Making Disc Drive Patents (Class 29/603.03)
  • Patent number: 8720034
    Abstract: A method of attaching a head assembly having an annular hollow boss to an arm having a through hole of a carriage is provided. The head assembly includes a load beam of a head suspension and a base plate fixed to a base part of the load beam. The boss is formed on the base plate. The method includes steps of, inserting the boss into the through hole, thereby setting the head assembly to the arm of the carriage, supplying lubricant along the cylindrical jig to the caulking ball and pushing the caulking ball with the cylindrical jig to pass the caulking ball through an inside of the boss and diametrally expand and plastically deform the boss, thereby fixedly fitting the boss of the head assembly to the through hole of the arm of the carriage. The method causes no deformation of a flange formed on the base plate during caulking and is achievable at low cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masao Hanya
  • Patent number: 8720043
    Abstract: A method of allocating resources in a rack system includes establishing a budgeted amount of a resource for a defined amount of rack space in a rack system. Electrical modules are deployed in a particular space in the rack system having the defined amount of rack space such that the amount of the resource used by the electrical modules in the particular rack space is maintained within the budgeted amount of the resource.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew T. Corddry, Peter G. Ross, Darin Lee Frink
  • Patent number: 8707531
    Abstract: A storage device assembly fixture comprises a platform configured to receive an external cover for a storage device, the external cover having a first face and a second face generally parallel to and opposing the first face, the first face coupled to the second face at a back end of the external cover, the first face defining a first edge at a front end of the external cover opposite the back end, and the second face defining a second edge at the front end; a first finger configured to engage the first edge; a second finger configured to engage the second edge; and a pivot assembly coupled to the second finger, the pivot assembly rotatable about a pivot axis and configured to pivot the second finger away from the first finger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Komgrit Sungkhaphong, Pattara Aryuwat
  • Patent number: 8705209
    Abstract: A suspension clamp is disclosed for clamping a disk drive suspension to an actuator arm. The suspension clamp comprises a housing including a spring operable to bias a latching member, wherein the latching member is rotatable about a pivot. After compressing the spring and rotating the latching member in a first direction, the latching member is operable to clamp the suspension to the actuator arm by decompressing the spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark S. Seymour, Mitchell D. Dougherty, Walter G. Banshak, Jr., Geoffrey A. Hales
  • Publication number: 20140092550
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are configured to partition a computing system chassis (22, 222) interior into first and second thermal chambers (60, 62, 260, 262), wherein the first thermal chamber (60, 260) includes a processor (24, 224), a memory (30, 230) and a chipset (28, 228) and the second thermal chamber (62, 262) includes an optical disk drive cage (46, 246), a hard disk drive (44, 244) and a power supply (40, 240). A fan unit (110, 410) is configured to be secured within the optical disk drive cage (46, 246).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Tony O. Anuez, Peter W. Austin
  • Patent number: 8683677
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, a hard disk drive includes at least one disk secured to a motor hub with a disk clamp. The disk clamp is positioned radially off-center with respect to the hub to balance a static drive imbalance. In certain embodiments, a method includes radially offsetting a disk clamp to offset a static drive balance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Seagate Technology
    Inventors: Darius Alisantoso, Terence Cheekwong Cheng, S Selvaruban, Sok Li Goh
  • Patent number: 8683676
    Abstract: Disclosed is a gripper for use with a disk clamp end effecter in a disk drive manufacturing process used for mounting a disk clamp to a disk in the manufacturing of a disk drive. The gripper comprises: a disk gripper housing, a lip seal gripper mounted to the disk gripper housing, and a vacuum channel. The lip seal gripper includes an upper portion that fits into the disk gripper housing and a lower portion that has a surface. The surface is configured to extend around the disk clamp to press against the disk clamp. The vacuum channel extends from the upper portion of the lip seal gripper to the lower portion of the lip seal gripper to provide a vacuum to the lip seal gripper such that the surface of the lip seal gripper is gripped by the vacuum to the surface of the disk clamp around the disk clamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David Wuester, Sr., Dean Albert Tarrant
