Abstract: A method and apparatus for a generating a tape format like file with an associated look-up table on a non-tape storage medium is disclosed. In one configuration, a data storage arrangement can comprise a host computer in communication with a storage system by means of a streaming protocol. The storage system can comprise a non-tape storage medium having at least one file comprising a plurality of records each having user data and meta data wherein the meta data comprises data fields for and about the record. A table associated with the file is adapted to contain information related to at least one of the records. The table can be accessed by the storage system to reduce the amount of time spent locating the records.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for a storage system having an adsorbtive element capable of adsorbing gas borne molecules from gas for the storage system. In one configuration the storage system can comprise an enclosure adapted to contain a plurality of data storage drive devices and data storage media and wherein the data storage drive devices are adapted to functionally operate. The enclosure is capable of containing gas having, among other constituents, gas borne molecules. The storage system is capable of cooperating with the adsorbtive element to adsorb gas borne molecules from the gas for inside of the enclosure.

Abstract: A disc drive in which an actuator arm and a suspension are each metallurgically bonded to a coupling. The coupling comprises two materials, one of which is metallurgically compatible with the material of the actuator arm and the other is metallurgically compatible with the material of the suspension. The metallugical bonds may be formed using a welding process.

Abstract: A disc drive gas supply system for supplying a gas other than air to an enclosed environment containing a disc includes a source of gas other than air, which can be connected to the enclosed environment. A pressure sensor produces a pressure signal, such as an electrical, pneumatic, or mechanical signal, that is representative of the pressure within the enclosed environment. A control module receives the pressure signal and connects the source of gas other than air to the enclosed environment if the pressure within the enclosed environment is within a predetermined pressure range. When the pressure within the enclosed environment is above the predetermined pressure range, the control module disconnects the source of gas other than air from the enclosed environment. A disc drive shipping and storage package includes a disc drive defining an internal enclosed environment containing a gas other than air.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for protecting a data storage device from fluid-borne contaminants. The device includes a housing in which a rotatable disc is supported, the disc having a data recording surface and an outermost perimeter. A filter assembly includes a first filter adjacent to the data recording surface and a second filter disposed beyond the outermost perimeter of the disc. During disc rotation, fluidic currents are generated and impinge a leading edge guide surface of the first filter. A first portion of the currents passes into a gap between the first filter and the data recording surface. A second portion of the currents passes along the leading edge guide surface to the second filter. The first filter is preferably characterized as a chemical adsorbent filter which adsorbs vapor phase (gaseous) contaminants, and the second filter is preferably characterized as a pass-through recirculation filter which captures particulate contaminants.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for protecting a data storage device from fluid-borne contaminants. The device includes a housing in which a rotatable disc is supported, the disc having a data recording surface and an outermost perimeter. A filter assembly includes a first filter adjacent to the data recording surface and a second filter disposed beyond the outermost perimeter of the disc. During disc rotation, fluidic currents are generated and impinge a leading edge guide surface of the first filter. A first portion of the currents passes into a gap between the first filter and the data recording surface. A second portion of the currents passes along the leading edge guide surface to the second filter. The first filter is preferably characterized as a chemical adsorbent filter which adsorbs vapor phase (gaseous) contaminants, and the second filter is preferably characterized as a pass-through recirculation filter which captures particulate contaminants.

Abstract: A disc drive includes a housing enclosing a spindle motor that is able to spin a disc. A filter within the housing is positioned so that a filter stream of moving gas created by a spinning motion of the disc flows through the filter. Additionally, a flow divider is secured to a portion of the housing and positioned within the filter stream upstream of the filter, splitting the filter stream into a first branch and a second branch. Both branches flow through the filter.

