Abstract: A circuit board connector for connecting a disc drive circuit board to a device outside the disc drive includes a circuit board tab forming part of the circuit board and extending from the circuit board tab. Contact pads are formed on the circuit board tab. A housing attached to the circuit board includes a housing tab extending from the housing, the housing tab being substantially parallel and adjacent to the circuit board tab, such that the circuit board tab and the housing tab together form a connecting tab.

Abstract: A disc drive device includes a base plate, a voice coil motor operably attached to the base plate, a top cover attached to the base plate with at least two perimeter fasteners and at least one interior fastener, wherein the two perimeter fasteners and the interior fastener form a triangular portion of the top cover therebetween, a pressure seal sealing the top cover and the base plate, and an acoustic damper contacting the voice coil motor and the triangular portion of the top cover for damping vibrations occurring in the voice coil motor and the top cover. The acoustic damper is made of the same material as the pressure seal. In this manner, vibrationally induced acoustical emissions from the disc drive device are reduced.

Abstract: A self-biasing spindle motor connector (such as 200) for a disc drive (such as 100) is disclosed. The spindle motor connector (such as 200) includes a body portion (such as 202) and a plurality of alloy contacts (such as 204) extending away from the body portion. The connector may comprise a crush rib (such as 206) extending from at least one side of the body portion and making contact with a vertical wall (such as locating edge 208) of a base plate (such as 102) of the disc drive. The crush rib ensures that the connector is properly biased to a reference edge and situated in relation to the base plate and the disc drive printed circuit board. An x-y control boss (such as 212) prevents the connector from moving in the x-y directions while the crush rib prevents the connector from rotational movement. The connector may also include a rotational boss (such as 216) that is inserted into a rotational control hole of the base plate to prevent rotational movement of the connector.

Abstract: A disc drive mounting assembly is disclosed for bottom mounting a disc drive to a mounting structure. The disc drive includes a baseplate having mounting rails, a shield plate, and a printed circuit board assembly positioned between the baseplate and the shield plate. The shield plate includes a mounting flange having a boss for receiving a mounting fastener. Each mounting rail includes a notch aligned with and receiving the mounting flange. The notch has a depth such that a clearance region is defined between the flange and the mounting rail to receive the boss. The clearance region also receives the end of a fastener extending through the boss. The notch has a solid base preventing a fastener from entering the base mounting rail and pulling the baseplate down relative to the shield plate to prevent compressing the printed circuit board assembly.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a integrated voice coil motor assembly in a head disc assembly of a disc drive, the head disc assembly having a base plate and the top cover enclosing a data storage disc rotatably mounted on a drive motor, and an actuator arm for transferring data to and from the disc. The voice coil motor has a bottom pole attached to the base plate and a top pole integrated with the top cover. A permanent magnet set is positioned between the bottom pole and a top cover and generates a magnetic field between the bottom pole and the top cover. The top pole rests within a recess in an outer surface of the top cover above the bottom pole and provides a return path for the magnetic field generated by the permanent magnet set. A voice coil is attached to the actuator arm and positioned within the magnetic field between the bottom pole and the top cover.

Abstract: A disc drive device includes a base plate, a voice coil motor operably attached to the base plate, a top cover attached to the base plate with at least two perimeter fasteners and at least one interior fastener, wherein the two perimeter fasteners and the interior fastener form a triangular portion of the top cover therebetween, a pressure seal sealing the top cover and the base plate, and an acoustic damper contacting the voice coil motor and the triangular portion of the top cover for damping vibrations occurring in the voice coil motor and the top cover. The acoustic damper is made of the same material as the pressure seal. In this manner, vibrationally induced acoustical emissions from the disc drive device are reduced.

Abstract: A circuit board connector for connecting a disc drive circuit board to a device outside the disc drive includes a circuit board tab forming part of the circuit board and extending from the circuit board tab. Contact pads are formed on the circuit board tab. A housing attached to the circuit board includes a housing tab extending from the housing, the housing tab being substantially parallel and adjacent to the circuit board tab, such that the circuit board tab and the housing tab together form a connecting tab.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of aligning a disc drive printed circuit board connector with a corresponding receptacle in a disc drive slot in a test fixture includes a pair of tapered guide members on opposite ends of the connector which are angled toward the pins of the connector so that the connector is centered within the receptacle as the connector is inserted into the receptacle in the test fixture. The receptacle may be mounted for lateral movement within the slot of the test fixture to move relative to the connector as the guide members slide within the receptacle to align the pins and sockets before the pins enter the sockets within the receptacle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a integrated voice coil motor assembly in a head disc assembly of a disc drive, the head disc assembly having a base plate and the top cover enclosing a data storage disc rotatably mounted on a drive motor, and an actuator arm for transferring data to and from the disc. The voice coil motor has a bottom pole attached to the base plate and a top pole integrated with the top cover. A permanent magnet set is positioned between the bottom pole and a top cover and generates a magnetic field between the bottom pole and the top cover. The top pole rests within a recess in an outer surface of the top cover above the bottom pole and provides a return path for the magnetic field generated by the permanent magnet set. A voice coil is attached to the actuator arm and positioned within the magnetic field between the bottom pole and the top cover.

