Abstract: A data storage device includes a ferromagnetic center pole, a drive coil for an actuator arm assembly, and a magnetic assembly surrounding the drive coil. The drive coil surrounds the center pole and has a top, a bottom, and first and second sides; the first side is attached to the actuator arm assembly. The magnetic assembly includes a top magnet disposed above and spaced from the center pole, a bottom magnet disposed below and spaced from the center pole, and a side magnet disposed proximate the second side of the coil and spaced from the center pole. In another embodiment, a linear actuator comprises a ferromagnetic center pole, a drive coil supported for linear motion on a rail, and a magnetic assembly. A method including linearly moving a drive coil along a center pole by a magnetic field is also described.

Abstract: A data storage device includes a stack of a plurality of disks, first and second arms, first and second heads, first and second linear drivers and an elevator. Each of the plurality of disks includes a read/write surface. The first arm has a first head end that is movable relative to the stack. The first head is configured to interact with a selected one of the read/write surfaces. The first linear driver is configured to move the first arm along a first straight line in a x-y plane defined by the one of the read/write surfaces. The elevator is configured to move the first arm in a z direction. The second arm has a second head end that is movable relative to the stack and supports the second head. The second linear driver is configured to move the second arm along a second straight line in the x-y plane.

Abstract: Described are electronic hard disk drives that are made to include: a base; a cover; interior components such as a stack of magnetic recording disks, reading and recording heads, electronics to read and record and to transfer data to and from an external electronic device; and a cover support at the interior of the device to inhibit movement of the cover.

Abstract: A solid state data storage assembly includes thermal interface material that conducts heat away from electrical components of the assembly. In some examples, the thermal interface material is positioned between a printed circuit board assembly, which includes electrical components, and a cover of a housing of the data storage assembly. The thermal interface material may also provide shock protection for the data storage assembly by at least one of increasing a stiffness of the data storage assembly, absorbing some mechanical loads applied to the data storage assembly or distributing the applied loads. In addition, in some examples, the thermal interface material exhibits some tackiness, such that removal of a thermal interface material from a data storage assembly and subsequent repositioning of the thermal interface material within the data storage assembly may provide a visual indication of tampering.

Abstract: A solid state data storage assembly includes thermal interface material that conducts heat away from electrical components of the assembly. In some examples, the thermal interface material is positioned between a printed circuit board assembly, which includes electrical components, and a cover of a housing of the data storage assembly. The thermal interface material may also provide shock protection for the data storage assembly by at least one of increasing a stiffness of the data storage assembly, absorbing some mechanical loads applied to the data storage assembly or distributing the applied loads. In addition, in some examples, the thermal interface material exhibits some tackiness, such that removal of a thermal interface material from a data storage assembly and subsequent repositioning of the thermal interface material within the data storage assembly may provide a visual indication of tampering.

Abstract: A monostable active latch apparatus is disclosed for use in a hard disk drive which has a housing, a rotating data storage disk and an actuator mounted in the housing. The actuator controllably positions a read/write head over a predetermined portion of the disk and includes a voice coil motor coil carried by a yoke portion of the actuator. The active latch uses a permanent magnet to bias an elongated rotatable latch arm into engagement with the actuator when the actuator is positioned in the landing zone. An electromagnet coil, positioned between the magnet and the magnetic return plates, when energized, counters this bias, permitting the latch arm to rotate, counterclockwise, out of engagement with the actuator.When the coil is deenergized, the permanent magnet provides a clockwise torque on the arm, raising the latch end of the latch arm to a first position out of the path of the actuator.

Abstract: A disk drive includes an enclosure having a base, a spindle motor fixed to the base, a disk mounted on the spindle motor, a pivot bearing cartridge, and a head stack assembly. The pivot bearing cartridge includes a shaft fixed to the enclosure, and the head stack assembly is connected to the pivot bearing cartridge for rotation relative to the shaft. The head stack assembly includes a body portion having a bore which surrounds the pivot bearing cartridge, a plurality of actuator arms with each arm cantilevered from the body portion, and a coil portion. The coil portion is cantilevered from the body portion in an opposite direction from the plurality of arms and provides damping of vibrations induced in the head stack assembly. The coil portion includes a plastic portion having a thickness, and a coil embedded in the plastic portion. The plastic portion includes a plurality of openings where each opening extends through the entire thickness of the plastic portion.

Abstract: An actuator coil for a disk drive is formed of materials and processed in a manner such that the amount of outgassing that occurs in normal operation of the disk drive is minimized. An insulative coating, such as polyurethane which is rated well above the normal operating temperature is first applied to drawn copper wire. Then, a polyamide bond coating was used to cover the insulative coating. Next, a lubricant having a low average molecular weight was selected. The resulting wire was then wound to form the actuator coil. The coil is then cured at a high temperature for an extended length of time to drive off solvents and allow the polymers to crosslink and stabilize.

Abstract: A hard disk drive that contains a detection circuit which senses the back emf of a voice coil. The detection circuit generates a shock detection signal when the back emf of the voice coil exceeds a pre-determined value. The write disable gate of the disk drive is disabled when the voltage detection circuit generates the shock detection signal.