Abstract: A disk drive has an enclosure that includes a first portion and a second portion that is configured to mate with the first portion. A spindle motor is attached to the first portion and a disk is mounted to the spindle motor. A head stack assembly is pivotally coupled to the second portion prior to the first and second portions being mated to one another. The head stack assembly includes a read write head that is configured to read from and write to the recording surface of the disk after the first and second portions are mated to one another.

Abstract: A disk drive includes a magnetic element having an inner magnet and an outer magnet. The disk drive further includes a first coil. The first coil includes a first coil inner segment, a first coil outer segment, and a first coil radial segment disposed generally perpendicular to the first coil inner segment and the first coil outer segment. The first coil radial segment overlaps the inner and outer magnets within a magnet periphery throughout a fill range of motion of the actuator. The disk drive further includes a second coil. The second coil includes a second coil inner segment, a second coil outer segment, and a second coil radial segment disposed generally parallel to the first coil radial segment. The second coil radial segment overlaps the inner and outer magnets within the magnet periphery throughout the full range of motion of the actuator.

Abstract: A disk drive includes a magnetic element and a coil. The magnetic element includes an inner magnet set including first and second inner magnets. The magnetic element further includes an outer magnet set including first and second outer magnets. The first outer magnet is circumferentially disposed along the first inner magnet. The second outer magnet is circumferentially disposed along the second inner magnet. The coil is attached to a coil support of an actuator and disposed overlapping within a magnet periphery of the magnetic element. The coil includes an inner segment, an outer segment, and a pair of side segments electrically connecting the inner and outer segments. The inner segment is disposed overlapping with the inner magnet set, the outer segment being disposed overlapping with the outer magnet set. Each of the side segments is disposed equally overlapping with the inner and outer magnet sets.

Abstract: A cable connector configured in accordance with a Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) standard. The cable connector includes a first electrical contact arrangement in accordance with a SATA standard and is configured to mate with a first blade connector having a second electrical contact arrangement also in accordance with the SATA standard. The cable connector includes a first blade-receiving portion for enclosing the first electrical contact arrangement, a housing for supporting the first blade-receiving portion and the first electrical contact arrangement, and a pair of laterally-opposed guide arms being integrally formed with the housing. The housing has a cable entrance end and a mating end. The guide arms project from the mating end of the housing and are disposed outside of the first blade-receiving portion.

Abstract: A disk drive is disclosed employing a spindle motor comprising a hub ratchet arm disengaged through angular velocity. In one embodiment the ratchet arm is connected to the hub and engages a spindle shaft or a stator, and in an alternative embodiment the ratchet arm is connected to the spindle shaft or the stator and engages the hub. In one embodiment the ratchet arm disengages through centrifugal force, and in an alternative embodiment the ratchet arm disengages through an air bearing or windage.

Abstract: A disk drive includes a disk drive base and a rotary actuator coupled to the disk drive base. The rotary actuator includes an actuator body including a bore defining a longitudinal axis. The rotary actuator further includes a coil portion including a coil and a support element for supporting the coil. The coil support element is integrally formed with the actuator body and radially extends from the actuator body. The coil support element has a coil supporting surface generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The coil is attached to the coil supporting surface. The coil support element is sized and configured to support the coil and formed of a thermo-conductive material for dissipating heat from the coil.

Abstract: A disk drive is disclosed comprising a disk, a spindle motor for rotating the disk, an actuator arm, and a head coupled to the actuator arm. While powered down the head is latched in a parked position. During a start-up process, the spindle motor is controlled to rotate the disk toward an operating speed and the head is unlatched prior to the disk reaching the operating speed. If the disk drive is in a first spin-up mode (e.g., a normal spin-up mode) the head is unlatched relative to a first target speed, and if the disk drive is in a second spin-up mode (e.g., a re-sync spin-up mode) the head is unlatched relative to a second target speed greater than the first target speed.