  • Publication number: 20140082929
    Abstract: A rotating device includes a hub on which a magnetic recording disk is to be mounted, and a base that supports the hub in a freely rotatable manner. When at least either one of the base and the hub is referred to as a work-piece, a method for manufacturing the rotating device includes a forming step for forming the work-piece, a blowing step for blowing the formed work-piece with solid grains, a cleaning step for cleaning the work-piece blown by the grains using a cleaning fluid, an assembling step for assembling the rotating device using the cleaned work-piece. The grains have a property of vaporizing in the cleaning step or being soluble with the cleaning fluid therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANICS JAPAN ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro AONO, Kenji NISHIHARA
  • Patent number: 8667667
    Abstract: A disk drive includes a disk drive base comprising a first metal material. The disk drive base may include a first opening and a first attachment feature to which a head actuator assembly pivot may be attached. A motor support may be embedded in the first opening in the disk drive base. The motor support consists of a second metal material having a damping coefficient higher than that of the first metal material. A rotary spindle may be attached to the motor support, and a disk may be attached to the rotary spindle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Diep L. Nguyen, Jifang Tian, Hongqi Li
  • Patent number: 8654482
    Abstract: A dual stage actuator (DSA) suspension has a single microactuator such as a PZT element on one side of central longitudinal axis of the suspension, and a pseudo symmetry structure formed or affixed on the other side of the central longitudinal axis opposite the PZT. The pseudo symmetry structure has mass and stiffness that mirrors the PZT, thus keeping the suspension mechanically balanced and symmetric about the longitudinal axis for improved suspension performance especially in a shock environment. The pseudo symmetry structure can include a spring to keep the PZT under compression to prevent PZT failure, and/or a strain gauge for use by the head positioning servo-control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Magnecomp Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Hahn, Wei Keat Chai, Kuen Chee Ee, Brett Holaway
  • Patent number: 8640328
    Abstract: A system for fastening a head stack to a hard drive base assembly (HDBA) comprises a threaded head stack pivot (THSP) having a socket defined therein. The socket comprises a proximal portion defined by inner walls arranged parallel to a longitudinal axis of the socket and a distal portion having a width less than a width of the proximal portion and forming a ledge adjacent to the proximal portion. The system also comprises a bit for driving the THSP into an HDBA. The bit comprises a head comprising contact surfaces arranged parallel to a longitudinal axis of the bit and tapered surfaces extending from respective contact surfaces to a distal end of the bit. The bit is configured to engage the ledge at seams formed between adjacent tapered surfaces and to engage the inner walls with respective contact surfaces when driving the THSP into the HDBA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Chin Wai Yow, Jit Han Tan
  • Patent number: 8635764
    Abstract: A system is provided that increases the spindle stiffness of a disk drive while optimizing power consumption. A multipurpose bearing provides axial stiffness and enhanced stiffness against radial and pitch loads applied to the spindle. When used in combination with a journal bearing, conventional thrust bearings may be eliminated without sacrificing overall stiffness. As a result, the height of the disk drive may be reduced, thereby making the system desirable to be used in smaller electronic devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Diep Nguyen, Hamid Salehizadeh
  • Patent number: 8631561
