Abstract:
An injection molded E-block assembly (12) for a disk system (2) for supporting a plurality of head arrays (10) to write data to and/or retrieve data from tracks of a media disk (6). The E-block assembly is formed of a polymeric material that matches the performance of currently used materials, and the injection mold process eliminates or reduces machining required to produce a finished component.
Abstract:
A voice coil driven positioner is provided for positioning the magnetic head of a tape drive relative to the tape of a removable tape cartridge. The head positioner includes a low-mass carriage that supports the head on one end and the voice coil on an opposed second end. A low friction guide mechanism guides the carriage along a precision movement path that carries the head across tracks of a supplied multi-track tape and simultaneously carries the voice coil through a flux field generated by a stator. A movable portion of a position detector is attached to the carriage and located within the hollow of the voice coil for reciprocating into a hollow passageway of the stator together with reciprocation of the voice coil into another hollow of the stator. A fixed portion of the position detector is attached to the stator and located compactly within the hollow passageway of the stator. A programmable lookup table converts measurement signals output by the position detector into pre-calibrated, head-position indicating signals. A platform is provided on the carriage for mounting an interferometer prism used during calibration.
Abstract:
A member securing electrical conductors coupled to a read/write head in a storage device over termination pads of an electrical flex circuit. Generally, the storage device includes an actuator having at least one actuator arm securing the read/write head, and the apparatus is coupled to the actuator arm. The apparatus may comprise a member having a first end and a second end, the first end being coupled to the arm and the second end positioning the conductors over conductive pads of the flex circuit, with the second end including a window securing the conductors in fixed positions over the conductive pads of the flex circuit. In another arrangement, the second end comprises a solderless coupling assembly electrically connected to the conductors, wherein the conductive pads of the flex circuit are arranged to electrically couple to the solderless coupling assembly.
Abstract:
A magnetic recording tape (140) has recorded at at least one end of each of a plurality of longitudinal tracks (24, 60) therealong at least one frame (70, 72) of digitally encoded data representing the identity of each specific track. A recording/playback head assembly (12, 14, 16) is transversely positioned with respect to a longitudinal transport path along which the tape may be moved. The transverse position of the recording/playback head assembly may be monitored in response to the track identification data, to ensure positioning of the head assembly at a desired track (24, 60), to prevent recording onto an incorrect track, and to prevent playing back data from an incorrect track.
Abstract:
A sleeveless rotatable beryllium/aluminum alloy actuator arm for a disk drive for a computer. A rotatable actuator for a magnetic disk drive for a computer is also described. The rotatable actuator includes a sleeveless beryllium/aluminum alloy arm (24), a suspension (26) attached to a first end of the arm, a transducer (28) attached to the suspension, and a voice coil (55) attached to a second end of the arm.
Abstract:
A low height disk drive (200) having an overall height of approximately one inch (1''). The drive includes a head disk assembly, including a base plate (212), two disks (220, 221) rotatably supported on the base plate, a motor (222) for rotating the disks, at least two heads (226a-d) for reading information from and writing information on respective ones of the disks, an actuator (224), supported on said base plate (212) and responsive to control signals, for selectively positioning the heads with respect to the disks, and a cover (214) sealably attached to the base plate to enclose the storage means, the head, and the actuator. The disk drive also includes control circuitry (227) for generating control signals, and for providing information signals to and receiving information signals from the heads. The head disk assembly and the control circuitry have a combined height of approximately one inch or less.
Abstract:
The invention concerns a process for positioning a positioning unit (2), in which the current for the positioning unit drive (201) is controlled by continuous comparison of the instantaneous position (xa) of the positioning unit as measured value with the target position (xn) as theoretical value, using a theoretical curve of the distance between start and target track. The theoretical curve is drawn, taking into account the back-emf of the drive unit, as a time-optimal step function. Sample values (ik and xk) corresponding to points on this theoretical curve are fed continuously at predetermined sampling intervals ( DELTA ) to an FIR filter (e.g. 52). Their filter coefficients (c0... cn) are chosen so that the points of inflexion of the theoretical curve are preferably cos-curve-shaped. The sampled values (ink and xnk) filtered in this way are converted into a control signal (is(t)) for the positioned unit drive. This process is carried out in real time, preferably by a signal processor.
Abstract:
Disclosed is a servo control system for a disk drive actuator using a bi-directional (Up/Down) Difference Counter along with a control circuit therefor which signals the counter each time a ''rest position'' is passed, indicating whether this passage is toward, or away-from the destination track.
Abstract:
A support arm (10) is adapted for high-speed positioning of a transducer such as a read/write head (40, 45) in a magnetic disk drive. The support arm (10) is essentially composed of a ceramic material having a high specific stiffness. The support arm (10) is shaped to form structures (22, 27) integral of the support arm (10) for mating with fasteners (30, 32) for connecting a transducer assembly to one end of the support arm (10). The support arm (10) also includes structure (16, 18) for connecting the support arm to a positioning actuator.