Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Won Tae C. Kim
  • Patent number: 6710980
    Abstract: A disk drive comprises a disk, an actuator arm, a head attached to the actuator arm, a voice coil motor, a parking latch for latching the actuator arm in a latched position in order to park the head during a non-operating mode, a post, and an inertial latch for maintaining the actuator arm in the latched position when the disk drive is subjected to a physical shock. The inertial latch comprises a body having a protruding arm and a pivot surface, wherein during the physical shock the body rotates about the pivot surface such that the protruding arm engages the actuator arm. The body of the inertial latch further comprises a strip-spring comprising a first end inserted into a first receptor and a second end inserted into a second receptor such that the strip spring has an initial arc displacement when installed into the body of the inertial latch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Serge Hauert, Shawn E. Casey, Haldun Arin
  • Patent number: 6710981
    Abstract: A disk drive includes a voice coil motor (VCM) having a narrow coil angle and a magnet magnetized with two or three pole pairs. The VCM magnet may define first, second and third sections, the second section being magnetically polarized in an axial direction that is opposite to that of the first and third sections. The first radial leg of the VCM coil faces the second section and the second radial leg faces the third section when the head is positioned at a non-operational position. The first radial leg faces the first section and the second radial leg faces the second section when the head is reading and/or writing to the data portion of the disk. Alternatively, the VCM magnet defines first and second sections that are magnetized in opposite axial directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kamran Oveyssi, Chunjer C. Cheng
  • Patent number: 6711660
    Abstract: A system and method for performing disk drive diagnostics and restoration using a host-inaccessible partition are disclosed. The system includes a disk drive including: a host-accessible user partition; a host-inaccessible hidden partition independent of the host-accessible user partition; and a disk controller. The user partition includes: a user partition address range; a host-selected operating system; and a host-selected master boot record.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Western Digital Ventures, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew W. Milne, Vu L. Luu, Xuejian Fu, Michael S. Rothberg
  • Patent number: 6707637
    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. The disk drive further includes a second disk disposed about the spindle motor hub. The disk drive further includes a first disk spacer disposed between and in mechanical communication with the first and second disks. The first disk spacer has a first disk spacer first side disposed adjacent the first disk and an opposing first disk spacer second side disposed adjacent the second disk. The first disk spacer first side is defined by a first disk spacer first surface pattern. The first disk spacer second side is defined by a first disk spacer second surface pattern different than the first disk spacer first surface pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Raffi Codilian, Serge Hauert, Steven J. Alfred
  • Patent number: 6707641
    Abstract: A spindle motor for use in a disk drive has a spindle motor hub having an axis of rotation, an annular magnet element coupled to the spindle motor hub, and a spindle motor stator. The spindle motor stator includes a stator rim formed of a plurality of laminate layers concentrically disposed about the axis of rotation. The stator rim has a plurality of stator teeth portions in operable communication with the magnet element for rotating the spindle motor hub. The stator teeth portions each have a magnetic flux surface disposed orthogonal to the axis of rotation. The spindle motor stator has a plurality of windings distributed along the stator rim. The windings each have a winding axis parallel to the axis of rotation and being disposed about respective ones of the stator teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kamran Oveyssi, Raffi Codilian
  • Patent number: 6704167
    Abstract: A disk drive includes a disk drive base and a latch attached to the disk drive base. The latch includes a latch impact surface having a latch impact surface perimeter. The latch impact surface perimeter defines a latch impact surface area. The disk drive includes a head stack assembly coupled to the disk drive base. The head stack assembly includes a tang. The head stack assembly is sized and configured to rotate to a parked position with the tang in mechanical communication with the latch. The tang has a tang impact surface. The disk drive includes a damping member disposed upon and disposed between the latch and the tang for damping impact between the tang and the latch and mitigating contact between the tang impact surface and the latch impact surface. The damping member has a damping member surface area less than the latch impact surface area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John E. Scura, Pradeep K. Thayamballi, Haldun Arin
  • Patent number: 6698286
    Abstract: A method of balancing a disk pack for use in a disk drive according to an aspect of the present invention. The disk pack includes a spindle motor and a rotatable disk. The spindle motor is configured to rotate the disk about an axis of rotation of the spindle motor. The spindle motor has a spindle motor imbalance location indicia upon the spindle motor indicative of a location of a spindle motor location imbalance. The method includes detecting the spindle motor imbalance location indicia. The method further includes placing the disk upon the spindle motor. The method further includes attaching the disk to the spindle motor with the disk being off-set from the axis of rotation based upon the detected spindle motor imbalance location indicia for balancing the disk pack by producing a disk off-set imbalance in relation to the axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron D. Little, John E. Scura