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to fabricating a bond pad for electrically connecting a laser diode to a slider and a TAR head in a HDD. The bond pad is deposited on a surface of the head that is perpendicular to the air bearing surface (ABS). The head is diced and lapped to expose the bond pad on a top surface of the head and mounted on a slider. The laser diode and a sub-mount may be coupled to the top surface of the slider—i.e., the surface opposite the ABS—by connecting to the bond pads. Specifically, both the laser diode and the sub-mount have electrodes thereon that are perpendicular to the bond pads. Conductive bonding material is used to bond the laser diode and the sub-mount to the bond pads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: HGST Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Christian René Bonhôte, Linden James Crawforth, Toshiki Hirano, Fu-Ying Huang, Neil Leslie Robertson, Barry Cushing Stipe
  • Patent number: 8615318
    Abstract: A method of process control including constraining a tolerance ring relative to one of an inner and an outer component. The tolerance ring including an annular band of resilient material having a plurality of projections projecting radially therefrom. Additionally, the method includes moving the other of the inner or outer component with respect to the constrained tolerance ring so as to compress the projections of the tolerance ring between the inner and outer components, and continuing movement of the inner or outer component, respectively, beyond the projections. The method further including measuring a force required for continuing movement, and using the force for process control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Rencol Limited
    Inventor: Gino Bancalari
  • Publication number: 20130333204
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a method of manufacturing a hard disk drive device including a hub member on which a recording disk is to be mounted and a base member configured to rotatably support the hub member via a bearing part. When constituent members including the base member, the hub member, and the bearing part are referred to as works, the manufacturing method includes: cleaning at least one of the works with a cleaning agent containing at least one of an ester and an ether, and a surfactant; and assembling the hard disk drive device by using the work having been subjected to the cleaning.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Japan Advanced Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Nishihara, Winya Dungkaew, Masayuki Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 8607442
    Abstract: A disk drive device includes a hub, a base plate, and a bearing unit. The bearing unit includes a shaft housing member, joined to the hub, having a through-hole in the center, a shaft having a smaller diameter section and a larger diameter section, a radial dynamic pressure grooves, and a lubricant agent. The opening shape of bearing hole of the base plate is so formed as to be larger than the outer shape of the larger diameter section. In the bearing unit, the larger diameter section of the bearing unit is fixed by a hardening resin present between the bearing unit and the bearing hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Japan Advanced Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuo Kodama, Ryusuke Sugiki, Akira Aoi
  • Patent number: 8595917
    Abstract: A flexure 11 has a substrate 13 made of a thin conductive metal plate, a base insulating layer 31 made of flexible resin formed on the substrate, wiring patterns 15 formed on the base insulating layer and connected to a slider mount 17, and a cover insulating layer 33 formed over the wiring patterns. The flexure 11 is substantially coated with a conductive polymer layer 39 having a thickness in the range of 18 to 130 nm. The flexure 11 prevents electrostatic accumulation and ion migration that are trade-offs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hajime Arai, Eijiro Furuta, Koichi Kusakawa
  • Patent number: 8590138
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a thermally-assisted magnetic recording head includes: providing a bar and a plurality of light source units, the bar including a plurality of thermally-assisted magnetic recording head sections arranged in a first direction, and each of the light source units including a substrate and a light source; and bonding a second surface of the substrate to the bar with an adhesive layer in between, where the plurality of light source units are so aligned to the respective thermally-assisted magnetic recording head sections on the bar, as to allow a first surface of the substrate, which supports the light source, to be parallel to the first direction, the bonding allowing the substrates of the light source units to be irradiated with a first laser beam and allowing the bar to be irradiated with a second laser beam, to thereby allow the adhesive layer to be melted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignees: TDK Corporation, SAE Magnetics (H.K.)
