Abstract: Described herein are ways of providing a hearing aid wearer visual indications as to the operating status of the hearing aid. Multi-colored LEDs (light emitting diodes) are operated by the hearing aid's processing circuitry to convey light to an indicator light on the hearing aid enclosure using different colors to indicate different operating statuses. The LEDs may also be used to provide information regarding changes made to operating parameters.

Abstract: A disk drive has a frame for receiving and retaining a disk cartridge which includes a disk therein, such disk being rotatable about a first axis perpendicular to the frame and cartridge. An actuator is mounted to the frame and is movable a first lesser amount from a first position to a second position and a second greater amount from the first position to a third position. A retract/eject lever is also mounted to the frame, is rotatable on an axis parallel to the first axis by the actuator, and is biased to a resting position. The actuator upon being moved to the second position rotates the retract/eject lever into a head-retracting position. The actuator upon being moved to the third position rotates the retract/eject lever to the head-retracting position and then to a cartridge-ejecting position. A head assembly is mounted to the frame and is movable toward and away from the retained disk cartridge and the disk therein for reading data from/writing data to such disk.

Abstract: A disk drive has a frame for receiving and retaining a disk cartridge which includes a disk therein, such disk being rotatable about a first axis perpendicular to the frame and cartridge. An actuator is mounted to the frame and is movable a first lesser amount from a first position to a second position and a second greater amount from the first position to a third position. A retract/eject lever is also mounted to the frame, is rotatable on an axis parallel to the first axis by the actuator, and is biased to a resting position. The actuator upon being moved to the second position rotates the retract/eject lever into a head-retracting position. The actuator upon being moved to the third position rotates the retract/eject lever to the head-retracting position and then to a cartridge-ejecting position. A head assembly is mounted to the frame and is movable toward and away from the retained disk cartridge and the disk therein for reading data from/writing data to such disk.

Abstract: A retainer assembly (10) comprises a retainer member (24) and a spring (36). The spring (36) works in combination with a conical surface (34) on the hub (12) and a conical surface (28) on the retainer member (24). Depending upon magnitudes of defined angles A and W, the assembly (10) resists any axial force (42) that may act to disengage the disk (14) from the hub (12). The angles A and W are variable so long as a coefficient of friction .mu. between the conical surface (34) or the conical surface (28) and the ring (36) is greater than the tangent of one half the angle W.

Abstract: In a magnetic disk drive unit, air is pumped by the magnetic disks through a closed recirculating air path extending over and under the base plate. The air is pumped through a heat exchanger and an air filter to maintain uniform temperature and cleanliness of the recirculating air. A blower driven from the motor which drives the hub pumps air through the ambient side of the heat exchanger to effect a heat transfer from the enclosure.

Abstract: An actuator for the head assembly of a magnetic disk drive includes a magnet having a curved surface mounted along the arc of rotation of a movable coil. Magnets on three sides of the coil increase the torque of the actuator. The curved surface magnet has a flat surface opposite thereto and disposed against the actuator housing.