Abstract: An aspect of the invention can be regarded as a disk drive that includes a disk drive base and a spindle motor hub rotatably coupled to the disk drive base. The disk drive further includes a first disk disposed about the spindle motor hub and having a first disk stiffness. The disk drive further includes a second disk disposed about the spindle motor hub and having a second disk stiffness different than the first disk stiffness. According to another aspect of the present invention, the second disk has a second disk thickness different than a first disk thickness. According to another aspect of the present invention, the second disk is formed of a second material having a second material stiffness different than a first material stiffness.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for securing a cable assembly having a connector within an enclosed electronic system which includes a housing with an aperture and an electronic subsystem mounted within the housing with an electrical port for receiving the connector. The apparatus includes a compressible grommet fixedly mounted within the housing. The apparatus further includes a first surface and a distal surface and a channel traversing through the grommet and having a first end at the first surface aligned with the aperture, and a distal end at the distal surface substantially aligned with the electrical port. The grommet is adapted to receive the connector at the first end and to guide the connector along the channel to the distal end and the electrical port wherein the connector may be thereafter inserted into the electrical port and is thereby restrained by the grommet.

Abstract: A pivot bearing cartridge for use in a head stack assembly. The cartridge includes a pivot shaft including a central axis, a shaft body and a shaft distal end. The cartridge includes a pivot sleeve disposed about the pivot shaft. The pivot sleeve includes a pivot sleeve annular body and a pivot sleeve closed end disposed adjacent the shaft distal end. The cartridge includes a ball bearing set disposed between and in mechanical communication with the shaft body and the pivot sleeve annular body. The cartridge includes a shaft magnet element attached to the shaft distal end adjacent the pivot sleeve closed end. The shaft magnet element is sized and configured to apply a magnetic force to the pivot sleeve in a direction along the central axis for pre-loading the ball bearing set.

Abstract: A disk drive that includes a disk drive base, a spindle motor hub, a disk, and a rotary actuator including a distal end and is formed to pivot for translating the distal end adjacent the disk to a parked position. The disk drive includes a disk plate that includes a plate body disposed substantially about and parallel with the disk for modifying air flow adjacent the disk during operation of the disk drive. In an embodiment the disk plate includes a head limiter portion extending from the plate body. The head limiter portion is vertically aligned with the distal end with the distal end in the parked position. In other embodiment the disk plate includes an arm limiter portion vertically aligned with the actuator arm structure with the actuator arm structure in the parked position.

Abstract: Disclosed is an external disk drive compatible with a SATA standard for attachment to a host having a conductive enclosure. The external SATA compatible disk drive includes a SATA device connector and an enclosure surrounding the external SATA compatible disk drive. The external SATA compatible disk drive further includes a SATA compatible cable having a disk drive end that is coupled to the SATA device connector of the disk drive and a host end for coupling to the host, wherein the SATA compatible cable is capable of delivering power signals to the external SATA compatible disk drive from the host. Also, the external SATA compatible disk drive includes a shield surrounding the SATA compatible cable that is coupled to the enclosure of the disk drive.

Abstract: A spindle motor for use in a disk drive having a rotatable head stack assembly. The spindle motor has a spindle motor hub. The spindle motor further has a magnet radially attached about the spindle motor hub. The spindle motor further has a spindle motor stator. The spindle motor has a stator rim. The spindle motor stator further has a plurality of stator teeth arrayed about and internally extending from the stator rim. The stator teeth are sized to fit about the magnet in operable communication therewith for rotating the spindle motor hub. The stator teeth have laminate layers. The stator teeth have a least one reduced height stator tooth having fewer laminate layers than a remainder of the stator teeth. The reduced height stator tooth is positionable adjacent the head stack assembly for allowing the head stack assembly to pivot over the reduced height stator tooth.

