Abstract: To provide a dehumidification apparatus which can perpetually maintain the internal humidity of a disk drive low and can be installed on a cover or the like of the disk drive with a small space. Also, the dehumidification apparatus is controlled based on the internal humidity or the temperature condition inside and outside the disk drive, by which stable dehumidification can be effected without condensation etc. occurring inside and outside of the disk drive. There are provided a glass fiber which is arranged penetrating a cover of a hard disk drive (HDD) and extends inside and outside the HDD, and a heating member provided outside the HDD, so that the glass fiber on the outside is bonded to the heating member and is heated. Also, a cooling member is provided inside the HDD, and the glass fiber on the inside is bonded to the cooling member. Also, there is provided an apparatus for circulating air that is in contact with a heating portion and a cooling portion.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for centering a disc drive assembly are disclosed. The assembly includes a rotational hub of a spindle motor, several annular spacer elements, and several disc platters loosely assembled into a disc pack. The rotational hub, each of the discs, and each of the spacer elements are centered respectively using a corresponding set of three springs as points of contact. The alignment and positioning of the springs are precisely controlled. Once centered, a retaining nut is fastened to a threaded portion of the spindle motor to firmly clamp the disc pack together before withdrawing the springs. Hub centering springs, disc centering springs, and spacer element springs are all adapted to provide the three points of contact for each component of the disc pack.

Abstract: A hard disk device with air stabilizing wings which enable the straightening of the airflow between disks and the suppression of the vibration of disks and actuators.

Abstract: A method of forming a swagable metal actuator arm tip having a metal swage plug for ceramic actuator arms, the method comprising the formation of a metal swage plug within a tip opening in an actuator arm, the metal insert being an appropriate metal in either solid, thixoformable solid, or liquid (molten) form. The insert, once formed or adhered within the tip opening, constitutes the metal swage plug. There are six basic methods by which the metal insert can be formed or adhered into the tip opening to form the metal swage plug: cold forming, die casting, pressure infusion casting, forging, thixoforming, or the use of adhesives.

Abstract: A hard disk drive that can suppress an increase of fluttering and power consumption at high rotation speed by increasing the seek speed of a magnetic head is disclosed. An enclosure case has a 3.5 inch form factor, and a magnetic disk has an outer diameter of, for example, 84 mm. A center of the magnetic disk is shifted from a center of the enclosure case in the width direction. Owing to this, by designing a larger voice coil, it is possible to increase the driving speed of the actuator.

Abstract: A hard disk drive has a rotatable disk and an actuator arm that pivots relative to the disk. The arm has a cantilevered mounting support with a suspension extending therefrom. A head gimbal assembly is secured to the suspension for reading/writing data to the disk. The mounting support is a two-piece design with a pair of virtually identical support elements. The distal end of each support element has an aperture with a tab that protrudes into the aperture. The tabs extend in opposite directions. The support elements mount on top of each other in a matching alignment configuration. The proximal ends of the support elements closely receive a pivot assembly to secure them from relative movement. On the distal ends, the apertures of the support elements substantially align such that their tabs precise engage each other in an interference fit.

Abstract: A method for producing sliders without alumina overcoat protrusion on the air bearing surface. The method comprises a method for removing alumina protrusion on the air bearing surface of a slider comprising contacting the air bearing surface of the slider with an aqueous base having a pH of about 9 to about 11.

Abstract: A method for protecting magnetic read/write head assembly against electrostatic discharge during disk drive manufacturing are disclosed. The magnetic head assembly is supported on a substrate having a magnetoresistive sensor element disposed in spaced relationship between several magnetic shield elements. Before a focused ion beam fabrication operation, at least a portion of an air bearing surface of the magnetic head assembly is coated with a thin and transparent layer of conductive material. This layer of conductive material is subsequent removed after the focused ion beam fabrication operation.

Abstract: A disk drive has a brake mechanism located adjacent to its disk pack and actuator. The brake is pivotally mounted and movable into contact with the disks and actuator. Each end of brake has a bumper for cushioning the impact between the components and enhancing friction. A spring is used to bias the brake into contact with the disks. The brake is active or locked against the disks by the spring in the absence of air flow circulation from the rotation of the disks. The brake prevents disk from rotating and excessive movement or vibration. The brake deactivates or opens as a result of the air flow generated by the rotation of the disks. The air flow is sufficient to overcome the force generated by the spring.

Abstract: A method of altering the topography of a trailing edge of a slider is disclosed, the slider having a substrate surface, at least one magnetic recording head imbedded in an alumina undercoat, and a vertical axis relative to the substrate surface. The steps include first applying an alumina overcoat to at least the trailing edge, followed by lapping at least the trailing edge of the slider. The slider (or sliders) is then placed on a pallet that rotates, exposing the trailing edge to an ion beam. The ion beam is generated using an etchant gas such as Argon, or a mixture of gases such as Argon and Hydrogen, or Argon and CHF3. The trailing edge (or trailing edges) are then exposed at least once to the ion beam at a predetermined milling angle and predetermined time, the milling angle being the angle made by the ion beam relative to the vertical axis. The milling angle is typically between 0° and 85°.

