Abstract: Described herein is a balance plug for a disk drive. The balance plug includes a body defining a substantially spherical outer surface and a plurality of ribs along the spherical outer surface and defining at least three meridians along the outer surface of the sphere. The at least three meridians can reside in at least two transverse planes.

Abstract: There are provided a spindle motor and a hard disk drive including the same. The spindle motor includes a shaft fixedly installed on a base member and including an upper thrust member, a sleeve rotatably supported by the shaft, a hub extended from the sleeve in an outer diameter direction, and a sealing cap mounted on the hub, wherein the upper thrust member and the sleeve or the hub include a liquid-vapor interface formed therebetween, wherein a gap between facing surfaces of the sealing cap and the upper thrust member in the axial direction is narrow enough to form a labyrinth seal, and wherein the sealing cap includes a curved part curved so that a gap between the sealing cap and the upper thrust member at a portion of the sealing cap facing the upper thrust member in the axial direction is varied in a radial direction.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a hub, a first disk, a second disk, and a spacer. The hub is supported for relative rotation about a stationary component. The first disk is mounted to the hub with a first dynamic resonance mode associated therewith. The second disk is mounted to the hub with a second dynamic resonance mode associated therewith. The spacer is positioned between the first disk and the second disk, wherein the spacer is operable to cause the first dynamic resonance mode to be different from the second dynamic resonance mode.

Abstract: The invention relates to a spindle motor, preferably for driving a hard disk drive, having a stationary motor component and a rotatable motor component that is rotatably supported with respect to the stationary motor component and that is driven by an electromagnetic drive system, at least one storage disk being fixed to the rotatable motor component using some means of mounting and fastening. According to the invention, at least parts of the rotatable motor component and at least parts of the means of mounting and fastening have a wear resistant surface coating or are subjected to a wear resistant surface treatment.

Abstract: A disk drive having a hub comprising a top surface and a non-circular protrusion extending upward from the top surface, a disk clamp comprising a wall portion and a non-circular opening formed through the clamp, the opening configured to receive the non-circular protrusion extending upward from the top surface of the hub; and at least one disk supported by the hub, wherein the non-circular protrusion extending upward from the top surface of the hub is inserted into the opening formed in the clamp, and wherein an outer annular portion of the clamp engages the disk to provide clamping force.

Abstract: A disk drive assembly having a disk hub having a cylindrical portion; and a disk clamp retaining portion formed on a vertical portion of the cylindrical portion of the disk hub; a disk clamp having: a body portion; and a retained portion which engages the disk clamp retaining portion of the disk hub to secure the disk clamp to the disk hub; and a disk media disposed between the disk clamp and the disk hub, the disk media being secured in place by the disk clamp.

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.

Abstract: A disk clamp for clamping a plurality of disks within a disk drive has a single fastening hole located at its symmetrical center sized to pass the shaft of a screw having a head diameter larger than the fastening hole. The screw fastens the disk clamp to a motor hub supporting the plurality of disks. The disk clamp has a moat around the fastening hole, at a maximum diameter that is smaller than the head diameter of the head on the fastening screw. The moat may be circular, have spike trenches angled toward the fastening hole, or be spiral. The diameter of the spiral moat decreases in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction toward the fastening hole. The midsection of the disk which the screw head covers is biased at a negative angle toward the fastening hole forcing particles generated during assembly toward the fastening hole of the disk clamp.

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.

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.

Abstract: A disk drive having a hub comprising a top surface and a non-circular protrusion extending upward from the top surface, a disk clamp comprising a wall portion and a non-circular opening formed through the clamp, the opening configured to receive the non-circular protrusion extending upward from the top surface of the hub; and at least one disk supported by the hub, wherein the non-circular protrusion extending upward from the top surface of the hub is inserted into the opening formed in the clamp, and wherein an outer annular portion of the clamp engages the disk to provide clamping force.

Abstract: A disk drive device includes: a hub on which a recording disk is to be mounted; a base member; a bearing unit configured to support the hub in a manner in which the hub can be relatively rotated with respect to the base member; an extended annular groove portion provided in part of the hub around the rotational axis of the hub; and a weight member that is installed in the extended annular groove portion to adjust a rotational balance when the recording disk is being rotated with the hub. The weight member has a fixing mechanism that is slidable, when installed, in the direction of the extended annular groove portion and that can substantially maintain a stopped state at a fixing position.

