Abstract: A micro-actuator of a head suspension either is wired in a reverse polarity to effect movement of the suspension arms in opposing directions relative to the magnetic disks or reversed in physical orientation and wired identically. This permits a single micro-actuator control signal to control all micro-actuators and thereby cancel the affects of inertia of the suspension arms and the read/write heads on the actuator arms as half of the suspension arms and magnetic heads move in one direction while, simultaneously, the other half of the suspension arms and magnetic heads move in a second, opposite direction in response to a single control signal, simplifying wiring and control electronics. The counter-movement of the suspension arms and magnetic counter the inertia and inertial forces and expedite the settling into their stable recording/reading positions, thereby reducing seek times and improving disk drive performance.

Abstract: A micro-actuator of a head suspension either is wired in a reverse polarity to effect movement of the suspension arms in opposing directions relative to the magnetic disks or reversed in physical orientation and wired identically. This permits a single micro-actuator control signal to control all micro-actuators and thereby cancel the affects of inertia of the suspension arms and the read/write heads on the actuator arms as half of the suspension arms and magnetic heads move in one direction while, simultaneously, the other half of the suspension arms and magnetic heads move in a second, opposite direction in response to a single control signal, simplifying wiring and control electronics. The counter-movement of the suspension arms and magnetic counter the inertia and inertial forces and expedite the settling into their stable recording/reading positions, thereby reducing seek times and improving disk drive performance.

Abstract: A data storage disk drive is provided with a spindle which supports a plurality of disks having at least one magnetic disk surface to form a spindle assembly for rotation of the disk surfaces about a common axis and a rotary actuator which supports magnetic transducers for movement in unison about respective disk surfaces. The disk drive includes a disk drive enclosure having die-cast generated predetermined zero draft geometries for mounting the spindle motor shaft and the actuator bearing shaft. The enclosure includes a base casting and a cover casting, each casting including structure for locating and retaining electrical connectors used for connecting to a planar electronics card located outside the drive enclosure. The disk drive includes an effective and easily manufacturable electrical path from a flex circuit to an actuator comb. The disk drive includes a tubular chemical breather filter arranged with integral housing and diffusion channels formed in the cover casting.

Abstract: A printed circuit connector terminal pad coating technique is disclosed which functions as a single universal pad surface which supports multiple electrical connection practices including wirebonding, soldering, and wear resistant, pad on pad mechanical connection. The tri-plate surface treatment includes an initial diffusion resistant coating of nickel; an intermediate layer of hard, wear resistant noble or semi-noble metal that provides pad on pad connector reliability and affords a metallurgically stable solder joints and wirebond interfaces; and a final coating of soft gold. The intermediate layer may be pure palladium having a nominal thickness of 35 microinches or a layer of gold, hardened by cobalt, nickel, iron or a combination of these dopants to effect a hardness of 200 to 250 (Knoop scale). The use of a common surface treatment for the multiple attachment processes is implemented with a single masking step, rather than a sequence of selective masking, plating and stripping operations.

Abstract: A data storage disk drive is provided with a spindle which supports at least one disk having at least one magnetic disk surface to form a spindle assembly for rotation of the disk surfaces about a common axis and a rotary actuator which supports at least one magnetic tranducers for movement about respective disk surfaces. The enclosure includes a base casting and a cover casting. The base casting include predetermined registration surfaces for mounting the spindle and the rotary actuator and having a mating face. The cover casting has a mating face for engaging the base mating face to define the disk drive enclosure for enclosing the spindle, the at least one disk surface, the at least one magnetic transducer and the actuator. The mating faces extend along the length of the disk drive enclosure.

Abstract: A direct access storage device includes at least one disk mounted for rotation about an axis and having opposed disk surfaces for storing data. A magneto-resistive (MR) transducer head is mounted for movement across each respective disk surface for writing to and for reading data signals from the disk surface. Each MR transducer head includes a write element and a read element. A preamplifier, associated with the MR transducer head, amplifies read and write signals of the read element and the write element. A flex cable couples the read and write signals between the preamplifier and the MR transducer heads. The flex cable includes a common read return signal line for each sequential pair of the MR transducer heads.

Abstract: A data storage disk drive is provided with a spindle which supports a plurality of disks having at least one magnetic disk surface to form a spindle assembly for rotation of the disk surfaces about a common axis and a rotary actuator which supports magnetic transducers for movement in unison about respective disk surfaces. The disk drive includes a voltage reference tab provided for quick assembly and removal from an actuator comb. The voltage reference tab maintains the magneto-resistive transducers and the magnetic disks at the same reference voltage potential thus minimizing electrical discharge from the transducer to the disk. The voltage reference tab is a copper tab having symmetrical slots about a fastening hole to facilitate the bending operation and to reduce the rate at which heat is conducted during the soldering process. The tab maintains the voltage reference potential between the head and disk through an extension of the flex cable attached to the actuator.