Abstract: A digital imaging device that utilizes a disk drive and a magnetic storage medium for transferring digital images. The device enables the user to transfer digital images from a flash card to a removable magnetic storage medium having high capacity. The device can also be used to view, edit or organize the digital images on a television, computer monitor or the like.

Abstract: A digital imaging device that utilizes a disk drive and a magnetic storage medium for transferring digital images. The device enables the user to transfer digital images from a flash card to a removable magnetic storage medium having high capacity. The device can also be used to view, edit or organize the digital images on a television, computer monitor or the like.

Abstract: A digital imaging device that utilizes a disk drive and a magnetic storage medium for transferring digital images. The device enables the user to transfer digital images from a flash card to a removable magnetic storage medium having high capacity. The device can also be used to view, edit or organize the digital images on a television, computer monitor or the like.

Abstract: A digital imaging device that utilizes a disk drive and a magnetic storage medium for transferring digital images. The device enables the user to transfer digital images from a flash card to a removable magnetic storage medium having high capacity. The device can also be used to view, edit or organize the digital images on a television, computer monitor or the like.

Abstract: A disk drive of the type that receives a removable disk cartridge containing a disk-shaped storage medium, includes an actuator for carrying a pair of opposed read/write heads into engagement with respective opposite surfaces of the disk-shaped storage medium, and a pair of opposed projections disposed adjacent the read/write heads when they are in a retracted position. The opposed projections have opposed angled surfaces that deflect and capture the edge of the disk-shaped storage medium during cartridge insertion to prevent the edge of the storage medium from damaging the read/write heads. The opposed projections are preferably formed as part of a load ramp member that is snap-fit to another structure within the disk drive to facilitate assembly of the disk drive.

Abstract: An improved disk drive includes an improved operating system, an improved eject system, an improved head retract system and an improved motor loading system. In a preferred embodiment of the operating system it includes a motor, an eject crank, a head crank and an actuator. The output of the motor can be selectively controlled by the actuator to power either the eject crank or the head crank. Powering the head crank, causes the disk drive heads to move, and powering the eject crank causes a disk cartridge to be ejected from the disk drive. The motor loading system may have a disk drive motor having a threaded exterior and a member extending from the exterior to interface with the eject system. Additionally, this motor loading system may include an aperture in the chassis of the disk drive that has a threaded ring running around the circumference of the aperture and a spring extending from the threaded ring.

Abstract: Disclosed is a disk drive having a linear actuator for carrying read/write heads into engagement with a recording medium. The heads are mounted on a carriage assembly along with a voice coil motor for driving the carriage assembly into and out of engagement of the heads with the medium. The carriage assembly slides linearly on a central guide track. A flexure is provided for the central guide track for linear movement by the carriage assembly so that initial linear movement of the carriage assembly is by flexing the flexure and further, larger linear movement of the carriage assembly is by sliding along the guide track. In one form of the invention the central guide track is suspended at the front end by a flexure and at the rear end by a bearing. In another form of the invention the central guide track is suspended at each end by a flexure. The flexure has an attaching mechanism for attaching the flexure to the central guide track so that the flexure pivots freely on the central guide track.

Abstract: A linear actuator for carrying a pair of read/write heads into engagement with a surface of a recording medium includes a carriage assembly. The carriage assembly may have a load beam upon which the read/write heads are mounted. A lift wing that is integrally formed with the actuator preferable extends transverse to a longitudinal axis of the actuator. Preferably, the lift wing extends from the sides of the actuator and not the end of the actuator where the read/write heads are preferably mounted. The integral lift wing may have a first portion that extends from one side of the actuator, and a second portion that extends from the other side of the actuator. Preferably, the lift wing does not have a portion which extends beneath or over the width of the load beam portion of the actuator. This lift wing preferably interfaces with a load ramp of the disk drive to position the read/write heads proximal to the surface of the recording medium.

