Detail Of Actuator Arm Supporting Head Suspension Patents (Class 360/265.9)
  • Patent number: 7471488
    Abstract: Mounts for securing magnetic disk drive head suspensions to actuator arms. The mounts include structures that snap onto the actuator arm to provide a secure friction fit engagement. The mounts can be efficiently removed to permit rework of the suspension and head components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Hutchinson Technology Incorporated
    Inventor: Yiduo Zhang
  • Patent number: 7461447
    Abstract: A method of fabrication of a magnetic head including a read head sensor includes providing a read sensor stack having a front edge, a rear edge, a right side edge and a left side edge, and at least one pinning layer. The left side edge, right side edge, front edge and rear edge of the sensor stack are milled. The read sensor stack is annealed in a magnetic field to set the final orientation of the pinning layer, and the read sensor stack is encapsulated in overcoat material having a front surface. A projected final ABS boundary is established which lies within the overcoat material. A trim range is established relative to the projected final ABS boundary. The front surface of the overcoat material is lapped until the overcoat front surface is within the trim range. Residual overcoat material is then removed by ion beam etching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Huey-Ming Tzeng, Xiao Z. Wu
  • Patent number: 7440234
    Abstract: There is provided a disk drive including a disk and an actuator. The actuator includes a first actuator arm. The first actuator arm has a region of reduced thickness between an arm longitudinal axis and a disk axis of rotation. An average thickness of the first actuator arm in the region of reduced thickness is less than an average thickness of the first actuator arm at an equal distance from an actuator axis of rotation but on an opposing side of the arm longitudinal axis. The actuator includes a suspension assembly having first and second flexible legs. The suspension assembly is coupled to the first actuator arm via the flexible legs. The second flexible leg is disposed further from the disk in a direction parallel to the disk axis of rotation than the first flexible leg and closer to the disk axis of rotation than the first flexible leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Chunjer Chuck Cheng, David J. Bagaoisan
  • Patent number: 7420783
    Abstract: A slim actuator and a micro-drive apparatus using the same are provided. The slim actuator includes a suspension having a head mounted at one end of the suspension to write/read data to/from a disk and a head gimbal assembly. The head gimbal assembly includes a unit-mounting portion having one end connected to the suspension, a fantail molding portion extending from the other end of the uni-mounting portion, and a voice coil which is mounted on the fantail mounting portion such that current flows in the voice coil. The voice coil rotates the suspension by an electromagnetic force created by interaction between the electric field of the current and an applied magnetic field. Thus, the slim actuator uses a single channel and has excellent resonance characteristics. Mobile micro-drive apparatuses employing the slim actuators can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yong-kyu Byun, Min-pyo Hong, Woo-sup Han
  • Patent number: 7372671
    Abstract: A head beam is retained at a front portion of the pivoting arm so as to be rotatable, and is continuously urged by an urging member in the counterclockwise direction. The pivoting arm has a directing rod rotating around a supporting shaft. A slidable projection of the directing rod is slidably in contact with a beam rod, and a fixed supporting point is also slidably in contact with the directing rod. Accordingly, when the pivoting arm rotates, the operational reference line of the magnetic head is oriented along the tangential direction. Due to continuous urging force by the urging member, the direction of the magnetic head is continuously stabilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventor: Hisayuki Yazawa
  • Patent number: 7369368
    Abstract: A head stack assembly for a disk drive includes an actuator body. The actuator body includes a pair of sides, a bore defining a longitudinal axis, a first slot extending between the pair of sides, a second slot extending along a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the second slot extending from the first slot to the bore. The head stack assembly further includes a coil portion cantilevered from the actuator body in one direction and an actuator arm cantilevered from the actuator body in a direction opposite from the coil portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Khosrow Mohajerani
  • Patent number: 7333299
    Abstract: A suspension is provided, which comprises: a flexure with elasticity for supporting a head slider having at least one head element; a first load beam having first ribs for reinforcement at both side ends of the first load beam, for supporting the flexure; and a second load beam having second ribs for reinforcement at both side ends of the second load beam, at least a part of the second load beam being overlapped with the first load beam and being fixed to the first load beam, at least a part of the first and second ribs being overlapped with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshimitsu Wada, Takeshi Wada, Takashi Honda, Yoshihisa Higuchi
  • Publication number: 20080024931
    Abstract: A mounting arm for a hard disk drive having a generally planar region, the mounting arm having at least one striation formed on the generally planar region to provide compressive residual stress with desirable shape characteristics in the mounting arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Inventors: Richard Johnson, Kendall Kollmann
  • Patent number: 7299536
    Abstract: A system and method for an improved magnetic head arm assembly (HAA), reducing complexity of design and difficulty of manufacture, is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: SAE Magnetics (H.K.) Ltd.
