Abstract: A disk drive assembly including a disk drive enclosure including an enclosure main body forming an interior region, the interior region having a Voice Coil Motor (VCM) assembly receiving portion configured to hold a VCM assembly; and a cover member configured to engage the enclosure main body and cover the interior region of the enclosure main body, and expose at least a portion of the VCM Assembly receiving portion; and a VCM assembly disposed within the VCM assembly receiving portion of the enclosure main body, the VCM assembly comprising a cover supporting member configured to engage and support the cover member.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a disk drive includes a case including a base with a bottom wall, a drive motor on the bottom wall of the base, a plurality of disk recording mediums rotatable by the drive motor, a magnetic head configured to perform data processing on the recording mediums, a carriage on the bottom wall of the base, configured to support the magnetic head for movement relative to the recording mediums, a drive section including a yoke and a magnet on the bottom wall of the base and configured to drive the carriage, and a spoiler including a main body, which includes a magnetic shield member between the yoke and the recording mediums, and a baffle plate extending from the main body and between the adjacent disk recording mediums.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to a disk drive coupler for reducing particulates in a disk drive. In some embodiments, the disk drive includes a first component having a top surface and a bottom surface, the first component defining an aperture with an interior surface between the top surface and the bottom surface, and a channel on at least one of the top surface, the bottom surface, and the interior surface. In some embodiments, the disk drive coupler includes a fastener configured to be received within the aperture and is configured to secure the first component to a second component. The channel is configured to permit the drawing of air from at least one of the aperture, the top surface, and the bottom surface of the first component before and after the fastener secures the first component to the second component.

Abstract: A suspension arm actuator for a scanning device includes a suspension arm which is designed as a two-arm lever having a first and second arms. The second lever arm includes a component for a magnetic drive for a swivel motion of the suspension arm. The component is arranged at a recess having the shape of a circular arc, with an inner leg of a yoke being permanently attached to a support projecting into the recess and forming a magnetic yoke, wherein the yoke is provided with a shell-like magnet on its outer leg in order to form the magnetic drive. A magnet for field optimization, which is magnetized perpendicularly in relation to the shell-like magnet, is arranged on the yoke in the region between the inner leg and the shell-like magnet to increase the sensitivity of the suspension arm actuator.

Abstract: A disk drive. The disk drive includes: a head for accessing a data recording area of a disk; an actuator for pivoting to move the head; a voice coil motor; and, a latch configured to lock the actuator from pivoting toward the data recording area in response to an external force. The voice-coil motor includes a voice coil, a magnet, and a yoke. The latch is positioned at a closed position when the actuator is positioned at a stand-by position, and is configured to pivot by application of a magnetic bias force with pivoting of the actuator from the stand-by position into proximity with the data recording area such that the latch is configured to stop at an open position. The yoke includes a protrusion which protrudes toward the magnetic body at the open position.

Abstract: A hard disk drive (HDD) includes a base including a voice coil motor (VCM) which drives an actuator, a cover combined with an upper surface of the base, and a magnetic leakage flux reducer adjacent to the VCM to reduce a magnetic leakage flux leaked from the VCM. Therefore, the HDD includes a simple structure to be made light and reduces the magnetic leakage flux which affects the VCM.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention help to reduce out-of-plane excitation force exerted on a coil in a voice coil motor of a magnetic disk drive, so that vibration of a magnetic head is suppressed. According to one embodiment, a voice coil motor has a flat magnet that faces a coil, and generates a magnetic field, and yokes that apply the magnetic field generated by the magnet to the coil. The magnet is provided with a magnetic flux guiding section, absorbing leakage flux from the magnet, on a most distal end of the magnet as viewed from a pivot axis. A most distal part of the coil as viewed from the pivot axis, may be situated in an outer side with respect to the most distal end of the magnet, and the magnetic flux guiding section is provided between the most distal end of the magnet and the most distal part of the coil.

Abstract: In an embodiment of the present invention, at least one mechanical fastener is used to mount a voice coil magnet assembly of a hard disk drive on a housing of the hard disk drive. A layer of a material having a low friction coefficient is disposed between the housing and the voice coil magnet assembly.

