Abstract: An anti-rattle mechanism for a disk cartridge addressing the problems of particulate generation which occur in disk cartridges when a disk assembly moves around inside the cartridge contacting the cartridge walls. The anti-rattle mechanism includes an anti-rattle ring which is movable by a cam surface between a clamping position and a released position. When the disk cartridge is outside of a disk drive, the anti-rattle mechanism is in a clamping position to completely or partially captivate the disk assembly within the cartridge. As the disk cartridge is inserted into the disk drive, the anti-rattle mechanism moves to a released configuration where a disk is freely rotatable within the cartridge. The anti-rattle mechanism is moved between the clamping position and the released position by rotation of a movable door.

Abstract: A zone servo sector format alignment scheme 41 for a disc 22 of a disc drive 20 includes the disc 22 having an outer zone 42, a middle zone 44 and an inner zone 46, each zone having a plurality of tracks 48, 50, 52. The sectors, 54, 56, 58 of each zone 42, 44, 46 includes a plurality of sectors such as sector 60 which define a servo field 62 and a data field 64. The number of sectors 56 in each of tracks 50 of the middle zone 46 is less than the number of sectors 54 on each track 48 of the outer zone 42. The number of sectors 58 on each track 52 of the inner zone 46 is less than the number of sectors 56 on each tracks 50 of the middle zone 46. Further, by maintaining the same recording frequency of the servo fields 62 across all the zones 42, 44, 46, the placing of the sectors 56, 58 in the middle and inner zones 44, 46 can be adjusted in order to provide for alignment indicia 66 which include aligned sectors across all the zones.

Abstract: A spindle motor control circuit 20 for controlling the acceleration and position locking of a spindle motor 22 includes a first mode of operation whereby the spindle motor 22 is commutated through use of an external clock 32, 34. The control circuit 20 then causes the spindle motor 22 to be self-commutation based on the clock developed from transitions detected by a transition detector 71, which transitions are signals provided from the phase windings of the spindle motor 22. A final mode includes the reading of servo information from the servo sectors on the disc in order to control the final acceleration and position of the spindle motor 22.

Abstract: A sealed cartridge 22 vor selective use in a disc drive 20 includes a sealed housing 70 with a disc 72 positioned therein and heads 80, 81 positioned relative to the disc. An actuator mechanism 84 is provided for use with an actuator arrangement 47 of the disc drive 20 in order that the actuator mechanism 84 and the actuator arrangement 47 can cooperate to move the heads 80, 81 relative to the disc 72. A magnetic coupling mechanism 77 is adapted for magnetically coupling the disc 72 to the disc drive 20 in order to allow the disc drive 20 to rotate the disc 72, without the magnetic coupling mechanism 77 physically touching the disc drive 20.

Abstract: A disc drive 20 includes a tray assembly 34 for positively seating and locking a cartridge 21 onto a spindle motor 82. The drive 20 includes heads 108, 110 mounted on a radial arm voice coil actuator assembly 112 and appropriate mechanisms including the arm control assembly 126 and the ratchet 124 and pawl projection 170 to ensure that the heads 108, 110 are properly loaded onto the disc 90 and that the cartridge 21 insertion and ejection process does not cause damage to the heads 108, 110 or the disc 90 contained in the cartridge 21. Further the drive 20 includes controls such as the cartridge load lever 32 and the release button 30 which are not exposed and cannot be accidentally tripped during data transfer operations.

Abstract: A disc drive 22 having a head 26 actuated by an actuator 32 for seeking out a destination track 30 includes servo velocity control circuitry 51 and servo position control circuitry 41. The servo velocity control circuitry 51 seeks out the destination track and places the head within the boundaries of that track while the servo position control circuitry 41 using servo information places the head on the centerline of the destination track. The fine servo control circuitry 20 is provided for communicating the information generated by the servo position control circuitry 41 to the servo velocity circuitry 51 when the head 26 is several tracks from the destination track in order to allow the actuator 32 to smoothly and quickly cause the head to seek within the boundaries of the destination track without overshooting that track.

Abstract: A disc drive 20 includes a tray assembly 34 for positively seating and locking a cartridge 21 onto a spindle motor 82. The drive 20 includes heads 108, 110 mounted on a radial arm voice coil actuator assembly 112 and appropriate mechanisms including the arm control assembly 126 and the ratchet 124 and pawl projection 170 to ensure that the heads 108, 110 are properly loaded onto the disc 90 and that the cartridge 21 insertion and ejection process does not cause damage to the heads 108, 110 or the disc 90 contained in the cartridge 21. Further the drive 20 includes controls such as the cartridge load lever 32 and the release button 30 which are not exposed and cannot be accidentally tripped during data transfer operations.