    Inventors: Jeffery L. Wang, Takehiro Kamigama, Chi Hung Yuen, Liu Jun Zhang
  • Patent number: 7265945
    Abstract: A head support mechanism of the invention comprises a head (1011) for recording on a disk or reproducing a disk, a head support member composed of this head (1011) and a support arm (2) having this head (1011) attached to one end portion thereof, a base arm (12) including a rotation support part (11) for supporting the head support member rotatably in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the disk, and an elastic member (4) of which one end portion is connected to other end portion of the support arm (2) and other end portion is connected to the base arm (12) for thrusting the head support member in the disk direction. Therefore, the support arm (2) can be formed of a member of high rigidity, and the slider (1) is prevented from colliding against the disk if an impact force acts from outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Ueno, Hideki Kuwajima
  • Patent number: 7218479
    Abstract: The disclosed suspension assembly (S) for carrying a magnetic recording head in close following relation to a recording disc includes an improved arrangement for supplying a load to the recording head. The suspension assembly (S) includes a flexible gimbal section (10a) for mounting the recording head and accommodating dampened pitch, roll and transverse movements. The head load arrangement comprises a flexible cantilevered spring tongue (10b) and an elongate rigid load member (20) that extends from the free end of the spring tongue to contact the suspension assembly (S) adjacent the recording head. The load member (20) is configured to cause the spring tongue (10b) to resiliently deflect by a predetermined amount, resulting in a predetermined head load being supplied through the load member to the recording head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Kuwajima, Hideyuki Hashi, Mitsuhisa Yoshimura
  • Patent number: 7215513
    Abstract: An actuator arm assembly of a disk drive is stamped from a single flat sheet of material and includes first and second actuator arm portions and one or more bendable portions integrally joining the first and second actuator arm portions. A method of making an actuator arm assembly for a disk drive includes steps of providing a flat sheet of material and stamping an actuator arm assembly from the sheet such that the stamped actuator arm assembly includes first and second actuator arm portions and one or more bendable portions integrally joining the first and second actuator arm portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ken L. Chang, Kamran Oveyssi
  • Patent number: 7193820
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a hard disk drive or related apparatus in which a possibility of head crash can be reduced to minimum even if the apparatus receives an external impact during the operating state. To achieve the object, according to the present invention, in a suspension including a load beam to which a magnetic head slider is to be attached and a head arm continuously joined to the load beam, a dummy weight is attached to the rear end of the head arm, and a attachment position of a joining member for joining a portion including the magnetic head slider, the load beam, the head arm and the dummy weight with a swing portion of a voice coil motor is provided at a position in the vicinity of the center of mass of that portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignees: TDK Corporation, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Honda, Katsuki Kurihara, Takeshi Wada, Kaoru Matsushita, Hideki Kuwajima
  • Patent number: 7164559
    Abstract: A head actuator is made thinner without sacrificing its strength to thereby achieve the thinning of a hard disk apparatus. On the base end of each of two suspensions is provided a boss that protrudes in the direction of the side on which a magnetic head is provided, and a suspension fixing section having a hole into which the bosses are inserted is formed towards the tip of an arm. The boss of one of the suspensions is inserted into the hole from the upper end section thereof, and the boss of the other suspension is inserted into the hole from the lower end section thereof. Thus, the arm is fixed in place by being held by the two suspensions from above and below.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Yamamoto, Takashi Yamada, Masami Miike, Kazutoshi Yamamoto, Toshio Mamiya
  • Patent number: 7161769
