Abstract: A head suspension assembly for a hard disk drive data storage device which prevents contact between the head portion of the mechanism and the surface of the data storage media. An arm member includes a head assembly secured to one end and a bushing at the other end for engaging a rotatable positioning shaft. The arm member applies a resilient beam loading force to urge the arm member away from the media, and includes an aerodynamic airfoil that interacts with the air flow adjacent to the media surface to oppose the beam loading force and move the arm member toward the media to a proper flying height. When the disk is spinning, the negative lift of the airfoil opposes the resilient loading of the arm member and urges the arm member closer to the surface of the rotating media. As the head approaches the rotating surface, the positive lift of the air bearing counterbalances the negative lift from the airfoil such that a dynamic equilibrium is established at a predetermined flying height.

Abstract: A compact disk drive includes a rotary head actuator or voice coil motor for a head arm assembly formed with flexures. The baseplate for the drive is formed with recesses to contain the voice coil motor and a lower flexure whereby the depth of the drive is reduced. The magnet housing for the voice coil motor is contoured and located in a corner of the baseplate, and the head arms are oriented so that the length of the drive is reduced.

Abstract: A portable computer having an associated disk drive includes a voltage multiplier coupled between a microprocessor and a head positioning actuator that operates in two modes. In a moderate performance mode, the dual mode actuator operates with the power supplied by a storage battery or by a commercial power source with the voltage multiplier turned off. In a high performance mode, the voltage multiplier under control of the microprocessor boosts the voltage supplied to the actuator so that more power is made available for fast head positioning and job execution with an improvement in computer performance.