Abstract: A method for detecting ramp load/unload operations is disclosed. The method includes measuring a signal value generated by a transducer element during either a ramp unload operation or a ramp load operation in a data storage device. The method further includes analyzing the signal value to determine whether the ramp load operation or the ramp unload operation in the data storage device has occurred.

Abstract: An actuator structure includes a flexure suspension with a flag appendage having a cantilevered portion extending parallel to the arm-suspension to form a gap therebetween. The flex cable that connects to the device electronics has an elongated portion secured to the side of the arm-suspension assembly presenting termination pads, which extend to the cable edge, along the elongated portion side and in alignment with the gap between arm-suspension and flag. The leads extending from the transducer are fanned out and extend across the gap. The leads are bonded to the arm-suspension and to the lead cantilevered portion immediately adjoining the gap. To terminate the leads, the flag is folded down 90 degrees, bringing the leads into contact with the te nation pads where they are ultrasonically bonded. The flag is then bent toward its original position causing the fine lead wires to separate between the flag cantilever portion bond and the ultrasonically bonded termination.

Abstract: A shock-resistant actuator assembly for use in a data storage system is disclosed. The actuator assembly includes an actuator body, fabricated from a first type of metal, having a central aperture for pivoting on an actuator shaft. The actuator body includes at least one composite actuator arm extending outwardly from the actuator body. The composite actuator arm includes a primary arm member, also fabricated from the first type of metal, and a plating of a second type of metal having a thickness of at least 20 microns disposed on an upper and lower surface of the primary arm member. In one embodiment, the primary arm member is fabricated from aluminum and subjected to an electroless nickel plating process to deposit a sufficient thickness of nickel thereon to appreciably increase the stiffness of the primary arm member. In another embodiment, an actuator comb assembly includes a plurality of integral composite actuator arms for supporting a plurality of head suspension assemblies.

Abstract: A low profile, high capacity, high performance disk drive includes a plurality of disk surfaces mounted in parallel for simultaneous rotation about an axis. Each of a plurality of data transducer heads for reading and/or writing data to the data surfaces is attached to a slider. A stacked arm actuator for moving the data transducer heads in a radial direction across the disk surfaces includes a supporting arm and a suspension load beam attached to the supporting arm. The suspension load beam connects the supporting arm to the slider. The suspension load beam includes a load dimple bearing on the slider and has opposed stiffening flanges extending in a plane adjacent the slider. The actuator includes a stack of 9 head arm suspension assemblies and the stack has a height of 16.634 mm. An interdisk spacing of less than 1.4 mm provides a height dimension of 14.635 for a stack of 8 disks.

Abstract: An actuator structure includes a flexure suspension with a flag appendage having a cantilevered portion extending parallel to the arm-suspension to form a gap therebetween. The flex cable that connects to the device electronics has an elongated portion secured to the side of the arm-suspension assembly presenting termination pads, which extend to the cable edge, along the elongated portion side and in alignment with the gap between arm-suspension and flag. The leads extending from the transducer are fanned out and extend across the gap. The leads are bonded to the arm-suspension and to the lead cantilevered portion immediately adjoining the gap. To terminate the leads, the flag is folded down 90 degrees, bringing the leads into contact with the termination pads where they are ultrasonically bonded. The flag is then bent toward its original position causing the fine lead wires to separate between the flag cantilever portion bond and the ultrasonically bonded termination.

Abstract: A direct access storage device includes at least one disk mounted for rotation about an axis and having opposed disk surfaces for storing data. A magneto-resistive (MR) transducer head is mounted for movement across each respective disk surface for writing to and for reading data signals from the disk surface. Each MR transducer head includes a write element and a read element. A preamplifier, associated with the MR transducer head, amplifies read and write signals of the read element and the write element. A flex cable couples the read and write signals between the preamplifier and the MR transducer heads. The flex cable includes a common read return signal line for each sequential pair of the MR transducer heads.

Abstract: A head suspension assembly for use in a disk drive having a load and unload ramp, the head suspension assembly including a load beam, a cover having a load and unload tang, a coating sandwiched between the cover and the load beam, and a head lead wire extending through the coating. In a preferred embodiment, the coating is a visco-elastic thermoplastic adhesive and the cover is a constraining material; whereby the cover is adhered to the load beam and undesired vibrations of the head suspension assembly are dampened. In a method of fabricating the head suspension assembly, the cover is placed over the load beam after the coating is applied and after the head lead wire is strung over the load beam, and then the cover is adhered to the load beam by heating the coating, preferably by placing a heated platen over the cover.

Abstract: An apparatus for mounting an actuator of a data storage system to a housing which uses a single mounting screw. The mounting screw is disposed within an aperture provided on the housing cover and a central bore of the actuator shaft, and secures the actuator shaft to a housing cover and base casting. A mounting boss is disposed on the base casting and adapted for registering with the actuator shaft and receiving the mounting screw. Efficient top-down assembly of standard and small form factor data storage systems is facilitated by employment of the novel actuator mounting apparatus.

Abstract: A shock-resistant actuator assembly for use in a data storage system is disclosed. The actuator assembly includes an actuator body, fabricated from a first type of metal, having a central aperture for pivoting on an actuator shaft. The actuator body includes at least one composite actuator arm extending outwardly from the actuator body. The composite actuator arm includes a primary arm member, also fabricated from the first type of metal, and a plating of a second type of metal having a thickness of at least 20 microns disposed on an upper and lower surface of the primary arm member. In one embodiment, the primary arm member is fabricated from aluminum and subjected to an electroless nickel plating process to deposit a sufficient thickness of nickel thereon to appreciably increase the stiffness of the primary arm member. In another embodiment, an actuator comb assembly includes a plurality of integral composite actuator arms for supporting a plurality of head suspension assemblies.

Abstract: An actuator for a PCMCIA DASD incorporates a tie bridge for stabilizing the support arms of the actuator while at the same time not increasing the largest radial dimension of the actuator drive motor beyond that of the radial dimension for the exterior of the coil. The tie bridge is disposed above, below, or both above and below the coil of the actuator drive motor. This space otherwise unused is now advantageously utilized, while additionally creating benefits in the design and the operation of the DASD. A crash stop and latch surface are incorporated into the structure of one of the support arms supporting the coil in such a way that the forces encountered by the actuator upon forcible engagement with a rigid structure within the DASD housing are absorbed and thereby reduced to values less than critical failure values.