Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a disk device capable of diminishing oscillation of a disk caused by an air flow which is created with rotation of the disk. In one embodiment, a magnetic disk device comprises a rotatable magnetic disk, a base and a top cover for housing the magnetic disk inside, a flow uniforming wall disposed along an outer periphery of the magnetic disk, and a circulation filter for collecting dust present within the device. The flow uniforming wall is positioned in opposition to the outer periphery of the magnetic disk and has a step height at a position other than the position opposed to the disk outer periphery, with an opening being formed by a gap between the step height and the top cover. This opening serves as an inlet port to admit an air flow created with rotation of the magnetic disk, and the circulation filter collects dust contained in the admitted air flow.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a disk drive suppressing a surface deformation of a top cover. In one embodiment, the disk drive includes a base and a top cover. The base accommodates a head assembly, a circuit unit, and a recording medium. The top cover is supported by the base at a plurality of inner points of support and peripheral edge points of support on a peripheral edge portion near a portion accommodating the head assembly and the circuit unit. The top cover covers the accommodating portion of the base. A vibration suppression member for suppressing vibration of the top cover is disposed in a polygon. The polygon has, as vertices, a plurality of inner points of support and, among the peripheral edge points of support, the peripheral edge points of support near the portion accommodating the head assembly and the circuit unit. The vibration suppression member is disposed at a position in the polygonal portion corresponding to an area near a loop of vibration in a surface of the top cover.

Abstract: A carriage assembly capable of suppressing flutter of actuator arms and magnetic disk is to be provided. In one embodiment, the carriage assembly comprises a first actuator arm having a windward side face, a leeward side face, an outer surface and an inner surface, and a second actuator arm having a windward side face, a leeward side face, a first inner surface opposed to the inner surface of the first actuator arm and a second inner surface positioned on the side opposite to the first inner surface. The first actuator arm is formed with a slant face extending from the windward side face toward the inner surface and the second actuator arm is formed with a slant face extending from the windward side face toward the first inner surface and a slant face extending from the windward side face toward the second inner surface.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide, in a compact magnetic disk drive, a stable structure capable of reducing self-oscillation occurring from disk spinning, while suppressing generation of dust and dirt. In one embodiment, a magnetic disk is mounted on a hub of a spindle motor. A clamp is further attached to secure the magnetic disk in position. A plurality of opening portions are formed in the clamp around an axis. A counterweight formed of an elastic material is mounted in the opening portion by being press-fitted therein. The counterweight is less likely to generate dust and dirt through friction during insertion and looseness. A gap is provided between the clamp and the hub at locations near the opening portions. The counterweight has a protruded portion on a side surface of a circular column portion. The protruded portion slides into the gap between the clamp and the hub, counteracting a tendency of the counterweight to drop out of position.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention improve the impact-resisting performance of a disk drive. In a head actuator assembly according to an embodiment of the invention, the difference in resonance frequency between an arm bending mode and a coil bending mode is set at a predetermined value or less. Since there is a phase difference between these two modes, an oscillation gain in the arm bending mode can be greatly decreased by approximating the two resonance frequencies to each other. Consequently, it is possible to suppress collision of a head with a recording disk caused by an external shock and thereby improve the impact-resisting performance of a disk drive.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a suspension assembly offering large peel stiffness, small pitch stiffness and small roll stiffness. In one embodiment, the suspension assembly includes a load beam and a flexure 100. The flexure is connected to the load beam at a first fixing point 102a and a second fixing point 102b. The flexure is provided with a first loop spring structure including a pair of supporting arms 108a, 108b and a pair of strip-shaped main arms 104a, 104b. In addition, the flexure is provided with a second loop spring structure including a pair of supporting arms and a pair of strip-shaped auxiliary arms 106a, 106b having a path length longer than that of the main arms. The flexure is further provided with a flexure tongue 112 supported by a pair of tongue supports. The loop spring structure composed of the main arms dominantly gives the flexure tongue stiffness.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a disk drive suppressing a surface deformation of a top cover. In one embodiment, the disk drive includes a base and a top cover. The base accommodates a head assembly, a circuit unit, and a recording medium. The top cover is supported by the base at a plurality of inner points of support and peripheral edge points of support on a peripheral edge portion near a portion accommodating the head assembly and the circuit unit. The top cover covers the accommodating portion of the base. A vibration suppression member for suppressing vibration of the top cover is disposed in a polygon. The polygon has, as vertices, a plurality of inner points of support and, among the peripheral edge points of support, the peripheral edge points of support near the portion accommodating the head assembly and the circuit unit. The vibration suppression member is disposed at a position in the polygonal portion corresponding to an area near a loop of vibration in a surface of the top cover.

