Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a head stack assembly of a disk drive, which head stack assembly includes: (a) a first contact disposed on a side of the head stack assembly, which first contact is adapted to contact a crash stop of the disk drive to stop the head stack assembly from moving in a first direction; and (b) a second contact disposed on the same side of the head stack assembly, which second contact is adapted to contact the crash stop to prevent the head stack assembly from moving in a second direction different from the first direction.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a servo writing device that includes: (a) an actuator; (b) a first pushpin block that is coupled to a first side of the actuator and is adapted to drive a first head stack assembly during servo writing on a first disk; and (c) a second pushpin block that is coupled to a second side of the actuator and is adapted to drive a second head stack assembly during servo writing on a second disk.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is method for testing a reading function of a printed circuit board of a disk drive or a servo track writer that includes: (a) providing a test pattern; (b) processing the test pattern to generate a digital signal series; (c) differentiating the digital signal series to provide a differentiated signal series; (d) applying the differentiated signal series as input to the printed circuit board; and (e) comparing an output from the printed circuit board with the test pattern.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a disk drive head stack assembly with a grounding path between a head and a disk drive ground, the disk drive head stack assembly including: (a) a suspension which carries the head and includes a first portion of the grounding path; and (b) an arm which carries the suspension and which includes a second portion of the grounding path, which second portion is electrically connected to the disk drive ground.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a method for operating a disk drive including: (a) monitoring an operating voltage of a power source for the disk drive; and (b) preventing a write operating of the disk drive and continuing one or more other operations of the disk drive when the operating voltage is at or lower than a write-preventing threshold voltage.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a fixture for use in inspecting a product, which fixture includes: (a) a base including a first standing mechanism and a second standing mechanism; and (b) a clamp supported by the base which is adapted to secure the product on the base; wherein the first standing mechanism is adapted to support the fixture on a platform in a first orientation; and wherein the second standing mechanism is adapted to support the fixture on the platform in a second orientation.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a method for acquiring a value of back electromotive force of an electric motor which includes: (a) applying a first current as input to the electric motor and measuring a first voltage across the electric motor; (b) applying a second current as input to the electric motor and measuring a second voltage across the electric motor; (c) determining a resistance of the electric motor using the first and second voltages and the first and second currents; (d) applying a third current to the electric motor and measuring a third voltage across the electric motor; and (e) determining a value of the back electromotive force using: (i) the third current, the third voltage, the first current, the first voltage, and the resistance; or (ii) the third current, the third voltage, the second current, the second voltage, and the resistance.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is an insulator that includes a pocket feature adapted to accommodate at least a portion of one or more components disposed on a printed circuit board.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is an electronic device that includes: (a) a connector; (b) a contact pad; and (c) a structure adapted to urge the connector toward the contact pad, wherein at least a portion of the structure is aligned with at least a portion of the connector.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a disk drive including: (a) two heads for reading/writing data from/onto a disk; and (b) a ramp mechanism adapted to guide movement of the two heads to/from the disk; wherein the ramp mechanism comprises a separation feature having a portion that extends between the two heads.

Abstract: A bending tool for bending a flexible printed circuit assembly including: a base; a first bender, supported by the base, having a first bending tip adapted to bend a first portion of the flexible printed circuit assembly; and a second bender, supported by the base, having a second bending tip adapted to bend a second portion of the flexible printed circuit assembly.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a power source for a disk drive to handle an Emergency Power Off event that includes: (a) a storage capacitor; (b) a voltage source that outputs a first voltage that is applied as input to the storage capacitor; (c) a tester, responsive to the first voltage and a reference voltage; and (d) an adjustable voltage source, responsive to the tester output, that outputs a second voltage that is applied as input to the storage capacitor.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is an apparatus to provide a measure of disk drive head velocity in a disk drive wherein movement is produced by a disk drive motion mechanism that includes a coil, which apparatus includes: (a) a controller that outputs one or more digital signals that are applied as input to a first component, and in response, the first component outputs a reference voltage; (b) a second component, responsive to voltage output across the coil and the reference voltage, outputs a measure of a difference between the coil voltage and the reference voltage; and (c) a third component, responsive to the measure of the difference, outputs a first value if the coil voltage is greater than the reference voltage and a second value if the coil voltage is less than the reference voltage, which third component output is applied as input to the controller; wherein the controller executes a search algorithm that varies the one or more digital signals while observing changes in the third component ou

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a method for writing data on a number of sectors of a track of a disk drive that includes: (a) sending a signal to write data on a first sector of the track; (b) receiving a write data default; (c) sending a signal to write data on another sector of the track after skipping a predetermined number of sectors; (d) waiting for the first sector to be in position again; and (e) sending a signal to retry to write data on the first sector if a predetermined number of retries to write data on the track has not been exceeded.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a power source for a disk drive to handle an Emergency Power Off event that includes: (a) a storage capacitor; (b) a voltage source that outputs a first voltage that is applied as input to the storage capacitor; (c) a tester, responsive to the first voltage and a reference voltage; and (d) an adjustable voltage source, responsive to the tester output, that outputs a second voltage that is applied as input to the storage capacitor.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is an inertial latch for an actuator of a disk drive that includes: an inertial lever, which inertial lever includes: (a) a first and a second pivot structure that are disposed to enable the inertial lever to rotate about a first or a second center of rotation; (b) a first and a second magnetically attractive member that are disposed to enable the inertial lever to move to a predetermined position in the absence of a rotational shock; and (c) a latch disposed to latch an actuator lock mechanism of the actuator.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is disk drive electronics that includes: (a) main electronics; (b) bus interface logic; (c) a bus interface logic monitor that monitors activity on a host interface; and (d) a regulator that supplies power to the bus interface logic monitor, the bus interface logic, and the main electronics; wherein the bus interface logic monitor determines whether to enter a sleep mode, and if so, causes power from the regulator to be removed from the bus interface logic and the main electronics.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is an apparatus to provide a measure of disk drive head velocity in a disk drive wherein movement is produced by a disk drive motion mechanism that includes a coil, which apparatus includes: (a) a controller that outputs one or more digital signals that are applied as input to a first component, and in response, the first component outputs a reference voltage; (b) a second component, responsive to voltage output across the coil and the reference voltage, outputs a measure of a difference between the coil voltage and the reference voltage; and (c) a third component, responsive to the measure of the difference, outputs a first value if the coil voltage is greater than the reference voltage and a second value if the coil voltage is less than the reference voltage, which third component output is applied as input to the controller; wherein the controller executes a search algorithm that varies the one or more digital signals while observing changes in the third component ou

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a small form factor disk drive for use in an appliance, which disk drive includes: a connector side, a removal side, and gripping sides; wherein the gripping sides include gripping mechanisms that are disposed along the gripping sides so that the gripping mechanisms are exposed whenever the appliance ejects the disk drive.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a small form factor disk drive for use in an appliance, which disk drive includes: (a) a connector side, a removal side, and a lateral side; and (b) a gripping mechanism affixed to a lateral side of the disk drive; wherein a portion of the gripping mechanism extends beyond the removal side.