Abstract: In a magnetic disk device, a magnetic circuit drives an actuator carrying a magnetic head, so that the magnetic head is moved to a target track on a surface of a magnetic disk. A base has a threaded-hole part to which the magnetic circuit is fastened with a screw. A blocking member is provided to enclose a gap which is formed between the magnetic circuit and the threaded-hole part when the magnetic circuit is fastened to the threaded-hole part.

Abstract: A symmetric voice coil motor assembly having a central axis and including: a bearing assembly for rotation about the central axis; a coil assembly that is positioned radially outwardly from the bearing assembly and that has at least two pairs of coils and an inner yoke; a permanent magnet set that is positioned radially outwardly from the coil assembly and that includes at least two pairs of ring magnets and an outer yoke; and a head suspension assembly that is connected to the coil assembly and that includes a head gimbal assembly and an arm connected to the head gimbal assembly. The voice coil motor assembly may be a component in a hard disk drive, such as a micro drive.

Abstract: Methods to make rotary and linear voice coil motors, having either single air gaps or dual air gaps. A first embodiment of the invention involves a method to manufacture voice coil motor magnetic returns on a substrate. A second embodiment of the invention involves a method to manufacture a plurality of voice coil motor magnet assembly ends from voice coil motor magnetic returns on a substrate. A third embodiment involves a method to manufacture voice coil motors from voice coil motor magnet assembly ends.

Abstract: A magnetic stripe reading device including a magnetic head assembly including a mounting element, at least one information reading sensor having output contacts, the sensor being mounted in the mounting element and a flat cable coupled to the output contacts of the at least one information reading sensor, a portion of the flat cable being arranged in a doubled-over configuration over the output contacts, thereby to provide anti-tampering protection to the output contacts.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a rotating disk storage device adopting a thin yoke structure. In one embodiment, the yoke structure of a voice coil motor includes a base of a casing formed from a ferromagnetic material; an auxiliary yoke disposed so as to be magnetically coupled to the base; a magnet disposed so as to be magnetically coupled to a front surface of the auxiliary yoke; and a main yoke provided with yoke legs magnetically coupled to the auxiliary yoke and an opposing surface that confronts a front surface of the magnet. In addition, a yoke gap is defined between the opposing surface and the front surface of the magnet. The base and the auxiliary yoke form a magnetic path, which allows a dedicated yoke on a lower portion to be eliminated.

Abstract: A base deck is provided and includes a base plate having a plurality of parallel surfaces and a plurality of gasket retention grooves formed. A first gasket retention groove is formed in one of the plurality of parallel surfaces that is proximate a top cover. A second gasket retention groove is formed in one of the plurality of parallel surfaces and at least partially surrounds a motor mounting aperture. A third gasket retention groove is formed in one of the plurality of parallel surfaces and at least partially surrounds a connector mounting aperture. A first cured-in-place elastomer is formed on the base plate and is confined by the first gasket retention groove. A second cured-in-place elastomer is formed on the base plate and is confined by the second gasket retention groove. A third cured-in-place elastomer is formed on the base plate and is confined by the third gasket retention groove.

Abstract: An inertia latch mechanism has a latch arm, which latches a head actuator in a retreated position, and an inertia arm, which is rockably supported around a second pivot and rotates the latch arm to a latch position by rotating around the second pivot when subjected to an external force. A voice coil motor has a lower yoke, a top yoke, a voice coil attached to the head actuator and situated between the yokes, and a permanent magnet provided on at least one of the yokes. The top yoke has an arm retaining portion which extends overlapping the second pivot and that part of the inertia arm which is situated near the second pivot and restrains the inertia arm from slipping off the second pivot. The arm retaining portion is stepped to be one level higher than the top yoke.

Abstract: A voice coil motor coupling structure of a hard disk drive for coupling a voice coil motor to a base plate of the hard disk drive, the voice coil motor includes a coil coupled to a rear end portion of an actuator arm, an upper yoke and a lower yoke provided at upper and lower portions of the coil, respectively, separated at a predetermined distance from the coil, and a magnet attached to the lower surface of the upper yoke.

Abstract: A first yoke member is received on a first reference plane defined on a support body. A second yoke member is coupled to the first yoke member so as to define a space for accommodation of a voice coil between the first and second yoke members. The second yoke member is opposed to a second reference plane, different from the first reference plane, defined on the support body. A screw member is engaged with the second yoke member for movement in the direction intersecting the second reference plane. The second yoke member is received on the second reference plane of the support body based on the movement of the screw member. Even if a gap happens to exist between the second yoke member and the second reference plane due to dimensional errors, the second yoke member is reliably supported on the support body.

