Abstract: An apparatus comprising a self-aligning rotatable member arranged between opposing first and second plate members, and a method of installation thereof. The plate members have respective first and second interior sidewalls to define respective first and second apertures therein. The rotatable member includes a central body portion and opposing, axially aligned first and second protrusions sized to rotate within the respective first and second apertures when the central body portion is placed in a gap between the plate members. During installation, the first protrusion of the rotatable member is inserted into the first aperture, and the rotatable member will tend to incur some amount of tilt. As the second plate member is lowered onto the rotatable member, the second interior sidewall contactingly engages a tapered outer surface of the second protrusion, thereby guiding the second protrusion into the second aperture and aligning the rotatable member with the apertures.

Abstract: An actuator assembly for use in a data storage device comprises an actuator arm and a voice coil motor coil. The actuator arm has a fantail portion and an arm portion offset from the fantail portion. The voice coil motor coil is supported by the fantail portion and is lying partially beneath the arm portion.

Abstract: A base plate for a spindle motor is provided defining a minimal axial gap with a relatively rotatable magnet. In an example, a surface of the base plate is positioned at 0.1 mm from an adjacent surface of a relatively rotatable magnet. The base plate is comprised of a composite material such that stiffness is improved and acoustic vibration is reduced, while maintaining low power consumption and a fast start-up time. A first material, being a nonmagnetic material is employed adjacent to a motor magnet, and a second material having a preferred stiffness is employed at a greater radial distance from the magnet than the radial distance between a stator and the magnet.

Abstract: An axially minimized spindle motor is provided that meets industry demands for low profile disc drive memory systems including stiffness, vibration and acoustic demands. Axial height of a base plate is reduced by forming a composite component of the stator and base plate. A thermally conductive bonding substance unites the stator and base plate, and fills in at least a portion of open space adjacent the base plate and stator. By making such a composite component, the axial thickness of the base plate may be reduced. In an aspect, a base plate is provided having an axial height adjacent to a stator in the range of 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm with improved stiffness, reduced vibration and reduced acoustics as compared to conventional low profile disc drive designs.

Abstract: There is provided a pre-amplifier with a baseplate configured for mounting to an actuator in a disc drive. The baseplate is directly fixed to the actuator at one point, with a damping layer between a second surface of the baseplate and the actuator. The damping layer helps to constrain the baseplate from rotational movement relative to the actuator. Preferably, the baseplate is fixed to the actuator by a grounding pin coupled to the baseplate.

Abstract: In a disc drive, a voice coil motor is configured to drive an actuator with mainly torque, thereby reducing unwanted vibration of the actuator. The voice coil motor includes a moving coil vertically disposed with respect to a horizontal radial magnetic field provided by a stationary unipolar magnet such that the active portions of the coil are of different radial separation from the actuator pivot. A yoke facilitates closure of the magnetic flux paths.

Abstract: Flow guides in the form of extensions that project internally from the housing of an electronic consumer device can contribute to undesirable noise emissions from the device. Proposed is an improved flow guide or extension that reduces propagation of flow induced vibrations to the housing, thereby improving the overall acoustic performance of the device.

Abstract: A printed circuit cable (PCC) connector attachment assembly is provided for a disc drive. The PCC connector attachment assembly includes alignment pins and a compressive member. The alignment pins help to align a PCC connector for assembly and help to prevent lateral movement of the PCC connector with respect to the base deck after assembly. In one embodiment, the alignment pins are located on the PCC connector and align with pinholes provided in a base deck of the disc drive. The compressive member has a height selected such that the compressive member pressingly engages the PCC connector when a cover is attached to the base deck with cover screws. Grounding pads are located between the PCC connector and the base deck, so that the grounding pads provide a grounding path from the PCC connector to the base deck.

Abstract: An improved actuator assembly with an out-of-plane voice coil and method of making thereof. The actuator assembly has two substantially planar arms for supporting both read/write devices and the out-of-plane voice coil. The arms are severally formed by stamping processes, and assembled with a pivot mechanism therebetween. The voice coil is affixed to both arms.

Abstract: A voice coil motor pole assembly for supporting a latch is disclosed. The pole assembly includes a pin serving as an axle for the latch. The pole assembly also includes a protrusion that extends over a portion of the latch when the latch is mounted on the pin to thereby prevent the latch from being dislodged from the pin.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for protecting a data storage device from fluid-borne contaminants. The device includes a housing in which a rotatable disc is disposed. The housing is formed from first and second rigid housing members. The first housing member is provided with an exterior filter support surface, an opposing interior surface and at least one filter access aperture. A contaminant adsorbent filter is placed on the exterior filter support surface, and a seal is applied to the first housing member to encapsulate the filter. During subsequent rotation of the disc, fluidic currents pass across the interior surface, through the at least one filter access aperture and to the adsorbent filter. Preferably, the filter is installed after the first and second housing members are mated. The filter support surface is preferably formed as part of a recess in the first housing member which projects into the housing.

