Abstract: An information handling system, such as a disc drive, including a base, a disc stack rotatably attached to the base, and an actuator assembly movably attached to the base. The disc stack assembly includes a spindle hub rotatably coupled to the disc drive. The spindle hub has an axis of rotation about which the disc stack assembly rotates. The spindle hub includes a cylindrical portion. The disc stack assembly also includes a clamp, a disc spacer, and a disc coupled to a spindle hub. The disc spacer has an opening therein dimensioned to receive the cylindrical portion of the spindle hub. The disc spacer is asymmetrical and positioned to counter balance a mass offset in the disc stack assembly. The asymmetrical disc spacer also includes a registration surface. The registration surface is on the outer perimeter of the disc spacer. The disc spacer has a center of mass offset from the axial centerline of the opening. The disc spacer is used to counter the center of mass offset of the disc stack assembly.

Abstract: A device for reducing the contamination of a disc being coated during an ion beam deposition process. The ion beam deposition process is performed in a chamber having an upper portion and a lower portion with the disc being disposed in the lower portion of the chamber. An ion source is introduced into the lower chamber for generating an ion beam for depositing ions on the disc. In the upper portion of the chamber is a pump for creating negative pressure in the chamber. A portion of the ion beam contacts the pump forming contaminants on the pump which cause the contamination of the disc. A baffle assembly is disposed in the chamber between the pump and the ion source. Said baffle assembly includes a baffle that reduces the portion of the ion beam contacting said pump thereby reducing the forming of contaminants on the pump.

Abstract: A spindle for a disc drive which can be assembled without the use of adhesives is disclosed. Stator electromagnets are encapsulated in a plastic overmold. The stator is clamped to the base with a clamp spring arrangement. An offset between the stator surface and the base flange is covered by a clamp spring such that binding of the clamp spring by a fastener allows for an adjustable biasing force to secure the stator in place. The magnet and flux shield are attached to the rotor sleeve by an easily positioned retaining ring. An elastic foam washer provides a controlled force to secure the magnet and flux shield in place on the rotor. A second elastic foam washer and a shield provide a controlled biasing force to hold magnetic fluid and magnetic poles to the rotor. Bearings are laser welded to the rotor and the shaft to rotatably mount the rotor about the shaft.

Abstract: The present specification discloses a preferred method, apparatus, and system for calibrating a magnetic tape system. The magnetic tape system comprises at least one head mounted within a head drum, a magnetic tape that has a data region and a no data region, the magnetic tape being contiguous with the head, and a device for providing a relative motion between the magnetic tape and the head. A preferred embodiment of the present invention has the following. A reference track provided on the magnetic tape. The reference track is located in the no data region, at a constant distance from the data region. A processor programmed to determine the time required for the head to travel from the provided reference track to the data region.

Abstract: The present specification discloses a preferred a preferred method, apparatus, and system for calibrating a magnetic tape system. The magnetic tape system comprises at least one head mounted within a head drum, a magnetic tape that has a data region and a no data region, the magnetic tape being contiguous with the head, and a device for providing a relative motion between the magnetic tape and the head. A preferred embodiment of the present invention has the following. A reference track provided on the magnetic tape. The reference track is located in the no data region, at a constant distance from the data region. A processor programmed to determine the time required for the head to travel from the provided reference track to the data region.

Abstract: Dedicated receive buffers for receiving non-data frames are provided for each port of a two-port node in a fibre-channel arbitrated-loop serial communications channel design. The improved communications channel system and method includes a channel node having dual ports each supporting a communications channel, both ports interfaced from a single interface chip, and a dedicated on-chip frame buffer located on the chip for receiving frames. The dedicated on-chip frame buffer includes two inbound non-data buffers, one coupled to each of two ports, wherein inbound non-data frames from each port are received into the respective inbound non-data buffer. The system further includes an off-chip buffer, wherein received non-data frames are received into one of the non-data-frame buffers and transferred from the non-data-frame buffer to the off-chip buffer. A data-frame buffer is operatively coupled to both ports to receive data frames from the ports, and move the data frames to the off-chip buffer.

