Abstract: An air current diverting apparatus for a data storage device having a rotating data storage medium in operable relation with an actuator assembly reading data from and writing data to the data storage medium. The air current diverting apparatus has an aerodynamic shroud comprising a base having a first end attachable to the actuator assembly, an upstream surface extending upstream of the actuator assembly, and a downstream surface extending downstream of the actuator assembly and substantially non-parallel to the upstream surface.

Abstract: A disc drive includes a base, at least one disc rotatably attached to the base, and an actuator assembly rotatably attached to base. The actuator assembly also has a suspension assembly having an attached end and a free end. The suspension assembly further includes a slider attached to attached to the free end of the suspension assembly; and a transducer attached to the slider. The slider and transducer are positioned to be in transducing relation with respect to the disc. The slider and transducer are rotated through an arc over the disc. An air dam is positioned over the disc and near the arc through which the slider and transducer are rotated. The air dam is positioned so as to produce an area of high pressure substantially about an area including a portion of the arc through which the slider and transducer are rotated.

Abstract: A data storage device for storing and accessing data includes a motor and at least one movable medium coupled to the motor. The motor is capable of moving the medium and thereby generating turbulent airflow. The data storage device further includes at least one surface having at least two grooves. The two grooves extend along a groove axis that is substantially perpendicular to a mean airflow direction and are capable of reducing the interaction between the surface and a turbulent airflow generated by the medium.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is described for reducing flutter and windage losses in disc drives. In one embodiment, a ribbed shroud is provided at the circumference of the disc assembly. One such disc-drive system includes a disc-drive housing, at least one disc mounted within the housing which rotates, a transducer having a read head positionable to read data from the disc, and a shroud structure near an outer circumference of the disc that reduces flutter and windage losses. In some embodiments, the shroud structure is ribbed. Also presented is a first method for reducing flutter and windage losses in a disc drive, including spacing a first shroud at each one of at least two different spacings from an outer-diameter edge of one or more discs within the disc drive, measuring a performance characteristic of the disc drive at each one of the at least two different spacings, and selecting one of the shroud spacings based on the measuring step.

Abstract: A disc drive having reduced mechanical vibration is disclosed. An annular viscoelastic damper is sandwiched beneath the head disc assembly cover against the bearing assembly of the actuator to dampen mechanical vibrations transmitted by the cover to the actuator assembly. The damper is an annular disc made of a composite of a layer of viscoelastic polymer and a backing stiffening layer.

Abstract: An airstream conditioning apparatus for a data storage device comprising a motor spinning a data storage disc and a read/write assembly reading data from and writing data to the storage disc. A base supports the motor and the read/write assembly, and defines an arcuate upstanding shroud in a closely fitting relationship transverse to the disc edge. A fin extends from the shroud in planar alignment with the disc edge.

Abstract: Apparatus for providing nominally laminar flow of air currents in a disc drive. An actuator supports a head adjacent a rotatable disc and includes a rigid actuator arm with opposing planar top and bottom surfaces and a pair of opposing tapered surfaces which taper to a trailing edge. The top, bottom and tapered surfaces define a cross-sectional enclosure to provide nominally laminar flow of air currents adjacent the actuator arm induced by rotation of the disc. A channel is formed in the enclosure by a plurality of adjoining recessed surfaces to at least partially recess a head conductor along the length of the actuator arm within the enclosure to prevent obstruction of the air currents by the conductor. The conductor is preferably a flex circuit with a semi-flexible dielectric layer which supports a plurality of conductive traces.

Abstract: An airstream conditioning apparatus for a data storage device employing a spinning data storage disc and an actuator operatively interfacing in a data reading and writing relationship. The apparatus comprises an airstream stripper downstream of the actuator with respect to the direction of air currents generated by the spinning discs. The airstream stripper comprises a vane extending substantially radially from an outer radial portion to an inner radial portion of the data storage disc and adjacent the data storage surface. The vane is disposed substantially transverse to the actuator distal end along the radial path of actuator travel across the data disc.

Abstract: An airstream conditioning apparatus for a data storage device. The data storage device has an enclosure supporting a spinning data disc and an actuator operably interfacing with the data disc in a data transfer relationship. The apparatus comprises a shroud supportable in the enclosure only downstream of the actuator with respect to air currents generated by the spinning disc. The shroud furthermore comprises a fin extending from the shroud in planar alignment with the disc.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for minimizing the effects of rotational and translational vibrations on a disc drive. A plurality of isolation devices are integrated into a base deck of the disc drive at industry standard locations. Each isolation device includes a rigid threaded collar into which a corresponding fastener is inserted to secure the base to a user environment, a compliant elastomer portion disposed between the collar and remaining portions of the base deck and a rigid stiffener which contacts and surrounds at least a portion of an outer surface of the elastomer portion. Stiffnesses of the elastomer portions are individually selected so that the plurality of isolation devices cooperate to reduce the effects of various translational and rotational vibratory inputs by bunching resonance modes within a selected frequency range.