    Inventors: Shinji Hara, Koji Shimazawa, Ryo Hosoi
  • Publication number: 20130305523
    Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a disk drive device, a cleaning process and an assembly process are performed in succession in a clean room having a predetermined cleanness level. The cleaning process includes an alkali cleaning process, a first purified water cleaning process, a second purified water cleaning process, a spray cleaning process, a draining process and a drying process. In the first purified water cleaning process, purified water ultrasonic wave cleaning is sequentially performed on the base member of the disk drive device to be cleaned by using ultrasonic waves of frequencies of 40 kHz, 68 kHz and 132 kHz in purified water filled in a first purified water cleaning tank. The cleaned base member and other components having a predetermined cleanness level are assembled in the assembly process continuous from the cleaning process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Japan Advanced Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenji Nishihara
  • Patent number: 8567044
    Abstract: A defect inspection is performed for each of glass substrates by a surface defect detector. The distance from the center of the glass substrate to a detected defect, as a radius of a nonmagnetic region to be formed circular, is recorded along with an ID assigned to the glass substrate. Such defect information is recorded in a defect list using a printer or recorded in an RFID tag using an RFID writer. The defect list or the RFID tag is attached to a glass-substrate case. Each glass substrate and its defect information are in one-to-one correspondence and are provided to a customer as a magnetic disk manufacturer. Based on the obtained defect information, the customer manufactures magnetic disks each being a discrete track recording medium having the nonmagnetic region formed at the position where the defect is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignees: Hoya Corporation, Hoya Glass Disk (thailand) Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Takeda, Ken-ichi Nishimori, Tomotaka Yokoyama, Tadashi Tomonaga
  • Patent number: 8561286
    Abstract: A manufacturing method for a magnetic head supporting suspension includes forming a load beam blank having a load beam with a dimple formed therein, and a frame portion with a positioning part formed therein; and forming a flexure blank having a flexure and a frame portion. A fitting portion in the flexure blank is fittable to the positioning part. An anti-rotation portion is formed on the load beam blank or a member attached to the load beam blank. A receiving portion in the flexure blank is fittable to the anti-rotation portion. The load beam blank and flexure blank are superposed with the positioning part fitted to the fitting portion. The anti-rotation portion is fitted to the receiving portion, and the flexure is fixed to the load beam. The load beam and flexure are thereafter separated from the frame portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoichi Ikeji, Kazuhiko Otake
  • Patent number: 8561285
    Abstract: A method of picking and placing a workpiece relative to a disk drive may include steps of providing a robotically controlled tool, a servo motor assembly for moving the tool, at least one controller for controlling the tool and the servo motor assembly, and a machine vision assembly coupled to the controller and located relative to the tool so that a selected feature is within a field of view of the machine vision assembly while the tool is picking up the workpiece. The workpiece may be coupled to the tool, and the workpiece may be aligned with the selected feature of the disk drive using the machine vision assembly and the controller to control the servo motor assembly, such that the workpiece is aligned with the selected feature. The aligned workpiece may then be placed onto the selected feature of the disk drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jambunathan Vangal-Ramamurthy, Walter W. Butler
  • Patent number: 8544164
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a head stack assembly cartridge is provided. The head stack assembly cartridge includes a base plate having a pivot shaft for pivotally mounting a head stack assembly and a base voice coil motor magnet attached to an inner surface of the base plate. The base voice coil motor magnet is arranged on the inner surface of the base plate to be adjacent to a coil of the head stack assembly pivotally mounted on the pivot shaft. The head stack assembly cartridge further includes a cover removably attached to the base plate and a pivot clamp removably attached to the cover and configured to secure the head stack assembly pivotally mounted on the pivot shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Chunjer Chuck Cheng, Tao Lin, Gang Herbert Lin
  • Patent number: 8533934
    Abstract: A method of assembling a hard disk drive comprises steps of: sealing an interface of the base and the cover of an enclosed housing with an infrared-transmissive tape; filling the enclosed housing with a desired gaseous medium; optionally, testing the hard disk drive; and, optionally; re-working the hard disk drive. Preferably, the enclosed housing is free of rubber gasket materials between the base and the cover. A hermetically sealed hard disk drive of the invention comprises: a housing comprising a base and a cover; and disk drive components enclosed within the housing for facilitating reading and recording of data at any desired location on at least one disk contained within the housing, wherein the hard disk drive is free of rubber gasket materials between the base and the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: entrotech, inc.
