Abstract: The present invention is a system for stiffening a voice coil of a magnetic disk drive. One embodiment of the present invention are stressed skins that interconnect with an upper portion and a lower portion of the voice coil such that they are flush with the upper and lower surfaces of the voice coil. The stressed skins are adhered or otherwise interconnected to the voice coil thus allowing for bending, twisting, torsional, and various other loads that generate vibrations that affect the head of an actuator assembly to be dampened. One embodiment of the present invention includes two stressed skins interconnected to a voice coil constructed of carbon composite wherein the space therebetween is filled with a foam to provide additional stiffness and damping.

Abstract: A disk drive includes a storage disk having a data surface, a head suspension assembly, an actuator assembly and an E-block. The actuator assembly moves the E-block relative to the storage disk. The E-block includes a first actuator arm and a second actuator arm. The first actuator arm supports the head suspension assembly while the second actuator arm supports no head suspension assemblies. The first actuator arm has a first upper surface having a first configuration. The second actuator arm has a second upper surface having a second configuration that is different than the first configuration and is tuned to decrease off-track displacement of the data transducer. In non-exclusive alternative embodiments, the actuator arms have substantially similar thicknesses, but have different perimeters, shapes, volumes and/or other properties.

Abstract: A disk drive includes a drive housing and a storage disk rotatably coupled to the drive housing. In one embodiment, the storage disk includes a first substrate, a spaced-apart second substrate, a damping layer and a rigid substrate spacer. The first substrate is formed from a first material having a first composition and the second substrate is formed from a second material having a second composition. The damping layer is positioned at least partially between the first substrate and the second substrate. The rigid substrate spacer is positioned at least partially between the first substrate and the second substrate, and is formed from a third material having a third composition that is different from the first composition and the second composition. In one embodiment, the first composition is different than the second composition. The first substrate has a first thickness and the second substrate has a second thickness that can be different than the second thickness.

Abstract: An actuator latching mechanism for a disk drive device is provided. The latching mechanism includes a rotatable body portion, a rigid air vane portion and a latching arm. When a data storage disk of the disk drive is not being rotated, the latching mechanism maintains a transducer actuator assembly of the disk drive in a locked position by engaging the transducer actuator assembly in the latching arm. When the data storage disk is rotated, airflow is generated proximate to the surface of the disk, in the same direction in which the disk is rotated. The latching mechanism is disposed in a space between the edge of the data storage disk and a side wall of the housing so that the peripheral effects of the airflow exerts a force on the air vane portion, rotating the latching mechanism towards the side wall to release the actuator assembly from the latching arm. Once disk rotation stops, the air vane portion returns to its original position and the latching arm engages the actuator assembly in the locked position.

Abstract: A suspension assembly (24) for a storage device (10) that includes a load beam (52) and a damper assembly (54). The load beam (52) couples a data transducer (22) to an actuator arm (40). The damper assembly (54) is secured to the load beam (52). The damper assembly (54) includes a damper beam section (72) and a damper mass section (74). The damper beam section (72) cantilevers from the load beam (52). The damper mass section (74) is secured the damper beam section (72). The damper assembly (54) also includes a resilient layer (88) and a cover layer (90). The resilient layer (88) extends between the damper mass section (74) and the load beam (52). The cover layer (90) covers the resilient layer (88). During rotation of a storage disk (30), the load beam (52) has a load beam resonance frequency. The damper assembly (54) has a damper resonance frequency that is tuned to be similar to the load beam resonance frequency to decrease off-track movements of the data transducer (22) relative to the storage disk (30).

Abstract: A suspension assembly (24) for a storage device (10) that includes a load beam (52) and a damper assembly (54). The load beam (52) couples a data transducer (22) to an actuator arm (40). The damper assembly (54) is secured to the load beam (52). The damper assembly (54) includes a damper beam section (72) and a damper mass section (74). The damper beam section (72) cantilevers from the load beam (52). The damper mass section (74) is secured the damper beam section (72). The damper assembly (54) also includes a resilient layer (88) and a cover layer (90). The resilient layer (88) extends between the damper mass section (74) and the load beam (52). The cover layer (90) covers the resilient layer (88). During rotation of a storage disk (30), the load beam (52) has a load beam resonance frequency. The damper assembly (54) has a damper resonance frequency that is tuned to be similar to the load beam resonance frequency to decrease off-track movements of the data transducer (22) relative to the storage disk (30).

Abstract: A disk separator for a disk assembly of a disk drive is provided herein. The disk assembly includes a plurality of storage disks which are spaced apart on a spindle by a plurality of the disk separators. As provided herein, each disk separator includes a disk spacer and a pair of disk dampers. The disk spacer is rigid and includes a first section which extends between adjacent storage disks for maintaining the storage disks accurately spaced apart on the spindle. Each disk damper is positioned between one of the storage disks and a second section of the disk spacer for dampening the level of vibration in the storage disks. The reduced vibration level decreases the level of mis-registration which occurs during operation of the disk drive and allows for the use of high rotational speed, high density, storage disks.