Abstract: A method and apparatus for regulating the concentration of a vapor within a hard drive are provided. In one embodiment, the method may include providing a source chemical of a vapor in a first cavity formed within a first object, providing an absorptive chemical which absorbs the vapor in a second cavity formed within the first object, and providing a third cavity formed by a hard drive housing of the hard drive. A first conductance path having a first conductance connects the first cavity to the third cavity, a second conductance path having a second conductance connects the second cavity to the third cavity, and the first conductance and the second conductance maintain a partial pressure level of the vapor within the third cavity.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention pertain to maintaining an acceptable level of relative humidity inside of a disk drive. According to one embodiment, clean dry air is blow over a cover of the disk drive. The cover includes an unsealed servo write slot. The amount of clean dry air blown over the cover is regulated while a servo write process is performed so that a portion of the clean dry air is introduced into the disk drive.

Abstract: A data storage disk drive is provided with a spindle which supports a plurality of disks having at least one magnetic disk surface to form a spindle assembly for rotation of the disk surfaces about a common axis and a rotary actuator which supports magnetic transducers for movement in unison about respective disk surfaces. The disk drive includes a voltage reference tab provided for quick assembly and removal from an actuator comb. The voltage reference tab maintains the magneto-resistive transducers and the magnetic disks at the same reference voltage potential thus minimizing electrical discharge from the transducer to the disk. The voltage reference tab is a copper tab having symmetrical slots about a fastening hole to facilitate the bending operation and to reduce the rate at which heat is conducted during the soldering process. The tab maintains the voltage reference potential between the head and disk through an extension of the flex cable attached to the actuator.

Abstract: A data recording disk drive has an improved breather filter assembly that removes both chemical contaminants and particulate matter. The filter assembly includes a housing having an internal passage and a recess that supports and contains the chemical and particulate filter elements. The passage in the filter housing provides fluid communication between the breather opening and a sheet of chemical filter material. A barrier plate is also located in the filter housing recess adjacent to the side of the chemical filter sheet not exposed to air from the passage. The barrier plate prevents air from flowing through the chemical filter material and redirects the air flow across the surface of the chemical filter sheet. After the air flows by the chemical filter sheet, it is redirected through the particulate filter element and into the disk drive enclosure.

Abstract: A data recording disk drive has an improved breather filter assembly that removes both chemical contaminants and particulate matter. The filter assembly includes a housing having an internal passage and a recess that supports and contains the chemical and particulate filter elements, The passage in the filter housing provides fluid communication between the breather opening and a sheet of chemical filter material. A barrier plate is also located in the filter housing recess adjacent to the side of the chemical filter sheet not exposed to air from the passage. The barrier plate prevents air from flowing through the chemical filter material and redirects the air flow across the surface of the chemical filter sheet. After the air flows by the chemical filter sheet, it is redirected through the particulate filter element and into the disk drive enclosure.

Abstract: During wafer fabrication, a transportable enclosure, such as a Standard Manufacturing InterFace (SMIF) pod encloses a nascent product, such as a semiconductor wafer, to protect the wafer against contamination during manufacture, storage or transportation. However chemical vapors emitted inside the pod can accumulate in the air and degrade wafers during subsequent fabrication. In order to absorb the vapors inside a closed pod, a vapor removal element typically including an activated carbon absorber, covered by a particulate-filtering vapor-permeable barrier, and covered by a guard plate with holes is disposed within the enclosure. A vapor removal element is disposed closely adjacent to each respective wafer. Alternatively, a single vapor removal element is located inside the enclosure. In certain instances, a fan or thermo-buoyant circulation causes any vapors located inside the enclosure to a vapor removal element for removal.

Abstract: The vapor drain is a device that permits steady state control of the composition of the atmosphere within a substantially sealed enclosure. For any fabricated enclosure the will be sources of vapor phase molecules: molecules evaporating from a deliberately installed lubricant reservoir, molecules outgassed from components, and molecules diffusing in from the outside world. The purpose of the vapor drain is to minimize the second two classes of molecules in the composition of the enclosure atmosphere as they are considered to be contaminants. An example application is a rigid disk magnetic data storage device which requires a monomelecular layer of lubricant on the disk and slider surfaces. The vapor drains suppresses the contaminant population by capturing a portion of all three sources of molecules in the vapor phase.

Abstract: A chemical filter assembly mounted in a breather opening in a housing for a magnetic storage device or other device to permit pressure equalization with the surrounding environment comprises at least one filter medium for removing particulate matter, and a unitary filter medium of a fabric of activated carbon fibers that is impregnated with a chemical that in combination with the carbon provides protection against both organic and inorganic gaseous or vapor pollutants, said fibers having a pore size small enough prevent significant penetration by aqueous solutions so that during impregnation the pores will not become clogged with the chemical.

Abstract: The magnetic disk drive chemical breather filter of the present invention affords protection with respect to chemical vapors and gases in addition to trapping particulate pollutants. The chemical filter as described, protects against both organic vapors and inorganic gases. In addition particulate filters are interposed between the chemical filters and both the exterior atmosphere and internal atmosphere. The combined filter is isolated from both external and internal atmosphere by extended length diffusion passages. Both difffusion passages are composed of multiple parallel paths to prevent the blockage of any single path from impairing the functioning of the filter. Chambers formed at each side of the combined filter medium and access thereto by the diffusion passages at the center of one chamber and the periphery of the other enables the length of the air passage through the filter medium to be equal irrespective of the portion of the filter through which the air flow passes.