Abstract: A method of reducing oscillation at the read write element of a hard disk drive, is described. In one embodiment, a flex cable for conducting data signals from a head stack assembly to a connector is provided. One or more weights are then coupled with the flex cable at one or more predetermined locations. The one or more predetermined locations are selected based upon mass distribution along the flex cable.

Abstract: A flex cable assembly for a head stack assembly of a hard disk drive comprises a flex cable for conducting data signals from the head stack assembly to a connector. The flex cable has a dynamic loop section between a termination for the head stack assembly and the connector. The flex cable has a constrained layer damper for attenuating random transient vibration. The constrained layer damper has a symmetrically tapered shape for reducing stress concentration and is coupled with the dynamic loop section of the flex cable adjacent to an area of the flex cable configured for receiving a coupler for coupling the flex cable assembly with the head stack assembly.

Abstract: A pure rotary microactuator comprising a spring assembly etched within a silicon substrate is disclosed. A first piezoelectric device is coupled with a first portion of the spring assembly and a second piezoelectric device coupled with a second portion of the spring assembly. The first piezoelectric device changes shape in response to an electrical input signal, and this change in shape provides a first push force to the first portion of the spring assembly in a first direction. The second piezoelectric device also changes shape in response to the electrical input signal, and this change in shape provides a second push force to the second portion in a second direction, which is different from the first direction. The combination of the first and the second push forces rotates the spring assembly with respect to the silicon substrate.

Abstract: A device for providing an external display and keypad for a smart-phone. The device has a port for receiving the smart phone. The device does not have its own computing power, but uses the computing power of the smart phone itself, thereby allowing the device to be smaller, lighter and less expensive than a standard lap-top computer not notebook device. The device is configured with a port for receiving a smart-phone and preferably holds the smart phone so that does not extend above the surface of the device or is flush with the surface of the device. The device can also be configured to allow the smart phone itself to act as a numerical keypad adjacent to the keypad provided on the device.

Abstract: A contoured region is disposed within a capillary buffer of a Fluid Dynamic Bearing. In one embodiment, the contoured region comprises at least one defined edge for arresting the displacement of a lubricant within the capillary buffer.

Abstract: Approaches for a fluid dynamic bearing (FDB) system for use within a hard-disk drive. A fluid dynamic bearing (FDB) system may comprise an upper conical bearing and a lower conical bearing that are both disposed along a stationary shaft on which a magnetic-recording disk is rotatably mounted. The upper conical bearing and the lower conical bearing may have different cone angles, diameters, and/or lubricants to produce a desired difference in stiffness between the first conical bearing and the second conical bearing. By adjusting characteristics of the fluid dynamic bearing (FDB) system to achieve the desired bearing stiffness ratio, the tendency for the magnetic-recording disks to experience a sustained vibration when the hard-disk drive receives a mechanical shock is reduced. By preventing the magnetic-recording disks from sustained vibration after a mechanical shock, data may be written to and read from the magnetic-recording disks with greater reliability.

Abstract: Approaches for inducing a magnetic bias in a magnetic recording disk. A biasing apparatus comprises a soft magnetic material member having a shape comprising two opposing recesses, denoted an upper recess and a lower recess. A first magnet is disposed within the upper recess and a second magnet disposed within the lower recess. An air gap exists between the first magnet and the second magnet. An opening in the soft magnetic material member is sized to accommodate at least a portion of the magnetic recording disk between the first magnet and the second magnet. The magnetic field produced by both the first magnetic and the second magnetic flows (a) in the same direction, and (b) perpendicular to the plane of the magnetic recording disk. Using this approach, magnetic material on the disk, such as magnetic islands of a bit pattern media, may be erased and polarized in the same direction.

Abstract: Approaches for a fluid dynamic bearing (FDB) system for use within a hard-disk drive. A fluid dynamic bearing (FDB) system may comprise an upper conical bearing and a lower conical bearing that are both disposed along a stationary shaft on which a magnetic-recording disk is rotatably mounted. The upper conical bearing and the lower conical bearing may have different cone angles, diameters, and/or lubricants to produce a desired difference in stiffness between the first conical bearing and the second conical bearing. By adjusting characteristics of the fluid dynamic bearing (FDB) system to achieve the desired bearing stiffness ratio, the tendency for the magnetic-recording disks to experience a sustained vibration when the hard-disk drive receives a mechanical shock is reduced. By preventing the magnetic-recording disks from sustained vibration after a mechanical shock, data may be written to and read from the magnetic-recording disks with greater reliability.

Abstract: Approaches for a hard-disk drive (HDD) baseplate comprising a recessed region that provides additional clearance for a disk. The protective enclosure of the HDD comprises a baseplate. The surface of the baseplate, which opposes a magnetic-recording disk, comprises a recessed region near the outer diameter (OD) of the magnetic-recording disk. The recessed region prevents the disk from being damaged through inadvertent physical contact with the baseplate, which may arise when the HDD receives a mechanical shock. The recessed region may be designed to minimize the damage to the disk if physical contact between the disk and the baseplate does occur. The recessed region may have a variety of shapes, such as a circular indentation or one or more non-contiguous regions in the baseplate where physical contact between the disk and the baseplate is deemed likely to occur.

Abstract: A system according to one embodiment includes a slider adapted for use in a hard disk drive; and a laser coupled to a slider, wherein electrical contacts of the laser are positioned towards or face the slider, wherein light from the laser is emitted towards the slider, wherein the slider acts as a heat sink for the laser.

