Abstract: It has been discovered that the cavity of data storage devices may be temporarily sealed to inhibit loss of gasses from the cavity by use of a sealing solution comprising a sealing component that is in contact with the gasket of the device, so that the gasket and sealing solution, together with the structural cover and base deck of the device, temporarily seals the cavity. The sealing solution comprises a sealing component having molecular weight of from about 1000 to about 30,000 Daltons.

Abstract: Certain exemplary aspects of the present disclosure are directed towards an apparatus in which a base deck and a cover are coupled to one another via a coupling that forms a hermetic seal around a cavity defined by the base deck and the cover. A guard protects the coupling from external forces via a surface aligned with and extending along the coupling.

Abstract: A flow control device for a data storage system to reduce flow induced vibration. The flow control device includes a plurality of streamline flow passages to reduce turbulent flow in a flow field along a disc surface. Thus, air flow induced by rotation of data discs is directed through the plurality of streamline flow passages to reduce turbulence to limit excitation or vibration of the head and suspension components.

Abstract: A magnetic disc drive assembly comprises a disc drive housing having an external three-dimensional configuration matching a standard configuration. A disc drive is supported in the housing and includes a stack of rotatable rigid magnetic recording discs in a unique configuration wherein each disc has a diameter smaller than the diameter of rigid discs ordinarily contained in a disc drive housing having the standard configuration. Optionally, the stack of discs includes a number of discs greater than that normally housed in a disc drive housing having the standard configuration.

Abstract: A disc drive includes a base and a disc rotatably attached to the base. The disc drive also includes an actuator assembly rotatably attached to said base and a device for moving the actuator assembly. A cover is attached to the base. The combination of the cover and base form a disc enclosure for enclosing the disc the actuator assembly and the device for moving the actuator assembly. An inertia ring is attached to the disc enclosure for increasing the moment of inertia of the base and cover. The inertia ring may be attached to the cover or to the base. The inertia ring may be formed of a material which is more dense than the cover or more dense than the base. The inertia ring may also be formed integral with the base or the cover. The inertia ring may also be formed such that the material is positioned near the periphery of the base and attached cover. A damped interface between the inertia ring and the base or cover may further reduce movement of the base with respect to the actuator.

Abstract: A shroud mounted to the housing of a disc drive blocks wind to the arm and suspension that positions a slider adjacent a recording surface of a disc. A first wall has a windward surface facing into the direction of rotation of the first disc. A second wall extends downwind from the windward surface between the arm and the disc to from a low-wind region with the first wall. The region is open at the leeward side so that the arm in the low-wind region positions the slider adjacent the disc. In some embodiments, a third wall is parallel to the second wall so that the low-wind region is a slot.

Abstract: A shroud mounted to the housing of a disc drive blocks wind to the arm and suspension that positions a slider adjacent a recording surface of a disc. A first wall has a windward surface facing into the direction of rotation of the first disc. A second wall extends downwind from the windward surface between the arm and the disc to from a low-wind region with the first wall. The region is open at the leeward side so that the arm in the low-wind region positions the slider adjacent the disc. In some embodiments, a third wall is parallel to the second wall so that the low-wind region is a slot.

Abstract: A flow control device for a data storage system to reduce flow induced vibration. The flow control device includes a plurality of streamline flow passages to reduce turbulent flow in a flow field along a disc surface. Thus, air flow induced by rotation of data discs is directed through the plurality of streamline flow passages to reduce turbulence to limit excitation or vibration of the head and suspension components.

Abstract: A cable connector includes a connector housing mounted to an edge of a circuit board so that the connector is electrically connected to circuits on the circuit board. The circuit board and cable connector are mountable to a disc drive housing. The cable connector housing has an external configuration conforming to at least a portion of the disc drive housing. A plurality of contacts are supported by the connector housing for receiving a connector electrically connected to external circuits.

Abstract: A conductor assembly electrically connects a transducer supported on an E-block to a flex circuit mounted to the E-block. A conductor strip has a plurality of electrical conductors connected to the transducer. A fin is coupled to the plurality of conductors. The fin engages a slot on the E-block, and a plurality of conductive tabs are electrically connected to respective ones of the electrical conductors. The tabs extend from the slot and rigidly engage tabs on the flex circuit to prevent the fins from disengaging the slot.

Abstract: A magnetic disc drive assembly comprises a disc drive housing defining a drive chamber. A desiccant housing in the drive chamber is joined to the bottom wall of the disc drive housing. The desiccant housing has end walls and side walls extending along a width and a length, respectively, of the desiccant housing, the length being oriented substantially parallel to the length of the drive chamber to form a structural beam for the disc drive housing. The desiccant housing has a top opening between the desiccant chamber and the drive chamber and a bottom opening through the bottom wall of the drive housing through which the desiccant is placed into the desiccant chamber. A separate bottom cover closes the bottom opening so that the desiccant may be place into the disc drive as the last assembly step.

Abstract: An actuator assembly for a disc drive includes an E-block supported by a spindle for rotation about an axis and having an actuator arm supporting a transducer. An elongated yoke arm extends from the E-block. A motor rotates the E-block about the axis to position the transducer adjacent a selected track on the recording disc. The motor includes a voice coil supported by the yoke arm. A stop mechanism defines at least one of the inner and outer tracks of the disc and comprises at least one stop pin mounted to the disc drive housing and a stop surface on a distal end of the yoke arm for engaging the stop pin.

