Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention pertain to an apparatus for a shock absorber that allows a disk drive to move with respect to the chassis of a computer system. In one embodiment, the disk drive shock absorber includes an assembly joint and a flexure. The flexure is capable of being coupled to the assembly joint. The assembly joint is capable of being coupled to the flexure and the computer system's chassis. The shock absorber is created by coupling the flexure to the assembly joint. The shock absorber has a form that can be used to flexibly couple the disk drive's enclosure with the computer system's chassis without requiring an increase in size of the chassis.

Abstract: A disk drive controller establishes an active region on a disk that corresponds to a region of the disk wherein effects of mechanical shock to the disk drive during read and/or write operations are mitigated by a motion limiting element. The controller stores data in the active region based on frequency and/or recency of access of the data.

Abstract: A disk drive system (and method) includes an actuator system including a first voice coil motor (VCM), a second voice coil motor for enhancing dynamic resonance properties of the actuator system, and a single error position detecting mechanism, thereby enabling a higher bandwidth servo system configured with a single position error detection source.

Abstract: A motor for incorporation in an actuator pivot includes a coil disk, an upper magnet-yoke disk, and a lower magnet-yoke disk. The coil disk is attached to the pivot shaft to form a shaft-coil assembly. The coil disk includes a plurality of coils, each placed orthogonally to the axis of the shaft. Each coil is configured to receive an electrical current in a first direction. A second coil located diametrically opposite to the first coil is configured to receive a second electrical current in a second direction so that the coils generate a torque with a net resultant linear force being substantially equal to zero. The first magnet-yoke disk, for mounting relative to the shaft at a location above the coil disk so that the first magnet-yoke disk rotates with respect to the coil disk, the magnet-yoke ring comprising at least one magnet, aligned in a first direction, and a respective plurality of yokes, each yoke for holding at least one magnet such that magnetic lines of flux are generated parallel to the axis.

Abstract: A deformable shock absorbing device for a computer apparatus or a precision apparatus is provided. An embodiment of the shock absorbing portion includes an outer disk, an inner substrate with a valve, and an elastic member therebetween, creating a cavity whose inflow or outflow is allowed by the valve. When the computer apparatus is moved away from a resting surface, the elastic membrane facilitates the inflation of the shock absorbing device with air or fluid and the device projects outwardly from the bottom surface of the computer. If the computer comes into sudden contact with the surface, the force of impact is absorbed by the shock absorbing device which deflates gradually. Thus, internal structures of the computer apparatus can be prevented from being damaged.

Abstract: A disk drive system (and method) includes an actuator system including a first voice coil motor (VCM), a second voice coil motor for enhancing dynamic resonance properties of the actuator system, and a single error position detecting mechanism, thereby enabling a higher bandwidth servo system configured with a single position error detection source.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an inertial latch mechanism of an actuator of a thin disk drive device. An inertial latch mechanism comprises a latch lever rotatable on a pivot from a release position to a latch position, and an inertial lever which is rotatable on a pivot and has a moment of inertia larger than that of the latch lever. The inertial lever rotates counterclockwise when a counterclockwise shock is given to the actuator, and pulls the latch lever at a first latch part by a first latch projection to move the latch lever to the latch position. The inertial lever also rotates clockwise when a clockwise shock is given to the actuator, and pushes the latch lever at a second latch part by a second latch projection to latch the actuator which has bumped against a crash stop and is reversely rotating.

Abstract: A technique for preventing damage to ball bearings in a small form factor device where the drive motor has at least one crash stop ring disposed about the shaft and inside the rotor of the motor. The crash stop ring is dimensioned to permit only a small amount of movement of the rotor relative to the shaft. The permitted movement must be less than the minimum movement which would cause damage to the elements of the ball bearing. In an alternative embodiment, a rotor includes a flange extending in the radial direction from the rotor. A piezoelectric ring is rigidly mounted on both sides of the flange to engage one of the planar surfaces of the flange when the piezoelectric ring is in the relaxed state.

Abstract: An air bearing slider has both front and rear pads extending from a generally planar body, both pads having faces opposed to a recording medium and separated by a gap that is substantially in excess of any fly height of the slider. Both surfaces exhibit extremely small taper angles that enable "inlet throttling" of air beneath the slider. Such inlet throttling provides the slider with a fly height that is substantially independent of relative speed changes between the slider and a recording medium. A preferred embodiment includes front and rear pads that are convex in, the direction of movement of the recording medium e.g. are "forward swept". Such convexity enables substantial resistance to fly height changes in response to skew alteration.

Abstract: An air bearing slider according to the present invention provides a programmable slider wherein the fly height of the read/write head may be conveniently controlled using electrical signals. In an air bearing slider according to the present invention, the rear of the slider is made to fly lower by altering the angle of attack of a rear air bearing region. In one embodiment of the present invention, a slider configuration includes a first air bearing region at the leading edge of the slider and a second air bearing region at the slider's trailing edge. The first air bearing region includes a tapered region. A deformable central region, including a non air bearing surface, joins the first and second air bearing regions and controls the relative angle between the air bearing surfaces. The relative angle is adjusted by deforming the central region using a layer of piezoelectric material which overlays the central region.