Abstract: A completely circumferential shroud is provided around the motor hub flange of a hard disk drive spindle motor. The shroud is continuous, smooth, and uniform, and formed at the same axial height as the flange to reduce air flow disturbances that are generated by the rotating motor hub flange. Unlike prior art designs that provide openings to accommodate the actuator, the present design has no openings or irregular shapes that can cause air flow disturbance. Air flow disturbance, especially when near the actuator arms or head suspensions, can impact track misregistration. In addition, the probability of circulating contamination particles inside the motor out into the disk drive enclosure is also reduced due to less irregular airflow patterns.

Abstract: A spindle motor for implementation in a low profile hard disk drive is described; that spindle motor having a novel configuration for the torque generating portion. The spindle motor includes a hub coupled with a disk platter; that has a rotational axis about a suitable bearing system. A stator portion of material for conducting magnetic flux from the rotor poles, and having twelve stems and a plurality of windings, is configured to be disposed beneath the disk platter and coupled to the drive base. A rotor portion coupled with the hub having back iron ring with a permanent sixteen pole magnet radially polarized is closely radially disposed to the stator. The number of poles of the rotor portion has a defined proportion relative to the number of stems of the stator portion. The windings provide conductivity for creating an electromagnetic force applicable at the torque radius for rotation of the hub.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention pertain to a method of manufacturing a disk drive coupling apparatus for rigidly coupling a disk drive to a chassis of a computer. In one embodiment, a disk drive to chassis coupler is formed and a disk drive to chassis coupler engaging mechanism is created. One end of the disk drive to chassis coupler can be coupled to the chassis. The disk drive to chassis coupler engaging mechanism can be used to cause the second end of the disk drive to chassis coupler to apply pressure to the disk drive, thus, the disk drive can be rigidly coupled to the chassis.

Abstract: The invention is a hard-disk-drive (HDD) assembly that includes a flame having the exterior dimensions of a particular form-factor HDD, an HDD with a form-factor smaller than the frame, a pair of mount assemblies that support the HDD entirely within the larger form-factor frame, and an electrical cable located entirely within the frame and having one end connected to the HDD and the other end exposed to the frame exterior at the position determined by the specifications of the larger form-factor. The HDD assembly thus presents a smaller form-factor HDD as a fully plug-compatible alternative to a larger form-factor HDD. The mount assemblies have spring-like cantilever arms in contact with damping material to provide a highly-damped nonlinear spring system that provides mechanical-shock resistance for the HDD in a direction normal to the planes of the disks and high stiffness in a direction parallel to the planes of the disks.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention pertain to a disk drive coupling apparatus for rigidly coupling a disk drive to a chassis of a computer. In one embodiment, the disk drive coupling apparatus includes a disk drive to chassis coupler and a disk drive to chassis coupler engaging mechanism. One end of the disk drive to chassis coupler can be coupled to the chassis of the computer. The disk drive to chassis coupler engaging mechanism is capable of causing the other end of the disk drive to chassis coupler to apply pressure to the disk drive, thus, the disk drive can be rigidly coupled to the chassis.

Abstract: A mechanical-shock-mount assembly enables attachment of a mechanical-shock-sensitive electronic device to a support structure. Two identical shock-mount structures are attached and located on opposite sides of an electronic device. Each shock-mount structure has a pair of generally planar spring-like cantilever beams that have their free ends for attachment to the support structure. Damping material is located on the surfaces of the cantilever beams between the beams and clamping surfaces. At least one clamping surface is a plate that compresses the damping material between itself and the beam and/or compresses the damping material between the beam and a surface of the support structure when it is attached to the support structure. This shock-mount structure acts as a highly-damped nonlinear spring system that provides mechanical-shock resistance for the device in a direction perpendicular to the cantilevered beams and high stiffness in a direction in the plane of the beams.

Abstract: A method of attenuating airflow disturbances in a hard disk drive utilizes a completely circumferential shroud around the motor hub flange of a hard disk drive spindle motor. The shroud is continuous, smooth, and uniform, and formed at the same axial height as the flange to reduce airflow disturbances that are generated by the rotating motor hub flange. Unlike prior art designs that provide openings to accommodate the actuator, the present design has no openings or irregular shapes that can cause airflow disturbance. Airflow disturbance, especially when near the actuator arms or head suspensions, can impact track misregistration. In addition, the probability of circulating contamination particles inside the motor out into the disk drive enclosure is also reduced due to less irregular airflow patterns.

Abstract: A spindle design for a hard disk drive assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention includes a significantly large gap between the rotating, ferromagnetic hub with its permanent magnet rotor and the rotating sleeve of the fluid bearing journal member. The large gap may be filled with a medium, such as air, or a non-permeable material. The large gap is preferably on the order of several hundred microns. Because of the large gap, the magnetic flux leakage from the rotating hub members and sleeve into the stationary shaft at the center of the spindle is negligible. Consequently, iron loss in the shaft caused by magnetic flux leakage into the shaft is reduced to acceptable noise levels.

Abstract: A motor having reduced deformation due to a temperature change. The motor is an outer ring type motor having a bearing cartridge, which integrates the shaft, ball bearings and sleeve. The outer periphery of the sleeve is attached to the inner periphery of the hub at a bonding region positioned axially between the ball bearing holding portions. The bonding portion includes a stress reducing region. The diameter of the hub within the stress reducing region is not uniform in order to reduce the stress generated between the outer periphery of the sleeve and the inner periphery of the hub due to thermal expansion.

