) having a magnetic material. The foot retainer (18) can include a sole plate (62) that that couples the retainer magnetic region (69) to the retainer body (56). The foot pad (16) includes a pad region (46) and a pad magnetic region (48).

Abstract: A disk drive includes a drive housing, an actuator arm mounted to the drive housing, a head suspension assembly secured to the actuator arm, a spindle secured to the drive housing, a storage disk positioned on the spindle and a spacer positioned on the spindle. The actuator arm includes a suspension mounting side and the spindle includes a disk mounting surface. A actual measured distance along a first axis between the suspension mounting side and the disk mounting surface is measured. The spacer is positioned between the disk mounting surface and the storage disk. The spacer has a spacer height along the first axis that is based upon the actual measured distance.

Abstract: A tape drive (10) for use with a cartridge (24) having a storage tape (30) that moves along a tape path (32) includes a drive housing (12) defining a drive interior (62), a circuit assembly (42) that generates heat, and a thermal insulator (44). In one embodiment, the thermal insulator (44) is positioned between a portion of the storage tape (30) and the circuit assembly (42). The thermal insulator (44) can be formed from a flexible, plastic material and/or can have a thermal conductivity of less than approximately 50 W/mK to decrease the transfer of heat between the circuit assembly (42) and the storage tape (30). The drive interior (62) can have a first region (64) that includes a portion of the tape path (32), and a second region (66) that includes the circuit assembly (42).

Abstract: A disk drive includes a drive housing, one or more rotating storage disks, each having a storage surface, and a fluid diffuser. The fluid diffuser includes one or more stationary diffuser wings, each having a wing surface positioned near the storage surface. One or more of the diffuser wings can extend between two of the storage disks. The diffuser wing includes a surface deviation that disrupts the fluid flow over the wing surface that is caused by the rotating storage disk. The surface deviation can include an indentation in the wing surface or can extend from the wing surface toward the storage surface. In still another embodiment, the surface deviation includes an aperture that extends through the diffuser wing. Further, the fluid diffuser can include a plurality of surface deviations that are positioned along the wing surface. Further, a portion of the surface deviation can form an angle with the wing surface that is greater than approximately 0 degrees and less than approximately 180 degrees.

Abstract: An abrasive tool assembly (10) for treating a surface can include a universally pivoting pad assembly (12), an adaptor assembly (14) and/or a rotational device (16). The adaptor assembly (14) transfers a rotational force of the rotational device (16) to the pad assembly (12) includes a shaft section (32), a threaded section (34) and one or more tighteners (36). The shaft section (32) is secured to the rotational device (16). The threaded section (34) is secured to the pad assembly (12). Each tightener (36) moves between a loosened position and a tightened position wherein the tightener frictionally secures the pad assembly (12) against the threaded section (34) of the adaptor assembly (14). In one embodiment, the threaded section (34) is externally threaded. In another embodiment, the threaded section (34) is internally threaded. The shaft section (32) has a longitudinal axis (47).

Abstract: A cooling system (27) for use with a storage system (10) having a storage device (18) includes a drive rail (22), a rail channel (24) that is adjacent to and at least partly bounded by the drive rail (22), and a fluid source (20) that provides a fluid to remove heat from the storage system (10). The storage device (18) is coupled to the drive rail (22). As the storage device (18) operates it generates heat. At least a portion of the fluid from the fluid source (20) is moved through the rail channel (24) to remove the heat from the storage system (10).

Abstract: An improved E-block for positioning one or more transducer assemblies proximate one or more rotating storage disks of a disk drive is provided herein. The E-block includes an actuator hub and one or more actuator arms which cantilever away from the actuator hub for holding the transducer assemblies proximate the rotating storage disks. As provided herein, at least one of the actuator arms is a depopulated actuator arm which retains less than two transducer assemblies. Each depopulated actuator arm includes at least one, weighted segment integrally formed into the depopulated actuator arm. Further, each depopulated actuator arm has an arm thickness which is less than an arm thickness for a double head actuator arm. The weighted segment and the reduced arm thickness allow the depopulated actuator arm(s) to vibrate similar to a populated actuator arm(s). This allows the disk drive to be designed and tuned to improve fragility and resonance characteristics of the E-block.