  • Patent number: 6697217
    Abstract: A disk drive is disclosed comprising a head disk assembly (HDA) including an enclosure for housing a disk and a head actuated radially over the disk. A printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) is attached to the HDA enclosure, wherein the PCBA comprises at least one attached electrical component. A non-electrically conductive coating is bonded to at least part of the PCBA after attaching the electrical component to the PCBA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Raffi Codilian
  • Patent number: 6693767
    Abstract: A disk drive includes an enclosure that defines an exterior surface, the enclosure including a base, a cover and a hinge mechanically coupling the base to the cover such that the hinge forms a portion of the exterior surface of the enclosure. A spindle motor is attached to the base, a disk is mounted to the spindle motor, and a head stack assembly is pivotally coupled to the base. A method of manufacturing a disk drive includes a single (injection, for example) molding step to form an enclosure including the base, the cover and a hinge that mechanically couples the base to the cover such that the hinge forms a portion of the exterior surface of the enclosure. The spindle motor may then be attached to the base, the disk or disks mounted to the spindle motor and the head stack assembly may be pivotally coupled to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Walter W. Butler
  • Patent number: 6693773
    Abstract: A disk drive includes a disk drive base and a disk stack, the disk stack comprising a first disk including a first recording surface and a second recording surface. A spindle motor attached to the disk drive base rotates the disk stack about a spindle motor rotation axis. A ramp load engages at least the first and second lift tab of a head stack assembly. The ramp load includes a shaft coupled to the disk drive base, the shaft defining a shaft axis that is parallel to the spindle motor rotation axis. The ramp load also includes a first ramp defining a first lift tab engaging surface for engaging the first lift tab and a first facing surface configured to face the first recording surface of the first disk at a first distance, and a second ramp defining a second lift tab engaging surface for engaging the second lift tab and a second facing surface configured to face the second recording surface of the first disk at a second distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph H. Sassine
  • Patent number: 6690545
    Abstract: An air bearing slider for use in a disk drive that includes a rotatable magnetic disk. The slider includes a leading side and a trailing side. The slider further includes a pressurized pad including a pressurized pad air bearing surface. The pressurized pad is disposed between the leading and trailing sides. The slider further includes a contact pad disposed adjacent the trailing side and including a contact surface for sliding contact with the magnetic disk during operation of the disk drive. The contact pad includes a transducer disposed within the contact pad for reading and writing data from and to the magnetic disk. The slider further includes a depressed region disposed between the pressurized pad and the contact pad for mitigating air pressure adjacent the contact surface relative to air pressure adjacent the pressurized pad air bearing surface during operation of the disk drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ciuter Chang, Ming-Ching Tang, Martin J. Smallen, Jih-Ping Peng
  • Patent number: 6690637
    Abstract: An aspect of the invention can be regarded as a disk drive that includes a disk drive base and a spindle motor hub. The disk drive includes a disk disposed about the spindle motor hub and including a disk surface. The disk drive includes a plurality of fasteners. The disk drive includes a disk clamp attached to the spindle motor hub in mechanical communication with the disk surface for securing the disk. The disk clamp includes a plurality of engaged fastener holes formed through the disk clamp and non-symmetrically distributed about an axis of rotation. The fasteners are engaged within the engaged fastener holes for attachment of the disk clamp and the disk to the spindle motor hub. According to another aspect of the present invention, fasteners are non-uniformly torqued within fastener openings for applying a non-symmetric clamping force by the disk clamp against the disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Raffi Codilian
  • Patent number: 6687093
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a disk drive that includes a housing including a base, the base defining a blind receptacle, a spindle motor attached to the base, a disk mounted to the spindle motor and a head stack assembly pivotally coupled to the base. The head stack assembly includes a body portion including a first bore defining a pivot axis, an actuator arm cantilevered from the body portion, and a head gimbal assembly supported at the actuator arm and including a head. The base defines a blind receptacle and the actuator arm defines a second bore that is situated so as to enable the second bore and the blind receptacle to align along an axis parallel to the pivot axis when the head stack assembly is pivoted such that the head is not over the disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Walter W. Butler, Chunjer C. Cheng, R. Mark Watson, Charles E. Ketchu, Jules Moritz, Jr., Robert E. Lloyd, Craig W. Congdon
  • Patent number: 6661612
    Abstract: An air bearing slider for use in a disk drive. The slider includes a leading side and an opposing trailing side. The slider further includes a pair of leading side air bearing surfaces disposed adjacent the leading side. Each of the leading side air bearing surfaces includes a main portion and a trailing portion extending from the main portion toward the trailing side. The slider further includes a pair of side rails. Each of the side rails is disposed between a respective one of the leading side air bearing surfaces and the trailing side. Each of the side rails includes a side rail air bearing surface disposed toward the trailing side and a side rail shallow recessed surface extending away from the side rail air bearing surface toward the respective main portion and laterally along the respective trailing portion in spaced relation to the respective trailing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Jih-Ping Peng