Abstract: A top pole piece of a voice coil motor (VCM) is attached to a hard disk drive cover without screw fasteners and with minimal loss of VCM magnetic flux capacity. A pair of leaf springs are supported at both ends, rather than by cantilever, to more uniformly distribute mechanical stress throughout the springs so that less space is required to achieve the same transverse load as a cantilevered spring of the same profile. The smaller space envelope required by this design minimizes the loss of magnetic flux capacity of the VCM. Each leaf spring has two integral legs, central portions of which are rigidly fastened to the drive cover. The end of each leg opposite the central portion applies a force against the cover in the assembled disk drive.

Abstract: A disk device including a frame body having an outer wall, a recording disk located for rotation inside the frame body, a recording and reproducing head, and an actuator for driving the head for recording and reproducing information on and from the disk. The actuator includes a voice coil motor including a pair of yokes opposed to each other with a predetermined distance therebetween, a movable coil wound to be movable between the yokes, and a permanent magnet attached to at least one of the yokes to add a magnetic field to the movable coil, wherein a portion of the outer wall of the frame body includes a first one of the yokes, and the frame body includes an open side opposite a side where the disk is located and an inside portion including screwing margins and screws for attaching the first yoke to the open side.

Abstract: A disk drive including a generally E-shaped voice coil motor yoke. The yoke includes a generally C-shaped integrally formed first yoke body, the first yoke body including a first yoke first prong and a first yoke second prong. The yoke further includes a generally C-shaped integrally formed second yoke body. The second yoke body including a second yoke first prong and a second yoke second prong with the second yoke second prong coupled to the first yoke second prong. The disk drive further includes a first voice coil magnet supported by the first yoke first prong and a second voice coil magnet supported by the second yoke first prong. The disk drive further includes an actuator having an actuator coil that is positionable about the first yoke second prong and the second yoke second prong and between the first voice coil magnet and the second voice coil magnet.

Abstract: An actuator gripping device which prevents the actuator of the head support device from serious trouble such as damage to the surface of the recording medium due to external shocks. An actuator 7 comprises actuator sub-unit 27 having a tab 8 at one end and provided with a head 9, and a voice coil 10 mounted at the other end, a pivot pedestal 30 with a pair of abutments, and a spring plate 28 having an activating force to push the head 9 toward the recording medium 4, and that the actuator gripping device for gripping the actuator 7 comprises a ramp 14 formed with the first stepped side surface 14d and the second stepped side surface 14f having a specified angle respectively at either side of the second plane 14e on which the tab 8 is abutted at the shunt position in stop mode of the recording medium 4.

Abstract: A disk drive includes a disk drive base, a spindle motor attached to the disk drive base, a disk supported by the spindle motor, and a head stack assembly coupled to the disk drive base. The head stack assembly includes an actuator body, a coil portion cantilevered from the actuator body, an actuator arm cantilevered from the actuator body in an opposite direction from the actuator arm, a flex circuit cable having an electrical connector end, and a flex bracket for clamping the electrical connector end of the flex circuit cable to the disk drive base, the flex bracket having first and second ends being spaced-apart along a width of the disk drive.

Abstract: A disk unit has a voice coil motor to oscillate a suspension arm mounted at the leading end of a head with respect to a disk. The voice coil motor has a voice coil integrally attached to the tail end of the suspension arm, a magnet to cause a magnetic field to act on the voice coil, and a pair of yokes provided in such a positional relationship that the voice coil and magnet are sandwiched therebetween. At least one yoke has a roughly fan-shaped main body and a plate piece portion provided in a condition extended from one end side of the main body. After the formation of the main body and plate piece portion by press working, the yoke is formed by folding the plate piece portion on the main body.

