Abstract: A hard disk drive including a base deck with a base member and side walls extending from the base member. The side walls include a non-metallic material and include a structure made from the non-metallic material. The structure is arranged to dampen vibration. The side walls can be formed using an additive manufacturing process.

Abstract: A data storage device includes a stack of a plurality of disks, first and second arms, first and second heads, first and second linear drivers and an elevator. Each of the plurality of disks includes a read/write surface. The first arm has a first head end that is movable relative to the stack. The first head is configured to interact with a selected one of the read/write surfaces. The first linear driver is configured to move the first arm along a first straight line in a x-y plane defined by the one of the read/write surfaces. The elevator is configured to move the first arm in a z direction. The second arm has a second head end that is movable relative to the stack and supports the second head. The second linear driver is configured to move the second arm along a second straight line in the x-y plane.

Abstract: Connector devices or connectors for use in interconnection to a circuit board may be configured in an open or closed configuration. The connectors devices may utilize a shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator to move clamping portions with respect to each other into one or both of the open or closed positions.

Abstract: In one aspect, a data storage device includes a disc, an arm, a head, a linear driver, and an elevator. The disc has a read/write surface defining an x-y plane. The arm has a head end that is movable relative to the disc. The head is configured to interact with the read/write surface. The linear driver is configured to move the arm along a substantially straight line in the x-y plane. The elevator is configured to move the arm in a z direction. In another aspect, rather than a linear driver, the data storage device includes a rotary actuator and a pivot actuator. The arm includes a first portion and a load beam. The rotary actuator is configured to move the first portion about a first pivot axis; the pivot actuator is configured to move the load beam about a second pivot axis relative to the first portion.

Abstract: A data storage device includes at least one data storage disc, at least one head supported by a rotatable actuator arm, an elevator configured to move the rotatable actuator arm in a z direction, a first vertical guide post, a ramp assembly configured to support the head on a movable ramp, and a bracket attached to the movable ramp. The at least one head is configured to communicate with the at least one data storage disc when positioned over the at least one data storage disc. The movable ramp is moveable in a z direction parallel to the first vertical guide post. The bracket is engageable to the rotatable actuator arm so that the bracket moves along the first vertical guide post in unison with z direction motion of the rotatable actuator arm via the elevator, and the bracket is disengageable from the rotatable actuator arm.

Abstract: A data storage device includes a primary storage media, a drive storage controller electrically coupled to media recording electronics and a controller-override mechanism. The controller-override mechanism is selectively controllable by a user to override control actions of the drive storage controller to prevent the drive storage controller from altering the primary storage media at a time when the storage device is otherwise configured for nominal data storage operations.

Abstract: A data storage device (DSD) includes a base-deck, a disc above the base-deck, and a shaft extending perpendicular from the base-deck. The DSD also includes a head stack assembly (HSA) including a head gimbal assembly having a load beam and a head at a first end of the HSA. The head interacts with a surface of the disc. The HSA also includes a second end movably mounted on the shaft. The DSD additionally includes an elevator that linearly moves the HSA along the shaft to adjust a distance between the load beam and the surface of the disc in response to receiving a feedback signal associated with the interaction of the head with the surface of the disc. The feedback signal is one of a plurality of feedback signals employed by the elevator to adjust the distance between the load beam and the surface of the disc.

Abstract: A data storage device includes a ramp that supports at least one head, and a retraction mechanism that moves the ramp from a non-retracted position to a retracted position. The movement of the ramp is enabled by at least one of expansion or contraction of at least a portion of the retraction mechanism. The data storage device further includes a ramp retraction control module operably coupled to the retraction mechanism. The ramp retraction control module provides the retraction mechanism with a first control signal that causes the retraction mechanism to move the ramp from the non-retracted position to the retracted position.

Abstract: A storage system includes a media player including a preamplifier that is adapted to provide data access to a storage cartridge lacking an independent read/write preamplifier. The media player couples to the storage cartridges across an interconnect, and the storage cartridge is adapted to perform data access operations responsive to signals received from the media player through the interconnect.

Abstract: An apparatus such as a hard disk drive includes a base deck, which includes a base member and sidewalls extending from the base member. The base member and the sidewalls both include a non-metallic material and a metallic stiffening material.