Abstract: A method and system for monitoring in real-time changes in operating conditions such as temperature of a magnetic super resolution magneto-optical system which produce variations in aperture size in the media readout layer. The magnitude of a magneto-optical (MO) amplitude signal in a reflected laser beam is monitored, normalized by dividing by the laser power, compared to the amplitudes in a table of stored values, and used to derive a laser power feedback signal for controlling the power of the laser to maintain a predetermined aperture size. The MO amplitude signal is derived from patterns representing calibration tones prerecorded onto portions of the data tracks of the MSR media.

Abstract: A disk drive system includes a base, a disk rotably attached to the base, and an actuator assembly movably attached to the base. The actuator assembly moves the transducer to selected areas of the disk where information reprexentative of data is to be written or read. The actuator assembly maintains the transducer in a transducing relationship with the disk. The actuator assembly also parks the transducer or unloads the transducer to a park position. A portion of the actuator assembly rides over a ramp to a park position. The ramp includes a mechanism for increasing the coefficient of friction on the surface of the ramp. The coefficient of friction on the surface of the ramp is increased to help retain the actuator in its parked position. This helps maintain the actuator assembly in a parked position in the event of shock loading from dropping a computer or a disk drive. This in turn helps prevent head crashes or failure of the disk drive and possible data loss.

Abstract: A slider assembly for an optical disc drive includes a flyable slider supporting a pad with a pair of piezoelectric beams mounted to the pad to extend in spaced relation over the slider. An objective lens is mounted to the beams as to be cantilevered over the slider body. The beams are operable to deflect along the yawl axis of the slider to thereby move the objective lens and alter the position of the focal point. When operated independently, the beams rotate the objective lens about the roll axis of the slider to alter the radial position of the focal point. When operated together, the beams move the objective lens to focus the focal point relative to the recording medium. The beams are optionally operable to deflect along the pitch axis of the slider to thereby radially move the objective lens and alter the position of the focal point.

Abstract: A disk drive system includes a base, a disk rotatably attached to the base, and an actuator assembly movably attached to the base. A ramp for loading and unloading a transducing element to and from the disk is also attached to the base. The ramp has an inclined surface and a flat surface that has a lower coefficient of friction than the surface associated with a parking detente. This is accomplished by molding features into the inclined surface and the flat surface and leaving the surface associated with the parking detent substantially smooth or featureless. This can also be accomplished using a molding process in which two materials are used. A first material will produce a coefficient of friction which is higher than the second material.

Abstract: A system and method for generating position error signals within a magneto-optical computer memory device whose track pitch is close to the full width half maximum width of the laser spot, the narrow track being typical of data stored on magnetic super resolution media. The magneto-optical computer memory device comprises a storage media for storing information, position marks embossed on the storage media, a head device coupled to the storage media for sensing the position marks to generate position error signals, and a correction device coupled to the head device to access the position error signals and responsively position the head device to correctly sense the stored information.

Abstract: A system for hydrodynamically loading objects into a manufacturing system is disclosed. The system comprises a receptacle for retaining fluid, the receptacle having an aperture for egress to a manufacturing system. At least one cassette is supported within the receptacle for retaining a plurality of objects and positioning one of the objects in a loading location in alignment with the aperture. At least one nozzle is also disposed within the receptacle for ejecting fluid and urging objects in the loading location into the aperture.

Abstract: A means is provided for packaging disc drives and other information-storage devices in a manner that reduces transmittal of shock to the packaged device. The device is placed in a static-disssipative package comprising an upper and lower portion, each of which has external protrusions that deform to absorb shock. Further anti-impact protection is provided by internal buttresses that cushion the packaged device. The package is preferably a unitary article molded from PVC plastic sheeting, with the upper and lower portions joined at an accordion-like hinge. The upper and lower portions nest together at the peripheral edges, providing a labyrinthine path (in effect, a seal) that prevents passage of contaminants. Shock transmittal (relative to an unprotected drive) is reduced by a factor of approximately 5-7.

