Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an apparatus and methods of manufacturing woven, electrical connectors that have a first and second set of strands defining their weave, thereby forming a locally compliant connector capable of accommodating asperities. Strands of the first set, that provide the electrical contact points of the connector, are deformed to define passageways there through. Loading strands of the second set are then extended from a driving mechanism and through the passageways to form the weave of the connector. The strands of the first set are connected to a termination of the connector and the strands of the second set are loaded by being connected to an elastic element, thereby providing compliance to the weave.

Abstract: The present invention relates to rubber mixtures based on silica and carbon black-filled solution styrene/butadiene rubbers in which the silica has been partially replaced by rubber gels. The vulcanizates produced from the rubber mixtures of the present invention are distinguished by improved cushioning behavior at 0° C. and 60° C., and this is accompanied by better resistance to slipping when wet and improved rolling resistance. In addition, the vulcanizates have good resistance to wear. The processing behavior of the unvulcanized rubber mixtures (compound viscosity and Mooney relaxation) is not impaired by the partial substitution of silica.

Abstract: A suspension-level piezoelectric microactuator for the fine positioning of a head-arm assembly of a disk drive. The microactuator is manufactured from a generally flat metal sheet structure having a central beam and two tabs extending from opposite sides of the beam. At least one layer of piezoelectric material is bonded onto each of the two tabs. Each of the two tabs is bent, with the piezoelectric layers bonded thereto, to a position substantially normal to the central beam. The structure is then joined to the distal end of a suspension member of the head-arm assembly. A recording head is connected to the central beam of the microactuator. When a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric materials, deflection of the microactuator occurs, thereby positioning the recording head.

Abstract: Tapered elements fabricated from a substrate of a size many times that of a single element are disclosed. Such tapered elements may be used as piezoelectric microactuators such as in-plane piezoelectric bimorph microactuators. A unique method of fabricating such tapered elements is provided. According to the method, cutting directions are first defined, the substrate is then cut a plurality of times in each cutting direction with adjacent cuts in each cutting direction indexed by proper indexing distances which are determined based on the dimensions of the final tapered elements. In one embodiment of the method, a plurality of optically detectable marks are used to define the cutting directions and cutting means is accordingly optically aligned with the cutting directions.

Abstract: A microactuation system selectively alters a position of a transducing head carried by a slider in a disc drive system with respect to a track of a rotatable disk having a plurality of concentric tracks. The microactuation system includes a head suspension having a first portion and a second portion coupled by one or more flexible hinges. An electroactive element is attached to the first portion of the head suspension at one end and the second portion of the load beam at the other end. The electroactive element bends in response to a control signal applied thereto. The hinge is sufficiently compliant to permit movement of the first portion with respect to the second portion of the head suspension.

Abstract: The present invention relates to rubber mixtures based on silica and carbon black-filled solution styrene/butadiene rubbers in which the silica has been partially replaced by rubber gels. The vulcanizates produced from the rubber mixtures of the present invention are distinguished by improved cushioning behavior at 0° C. and 60° C., and this is accompanied by better resistance to slipping when wet and improved rolling resistance. In addition, the vulcanizates have good resistance to wear. The processing behavior of the unvulcanized rubber mixtures (compound viscosity and Mooney relaxation) is not impaired by the partial substitution of silica.

Abstract: A suspension for connecting a slider to an actuator arm of a disc drive includes a cushion extending vertically from the suspension. The cushion limits vertical excursions and dampens motion of the suspension during a shock event to better maintain the slider in contact with a disc surface in the disc drive. The cushion can be formed as an external feature attached to the suspension, such as a foam or plastic cushion, or as an integral feature of the suspension. A disc drive assembly having a plurality of discs includes a first suspension and a first cushion extending vertically downward toward a second suspension. The second suspension may include a second cushion extending vertically upward toward the first suspension.

Abstract: A head slider apparatus, to be attached to a magnetic head in a magnetic disc drive, for preventing bimodal stiction by preventing tipping of the head slider on its rear edge by forcing tipping of the head slider towards one of the head slider's corners. Subsequently, the head slider also mitigates any resultant stiction related to the corner tipping of the head slider that may occur. The head slider apparatus has a diamond-shaped pattern of four pads. The diamond-shaped pattern of the pads directs tipping of the head slider towards its corners. The head slider also has pads positioned in each corner of the head slider to address any resultant stiction caused by the corner tipping.

Abstract: A disc head slider supports a transducer relative to a moving media in a data storage system. The slider includes a slider body having a media opposing face with a leading slider edge, a trailing slider edge, a recessed area and a bearing surface formed by at least one positive pressurization area. The pressurization area is raised relative to the recessed area. A wearable airflow-blocking pad is positioned upstream of the positive pressurization area, between the positive pressurization area and the recessed area. The pad is wearable from a first height to a second, lower height relative to the positive pressurization area during normal operation of the data storage system. The airflow-blocking pad substantially disrupts fluid flow from reaching the positive pressurization area when at the first height and allows progressively increasing fluid flow to reach the positive pressurization area as the pad wears toward the second height.

Abstract: A microactuation system selectively alters a position of a transducing head carried by a slider in a disc drive system with respect to a track of a rotatable disk having a plurality of concentric tracks. The disc drive system includes a load beam and a base for attachment to an actuator arm and a suspension for supporting the slider over the rotatable disc. The microactuation system includes a piezoelectric element attached between the actuator arm and the load beam and a beam connecting a stationary portion of the load beam to a moving portion of the load beam. The piezoelectric element is deformable in response to a voltage applied thereto. The beams are sufficiently compliant to permit movement of the moving portion of the load beam with respect to the stationary portion of the load beam upon deformation of the piezoelectric element.

