Abstract: A disk drive includes a base, a spindle motor attached to the base, the spindle motor including a hub having hub apertures, a plurality of disks on the spindle motor and including a first and a second disk, a disk spacer between the first and second disks, and a disk clamp. The disk spacer has a plurality of spacer through apertures. Each of the spacer through apertures extend radially through the disk spacer. The disk clamp has clamp through apertures adjacent to an inner diameter of the disk clamp. Each of the clamp through apertures extend longitudinally through the disk clamp. The clamp through apertures, the hub apertures and the spacer through apertures are aligned for allowing airflow to pass through the apertures when the disks are rotating.

Abstract: A disk drive includes a disk clamp for clamping a plurality of disks to a spindle motor, and a disk spacer positioned between first and second disks. The first disk has a plurality of first disk through apertures adjacent its inner diameter. The first disk through apertures are circumferentially spaced-apart and extend longitudinally through the first disk. The disk spacer has a plurality of spacer apertures that are circumferentially spaced-apart and extend longitudinally through a portion of a thickness of the disk spacer. The disk clamp is adjacent to the first disk and has a plurality of clamp through apertures adjacent an outer diameter of the disk clamp. The clamp through apertures are circumferentially spaced-apart and extend longitudinally through the disk clamp. The first disk through apertures, the spacer apertures, and the clamp through apertures are aligned for allowing airflow to pass through when the plurality of disks is rotating.

Abstract: Disk drives including suspensions and head gimbal assemblies in which the load beam pitch angle is reduced exhibit a reduced disk flutter induced track mis-registration (TMR) at the disk outer diameter. The reduction in the load beam pitch angle may be achieved through variations in the load beam, hinge and/or mount plate configurations, relative positions and/or thickness.

Abstract: There is provided a disk drive including a disk drive base and a spindle motor hub. The disk drive further includes first and second disks disposed about the spindle motor hub. The disk drive further includes a disk spacer disposed about the spindle motor hub between the first and second disks. The disk spacer includes a circumferential disk spacer opening. The disk drive including a plate body extending between the first and second disks for modifying air flow adjacent the first and second disks during operation of the disk drive, and an inner edge extending from the plate body and disposed towards the hub, the inner edge being disposed within the disk spacer opening overlapping the disk spacer in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation for mitigating against contact between the inner edge and the first and second disks.

Abstract: There is provided a disk drive including a disk drive base and a spindle motor hub. The disk drive further includes first and second disks disposed about the spindle motor hub. The disk drive further includes a disk plate coupled to the disk drive base. The disk plate includes a plate body extending between the first and second disks for modifying air flow adjacent the first and second disks. The plate body includes a plate body thickness in a direction parallel to an axis of rotation of the spindle motor hub. The disk plate further includes an inner edge extending from the plate body and disposed towards the hub. The inner edge includes an edge thickness in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation less than the plate body thickness for mitigating against contact between the inner edge and the first and second disks.

Abstract: A method of etching multi-layer films, the method including: (1) etching a plurality of layers according to etching parameters, (2) determining a plurality of optical characteristics each associated with one of the plurality of layers and determined during the etching of the associated one of the plurality of layers, and (3) determining dynamic etch progressions each based on one of the plurality of optical characteristics that is associated with a particular one of the plurality of layers undergoing the etching.

Abstract: A disk drive includes a head gimbal assembly that includes structure that decreases the pitch angle of the load beam, which decreases disk flutter induced track mis-registration. According to one embodiment, the disk drive includes a body portion including a bore defining a pivot axis; an actuator arm cantilevered from the body portion and a head gimbal assembly (HGA) supported at the actuator arm. The HGA includes a load beam having a first end and a second end, the first end being attached to the actuator arm, the load beam defining a load beam feature near the second end, at least a portion of the load beam feature defining an extension that is parallel to the pivot axis and that has a rectangular cross-section having a length to width aspect ratio that is greater than 1. A slider is coupled to a free end of the load beam extension, and a gimbal coupled to the second end of the load beam and to the slider.

Abstract: A disk drive includes an enclosure having a cover and a base, a spindle motor assembly, a disk, and an arcuate raised portion on the base. The disk is mounted on a hub of the spindle motor assembly and has a first surface and a second surface. The first surface is proximate the base and is spaced apart from the base by a first clearance distance. The arcuate raised portion on the base is spaced apart from the disk by a second clearance distance. The second clearance distance is less than the first clearance distance. At least a portion of the disk is superposed over the arcuate raised portion.