    Inventors: James E. McGuire, Jr., Andrew C. Strange
  • Patent number: 8533935
    Abstract: An auxiliary tool, for assembling a number of voice coil motors, includes a number of trays, a rod member, and two limiting members. Each of the trays includes a main portion and a plurality of support arms extending away from the main portion. The main portion includes a top surface and a bottom surface. The support arms and the main portion cooperatively define two receiving spaces respectively on the top surface and the bottom surface. Each voice coil motor is received in two receiving spaces of two neighboring trays and clamped by the two neighboring trays. The rod member passes through trays and the voice coil motors. The two limiting members are sleeved over the rod member at two ends of the rod member. The trays and the voice coil motors are limited between the two limiting members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tzu-Nan Chou
  • Patent number: 8516685
    Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a disk drive device, a cleaning process and an assembly process are performed in succession in a clean room having a predetermined cleanness level. The cleaning process includes an alkali cleaning process, a first purified water cleaning process, a second purified water cleaning process, a spray cleaning process, a draining process and a drying process. In the first purified water cleaning process, purified water ultrasonic wave cleaning is sequentially performed on the base member of the disk drive device to be cleaned by using ultrasonic waves of frequencies of 40 kHz, 68 kHz and 132 kHz in purified water filled in a first purified water cleaning tank. The cleaned base member and other components having a predetermined cleanness level are assembled in the assembly process continuous from the cleaning process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Japan Advanced Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenji Nishihara
  • Patent number: 8516686
    Abstract: A slider tester includes a disk, movable table, table drive mechanism, guide member, etc. A plurality of suspensions are mounted on the movable table. A slider is mounted on each suspension. A guide member can support respective lift tabs of the suspensions. The guide member includes a first guide surface, second guide surface, and opening arranged in a track width direction of the disk. When any of the lift tabs gets into the opening as the movable table moves in the track width direction of the disk, the slider is dropped toward a recording surface of the disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akira Nojima
  • Patent number: 8510931
    Abstract: A disc drive disc stack assembly and a method for forming the disc stack assembly to reduce servo pattern runout. The disc stack assembly includes a number of prewritten discs having a servo pattern and a disc alignment mark. The first step is to place a first disc about a spindle motor hub of the disc drive. The second step is to align a disc alignment mark of the first disc in relation to a direction of a biasing force. The third step is to apply the biasing force to the first disc to engage the first disc against the spindle motor hub. The fourth step is to repeat the first three steps for each remaining disc in the disc stack assembly. The final step is to clamp the prewritten discs with a disc clamp to secure the position of each prewritten disc relative to the spindle motor hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventor: Arnold G. Slezak
  • Patent number: 8458891
    Abstract: A method of centering a disk of a hard disk drive includes arranging a disk on an upper end portion of a hub on which a plurality of disks are rotatably assembled, and assembling the disk on the hub by vibrating the hub. Accordingly, the disks and/or spacers may be easily assembled on the hub, a time of centering may be relatively much reduced, and a superior centering quality may be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Seagate Technology International
    Inventors: Kyung Ho Kim, Ha Yong Kim, Kyu Nam Cho, Yong-Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 8454755
    Abstract: An assembly tool is provided. The assembly tool comprises a body, a first vacuum channel defined within the body, and a first locating pin attached to the body. The first locating pin has a shaft portion arranged within a surrounding portion of the body. The first locating pin is configured to engage a first alignment feature of a hard drive component at a first contact area to align the hard drive component with the assembly tool. The body is configured to couple the first vacuum channel to a vacuum source and to facilitate particle evacuation from the first contact area via the first vacuum channel when a vacuum is applied by the vacuum source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jit Han Tan, Wai Khuen Yee
  • Patent number: 8453315
