Abstract: In an automated library, data cartridges, such as magnetic tape cartridges, are stored in storage cells or shelves and accessed by data storage drives. An accessor with a gripper transports cartridges between storage cells and storage drives. Cartridges on the library floor may damage the accessor. A cartridge sensor is provided and positioned to detect cartridges on the floor of the library. The sensor may be mounted to the base of the accessor, may be mounted to the gripper, or one or more sensors may be mounted proximate to the floor of the library. If the library includes more than one library frame, a sensor may be mounted proximate to the floor of each of one or more of the frames, thereby allowing for the location of a dropped cartridge to be identified.

Abstract: A wireless disk drive suspension and method of manufacture in which curvilinear deflections of the plastic film and conductive traces relative to the flexure metal layer provide for containment of the strains accompanying pitch and roll adjustment of the flexure and allow adjustment free of adjusting difficulties and spring back compromise of the adjustment. The curvilinear deflection of the laminate toward the flexure central longitudinal axis and an accompanying bringing in of the flexure frame struts provides a less wide flexure that can more closely approach a disk drive hub for greater capacity in a disk drive.

Abstract: A data storage and retrieval device utilizes a data cartridge recording and playback apparatus and has storage magazines for holding a plurality of data cartridges for use by the recording and playback apparatus. A cartridge shuttle moves the data cartridges between the recording and playback apparatus and the storage magazines. The cartridge shuttle has a translation drive for moving the shuttle and the cartridges held therein along a translation space within the data storage and retrieval device. The shuttle also has an elevator for lifting and lowering the cartridges, a rotation apparatus to rotate the cartridges, and a cartridge gripper to move the cartridges into and out of the rotation apparatus.

Abstract: There is provided a disc device achieving a reduced thickness by reducing as much as possible the space required for sandwiching operation by a turn table and a clamper while assuring the space where an inserted disc is conveyed inside the device. The disc device includes: a clamper unit having a clamper for sandwiching a disc-shaped recording medium by a floating unit held via an elastic member to a fixed frame; and a disc recording/reproduction drive unit having a turn table. The disc device is configured so that when the disc-shaped recording medium is sandwiched, a part of the clamper and a part of the turn table are contained in each other.

Abstract: A disk drive having a head with a recessed write pole for perpendicular recording to a disk. The head also includes a read element, a first shield and a second shield that share a common plane, and the write pole is recessed relative to the plane, thereby reducing pole tip protrusion.

Abstract: In the course of the loading of a disc in a slot-in type of disc apparatus, if a user intends to forcefully pull out the disc, there is a possibility that it is wrongly recognized that the disc has been normally loaded, and then a clamping head of a spindle motor collides against a surface of the disc to damage it. In order to solve this problem, during the loading operation of the disc, a safety mechanism for allowing a clamping operation in response to what the disc has reached a normally clamped position. The safety mechanism may be a mechanical stopper or an electrical detector.

Abstract: An optical disk with an embedded security device, or wafer, is presented. The security device includes security features that enable the identification of genuine optical disks versus counterfeit optical disks. Methods for creating optical disks embedded with security devices are also presented. An optical disk having a cavity formed on a surface to receive a security device is created. A special mold with a raised platform creates the cavity on the optical disk. The security device is located in the cavity of the optical disk and bonded to the optical disk.

Abstract: A disc apparatus for recording or reading data to or from a disc includes a tray having a table on which the disc is placed and a shielding member that covers the tray. The shielding member has a circular opening and a plurality of arc protruding members. Each arc protruding member is provided on an inner surface of the shielding member that covers the tray as protruding towards an upper surface of the disc placed on the table of the tray. An end of each arc protruding member is situated near the opening. Each arc protruding member has a protruding end with a height ranging from 1.0 mm to 1.5 mm from the inner surface of the shielding member.

Abstract: In a magnetic disk apparatus, mounting of plural heating elements to a magnetic head slider is permitted. Thermally assisted magnetic recording from inner to outer surface is permitted at a small amount of power consumption. In one embodiment, the magnetic disk apparatus has a magnetic disk on which magnetic information is recorded, a magnetic head slider having an air bearing surface for floating from the magnetic disk in proximity thereto, and a rotary actuator moving over the disk arcuately while supporting the magnetic head slider by a suspension. A recording element acting to record magnetic information on the magnetic disk, a playback element acting to play back the magnetic information recorded on the magnetic disk, and plural heating elements acting to locally heat the magnetic disk are carried on the magnetic head slider.

Abstract: A thin film magnetic head capable of shortening a manufacturing time and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. After forming a write gap layer by using a non-magnetic conductive material such as copper, a top pole is formed on the write gap layer by growing a plating film with the write gap layer used as a seed layer. Unlike the case where the write gap layer is formed by using a non-magnetic insulating material such as alumina, a step of newly forming a seed layer aside from the write gap layer and a step of selectively removing the newly formed seed layer become unnecessary. Therefore, the number of manufacturing processes is reduced, and the manufacturing time of the thin film magnetic head is shortened.