    Abstract: A disk drive includes a disk and a head stack assembly. The head stack assembly includes an actuator arm assembly that includes first and second stamped actuator arms. The first stamped actuator arm may include a first arm portion, a first body portion and a coil-supporting portion for supporting a coil of a VCM. The first body portion defines a first contact surface. The second stamped actuator arm may include a second arm portion and a second body portion, the second body portion defining a second contact surface. According to one embodiment, the first and second stamped actuator arms may be attached to one another such that the first contact surface faces and contacts the second contact surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ken L. Chang, Kamran Oveyssi
  • Patent number: 7158347
    Abstract: An actuator arm assembly of a hard disk drive. The assembly includes a flexure that is attached to an actuator arm and a head coupled to the flexure. The head is coupled to a pre-amplifier circuit of the drive. The head is also electrically grounded through the flexure and the actuator arm. To improve the reliability of the ground path the flexure has a spring that is contact with a slot of the actuator arm. The spring provides a ground path from the head to the actuator arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Momo Boljanovic
  • Patent number: 7154712
    Abstract: One feature of the invention is to support a wiring structure on a side surface of an actuator arm used in a magnetic disk device so as not to allow fluttering to occur. In one embodiment, a wire support member 102a used in a magnetic disk device includes a protruding wall 108a provided with an opposing surface facing a wiring structure 90a and protruding in a width direction, and a protruding wall 110a provided with an opposing surface facing the wiring structure 90a and protruding in a width direction. The wire support member 102a is provided with a fixing area for accommodating the wiring structure between the opposing surface of the protruding wall 108a and the opposing surface of the protruding wall 110a. The wire support member 102a is further provided with an open area adjoining the fixing area at a longitudinal end portion of the protruding wall and includes protruding walls 328, 330, 332 each having an opposing surface facing the wiring structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Satoshi Hayakawa, Eiji Soga, Takeshi Chawanya, Kohichi Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 7151649
    Abstract: A solid-state actuation mechanism for use in a data storage system. The actuation mechanism includes an anchor fixedly attached to a housing of the data storage system, a spring member including a first end coupled to the anchor, a suspension coupled to a second end of the spring member, the suspension supporting a data head above a media surface, the suspension being biased by the spring member toward a first position, and an actuation component coupled to the suspension. The actuation component configured to apply an actuation force to the suspension to move the suspension laterally relative to the media surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Zine-Eddine Boutaghou, Joel David Limmer
  • Patent number: 7110223
    Abstract: A carriage for a magnetic disk apparatus includes a slider on which a magnetic head for reading/writing information from/to a disk is mounted, a suspension for carrying the slider and for applying a predetermined load to the slider, and a carriage arm to which the suspension is attached. The carriage arm includes a suspension fixing portion, first and second arms arranged substantially in parallel with a disk surface, and a restricting member having a surface opposite to the first and second arms. The restricting member and the first arm, and the restricting member and the second arm are coupled via a viscoelastic body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Japan, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiko Shimizu, Tetsuya Hamaguchi, Toshihiro Arisaka, Hiromitsu Masuda, Gentaro Nakamura, Takenori Atsumi
  • Patent number: 7092216
    Abstract: An actuator arm assembly for a disk drive includes first and second stamped actuator arms including first and second arm portions, first and second body portions defining first and second body surfaces, and first and second coil-supporting arm portions defining first and second pairs of coil supporting arms for supporting a coil portion of a voice coil motor. When the first and second stamped actuator arms are attached to one another, the first pair of coil supporting arms faces and is in contact with the second pair of coil supporting arms to define first and second coil attachment surfaces, and the first body surface faces and is in contact with the second body surface to define a third coil attachment surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ken L. Chang, Kamran Oveyssi
  • Patent number: 7088558
