Abstract: An example hard disk drive (HDD) comprising a magnetic disk and a ramp within the HDD is disclosed. A slit is disposed between a ramp body and a flange.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic disk drive includes a disk and a controller. The disk includes a plurality of zones each having a plurality of tracks. The disk is formatted such that a plurality of servo frames are discretely recorded in each of the plurality of tracks. The plurality of servo frames include servo preamble data of a second length which corresponds to the zone having the track and which is less than or equal to a first length serving as a reference. The controller allows a head to read the servo frames from the disk via a read amplifier.

Abstract: There is provided a base for a motor, the base including: a base body formed of a steel plate through a pressing process; and an outer wall part defining an exterior of the base body, in which the outer wall part has a thickness smaller than a thickness of the steel plate in order to increase a contact area with a sealing part.

Abstract: To maintain reliability even when the repetition of the power saving control for storage systems occurs frequently due to the access from the host computer. During the course of controlling the operation mode of the drives, the controller measures the start/stop cycle count and the load/unload cycle count, calculates the S/S wear-out rate showing the ratio of the measured value of the start/stop cycle count to the first upper limit value and the L/U wear-out rate showing the ratio of the measured value of the load/unload cycle count to the second upper limit value, and for the drives in the idle operation mode, selects the low-speed rotation operation mode if the S/S wear-out rate is greater than the L/U wear-out rate, or selects the standby operation mode if the S/S wear-out rate is less than the L/U wear-out rate.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a position demodulation method includes demodulating a first demodulation signal and a second demodulation signal having a phase difference of 90 degrees to the first demodulation signal based on a read-out signal obtained by reading out a servo pattern recorded on a medium by the head for positioning of a head with respect to the medium; correcting the first and second demodulation signals in which, when a trace of a Lissajous figure is drawn representing the first and second demodulation signals as values on coordinate axes different from each other on a plane, a ratio of respective lengths between intersections of the trace intersecting with two axes orthogonal at an origin of the plane is kept constant; and demodulating a positional signal for determining a position of the head based on the first and second demodulation signals after being corrected at the correcting.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive element includes a lamination body and a pair of electrodes. The lamination body includes a first magnetic layer, a second magnetic layer, and a spacer layer. The spacer layer is provided between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer and includes an oxide layer. The oxide layer includes at least one element selected from the group consisting of Zn, In, Sn, and Cd, and at least one element selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co, and Ni.

Abstract: Examples of the present invention relate to reduction in acoustic noise by tuning seek characteristics of a servo controller, depending on a radial position of a head relative to a disk. The servo controller can provide compensation for acoustic resonance modes.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a perpendicular magnetic recording head includes a main pole which generates a recording magnetic field, a return pole which forms a closed magnetic circuit for the recording magnetic field, and a side shield magnetically spaced from the main pole in a cross-track direction in which a point on a trailing edge of the side shield which is closest to the main pole is positioned on a leading side of a trailing edge of the main pole.

Abstract: There is provided with a motor, including: a rotating member coupled with a shaft and rotating in connection with the shaft; a stationary member having the shaft inserted therein to support the shaft and having a convex part formed to be protruded from the outside surface thereof; and a wall part protruding from one surface of the rotating member to allow oil to be sealed between the rotating member and the stationary member, and including a concave part having a concave groove formed at a position corresponding to the convex part.

Abstract: There are provided a motor and a recording disc driving device, which may improve a coupling structure of the motor to enable a magnet provided in a rotor to thereby double as a conventional stopper. The motor may include: a sleeve into which a shaft is rotatably inserted; a sleeve holder including a body part into which the sleeve is inserted, and a flange part protruded from an upper end portion of the body part in an outer diameter direction; a rotor case fastened to an upper end portion of the shaft, and formed such that a cylindrically shaped-rotor main wall is protruded downwardly in an axial direction to receive the flange part; a magnet fastened to a distal end of the rotor main wall so that a part of the magnet is protruded downwardly of the flange part; and a stator fastened to face the magnet, and generating an electromagnetic force.

