Abstract: Techniques or processes for providing markings on products are disclosed. The markings provided on products can be textual and/or graphic. The techniques or processes can provide high resolution markings on surfaces that are flat or curved. In one embodiment, the products have housings and the markings are to be provided on the housings. For example, the housing for a particular product can include an outer housing surface and the markings can be provided on the outer housing surface.

Abstract: Techniques or processes for providing markings on products are disclosed. The markings provided on products can be textual and/or graphic. The techniques or processes can provide high resolution markings on surfaces that are flat or curved. In one embodiment, the products have housings and the markings are to be provided on the housings. For example, the housing for a particular product can include an outer housing surface and the markings can be provided on the outer housing surface.

Abstract: Techniques or processes for providing markings on products are disclosed. The markings provided on products can be textual and/or graphic. The techniques or processes can provide high resolution markings on surfaces that are flat or curved. In one embodiment, the products have housings and the markings are to be provided on the housings. For example, the housing for a particular product can include an outer housing surface and the markings can be provided on the outer housing surface.

Abstract: An assembly arrangement includes an assembly head having plural nozzles. The assembly head is designed to operate on a group of attach sites of a substrate at substantially the same time and is designed to be moveable relative to the substrate to allow the plural nozzles to successively operate on different groups of attach sites of the substrate.

Abstract: An inventive method of manufacturing precisely-compressed multi-layer stacks is presented. Two stacks are assembled. One stack, having a compression sensor between two layers, is then compressed with an initial compression force, and the signal from the sensor is measured. The other stack is then compressed with a force derived from the measurement.

Abstract: A structure for holding an optical subassembly such as a laser and which minimizes the tilt of the optical subassembly. Pads are placed between the optical subassembly and the housing forming grooves along the inside of the housing and between the pads. The solder for mounting the subassembly to the housing is placed in the grooves. The volume of the solder is chosen so that it does not overflow the grooves. But the solder can be constructed so that its height is greater than the height of the grooves. The optical subassembly is placed against the solder with a downward force and heat is applied to the bottom of the base to melt the solder.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for individually clamping discs in a disc stack assembly to improve mechanical shock resistance of a disc drive. A clamping spacer includes a circumferentially extending body portion having a hub contact surface rigidly affixable to a hub of a spindle motor used to rotate first and second discs. The clamping spacer further includes top and bottom spring flanges which extend radially from the body portion away from the spindle motor hub so that the body portion and the spring flanges form a generally c-shaped cross-section. When the body portion is affixed to the spindle motor hub above the first disc and below the second disc, the bottom spring flange exerts a first axially directed clamping force upon the first disc and the top spring flange independently exerts a second axially directed clamping force upon the second disc.

Abstract: Apparatus in a disc drive for improving resistance of a disc drive disc stack to radially directed mechanical shocks. A disc is disposed about a rotatable spindle motor hub. Opposing first and second disc support members (such as a disc clamp, disc spacers, or a hub flange) circumferentially extend about the outer hub surface and cooperate to apply a clamping force to the disc to secure the disc relative to the spindle motor hub. The disc support members each comprise a circumferentially extending ring of high friction material having a contact surface that axially extends toward the disc. The clamping force applied to the disc is localized at the rings and at nodes extending from the disc support members so that respective gaps are formed between the disc and remaining portions of the disc support members, thereby reducing radial disc slip, increasing disc dampening, and reducing the likelihood of disc coning and warping.

Abstract: A data disc support assembly comprising a hub with a first axial end and a second axial end and a flange depending from the second axial end, the flange comprising a contact surface extending radially from the central axis between an inner contact surface radius and an outer contact surface radius and imparting a clamping force toward one surface of the disc. A clamp connected to the hub comprises a contact surface imparting a clamping force toward an opposing surface of the disc, the clamp contact surface extending radially from the central axis between in inner contact surface radius and an outer contact surface radius, wherein the flange contact surface and the clamp contact surface are substantially equivalent and radially offset.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for clamping discs in a disc stack assembly to provide even distribution of clamping force upon the discs. A teeth lock ring disposed atop a disc stack includes an annular member with a central opening for passing over a spindle motor hub. The teeth lock ring further includes a plurality of grooves and wedge shaped portions alternatively and circumferentially disposed about an inner diameter. Corresponding teeth on the spindle motor hub lock into each of the plurality of grooves. The circumferentially extending wedge shaped portions secure within corresponding grooves on the spindle motor hub. The teeth lock ring effectively compresses a clamp to provide uniform contact between the clamp and a top most disc to prevent disc waviness.

Abstract: The present invention provides a double grooved spacer for reducing coning of discs. A double grooved spacer includes a body portion with a plurality of spring flanges radially extending therefrom to form an inner radial groove and an outer radial groove. The body portion in conjunction with the plurality of spring flanges form a generally I-shaped cross-section. The double grooved spacer further includes circumferentially extending contact nodes disposed on the spring flanges so that the clamping force is localized at selected positions on the discs and the double grooved spacers to provide uniform distribution of the clamping force within the disc stack.