Abstract: An apparatus and method of manufacturing a low cost disc drive base plate that incorporates a platform portion and one or more over-molded disc drive structural components. The platform portion of the base plate is stamped or fine blanked from sheet metal and defines a centrally located depression for receiving over-molded structural components of the disc drive. The structural components of the disc drive are over-molded using a polymer or plastic insert molding process to the platform portion of the base plate. The use of a stamped platform portion having over-molded structural components significantly reduces conventional manufacturing costs and allows for the design of a disc drive having greater positional accuracy then that obtained with current disc drive technology.

Abstract: A suspension limiter for limiting travel of a read/write transducer gimbal in a disc drive is disclosed that positively engages or interlocks with a feature of the load beam supporting the gimbal, or vice versa, to preclude disengagement of the limiter during an abnormal external shock event. One embodiment has a hook on the load beam that fits within a hole gimbal to interlock the two together. Another embodiment has a hook on the gimbal that fits within a hole in the load beam during a shock event. Another embodiment has tabs on the gimbal that hook over a notch in side fingers extending from the end of the load beam on either side of the gimbal. Another embodiment has a hooked tab on the load beam that extends through an aperture in the gimbal to interlock the gimbal and load beam together during a shock load event. Each of the embodiments prevents catastrophic plastic deformation of the gimbal during such events.

Abstract: A method for minimizing once per revolution (OPT) positional errors in a single disk servo track writer (STW) comprises clamping a disc in the servo track writer; spinning the disc at a predetermined speed; determining an average OPR positional error; and adjusting a reference position for writing servo tracks on the disc to include the average OPR positional error. The apparatus includes a distance measuring device positioned adjacent the disc in the STW. Another method for reducing the effects of OPR positional error in a disc drive comprises positioning a disc on a drive motor spindle in a disc drive during assembly of the drive; spinning the disc at a predetermined speed; determining the position of maximum peak to peak OPR position error, and then readjusting the position of the disc on the spindle to minimize the error. The apparatus for this method includes a controller, a distance sensor, and a positioner for nudging the disc to an optimum position on the disc drive spindle.

Abstract: A suspension for connecting a slider to an actuator arm of a disc drive and for maintaining the slider substantially engaged with a disc surface positioned below the suspension incorporates a load beam defining a first bend region adjacent a proximal end of the load beam and a second bend region adjacent a distal end of the load beam. An overlapping member attached to a top surface of the load beam has a first segment fixed to the load beam on one side of the second bend region and a second segment that engages the load beam on the other side of the second bend region when the distal end of the load beam is placed under a load in the absence of a shock event. The second segment of the overlapping member disengages from the surface of the load beam during a shock event to allow the second bend region to help absorb the shock and maintain the slider engaged with the disc surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing transmission of EMI noise effects originating within disc drives by including a grounding member positioned between at least a portion of a flex circuit and an EMI noise source. The grounding member makes electrically conductive contact with the cover and base plate of the disc drive and thereby provides an alternative pathway for EMI noise, as opposed to traveling along the actuator arm (E block). By reducing the transmission of EMI noise, the number of read errors from the disc is likewise minimized.

Abstract: A disc drive suspension incorporates a loadbeam with a shorter bend section having higher torsional stiffness and higher-frequency resonance states than conventional suspension bend sections. The bend section is formed by etching a narrow groove in the loadbeam. The suspension may also include a separate bend section piece that bridges a gap between the loadbeam anchor sheet and the loadbeam. A method of performing a pre-load adjustment on a transducer suspension for use in a disc drive includes attaching a loadbeam anchor sheet of the suspension to an actuator arm of an E-block to form part of an actuator assembly, measuring a pre-load force on the suspension on the actuator arm, back-bending the suspension until the bend section yields and measuring the pre-load force on the suspension on the actuator arm.

Abstract: A top cover for disc drives having a hydrodynamic motor configured to prevent contact between the top cover and the motor. Embodiments of the instant invention include a housing having a top cover and a base, at least one data storage disc, at least one head capable of reading the data storage disc and a controller. The top cover includes a plurality of coupling sites, a first indented portion, a second indented portion and a raised portion, wherein at least two coupling sites are aligned such that a substantially linear path between the coupling sites crosses the second indented portion and the raised portion.

Abstract: Method for the removable sealing of a component housing, and apparatus to practice the method using an elastic or conformable sealing band. The present invention teaches a sealing band, preferably elastic, to apply a horizontal seal to the horizontal seam defined by vertically assembled component case elements. The seal is maintained in position over the seam by an alignment element disposed on at least one of the seal and the case. The sealing band is rendered electrically conductive by admixing therewith a conductive material, or by plating thereon a conductive coating. A retaining element may be further added to at least one of the sealing band and the case to minimize tampering with the sealing band once installed.