Abstract: The magnetic head slider locking apparatus according to the present invention includes a fixed portion, a movable portion and paired right and left spring portions. Upon transition from an initial posture to an elastically deformed posture, the movable portion is wholly moved toward the proximal side in the suspension longitudinal direction and, at the same time, the inner end of each of paired proximal-side engagement regions in the suspension width direction is moved toward the inner side in the suspension width direction, so that the distal end and the proximal end of each of the proximal-side extending regions are moved toward the inner side and the outer side in the suspension width direction, respectively, while the proximal-side extending regions are wholly moved toward the proximal side in the suspension longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A method for making a master mold that is used in the nanoimprinting process to make patterned-media disks with patterned data islands uses guided self-assembly of a block copolymer into its components. Conventional or e-beam lithography is used to first form a pattern of generally radial stripes on a substrate, with the stripes being grouped into annular zones or bands. A block copolymer material is then deposited on the pattern, resulting in guided self-assembly of the block copolymer into its components to multiply the generally radial stripes into generally radial lines. Various methods, including conventional lithography, guided self-assembly of a second block copolymer, and e-beam lithography, are then used to form concentric rings over the generally radial lines. After etching and resist removal, the master mold has a pattern of either pillars or holes, depending on the method used.

Abstract: An electronic substrate includes: a flexible printed circuit comprising a head connecting portion being provided with a first terminal to be electrically connected to a magnetic head, and a board connecting portion being provided with a second terminal to be electrically connected to a main printed board; a first reinforcing member provided on the head connecting portion of the flexible printed circuit, the first reinforcing member reinforcing the head connecting portion; and a second reinforcing member provided on the board connecting portion of the flexible printed circuit, the second reinforcing member reinforcing the board connecting portion, wherein the second reinforcing member includes a additional enhancement portion formed with a sterically enhanced shape.

Abstract: This application discloses a hard disk drive, a head stack assembly, an actuator arm, and an arm damper configured for coupling to an actuator arm to create the head stack assembly used in the hard disk drive. The actuator arm has two arm dampers covering a lightening hole on either side of the actuator arm and configured to reduce the effects of airflow turbulence and mechanical vibration in the hard disk drive. Also disclosed, methods of operating the hard disk drive and of manufacturing for the head stack assembly and the hard disk drive.

Abstract: In the magnetic head slider locking apparatus according to the present invention, a spring portion takes a sandwiching posture in which a center region of a proximal-side engage portion sandwiches a magnetic head slider in a suspension longitudinal direction in cooperation with a distal-side engage portion when an operational force to the spring portion is released after the magnetic head slider has been mounted in a state where the spring portion has been elastically deformed from an initial posture to an elastically deformed posture.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a disk drive includes a rotatable carriage which supports a head configured to read information from a disk recording medium and to write data to the a disk recording medium, and a latch mechanism configured to latch and hold the carriage in a retracted position when subjected to an external force with the carriage in the retracted position. The latch mechanism includes an engaging portion on the carriage, a first latch pivotably provided on a base in a first mode and includes a latch lug configured to engage the engaging portion, and a second latch pivotably provided on the base in a second mode different from the first mode and includes a latch lug configured to engage the engaging portion.

Abstract: Provided are an actuator latch apparatus and a hard disk drive (HDD) having the actuator latch apparatus. The HDD includes a spindle motor, a data storage disk which is installed on the spindle motor, an actuator which moves a read/write head to a desired position above the data storage disk, and the actuator latch apparatus which locks the actuator in a parking position. The actuator latch apparatus includes a notch which is formed at a rear end of a swing arm and a latch lever which is combined with and pivots on a pivot shaft installed on a base. A retractor member is installed on one of upper and lower surfaces of a counterbalance which is adjacent to a magnet, wherein the counterbalance is formed at a rear end of the latch lever. When the read/write head operates, the latch lever contacts an upper yoke or the base due to a vertical component force of a magnetic force working from the magnet to the retractor member, thereby liming a vertical vibration of the latch lever.

Abstract: A magnetic head drive device including a suspension for supporting a magnetic head, and a main actuator that produces rotary movement of the magnetic head by applying current to a coil. The main actuator includes end arms each comprising a single micro-actuator, and an intermediate arm comprising two micro-actuators. The micro-actuators of the end arms are driven in the same direction, and the micro-actuators of the intermediate arm are driven in the opposite direction to the drive direction of the micro-actuators of said the arms.