Abstract: A circuit model (50) for use in analyzing a VCM circuit has a first resistor (62), a first inductor (64), a second inductor (58), and a voltage source (60), in series modeling, respectively, a VCM inductor, a winding leakage inductance of the VCM inductor, a VCM inductor resistance, and a BEMF voltage generated across the VCM inductor when the input nodes are open circuited. An input capacitor (56) interconnects the input terminals (52,54) to model an equivalent capacitance of the VCM inductor. Third and fourth inductors (32,34) and a second resistor (36) are connected in a first series loop (28) inductively coupled to the second inductor (58) to model, respectively, an inductance of the top VCM magnet plate, the leakage inductance of the top VCM magnet plate, and a resistance of the top VCM magnet plate.

Abstract: A deburring method of removing burrs present on the surface of a yoke component, made from a low steel carbon steel, of a voice coil motor for a hard disk drive, includes a first step of subjecting the yoke component to a barrel polishing treatment; and a second step of subjecting the yoke component to at least one of an abrasive grain fluidization treatment, a thermal deburring treatment, a magnetic polishing treatment, an ultrasonic deburring treatment, and a water jet deburring treatment.

Abstract: A disc drive has a top cover formed from a moldable material by an injection molding process and a metal top pole piece over-molded within the top cover. A voice coil motor assembly includes a voice coil attached to an actuator arm of the disc drive, a bottom pole mounted to a base plate of the drive, and a magnet attached to the bottom pole, wherein the coil is positioned adjacent to the permanent magnet between the bottom pole and the top pole piece once the top cover is attached to the base plate. The top cover may be molded from a reinforced polymer material. The metal top pole piece may include a protruding mounting surface that is secured to an actuator arm bearing shaft to provide a metallic anchor between the bearing shaft and the molded top cover.

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 voice coil motor assembly in a disc drive includes first and second pole pieces held in spaced relationship to one another such that a gap is defined therebetween. A permanent magnet is located on the first pole piece within the gap and a dummy magnet is located on the second pole piece across the gap from the permanent magnet. The first and second pole pieces, together with the magnet and the dummy magnet, form a magnetic circuit conducting lines of magnetic flux within the voice coil motor and across the gap. The dummy magnet acts to encourage magnetic flux to flow across the gap in a manner such that the roll and pitch torque constants of the voice coil motor are reduced.

Abstract: A disc drive is disclosed that incorporates a voice coil motor pole into the drive cover. The disc drive has an actuator assembly mounted adjacent the storage disc that carries a trasducer at one end for transferring data to and from the disc, and a voice coil motor for rotating the actuator arm to position the transducer. The voice coil motor has a movable coil fastened to an opposite end of the actuator arm and a pair of stationary magnets positioned adjacent the voice coil in a side-by-side relation. A cover on the baseplate encloses the actuator assembly and the data storage disc and a portion of magnetically permeable material of the cover forms a top pole for the pair of magnets.

Abstract: A data handling system having a voice coil motor having a first magnetically permeable plate and a second magnetically permeable plate is disclosed. The first magnetically permeable plate is coupled to a permanent magnet pair and the second magnetically permeable plate includes a raised plate portion directly opposite the permanent magnet pair. Planar surfaces of the permanent magnet pair and the raised plate portion are substantially parallel to each other and are spaced by an air gap. A voice coil is positioned in the air gap and moves in response to a magnetic interaction between a magnetic field produced by a controlled current through the coil and a magnetic field between the permanent magnet pair and the raised plate portion. The planar surfaces of the permanent magnet pair and the raised plate portion may be substantially identical in shape and surface area.

Abstract: A disk unit has a voice coil motor to oscillate a suspension arm mounted at the leading end of a head with respect to a disk. The voice coil motor has a voice coil integrally attached to the tail end of the suspension arm, a magnet to cause a magnetic field to act on the voice coil, and a pair of yokes provided in such a positional relationship that the voice coil and magnet are sandwiched therebetween. At least one yoke has a roughly fan-shaped main body and a plate piece portion provided in a condition extended from one end side of the main body. After the formation of the main body and plate piece portion by press working, the yoke is formed by folding the plate piece portion on the main body.

Abstract: A disk drive is disclosed comprising an actuator arm, a head coupled to the actuator arm, and a voice coil motor for actuating the actuator arm to move the head. The voice coil motor comprises a first magnet for generating a first magnetic flux, and a yoke comprising a magnetic flux conductor for guiding the first magnetic flux. The magnetic flux conductor comprises a body and a top and bottom protruding plate portions, wherein the body and the plate portions are integrally formed. The body defines, in vertical cross section, a primary bend having a primary bend radius and at least one secondary bend having a secondary bend radius.

