Abstract: A disk drive suspension has a longitudinal axis that defines inner and outer edges of the suspension. A flexure having a head gimbal assembly is aligned with the axis and spring-loaded to the suspension. A single limiter extends from the flexure through an opening in the suspension to hook to the suspension. The limiter limits the planar separation between the flexure and the suspension. The limiter is offset from the axis such that it is located much closer to the inner edge. During the unloading of the suspension from the disk, a tab on the suspension engages a ramp to begin to lift the suspension away from the disk. As the suspension is lifted, the flexure and head gimbal assembly have limited planar separation from the suspension due to the limiter. Since the limiter is offset from the axis, the surface of the head gimbal assembly is skewed relative to the disk.

Abstract: The present invention is a magnetic disk drive for reading or writing magnetically, comprising: (i) a base; (ii) one or more magnetic disks; (iii) a hub fixedly attached to the disk(s) for supporting the disk(s); (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) one or more actuators for supporting the heads and moving the heads across the disks, each actuator having a load/unload tab at its distal end adjacent to the inner diameter side of the actuator; and (vii) a load/unload structure for displacing the heads from the disk comprising a plurality of ramps.

Abstract: A disk drive utilizes a slider that is designed to fly very high or well above the surface of the disk when loading onto the disk and until a reading or writing operation requires the head to go to a relatively low-flying position with respect to the disk. Thus, the slider has two or more altitudes at which it flies depending on the operating conditions of the disk drive. The different altitudes of the slider are achieved by adjusting three primary variables: the rotational speed of the disk, selecting the radial position of the slider/actuator arm, and by the gram load. Other factors that may be used to tune this performance include pitch static attitude, pitch stiffness, and air bearing surface design.

Abstract: A hard disk drive utilizes a spacer ring at its inner diameter to load and unload the read/write heads. During relatively small shock events, the actuator is retained relative to the disk through a circumferential groove in the spacer ring. A complementary protrusion on the load/unload tab extends from the actuator into the groove to complete the retention. A tribological coating on the spacer ring and/or protrusion significantly reduces wear therebetween. However, during large shock events an inertial latch is used by the system to hold the actuator in place.

Abstract: A data storage system has a disk having a first, second and third zone. The first zone has rough texturing to prevent stiction between a slider at rest and the disk. The second zone has intermediate texturing to prevent stiction when a moving slider is in contact with the disk. The third zone has a smooth texture and is used for data recording. A control unit moves the slider between the zones as appropriate on power up and power down of the system. The system has an actuator latch having a bias device. The bias device allows the slider to be positioned between the first and second zones by selective energizing of the actuator while in the latched position.

Abstract: A method for reducing the accumulation of actuator bearing grease in hard disk drives includes periodically forcing the disk drive into multiple unload/load cycles after extended read/write sessions wherein the disk drive has not unloaded. While the disk drive is unloading, the current required to unload the read/write head is monitored. Based on the value of the current, the frequency of the unload/load cycle is adjusted.

Abstract: An active damping control for a disk drive includes an i.d. crash stop and an o.d. crash stop which constrain the motion of an actuator arm. Each crash stop includes an inner core manufactured from a material that generates current when mechanically strained. The inner core of each crash stop is connected to a circuit that includes an energy dissipating element that dissipates energy received from either crash stop. Thus, when the actuator arm collides with either crash stop, the rebound of the actuator arm off the crash stop is minimized.

Abstract: One embodiment of a recording head for a disk drive with a load/unload mechanism has an air bearing on one surface. The air bearing comprises a patterned set of three air bearing pads, and at least one deep pocket. The three air bearing pads are spaced apart from each other by the deep pocket, with the largest of the air bearing pads located on the leading edge, and the other pads on the trailing edge. The air bearing pads have unique geometry one of the trailing corners of the air bearing is free of all the air bearing pads. This configuration gives the air bearing superior performance characteristics over prior art designs with load/unload mechanisms, particularly in regard to contact with the disk during loading and unloading sequences.

Abstract: A disk drive suspension has a longitudinal axis that defines inner and outer edges of the suspension. A flexure having a head gimbal assembly is aligned with the axis and spring-loaded to the suspension. A single limiter extends from the flexure through an opening in the suspension to hook to the suspension. The limiter limits the planar separation between the flexure and the suspension. The limiter is offset from the axis such that it is located much closer to the inner edge. During the unloading of the suspension from the disk, a tab on the suspension engages a ramp to begin to lift the suspension away from the disk. As the suspension is lifted, the flexure and head gimbal assembly have limited planar separation from the suspension due to the limiter. Since the limiter is offset from the axis, the surface of the head gimbal assembly is skewed relative to the disk.

Abstract: The present invention is a magnetic disk drive for reading or writing magnetically, comprising: (i) a base; (ii) one or more magnetic disks; (iii) a hub fixedly attached to the disk(s) for supporting the disk(s); (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) one or more actuators for supporting the heads and moving the heads across the disks, each actuator having a load/unload tab at its distal end adjacent to the inner diameter side of the actuator; and (vii) a load/unload structure for displacing the heads from the disk comprising a plurality of ramps.

Abstract: A slider used in a disk drive apparatus is described which has an air bearing surface and a trailing surface and a plurality of recessed steps at the trailing edge. These steps at the trailing edge greatly reduce stictional forces.