Abstract: A disk drive is disclosed comprising a head, a spindle motor having a hub, the hub comprising a cylindrical shaft, the shaft defining a generally cylindrically-shaped outer surface, the outer surface defining a latching member extending around at least part of the circumference of the shaft. A disk is positioned on the spindle motor and an actuator moves the head radially over the disk. A disk clamp clamps the disk to the spindle motor. The disk clamp comprises a ring-shaped body comprising an outer ring-shaped surface abutting the disk, and an inner neck spaced-apart from the outer ring-shaped surface, the inner neck comprising a plurality of independently flexing teeth for contacting the latching member.

Abstract: A disk drive is disclosed comprising a disk, a spindle motor for rotating the disk, and a head actuated radially over the disk. A disk clamp clamps the disk to a hub of the spindle motor, wherein the disk clamp comprises a notch at a predetermined location along an outer diameter of the disk clamp. The disk is aligned non-concentric with the hub such that a center of the disk is aligned offset from a center of the hub toward the notch. The notch substantially counteracts an imbalance due to the non-concentric alignment of the disk with respect to the hub.

Abstract: An air bearing slider for use in a disk drive. The slider includes a leading side and an opposing trailing side. The slider includes a pair of opposing lateral sides disposed between the leading and trailing sides. The slider includes a leading side air bearing surface including a main portion adjacent the leading side and a trailing portion extending from the main portion toward the trailing side along a respective one of the lateral sides. The slider includes a side rail disposed laterally along and between the respective lateral side and the trailing portion. The slider includes a channel formed between the side rail and the trailing portion disposed angularly with respect to the respective lateral side by extending from adjacent the respective lateral side towards the trailing side away from the respective lateral side for receiving airflow through the channel during operation of the disk drive.

Abstract: A spindle motor for use in a disk drive includes a spindle motor base. The spindle motor further has a spindle motor hub rotatably attached to the spindle motor base. The spindle motor further has a motor shaft in mechanical conmmunication with the spindle motor base. The spindle motor further has an inner ball bearing set surrounding the motor shaft. The inner ball bearing set has a first inner race and a first outer race. The first inner race is attached to the motor shaft. The spindle motor has an outer ball bearing set surrounding the inner ball bearing set. The outer ball bearing set has a second inner race and a second outer race. The second inner race is fixed relative to the first outer race.

Abstract: A pivot bearing cartridge for use in a head stack assembly. The pivot bearing cartridge is provided with a pivot bearing cartridge base. The pivot bearing cartridge is provided with a pivot shaft in mechanical communication with the pivot bearing cartridge base. The pivot bearing cartridge is provided with an inner ball bearing set surrounding the pivot shaft. The inner ball bearing set has a first inner race and a first outer race. The first inner race is attached to the pivot shaft. The pivot bearing cartridge is provided with an outer ball bearing set surrounding the inner ball bearing set. The outer ball bearing set has a second inner race and a second outer race. The second inner race is fixed relative to the first outer race.

Abstract: A spindle motor for use in a disk drive having a rotatable head stack assembly. The spindle motor has a spindle motor hub having an axis of rotation. The spindle motor has a magnet radially attached about the spindle motor hub. The spindle motor has a spindle motor stator having a stator rim and a plurality of stator teeth arrayed about and internally extending from the stator rim towards the axis of rotation. The stator teeth being are to fit about the magnet in operable communication therewith for rotating the spindle motor hub. Two respective ones of the stator teeth are spaced apart along the stator rim to allow the head stack assembly to pivot between the two respective ones of the stator teeth.

Abstract: The base of a disk drive defines an interior shroud surface. The interior shroud surface is configured to follow a portion of the curvature of the disk at a distance from the outer diameter of the disk. The interior shroud surface of the base may define one or more channels for modifying the airflow developed as the disk rotates. The interior shroud surface defines an opening to enable the head stack assembly to pivot over the disk, which opening is bounded by a leading shroud portion and a trailing shroud portion. The leading shroud portion and/or the trailing shroud portion may also define a channel or channels for modifying the airflow that is developed as the disk rotates.