Abstract: A disc drive includes a locating feature for aligning an electrical connector of a printed circuit board relative to an outer dimension of the disc drive. A guide pin is formed on one of the electrical connector and a base plate of the disc drive, and the guide pin is received within an opening defined in the other of the electrical connector and the base plate to position the electrical connector relative to the base plate. In addition, a method of positioning an electrical connector of a printed circuit board includes the step of inserting a guide pin formed on one of the electrical connector and the base plate into an opening formed in the other of the electrical connector and the base plate to align the electrical connector with the base plate. The method further includes the step of fastening the printed circuit board to the base plate of the disc drive while the guide pin remains within the opening.

Abstract: Method for the removable sealing of a component housing, and apparatus to practice the method using an elastic or conformable sealing band. The present invention teaches a sealing band, preferably elastic, to apply a horizontal seal to the horizontal seam defined by vertically assembled component case elements. The seal is maintained in position over the seam by an alignment element disposed on at least one of the seal and the case. The sealing band is rendered electrically conductive by admixing therewith a conductive material, or by plating thereon a conductive coating. A retaining element may be further added to at least one of the sealing band and the case to minimize tampering with the sealing band once installed.

Abstract: A self-biasing spindle motor connector (such as 200) for a disc drive (such as 100) is disclosed. The spindle motor connector (such as 200) includes a body portion (such as 202) and a plurality of alloy contacts (such as 204) extending away from the body portion. The connector may comprise a crush rib (such as 206) extending from at least one side of the body portion and making contact with a vertical wall (such as locating edge 208) of a base plate (such as 102) of the disc drive. The crush rib ensures that the connector is properly biased to a reference edge and Solo situated in relation to the base plate and the disc drive printed circuit board. An x-y control boss (such as 212) prevents the connector from moving in the x-y directions while the crush rib prevents the connector from rotational movement. The connector may also include a rotational boss (such as 216) that is inserted into a rotational control hole of the base plate to prevent rotational movement of the connector.

Abstract: A system for employing a 2.5 inch form factor disc drive in computing environments configured for 3.5 inch form factor disc drives includes a 2.5 inch form factor disc drive having a disc drive printed circuit board (PCB). Attached to the PCB is a male connector defining two laterally spaced pin compartments. Located within one of the laterally spaced pin compartments are a plurality of data pins having a pin pitch of approximately 2.54 mm, such that the data pins may mate with the data pins of a conventional ATA connector configured for mating with a 3-in-1 connector of a 3.5 inch form factor disc drive.

Abstract: An inertial latch apparatus for maintaining an actuator arm in a disc drive in a predetermined position has an elongated inertial beam member pivotally mounted in the disc drive for rotation in a plane parallel to the plane of rotation of the actuator arm and a latch member pivotally mounted in the disc drive for rotation between a disengaged position permitting movement of the actuator arm when the latch member is in the disengaged position and an engaged position in interference relation to a portion of the actuator arm to prevent movement of the actuator arm when the drive is subjected to an external shock load. The latch member rotates in only one direction in response to rotation of the beam member in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction from a neutral position.

Abstract: Method for the removable sealing of a component housing, and apparatus to practice the method using an elastic or conformable sealing band. The present invention teaches a sealing band, preferably elastic, to apply a horizontal seal to the horizontal seam defined by vertically assembled component case elements. The seal is maintained in position over the seam by an alignment element disposed on at least one of the seal and the case. The sealing band is rendered electrically conductive by admixing therewith a conductive material, or by plating thereon a conductive coating. A retaining element may be further added to at least one of the sealing band and the case to minimize tampering with the sealing band once installed.

Abstract: Method for the removable sealing of a component housing, and apparatus to practice the method using an elastic or conformable sealing band. The present invention teaches a sealing band, preferably elastic, to apply a horizontal seal to the horizontal seam defined by vertically assembled component case elements. The seal is maintained in position over the seam by an alignment element disposed on at least one of the seal and the case. The sealing band is rendered electrically conductive by admixing therewith a conductive material, or by plating thereon a conductive coating. A retaining element may be further added to at least one of the sealing band and the case to minimize tampering with the sealing band once installed.

Abstract: A reduced-height structure for a voice coil motor which forms a portion of the actuator in a disc drive data storage device includes a through opening in the base member of the disc drive housing within which the lower pole piece of the voice coil motor is mounted. A top pole piece of the Voice coil motor is mounted directly to the top cover of the disc drive housing and proper spacing between the top pole piece and the voice coil motor components mounted to the base a member is determined and maintained by a precisely machined surface in the base member. The lower pole piece is preferably mounted to the base member with cold-flowed brass rivets.