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 includes a base, an actuator arm pivotably installed on the base, and a latch device to latch the actuator arm at a parking position. The latch device includes a latch stop that protrudes from a side wall of the base and has an inclined surface, and a latch lever pivotably installed on the base and contacts and slides along the inclined surface of the latch stop during the rotation in an unlatching direction.

Abstract: A hard disk drive (HDD) including a slider limiter. The HDD includes a spindle motor installed to a base member; at least one disk mounted to the spindle motor to be rotated by the spindle motor; an actuator moving a read/write head to a desired position on the at least one disk; and a ramp that is installed outside the at least one disk to park the read/write head when the at least one disk stops rotating. A slider limiter that is disposed between the flexures facing each other in order to limit vertical fluctuation of the slider is formed on the ramp. A step portion or a hollow space is formed in a portion of the slider limiter facing the slider, and a side-tab is protruded from both sides of the flexure to face the slider limiter on both sides of the hollow space.

Abstract: A hard disk drive includes an actuator arm pivoting over a disk around a pivot shaft as a center of rotation to allow a read/write head to access data on the disk, a bobbin provided at the opposite side to the read/write head with respect to a pivot shaft holder that rotatably supports the pivot shaft, and a voice coil coupled to the bobbin. The bobbin includes a bobbin body coupled an end portion of the voice coil adjacent to the pivot shaft holder, and a plurality of bobbin legs extending from an end portion of the bobbin body toward areas of the other end portion of the voice coil that are separated from each other, and coupled to the areas of the other end portion of the voice coil that are separated from each other.

Abstract: A bracket for a hard disc drive combining three separate functions, a ramp, a latch and a connector bracket into a single assembly. The bracket assembly, mounted with ramp and latch, secures and seals the electrical connector connecting the flexible printed circuit on the head side of the actuator. Traditionally, latches are on the coil side of the actuator. Moreover, the combination bracket improves manufacturability while reducing overall cost for the disc drive. The assembly can be purchased complete from a supplier.

Abstract: This application discloses a Load-UnLoad (LUL) hard disk drive comprising a disk base, a spindle motor mounted on the disk base for rotating at least one disk to create at least one rotating disk surface, and a head stack assembly pivotably coupled to the disk base and configured to engage an actuator latch when the sliders of the head stack assembly are to be parked. The actuator latch includes a latch beam coupled through a latch pivot to the disk base and a boss coupled to the latch beam and configured to limit the stroke of latch motion in the event of a rotary non-operational shock.

Abstract: A hard disk drive includes a head stack assembly including an actuator arm, a voice coil coupled to a bobbin, and a pivot shaft holder, rotatably coupled to a pivot shaft, disposed between the actuator arm and the voice coil. The hard disk drive also includes at least one magnet, disposed adjacent to the voice coil, which interacts and with the voice coil when current flows in the voice coil, thus generating an electromagnetic force to pivot the actuator arm around the pivot shaft, and a flux fringe prevention layer comprising a magnetic material and coupled to the voice coil, to prevent magnetic flux generated in the magnet being bent in the voice coil.

Abstract: A hard disk drive with an actuator arm assembly that is coupled to a head and includes a voice coil motor. The drive also includes a drive circuit that provides a drive current to the voice coil motor to move the actuator arm assembly into contact with a magnet. The drive circuit limits an amplitude, and/or changes the pulse width, of the drive current as the actuator arm assembly approaches the magnet. Limiting the amplitude and/or changing the pulse widths reduces any audible noise associated with retracting the heads.

Abstract: In a hard disk drive (HDD), a ratio of the distance R between the axis of rotation of an actuator and a magnetic head to the distance R0 between the axis of rotation of the actuator and the center of a disk is in the range of 0.9 to 0.96. Thus, the deviation of the skew angles for the tracks from 0 degrees is minimized and yet a swing arm of the actuator can be relatively short. Accordingly, not only is the recording density maximized, but the HDD can be small and light as well.