Abstract: An anti-shock device for a vehicular HDD (hard disk drive) and an assembly method thereof are provided. The device includes: the HDD being a storage medium; a HDD bracket coupled and fixed at its bottom surface with the HDD; a plurality of silicone dampers being damping members for damping an outside vibration shock transmitted to the HDD; a plurality of damper housings for coupling and fixing the silicone dampers to their circumferential surfaces, and preventing free movements of the silicone dampers; a HDD connector for connecting the HDD to the vehicular electronic equipment; and an anti-shock bracket divided and coupled as an upper anti-shock bracket and a lower anti-shock bracket with each other, and supporting the silicone damper and the damper housing.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive sensor having an in stack bias structure and a pinned layer having shape enhanced anisotropy. The sensor may be a partial mill design wherein the track width of the sensor is defined by the width of the free layer and the pinned layers extend beyond the trackwidth of the sensor. The sensor has an active area defined by the stripe height of the free layer. The pinned layer extends beyond the stripe height defined by the free layer, thus providing the pinned layer with the shape enhanced anisotropy. The pinned layer structure can be pinned by exchange coupling with a layer of antiferromagnetic material (AFM) layer, with pinning robustness being improved by the shape enhanced anisotropy, or can be a self pinned structure which is pinned by a combination of magnetostriction, AP coupling and shape enhanced anisostropy.

Abstract: A load beam or load beam component for a disk drive suspension assembly having a rigid region with concurrently formed side rails and sag region. The side rails have a plurality of segments with a smooth transition between segments. The side rails can have at least one segment with an arcuate shape. A method of forming the load beam or load beam component includes providing a metal forming tool and operating the tool to form the side rails and sag region concurrently.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods and systems for controlling access to information stored on memory or data storage devices are disclosed. In various embodiments, fluid-mediated modification of information or access to information is utilized. According to various embodiments, data storage devices designed for rotating access are described which include rotation-activated fluid control mechanisms.

Abstract: The present invention provides for the enhancement of the storage capacity of a data disk drive while reducing optical path optics, electronics and/or the mass and complexity of associated read/write heads. The system utilizes light transmitted by optical elements to servo track a data disk and to heat the data disk during reading and writing of data, and magnetic elements for actual reading and writing.

Abstract: A coil assembly of a disk device includes a support frame on which a voice coil is fixed and a board unit connected to the support frame. The board unit has a main FPC extending from a base portion and a connecting portion extending from one side of an extended end portion of the main FPC. The connecting portion comprises a first connecting portion which extends in a longitudinal direction of the main FPC and has a plurality of first connection pads, a junction portion extending from the first connecting portion, and a second connecting portion which extends in the longitudinal direction of the main FPC from the junction portion and has a plurality of second connection pads. The first and second connecting portions are fixed to first and second support surfaces, respectively, of the support frame.

Abstract: Using a simple and inexpensive method, a reliable spindle motor having a simple and inexpensive structure is afforded, in which contact failure of the FPC does not occur even when the motor undergoes external impact. An extending portion is provided radially outer side of an annular recess of a base. The extending portion has a step whose radially outer side is higher, and a through hole formed such as to pass through the base from its inside to outside. A FPC is disposed on an upper surface of a stator. The FPC is fixed to a lower surface of the base through the through hole. The bending height and the bending angle of the FPC are minimized by providing the step having appropriate height so that the FPC is not easily peeled off even when subject to external impact.

Abstract: Spindle motor capable of positively fixing and securing conduction between a housing and a bracket, and a recording disk driving apparatus using the spindle motor. The bracket has a circular through hole, and the housing is fixedly inserted in the circular through hole. A protrusion is formed on at least one of the bracket and the housing. A conductive member is between and in contact with a flange and the bracket or the housing in the direction of the rotary axis to electrically connect the flange and the bracket or the housing. The conductive member is in contact with the flange and the bracket or the housing under an elastic stress.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods and systems for controlling access to information stored on memory or data storage devices are disclosed. In various embodiments, fluid-mediated modification of information or access to information is utilized. According to various embodiments, data storage devices designed for rotating access are described which include rotation-activated fluid control mechanisms.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical disk drive, and more particularly, to a holder for disk drives having an improved chuck structure for seating a disk. The holder of the invention, in use, is inserted into a central opening of a disk for detachably seating the disk, and comprises: a circular hub projected upward and sized equal to the central opening of the disk; a chuck projected from a lateral portion of the hub, wherein the chuck includes a rear portion elastically connected with the hub, a peak formed in a front portion of the chuck and a lower circular face of a curvature extended downward from the peak; and a support formed integral with the hub for contacting the lower circular face of the chuck to enable circular motion of the chuck.