Abstract: A method comprising: providing an arm actuation comprises a lightning hole; and attaching an air damper having a channel on the actuator arm and over the lightning hole, the air damper has the channel from a perimeter of the air damper.

Abstract: This application discloses a hard disk drive, a head stack assembly, an actuator arm, and an arm damper configured for coupling to an actuator arm to create the head stack assembly used in the hard disk drive. The actuator arm has two arm dampers covering a lightening hole on either side of the actuator arm and configured to reduce the effects of airflow turbulence and mechanical vibration in the hard disk drive. Also disclosed, methods of operating the hard disk drive and of manufacturing for the head stack assembly and the hard disk drive.

Abstract: The present invention includes a flexible printed circuit bracket including a crash stop rubber and/or an air block. The air block directs the air flow from the rotating disk surface(s) away from the head gimbal assemblies to minimize positional variance of the read-write heads. The crash stop rubber contacts the crash stop stub on the actuator arm block, stopping actuator assembly swinging away from the disk. The invention includes making an actuator assembly with the invention's flexible printed circuit bracket, as well as making the hard disk drive. The invention includes both the actuator assembly and the hard disk drive as the products of these processes. The invention also includes the actuator assembly and the hard disk drive containing the invention's flexible printed circuit bracket.

Abstract: The invention includes a flexure finger for coupling to a load beam in a head suspension assembly of a hard disk drive. The flexure finger reduces buckling in the tail transition region near the head gimbal assembly by including at least two stress relief gaps in a stainless steel layer in the tail transition region near the head gimbal assembly.

Abstract: The invention includes a method making a balanced disk pack for a hard disk drive, from a disk pack including a spindle motor rigidly coupled, and aligned by at least two open screw holes, with a disk clamp. The invention includes the resulting balanced disk packs, as well as hard disk drives built with such balanced disk packs. The invention also includes apparatus providing the means for implementing the steps of making a balanced disk pack from a disk pack. The invention includes at least one mechanical counterbalance for use in balancing the disk pack of a hard disk drive.

Abstract: The present invention includes a spindle motor with a dampened spindle motor flange, which includes a shallow groove on the disk face. The shallow groove includes a first rim, a trough, and a second rim. In use, the trough fills with a visco-elastic material compressed by a metallic ring. A disk pack assembly uses the spindle motor coupling through the dampened spindle motor flange to at least one clamped disk. The invention includes a disk pack using the spindle motor, visco-elastic material, and metallic ring, as well as hard disk drives built with these disk packs. The invention includes the method of disk pack assembly, as well as making a hard disk drive using disk pack. The manufactured disk pack and the hard disk drive are products of the invention's processes.

Abstract: An actuator block including at least one slot between each adjacent pair of actuator arms and located behind a site for a flexure stiffener. The resulting hard disk drive shows an improved NRRO. The invention further includes the actuator block including two of the slots between each adjacent pair of actuator arms. The invention includes an actuator assembly formed from the actuator block coupling to at least one head gimbal assembly on each actuator arm. The actuator assembly further includes a main flexure coupling through the flexure stiffener to the actuator block. The invention further includes the hard disk drive including the actuator assembly. The invention includes making the actuator assembly from the actuator block and the hard disk drive from the actuator assembly. The actuator assembly and the hard disk drive are products of these processes.

Abstract: The invention includes a method making a balanced disk pack for a hard disk drive, from a disk pack including a spindle motor rigidly coupled, and aligned by at least two open screw holes, with a disk clamp. The invention includes the resulting balanced disk packs, as well as hard disk drives built with such balanced disk packs. The invention also includes apparatus providing the means for implementing the steps of making a balanced disk pack from a disk pack. The invention includes at least one mechanical counterbalance for use in balancing the disk pack of a hard disk drive.

Abstract: The present invention includes a flexible printed circuit bracket including a crash stop rubber and/or an air block. The air block directs the air flow from the rotating disk surface(s) away from the head gimbal assemblies to minimize positional variance of the read-write heads. The crash stop rubber contacts the crash stop stub on the actuator arm block, stopping actuator assembly swinging away from the disk. The invention includes making an actuator assembly with the invention's flexible printed circuit bracket, as well as making the hard disk drive. The invention includes both the actuator assembly and the hard disk drive as the products of these processes. The invention also includes the actuator assembly and the hard disk drive containing the invention's flexible printed circuit bracket.