  • Patent number: 6661603
    Abstract: A disk drive includes a disk drive base and a cover including a cover outer surface and a fastener opening disposed through the cover. The disk drive further includes an electrically insulative coating disposed upon the cover outer surface. The disk drive further includes a fastener that includes a fastener head and a fastener shaft. The disk drive further includes a fastener support disposed adjacent to the fastener opening. The fastener support includes a top surface for engaging the fastener head. The fastener support includes a central opening sized and configured to receive the fastener shaft through the central opening for mechanically coupling the cover and the disk drive base. The disk drive further includes a conductive path disposed between the disk drive base and the cover. The conductive path includes the fastener and the fastener support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Norman K. Watkins, Wayne M. Yamada
  • Patent number: 6654200
    Abstract: A disk drive for use with a host electronic unit including spindle motor drive circuitry. The disk drive includes a disk drive housing, and a spindle motor rotatably attached to the disk drive housing. The spindle motor includes a stator. The disk drive further includes a host connector attached to the disk drive housing which is operably connectable to the spindle motor drive circuitry for receiving electrical signals from the spindle motor drive circuitry for controlling the spindle motor. The disk drive further includes a stator electrical trace integrally formed upon the disk drive housing from the stator to the host connector for electrically connecting the stator and the host connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: McMahan Coyle Alexander, William W. Garrett
  • Patent number: 6624980
    Abstract: A disk drive is disclosed comprising a disk, an actuator arm, a head attached to the actuator arm, a voice coil motor, a parking latch for latching the actuator arm in a latched position in order to park the head during a non-operating mode, and a flex circuit having a first end and a second end, the first end coupled to the actuator arm. The disk drive further comprises an inertial latch for maintaining the actuator arm in the latched position when the disk drive is subjected to a physical shock. The inertial latch comprises a body having a protruding arm and defining a pivot axis. The inertial latch further comprises a support member coupled to the base, the support member comprising a connecting surface for connecting to the second end of the flex circuit, and a restraining member connected to the body of the inertial latch proximate the pivot axis, wherein the restraining member vertically restrains the inertial latch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott E. Watson, Serge Hauert
  • Patent number: 6624966
    Abstract: A disk drive including a disk drive base. The disk drive further includes at least one rotatable disk which includes a disk surface extending to an outer disk edge. The disk drive further includes a head stack assembly rotatably attached to the disk drive base in operable communication with the disk. The disk drive further includes an airflow suppressor comb coupled to the disk drive base and stationary relative to the disk drive base during operation of the disk drive. The comb includes a comb body disposed adjacent to the outer disk edge, and at least one tine extending from the comb body along the disk surface for mitigating disk rotation induced airflow upon the head stack assembly adjacent to the disk surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jin Hui Ou-Yang, Serge Hauert, John R. Gustafson, Chiao-Ping Ku, Lin Yang, Gary C. Griffin, Aaron D. Little, Sudha Narayanan
  • Patent number: 6624983
    Abstract: A head stack assembly for use in a disk drive includes a body portion having a bore which defines a pivot axis. The head stack assembly includes an actuator arm body extending from the body portion and defining a longitudinal axis. The actuator arm body rotates about the pivot axis. The head stack assembly includes a load beam extending from the actuator arm body. The head stack assembly includes a head connected to the load beam. The head stack assembly includes a linear actuator connected to the body portion. The linear actuator expands and contracts. The head stack assembly includes an actuation linkage interposed between the actuator arm body and the load beam. The actuation linkage is connected to the linear actuator element. Selective expansion/contraction of the linear actuator moves the actuation linkage which moves the load beam and the head with a transverse component relative to the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Keith R. Berding
  • Patent number: 6618222
    Abstract: A disk drive includes at least one rotatable disk including a disk edge and a disk drive housing having a breather hole formed through the disk drive housing. The disk drive further includes a breather shroud in mechanical communication with the disk drive housing. The breather shroud includes a shroud portion positioned adjacent the disk. The shroud portion is formed to extend along the disk edge for mitigating airflow adjacent the disk. The breather shroud further includes an air filter housing portion integrated with the shroud portion. The air filter housing portion is disposed adjacent the breather hole for filtering airflow through the breather hole. The air filter housing portion is positioned with the shroud portion between the air filter housing portion and the disk edge for mitigating airflow from the breather hole to adjacent to the disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Norman K. Watkins, Wayne M. Yamada, Frederick J. Hanke, Gary Griffin