Abstract: A disk drive (310) is disclosed that uses an integral load/unload ramp (350) with one or more integrated air features. In one embodiment, the load/unload ramp (350) includes a body (352), a plurality of head load/unload sections (354) for head parking operations, a plurality of air dams (370) for affecting the airflow on at least part of the primary data storage surfaces of the data storage disks (318) used by the disk drive (310), and a plurality of disk extenders (380) for affecting the airflow at the perimeter (320) of the various data storage disks (318). There is no joint of any kind between the body (352) and any of the head load/unload sections (354), between the body (352) and any of the air dams (370), or between the body (352) and any of the disk extenders (380).

Abstract: Disk stators or air deflectors are provided for controlling undesirable air flow characteristics in a disk drive. In a four-disk pack arrangement, the stators are arranged in a group of three stacked stators wherein a middle or interior stator is planar, and the upper and lower stators each have complementary shapes with offset mounting brackets thereby providing gaps between the stators. Openings formed in the stators are aligned with one another when assembled enabling a locating pin protruding from the base of the disk drive to be received within the openings. The disk stators can also be incorporated in other disk pack arrangements such as two and three disk packs. The stators are preferably formed in a stamping manufacturing process thereby reducing manufacturing costs.

Abstract: A capstanless helical scan recording system (14) comprises a supply reel (24); a take-up reel (26); and a media transport path (20) extending from the supply reel to the take-up reel. A drum (30) is positioned along the media transport path and has a read head (R1,R2) and a write head (W1,W2) mounted thereon for recording and reading information in helical stripes on the media. The take-up reel comprises a rotor assembly (60), a rotating hub assembly (70), and a gearing system. The rotor assembly includes a sun gear (80) which rotates at a first rotational speed. The rotating hub assembly rotates carries three planetary gears (160) and imparts a velocity to media transported in the media transport path. The gearing system meshes with the rotor assembly and with the hub assembly for causing the hub assembly to have a greater rotational speed than the rotor assembly. The gearing system preferably has a gear ratio on the order of about 8:1.

Abstract: A capstanless helical scan recording system (14) comprises a supply reel (24); a take-up reel (26); and a media transport path (20) extending from the supply reel to the take-up reel. A drum (30) is positioned along the media transport path and has a read head (R1,R2) and a write head (W1,W2) mounted thereon for recording and reading information in helical stripes on the media. The take-up reel comprises a rotor assembly (60), a rotating hub assembly (70), and a gearing system. The rotor assembly includes a sun gear (80) which rotates at a first rotational speed. The rotating hub assembly rotates carries three planetary gears (160) and imparts a velocity to media transported in the media transport path. The gearing system meshes with the rotor assembly and with the hub assembly for causing the hub assembly to have a greater rotational speed than the rotor assembly. The gearing system preferably has a gear ratio on the order of about 8:1.

Abstract: A master station communicates with remote stations by respective transmit-receive pairs. Quadra-phase modulation is utilized, involving a carrier having two characteristic frequencies not present during bursts of a communicated signal, which bursts are known to last for a fixed duration. Signals on a receive pair are detected, and phase locked loops are tuned to the characteristic frequencies of the carrier and produce logical signals to indicate whether the characteristic frequencies are present. If not, a timer is energized to inhibit institution of a loopback condition for the duration of a data burst, after which the phase locked loops are permitted to enable the loopback.