Abstract: Oscillation of a spindle motor caused by a shock is to be suppressed. In one embodiment, an HDD according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a base, a spindle motor for rotating a magnetic disk, the spindle motor being fixed to an inner surface of a base bottom, and a circuit board disposed on an outer surface of the base bottom. Plural outer screws fix the circuit board to the base bottom at outer end portions of the circuit board. Further, three or more inner screws fix the circuit board to the base bottom at inner positions of the circuit board with respect to the outer screws. The center of gravity of the spindle motor is positioned within a polygon defined by the three or more inner screws.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a disk device capable of diminishing oscillation of a disk caused by an air flow which is created with rotation of the disk. In one embodiment, a magnetic disk device comprises a rotatable magnetic disk, a base and a top cover for housing the magnetic disk inside, a flow uniforming wall disposed along an outer periphery of the magnetic disk, and a circulation filter for collecting dust present within the device. The flow uniforming wall is positioned in opposition to the outer periphery of the magnetic disk and has a step height at a position other than the position opposed to the disk outer periphery, with an opening being formed by a gap between the step height and the top cover. This opening serves as an inlet port to admit an air flow created with rotation of the magnetic disk, and the circulation filter collects dust contained in the admitted air flow.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention improve the impact-resisting performance of a disk drive. In a head actuator assembly according to an embodiment of the invention, the difference in resonance frequency between an arm bending mode and a coil bending mode is set at a predetermined value or less. Since there is a phase difference between these two modes, an oscillation gain in the arm bending mode can be greatly decreased by approximating the two resonance frequencies to each other. Consequently, it is possible to suppress collision of a head with a recording disk caused by an external shock and thereby improve the impact-resisting performance of a disk drive.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide, in a compact magnetic disk drive, a stable structure capable of reducing self-oscillation occurring from disk spinning, while suppressing generation of dust and dirt. In one embodiment, a magnetic disk is mounted on a hub of a spindle motor. A clamp is further attached to secure the magnetic disk in position. A plurality of opening portions are formed in the clamp around an axis. A counterweight formed of an elastic material is mounted in the opening portion by being press-fitted therein. The counterweight is less likely to generate dust and dirt through friction during insertion and looseness. A gap is provided between the clamp and the hub at locations near the opening portions. The counterweight has a protruded portion on a side surface of a circular column portion. The protruded portion slides into the gap between the clamp and the hub, counteracting a tendency of the counterweight to drop out of position.

Abstract: A carriage assembly capable of suppressing flutter of actuator arms and magnetic disk is to be provided. In one embodiment, the carriage assembly comprises a first actuator arm having a windward side face, a leeward side face, an outer surface and an inner surface, and a second actuator arm having a windward side face, a leeward side face, a first inner surface opposed to the inner surface of the first actuator arm and a second inner surface positioned on the side opposite to the first inner surface. The first actuator arm is formed with a slant face extending from the windward side face toward the inner surface and the second actuator arm is formed with a slant face extending from the windward side face toward the first inner surface and a slant face extending from the windward side face toward the second inner surface.