Abstract: An HDD includes a head stack assembly, a voice coil motor, and a retracting pin unit. The retracting pin unit includes a mobile retracting pin generating a retracting force to maintain the actuator arm at a predetermined position by interacting with the magnet when the read/write head is parked, and coupled to the bobbin to be capable of relatively moving with respect to the bobbin toward the magnet when the bobbin is separated from the magnet due to an external shock. A head on disk phenomenon, in which the parking state of the read/write head is removed when an external shock such as a linear shock or a rotary shock, which may be generated as the HDD is installed in a notebook computer, is applied to the HDD, may be reduced.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a disk device includes a latch mechanism configured to retract a head on a distal end portion of an actuator to a ramp mechanism and latch a ferromagnetic member disposed on the actuator on the side of a motor coil by a latch magnet, a shaft protruding from that part of a base of the disk device which is located near the latch mechanism, and a rotary lever pivotably mounted on the shaft. The rotary lever includes a first arm on the disk side being extended over the disk so that the rotary lever is rotated by a pressure of airflow produced as the disk rotates, and a second arm on the latch magnet side configured to move as the rotary lever is rotated by the airflow pressure, to weaken magnetic coupling between the latch magnet and the ferromagnetic member.

Abstract: A disk-chucking device comprises a pressing member including a circular groove which is provided around a circumference of the clamp member, and a clamping member mounted on a turning plate for clasping the circular groove of the pressing member. The turning plate provides a through hole at the center thereof which allows the pressing member passing through, and a plurality of first notch portions disposed along the circumference of the through hole. The turning plate is slidably connected to a mounting board through the clamping member. The turning plate can rotate with respect to the mounting board to move the pressing member vertically. Thus, the pressing member can be pressed onto and removed from a disk support of the displayer according to the rotation of the turning plate. The present disk-chucking device can chuck the disk securely regardless of the position of the disk player.

Abstract: Perpendicular magnetic recording media has been enhanced by controlling the initial growth of magnetic oxide layers and increased magnetic isolation between the grains in the initial magnetic layer. An onset magnetic oxide layer is sputter deposited in an argon-oxygen gas mixture between the main CoPtCr-oxide magnetic layers and the underlying Ru layer. The insertion of the onset magnetic oxide layer enhances the coercivity of the oxide magnetic layers and also improves the nucleation field. The media signal-to-noise ratio and bit error rate also are significantly improved due to the improvement of the initial segregation of Co magnetic grains in the magnetic oxide layers.

Abstract: An actuator latch mechanism of a hard disk drive (HDD) includes a latch lever and a magnetic latch carried by the latch lever. The latch lever is mounted to a base of the HDD so as to be rotatable and prevents an actuator arm from rotating from a position, at which a read/write head carried by the actuator arm is parked, to a read/write position at which the read/write head is located over a recording surface of a disk. A bobbin on which a VCM coil is provided extends from a rear end of the actuator arm. A permanent magnet of the VCM is fixed to the base as juxtaposed with the bobbin.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a recording disk drive includes a head actuator assembly, a voice coil motor, a housing, a step, a latch lever, a latch member, and first and second contact pieces. The head actuator assembly supports a head slider. The housing houses defines a flat surface for receiving the voice coil motor. The step is connected to one end of the flat surface and defines a stepped surface expanding parallel to the flat surface. The latch lever is rotatably supported by a first shaft. The latch member is rotatably supported by a second shaft, and rotate between a first posture and a second posture. The first and second contact pieces on the latch member cause the latch member to rotate about the second shaft toward the first posture by contact with the latch lever rotating in first and second directions, respectively.

Abstract: An information storage device that includes: a housing; a disc-shaped recording medium to record data thereon, rotating along a disc surface to generate a wind inside the housing; a head capable of recording and/or reproducing data on and/or from the recording medium; an arm holding the head on its tip end and held by a rotary shaft, the arm rotating about the rotary shaft to move the head along the disc surface; a coil including multiple turns in a plane where the arm rotates, and receiving current supply, the coil fixed to the opposite end of the arm; a magnet generating magnetic field to act on the coil; and an airflow adjusting plate placed adjacent and upstream to the coil along the wind generated by rotation of the recording medium, extending in the plane where the coil includes turns and adjusting flow of the wind to travel along the coil.