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a perpendicular magnetic disk 100 that includes a step of forming, on a base 110, a granular magnetic layer 160 in which a grain boundary portion is formed by segregation of a non-magnetic substance containing an oxide as a main component around magnetic particles containing a CoCrPt alloy grown in a columnar shape as a main component. The method also includes a step of forming an auxiliary recording layer 180 that contains a CoCrPtRu alloy as a main component and has a film thickness of 1.5 to 4 nm above the granular magnetic layer, and a step of heating the base formed with the auxiliary recording layer in a temperature range of 210 to 250° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: WD Media (Singapore) Pte, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takenori Kajiwara, Tokichiro Sato
  • Publication number: 20130133182
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to fabricating a bond pad for electrically connecting a laser diode to a slider and a TAR head in a HDD. The bond pad is deposited on a surface of the head that is perpendicular to the air bearing surface (ABS). The head is diced and lapped to expose the bond pad on a top surface of the head and mounted on a slider. The laser diode and a sub-mount may be coupled to the top surface of the slider—i.e., the surface opposite the ABS—by connecting to the bond pads. Specifically, both the laser diode and the sub-mount have electrodes thereon that are perpendicular to the bond pads. Conductive bonding material is used to bond the laser diode and the sub-mount to the bond pads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Inventors: Christian René Bonhôte, Linden James Crawforth, Toshiki Hirano, Fu-Ying Huang, Neil Leslie Robertson, Barry Cushing Stipe
  • Patent number: 8448329
    Abstract: An integrated lead head suspension flexure including a plurality of integrated leads each including at least one lead portion unbacked by the flexure spring metal layer and configured to be substantially inline with the general plane of the spring metal layer. The leads are disposed on a dielectric layer including an unbacked dielectric layer portion having a surface positioned between the major surfaces of the spring metal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Hutchinson Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Alexander J. Rice, Mark A. Miller, Gregory J. VanHecke, Lance Nevala
  • Patent number: 8438721
    Abstract: A disk drive is assembled to have a cover that includes a hole therethrough, and an annular gasket continuously encircling the hole and being adhered to an undersurface of the disk drive cover. A breather filter is adjacent the disk drive base. The breather filter includes a breather filter housing having a top surface and an entrance port. The annular gasket is in compressive contact with, but not adhered to, the top surface of the breather filter housing. The annular gasket encircles the entrance port. In certain embodiments, this method of assembly may facilitate disk drive rework.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin Richard Sill
  • Publication number: 20130114162
    Abstract: A method of manufacture of a hard disk drive system includes: providing a base circuit board having a shock sensor and vibration sensors thereon; electrically connecting translational shock detect circuitry directly to the shock sensor for transmission of a translational shock signal; electrically connecting rapid off track shock detection circuitry to the vibration sensors for transmission of a rotation based shock signal; and electrically connecting shock aggregation circuitry to the translational shock signal and the rotation based shock signal for transmission of a composite shock indicator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Inventors: Tao Zhang, Brian K. Tanner, BongJin Lee, Chang Ik Kang
  • Publication number: 20130074323
    Abstract: A method for forming a seal for hermetically sealing a hard disk drive assembly. The method includes forming a solder channel within a top cover of a disk drive enclosure and disposing a solder preform on a base of the disk drive enclosure such that the solder preform aligns with the solder channel when the top cover is positioned on the base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: HGST Netherlands B.V.
    Inventor: HGST Netherlands B.V.
  • Patent number: 8402638
    Abstract: Recording media press systems and methods of operating such press systems. Press system embodiments include a first die and a second die. The press system further includes a mandrel extending along a longitudinal mandrel axis through the first die. A rod portion of the mandrel to receive a magnetic recording disk to be pressed. The press system further includes a foil holder coupled to the first die. The foil holder to clamp a first portion of an embossing foil to the first die and allow the clamped foil portion to move in a radial direction relative to the foil holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: WD Media, Inc.