    Abstract: To be capable of precisely positioning a head on a track of a high-density disk rotated at high speed in the disk drive, a head suspension has a plate (3) to be attached to a carriage of the disk drive and turned around a spindle, a load beam (5) having a rigid part (11) and a resilient part (17) and supported by the plate, a front end of the rigid part applying load on a head (13) that writes and reads information to and from the disk, a flexure (7) supporting the head, and an extension (15) having a length (L2) and extending from the plate along the rigid part of the load beam toward the head. The flexure is supported at least by the extension of the plate, and at least supporting the flexure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuji Takagi, Hidenori Ogawa, Ichiro Takadera
  • Patent number: 7072147
    Abstract: A rotary actuator system includes an actuator block, a head mounting block, and a linkage arm connecting the actuator block and the head mounting block. The system further includes an actuator motor operatively connected to the actuator block for rotating a link. The linkage arm includes a drive link which is rotated by the actuator motor and a guide link spaced apart from the drive link. The drive link has a first end and a second end; the drive link is pivotally connected to the actuator block at the first end and connected to the head mounting block at the second end. The guide link has a first end and a second end; the guide link is connected to the actuator block at the first end and connected to the head mounting block at the second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Joel David Limmer, Zine-Eddine Boutaghou, Wayne Allen Bonin
  • Patent number: 7064932
    Abstract: A disk drive includes a disk and a head stack assembly for reading and writing to the disk. The head stack assembly includes a body portion, a first actuator arm cantilevered from the body portion and a second actuator arm cantilevered from the body portion. A coil portion is cantilevered from the body portion in an opposite direction from the first and second actuator arms. An actuator arm spacer is disposed between the first and second actuator arms and away from the body portion, and mechanically links the first and second actuator arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Chen-Chi Lin, Chunjer C. Cheng
  • Patent number: 7050271
    Abstract: An actuator to which leads are easily attachable, and a method of making the same are provided. In the actuator in accordance with the present invention, a pair of silicon arms have their resistances lowered by being doped with impurities and are connected to each other by way of a glass substrate. A predetermined surface of each silicon arm is formed with a piezoelectric part, whereas a predetermined surface of the piezoelectric part is formed with a thin-film electrode. Therefore, the piezoelectric part is driven when a voltage is applied between a bonding wire attached to the thin-film electrode and a bonding wire attached to the silicon arm. Since the bonding wire can be attached to the silicon arm at any position thereon, wire bonding can be carried out while appropriately selecting positions and surfaces where the bonding wire is easily attachable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Masaichi Miyano, Mitsunao Homma
  • Patent number: 7046484
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a hard disk drive or related apparatus in which a possibility of head crash can be reduced to minimum even if the apparatus receives an external impact during the operating state. To achieve the object, according to the present invention, in a suspension including a load beam to which a magnetic head slider is to be attached and a head arm continuously joined to the load beam, a dummy weight is attached to the rear end of the head arm, and a attachment position of a joining member for joining a portion including the magnetic head slider, the load beam, the head arm and the dummy weight with a swing portion of a voice coil motor is provided at a position in the vicinity of the center of mass of that portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignees: TDK Corporation, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Honda, Katsuki Kurihara, Takeshi Wada, Kaoru Matsushita, Hideki Kuwajima
  • Patent number: 7035055
    Abstract: A magnetic disk apparatus includes a magnetic disk on which information is stored, a magnetic head which performs writing-in and reading-out of information, a suspension which supports the magnetic head, and a suspension supporting member having a ?-shaped hinge. The suspension is supported at a tip end of the ?-shaped hinge and an actuator for moving the magnetic head to a predetermined position on the magnetic disk is disposed so as to bridge an open portion of the ?-shaped hinge. The actuator is coated with a resin material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Japan, Ltd.