Abstract: A spindle design for a hard disk drive assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention includes a significantly large gap between the rotating, ferromagnetic hub with its permanent magnet rotor and the rotating sleeve of the fluid bearing journal member. The large gap may be filled with a medium, such as air, or a non-permeable material. The large gap is preferably on the order of several hundred microns. Because of the large gap, the magnetic flux leakage from the rotating hub members and sleeve into the stationary shaft at the center of the spindle is negligible. Consequently, iron loss in the shaft caused by magnetic flux leakage into the shaft is reduced to acceptable noise levels.

Abstract: A head stack assembly for a data recording disk drive has a carriage on which a coil is mounted. The carriage has a first surface and a second surface. A first head gimbal assembly is mounted on the first surface, and a second head gimbal assembly is mounted on the second surface. A datum member is formed on each of the surfaces of the carriage. The datum member is used to position each of the head gimbal assemblies on their respective surfaces. The datum member has two pins that engage apertures in the head gimbal assemblies. A pivot member is located in a separate aperture between the pins such that the head stack assembly is balanced at the center of the pivot member.

Abstract: A spindle motor employed for a hard disk unit, including a hub having an outer peripheral wall portion provided with a rotor magnet on its outer peripheral surface and formed so as to be able to support the inner peripheral portion of a hard disk and a stator coil fixed so as to be positioned outwards in the radial direction of the disk and face the rotor magnet. This spindle motor is assembled in the disk unit, in which each stator coil is disposed so that the tracing of the magnetic head in movement is positioned between adjacent cores, thereby the magnetic head is affected less by the leak magnetic flux from the stator coil. In addition, the scanning head is moved to its unloading position with use of an energy accumulated in the capacitor when the power of the disk unit is turned off.

Abstract: A method for making a suspension system comprising a multiple layer flexure, a load beam and an arm. The load beam extends from the tip of the suspension all the way back to the rear of the arm. Datum holes are located in the load beam such that during assembly all reference points are made from the single load beam piece.

Abstract: A spindle motor employed for a hard disk unit, including a hub having an outer peripheral wall portion provided with a rotor magnet on its outer peripheral surface and formed so as to be able to support the inner peripheral portion of a hard disk and a stator coil fixed so as to be positioned outwards in the radial direction of the disk and face the rotor magnet. This spindle motor is assembled in the disk unit, in which each stator coil is disposed so that the tracing of the magnetic head in movement is positioned between adjacent cores, thereby the magnetic head is affected less by the leak magnetic flux from the stator coil. In addition, the scanning head is moved to its unloading position with use of an energy accumulated in the capacitor when the power of the disk unit is turned off.

Abstract: The head support mechanism is divided into the three portions, i.e. a rear portion one end of which can be pivotally mounted, a front portion supporting a slider including a read/write head for reading data from the magnetic recording disk or writing data to the magnetic recording disk, and a flexible hinge portion connecting the rear portion and the front portion. At least one extruded portion is provided on a surface of the front portion opposing to the recording disk at position adjacent to the flexible hinge portion. The extruded portion is coated by a resilient layer made of a material selected from a group consisting of polyimide, rubber, epoxy resin, silicone rubber, polyvinylchloride, polybutadiene and polyetherurethane.

Abstract: When an unexpected shock is applied to the personal computer, a sharp edge of the load beam or a sharp edge of the flexure is contacted or collided to the surface of the magnetic recording disk to damage its surface, so that a desired read/write operation is not performed.The head support mechanism is divided into the three portions, i.e. a rear portion one end of which can be pivotally mounted, a front portion supporting a slider including a read/write head for reading data from the magnetic recording disk or writing data to the magnetic recording disk, and a flexible hinge portion connecting the rear portion and the front portion. In according to the present invention, a protection layer is provided on a surface of the rear portion opposing to the recording disk at a position adjacent to the flexible hinge portion. The protection layer is provided on a surface of the front portion opposing to the recording disk at a position adjacent to the flexible hinge portion.

Abstract: The present invention prevents a head/slider assembly fixed on a flexure of a head suspension assembly from having an undesired pitching motion when an unexpected excess shock is applied to a hard disk device when the head suspension is at the best position of the unload ramp.

Abstract: A head support arm of a disk drive device of the present invention comprises: an arm member having a rear portion with a pivot center and a front portion, a suspension load beam member having a rear portion fixed to the front portion of the arm member and a front portion supporting a head/slider assembly, and a flexure attached to the suspension load member, and is characterized in that the suspension load beam member has a first datum feature, a second datum feature and a third datum feature, the first datum feature is located in a hinged portion that applies a load force to the head/slider assembly, the first datum feature is located in proximity and adjacent to a dimple for providing a gimbal motion of the head/slider assembly, the first datum feature has a V shaped portion, the second datum feature is a slot and is in proximity and adjacent to a spacer mounted at the pivot center of the arm member, and the third datum feature is a slot and is in proximity and adjacent to a front end of the arm member.

Abstract: A suspension system comprises a multiple letter flexure, a load beam and an arm. The load beam extends from the tip of the suspension all the way back to the rear of the arm. Datum holes are located in the load beam such that during assembly all reference points are made from the single load beam piece.

Abstract: The present invention provides a stacked type actuator arm assembly equipped with a structure for easily fixing lead wires between a coil and a flexible cable. A stacked type actuator arm assembly that is used in a magnetic disk storage is equipped at the coil support portion of a coil support spacer with a small hole through which lead wires and are inserted. Since the spacer is stamped from a flat sheet, a structure for holding the lead wires cannot be freely formed as in a die casting method, but formation of the small hole according to the present invention is easy. During manufacturing, after the lead wires and have been inserted through the small hole, if they are processed in the following fabrication step, there is no possibility that force will be applied to the boundary portion between a coil and the lead wire extending from a wire of the coil which would peel a wire of the coil off.