    Inventors: David Treves, Paul C. Dorsey
  • Patent number: 8393074
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a thermally-assisted magnetic recording head includes: providing a light source unit including a laser diode; providing a slider having a thermally-assisted magnetic recording head section thereon, the thermally-assisted magnetic recording head section including a magnetic pole, an optical waveguide, and a plasmon generator, the magnetic pole and the optical waveguide both extending toward an air bearing surface, the plasmon generator being located between the magnetic pole and the optical waveguide; driving the laser diode to allow a light beam to be emitted therefrom, the light beam including both a TE polarization component and a TM polarization component; performing an alignment between the light source unit and the thermally-assisted magnetic recording head section, based on a light intensity distribution of the TE polarization component in the light beam which has been emitted from the laser diode and then passed through the optical waveguide; and bonding the light source unit
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignees: TDK Corporation, Sae Magnetics (H.K) Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiichi Takayama, Koji Shimazawa, Shinji Hara, Yasuhiro Ito, Nobuyuki Mori, Ryo Hosoi, Kazuaki Takanuki, Youichi Ando, Chimoto Sugiyama
  • Publication number: 20130000106
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a disk drive device including: assembling a subassembly by fixing at least a bearing unit, a drive unit and a hub to a base member in a first clean room; cleaning the subassembly in a second clean room; and sealing the subassembly by a sealing member. The first clean room and the second clean room are communicated with each other by a communicating opening for transferring the subassembly, and an atmospheric pressure in the second clean room is equal to or higher than that in the first clean room.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: ALPHANA TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuji Omura, Kenji Nishihara
  • Patent number: 8336193
    Abstract: Provided is a process for making a magnetic recording medium having a magnetically partitioned magnetic recording patterns, which comprises the following three steps (1), (2) and (3), conducted in this order: (1) a step of forming a magnetic layer on a non-magnetic substrate; (2) a step of removing surface layer portions of regions for magnetically partitioning the magnetic layer; and (3) a step of exposing the thus-exposed regions of the magnetic layer, from which the surface layer portions have been removed, to a reactive plasma or a reactive ion, to modify the magnetic characteristics of the regions of magnetic layer, whereby a magnetic recording pattern is formed which are magnetically partitioned by the regions of magnetic layer having the modified characteristics. Thus, a magnetic recording medium having an enhanced recording density and minimizing letter bleeding at writing can be made with a high efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Showa Denko K.K.
    Inventors: Masato Fukushima, Akira Sakawaki, Akira Yamane
  • Patent number: 8339733
    Abstract: A base member on which a plurality of components are mounted includes a base main body, a coating formed on a surface of the base main body, and a display portion formed by a contrast between the coating and the surface of the base main body. The display portion displays a state by which it is determined whether or not the base main body has been machined in accordance with a corresponding machining program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Taizo Ikegawa, Shoichi Yoshikawa, Toshiyuki Ninomiya, Hiroshi Nasu
  • Patent number: 8339747
    Abstract: Removable actuator assemblies for testing head gimbal assemblies of a storage device are provided. One such removable test assembly for a head gimbal assembly (HGA) includes an actuator base including at least one guide pin, a shoe assembly including a body including a first end portion opposite to a second end portion, a first attachment means for releaseably coupling the shoe assembly with the actuator base, the first attachment means positioned along the first end portion and including at least one hole in the body configured to receive the at least one guide pin, and a locking cam configured to rotate such that a portion of the cam is positioned over a portion of the at least one hole, and a second attachment means for releaseably coupling the shoe assembly with the HGA, the second attachment means positioned along the second end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Geoffrey A. Hales, Chunjer C. Cheng, Tao Lin
  • Publication number: 20120317794
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a disk drive device includes (a) assembling a sub assembly by assembling a bearing unit and a rotating body to a fixed body in a clean room, the rotating body being supported by the bearing unit in a freely rotatable manner to the fixed body, (b) cleaning the sub assembly by spraying a mixture of a cleaning liquid and a first gas to at least either one of the fixed body and the rotating body; and (c) enclosing the sub assembly using an enclosing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: ALPHANA TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenji NISHIHARA, Hirofumi Kajiwara
