Abstract: In certain embodiments, a method includes calculating a mixing ratio of air internal to a disk drive. In response to the calculated mixing ratio, a head-to-media spacing is adjusted. In certain embodiments, a system includes a controller that adjusts head-to-media spacing in response to a calculated mixing ratio of air internal to a disk drive.

Abstract: A disc drive servo head having two thin film transducers, one of which is disabled from reading by lapping away its pole tips. The coils of the disabled transducer are oppositely wound from the usable transducer's and induce an equal and opposite signal from background noise, such as generated by adjacent data heads during write. The signals from the disabled tranducer coils are combined with the signals from the usable transducer during reading of servo data to concel background noise.

Abstract: A head/arm lock mechanism includes a pawl mounted to the armature of a bistable solenoid, the armature being stable in either of two rotary positions. The armature and pawl are limited to move through an angle less than that defined by the stable positions of the armature, so that the armature is biased by the magnetic circuit of the solenoid to one or the other limit positions. When the head/arm is in position to be locked, the solenoid is energized to lock against a spacer on the head/arm and the magnetic circuit continues to hold the pawl in a lock-engaging position upon de-energization of the solenoid. When the head/arm is to be unlocked, the solenoid is again energized to unlock the pawl from the spacer and the magnetic circuit continues to hold the pawl in an unlock position upon de-energization of the solenoid.

Abstract: A construction for actuator assemblies is disclosed using a material of low permeance as a structural element, included normal to the axis of coil movement to lower coil inductance by reducing reactance flux in support structures and providing a channel for eddy currents set up in response to coil reactance. The net result is enhanced coil responsiveness to energization.