Abstract: A shroud assembly for a disk drive that includes a rotatable disk, a printed circuit board, a data transfer head, an actuator assembly and a flex cable, includes a cable shrouding portion. The shroud assembly also includes a disk shrouding portion and a cable mounting portion. The cable mounting portion includes a first surface and a second surface. The first surface is configured to receive a transition portion of the flex cable proximate to a second end. The second surface is configured to receive the second end of the flex cable and to position the second end for engagement by the printed circuit board. The cable shrouding portion is configured to shield a spanning portion of the flex cable between the cable mounting portion and the actuator assembly from airflow generated by the rotation of the rotatable disk.

Abstract: A method of etching multi-layer films, the method including: (1) etching a plurality of layers according to etching parameters, (2) determining a plurality of optical characteristics each associated with one of the plurality of layers and determined during the etching of the associated one of the plurality of layers, and (3) determining dynamic etch progressions each based on one of the plurality of optical characteristics that is associated with a particular one of the plurality of layers undergoing the etching.

Abstract: The base of a disk drive defines an interior shroud surface. The interior shroud surface is configured to follow a portion of the curvature of the disk at a distance from the outer diameter of the disk. The interior shroud surface of the base may define one or more channels for modifying the airflow developed as the disk rotates. The interior shroud surface defines an opening to enable the head stack assembly to pivot over the disk, which opening is bounded by a leading shroud portion and a trailing shroud portion. The leading shroud portion and/or the trailing shroud portion may also define a channel or channels for modifying the airflow that is developed as the disk rotates.

Abstract: A disk drive includes a spindle motor assembly mounted on an enclosure and at least two disks. The disks are mounted on a hub of the spindle motor assembly. Each of the disks have a magnetic medium deposited between an inner circumference and an outer circumference. The disks define a volume therebetween wherein airflow is generated when the disks rotate. The disk drive also includes an airflow spoiler positioned between the disks. The airflow spoiler has a spoiler mounting portion and a non-data bearing extending portion. The spoiler mounting portion is configured to be mounted on the hub of the spindle motor assembly. The non-data bearing extending portion is connected to the spoiler mounting portion and extends outwardly therefrom into the volume defined between the disks. The non-data bearing extending portion extends at least partially over the magnetic medium.

Abstract: A disk drive including a disk drive base. The disk drive further includes at least one rotatable disk which includes a disk surface extending to an outer disk edge. The disk drive further includes a head stack assembly rotatably attached to the disk drive base in operable communication with the disk. The disk drive further includes an airflow suppressor comb coupled to the disk drive base and stationary relative to the disk drive base during operation of the disk drive. The comb includes a comb body disposed adjacent to the outer disk edge, and at least one tine extending from the comb body along the disk surface for mitigating disk rotation induced airflow upon the head stack assembly adjacent to the disk surface.

Abstract: A disk drive includes a disk drive base. The disk drive further includes at least one rotatable disk including a disk surface extending to an outer disk edge. The disk drive further includes a head stack assembly rotatably attached to the disk drive base in operable communication with the disk. The disk drive further includes an airflow suppressor comb coupled to the disk drive base and stationary relative to the disk drive base during operation of the disk drive. The comb includes a comb body disposed adjacent to the outer disk edge, and at least one tine extending from the comb body along the disk surface for mitigating disk rotation induced airflow upon the head stack assembly adjacent to the disk surface. The comb further includes a curved extension extending along the outer disk edge for mitigating turbulent airflow adjacent the outer disk edge.

Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to an integrated post-etch treatment method which is performed after a dielectric etch process. Using the method of the invention, byproducts formed on the sidewalls of contact vias during the dielectric etch process can be removed efficiently. The method of the invention also reduces or eliminates the problem of polymer accumulation on process chamber surfaces. An overlying photoresist layer and anti-reflection layer are removed during the performance of the post-etch treatment method. Typically, after the etch of a dielectric material to define pattern or interconnect filling spaces, a series of post-etch treatment steps is performed to remove residues remaining on the wafer after the dielectric etch process. According to the method of the present invention, a post-etch treatment method including one or more steps is performed after the dielectric etch process, preferably within the same processing chamber in which the dielectric etch process was performed.