Abstract: A disk drive assembly includes a movable assembly having a mounting arm, a stationary electronics module, a flexible printed circuit board (PCB) electrically connecting the movable assembly to the stationary electronics module, and a flexible support sandwiched between the flexible PCB and the mounting arm. The flexible support is attached to the mounting arm and the flexible PCB, and extends past the mounting arm of the movable assembly. The flexible support is flexible enough to flex with the flexible PCB but has sufficient rigidity so that an exit point and an exit angle of the flexible PCB can vary during movement of the movable assembly. In addition, the flexible PCB is attached to the flexible support through an adhesive layer that damps vibrations in the flexible PCB.

Abstract: A method for assembling a disk drive includes placing disks on a spindle, and pivoting a turbulence reduction plate to a position between the disks on the spindle. The turbulence reduction plate is placed on a pivot associated with the housing and then rotated into position. The turbulence reduction plate is attached to the housing and a cover is placed onto the housing to form a disk enclosure which also encloses the turbulence reduction plate.

Abstract: Assemblies in accordance with the present invention can access a data storage medium having one or more disks. One such assembly comprises a mounting block including a bore and at least one arm connected with the mounting block. A flexible member is connected with the at least one arm and a head is associated with the flexible member. The head is positioned over the surface of the disk. The arm is designed such that it can be disconnected from the mount without disassembling the bore. By having a removably fastened arm, the assembly can be built at a relatively low cost and without misalignment and deformation. This description is not intended to be a complete description of, or limit the scope of, the invention. Other features, aspects, and objects of the invention can be obtained from a review of the specification, the figures, and the claims.

Abstract: Assemblies in accordance with the present invention can access a data storage medium having one or more disks. One such assembly comprises a mounting block including a bore and at least one arm connected with the mounting block. A flexible member is connected with the at least one arm and a head is associated with the flexible member. The head is positioned over the surface of the disk. The arm is designed such that it can be disconnected from the mount without disassembling the bore. By having a removably fastened arm, the assembly can be built at a relatively low cost and without misalignment and deformation. This description is not intended to be a complete description of, or limit the scope of, the invention. Other features, aspects, and objects of the invention can be obtained from a review of the specification, the figures, and the claims.

Abstract: Methods in accordance with the present invention can be used to assemble or rework a rotary actuator assembly for a media data storage device having one or more disks. One such method for assembling a rotary actuator assembly includes connecting at least one arm to a mounting block wherein the mounting block includes a bore and a spacer, the spacer having threaded holes on a top surface and a bottom surface in order to receive screws. This description is not intended to be a complete description of, or limit the scope of, the invention. Other features, aspects, and objects of the invention can be obtained from a review of the specification, the figures, and the claims.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sensing vibration in a flex circuit located between a rotary actuator and electronics within a disk drive. Specifically, the apparatus contains a strain gauge attached to or imbedded within the flex circuit. The resistivity of the strain gauge varies in response to vibrations on the cable. This resistance variation can be transformed into electrical signals that are used by a servo system to move the actuator assembly in compensatory motion that effectively cancels any off-track motion caused by the vibrations.

Abstract: In an information storage system having a plurality of data storage medias which may be read and/or written onto by multiple read/write heads carried by a plurality of aligned head arms, a damping device is provided for reducing vibrations within the head arms. The damping device is formed of a compressible viscoelastic material having a relatively high loss factor.

Abstract: A mounting structure for a spindle motor assembly is disclosed that is capable of reducing acoustic noise generated by the motor assembly. Standard spindle motor assembly parts are provided with a viscoelastic stator mounting system that isolates and damps vibrations between the rotor assembly and the rest of the spindle motor assembly. Additionally, rotor slots are provided in the rotor cap. The slots are designed to ensure that the resonant frequency of the rotor cap is substantially different than the switching frequency of the motor itself.

Abstract: A dynamic absorber device for absorbing undesirable vibrations and resonances in dynamic machines, such as disk drives, is formed with a viscoelastic link element, an absorber base and an absorber mass. The link element is disposed between the absorber base and the absorber mass to absorb vibratory forces, and to minimize the effects of bending and deformation. The absorber device is assembled to disk drive components, such as the base casting or carriage, to effectively reduce vibrations, undesirable resonances and noise.

Abstract: A coil for a voice coil actuator employed in a transducer positioning system of a disk file is disclosed in which the coil is constructed to minimize vibrations in a direction parallel to the coil axis which tend to occur as a result of rapidly energizing the coil during the seek and track following modes of the positioning system. The coil is characterized by a composite layer of viscoelastic material and aluminum foil disposed between the coil bobbin and the coil winding where the aluminum foil functions to increase the shear deformation of the viscoelastic material and its modulus of rigidity.