Abstract: In a hard disk drive, there are provided a head assembly 13 that drives a magnetic head 33 that reads and writes data on a recording disk, and a flange section that extends toward the periphery on the sleeve 21 of a pivot member 20 that supports this head assembly 13 so that it is free to pivot; and planar sections 41A and 41B are formed on the peripheral surface of this flange section in order to adjust the balance of the center of gravity of the head assembly 13.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a suspension assembly offering large peel stiffness, small pitch stiffness and small roll stiffness. In one embodiment, the suspension assembly includes a load beam and a flexure 100. The flexure is connected to the load beam at a first fixing point 102a and a second fixing point 102b. The flexure is provided with a first loop spring structure including a pair of supporting arms 108a, 108b and a pair of strip-shaped main arms 104a, 104b. In addition, the flexure is provided with a second loop spring structure including a pair of supporting arms and a pair of strip-shaped auxiliary arms 106a, 106b having a path length longer than that of the main arms. The flexure is further provided with a flexure tongue 112 supported by a pair of tongue supports. The loop spring structure composed of the main arms dominantly gives the flexure tongue stiffness.

Abstract: A flexible cable assembly (FCA) has a flexible cable, first and second brackets attached to the flexible cable, and a band for holding the first and second brackets while the flexible cable is folded back and the first and second brackets overlap. The band is detachably mounted to the first and second brackets to facilitate efficient manufacturing and disassembly methods. The FCA may be implemented at various manufacturing stages including the head suspension assembly (HSA) or the entire hard disk drive (HDD) assembly.

Abstract: In a hard disk drive, there are provided a head assembly 13 that drives a magnetic head 33 that reads and writes data on a recording disk, and a flange section that extends toward the periphery on the sleeve 21 of a pivot member 20 that supports this head assembly 13 so that it is free to pivot; and planar sections 41A and 41B are formed on the peripheral surface of this flange section in order to adjust the balance of the center of gravity of the head assembly 13.

Abstract: A ramp structure for a data storage device has a load/unload ramp and a disk attached to a spindle. The ramp structure has a first rigid support structure 52, a second rigid support structure 76 separated from the first rigid support structure, a bridge 78 that connects the first rigid support structure to the second rigid support structure, and ramp units 50 attached to the first rigid support structure. The rigid support structure has a thermal expansion coefficient selected so that the ramp-disk spacing is constant during changes in temperature. By placing the parts of the first rigid support structure 52 and the second rigid support structure sleeve 76 in an injection molding die and carrying out an insert molding, the ramp unit 50 has an accurate and stable size.

Abstract: A hard disk drive has a base bottom surface and a male connector to which at least one protruding pin is attached. The pin has a longitudinal axis that is substantially parallel to the base bottom surface and is exposed toward the base bottom surface. A female connector cover portion covers at least a portion of a plane above a female connector. The plane is substantially parallel to the base bottom surface. The pin of the male connector is inserted into a pin-receiving portion of the female connector by guiding the base bottom surface along and on an insert-guidance surface. The female connector is mounted on the insert-guidance surface and has at least one pin-receiving portion corresponding to the pin of the male connector so that the pin of the male connector can be received. The female connector cover functions as a forcible guide in mounting the hard disk drive to prevent damage at the external interface between the pins of the male connector and its mounting location.

Abstract: An arm assembly for a disk drive device in accordance with the present invention comprises a plurality of arms arranged in parallel to each other, one end of each of said arms supporting a read/write head, and each of said arms having an extended plate which cantilevers from one of side edges of said arm, said extended plate being capable of deflecting in a direction which is vertical to a plane of said arm, and rotationally gimbal to a limited degree about two axes in the plane of said arm, a plurality of first connecting pads provided on each of said extended plates, said first connecting pads being connected to said read/write head, a circuit board which engages with said cantilevered extended plate and is provided with a plurality of second connecting pads characterized in that the plane of said circuit board is approximately orthogonal to said extended plate and is so located with respect to said extended plates of said plurality of arms to align said second connecting pads to said first connecting pads

Abstract: An actuator arm assembly comprises stacked suspensions, spacers, a pivot, washer and nut. The pivot and washer have hold portions for engagement during assembly to prevent misalignment of the suspensions. The suspensions, spacers, and washer each have alignment apertures for receiving an alignment bolt for maintaining proper alignment of the suspensions.