Abstract: The present invention may be regarded as a disk drive comprising a disk, an actuator arm comprising a head, and a voice coil motor for actuating the actuator arm to position the head radially over the disk. The voice coil motor comprises a first magnet for generating a first magnetic flux, and a rotary voice coil yoke comprising a magnetic flux conductor shaped to form an air gap with respect to the first magnet, the magnetic flux conductor comprising a first end having a first reluctance and a second end having a second reluctance, wherein the first reluctance is substantially lower than the second reluctance such that the magnetic flux conductor guides the first magnetic flux through the air gap and through the first end. A voice coil is wrapped around at least part of the magnetic flux conductor for conducting a current to generate a second magnetic flux such that at least part of the second magnetic flux is within the air gap for interacting with the first magnetic flux.

Abstract: There is disclosed a support structure for a magnet-yoke assembly which prevents the magnet-yoke assembly, when vibrated on receipt of the driving reaction of a carriage, from causing a magnetic head and a magnetic disk to vibrate and which is independent of temperature. In a magnetic disk drive having a magnetic circuit which gives a driving force to a carriage 7 holding a magnetic head so as to position the magnetic head, the magnetic circuit comprises a driving coil 9 attached fixedly to the carriage and a magnet-yoke assembly 8, and the magnet-yoke assembly 8 is supported in a housing at one point thereof so as to be able to rotate in the direction parallel to the surface of the magnetic disk. The assembly is rotatably supported by means of a bearing 14 and the bearing is given with an initial displacement so as to increase the axial bearing rigidity thereof.

Abstract: A disk drive is disclosed including a disk, an actuator arm including a head, and a voice coil motor for actuating the actuator arm to position the head radially over the disk. The voice coil motor includes a voice coil portion including a first side and a second side opposite the first side for conducting a current. The current conducted by the first side generates a first side magnetic flux in a first direction, and the current conducted by the second side generates a second side magnetic flux in a second direction different from the first direction. The voice coil motor further includes a rotary voice coil yoke including a first magnet for generating a unidirectional magnetic flux, and a magnetic flux conductor shaped to form an air gap with respect to the first magnet, the magnetic flux conductor for guiding the unidirectional magnetic flux through the air gap.

Abstract: In a magnetic disk drive having a magnetic circuit which provides a driving force to a carriage 7 holding a magnetic head so as to position the magnetic head, the magnetic circuit includes a driving coil 9 attached fixedly to the carriage and a magnet-yoke assembly 8. The magnet-yoke assembly 8 is supported in a housing at one point thereof so as to be able to rotate in the direction parallel to the surface of the magnetic disk. The assembly is rotatably supported by means of a bearing 14 and the bearing is provided with an initial displacement so as to increase the axial bearing rigidity thereof. A base 10 is provided with a slip guide 16 which allows the magnet-yoke assembly 8 to rotate with low friction and serves to provide the initial displacement to the bearing. A visco-elastic member 17 is provided for restricting the rotation of the assembly.

Abstract: A side yoke is integrally formed on a cover of magnetic material in a magnetic disk drive unit by cutting and folding a portion of the cover. When the cover is attached to a housing body of magnetic material, the cover, the side yoke and the bottom of the housing body form a yoke for voice coil motor. The magnetic flux from a magnet circulates in the yoke and serves to drive a voice coil disposed in a gap of the yoke. The integral formation of the side yoke to the cover contributes to reduction in the number of parts, and leads to a facilitated assembling and manufacturing.

Abstract: A disc drive includes a case defining a maximum interior height for mounting a voice coil motor within the disc drive. The voice coil motor includes a magnet, a coil, and top and bottom plates for carrying magnetic flux in a circuit with the magnet. At least one of the top and bottom plates includes a raised central portion having an increased cross-sectional area in relation to the remainder of the plate for carrying additional magnetic flux at a point where the plate experiences peak levels of magnetic flux. An opening formed in the disc drive case accommodates the raised central portion of the plate without altering the overall height of the case. The height of the raised central portion is preferably substantially equal to a thickness of the case to ensure the raised central portion fits flush within the opening. One or both of the top and bottom plates may include the raised central portion, thereby necessitating openings in one or both of a top cover and a lower base portion of the disc drive.