    Inventors: Haruhiko Kikkawa, Yasuo Amano, Shigeo Nakamura, Osamu Narisawa
  • Patent number: 7035054
    Abstract: A load beam is provided with a base plate and a slider. A magnetic head apparatus is fixed to a head arm via a base plate. In a mechanism or structure for supporting such a magnetic head supporting mechanism, an elastically deformable portion is provided between the base plate and the load beam. Thus, a floating structure that allows the load beam to swing is formed about the elastically deformable portion. In addition, a weight of the load beam is balanced with respect to the elastically deformable portion. Furthermore, a contact portion for applying pressure to the load beam is provided on the head arm so that a pressing load to a recording medium would be set by an amount of rotation of the load beam caused by the pressure applied by the contact portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignees: TDK Corporation, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Honda, Katsuki Kurihara, Yoshihiro Ueno, Hideki Kuwajima
  • Patent number: 7031117
    Abstract: Assemblies in accordance with the present invention can access a data storage medium having one or more disks. One such assembly comprises a mounting block including a bore and spacer, an arm stack connected with the top surface of the spacer, and a bottom arm connected with the bottom surface of the spacer. The arm stack comprises module(s) stacked on a top arm. The arm stack and bottom arm are designed such that either can be disconnected from the mounting block without disassembling the bore. By having a removably fastened arm stack and bottom arm, the assembly can be built at a relatively low cost without deformation. This description is not intended to be a complete description of, or limit the scope of, the invention. Other features, aspects, and objects of the invention can be obtained from a review of the specification, the figures, and the claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Matsushita Electrical Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Christopher Nguyen, Richard G. Ramsdell
  • Patent number: 7031118
    Abstract: A carriage arm assembly for swingably supporting a magnetic head which includes a slider, a suspension carrying the slider, a carriage arm to which the suspension is attached, and a body section. The carriage arm extends from the body section and includes first and second arm members extending substantially in parallel with a swinging plane of the carriage arm, and a fixing portion provided at a distal end of the carriage arm for mounting the suspension thereon. Each of the first and second arm members have narrow sections in a distal end area and a base end area thereof, wherein a width of the narrow sections in a swinging direction is smaller than a width of an intermediate area of the first and second arm members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Japan, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiko Shimizu, Tetsuya Hamaguchi, Toshihiro Arisaka, Hiromitsu Masuda, Gentaro Nakamura, Takenori Atsumi
  • Patent number: 7031103
    Abstract: A hard disk drive having a disk storing data, a spindle motor rotating the disk, an actuator having two arms disposed at both sides of the disk, and a disk locking apparatus locking the disk not to rotate by closely contacting a side surface of the disk when the disk stops rotating. A suspension supporting a record/reproduce slider is installed at a first arm disposed at one side surface of the disk. The disk locking apparatus is installed at a second arm disposed at the other side surface of the disk. The disk locking apparatus has a dummy suspension whose one end portion is installed at the second arm and has a predetermined elastic force, and a dummy slider installed at other end portion of the dummy slider, and locking a stopped disk to prevent movement of the stopped disk and damage to bearings of the spindle motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yong-chul Yoo
  • Patent number: 7012788
    Abstract: A hard disk drive utilizes a spacer ring at its inner diameter to load and unload the read/write heads. During relatively small shock events, the actuator is retained relative to the disk through a circumferential groove in the spacer ring. A complementary protrusion on the load/unload tab extends from the actuator into the groove to complete the retention. A tribological coating on the spacer ring and/or protrusion significantly reduces wear therebetween. However, during large shock events an inertial latch is used by the system to hold the actuator in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Donald Ray Gillis, Mike Suk
  • Patent number: 6982852
    Abstract: A magnetic disk drive having a high recording density and enabling high speed transfer is achieved by reducing vibration of a carriage arm assembly to reduce a positioning error. The disk drive is configured so that a carriage arm is configured by two arm portions, the arm portions being coupled to each other by a restraint member through a viscoelastic material, the restraint member being supported on a carriage body or an area of the carriage arm in the vicinity of the body by means of adhesion or a viscoelastic material. By providing a high damping effect against various vibration modes in which in-plane bending and out-plane bending of the carriage arm are generated, vibration of the carriage arm assembly is suppressed, so that the positioning error is reduced, thereby the magnetic disk drive having a high recording density can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Japan, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shin Nagahiro, Masahiko Sega, Toshihiro Arisaka, Toshihiko Shimizu, Hiromitsu Masuda, Tetsuya Hamaguchi, Gentaro Nakamura, Takenori Atumi