Abstract: A method for controlling the velocity of an actuator arm in a hard disk drive includes moving the actuator arm to an inner limit or outer limit of motion. Then the power to the actuator coil, which drives the actuator arm, is reduced to zero and the actuator arm is released. Bends in the flexible cable connected to the actuator arm can cause the actuator arm to move toward the outer limit of motion. As the actuator arm moves due to the flexible cable, the velocity contribution of the flexible cable is measured and stored. Thereafter, the velocity of the actuator arm, during emergency power shut off, normal unload of the disk drive, or normal load of the disk drive, is decreased or increased by an amount equal to the cable-induced velocity to compensate for the velocity contribution of the flexible cable.

Abstract: A hard disk drive for a computer has a base containing a stack of rotatable disks and an actuator with a set of arms that is pivotable relative to the disks. At least one magnetic head is mounted to each arm for reading information from or writing information to a respective disk. The drive also has a stationary shock support member or comb located adjacent to the outer edges of the disks and the actuator. The teeth of the comb are interposed with the disks and arms throughout the range of pivotal motion of the arms. The teeth prevent incidental contact between the disks and arms in the event of mechanical shock to the hard disk drive.

Abstract: A lift tab for a load/unload type of data storage hard drive and a method of smoothing the lift tab. The method includes the step of striking the lift tab with short duration (e.g. 10-500 nanosecond) energy pulses to melt a thin surface layer of the lift tab. The melted layer flows under surface tension forces, smoothing out bumps and scratches. The melted layer quickly refreezes, forming an exceptionally smooth melted and refrozen spot. Preferably, the melted and refrozen spot is 0.2-10 microns deep. More preferably, the melted and refrozen spot is in the range of 1.0 to 3.0 microns thick. The lift tab can have a large number of melted and refrozen spots. The size of the melted and refrozen spots is practically limited by power available from energy sources such as lasers. Preferably, the melted and refrozen spots are at least several tens of microns in diameter. The present invention includes lift tabs having melted and refrozen spots.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring the quality of the readback signal of data written on a magnetic recording disk in a disk drive and for limiting data loss due to physical damage at a slider/disk interface. The amplitude of a read signal is continuously monitored in the read channel, either by directly measuring the read signal amplitude or by monitoring the amplification level of the automatic gain control (AGC) circuit in the read channel which is inversely proportional to the read signal amplitude. If the amplitude of the monitored read signal decreases below a chosen level, the location of the data on the disk track is flagged as possibly damaged. The data is rewritten at the same location and then reread to see if full recovery of the degraded data is possible. If the amplitude read signal of the rewritten data is greater than a chosen level, the disk track is judged to be usable and normal operation continues.

Abstract: A hard disk drive contains magnetic disks which are accessed by a series of pivotable arms. Each arm has a pair of flexible, cantilevered suspensions and a head gimbal assembly with a magnetic read/write head secured to each suspension. A tab extends from and forms part of the end of each head gimbal assembly. The hard disk drive also has a stationary cam member located near the outer edges of the disks. The cam member has a series of rigid cantilevered fingers with contoured surfaces. Each surface has three spaced-apart detents with a recess located between each adjacent pair of detents. The second recess on each surface has a lubricant-filled reservoir. For the majority of its operation, the drive pivots the arms between an operational range adjacent to the disks, and a park position in the first recess when the drive is not in use. The tabs slide along the support surfaces of the fingers when the arms move to the retracted position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting harmful motion of a disk drive system to avoid a head crash. The motor spin current in the hard disk drive is used as a sensor to detect acceleration of the disk drive corresponding to a tipping or falling condition. In normal operation, the disk stack angular velocity (measured in revolutions per minute or RPM) is constantly monitored so that the disk drive control system can generate timing signals allowing the controller to accurately locate data addresses on the rotating disks. Disk stack RPM is accurately controlled at a constant value by a suitable feedback control loop which measures RPM and adjusts motor drive current to maintain the desired RPM. The rapidly rotating disk stack acts as a gyro system whose angular momentum resists any change in direction.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and load/unload structure for implementation in a disk drive, whereby debris is prevented from accumulating on the surface of an air bearing slider by moving the slider ABS across a stationary cleaning pad formed integrally with the ramp structure during loading and unloading. As a first aspect of the invention, space at the disk perimeter is used efficiently by providing a stationary cleaning surface integral to the ramp structure. As another aspect of the invention, cleaning may be enhanced by dithering the slider across the stationary pad, e.g., at selected resonant frequencies, to remove a larger volume of debris. As yet another aspect of the invention, baffling may be provided in the disk drive interior to channel the airflow generated by the disk such that it is directed over the cleaning pad in the direction of an air filter.

Abstract: A slider having an air bearing configuration designed to minimize damage to the disk surface. The air bearing slider includes an air bearing surface and at least one non-air bearing surface. For example, the non-air bearing surface may include a first etch surface and/or a second etch surface. The non-air bearing surface has at least one rounded corner. The non-air bearing surface may also have at least one rounded edge.

Abstract: An arrangement for reducing the stiction bond at power-up time between an slider parked on a disk or other magnetic recording medium. A thermally expansive medium such as alumina is included in the slider body thermally adjacent to the write element. At power-up time or when a failure of the disk, etc. to rotate is detected during startup, a current is applied to the write element. The volume expansion resulting from the heat causes a change in the shape and/or location of the slider surface in contact with the disk and thereby breaks or reduces the slider/disk stiction bond.