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 support assembly for supporting a magnetic circuit of a disc drive voice coil motor, the support assembly suppressing the excitation of mechanical resonances in the drive. The disc drive includes a disc and an actuator assembly adjacent the disc, the actuator assembly having a coil of a voice coil motor to which current is applied in order to position a head of the actuator assembly relative to the surface of the disc. The voice coil motor further includes a magnetic circuit comprising a pair of permanent magnets and corresponding magnetically permeable pole pieces disposed above and below the coil. The support assembly suspends the magnetic circuit between a base deck and a top cover of the disc drive and allows cantilevered movement of the magnetic circuit in response to the acceleration of the coil as a result of current being applied to the coil.

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 compliance area disposed between an excitation source and a support member to impede coupling of vibrations from the excitation source to the support member to prevent the vibrations from inducing harmonic vibrations in the support member, thus reducing the total acoustic noise.

Abstract: A low sway space disc drive assembly having a base deck with a base portion and side walls extending therefrom. A top cover mates with the side walls to form an internally sealed environment for the disc drive. An external chassis is mounted to the underside of the base portion of the base deck and a vibro-acoustic isolator is disposed between the external chassis and the base portion, the isolator and the chassis providing mechanical isolation for the drive from internal and external vibrations as well as strengthening the base deck. The chassis includes flanges which strengthen the chassis and accommodate a printed circuit board attached to the base deck, the printed circuit board providing the control electronics for the drive. The flanges further include threaded holes for attachment of the chassis to a user environment.

Abstract: Apparatus for reducing mechanical resonances in a disc drive printed circuit board to reduce acoustic emissions and improve mechanical shock sensing and reporting. A constrain layer comprising a thin layer of rigid, stiffening material is disposed adjacent to the exterior surface of the base portion of a base deck of the disc drive. A vibro-acoustic isolator comprising a thin layer of dampening material, is disposed adjacent the constrain layer and the printed circuit board, the vibro-acoustic isolator and the constrain layer are secured to the base portion of the base deck using conventional fasteners. The vibro-acoustic isolator serves to isolate the printed circuit board from the constrain layer and at the same time dampen mechanical resonances established in the printed circuit board, in conjunction with the stiffening provided by the constrain layer.

Abstract: A laminated base deck for a disc drive comprising a base portion and side walls extending from the base portion. The side walls mate with a top cover to provide a sealed environment for the disc drive and the base portion supports a disc drive spindle motor and actuator assembly. The base portion and side walls comprise a laminate including an interior structural layer, an exterior structural layer and a core layer disposed between the interior and exterior structural layers, wherein the structural layers provide mechanical support for the disc drive and the core layer provides improved damping of vibrations generated by the operation of the spindle motor and the actuator assembly.

Abstract: An acoustically damped disc drive assembly having a housing, the disc drive assembly having internally disposed components capable of generating acoustic vibrations, the housing having a cover comprised of a plurality of plate members, each pair of the plate members having a damping layer disposed therebetween for damping acoustic vibrations imparted to the cover by the internally disposed components. In addition to the damping layer, which is preferably a viscoelastic material compositely bonding such plate members together, an acoustic isolator area may be provided to surround the attachment points of the internally disposed components to the cover in order to provide further damping of the acoustic vibrations.

Abstract: A fan is disclosed that contains cut-outs that reduce the noise levels. The fan is used to cool circuit boards.