  • Patent number: 6982853
    Abstract: An arm assembly of an actuator arm assembly of a disk drive is stamped from a single flat sheet of material and includes first and second actuator arm portions and one or more bendable portions integrally joining the first and second actuator arm portions. A method of making an arm assembly for a disk drive includes steps of providing a flat sheet of material and stamping an arm assembly from the sheet such that the stamped arm assembly includes first and second actuator arm portions and one or more bendable portions integrally joining the first and second actuator arm portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kamran Oveyssi, Ken L. Chang
  • Patent number: 6970327
    Abstract: A data access assembly with a load arm formed from an Mn—Cu alloy is disclosed. The load arm may be supported by and actuator arm formed from a common Mn—Cu damping alloy, which has a composition (X)Fe—(A)Mn—(B)Cu—(C)Ni. In one embodiment, X is substantially 73, A is substantially 20, B is substantially 5 and C is substantially 2, wherein A, B, C and X represent the weight percent of the respective elements in the composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventor: Donald James MacLeod
  • Patent number: 6959487
    Abstract: A head disc merge assembly for merging an actuator with a disc stack having a disc, the actuator assembly having a flexure supporting a data transducer head, the head disc merge assembly including a merge comb having a flexure support member to support the flexure away from the disc while positioning the data transducer bead on the disc. A merge comb inspection station is provided having a body with a certification slot. The merge comb is moved into engagement with the certification slot, and successful passage there through indicates that the merge comb has an acceptable clearance condition for continued use at the merge station, while an unsuccessful passage through the certification slot indicates that the merge comb has an unacceptable non-clearance condition, and the electrical continuity check circuit is activated to stop the merge station for replacement of the merge comb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventor: Michael W. Pfeiffer
  • Patent number: 6950285
    Abstract: A Head Arm Assembly includes a head slider having at least one head element, an arm member for supporting the head slider at one end section, an actuator, mounted to the other end section of the arm member for rotationally moving the arm member in a direction substantially parallel with a recording medium surface around a horizontal rotation axis of the arm member, a load generation unit for generating a load for energizing the head slider in a direction toward the recording medium surface by rotationally moving the arm member in a direction substantially orthogonal to the recording medium surface around a vertical rotation axis, and a limiter unit for restraining the arm member from rotationally moving more than a predetermined limit around the vertical rotation axis in a direction away from the recording medium surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignees: TDK Corporation, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Wada, Takashi Honda, Kaoru Matsuoka, Hideki Kuwajima
  • Patent number: 6950286
    Abstract: A hard disk drive utilizes an actuator arm design that significantly reduces air flow drag within the drive. The leading and trailing edges of the arm are shaped to reduce their coefficient of air flow drag in order to reduce the running current and seeking current of the disk drive during operation. As a result, the disk drive consumes less power and, thus, produces less heat which must be dissipated. The spindle motor design is reconfigured at a lower torque constant, thereby lowering the overall cost of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventor: Duane Q. Huynh
  • Patent number: 6941641
    Abstract: A method for mounting removably secured actuator arms that include head suspensions to an actuator assembly spindle. Each arm is mounted to an actuator spindle via a spacer with an annular lip with at least one detent formed into its perimeter edge. Each actuator arm includes two resilient fingers, annularly shaped to form an interior radius smaller than the spacer radius with at least one engagement member formed into a finger. Each arm is mounted by expanding the resilient fingers to a stressed state, engaging the fingers with the lip, and positioning the fingers so that each engagement member is aligned and engaged with a detent. The spacer alternatively includes a guide slot in a planar surface from which the lip extends, with the guide slot being engaged by a boss tower on the arm to properly orient the arm when mounting the arm to the spacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Hutchinson Technology Incorporated
    Inventor: Shane J. Van Sloun
  • Patent number: 6937443
    Abstract: A system and method for an improved magnetic head arm assembly (HAA) is disclosed. The HAA includes three principal components, a head gimbal assembly (HGA), a flexible printed circuit (FPC) assembly, and an actuator coil assembly. The design allows for HAA rigidity, yet each of the components is designable and manufacturable independent of one another, in addition to other advantages over current methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: SAE Magnetics (H.K.) Ltd.