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.

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.

Abstract: A disk drive includes a spindle motor attached to a disk drive base. The spindle motor includes a hub that rotates about a spindle rotation axis. An annular disk is mounted on the hub. A clamp is attached to the hub. The clamp has a body portion that is stamped from a metal sheet. The clamp also includes an annular rib that protrudes from the stamped sheet metal body portion towards the annular disk. The annular rib includes an annular contact surface that may be lapped to enhance flatness and that contacts the annular disk. The annular rib also includes inner and outer side walls that are each normal to the annular contact surface.

Abstract: An electronic device with multi-phase mechanism including a host, a storage device and a carriage is provided in the present invention. The storage device is slidably disposed in the host and adapted to be pulled out from the host. The carriage is slidably disposed in the storage device and adapted to be pulled out from the storage device. Through the storage device slidably disposing in the host and being adapted to be pulled out from the host, it facilitates the user to take or replace a content from the storage device. When the carriage is moved out from the storage device in a first phase and then the storage device is pulled out from the host in a second phase, the content in the storage device is taken out.

Abstract: There are provided an apparatus for clamping a disk and a motor assembly having the same. The apparatus for clamping a disk according to the present invention includes an apparatus for clamping a disk, including: a rotor case jointed with an outer peripheral surface of a shaft and rotating together with the shaft; a flange part including a disk mounting surface formed at a radial outer side of the rotor case and formed to be inclined as the disk mounting surface is toward the radial outer side; and a clamping member pressing and clamping the disk to the rotor case, wherein an inclination of the disk mounting surface of the flange part is changed depending on the position of the pressing point to the disk of the clamping member.

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.

Abstract: Described herein is a balance plug for a disk drive. The balance plug includes a body defining a substantially spherical outer surface and a plurality of ribs along the spherical outer surface and defining at least three meridians along the outer surface of the sphere. The at least three meridians can reside in at least two transverse planes.

Abstract: Described herein is a disk drive balance plug that includes a substantially cylindrical body defining a first end, a second end, a substantially cylindrical outer surface, and a plug central axis. The balance plug also preferably includes at least one protrusion extending along the cylindrical outer surface between the first and second ends in a direction substantially aligned with the plug central axis.

Abstract: A disk drive device is provided with a recording disk, a base member, a bearing unit, and a hub member. In a marking step, unbalance information indicating the displacement of the center of gravity of the hub member with respect to the rotation center of the hub member is acquired, and an information mark containing the unbalance information is applied to at least the hub member or the base member. In an installing and adjustment step, the unbalance information is read form the information mark, and the position for installing the recording disk in an outer cylinder part is determined in accordance with the unbalance information so as to install the recording disk on the hub member.

Abstract: A disk drive device has a hub so configured as to place and hold recording disks. Where the non-rotating eigenfrequency of resonance in a secondary rocking mode with the recording disks placed on the hub is defined to be F0 (Hz) and the rotational frequency of the hub is defined to be N (Hz), an extending part of the hub and a second cylinder part of the hub are formed such that the radial dimension of the extending part is smaller than the axial dimension of the second external cylinder part to satisfy to a relation F0>N·(3·P+2).

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.

Abstract: A disk drive includes a spindle motor attached to a disk drive base. The spindle motor includes a hub that rotates about a spindle rotation axis. An annular disk is mounted on the hub. A clamp contacts a top surface of the hub. The clamp includes first and second pluralities of openings therethrough. The clamp is attached to the hub by a plurality of fasteners, each of the plurality of fasteners passing through one of the first plurality of openings. Each of the second plurality of openings has a closed outer periphery within the clamp. Each of the first plurality of openings is disposed directly between the spindle rotation axis and a corresponding one of the second plurality of openings.

Abstract: Disclosed is a clamp fastener that includes a convex head to prevent damage due to contact from a cover of a disk drive. The disk drive comprises a disk, a spindle motor, a disk clamp mounted to a top surface of the disk, and a clamp fastener. The clamp fastener includes a convex head. The clamp fastener is mounted through the disk clamp to connect the disk clamp and the disk to the spindle motor such that the spindle motor spins the disk, wherein the convex head is nearer to the cover than the disk clamp.

