Abstract: Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed towards an apparatus/method including rolling elements, an outer ring surrounding an inner ring and the inner and outer rings guiding rotation of the rolling elements in a rotation region therebetween, and a cap secured to the inner ring. The apparatus further includes a bearing shield arrangement secured to one of the outer and inner rings and configured with the other of the outer and inner rings to define a gap for the flow of vapor or lubricant from the rotation region through a vapor restricting pathway.

Abstract: Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed towards an apparatus/method including rolling elements, an outer ring surrounding an inner ring and the inner and outer rings guiding rotation of the rolling elements in a rotation region therebetween, and a cap secured to the inner ring. The apparatus further includes a bearing shield arrangement secured to one of the outer and inner rings and configured with the other of the outer and inner rings to define a gap for the flow of vapor or lubricant from the rotation region through a vapor restricting pathway.

Abstract: An actuator assembly is provided that includes a body portion, a first actuator arm assembly, a second actuator arm assembly, a first flexure assembly, and a second flexure assembly. Each of the first and second actuator arm assemblies projects from the body portion and has a distal end with different respective first and second mechanical configurations, sometimes referred to herein as “mounting configurations.” Each of the flexure assemblies is respectively mounted to the distal ends of the first and second actuator arm assemblies via the respective mounting configuration. The first and second mechanical configurations (mounting configurations) are selected to provide the first and second flexure assemblies with different mechanical resonance characteristics. In a preferred embodiment, the second actuator arm assembly includes an actuator arm and a spacer disposed between the actuator arm and the second flexure assembly. The spacer has a stiffness different from the stiffness of the actuator arm.

Abstract: An actuator assembly is provided that includes a body portion, a first actuator arm assembly, a second actuator arm assembly, a first flexure assembly, and a second flexure assembly. Each of the first and second actuator arm assemblies projects from the body portion and has a distal end with different respective first and second mechanical configurations. Each of the flexure assemblies is respectively mounted to the distal ends of the first and second actuator arm assemblies. The first and second mechanical configurations are selected to provide the first and second flexure assemblies with different mechanical resonance characteristics. In a preferred embodiment, the second actuator arm assembly includes an actuator arm and a spacer disposed between the actuator arm and the second flexure assembly. The spacer has a stiffness different from the stiffness of the actuator arm.

Abstract: A stepped enclosure for a rotating disc data storage device having an actuator operably moveable within a range of movement adjacent the rotating disc in a data reading and writing relationship. The stepped enclosure comprises an airflow conditioning surface disposed in a substantially close-fitting relationship with the disc and spatially disposed therefrom a first distance. The enclosure further comprises a niche, or recessed area, in the airflow conditioning surface apart from the actuator range of movement defined by a recessed surface disposed a second distance from the disc greater than the first distance.

Abstract: A magnetic disc drive includes a base, a disc rotatably attached to said base, and a ramp attached to the base near said disc. The magnetic disc drive also has an actuator assembly pivotably attached to the base. The actuator assembly rotates about an actuator pivot point. The actuator assembly further includes a suspension attached to one end of the actuator assembly, and a transducer attached to the suspension. The actuator assembly moves the transducer between a transducing position and an unload position. The suspension includes a lift tab which contacts the ramp at a contact point as the transducer is moved to the unload position. As the actuator assembly moves the transducer to the unload position, the contact point moves toward the actuator pivot point. This results in a change of the resonant frequency of the actuator assembly. The resonant frequency is lower when the transducer is near the end of the ramp proximate the disc. The ramp can have a straight or a curved lift tab contact path.

Abstract: In relating rotational vibration stimuli of a mechanical mounting environment to the performance of a disc drive, a method and system are provided of which the steps are selecting a sample disc drive of a drive species and mounting the sample disc drive within the mechanical mounting environment; attaching an accelerometer to the sample disc drive for measuring rotational vibration; inducing a predetermined rotational vibration stimuli into the mechanical mounting; collecting vibration data with the accelerometer for use in determining the rotational vibration index for the mechanical mounting environment; providing a rotational vibration index for the drive species for comparison with the determined rotational vibration index; and comparing the rotational vibration index calculated for the mechanical mounting environment with the rotational vibration index of the drive species to relate the rotational vibration stimuli of the mechanical mounting environment to the performance of the sample disc drive.