    Inventors: Jeffery L. Wang, Takehiro Kamigama, Chi Hung Yuen, Kai Wu
  • Patent number: 6925715
    Abstract: Methods in accordance with the present invention can eliminate cumbersome and potentially contaminating methods for connecting a bearing assembly with an actuator assembly. One such assembly comprises a bearing assembly with a threaded base for insertion into a bore, wherein the bore includes threads for engaging the threaded base of the bearing assembly, eliminating the contamination associated with such methods as glueing. The bearing assembly is designed such that it can be disconnected from the actuator assembly for rework without damaging or contaminating the actuator assembly or bearing assembly. This description is not intended to be a complete description of, or limit the scope of, the invention. Other features, aspects, and objects of the invention can be obtained from a review of the specification, the figures, and the claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co.
    Inventor: Richard G. Ramsdell
  • Patent number: 6879467
    Abstract: According to the invention, there is provided a carriage arm assembly including a carriage arm having two arm members. The arm member is constructed in such a way that the width of its coil side end and the width of its suspension side end are narrower than that of its intermediate area. This construction widens a servo band width, improves positioning accuracy, and reduces positioning errors of a magnetic disk apparatus, so that recording density is improved and storage capacity is increased. Further, by coupling two arm members using a restriction member via a visco-elastic member, it is possible to achieve a high damping effect on various vibration modes including in-plane bending of the arms, and suppress vibration of the carriage so as to reduce the positioning errors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Japan, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiko Shimizu, Tetsuya Hamaguchi, Toshihiro Arisaka, Hiromitsu Masuda, Gentaro Nakamura, Takenori Atsumi
  • Patent number: 6879466
    Abstract: An actuator for a disk drive. The actuator includes an actuator body defining an axis of rotation and including a body lateral surface disposed generally parallel to the axis of rotation. The actuator further includes an actuator arm extending from the actuator body. The actuator arm includes an arm base disposed adjacent the actuator body. The actuator further includes a coil support extending from the actuator body opposite the actuator arm. The coil support includes a coil support base disposed adjacent the actuator body. The actuator further includes a constrained layer damper disposed upon the body lateral surface extending from the arm base to the coil support base for mitigation of resonant vibration of the actuator arm and the coil support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kamran Oveyssi, Chen-Chi Lin
  • Patent number: 6870708
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for providing a welded attachment between components for a disk drive head suspension where the material of at least one of the components is not suitable for welding directly to the material of the other component. The method and apparatus include providing at least one insert in an aperture in one component compatible with material of the second component or an insert in the second component to enable the first component to be welded to the second component. The insert may be an interference fit in the aperture or it may be coined to enhance retention. Fully hardened or annealed stainless steel may be used for the insert, and aluminum, ceramic or a polymer or composite may be the material receiving the insert. The aperture may be preformed or formed in by the insert during the operation of punching and installing the insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Hutchinson Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Randolph E. Fossum, Shane J. Van Sloun, Don J. Rydberg
  • Patent number: 6809906
    Abstract: A method is provided for forming a body for a hard disk carriage assembly from polyphenylene sulfide 40% glass fill. An injection mold is heated to approximately 130° C.; then a volume of polyphenylene sulfide 40% glass fill is injected into the mold to form the body of the carriage assembly. The polyphenylene sulfide 40% glass fill is then cooled within the mold for approximately 45 seconds before the body is ejected from the mold cavity. The body is then heated to approximately 130° C. for at least 2 hours in a post-bake operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David Joseph Bagaoisan, Tim Lincoln
  • Patent number: 6801405
    Abstract: An actuator arm design having a close cross section which greatly improves the performance of the disc drive. The actuator arm is formed of a top skin, a bottom skin, and a core. The core may be formed of a corrugated metal, or a foam metal, or a combination of the two. As a result of this structure of the arm, the arm is highly stiff, yet low mass which yields an arm having a high resonant frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Zine-Eddine Boutaghou, Markus E. Mangold
