Abstract: A card insulator is formed with slits that conform to height changes required by the components mounted to a card. The insulative sheet has simple linear slits that extend completely through the sheet and allow the insulator to deform with simple linear bends when contacted by the tall components mounted to the card. The linear bends allow the surface of the deformed insulator to be flexible without buckling the insulator and without bowing the card.

Abstract: A card insulator is formed with slits that conform to height changes required by the components mounted to a card. The insulative sheet has simple linear slits that extend completely through the sheet and allow the insulator to deform with simple linear bends when contacted by the tall components mounted to the card. The linear bends allow the surface of the deformed insulator to be flexible without budding the insulator and without bowing the card.

Abstract: A system and method for adaptively compensating for real-time variations in mechanical dynamics of a head-positioning assembly during track follow and seek operations. The head-positioning assembly includes a voice coil actuator that positions a read/write head utilizing a coil and carriage in conformity with an actuator control signal. Variations in resonant mode characteristics are anticipated in real-time in accordance with measured temperature variations. These parametric variations are translated in real-time by a state space model to determine a secondary velocity and displacement of the read/write head during track follow and seek operations. In response to this secondary velocity and displacement determination, the actuator control signal is dynamically adjusted to compensate for the determined secondary head velocity and displacement, thereby improving head positioning accuracy and increasing servo bandwidth.

Abstract: A system and method for precompensating for tangential misalignment in a direct access storage device adjusts a SID timing window individually for every track or surface of the direct access storage device. The system and method generate a calculation of the tangential misalignment and adjust, in accordance with the calculation of tangential misalignment, a timing window during which the transducer head reads the information located on the storage surface. The calculation of tangential misalignment may be the result of a direct measurement of the tangential misalignment, or may be converted from radial misalignment data. The adjustment of the timing window may comprise opening the timing window an amount depending upon the degree of misalignment of each track, and may comprise shifting the window in time either forward or backward depending upon the nature of the calculated misalignment.

Abstract: A hard disk drive for a computer system has at least two actuators for reading data from or writing data to the disks. The actuators may be configured to support the different methods of data access required of them. For example, if large quantities of sequential data are performed, one operation uses both actuators to increase throughput. However, if mostly random operations are to be performed, then independent usage of the actuators is preferred. These two methods of usage can be supported simultaneously, and can even be dictated by the user. The tracking format of the actuators can be configured such that the next logical track is physically located under a head on a different actuator to improve sequential operation. The actuators also may be utilized in a dual-channel configuration so that data can be written to both actuators at the same time, or read back at the same time to improve throughput. In addition, either of these configurations can be selected on a transfer-by-transfer basis by the user.

Abstract: A multiple actuator disk drive is disclosed. The mechanical vibration in one actuator induced by motion in the second actuator is greatly reduced by providing an independent bearing shaft for each actuator. The bearing shafts are mounted substantially along the same geometric axis.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing feedforward control of two interacting actuators to compensate for interaction there between is disclosed. State models for each actuator that processes acceleration for each actuator provide an estimate of head acceleration for each of the actuators and to provide feedforward control signals to the actuators for controlling the positioning of the heads based upon the estimates of head acceleration for each of the actuators.

Abstract: A multiple actuator disk drive is disclosed. The mechanical vibration in one actuator induced by motion in the second actuator is greatly reduced by providing an independent bearing shaft for each actuator. The bearing shafts are mounted substantially along the same geometric axis.

Abstract: A cordless compression motor connector connects a spindle motor inside a hard disk drive enclosure to a printed circuit board (PCB) mounted outside the disk enclosure. The disk enclosure includes a base casting formed with a lipped aperture. The connector includes a rigid, cantilever-like insulating body having conductors supported therein. The conductors terminate at the resilient spring contacts located at both ends of the connector body. One end of the connector body is secured to the PCB with a screw such that the resilient contacts on one end are compression connected to contacts on the PCB. The other end of the connector body passes through the aperture and reacts against the lip in the base casting. Contacts formed on the spindle motor are compression connected to the electrical contacts on the other end of the connector body.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for controlling a disk drive with multiple VCMs is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a first disk storage surface and a second disk storage surface. The first disk storage surface has a plurality of first data segments and a plurality of first servo track segments interspersed therebetween, and is readable and writeable by a first head controllable according to a first servo track signal read from at least one of the first servo track segments. The second disk storage surface has a plurality of second data segments and a plurality of second servo track segments interspersed therebetween, and is readable and writeable a second head separately controllable from the first head according to a second servo track signal read from at least one of the plurality of second servo track segments.