Abstract: An improved disk drive includes an improved operating system, an improved eject system, an improved head retract system and an improved motor loading system. In a preferred embodiment of the operating system it includes a motor, an eject crank, a head crank and an actuator. The output of the motor can be selectively controlled by the actuator to power either the eject crank or the head crank. Powering the head crank, causes the disk drive heads to move, and powering the eject crank causes a disk cartridge to be ejected from the disk drive. The motor loading system may have a disk drive motor having a threaded exterior and a member extending from the exterior to interface with the eject system. Additionally, this motor loading system may include an aperture in the chassis of the disk drive that has a threaded ring running around the circumference of the aperture and a spring extending from the threaded ring.

Abstract: An improved disk drive includes an improved operating system, an improved eject system, an improved head retract system and an improved motor loading system. In a preferred embodiment of the operating system it includes a motor, an eject crank, a head crank and an actuator. The output of the motor can be selectively controlled by the actuator to power either the eject crank or the head crank. Powering the head crank, causes the disk drive heads to move, and powering the eject crank causes a disk cartridge to be ejected from the disk drive. The motor loading system may have a disk drive motor having a threaded exterior and a member extending from the exterior to interface with the eject system. Additionally, this motor loading system may include an aperture in the chassis of the disk drive that has a threaded ring running around the circumference of the aperture and a spring extending from the threaded ring.

Abstract: A linear actuator carries read/write heads into engagement with a removable cartridge having a recording disk. The magnetic heads are mounted on a carriage which moves linearly on a central guide track. The carriage moves linearly on front and rear bearings which move on a central guide track as the magnetic motor is energized. The rear bearing is elongated in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the disk to allow movement of the carriage transverse to the direction of travel. This compensates for planar misalignment of the plane of the recording disk with respect to the axis of the central track.

Abstract: A disk drive includes a slide member that moves in tandem with a disk cartridge from a first position to a second position upon insertion of the disk cartridge into the disk drive. The slide member has at least one flexure having a projection formed thereon. The slide plate is biased in a direction opposite the direction of insertion of the removable disk cartridge by a spring. As the disk is inserted into the disk drive and the slide plate moves, the flexure travels along an inclined cam slot within a rotating member of said disk drive to the projections through cutouts in the chassis of the disk drive apparatus into engagement with reference holes in the disk cartridge to locate the cartridge in the appropriate location.

Abstract: A shutter lever for opening the shutter of a removable disk cartridge upon insertion of the cartridge into a disk drive, has a pre-positioning feature that pre-positions the lever to ensure accurate engagement of the lever with the shutter of the disk cartridge, despite variations in the initial location of the lever that may arise, for example, due to varying tolerances on the lever stop and/or its pivot point.

Abstract: There is disclosed a disk drive having a linear actuator for carrying read/write heads into engagement with a recording medium. The heads are mounted on a carriage assembly along with a voice coil motor for driving the carriage assembly into and out of engagement of the heads with the medium. The carriage assembly slides linearly on a central guide track. A flexible mounting suspension is provided for the central guide track for linear movement by the carriage assembly so that initial linear movement of the carriage assembly is by flexing the suspension and further, larger linear movement of the carriage assembly is by sliding along the guide track. In one form of the invention the central guide track is suspended at the front end by a flexure and at the rear end by a bearing. In another form of the invention the central guide track is suspended at each end by a flexure.

Abstract: A disk drive apparatus has an eject member that moves in tandem with a disk cartridge from a first position to a second position upon insertion of the disk cartridge into the disk drive apparatus. The eject member has a projection formed thereon. A first spring biases the eject member in a direction opposite the direction of insertion of the removable disk cartridge. A motor ring assembly mounted on a chassis of the apparatus has a rotating member that rotates between an unloaded position and a loaded position. A second spring biases the rotating member toward its loaded position. A spindle motor is mounted in the motor ring assembly. The rotating member has a first cam surface, a second cam surface that extends substantially perpendicularly to the first cam surface, and a lead-in cam angle surface that extends between the first and second cam surfaces at an angle thereto. A shape memory alloy wire or other means is provided to rotate the rotating member from its loaded position toward its unloaded position.