Abstract: An information storage device includes: a disk-like rotatable recording medium; and a head reproducing information from and/or recording information into the recording medium. The device further includes: a fixed portion having and turns around a turning axis extending in the same direction as a rotation axis of the recording medium; and a moving portion holding the head, supported by the fixed portion, and movable relative to the fixed portion in a direction approaching and separating from the rotation axis. The device further includes: a pin fixed to and projecting from the moving portion; and a guide having a wall on which the pin abuts and slides as the moving portion turns, and restricting an orbit of the pin by a form of the wall to a predetermined orbit that extends to a leading side of the moving portion as the pin moves toward an inner periphery of the recording medium.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium includes a substrate; and a recording film formed on the substrate and including a main magnetic film, the main magnetic film where a recording area and a guard area are formed by local ion doping, the guard area having saturation magnetization smaller than saturation magnetization of the recording area. A primary layer is provided at a substrate side of the main magnetic film. A main ingredient of the primary layer is at least one kind of atom selected from a group consisting of Cr, B, Mo, Al, Si, and C.

Abstract: An actuator latch system of a hard disk drive selectively locks in place and releases a rotatable swing arm having a front end portion supporting a magnetic head and a rear end portion on which a voice coil motor (VCM) coil is disposed. The actuator latch system includes a notch in the rear end portion of the swing arm, and a rotatable latch lever having a front end portion including a hook and a magnet. The hook is received in the notch in the rear end potion of the swing arm to arrest rotation of the swing arm in a predetermined direction. The magnet of the latch lever faces a section of the VCM coil such that when the hard disk drive is started, the latch lever is rotated by a force generated due to current flowing through the section of the VCM coil faced by the magnet and the magnetic field generated by the magnet. The rotation of the latch lever prevents the hook form interfering with the rotation of the swing arm in the predetermined direction.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention securely latch an actuator rotated by an external impact. In an embodiment of the present invention, a latch and an actuator have a structure in which the latch can latch the actuator at two different swing angles. The swing angle of the latch is an angle in rotation centered on a rotational shaft (rotation angle). The latch may be engaged with the actuator at a shallow angle, or the latch may be engaged with the actuator at a deeper angle. Since the latch is able to latch the actuator at different swing angles, the actuator can be securely latched.

Abstract: An actuator latch apparatus for a disk drive, having a notch positioned at a first end portion of the swing arm, a latch lever rotatably installed in a base member, a first core provided on a second end portion of the swing arm, and a second core provided at a counterbalance of the latch lever. The first and second cores apply a torque to the swing arm and latch lever, respectively, in a first direction by a magnetic force of the magnet. The latch lever has a latch pivot, a latch arm provided at a first side of the latch pivot and having a hook to be caught by the notch when the actuator is locked, and the counterbalance provided on a second side of the latch pivot. The latch arm of the latch lever is elastically deformed when contacted by the swing arm during parking of the head.

Abstract: A retraction mechanism for a head actuator having a head at the end thereof includes a metal piece that is attached to a coil arm, a stopper, and a magnet. The metal piece is configured to be attracted to the stopper with a magnetic force exerted by the magnet to retract the head outside the outer periphery of a storage medium. The metal piece is attached in contact with a surface of the coil arm other than the one facing the stopper.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide an inexpensive latching mechanism having a necessary and sufficient function to hold an actuator of a magnetic disk drive and including a latch formed in a one-piece structure. According to one embodiment, a latching mechanism for a magnetic disk drive includes a latch lever, a hook, for latching an actuator, extending vertically downward from the latch lever, and a bar, to be pressed by an actuator at its home position in a closing direction, extending vertically downward from the latch arm. A steel pin is attached to the latch lever to urge the latch in an opening direction by a magnetic force.

Abstract: A disk device includes an actuator which can be turned around a shaft bearing portion as a turning center in a radius direction of a recording medium, a ramp block which holds a part of the actuator on the occasion of retracting a head portion of the actuator, a circuit substrate portion which carries out at least any one of transmission and reception of a signal to and from at least a head portion and the actuator, an upper side chassis, and a lower side chassis, and a turning shaft of the actuator, the ramp block and the circuit substrate portion have fastening portions on both sides in a perpendicular direction to the recording medium, respectively, and by fastening the fastening portions from the upper side chassis and the lower side chassis, the actuator, the ramp block and the circuit substrate portions are incorporated in the upper side chassis and the lower side chassis.