Abstract: The present invention is a magnetic disk drive for reading or writing magnetically, comprising: (i) a base plate; (ii) a plurality of magnetic disks; (iii) a hub fixedly attached to the disks for supporting the disks; (iv) a motor operable to rotate the hub; (v) a plurality of magnetic read/write heads, each associated with the surface of a disk; (vi) an actuator for supporting the heads and moving the heads across the disks; (vii) a support shaft attached to the base plate; and (viii) a load/unload structure for displacing the heads from the disk comprising an elongated body, a base portion fixedly attached to the base plate and a plurality of ramps extending outwardly from the body. The body of the structure is mounted through one or more holes in the body onto the support shaft so that the support shaft extends along the length of the body to support the structure.

Abstract: A data recording disk file having multiple actuators mounted on a common pivot axis, one of the actuators having fewer arms and lower inertia characteristics than the other. A servo system separately drives each of the actuators for seek repositioning, the lower inertia actuator having a higher performance than the other. A controller selectively records one type of data on the data surfaces associated with the lower inertia actuator, and records all other data on the other data surfaces, thereby providing a disk drive with increased performance appropriate to the data stored on the surfaces associated with the lower inertia actuator. A removable locking pin may be provided which extends through corresponding holes in each of the actuators for maintaining the actuators precisely positioned with respect to each other so that servo information may be written on each of the surfaces in a single process. Additionally, one of the actuators may be provided with a shorter stroke than the other actuators.

Abstract: A gasket for a disk drive system that seals the connector port for the actuator flex cable to the disk drive housing which is designed to also provide electrical ground contact from the disk drive housing to the actuator flex cable ground lead. In accordance with the new gasket disclosed herein, grounding of the actuator flex cable ground lead to the disk drive housing is accomplished without need of additional fasteners, or additional process steps in assembly of the disk drive.

Abstract: A limit stop for a magnetic storage system having a combination of visco elastic inner core and a thin walled outer shell enclosing the visco-elastic material, and a method of manufacturing the same. The thin wall is hermetically sealed to isolate the inner core material and eliminate the possibility of contamination to the disk drive interior. The visco-elastic inner core has the properties of very good energy dissipation, while the outer shell provides high dimensional control and stability.

Abstract: By matching raised hard contact areas on predetermined locations of the actuator/arm/suspension assembly opposite counterpart dedicated tracks or zones, then data track damage can be avoided, otherwise resulting from shock imposed on a disk drive when the disk drive is nonoperational. Such placement permits tradeoffs among the length and power of the error correction code, and the disk area reserved to dedicated tracks or zones.

Abstract: A radially and axially preloaded bearing that has a very low mass and axial profile and which can be used in a actuator pivot of a direct access storage device without the need for a second bearing to counter the preload. An outer race of the bearing is split in order to form an open ring. Three balls are placed between the outer race and an inner race. Both the inner surface of the outer race and the outer surface of the inner race are formed such that two contact points exist between each ball and each race. Alternatively, the outer race is a closed toroid. The inner race is radially split to form a lower and an upper race, each being a closed toroid. In yet another alternative, the outer race is radially split into an upper outer race and a lower outer race. The inner race is a single closed toroid. A limiter is used to limit the movement of each of the balls. Alternatively, a conventional ball cage is used.

Abstract: Disclosed is a data recording disk file having multiple actuators mounted on a common pivot axis, one of the actuators having fewer arms and lower inertia characteristics than the other. A servo system separately drives each of the actuators for seek repositioning, the lower inertia actuator having a higher performance than the other. A controller selectively records one type of data on the data surfaces associated with the lower inertia actuator, and records all other data on the other data surfaces, thereby providing a disk drive with increased performance appropriate to the data stored on the surfaces associated with the lower inertia actuator. A removable locking pin may be provided which extends through corresponding holes in each of the actuators for maintaining the actuators precisely positioned with respect to each other so that servo information may be written on each of the surfaces in a single process.