Abstract: A massage chair (10) includes a seat (50), a front upper support assembly (16), a first support surface (18) and a first positioning mechanism (20). The first positioning mechanism (20) movably secures the first support surface (18) to the front upper support assembly (16). The first positioning mechanism (20) includes a guide rail (24) that has a longitudinal axis (26), and a clamping assembly (27) having a rotational axis (28). In some embodiments, with a single adjustment, the clamping assembly (27) can move between a locked position that inhibits movement of the first support surface (18), and an unlocked position that allows movement of the first support surface (18) around the rotational axis (28) and along the longitudinal axis (26). The massage chair (10) can also include a second positioning mechanism (22) that movably secures a second support surface (75) to the front upper support assembly (16).

Abstract: A manufacturing fixture (11) for manufacturing a permanent magnet (24) for an actuator motor (20) of a disk drive (10) is provided herein. The manufacturing fixture (11) includes a fixture cavity (102) which receives the magnet powder (48) and an orientating device (108) which generates flux lines (110) which extend across the fixture cavity (102). The fixture cavity (102) includes a cavity axis (118), a cavity transition (116) and a cavity perimeter (124). Importantly, the flux lines (110) extend substantially transverse to the cavity axis (118) near the cavity transition (116) and the cavity perimeter (124) and substantially parallel with the cavity axis (118) intermediate the cavity transition (116) and the cavity perimeter (124). This allows for a magnet (24) having higher magnetic flux densities at the sides (54) (56) (58), and higher average magnetic flux densities in the magnet (24).

Abstract: A head suspension assembly for a disk drive that inhibits thermal pole tip protrusion includes a slider assembly having a slider exterior surface including a trailing surface, a slider interior region that is defined by the slider exterior surface, and a write head having an electrically coupled write coil positioned within the slider interior region. The write coil generates heat during write operations of the disk drive. The slider assembly also includes a heat dissipater positioned substantially within the slider interior region. The heat dissipater is electrically isolated from the write coil, and has a thermal conductivity of at least approximately 50 W/mK.

Abstract: An E-block (20) and head stack assembly (15) for maintaining one or more data transducers (18) proximate one or more rotating storage disks (28) of a disk drive (10) is provided herein. The E-block (20) includes an actuator hub (52) and one or more actuator arms (22). The actuator arms (22) cantilever away from the actuator hub (52) and hold the data transducers (18) proximate the rotating storage disks (28). As provided herein, at least one of the actuator arms (22) has a roll-bias angle (70) over the majority of the length of the actuator arm (22). Moreover, the head stack assembly (15) maintains a suspension assembly (24) at a reduced suspension z-height (72) relative to the storage disk (28). As provided herein, the roll-bias angle (70) of the actuator arms (22) and the reduced suspension z-height (72), each decrease track misregistration.

Abstract: A tall-electrode trace interconnect array includes a dielectric support substrate for supporting least two tall-electrode trace conductors. A dielectric support structure on the support substrate supports outside longitudinal walls of the two tall-electrode trace conductors. The dielectric support structure is formed to be absent from a longitudinal space between the two tall-electrode trace conductors thereby defining an ambient air dielectric to reduce and control inter-electrode capacitance and increase resonant frequency and effective electrical bandwidth of the trace interconnect array. A method for forming the array is also disclosed.

Abstract: A massage chair (10) is provided. The massage chair (10) includes (i) a front lower support (12) including a front attachment section (14), (ii) a rear lower support (16) including a rear attachment section (18), (iii) a seat (48) secured to the rear lower support (12), (iv) a front upper support (22) including an upper attachment section (24), (v) a chest rest (26) secured to the front upper support (22), and (vi) a connector (28). Importantly, the connector (28) connects the front attachment section (14), the rear attachment section (18) and the upper attachment section (24) and allows for relative motion of the front lower support (12), the rear lower support (16) and the front upper support (22) about the connector (28). As a result of this design, the massage chair (10) easily moves between a transport position (32) and an upright position (30). Further, as a result of this design, the profile of the massage chair (10) in the transport position (32) is relatively small.