Abstract: A hard disk drive has an information recording medium that is rotationally driven for recording and/or reproducing information and a rotor hub that supports the information recording medium. The rotor hub has a flat mounting surface disposed in an outer circumferential portion thereof and on which the information recording medium is mounted so as to contact an edge portion of the mounting surface. The mounting surface is made of stainless steel containing a machineability improving additive, except for selenium and tellurium, for improving the machineability of the mounting surface. At least one of the edge portion or a portion of the mounting surface in the vicinity of the edge portion contains surface pores formed by component particles of the additive falling from the mounting surface. Each of the pores has a length less than 10 ?m in a circumferential direction of the mounting surface.

Abstract: A rotor hub includes a shaft connecting portion arranged to be connected to a shaft serving as a central axis, a disk loading portion centered about the central axis and arranged to support a disk shaped storage medium mounted thereon, a yoke arranged below the disk loading portion and supporting a field magnet at one of an inner side surface thereof and an outer side surface thereof, and a flexible portion connecting the disk loading portion to the yoke and being flexible with respect to a force applied thereto from the yoke.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods and systems for controlling access to information stored on memory or data storage devices are disclosed. In various embodiments, methods of retrieving information from a data storage device previously deactivated by modification or degradation of at least a portion of the data storage device are disclosed.

Abstract: A clamp for a disk rotation driver stably and surely supports a disk in the disk rotation driver. The clamp 7 for a disk rotation driver 1 having a central portion and a periphery being circumferentially provided with a contact portion 13, the central portion fastened to a hub 5 to be rotated, and the contact portion 13 pressed against a recordable disk 3 attached to the hub 5 to apply a pressing force Fv to the disk 3 in a rotation axis direction and fixedly support the magnetic disk 3 on the hub 5, the clamp 7 comprising: a wall portion 25 extending from the periphery and being oriented in the rotation axis direction to form the contact portion 13 so that a frictional force ?Fy produced between the contact portion 13 and the magnetic disk 3 and resisting a locomotion Fx that acts on the contact portion 13 and radially outwardly biases the contact portion 13 when the contact portion 13 is in contact with the magnetic disk 3 is equal to or larger than the locomotion Fx.

Abstract: A sleeve and a hub are fixed to each other, and then the sleeve and the hub are gripped and rotated around a central axis, during which cutting is performed over the inner peripheral surface of the sleeve and a flange surface of the hub. Thus, the flange surface can be finished accurately such that the flange surface is normal to the central axis and the inner peripheral surface of the sleeve.

Abstract: A disk drive. The disk drive includes a motor, a hub coupled to a spindle shaft of the motor, at least two disks each having a center hole and being coupled to the hub, and a spacer having a center hole. The spacer is disposed around the hub such that the hub is disposed within the center hole of the spacer; and, the spacer is sandwiched between and in contact with the two disks to define spacing between the disks. The spacer includes at least two conductive rings and the conductive rings are secured between the two disks. The spacer also includes a damping sheet configured to absorb vibration between the conductive rings, and a conductive ring-shaped spring having a spring characteristic in a radial direction of the disks to make a diameter variable. Moreover, the conductive ring-shaped spring is in contact with both of the two conductive rings.

Abstract: The disk drive device includes a base plate, a hub on which a recording disk is mounted, a shaft bearing unit that is arranged on the base plate and that rotatably supports the hub, and a spindle drive unit that drives the hub to rotate. The spindle driving unit includes a stator core having a salient pole, a coil wound around the salient pole, and a magnet opposed to the salient pole. The hub formed of a magnetic material includes an outer cylindrical portion engaged with an inner circumference of the recording disk. A shaft is inserted into a sleeve, and the sleeve, which is of an approximate cylindrical shape, is inserted into a housing as part of the shaft bearing unit. The shaft is fixed to the rotational center of the hub, rotating along the axis together with the hub.

Abstract: A disk device with disk contamination control having a spindle for rotating at least one disk. A spindle hub located on the spindle. A disk clamp for clamping the at least one disk on the hub. A magnetic clamp seal magnetically and removably attached to the disk clamp wherein the magnetic clamp seal encapsulates disk contaminants between the clamp and the clamp seal. The magnetic clamp seal magnetically collects metallic contaminants within a sealed housing.

