Abstract: A disk drive system and method for implementing the same. The disk drive system of the present invention includes a discoid medium which rotates about its rotation axis and stores data. An actuator includes a head for reading or writing data from or in the discoid medium as it bidirectionally rotates about its bidirectional-rotation axis. The disk drive system further includes a housing which has a predetermined width and houses the discoid medium and the actuator, wherein the rotation axis of the discoid medium and the bidirectional-rotation axis of the actuator are arranged at the center in the width direction of the housing, and wherein size of the discoid medium is smaller than that of a discoid medium corresponding to a form factor of the housing.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for moving a head arm assembly to a landing zone in a disk drive storage device. In disk drive according to the present invention, a control means responds to termination of a read/write operation by applying a drive current for moving an actuator arm toward an actuator lock, and then continuously applies the drive current to the actuating means to maintain an engagement of the actuator arm with the actuator lock stopped at a predetermined position, after the termination of read/write operation, and then stops a rotation of said rotating data recording disk.

Abstract: An FPC cable which is excellent in noise resisting property, manufacturing cost, mounting operability to a carriage, and maintenance. The FPC cable includes a spacer and a reinforcing plate. In the patterned surface of the FPC, a head pad to which a head wire is bonded is formed on a pad forming portion and a preamplifier chip is mounted on a device mounting portion. Wiring patterns are linearly connected between the head pad and the preamplifier chip and between the preamplifier chip and an I/O-side end portion, respectively. In the spacer, a cavity is formed for storing the preamplifier chip. The reinforcing plate is inserted into the space formed by folding back the pad forming portion, and the spacer is engaged with the device mounting device, thereby constituting a magnetic-head-side end portion.

Abstract: The present invention is an after-assembly shroud in a magnetic disk drive. The shroud of the present invention is attached to a housing after assembly of the disk drive and actuator near the circumferential edge of the disk. The disk is attached to the housing of a magnetic disk drive so that it is rotatable with respect to the housing. The invention relates to a fabrication method for the magnetic disk drive. The assembly method is adapted for attaching the shroud to the housing of the disk drive after assembly and is performed according to novel assembly sequence. The shroud of the present invention reduces disk flutter due to turbulent air flow, and track positioning precision can be enhanced.

Abstract: The present invention provides a crash stop which is capable of adjusting shock absorptivity by employing the same elastic material and where the mounting and demounting operations are easy. A metal pin has a recess in its intermediate portion. An elastic body has three blade portions. In a crash stop, the metal pin is press fitted into the pin inserting hole of the elastic body, and the portion between the support portion and the knob portion of the metal pin is covered with the elastic body. In the boundary between the intermediate portion of the metal pin and the elastic body, a cavity is formed. The support portion is fitted into the crash stop support hole of the base so that it can be freely pulled out and inserted. At this time, the upper end of the blade portion contacts the inner side surface of the crash stop inserting hole of the upper yoke and is contracted, and by the frictional force generated between the crash stop inserting hole and the upper end of the blade portion, the crash stop is locked.

Abstract: In attaching a load beam to a carriage, the swage attachment is used between the carriage and a mountplate, while the load beam is attached to the mountplate by welding and other binding means, to create a structure in which the load beam does not come into direct contact with the swage part, so that a structure is obtained in which the load beam is hardly subject to deformation or other direct influences from the swage operation. In addition, by forming the attaching plate side of the load beam to envelope a carriage, or by extending both sides of the load beam from the central portion in the longitudinal direction toward the carriage, a structure improved in the stability of load beam attachment is obtained.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improvement to a clamp in a disk drive. Insertion holes are formed in the clamp, and screws are inserted into the insertion holes to fasten the clamp to the spindle. The bottom of the screw head contacts the clamp surface to apply a force to the clamp. However, the clamp does not contact the entire bottom surface of the screw head. Only a portion of the bottom surface of the screw head contacts the clamp to apply a force to the clamp. Since the force caused by tightening the screw is applied only to the area contacting the screw, the force diffuses in a non-contact area in an outer portion of the clamp. Therefore, disk distortion and deformation are decreased.

Abstract: The tap density of nickel hydroxide powders is improved, the expansion of a positive electrode is inhibited and the energy density of the positive electrode and the cycle life characteristics are improved by specifying the shape of the nickel hydroxide powders and besides, adding to the nickel hydroxide powders at least one of Cd, Ca, Zn, Mg, Fe, Co and Mn. The nickel hydroxide active material powders contain 1-7 wt % of at least one of Cd, Ca, Zn, Mg, Fe, Co and Mn and comprise a mixture of spherical or nearly spherical particles and non-spherical particles.

Abstract: A bearing structure used in a pivot bearing for freely supporting the rotation of a head arm of a hard disk drive (HDD). The bearing structure includes an inner shaft, an outer sleeve, a pair of roller bearings axially spaced and interposed between the inner shaft and the outer sleeve, and a preload spring for exerting a preload on the roller bearings. The roller bearings may be provided with an outer race that is attached to the outer sleeve. Nevertheless, the coefficients of linear expansion of the inner shaft and the outer sleeve are chosen so that they are different in an axial direction. Accordingly, the coefficients of linear expansion of the inner shaft and the outer sleeve are chosen so that the rotation torque derived from the preload becomes higher as the temperature rises and lower as the temperature falls. However, the rotational torque becomes lower as the temperature of a lubricant rises and higher as the lubricant temperature falls.

Abstract: An alkaline storage battery made using a hydrogen-storing alloy for the negative electrode has suffered from the problems that the negative electrode is oxidized with oxygen gas generated from the positive electrode during overdischarge to cause increase of internal resistance and deterioration of charging and discharging cycle characteristics. Disclosed is a solution to the above problems which incorporates into the hydrogen-storing alloy negative electrode one of yttrium and yttrium compounds or a mixture thereof in such a state that it covers the surface of the hydrogen-storing alloy powder.

Abstract: A vehicle navigation apparatus comprises a control unit for computing an optimum travel route between a departure point and a destination of a vehicle to calculate similarity values each indicating degree of similarity between the pattern of the travel locus of the vehicle and the pattern of each of the travel roads included in a road map. The vehicle navigation apparatus further comprises a control unit for selecting, from the road map, candidate travel roads each having a road pattern having a similarity value exceeding a predetermined similarity level. The candidate travel roads includes a present travel road on which the vehicle is currently traveling. The control unit determines as to whether or not one of the candidate travel roads overlaps with the optimum travel route.

Abstract: A nickel/hydrogen storage battery comprises a nickel positive electrode having nickel oxide as a main active material, a negative electrode mainly composed of a hydrogen absorbing alloy capable of carrying out the electrochemical hydrogen absorbing and desorbing reaction, an alkaline electrolyte, and a separator, a zinc compound being contained in the nickel positive electrode, the negative electrode and the separator.The content of the zinc compound in terms of zinc oxide is 30-500 mg per Ah of battery capacity in the nickel positive electrode and 0.3-15 mg in the negative electrode and the separator.Thus, the expansion of the nickel positive electrode can be inhibited and the electrolyte retention of the negative electrode and the separator can be improved and the cycle life of the battery can be prolonged.