Abstract: A particulate filter for a disc drive also functions as an acoustic noise filter and a mechanical vibration filter. The impaction filter covers substantial portions of the interior of the disc drive housing, thus reducing particulates in both radial and tangential airflow currents. The impaction filter is constructed of a soft material, such as polypropylene and modified acrylic fibers, so that particulates are bound to the surface of the impaction filter upon impact. The textured surface of the filter and the static caused by the operation of the discs in close proximity with the filter cause the particulates to tend to remain bound to the filter. Because the impaction filter covers substantial portions of the interior of the disc drive housing, rather than specific locations within the housing, the particulates in the tangential airflow currents are reduced. Moreover, the fabrication and coverage area of the impaction filter reduces acoustic noise and mechanical vibrations.

Abstract: The disc drive housing encloses a spindle motor carrying a disc having a data surface. An actuator assembly includes an actuator arm carrying a head. The housing includes a first surface portion adjacent to the data surface of the disc. The housing also includes a plurality of surface portions that define a recess, which allows the actuator arm to move over the data surface of the disc. The plurality of surface portions include a sloped surface portion sloping away from the data surface and preventing wind generated by the disc rotating about an axis from separating from the sloped surface portion. Alternatively, a disc drive includes a housing that defines a recess. The housing encloses a disc mounted on a spindle motor that rotates the disc about an axis and thereby generates wind within the housing. An upstream surface portion and a downstream surface portion of the housing both face toward a data surface of the disc.

Abstract: A disc drive gas supply system for supplying a gas other than air to an enclosed environment containing a disc includes a source of gas other than air, which can be connected to the enclosed environment. A pressure sensor produces a pressure signal, such as an electrical, pneumatic, or mechanical signal, that is representative of the pressure within the enclosed environment. A control module receives the pressure signal and connects the source of gas other than air to the enclosed environment if the pressure within the enclosed environment is within a predetermined pressure range. When the pressure within the enclosed environment is above the predetermined pressure range, the control module disconnects the source of gas other than air from the enclosed environment. A disc drive shipping and storage package includes a disc drive defining an internal enclosed environment containing a gas other than air.

Abstract: A data storage devices is evaluated remotely from a primary interface. The primary interface is configured to transmit device instructions through a medium longer than 50 kilometers. The test interface relays the instructions to the data storage device so that the test interface transmits back to the primary interface a sent response to the first device instruction. The test interface preferably distills data so that the sent response includes at most {fraction (1/10)} of the bytes contained in the “raw” signal from the device, so that the test interface can reliably transmit the sent response through the medium.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for reducing structural vibrations in a disc drive that incorporates a fusible alloy. A fusible alloy portion is constrained between a first and second structural alloy portion through conventional lamination techniques. A fusible alloy can be incorporated into any structural component of the disc drive, including a base plate and an information storage disc. Fusible alloys incorporated into the disc drive absorb energy transmitted by vibrations through anelastic deformation, i.e., through dislocation motion. Suitable fusible alloy materials may include but are not limited to: Lead-Tin, Indium-Tin and Indium-Bismuth.

Abstract: A particulate filter for a disc drive also functions as an acoustic noise filter and a mechanical vibration filter. The impaction filter covers substantial portions of the interior of the disc drive housing, thus reducing particulates in both radial and tangential airflow currents. The impaction filter is constructed of a soft material, such as polypropylene and modified acrylic fibers, so that particulates are bound to the surface of the impaction filter upon impact. The textured surface of the filter and the static caused by the operation of the discs in close proximity with the filter cause the particulates to tend to remain bound to the filter. Because the impaction filter covers substantial portions of the interior of the disc drive housing, rather than specific locations within the housing, the particulates in the tangential airflow currents are reduced. Moreover, the fabrication and coverage area of the impaction filter reduces acoustic noise and mechanical vibrations.

Abstract: A disk drive having a novel actuator assembly. The actuator assembly comprises a voice coil motor assembly, a pivotable actuator arm, and a head gimbal assembly including a read/write head. The voice coil motor assembly is attached at a back end of the actuator arm, and the head gimbal assembly is mounted on the actuator arm on a front end opposite of the back end. The voice coil motor assembly includes a voice coil interposed between two magnets and a top plate and a bottom plate. The voice coil motor assembly is secured to the base of the disk drive by posts. The actuator arm includes the back end, a pivot point and impeding apertures. The impeding apertures include two holes located near the back end of the actuator arm between the pivot point and the voice coil motor assembly and extend entirely through the actuator arm. The actuator arm may also include plugging members. The plugging members are inserted into the impeding apertures and extend entirely through the impeding apertures.