Abstract: A clamping device for coupling a rotatable component of a machine with a shaft, including a balance hole configured to confine a counterweight. The clamping device includes a circular plate. The circular plate includes at least one fastener hole configured to accept a fastener, and at least one balance hole. The fastener is configured to fasten the clamping device to couple the component with the shaft. The balance hole includes a cavity configured to accept a counterweight. The counterweight is configured to balance the rotational motion of at least the circular plate when the shaft is rotated. Moreover, the cavity is configured to confine the counterweight to an end of the cavity by effects of rotation of the shaft on the counterweight when the shaft is rotated.

Abstract: The present invention provides a disk drive device that can appropriately clamp a disk by means of magnetic force even when the disk drive device is very small. A clamping magnet 16 on which a disk 20 is mounted is attached to a turntable portion 15b of a rotor frame 15 to attract the disk 20. The clamping magnet 16 is configured so that the disk 20 can be mounted on the clamping magnet 16. An area of the rotor frame 15 from the turntable portion 15b to a boss portion 15a is composed of a ferromagnetic material.

Abstract: There are provided an apparatus for clamping a disk and a motor assembly having the same. The apparatus for clamping a disk according to the present invention includes an apparatus for clamping a disk, including: a rotor case jointed with an outer peripheral surface of a shaft and rotating together with the shaft; a flange part including a disk mounting surface formed at a radial outer side of the rotor case and formed to be inclined as the disk mounting surface is toward the radial outer side; and a clamping member pressing and clamping the disk to the rotor case, wherein an inclination of the disk mounting surface of the flange part is changed depending on the position of the pressing point to the disk of the clamping member.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an apparatus for mounting an object to a base. In one example, the apparatus includes a base and a protuberant feature extending from the base. The protuberant feature includes a datum surface sized to matingly engage a corresponding surface of an object to precisely position the object with respect to the base.

Abstract: A spindle motor rotatably drives recording discs, and includes a base plate, a stator, a rotor hub, a yoke, a rotor magnet, and a hydrodynamic bearing. The hub includes a disc support cylindrical portion for supporting the recording discs in the radial direction, an annular disc mount portion formed on an outer circumference of the cylindrical portion for mounting the recording discs thereon, and an annular projection formed on the lower portion of the disc mount portion in the axial direction and having an outer circumference to which the yoke is fixed. The disc mount portion is formed with an annular non-contact surface formed on the upper portion in the axial direction, and an annular disc receiving face formed around an outer circumference of the non-contact surface and upward of the non-contact surface in the axial direction for being in contact with the recording disc in the axial direction.

Abstract: Described herein is a disk drive balance plug that includes a substantially cylindrical body defining a first end, a second end, a substantially cylindrical outer surface, and a plug central axis. The balance plug also preferably includes at least one protrusion extending along the cylindrical outer surface between the first and second ends in a direction substantially aligned with the plug central axis.

Abstract: An improved disk stack assembly for a hard disk drive (HDD) includes a generally cylindrical hub with flange having a downward sloping conical flange surface. The conical flange surface is defined between a radially inner circular ridge and a radially outer circular edge. The bottom disk in the stack is in contact with the flange inner circular ridge. The disk stack assembly also includes a disk clamp with a contact surface having a contact rim that is in contact with either the radially inner portion of the top disk in the stack or a spacer ring. The clamp contact rim is located at approximately the same radial distance from the hub's central cylindrical axis as the flange circular ridge so that the clamping force is applied to the disks close to the area where the disk stack is supported on the conical flange surface.

Abstract: There is provided a disk recording and/or reproducing apparatus including: a disk mounting part; a clamp member holding a disk-shaped recording medium between the clamp member and the disk mounting part; and a support member movably supporting the clamp member. One of the disk mounting part and the clamp member has a magnet and the other has an attractable member attracted to the magnet. A rotating member is rotatably supported by the support member and a rotary elevating mechanism moves the rotating member up and down at a predetermined height by rotating the member. The clamp member is allowed to approach the disk mounting part by attracting the attractable member by a magnetic force of the magnet or to depart from the disk mounting part against a magnetic force of the magnet.

