Abstract: A base support member for a disc drive is provided. The base support member includes a disc support cavity configured to house and support a spinning disc, and a filter support cavity configured to house and support a filter. The base support member also includes at least one surface that defines an airborne filtering channel that is generally disposed within the filter support cavity of the base support member. The airborne filtering channel has an inlet opening positioned in a first location proximate the disc support cavity and an outlet opening positioned in a second location proximate the disc support cavity. The airborne filtering channel is configured to receive a flow of air from the spinning disc at the inlet opening, pass the flow of air through the filter cavity and to discharge the flow of air at the outlet opening.

Abstract: The present invention for a disk drive is a damping feature applied to the contact area between the flexible circuit and the pivot housing, reducing the resonance energy transferred from the flexible circuit to the pivot housing. This invention reduces the direct energy transfer from the flexible circuit to the pivot house by applying a damping feature as embodied by damping material on the flexible circuit or pivot housing at the point at which they make contact or by adding a damper to the flexible circuit re-routing tip area between the pivot housing and the flexible circuit. The damping feature absorbs the resonance energy from the flexible circuit to the damping feature material and reduces the energy transferred from the flexible circuit to the pivot housing.

Abstract: A housing providing for improved windage characteristics in a disc drive, the housing having a multiple bypass configured to receive and direct fluid flow away from a rotating disc pack assembly. The housing further includes a shroud to contain some fluid flow with the disc pack assembly.

Abstract: A housing providing for improved windage characteristics in a disc drive, the housing having a multiple bypass configured to receive and direct fluid flow away from a rotating disc pack assembly. The housing further includes a shroud to contain some fluid flow with the disc pack assembly.