Abstract: A disc drive, includes a base, a disc stack rotatably attached to the base, and an actuator assembly movably attached to the base. The actuator assembly also includes a bearing housing, head mounting arms, head suspensions attached to the head mounting arms and a head assembly attached to the head suspension. The disc drive also includes a hub having a cylindrical body. The hub includes a disc mounting flange on one end of the hub. A disc has an opening therein sufficient to allow the hub to fit within the opening of the disc. The disc has two substantially flat data surfaces. The disc also includes a disc clamping portion located near the opening in the disc. A clamp is used to attach the disc to the hub. At least one disc is placed onto the hub and onto the mounting flange of the hub. The clamp is then used to clamp the disc to the hub. The disc clamping portion includes features for accommodating differences in flatness between the disc surfaces, the mounting flange of the hub and the clamp.

Abstract: A mounting system for attaching head suspension assemblies to actuator mounting arms of a disc drive actuator. The mounting system of the invention comprises mounting plates for the head suspension assemblies that include bosses inserted in cooperative holes in the actuator head mounting arms. Mounting discs of shape memory allow, in martensitic phase, having outer diameters selected for cooperation with the inner diameter of the bosses, are press-fitted into the bosses. The mounting discs are then heated to transform the material of the mounting discs to the austenitic phase. This transformation causes the outer diameter of the mounting discs to increase with sufficient force to deform the bosses of the mounting plates into interference fit with the holes in the actuator head mounting arms.

Abstract: An improved disc clamping system for the elements of the disc stack in a disc drive to increase resistance to radial shifting of the disc stack elements. The increased resistance to radial shifting is achieved by increasing the coefficient of friction between adjacent disc stack elements, and the increase in the coefficient of friction is accomplished by controllably texturing the contact surfaces of various disc stack elements or combinations of disc stack elements. Surface texturing processes particularly suited to specific disc stack elements are disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus including a system for recirculating liquid in a controlled environment. In one aspect, a method for recirculating a liquid bearing material in an information storage apparatus is provided. The method includes providing a wick in a housing, the wick having pores of a selected size; placing the wick in contact with a storage medium; providing a quantity of liquid bearing material in the housing sufficient to maintain a desired quantity of fluid at the interface between the storage medium and an interactive element and to saturate the wick; and moving the storage medium to induce capillary action of the fluid in the wick and thereby induce condensation of the vapor phase in the pores of the wick. In a further aspect, the apparatus relates to a controlled environment within a sealed housing of an information storage device. In such an apparatus, a wick is mounted in the controlled environment, a portion of the wick being in contact with a storage medium.

Abstract: In liquid disk drives, liquid bearing materials based on hydrocarbon liquids, halogenated liquids and mixtures thereof are used at the head-disk interface. Additives such as antioxidants and boundary layer lubricants may be incorporated to enhance oxidative stability and lubricity. The liquid bearing materials have relatively low viscosities and non-Newtonian flow characteristics so as to reduce drag at the read/write head compared with Newtonian liquid bearing materials.

Abstract: Control system/method for controlling disk spindle motor speed in a disk drive system using transducers riding or flying upon the disks, with a viscous substance between the disks and the transducers thereby exerting a load upon the spindle motor, the load having a non-uniform profile from the disk inner diameter to the outer diameter where the load at any location across the disk is a function of the medium upon which the transducers ride or fly above the disks, the location itself and the physical environment being experienced by the medium at any given instant of time. The control system provides speed control data that defines the power applied to the spindle motor to maintain a desired motor speed as a function of the presently selected track address and a controller that provides and selects for a presently selected track address the speed control data to the spindle control system to maintain the spindle motor speed at the specified speed.