Abstract: A disk device is presented that includes a drive motor which has a rotatable hub fitted with a recording medium and rotates the recording medium, and a disk-shaped clamper attached to the hub to hold the recording medium. The clamper has a center aperture formed on a central axis of rotation of the drive motor and at least one positioning hole eccentric to the central axis of rotation. The clamper is fixed to the hub by a fixing screw driven into the hub through the center aperture. The hub has a support surface opposed to the clamper and an annular engaging groove formed in the support surface to be coaxial with the central axis of rotation and opposed to the positioning hole, the engaging groove being configured to be engaged with a fixing pin which is passed through the positioning hole.

Abstract: A spindle motor includes a spindle motor hub that supports one or more disks, and has a contact area reduction portion that minimizes the area of contact between the hub and a disk when the disk is mounted to the hub. The spindle motor hub includes a hub body having a cylindrical sidewall that includes a contact section around which the disk extends and a non-contact section. The non-contact section is constituted by the contact area reduction portion. An outer diameter of the cylindrical hub body at the contact section is greater than an outer diameter of the cylindrical hub body at the contact area reduction portion of the non-contact section.

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.

Abstract: A spindle motor assembly includes a spindle motor, a disk for storing data, the disk being installed on the spindle motor, and a disk clamp for fixing the disk to the spindle motor. The disk clamp includes a hollow formed in a central portion thereof, a coupling portion formed around an external circumference of the hollow and including a plurality of screw insertion holes into which clamp fastening screws to be coupled to the spindle motor are inserted, and a pressing portion formed around an external circumference of the coupling portion to press the disk. The coupling portion includes a first region and a second region that are asymmetrical with respect to each other, the plurality of screw insertion holes are formed in the first region only, and a thickness extension portion or a through hole is formed in at least a portion of the second region.

Abstract: A disk drive. The disk drive includes a motor, a hub coupled to a spindle shaft of the motor, at least two disks each having a center hole and being coupled to the hub, and a spacer having a center hole. The spacer is disposed around the hub such that the hub is disposed within the center hole of the spacer; and, the spacer is sandwiched between and in contact with the two disks to define spacing between the disks. The spacer includes at least two conductive rings and the conductive rings are secured between the two disks. The spacer also includes a damping sheet configured to absorb vibration between the conductive rings, and a conductive ring-shaped spring having a spring characteristic in a radial direction of the disks to make a diameter variable. Moreover, the conductive ring-shaped spring is in contact with both of the two conductive rings.

Abstract: A disk drive device includes: a hub on which a recording disk is to be mounted; a base member; a bearing unit configured to support the hub in a manner in which the hub can be relatively rotated with respect to the base member; an extended annular groove portion provided in part of the hub around the rotational axis of the hub; and a weight member that is installed in the extended annular groove portion to adjust a rotational balance when the recording disk is being rotated with the hub. The weight member has a fixing mechanism that is slidable, when installed, in the direction of the extended annular groove portion and that can substantially maintain a stopped state at a fixing position.

Abstract: A data storage disc carrier (1) for carrying discs (10). The carrier includes an axial clamping mechanism which incorporates a three legged resilient clamping member (7) that can flees between release and clamping positions to allow easy loading a gripping of discs (10). The clamping member is articulatingly mounted on a tail (4) that is gripped to provide clamping.

Abstract: The spindle motor comprises a shaft, a rotor, and a medium-carrying surface. The rotor is disposed on the outer peripheral side of the shaft, and rotates about the shaft. The medium-carrying surface is disposed on the rotor, and carries a circular-disk-form recording medium. The recording medium is pressed and fastened to the medium-carrying surface by a clamping member. The clamping member is a member that presses the recording medium against a medium-carrying surface. The average value of the widths of the profile peaks in the mean line for the primary profile of the medium-carrying surface in the radial direction is smaller than the average value of the widths of the profile valleys.

Abstract: In a manufacturing method, energy beam heat is radiated to a target area of the motor assembly which is used for a storage disk drive. By radiating energy beam thereto, a portion of the motor assembly is deformed in a non-contact manner, thus, without being affected by elastic recovery of a portion of the motor assembly to be deformed, the machining accuracy of the motor assembly is adjusted in a precise manner.