  • Patent number: 6775106
    Abstract: An improved E-block for positioning one or more transducer assemblies proximate one or more rotating storage disks of a disk drive is provided herein. The E-block includes an actuator hub and one or more actuator arms which cantilever away from the actuator hub for holding the transducer assemblies proximate the rotating storage disks. As provided herein, at least one of the actuator arms is a depopulated actuator arm which retains less than two transducer assemblies. Each depopulated actuator arm includes at least one, weighted segment integrally formed into the depopulated actuator arm. Further, each depopulated actuator arm has an arm thickness which is less than an arm thickness for a double head actuator arm. The weighted segment and the reduced arm thickness allow the depopulated actuator arm(s) to vibrate similar to a populated actuator arm(s). This allows the disk drive to be designed and tuned to improve fragility and resonance characteristics of the E-block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Maxtor Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen P. Williams, C. Douglas Richards, Jonathan C. Hofland
  • Patent number: 6757136
    Abstract: An actuator assembly including one or more actuator arms, wherein each of the actuator arms defines a clasp hole and a clamp-opening hole and a slot running between the clasp hole and clamp-opening hole, and optionally, a second slot running from the clasp hole to a distal end of the actuator arm, thereby creating two clasp fingers. A flex suspension assembly is included with a protrusion, such as a boss and a head on a distal end. The flex suspension assembly is coupled to the actuator arm by resiliently increasing the diameter of the clasp hole so as to allow the boss on the flex suspension assembly to be inserted into the clasp hole. With the boss is inserted, the clasp hole is allowed to revert to its original diameter, thereby clamping the boss in the clasp hole. A method for assembly is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Lon R. Buske, Rodney D. Dahlenburg, Aldeen R. Goehring, Niandong Liu, Kevin Lambert Mayer, William J. Raphael, Daniel Richard Smith, Mark A. Toffle, Brent M. Weichelt
  • Patent number: 6751064
    Abstract: A head supporting device comprises a support arm and a head mounted to an underside surface at one end of the support arm. The support arm is disposed in a rotatable manner about a bearing unit in a radial direction of a recording medium as well as a perpendicular direction with respect to a writing surface of the recording medium, and the support arm is provided with resilient means for imposing upon itself with a thrusting force in a direction toward the recording medium. Because of this structure, a portion serving as the support arm can be formed with a material of high rigidity, the thrusting force of the resilient means upon the slider can be set freely as desired, and its resonance frequency can be increased, thereby providing the head supporting device with an extremely high resistance to shock, and high responsivity with capability of making a high speed access.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Kuwajima, Kenichi Sakamoto, Makoto Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 6738229
    Abstract: An E-block (20) and head stack assembly (15) for maintaining one or more data transducers (18) proximate one or more rotating storage disks (28) of a disk drive (10) is provided herein. The E-block (20) includes an actuator hub (52) and one or more actuator arms (22). The actuator arms (22) cantilever away from the actuator hub (52) and hold the data transducers (18) proximate the rotating storage disks (28). As provided herein, at least one of the actuator arms (22) has a roll-bias angle (70) over the majority of the length of the actuator arm (22). Moreover, the head stack assembly (15) maintains a suspension assembly (24) at a reduced suspension z-height (72) relative to the storage disk (28). As provided herein, the roll-bias angle (70) of the actuator arms (22) and the reduced suspension z-height (72), each decrease track misregistration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Maxtor Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen P. Williams
  • Publication number: 20040070885
    Abstract: A magnetic disk apparatus includes a magnetic disk on which information is stored, a magnetic head which performs writing-in and reading-out of information, a suspension which supports the magnetic head, and a suspension supporting member having a &phgr;-shaped hinge. The suspension is supported at a tip end of the &phgr;-shaped hinge and an actuator for moving the magnetic head to a predetermined position on the magnetic disk is disposed so as to bridge an open portion of the &phgr;-shaped hinge. The actuator is coated with a resin material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2003
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Inventors: Haruhiko Kikkawa, Yasuo Amano, Shigeo Nakamura, Osamu Narisawa