Abstract: A data storage system with a breather filter is provided. The enclosure of the data storage system has a first end and a second end and includes a least one disc adapted to rotate in a rotational direction. The second end further includes a first corner and a second corner wherein the second corner is downstream from the first corner relative the rotational direction of the disc. A recirculation filter is spaced radially outward from the disc and disposed between the disc's outer diameter and either the first corner or the second corner. The breather filter is disposed radially outward from the disc and downstream from the recirculation filter relative to the rotation of the disc in a negative air pressure region.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for protecting a data storage device from fluid-borne contaminants. The device includes a housing in which a rotatable disc is supported, the disc having a data recording surface and an outermost perimeter. A filter assembly includes a first filter adjacent to the data recording surface and a second filter disposed beyond the outermost perimeter of the disc. During disc rotation, fluidic currents are generated and impinge a leading edge guide surface of the first filter. A first portion of the currents passes into a gap between the first filter and the data recording surface. A second portion of the currents passes along the leading edge guide surface to the second filter. The first filter is preferably characterized as a chemical adsorbent filter which adsorbs vapor phase (gaseous) contaminants, and the second filter is preferably characterized as a pass-through recirculation filter which captures particulate contaminants.

Abstract: A composite base for a disc spindle motor and an actuator spindle assembly including disc spindle portion, an actuator spindle portion and a flange portion. The composite base includes a disc hub portion and an actuator hub portion. The composite base is assembled to a base chassis of a disc drive to form the disc spindle motor assembly and the actuator spindle assembly of the data storage device.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for protecting a data storage device from fluid-borne contaminants. The device includes a housing in which a rotatable disc is supported, the disc having a data recording surface and an outermost perimeter. A filter assembly includes a first filter adjacent to the data recording surface and a second filter disposed beyond the outermost perimeter of the disc. During disc rotation, fluidic currents are generated and impinge a leading edge guide surface of the first filter. A first portion of the currents passes into a gap between the first filter and the data recording surface. A second portion of the currents passes along the leading edge guide surface to the second filter. The first filter is preferably characterized as a chemical adsorbent filter which adsorbs vapor phase (gaseous) contaminants, and the second filter is preferably characterized as a pass-through recirculation filter which captures particulate contaminants.

Abstract: Disclosed is a magnetic latch for a disc drive. Upper and lower voice coil magnet pole pieces include extensions which bend toward one another, defining a gap therebetween. The gap creates a magnetic field which attracts and holds a disc drive actuator in a park position when the drive is not in use.

Abstract: A pivot assembly for use with a planar disc drive actuator has bearings which are mounted within the deck of a disc drive. A pivoting shaft is supported by the bearings and extends upwardly, and includes an upper surface for supporting the actuator. A fastener is provided which secures the actuator to the upper surface of the pivot shaft.

Abstract: A latch apparatus for use in a disc drive includes a pivot portion adapted to be rotatably mounted in the disc drive, such that the pivot portion is rotatable between latched and unlatched positions. A latch arm attached to the pivot portion is adapted to restrict movement of an actuator arm when the pivot portion is in the latched position and is adapted to avoid restricting movement of the actuator arm when the pivot portion is in the unlatched position. The latch apparatus also includes a biasing mechanism attached to the pivot portion. The biasing mechanism is adapted to continually bias the pivot portion toward the unlatched position when the pivot portion is mounted in the disc drive. A wind arm attached to the pivot portion is positioned so that a wind produced by spinning the data storage disc pushes against the wind arm and thereby biases the pivot portion toward the unlatched position when the pivot portion is mounted in the disc drive.

Abstract: A voice coil motor suitable for use in devices where space is a significant constraint. The voice coil motor includes one coil portion intersectable with a magnetic field to produce resultant forces and an opposing coil portion shielded from the magnetic field such that the opposing coil portion does not intersect with the magnetic field.

Abstract: A disc drive includes a housing enclosing a spindle motor that is able to spin a disc. A filter within the housing is positioned so that a filter stream of moving gas created by a spinning motion of the disc flows through the filter. Additionally, a flow divider is secured to a portion of the housing and positioned within the filter stream upstream of the filter, splitting the filter stream into a first branch and a second branch. Both branches flow through the filter.