Abstract: The invention includes an actuator arm block for use in an actuator assembly within a hard disk drive, which includes a crash stop stub on a middle actuator arm to contact a crash stop rubber in the hard disk drive. The crash stop stub is preferably aligned with a crash stop rubber to stop the actuator assembly from swinging away from a rotating disk surface in the hard disk drive. A flexible printed circuit bracket preferably includes the crash stop rubber may further include an air block. The actuator arm block coupled with a voice coil, an actuator assembly and hard disk drive including the actuator arm block. The methods of manufacturing the actuator arm block coupled with a voice coil, an actuator assembly and hard disk drive, as well as process products.

Abstract: The invention includes a method making a balanced disk pack for a hard disk drive, from a disk pack including a spindle motor rigidly coupled, and aligned by at least two open screw holes, with a disk clamp. The invention includes the resulting balanced disk packs, as well as hard disk drives built with such balanced disk packs. The invention also includes apparatus providing the means for implementing the steps of making a balanced disk pack from a disk pack. The invention includes at least one mechanical counterbalance for use in balancing the disk pack of a hard disk drive.

Abstract: The present invention includes a spindle motor with a dampened spindle motor flange, which includes a shallow groove on the disk face. The shallow groove includes a first rim, a trough, and a second rim. In use, the trough fills with a visco-elastic material compressed by a metallic ring. A disk pack assembly uses the spindle motor coupling through the dampened spindle motor flange to at least one clamped disk. The invention includes a disk pack using the spindle motor, visco-elastic material, and metallic ring, as well as hard disk drives built with these disk packs. The invention includes the method of disk pack assembly, as well as making a hard disk drive using disk pack. The manufactured disk pack and the hard disk drive are products of the invention's processes.

Abstract: A spacer assembly for a spindle motor of a hard disk drive. The spacer assembly separates a first disk from a second disk of the disk drive. The spacer assembly includes a first layer of damping material located between a washer and a spacer. The first layer of damping material damps vibration that is transmitted through the spacer assembly and into the disk. Damping vibration reduces track mis-registration in the disk drive due to mechanical vibration.

Abstract: The invention includes a method making a balanced disk pack for a hard disk drive, from a disk pack including a spindle motor rigidly coupled, and aligned by at least two open screw holes, with a disk clamp. The invention includes the resulting balanced disk packs, as well as hard disk drives built with such balanced disk packs. The invention also includes apparatus providing the means for implementing the steps of making a balanced disk pack from a disk pack. The invention includes at least one mechanical counterbalance for use in balancing the disk pack of a hard disk drive.

Abstract: A hard disk drive assembly which includes a limiter plate that is attached to an actuator arm. The limiter plate limits a movement of a flexure arm that is attached to a head. The head is coupled to a disk. The limiter plate limits the distance that the head can move away from the disk. Limiting the movement of the head may reduce the impact force associated with the head slapping the disk.

Abstract: A single latch that can secure an actuator arm when a hard disk drive has a clockwise rotational acceleration, or a counterclockwise rotational acceleration. The latch has a first end that can engage a first latch portion of the actuator arm when the disk drive has a clockwise rotational acceleration. The same latch also has a second end that can engage a second latch portion of the actuator arm when the disk drive has a counterclockwise rotational acceleration.

Abstract: A spindle motor assembly that includes an elastomer which couples a disk to a motor hub. The elastomer centers the disk with the motor hub. Centering the disk improves the overall balance of the spindle motor assembly.

Abstract: The invention is about a television that has a built-in receptacle such that its remote control can be placed in the receptacle. In addition, the presence of the remote control in the receptacle turns OFF the TV while removal of it turns ON the TV. Such a remote control, by design, lacks the function to remotely turn ON or OFF the TV. This would drastically reduce the possibility of a missing or misplaced remote control. The built-in receptacle may also allow storage of spare batteries for the remote control.

Abstract: A spindle motor assembly that includes a sleeve which couples a disk to a motor hub. The sleeve may have a plurality of protrusions that are in contact with the disks. The sleeve and protrusions center the disk with the motor hub. Centering the disk improves the overall balance of the spindle motor assembly.