Abstract: A disk drive with a substantially spaced apart pivot configuration employing Knife Edge type pivot technology, or more specifically, at least one but preferably two contact points with relative movement of pin/cup structures with sliding and/or roll-off motion at contact point forming an axis of rotation and/or with inherently limited rotational range with rotatable confinement of movement along the pivot axis also contributing to either elimination and/or improvement of conventional elements/structures of the disk drive.

Abstract: A low cost, low power, lightweight, low audible noise, high speed actuator for a read and/or record implement or portion thereof attached in a structure with a free end which is movable in multiple directions about essentially a single point of a pivot. In close proximity, the free end preferably moves along a mostly stationary, partially spherical media having its center point at said single point. An actuator can be devised with very low inertia whereby most of the read and/or record implements are attached to a support. Also, focus and/or tracking implements could be essentially stationary in respect to said structure so that the actuator may require only one member to be movable with only one contact point coupling said structure and support. Possible no conventional flex lead may be required. Optionally, precision of focus and/or tracking implements may be enhanced by translation.

Abstract: An improved voice coil actuator for a head arm assembly. The portions of the voice coil which do not pass between the permanent magnets, and thus form a return path for the current, are bent substantially perpendicular to the remainder of the coil. One of these perpendicular portions is fixed to the head arm assembly by bonding or otherwise. The perpendicular arrangement of the return portion of the coil does not effect the coil's performance because this portion does not pass between the permanent magnets and thus is not involved in generating the force which moves the head arm assembly. Such an arrangement causes the voice coil to take up less room, allowing it to be placed closer the edge of the disk drive housing.

Abstract: A mechanism for applying a side-loading force to a ball bearing ring of a hard disc drive pivoting head arm assembly. The head arm assembly has a central shaft with first and second ball bearing rings surrounding the shaft, one ring being above the other. One or more springs bias the upper and lower rings away from each other to apply a vertical loading force. A side loading force is applied to one of the ball bearing rings to further stabilize the head arm assembly. The addition of the side loading force of the present invention gives loading forces in two directions on the ball bearings of the head arm assembly, thus greatly increasing the stability. Not only vertical vibrations are prevented, but also side-to-side or tilting vibrations are prevented as well. The side loading is preferably done with a spring mounted in a recess in the cylinder surrounding the ball bearing rings.

Abstract: An improved head lifting mechanism for a hard disk drive which lifts miltiple heads away from the top and bottom surfaces of disks. Two opposing lifter arms are used with one end of a first lifter arm extending between a head arm and the top surface of a disk while one end of the other lifter arm extends between another head arm and the bottom surface of a disk. The head arms are biased away from each other by a spring to separate the heads from the disk. An electromagnet pulls the lifter arms towards each other during operation of the disk drive so that the heads are not separated from the disks.

Abstract: A head lifter for a disk drive is electromagnetically actuated in order to securely remove the head/flexure assembly from the surface of the disk in order to avoid damage. The lifter operates in a fashion similar to a pair of scissors such that the motion of the armature in the electromagnetic loop produces motion in the opposite direction by the lifting arms thus accomplishing the lifting function. The lifting arms are specially shaped so as to securely retain the flexures away from the disk surface regardless of the relative location of the lifting arms with respect to the flexure. The lifting mechanism is provided with a magnetic shield which preserves the reliability of the data recorded on the disk. The lifting is accomplished by a spring which insures safe lifting in a power off condition. During normal operation of the disk drive, the electromagnetic loop draws a very low current in order to reduce the power requirements and further provide magnetic shielding.