Abstract: Method and apparatus for providing strain relief for an electrical connector, such as an edge connector affixed to a printed circuit board (PCB). The connector includes a dielectric body which supports a number of electrical contacts each having a proximal end configured for electrical and mechanical engagement to a device, preferably via a soldering operation. One or more strain relief clips are inserted into associated recesses formed in the body of the connector. Each strain relief clip is configured for attachment to the device using a solder connection to relieve strain forces upon the electrical contacts upon installation of the connector onto the device. As desired, advanced ground contact functions can further be incorporated into the strain relief clips.

Abstract: A stationary disc separator plate for use in a disc drive to suppress turbulence near a disc drive read/write head used to read data from and write data to a rotatable disc. The stationary plate is supported adjacent the disc and has substantially circular inner and outer circumferences. A leading edge and a trailing edge of the plate define an open portion to accommodate radial movement of the head adjacent the disc. A trailing edge air dam disposed at the trailing edge of the plate diverts a substantial portion of an airflow generated by rotation of the disc away from the open portion to reduce an airflow velocity at the head. In disc drives having multiple discs, a plate is preferably disposed between each pair of adjacent discs. Air vents preferably extend through the thickness of the plate to reduce aerodynamic drag and hence power consumption by the drive.

Abstract: A stationary disc separator plate for use in a disc drive to suppress turbulence near a disc drive read/write head used to read data from and write data to a rotatable disc. The stationary plate is supported adjacent the disc and has substantially circular inner and outer circumferences. A leading edge and a trailing edge of the plate define an open portion to accommodate radial movement of the head adjacent the disc. A trailing edge air dam disposed at the trailing edge of the plate diverts a substantial portion of an airflow generated by rotation of the disc away from the open portion to reduce an airflow velocity at the head. In disc drives having multiple discs, a plate is preferably disposed between each pair of adjacent discs. Air vents preferably extend through the thickness of the plate to reduce aerodynamic drag and hence power consumption by the drive.

Abstract: A disc drive, includes a base, a disc stack rotatably attached to the base, and an actuator assembly movably attached to the base. The actuator assembly includes arms on one end for holding the one or more transducers and a portion of a voice coil motor on the other end of the actuator assembly. A bearing cartridge is attached to an opening in the actuator assembly. A tolerance ring is used to attach the bearing cartridge to the opening in the actuator assembly. The tolerance ring includes a dampening material therein. The tolerance ring includes a layer of viscoelastic material which can be a viscoelastic damping adhesive material. The viscoelastic material is sandwiched between the first layer of metallic material and the second layer of metallic material. The tolerance ring includes a plurality of ridges formed about the periphery of the tolerance ring.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for improving operational performance of a disc drive by detecting and compensating for translational vibration modes in a disc drive actuator. The actuator is configured to support a head adjacent a recording disc and pivots about a stationary shaft by way of a cartridge bearing assembly having a pair of ball bearing assemblies. A proximity probe detects translational movement of the actuator assembly relative to the shaft due to, for example, abrupt acceleration and deceleration of the head during a seek operation, or externally applied mechanical shocks. The output of the proximity probe is used to generate a bearing translation signal which is fed into an actuator control servo circuit to modify the amount of current applied to an actuator motor to compensate for the translational vibrations during track following and seek operations.

Abstract: A disc drive is provided with rotatable discs and an actuator assembly having heads adjacent the discs. A flex circuit assembly providing electrical connection between the heads and the disc drive circuitry comprises flex strips routed on the actuator assembly from the heads and a flex affixed on the actuator assembly. A flex support snubber mounted on the side of the actuator assembly has a body portion with a plurality of arms extending therefrom. Each pair of the arms form a groove so that the arms are disposed above and below discs while the discs extend into the grooves. A plurality of slits are interposed between the grooves to support the flex strips therein. An opposite end of the flex support snubber curves to form a U-shaped snubber bend for turning and guiding a dynamic portion of the flex.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for an improved insulating wire guide for a disc drive actuator assembly. The insulating wire guide is integrally formed with an actuator arm and comprises a rigid, non-conductive material formed onto the actuator arm, the wire guide having a base portion on which head wires rest and tabs extending from the base portion to form a channel through which the head wires are routed. The wire guide and actuator arm are formed from an extrusion having a cross-sectional shape substantially that of the actuator arm, the extrusion including dams forming a channel along one side of the extrusion. The non-conductive material is applied to the extrusion, substantially filling the channel, and, after the non-conductive material is cured, the extrusion and the cured non-conductive material is machined to provide the desired configuration of the actuator arm and the wire guide.

Abstract: An apparatus connects a flexible circuit to an actuator arm of a disc drive. The actuator arm supports a transducer head assembly, and the flexible circuit includes an electrical circuit supporting structure supporting a first electrical circuit coupled to the transducing head assembly. The apparatus comprises a solder joint. In one embodiment, the solder joint comprises a pin, respective first and second pin receiving holes in the actuator arm and supporting structure, and a solder connection between the pin and the supporting structure. Connecting the flexible circuit to the actuator arm entails inserting the pin through the second pin receiving hole, press-fitting the pin into the first pin receiving hole, and soldering it to the supporting structure. Another embodiment includes a solder connection between a ground plane on the supporting structure and the pin.

Abstract: A transducer signal terminator for providing electrical connections between a plurality of read/write transducer lead wires and a preamplifier includes a substrate having a plurality of layers and has a plurality of intermediate strips attached to the substrate. A plurality of head pads are located on the substrate to provide interconnection points between the lead wires and the substrate. Each intermediate strip is placed on the substrate such that each of a plurality of holes therein is aligned with one of the head pads on the substrate. An electrical connection is then formed between each head pad and a corresponding conductive pad of the intermediate strip.

Abstract: An apparatus for predicting twist out torque of a swage mount measures work done by a swage ram during a swaging operation. The apparatus includes a position sensor for sensing the position of the ram and a force sensor for sensing the force of the ram during the swaging operation. The apparatus gathers position and force information and calculates swaging work. Swaging work correlates with twist-out torque for a swage mount. Calculated swaging work is compared with a minimum acceptable swaging work value which is related to a minimum acceptable twist out torque level. If the swage work of a particular swage mount is below the minimum acceptable swage work level, an operator can reswage the mount and thereby strengthen the mount to avoid future failure due to rotation at the swage mount.

Abstract: An apparatus for predicting twist out torque of a swage mount measures work done by a swage ram during a swaging operation. The apparatus includes a position sensor for sensing the position of the ram and a force sensor for sensing the force of the ram during the swaging operation. The apparatus gathers position and force information and calculates swaging work. Swaging work correlates with twist-out torque for a swage mount. Calculated swaging work is compared with a minimum acceptable swaging work value which is related to a minimum acceptable twist out torque level. If the swage work of a particular swage mount is below the minimum acceptable swage work level, an operator can reswage the mount and thereby strengthen the mount to avoid future failure due to rotation at the swage mount.