Abstract: A disc drive 22 having a head 28 actuated by an actuator 27 includes a head loading velocity control for successfully and accurately loading the head 28 onto a disc 26 so as not to cause damage to the head 28 or the disc 26.

Abstract: A removable cartridge 20 for a disc drive includes a door 34 which is movable from a locked closed position to an open position by a shutter lever of the disc drive.

Abstract: A disc drive arrangement 10 for accessing information from and recording information onto a disc 25 to be retained in a cartridge 27 which comprises a carriage 24 for mounting and transporting the head 26, 28 accurately relative to the cartridge 27. The carriage 24 includes a base 100 upon which is mounted the head 26, 28 and cylindrical roller bearings 214, 216, 218, 220 and 222. The roller bearings 214, 216, 218, 220 and 222 roll on a plurality of hardened rods 228, 230 which are mounted on a track 102 which is affixed to the floor 16 of the disc drive 10. At least one of the roller bearings 214, 216, 218, 220 and 222, is resiliently mounted relative to the base 100 in order to evenly distribute the load placed by the base 100 on the track 102. Further any potential contaminants collecting on the rods are urged to one or the other side of the rods 228, 230 as the cylindrical rollers 214, 216, 218, 220, 222 roll on said rods thereby insuring accurate position of the head 26, 28.

Abstract: A hard disc cartridge arrangement 10 including a housing 12 and a hub clamp 22 which cooperate so that the hub clamp 22 firmly and precisely engages the spindle of a disc drive, and a door arrangement 24 which allows the heads of the disc drive to enter the cartridge 10 from the upper and lower surfaces 14, 16 of the cartridge 10. The door 26 is locked in the closed position to prevent contact with the data storage media and is urged to a positive open position so that it does not interfere with the placement of the heads adjacent the disc 20.

Abstract: A disc drive arrangement 10 for accessing information from and recording information onto a disc 25 retained in a cartridge 27 comprises a linkage 22 operatively connecting a door 18 to a head 26, 28 mounted on a carriage 24 for urging the head 26, 28 away from the cartridge 27 when the door 18 is opened. The linkage includes an arm 154 with a cam surface 158 which urges the head 26, 28 away in an accelerated manner. A dashpot 188 operably connected to the head 26, 28 and linkage 22 allows the head 26, 28 to dampingly settle on the disc 25 after the dome 18 is closed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a servo control apparatus for controlling a servo means that positions a recording head over a disk-shaped data storage medium. If the disk-shaped data storage medium is improperly mounted on a disk drive causing wobble of the disk as it turns, then the problem of runout occurs so that each of the tracks of data on the disk do not pass directly under the head throughout the whole rotation of the disk. The present invention provides a reference track near the outside circumference of the disk on which reference data is stored in a plurality of bursts spaced around the reference track. The servo control apparatus detects the reference data for each of the bursts and calculates the position of the centerline of the reference track with respect to the head for each of the bursts.

Abstract: A disc drive arrangement for accessing information from and recording information onto a disc retained in a cartridge comprises a housing, a door, at least one reading and recording head, a carriage for mounting and transporting the head, and linkage operatively connecting the door to the carriage for urging said head away from the cartridge when the door is opened. As this linkage is mechanical, the head can always be urged from the disc even during power failure so that if the cartridge is removed, the head and the information on the disc are not damaged.

Abstract: A disc drive cartridge arrangement includes a hub clamp for engaging a spindle of a disc drive which clamp has inwardly spiralling fingers to reduce the space required therefor and to firmly engage the spindle, and a door and aperture arrangement which allows the heads of the disc drive to enter the cartridge from the upper and lower surfaces of the cartridge. The hub to which the disc of the disc drive cartridge arrangement is mounted includes a labyrinth seal arrangement for preventing contaminants from entering the interior of the housing.

Abstract: Servo control apparatus including a recording head to read first and second servo data bytes stored across a track on opposite sides of a track centerline, a servo demodulator to count the first and second bytes and produce a resultant count representing any offset of the head relative to the centerline, a head positioner to move the head, and a microcomputer which controls the head positioner to position the head in response to the resultant count. The invention is implemented digitally, is simple and inherently compensates for expansion or contraction of the track to accurately center the head.