Abstract: A stepped enclosure for a rotating disc data storage device having an actuator operably moveable within a range of movement adjacent the rotating disc in a data reading and writing relationship. The stepped enclosure comprises an airflow conditioning surface disposed in a substantially close-fitting relationship with the disc and spatially disposed therefrom a first distance. The enclosure further comprises a niche, or recessed area, in the airflow conditioning surface apart from the actuator range of movement defined by a recessed surface disposed a second distance from the disc greater than the first distance.

Abstract: An actuator assembly is provided that includes a body portion, a first actuator arm assembly, a second actuator arm assembly, a first flexure assembly, and a second flexure assembly. Each of the first and second actuator arm assemblies projects from the body portion and has a distal end with different respective first and second mechanical configurations. Each of the flexure assemblies is respectively mounted to the distal ends of the first and second actuator arm assemblies. The first and second mechanical configurations are selected to provide the first and second flexure assemblies with different mechanical resonance characteristics. In a preferred embodiment, the second actuator arm assembly includes an actuator arm and a spacer disposed between the actuator arm and the second flexure assembly. The spacer has a stiffness different from the stiffness of the actuator arm.

Abstract: Apparatus for protecting a disc drive from damage due to non-operational mechanical shocks, the disc drive including a rotatable disc having an inner radius and an outer radius and a controllably rotatable actuator adjacent the disc. A snubber is provided adjacent the disc, the snubber having a body portion rigidly affixed with respect to the disc and snubber arms connected to the body portion. The snubber arms extend from the body portion towards the disc and above and below the elevation of the disc, with each snubber arm having a distal end located at a position adjacent the disc between the inner and the outer radii of the disc and towards the outer radius of the disc. The height of each snubber arm limits deflection of the disc at the outer radius of the disc as a result of mechanical shock forced supplied to the disc drive assembly.

Abstract: In relating rotational vibration stimuli of a mechanical mounting environment to the performance of a disc drive, a method and system are provided of which the steps are selecting a sample disc drive of a drive species and mounting the sample disc drive within the mechanical mounting environment; attaching an accelerometer to the sample disc drive for measuring rotational vibration; inducing a predetermined rotational vibration stimuli into the mechanical mounting; collecting vibration data with the accelerometer for use in determining the rotational vibration index for the mechanical mounting environment; providing a rotational vibration index for the drive species for comparison with the determined rotational vibration index; and comparing the rotational vibration index calculated for the mechanical mounting environment with the rotational vibration index of the drive species to relate the rotational vibration stimuli of the mechanical mounting environment to the performance of the sample disc drive.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for reducing acoustic noise emission in a disc drive assembly. A housing of the disc drive includes first and second plates and side walls which cooperate to form an enclosure for an excitation source disposed within the housing. At least a selected one of the plates has a contact point to which the excitation source is mechanically coupled, a first portion of the selected plate surrounding the contact point and a second portion thereof disposed between the first portion and an outer perimeter of the selected plate, with the second portion having an increased compliance with respect to the first portion. The increased compliance can be formed by reducing the thickness of the second portion. Damping material can be additionally supported by the second portion to provide further acoustic noise reduction.

Abstract: Apparatus for providing nominally laminar flow of air currents in a disc drive. An actuator supports a head adjacent a rotatable disc and includes a rigid actuator arm with opposing planar top and bottom surfaces and a pair of opposing tapered surfaces which taper to a trailing edge. The top, bottom and tapered surfaces define a cross-sectional enclosure to provide nominally laminar flow of air currents adjacent the actuator arm induced by rotation of the disc. A channel is formed in the enclosure by a plurality of adjoining recessed surfaces to at least partially recess a head conductor along the length of the actuator arm within the enclosure to prevent obstruction of the air currents by the conductor. The conductor is preferably a flex circuit with a semi-flexible dielectric layer which supports a plurality of conductive traces.