Abstract: A ramp structure for a data storage device has a load/unload ramp and a disk attached to a spindle. The ramp structure has a first rigid support structure 52, a second rigid support structure 76 separated from the first rigid support structure, a bridge 78 that connects the first rigid support structure to the second rigid support structure, and ramp units 50 attached to the first rigid support structure. The rigid support structure has a thermal expansion coefficient selected so that the ramp-disk spacing is constant during changes in temperature. By placing the parts of the first rigid support structure 52 and the second rigid support structure sleeve 76 in an injection molding die and carrying out an insert molding, the ramp unit 50 has an accurate and stable size.

Abstract: A magnetic head has a left side rail formed on a disk facing surface in a protruded manner, and a right side rail formed on the disk facing surface in a protruded manner. A cross rail formed on the disk facing surface protrudes and is elongated continuously to both the left side rail and the right side rail. A left air bearing surface is formed on the disk facing surface in a protruded manner, and formed only on a side of a leading edge continuously from the left side rail. The left air bearing surface has a continuous portion to the left side rail, and a right air bearing surface which is formed on the disk facing surface in a protruded manner, formed only on a side of the leading edge continuously from the right side rail.

Abstract: A slider used in a disk drive apparatus is described which has an air bearing surface and a trailing surface and a plurality of recessed steps at the trailing edge. These steps at the trailing edge greatly reduce stictional forces.

Abstract: A system having an array of nozzles is used to clean fabricated rows of magnetic heads. Each nozzle contains a pair of concentric tubes. The inner tube of the nozzle discharges a plume of fine dry material at a target. The outer tube of the nozzle simultaneously discharges a hollow tube of water that completely surrounds the plume discharged by the inner tube. This nozzle design prevents the dry material from mixing with the water during discharge so that the plumes remain dry until they strike the target with the tubes of water. As the nozzles pass over various portions of the target, the plumes remove most forms of process contamination, while the water serves multiple purposes. The leading stream of water in front of each plume loosens some contaminants and moistens the target prior to contact by the dry material. In addition, the trailing streams of water flush the target and removes any remaining contamination left behind after the plumes pass by.

Abstract: An apparatus for use with a torque driver for engaging the head of a screw and enabling a screw to be picked up is disclosed. The apparatus includes a sleeve that longitudinally extends from and retracts into the apparatus. The apparatus also includes a gripper for gripping the head of the screw. The gripper is actuated by the sleeve to widen and close in response to extension and retraction of the sleeve.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing magnetic sliders having a permanent protective coating of carbon over the air bearing surface. The method comprises the steps of: (a) depositing a protective coating on a surface of the slider, the protective coating comprising an underlayer of carbon and a top layer selected from silicon and titanium; (b) depositing a photoresist layer onto the protective coating; (c) imagewise exposing the photoresist layer to radiation; (d) developing the image in the photoresist layer to expose the protective coating; (e) transferring the image through the protective layer and into the slider to form the air bearing pattern in the slider; and (f) removing the top layer of the protective coating.

Abstract: A method and system within a data processing system for predicting failure of a hard disk drive having a fluid bearing during runtime operation of said hard disk drive, wherein said fluid bearing has an established signature dynamic fluid response. First, a runtime vibration level of the fluid bearing is measured. This runtime vibration level is then translated into a runtime dynamic fluid response which provides an indication of the operating condition of the fluid bearing. The runtime dynamic fluid response is compared with the baseline dynamic fluid response in real-time during operation of the hard disk drive. Finally, in response to a predetermined departure of the runtime dynamic fluid response from the baseline dynamic fluid response, a protective response is initiated, such that data loss within the data storage system due to fluid bearing failure is prevented.

Abstract: A computer system hard disk drive contains magnetic heads for reading data to and writing data from storage media disks. The heads are coupled to an electrical source that thermally excites the heads during non-operation of the disk drive in order to raise the temperature of the heads. The temperature increase induces a mechanism such as a local, low humidity barrier at each of the heads. When the disk drive is stored in harsh environmental atmospheres, such as high temperatures and high humidity, the mechanism or low humidity barrier is sufficient to overcome the ambient conditions and reduce environmental corrosion of the heads.

Abstract: A coil assembly for disk drive components is presented which includes a coil winding free of lubricants that cause stiction problems during the operation of the disk drive assembly. An actuator coil and spindle motor winding are disclosed which include a conductor, an insulating layer over the conductor, a bond coat overlying the insulating layer, and a lubricant coating on the insulating layer. The lubricant coating is a hydrocarbon based oil having a molecular weight within ranges that will not volatilize and condense on the surface of the disks in the drive.

Abstract: A stator magnet according to a first embodiment of the present invention forms a voice coil motor with a closed coil. The closed coil is supported by an actuator arm in a rotatable manner and at a predetermined rotation angle. The closed coil has first and second side edges that extend along different lines in radial directions whose center is a center of rotation of the actuator arm. It also has an outer edge that connects edges of outer sides of the first and second side edges with viewed from the radial direction, and extends along an arc whose center is the center of rotation. A first magnetic pole region is located within a moving area of the first side edge to act on the first side edge. A second magnetic pole region is located within a moving area of the second side edge to act on the second side edge. The polarity of the second magnetic pole region is opposite to the polarity of the first magnetic pole region.