Abstract: An information handling system, such as a disk drive, includes a base, a disk stack rotatably attached to the base, and an actuator assembly movably attached to the base. The actuator assembly also includes a load spring and a slider attached to said load spring. A ramp is also attached to the base near the disk stack. The ramp is used to load and unload the sliders to and from the disk. The slider and load spring are attached to form a gimballing connection between the slider and the load spring. The disk drive also includes a spindle motor and spindle motor controller for rotating the disk at a first rotational velocity and for rotating the disk at a second rotational velocity. The slider includes an air bearing surface. Landing pads, made of a durable material such as diamond like carbon, are formed on the air bearing surface of the slider. A method for loading a slider from a ramp to a disk surface includes rotating the disk at a first rotational velocity, as the slider is loaded.

Abstract: A object processing system is disclosed. The object processing system includes processing modules for performing process steps on objects, and hydrodynamic transport chutes coupled between the processing modules for transporting the object in a substantially touchless manner between the processing modules. Each substantially touchless hydrodynamic transport chute includes a transfer slot formed between two walls. Formed in the walls and directed into the transfer slot are support nozzles angled towards the output side of the transfer slot for creating fluid flow and fluid bearings in the transfer slot and urging objects through the transfer slot. In addition, induction nozzles are formed in the walls near the input side of the transfer slot for inducing objects into the input side of the transfer slot. A base supports the first and second walls and is grooved in substantial alignment with the transfer slot for receiving and bottom-centering objects in the transfer slot.

Abstract: A reduced stiction hydrodynamic spindle motor is provided for reducing the starting torque or power of disc drive motors. The reduced stiction motor includes a low surface energy coating having a surface energy less than the surface tension of the motor lubricant.

Abstract: An energy absorbing disc travel limiter which not only mechanically defines a limit to the extent to which a disc in a disc drive can be axially displaced in response to applied mechanical shocks, but which also acts to damp the shock-induced motion of the discs, thus preventing contact between the discs and the actuator head mounting arms. The amount of damping provided by the disc travel limiter is determined by selection of the material of the disc travel limiter and selection of certain dimensions of the disc travel limiter.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for simultaneously biasing multiple magneto-resistive read elements in a disc drive head/disc assembly. A preamplifier circuit sequentially applies read bias currents to successive pairs of heads of the head/disc assembly, wherein the read bias current applied to a selected one of each pair of the heads is used to transduce the servo data from the associated disc recording surface, and the read bias current applied to the remaining one of each pair of the heads is used to prepare the remaining one of each pair of the heads to subsequently transduce the servo data from the associated disc recording surface. The preamplifier circuit includes at least first and second read bias current sources and a head selection circuit.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a coil structure for use in a writer portion of a recording head is disclosed. The method comprises fabricating a bottom pole. A bottom insulating layer is fabricated on the bottom pole, while a seed layer is fabricated on the bottom insulator layer. Alternating third and fourth coil conductors are spacially positioned on the seed layer. A first plurality of insulating barriers are fabricated on the seed layer between the alternating third and fourth coil conductors. A middle insulating layer is fabricated on the third coil conductor, the second coil conductor, and the first plurality of insulating barriers. The A alternating third and fourth coil conductors are spacially positioned on the middle insulating layer. A second plurality of insulating barriers are fabricated on the middle insulating layer between the alternating third and fourth conductors.

Abstract: A system for maximum magneto-optical data storage system is provided. The system utilizes double-sided first surface magnetically-induced super resolution storage media to provide the ability to access a data mark from a plurality of data marks within an optical spot size of an impinging optical beam of light.