Abstract: A hydraulic engine mount includes an orifice track formed in a partition between an elastomer body and a base member of the mount, the partition being formed by two separable orifice plates. An annular fluid filled tuning chamber is disposed adjacent the orifice track and separated therefrom by a flexible membrane. An actuator is in communication with the tuning chamber for forcing pressure fluid into or out of the chamber to selectively deflect or distend the membrane to modify the cross sectional area of the orifice track and the vibration damping characteristics of the mount.

Abstract: A hydraulic engine mount includes an orifice track formed in a partition between an elastomer body and a base member of the mount, the partition being formed by two separable orifice plates. An annular fluid filled tuning chamber is disposed adjacent the orifice track and separated therefrom by a flexible membrane. An actuator is in communication with the tuning chamber for forcing pressure fluid into or out of the chamber to selectively deflect or distend the membrane to modify the cross sectional area of the orifice track and the vibration damping characteristics of the mount.

Abstract: A router having a base and an adjustably positioned motor assembly is provided with a pair of ergonomic elongate handles on opposite right and left sides of the motor housing. The elongate handles which are connected to and spaced from the motor housing by a pair of bridge members are ellipsoidal in shape when viewed in a transverse side elevation. Each elongate handle has a longitudinal length L having a large upper end, diameter Z and a lower small end diameter Z′.

Abstract: A suspension for connecting a slider to an actuator arm of a disc drive and for maintaining the slider substantially engaged with a disc surface positioned below the suspension incorporates a load beam defining a first bend region adjacent a proximal end of the load beam and a second bend region adjacent a distal end of the load beam. An overlapping member attached to a top surface of the load beam has a first segment fixed to the load beam on one side of the second bend region and a second segment that engages the load beam on the other side of the second bend region when the distal end of the load beam is placed under a load in the absence of a shock event. The second segment of the overlapping member disengages from the surface of the load beam during a shock event to allow the second bend region to help absorb the shock and maintain the slider engaged with the disc surface.

Abstract: A disc drive suspension incorporates a loadbeam with a shorter bend section having higher torsional stiffness and higher-frequency resonance states than conventional suspension bend sections. The bend section is formed by etching a narrow groove in the loadbeam. The suspension may also include a separate bend section piece that bridges a gap between the loadbeam anchor sheet and the loadbeam. A method of performing a pre-load adjustment on a transducer suspension for use in a disc drive includes attaching a loadbeam anchor sheet of the suspension to an actuator arm of an E-block to form part of an actuator assembly, measuring a pre-load force on the suspension on the actuator arm, back-bending the suspension until the bend section yields and measuring the pre-load force on the suspension on the actuator arm.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a head positioning suspension for a modern disc drive. The suspension has a base, a load beam, and a bend section. The load beam extends in a first plane and has a longitudinal axis extending between its first and second ends. The load beam also has a transverse axis extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis that is also within the first plane. The bend section connects the base to one end of the load beam and includes a longitudinal axis and transverse axis parallel to each of the respective longitudinal and transverse axis of the load beam. The bend section includes a plate with a given width extending substantially within the first plane and a rail that extends across a portion of that width in a direction that is parallel to the transverse axis of the bend section. The bend section rail further extends in a direction out of the first plane.

Abstract: Fatty acid sorbitan esters by direct reaction of sorbitol with fatty acid using a phosphorus oxyacid, including reducing phosphorus oxyacid particulary phosphouous acid, catalyst system and an alkali or alkali earth metal base, particulaly oxide, hydroxide or carbonate, in an axid:base molar ratio of 0.9:1 to 1.7:1, at a calalust concentration of 1.5 to 30%, particularly 3 to 12%, by weight of sorbitol can have lower color than products of prior commercial bulk processes even without the use of activated carbon and product bleaching typically used previously. The esters can be further reacted with alkylene oxide to make desivatives, particularly polysorbates. The esters and polyalkyleneoxy detivatives are useful surfactants in various application. Products of low color made without using activated carbon or bleaching are attractive for personal care applications.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display system having a plurality of liquid crystal display (LCD) units arranged in a tile configuration. The units simultaneously display different data as determined by the channelization. Each channel controls the operation of one or more units and provides redundant data to be displayed if needed.

Abstract: An improved magnetorheological fluid damper is provided which effectively provides a smooth transition, without a sharp break in the damper force/velocity curve, between very low damping forces near zero damper velocity to higher damping forces at higher piston velocities while maintaining desirable maximum force levels. The damper includes a piston assembly, including a magnet assembly and a flow gap extending through the piston assembly to permit fluid flow between the chambers. The force/velocity optimization feature includes a groove or passage open to the flow gap, positioned in series with a part of the flow gap in a magnetic circuit generated by the magnet assembly and dimnensioned/sized to permit fluid flowing through the passage to experience a magnetorheological effect less than a magnetorheological effect experienced by fluid flowing through the flow gap but not through the groove. Preferably, the passage is formed in an inner annular surface of a flux ring positioned around a piston core.

Abstract: An apparatus for minimizing corrosion product build-up within a disc drive incorporates a non-corrosive gas hermetically sealed within the disc drive and a diaphragm chamber that allows the constrained non-corrosive gas to respond to changes in pressure and temperature. The diaphragm chamber includes a diaphragm that partitions the diaphragm chamber into a top and bottom chambers. The top chamber has an aperture for communicating with the external environment and the bottom chamber has an aperture for communicating with the internally constrained non-corrosive gas. The diaphragm is non-permeable and made of an elastic material that responds to changes in air volume or mass on either side of the partition so that the pressure inside the hermetically sealed disc drive is constant throughout the life of the device. The diaphragm chamber can be located inside or outside the disc drive and can be integrally formed within the top cover of the disc drive.