Abstract: An improved acoustic isolation apparatus for reducing the total acoustic noise of a disc drive assembly and the like, comprising at least one acoustic isolator having a selectively reduced thickness acoustic compliance area disposed between an excitation source and a support member to impede coupling of vibrations from the excitation source and the structure member to prevent the vibrations from inducing harmonic vibrations in the support member, thus reducing the total acoustic noise.

Abstract: Apparatus for protecting a disc drive from damage due to non-operational mechanical shocks, the disc drive comprising a rotatable disc having an inner radius and an outer radius and a controllably rotatable actuator adjacent the disc. A snubber is provided adjacent the disc, the snubber having a body portion rigidly affixed with respect to the disc and snubber arms connected to the body portion. The snubber arms extend from the body portion towards the disc and above and below the elevation of the disc, with each snubber arm having a distal end located at a position adjacent the disc between the inner and the outer radii of the disc and towards the. outer radius of the disc. The height of each snubber arm limits deflection of the disc at the outer radius of the disc as a result of mechanical shock forced supplied to the disc drive assembly.

Abstract: A damper for dampening resonance created by a voice coil motor of a disc drive and transmitted to a supporting enclosure, the resonance capable of creating noise signals to the disc drive servo control system. The damper has a dampening member and a liner, the liner being a magnetically permeable member that is magnetically attracted to the voice coil motor and thereby pressingly engaging a magnet housing of the voice coil motor. In a preferred embodiment the dampening member is an acrylic polymer. In an alternative embodiment the dampening member is a fluoroelastomer. The magnet housing has characteristic features that increase the magnetic flux to the liner.

Abstract: Apparatus for protecting a disc drive from damage due to non-operational mechanical shocks, the disc drive comprising a rotatable disc having an inner radius and an outer radius and a controllably rotatable actuator adjacent the disc. A snubber is provided adjacent the disc, the snubber having a body portion rigidly affixed with respect to the disc and snubber arms connected to the body portion. The snubber arms extend from the body portion towards the disc and above and below the elevation of the disc, with each snubber arm having a distal end located at a position adjacent the disc between the inner and the outer radii of the disc and towards the outer radius of the disc. The height of each snubber arm limits deflection of the disc at the outer radius of the disc as a result of mechanical shock forced supplied to the disc drive assembly.

Abstract: Apparatus for protecting a disc drive from damage due to non-operational mechanical shocks, the disc drive comprising a rotatable disc having an inner radius and an outer radius and a controllably rotatable actuator adjacent the disc. A snubber is provided adjacent the disc, the snubber having a body portion rigidly affixed with respect to the disc and snubber arms connected to the body portion. The snubber arms extend from the body portion towards the disc and above and below the elevation of the disc, with each snubber arm having a distal end located at a position adjacent the disc between the inner and the outer radii of the disc and towards the outer radius of the disc. The height of each snubber arm limits deflection of the disc at the outer radius of the disc as a result of mechanical shock forced supplied to the disc drive assembly.

Abstract: A peripherally extending acoustic compliance area in a disc drive housing which reduces emission of acoustic noise by the disc drive. The housing includes first and second plates and side walls which cooperate to form an enclosure for an excitation source disposed within the housing. At least a selected one of the plates has a contact point to which the excitation source is mechanically coupled, a first portion of the selected plate surrounding the contact point and a second portion thereof disposed between the first portion and an outer perimeter of the selected plate, with the second portion having an increased compliance with respect to the first portion. The increased compliance can be formed by reducing the thickness of the second portion. Damping material can be additionally supported by the second portion to provide further acoustic noise reduction.

Abstract: An improved acoustic isolation apparatus for reducing the total acoustic noise of a disc drive assembly and the like, comprising at least one acoustic isolator having a selectively reduced thickness acoustic compliance area disposed between an excitation source and a support member to impede coupling of vibrations from the excitation source and the structure member to prevent the vibrations from inducing harmonic vibrations in the support member, thus reducing the total acoustic noise.