Abstract: A system includes a data storage drive having a housing with one or more data storage media therein. The housing includes a top cover and a base-deck. The base-deck includes a floor and a frame having a plurality of sides. The data storage drive also includes a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) mounted on an exterior of one of the plurality of sides of the frame.

Abstract: A data storage device includes a base, a shaft that extends perpendicular from the base, and a head stack assembly (HSA) having a first end to which a head is coupled and a second end that is movably mounted on the shaft. The data storage device also includes either a first actuator assembly or a second actuator assembly. The first actuator assembly includes a first coil-permanent magnet assembly that rotatably moves the HSA about the shaft, and a second coil-permanent magnet assembly that serves as a first elevator to linearly move the HSA along the shaft. The second actuator assembly includes a third coil-permanent magnet assembly that rotatably moves the HSA about the shaft, and a second elevator that linearly moves the HSA along the shaft and also moves a data storage device ramp in unison with the HSA.

Abstract: A data storage library includes a number of storage cartridges arranged in a rack accessed by a actuated media player. The actuated media player is adapted to move the along a plane relative to a fixed subset of the storage cartridges in the rack to and to selectively couple to each storage cartridge of the fixed subset to facilitate selective read/write access.

Abstract: A data storage device includes a ramp that supports at least one head, and a retraction mechanism that moves the ramp from a non-retracted position to a retracted position. The movement of the ramp is enabled by at least one of expansion or contraction of at least a portion of the retraction mechanism. The data storage device further includes a ramp retraction control module operably coupled to the retraction mechanism. The ramp retraction control module provides the retraction mechanism with a first control signal that causes the retraction mechanism to move the ramp from the non-retracted position to the retracted position.

Abstract: A method for making a monocrystalline structure is disclosed. The method includes depositing a first volume of a material on a substrate to create a first crystal seed and depositing a second volume of the material towards the substrate to nucleate with the first crystal seed to create a first initial epitaxial structure.

Abstract: A brake crawler for an elevator-type hard disk drive generally includes a first and second set of clamp arms vertically arranged, each of the first and second sets of clamp arms being capable of exerting a clamping force on a shaft or slider via activation or deactivation of an actuator element associated with each set of clamp arms. The brake crawler further includes an actuator element disposed between the first and second set of clamp arms which allows for movement of the first set of clamp arms away from the second set of clamp arms upon a change in state of the actuator element. Via a specific sequence of activating and deactivating various of the actuator elements associated with the brake crawler, the brake crawler is capable of inch worm-type movement up and down the shaft.

Abstract: A storage system includes a media player including a preamplifier that is adapted to provide data access to a storage cartridge lacking an independent read/write preamplifier. The media player couples to the storage cartridges across an interconnect, and the storage cartridge is adapted to perform data access operations responsive to signals received from the media player through the interconnect.

Abstract: A data storage system includes a data storage foil mounted within the data storage system, the data storage foil has at least one data storage surface. The data storage system also includes a head configured to interact with the at least one data storage surface to carry out at least one of data read or data write operations.

Abstract: A data storage device includes a base, a shaft that extends perpendicular from the base, and a head stack assembly (HSA) having a first end to which a head is coupled and a second end that is movably mounted on the shaft. The data storage device also includes either a first actuator assembly or a second actuator assembly. The first actuator assembly includes a first coil-permanent magnet assembly that rotatably moves the HSA about the shaft, and a second coil-permanent magnet assembly that serves as a first elevator to linearly move the HSA along the shaft. The second actuator assembly includes a third coil-permanent magnet assembly that rotatably moves the HSA about the shaft, and a second elevator that linearly moves the HSA along the shaft and also moves a data storage device ramp in unison with the HSA.

Abstract: An opener assembly for a data storage component testing system is disclosed. The opener assembly includes an actuator assembly with a first opener actuator and a body having a distal end, a proximal end, a first arm, and a second arm. The first and second arms extend between the proximal end and the distal end and define a spacing at the distal end. The first opener actuator is operatively coupled to the first and second arms and configured to actuate the actuator assembly between a closed position and an opened position.