Abstract: A latch assembly used for latching an actuator in a disc drive. The latch assembly comprises a coil assembly for selectively generating magnetic fields of alternating polarity in a pair of magnetically permeable plates. The plates are separated by a vertical gap which includes a coil, so that the passage of electrical current through the coil establishes magnetic polarities within the plates. Adjacent the coil assembly is a rocker assembly which is pivotable about a horizontal axis and comprises a latch arm and a coil arm, both of which extend in opposite directions from a central hinge portion. The distal end of the coil arm includes a permanent magnet which alternately detents between positions proximate to the plates of the coil assembly.

Abstract: A space efficient disk drive housing is described. The disk drive housing comprises a base member having a top, a bottom, and an outer perimeter having length and end portions of preselected dimensions and a cover element comprising a top surface and side walls depending downwardly from the top surface. The cover element has length and width dimensions corresponding to the dimensions of the length and end portions of the base member so that the cover element can be secured to the base member to form the housing. The cover element is provided with a first raised portion to provide a height dimension within the housing sufficient for topmost portions of a spindle motor and head stack assembly of a disk stack assembly of a disk drive. Remaining portions of the top surface of the cover element providing a continuous, single PCB support surface. A set of support posts is provided on the cover element of the disk drive housing. The support posts are used to mount the disk drive to a host computer.

Abstract: A low noise spin motor for use in a disk drive includes two bearings having different inside diameters, different outside diameters, and preferably the same size balls. The balls in the larger bearing travel at a faster speed thereby increasing the noise frequencies and resonant frequency as compared to the smaller frequency whereby the noise from the two bearings is not compounded. A small and compact disk drive using the spin motor is described.