Abstract: A HDD comprising a temperature sensor disposed inside the HDD configured to periodically measure temperature inside of said hard disk drive; a magnetic disk; a read head; a write head; memory for storing RWO data. The RWO data is a function of a distance between the read head and the write head. The HDD also includes a RWO data adjustor configured to adjust the RWO data in response to a change in temperature of the HDD to compensate for a change in the distance between the read head and the write head based on the change in temperature.

Abstract: A fastener feeding device for repeatedly feeding fasteners into a striking path of a driving tool includes an uplifting unit having a pivotable member which is pivotable about a torsion axis parallel to the striking path and movable in a feeding direction, a claw member which is biased by a torsion spring to hold a second fastener during an upward movement of the fasteners when the pivotable member is displaced from a lower position to an upper position, and a lifting member which extends transversely. A force transmitting unit is disposed to couple a contact arm of the driving tool to the lifting member to effect the upward movement of the fasteners in response to a rearward displacement of the contact arm when the contact arm is pressed by a targeted object to be fastened.

Abstract: An improved disk stack assembly for a hard disk drive (HDD) includes a generally cylindrical hub with flange having a downward sloping conical flange surface. The conical flange surface is defined between a radially inner circular ridge and a radially outer circular edge. The bottom disk in the stack is in contact with the flange inner circular ridge. The disk stack assembly also includes a disk clamp with a contact surface having a contact rim that is in contact with either the radially inner portion of the top disk in the stack or a spacer ring. The clamp contact rim is located at approximately the same radial distance from the hub's central cylindrical axis as the flange circular ridge so that the clamping force is applied to the disks close to the area where the disk stack is supported on the conical flange surface.

Abstract: An integrated microactuator slider. The microactuator includes a substrate having a fixed portion and a moveable portion. The microactuator also includes a slider communicatively integrated within the moveable portion of the substrate. The slider includes a read/write head for reading data from or writing data to a data storage device. The microactuator further includes a force generator communicatively integrated within the substrate. The force generator is for causing movement of the moveable portion of the substrate.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing of a hard-disk drive using a bulk eraser for erasing recorded information on a magnetic-recording disk. The method includes providing a bulk eraser that produces magnetic-flux density in a gap sufficient to erase recorded information from a magnetic-recording disk, a hard-disk drive, a disk-stack having at least one magnetic-recording disk, and a drive motor for rotating the magnetic-recording disk. The method also includes configuring a plurality of magnets and a structure of the bulk eraser such that magnetic-flux density is oriented parallel to and in a radial direction of the magnetic-recording disk; and rotating the magnetic-recording disk. The method further includes inserting the hard-disk drive into the gap of the bulk eraser; and erasing recorded information from the magnetic-recording disk located in the gap; and removing the hard-disk drive from the gap.

Abstract: A combined bulk thermal-assister and bulk eraser. The bulk thermal-assister is configured to produce a temperature in a magnetic-recording disk in a hard-disk drive when the hard-disk drive is disposed in the bulk eraser. The temperature is about equal to a second temperature greater than a first temperature of the magnetic-recording disk. The bulk eraser is configured to erase recorded information from the magnetic-recording disk at the second temperature.

Abstract: A system and method for improving lubrication in a fluid dynamic bearing are disclosed. A fluid dynamic bearing is formed. The fluid dynamic bearing comprises a shaft having an axis of rotation and a surface comprising a first groove at a first depth and a second groove at a second depth, wherein the first and second grooves are for supporting a film of lubricating fluid. The fluid dynamic bearing further includes a hub having an axis coincident to the axis of rotation and a complimentary surface juxtaposed to the shaft which is conducive to supporting the lubricating fluid such that the shaft is rotatably retained.

Abstract: A bulk eraser for erasing recorded information on a magnetic-recording disk. The bulk eraser includes at least three magnets and a structure magnetically coupled with the at least three magnets to produce magnetic-flux density in a gap. The gap has a first portion, a second portion and a third portion, such that a first magnet and a second magnet are disposed with opposing end poles across the first portion. The at least three magnets and the structure are configured to produce a magnetic-flux density in the second portion sufficient to erase recorded information from a portion of at least one magnetic-recording disk in a disk-stack when a hard-disk drive is inserted into the second portion. In addition, the at least three magnets and the structure are configured to direct the magnetic-flux density in a substantially radial direction of the portion of the magnetic-recording disk in the second portion.

Abstract: A disk drive. The disk drive includes an acceleration sensor, a servo controller, a detection determiner, and a handling processor. The acceleration sensor has an associated resonant frequency. The servo controller is configured to perform servo control for head positioning using frequency components that are obtained by cutting off frequency components including the resonant frequency from output of the acceleration sensor. The detection determiner is configured to detect a frequency band including the resonant frequency from the output of the acceleration sensor to determine whether a magnitude of a voltage amplitude of the frequency band is outside of a specified range. The handling processor is configured to execute a corresponding handling operation if the detection determiner determines that the magnitude of the voltage amplitude of the frequency band is outside of the specified range.

Abstract: A hard disk drive has a flexible cable and a flexible cable damper positioned adjacent to but separate from the flexible cable. The damper is a thin film loop with a damper patch that is completely independent of the flexible cable. The damper strip is a non-signal carrying substrate and has the constraint layer attached to it opposite the flexible cable. Both the damper and flexible cable extend in an arcuate configuration from the base to an integrated lead suspension tail extending from the actuator.