Abstract: An improved rotary actuator for supporting heads relative to a disc of a disc drive for operation. The rotary actuator includes an actuator block pivotally connected to a chassis of a disc drive. The actuator block includes an actuator arm for supporting heads. The actuator block supports a coil assembly adapted for operation in a magnetic field to form a voice coil motor. The coil assembly includes a plurality of wound coils supported by the actuator block at spaced elevations and having a portion of spaced coils overlapped to reduce the operating area for the voice coil motor. The geometry of the coils reduces off-track force excitation of the rigid body resonance to allow for high bandwidth servo. The coil assembly also reduces off-track force during settle in for improved seek times.

Abstract: An electrical circuit package including disk drive operation and control circuitry is formed in multiple layers, including a compliant circuitry layer coextensive with the package, and additional conductive and dielectric layers to form relatively stiff circuit panels bonded to the compliant layer and spaced apart from one another. Portions of the compliant layer, between confronting edges of adjacent circuit panels, provide compliant joinder segments. Each joinder segment electrically couples its associated pair of circuit panels, and structurally couples the panels in a manner that permits a selective, non-coplanar orientation of the panels relative to each other. Thus, the panels are electrically and structurally coupled in a manner that facilitates testing the circuit package as a single unit, followed by installation of the package to a disk drive housing with the circuit panels integral with the housing and in the desired non-coplanar arrangement.

Abstract: A rotary actuator for disk drives includes a carriage rotatable on a vertical axis, and multiple transducing head suspensions extended horizontally away from the carriage in cantilever fashion. Data reading and writing circuitry includes an electrical circuit package mounted at the carriage, and multiple flexible printed circuits extending horizontally away from the circuit package, each for electrical coupling to one of the transducing heads. A series of slots, formed through the circuit package along one edge, support the flexible printed circuits to achieve an electrical and mechanical coupling that orients the flexible printed circuits with their major planes horizontal throughout their respective lengths, avoiding any twists of the flexible circuitry while providing improved damping and electrical performance. Alternative connecting structures, in lieu of the slots, include rigid rails on one or both sides of each flexible printed circuit, and bendable tabs incorporated into the printed circuits.

Abstract: In a magnetic disk drive, a stationary spindle shaft and a rotary actuator shaft are mounted to opposed walls of the drive housing in precise radial and axial alignment with one of the walls, despite relatively relaxed tolerances in the mounting components. At each shaft end, an axially directed fastener is surrounded by an alignment ring with two frusto-conical guide surfaces, one engaged with an enlarged head of the fastener and the other engaged with the associated shaft end. An axially inward tightening of the fastener brings the enlarged head and shaft end into engagement with their respective guide surfaces of the alignment ring. The fastener is tightened further to elastically elongate the fastener and create a tensile force which, through wedging action, urges the alignment ring radially outward into a firm frictional engagement with a rim of the selected wall, thus to radially align and integrally mount the shaft end with respect to the wall.

Abstract: An electrical circuit package including disk drive operation and control circuitry is formed in multiple layers, including a compliant circuitry layer coextensive with the package, and additional conductive and dielectric layers to form relatively stiff circuit panels bonded to the compliant layer and spaced apart from one another. Portions of the compliant layer, between confronting edges of adjacent circuit panels, provide compliant joinder segments. Each joinder segment electrically couples its associated pair of circuit panels, and structurally couples the panels in a manner that permits a selective, non-coplanar orientation of the panels relative to each other. Thus, the panels are electrically and structurally coupled in a manner that facilitates testing the circuit package as a single unit, followed by installation of the package to a disk drive housing with the circuit panels integral with the housing and in the desired non-coplanar arrangement.

Abstract: A magnetic pole piece assembly is provided for a disk drive system creating and distributing a permanent magnetic field that interacts with a transient magnetic field produced by an actuator coil in a disk drive system. The magnetic pole piece assembly includes permanent magnets, booster magnets and a block comprised of a front leg separated from a back leg by a gap space. The gap space provides a means for conducting magnetic flux between the front leg and the back leg.

Abstract: A rotary actuator for a disk drive includes a pivotally mounted carriage and a stacked arrangment of magnetic transducer support arms extended away from the carriage, each arm supporting a magnetic transducing head at its free end for arcuate travel as the carriage pivots. A circuit board, for connecting the transducing heads to read, write and control circuitry, is mounted along one side of the head arm assembly, secured to the carriage. A section of the circuit board extends away from the carriage in cantilever fashion toward the transducing heads. A preloaded retaining spring is secured to the carriage on the opposite side of the circuit board from the carriage, and includes a plurality of load arms that bear against the cantilevered portion of the circuit board, continually biasing the board, and an electrically insulative spacer mounted to the board, against the transducer support arms.

Abstract: A magnetic disc drive includes a rigid housing, a plurality of data storage discs rotatably mounted in the housing, and a carriage for supporting and placing transducing heads in selected dispositions with respect to the rotating discs. An actuator or voice coil motor drives the carriage, and is fixed in the vertical direction to the housing by three posts extended upwardly of a deck portion of the housing and engaging the bottom of the actuator. A metallic plate mounted integrally to the actuator and a viscoelastic polymeric layer are interposed between the actuator and the deck adjacent the posts. The posts are sufficiently flexible to permit a limited horizontal displacement of the actuator with respect to the housing, responsive to movement of the carriage. The displacement causes shear strain in the viscoelastic layer whereby the layer tends to absorb and dissipate most of the energy of vibration.