  • Patent number: 8322021
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a disk drive, the method including providing a disk and a motor hub, the disk defining an opening, the opening having a pre-swaged inner diameter, and the motor hub defining a swage ring having a pre-swaged outer diameter. The method further including positioning the disk such that at least a portion of the swage ring extends into the opening, and swaging the swage ring radially outwards into contact with the disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith R. Berding, David J. Bagaoisan, Yao-Hsin Huang
  • Patent number: 8312617
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a disk drive device including: assembling a subassembly by fixing at least a bearing unit, a drive unit and a hub to a base member in a first clean room; cleaning the subassembly in a second clean room; and sealing the subassembly by a sealing member. The first clean room and the second clean room are communicated with each other by a communicating opening for transferring the subassembly, and an atmospheric pressure in the second clean room is equal to or higher than that in the first clean room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Alphana Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Omura, Kenji Nishihara
  • Patent number: 8307538
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an head gimbal assembly (HGA) according to the present invention is comprised of: a step for preparing a thin film piezoelectric actuator including a first piezoelectric laminate having a first piezoelectric layer, and a second piezoelectric laminate having a second piezoelectric layer; a step for preparing a suspension; a fixing step for fixing the thin film piezoelectric actuator to the suspension; a first repolarization treatment step for performing repolarization treatment to the first piezoelectric layer after the fixing step; and a second repolarization treatment step for performing repolarization treatment to the second piezoelectric layer after the fixing step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignees: TDK Corporation, SAE Magnetics (H.K.) Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenjiro Hata
  • Patent number: 8307537
    Abstract: A method of using a tooling mandrel for assembling a disk drive is described. The method includes providing a head stack assembly including a shaft with an engagement feature, and providing the tooling mandrel including two tooling fingers, one of which is movable. The movable tooling finger is moved between a first configuration in which respective distal tips of the tooling fingers are insertable into and removable from the engagement feature and a second configuration in which the distal tips engage the engagement feature. The tooling mandrel further includes a tooling finger spreader coupled to the movable tooling finger to selectively move the movable tooling finger between the first and second configurations. The method further includes locating the distal tips at least partially within the engagement feature with the tooling fingers in the first configuration, and moving the movable tooling finger to the second configuration to engage the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew S. Klassen, Robert E. Lloyd, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8310828
    Abstract: There is disclosed a storage enclosure (10) and method of manufacturing a storage enclosure (10) comprising a plurality of bays (22) for receiving disk drives (100), the storage enclosure comprising: a chassis (24); a plurality of guide members (28), each bay having a first guide member at one end of the bay and a second guide member at the opposed end of the bay, the guide members (28) being constructed and arranged to engage with and guide a disk drive (100) into the bay (22) and to hold the disk drive (100) in a received position in the bay (22); and, a plurality of resilient mounts (97) by which each guide member (28) is attached to the chassis (24), wherein the mount (97) is arranged to isolate the disk drive from the chassis to reduce vibration being transmitted between the disk drive and the chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Xyratex Technology Limited
    Inventor: Graham Collins
  • Publication number: 20120275105
    Abstract: A hard disk drive of the invention comprises at least one metal coating formed over at least one exterior surface of a hard disk drive housing, wherein the hard disk drive is hermetically sealed. Methods for forming such hard disk drives are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: ENTROTECH, INC.
    Inventor: James E. McGuire, JR.
  • Publication number: 20120275287
    Abstract: A disk drive assembly of the invention comprises: a hard disk drive; a base; and a cover, wherein the base and the cover are mechanically coupled without using essentially any discrete mechanical fasteners to form an enclosed housing comprising internal hard disk drive components between the base and the cover and to irreversibly hermetically seal the hard disk drive. Methods for forming such disk drive assemblies are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: entrotech, inc.
    Inventors: James E. McGuire, JR., Andrew C. Strange