Abstract: An apparatus for increasing the operative force on an air vane latch apparatus in a disc drive involves providing an additional air vane on the pivoting air filter/latch to provide more torque on the latch during low pressure operating conditions and/or when less than an optimum number of discs are installed in the disc drive. The additional air vane is positioned beneath a top disc in the disc stack to at least catch wind generated adjacent the underside surface of the disc by the rotation of the top disc. The wind so generated pushes against this additional air vane supplementing that generated by the upper air vane thus increasing the torque applied to the pivoting air filter by the wind to ensure that there is sufficient wind pressure accumulation against the air vane and air filter latch to unlatch the actuator during all conditions of normal disc drive operation.

Abstract: An apparatus for increasing the operative force on an air vane latch apparatus in a disc drive has a channel formed in the inside surface of the side wall of the head disc assembly cover immediately upstream of the air filter portion of the air vane latch apparatus for redirecting disc generated air flow against an air vane latch air filter and filter support bracket thus increasing the wind force on the air vane latch during disc drive operation to reduce the disc speed at which the latch apparatus moves from a latched position to an unlatched position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for collecting outgassed compounds during a dynamic headspace outgassing test includes placing a component to be tested within a sample container formed from an inert material and placing the container within an oven to heat the component. A gas inflow line directs a flow of inert gas to envelop the component within the sample container and mix with the compounds outgassed from the component. An outflow line formed from an inert material directs the mixture of inert gas and outgassed compounds from the sample container to a trap which separates the inert gas from the outgassed compounds and retains the outgassed compounds for further analysis. The sample container includes a body and a top formed from an inert material and fasteners securing the body and top together to seal the component within an interior chamber of the container.

Abstract: A disc drive includes a case defining a maximum interior height for mounting a voice coil motor within the disc drive. The voice coil motor includes a magnet, a coil, and top and bottom plates for carrying magnetic flux in a circuit with the magnet. At least one of the top and bottom plates includes a raised central portion having an increased cross-sectional area in relation to the remainder of the plate for carrying additional magnetic flux at a point where the plate experiences peak levels of magnetic flux. An opening formed in the disc drive case accommodates the raised central portion of the plate without altering the overall height of the case. The height of the raised central portion is preferably substantially equal to a thickness of the case to ensure the raised central portion fits flush within the opening. One or both of the top and bottom plates may include the raised central portion, thereby necessitating openings in one or both of a top cover and a lower base portion of the disc drive.

Abstract: A universal bracket holds an object in place on the inside surface of a mold frame while settable material in a fluid state is poured into the frame and allowed to harden so that thereafter the frame and bracket can be removed to produce a fixed structure in the shape of the frame with the object embedded on the face of the fixed structure. The universal bracket has a plurality of wall members interconnected to form a shape corresponding to the outline of the object to be held by the bracket. Each wall member has an inside lateral continuous surface for engaging an outside lateral surface of the object. Each wall member also has an outside lateral continuous surface with an alternate pattern of lands and slots. The alternate pattern begins with a land at one end of the wall member and ends with a slot at the other end of the wall member. The land end of each wall member is adjacent to the slot end of the adjacent wall member of the bracket.

Abstract: A method of forming boreholes using a cutting head having a low angle cutting face includes positioning orifices within the cutting head to direct pressurized streams of drilling fluid to impinge directly on the cutting face. The pressurized fluid streams clear excavated material away from the cutting face to increase the efficiency of the cutting head. In one embodiment, the orifices are positioned within the cutting face, while a second embodiment positions the orifices behind the cutting face. An alternative method provides for the stealthy formation of boreholes without disturbing the surrounding formation. The method includes positioning an orifice within the cutting head behind the cutting face to direct drilling fluid toward excavated material which has accumulated within the cutting head to a point behind the cutting face.

Abstract: A media rework tool includes a gripper assembly having a plurality of opposing arms for grasping predetermined discs within a disc pack. The gripper assembly raises the predetermined discs and any intermediate spacer rings upward for temporary storage on a media guide to allow the remainder of the disc pack to be reworked, such as for replacement of a defective disc or spindle motor. A method of reworking a disc pack includes centering the disc pack between opposing arms of a gripper assembly and beneath a cylindrical media guide. A plurality of the opposing arms close to grasp a predetermined number of discs, and the gripper assembly is raised to transfer the grasped discs, and any intermediate spacer rings, from the spindle motor to the media guide. Following reworking of the remainder of the disc pack, the spindle motor is returned to its centered position relative to the media guide and the gripper assembly.

Abstract: A sun visor extension includes a base and an extension member connected to move relative to the base. Once the base is attached to a surface of an existing vehicle sun visor, a user selectively slides the extension member between a stowed position either in front of or behind the sun visor and a deployed position extending laterally from the sun visor. One embodiment of the base includes a channel for receiving an edge of the extension member, and the extension member includes opposing ends having stop members to prevent the extension member from being separated from the base. The position of the base relative to the sun visor is adjustable to allow the position of the fully deployed extension member to be adjusted.