Abstract: A storage medium cartridge that has a substantially rectangular housing with an aperture formed thereon is provided for use with a cartridge gripping assembly. The cartridge gripping assembly includes a gripping mechanism having a first end which releasably engages the aperture defined on the housing of the storage medium cartridge. The gripping mechanism further includes a second end that is dimensioned for coupling with a first end of a mechanized robotic arm for providing motion to the cartridge gripping assembly.

Abstract: A tape storage system (10) includes a rack assembly (14), a plurality of cartridges (20), a first tape drive (66) and a second tape drive (106). The rack assembly (14) includes a rotatable magazine mount (22), a cartridge magazine (16) secured to the magazine mount (22), and a magazine mover (26) to rotate the cartridge magazine (16). The tape storage system (10) also includes a first transport assembly (28) to transport one of the cartridges (20) between the cartridge magazine (16) and the first tape drive (66). Uniquely, the cartridge magazine (16) rotates to position one of the cartridges (20) over the first transport assembly (28). The tape storage system (10) can also include a second transport assembly (32) for transporting one of the cartridges (20) between the cartridge magazine (16) and the second tape drive (106). With this design, the rack assembly (14) can efficiently transport two different sized cartridges (20A, 20B).

Abstract: An actuator latching mechanism for a disk drive device is provided. The latching mechanism includes a rotatable body portion, a rigid air vane portion and a latching arm. When a data storage disk of the disk drive is not being rotated, the latching mechanism maintains a transducer actuator assembly of the disk drive in a locked position by engaging the transducer actuator assembly in the latching arm. When the data storage disk is rotated, airflow is generated proximate to the surface of the disk, in the same direction in which the disk is rotated. The latching mechanism is disposed in a space between the edge of the data storage disk and a side wall of the housing so that the peripheral effects of the airflow exerts a force on the air vane portion, rotating the latching mechanism towards the side wall to release the actuator assembly from the latching arm. Once disk rotation stops, the air vane portion returns to its original position and the latching arm engages the actuator assembly in the locked position.

Abstract: A suspension assembly (24) for a storage device (10) that includes a load beam (52) and a damper assembly (54). The load beam (52) couples a data transducer (22) to an actuator arm (40). The damper assembly (54) is secured to the load beam (52). The damper assembly (54) includes a damper beam section (72) and a damper mass section (74). The damper beam section (72) cantilevers from the load beam (52). The damper mass section (74) is secured the damper beam section (72). The damper assembly (54) also includes a resilient layer (88) and a cover layer (90). The resilient layer (88) extends between the damper mass section (74) and the load beam (52). The cover layer (90) covers the resilient layer (88). During rotation of a storage disk (30), the load beam (52) has a load beam resonance frequency. The damper assembly (54) has a damper resonance frequency that is tuned to be similar to the load beam resonance frequency to decrease off-track movements of the data transducer (22) relative to the storage disk (30).

Abstract: A disk drive includes a stop, a head stack assembly and a latch having a latch arm that is movable between a closed position and an open position. The latch includes a first retainer that urges the latch arm toward the open position, and a second retainer that urges the latch arm toward the closed position. The latch includes a mover that contacts the latch arm upon a sufficient shock to the disk drive and causes the latch arm to move to the closed position. The disk drive includes an actuator motor that momentarily urges the head stack assembly against the latch during startup of the disk drive, thereby moving the latch arm to the open position.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a storage system (10) including at least two tape libraries (11) and a transport mechanism (22) for transferring cartridges (20) between the tape libraries (11). The transport mechanism (22) includes a frame (64), a transporter (68) and a mover (66). The transporter (68) is sized and shaped to retain the cartridge (20). The mover (66) moves the transporter (68) along the frame (64). Additionally, the mover (66) pivots at least a portion of the transporter (68) between a first, almost horizontal, load/unload position (70A), a transport position (72) and a second, almost horizontal load/unload position (70B) during movement between the tape libraries (11). Further, the transport mechanism (22) includes a latch (140) that selectively retains the cartridge (20) in the transporter (68) during movement between the tape libraries (11).