Abstract:
An architecture for a low profile disk drive device wherein a lower surface (21) of an information bearing disk (20) abutting an upper surface (28) of a spindle motor (10) is not accessed by a read/write head (30) for data storage or retrieval. The disk (20) is used as a magnetic shield to protect reading and writing from an upper surface (22) of the disk (20). The architecture facilitates lower profile construction because the spindle motor (10) can be made with a larger diameter and thinner height. Memory capacity is not sacrificed because a greater portion of the remaining disk surfaces is utilized.
Abstract:
A disk drive (10) including a pair of side rails (101, 102) and a connector (105) is disclosed. The disk drive (10) may advantageously be connected to a personal computer, in a location normally reserved for a memory card. The disk drive (10) may be constructed to conform to specification issued by the Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA).
Abstract:
Disclosed is a rigid disk drive information storage device (1) which includes a rigid disk (16) having a diameter in the range of about 45-50 mm, with a housing having a footprint that includes a width of about 51 mm and utilizing a rotary actuator (29) for positioning read/write recording elements across the surface of the disk. The disk storage devices further includes a footprint with a length of about 70 mm, includes dynamic loading apparatus (33, 34, 35) for loading the read/write recording elements, supported on a slider body (31), into operative relationship with the disk and further includes an inertial latch for preventing rotation of the actuator when the drive is subjected to a rotational force.
Abstract:
A shock absorbent jacket (10) partially encloses a disk drive (20) and includes means for retaining the disk drive (20) at a selected location in an instrument (31) to protect the disk drive (20) against a shock force applied to the instrument.
Abstract:
A rigid disk drive information storage device (1, 4) includes a rigid disk (10) having an outside diameter of about 33-34 mm, with a housing having a footprint with a width of about 35 mm and utilizing a rotary actuator (15) for positioning read/write recording elements (5) across the surface of the disk (10). The disk storage devices (1, 4) includes a footprint with length of about 50.8 mm, and includes in one embodiment dynamic head loading apparatus for loading the read/write recording elements (5) into operative relationship with the disk (10). In another embodiment the rigid disk drive (1, 4) utilizes contact start stop loading and unloading of the read/write recording elements (5). An inertial latch (16) prevents rotation of the actuator (15) when the drive (1, 4) is subjected to a rotational force. Back electromotive force generated by spin motor windings is used during power down to unload the read/write recording elements (5) from the disk surface and latch the actuator (15) in parked position.
Abstract:
The prerecorded embedded servo field (300) of this invention provides an enhanced level of functionality without increasing the servo field overhead. A prerecorded embedded servo field (300) includes a first sub-field (302) of prerecorded information that simultaneously provides (i) automatic gain control data for a third sub-field (306) and (ii) data for a first servo function, and a second sub-field (302) of prerecorded information that simultaneously provides (i) automatic gain control (AGC) data for the third sub-field (306) and (ii) data for a second servo function. Since the first and the second sub-fields (302, 303) in the servo field (300) of this invention are used for AGC and another servo function, the sub-fields are arranged within the servo field (300) so that the sub-field (302) that requires the least precise AGC control is first and the sub-field (306) that requires the most precise AGC control is last.
Abstract:
A spin motor assembly (10) of a disk drive apparatus includes a stator (56) having a plurality of wound coils (38), (40), (42), (44), (46), (48), (50), (52), (54), associated therewith, and a rotor (64) having a plurality of magnetic poles. Each winding structure of the stator (56) is made up of two winding portions, with only one winding portion being used to drive the rotor (64) relative to the stator (56) upon drive current being applied to the winding structure, but with both winding portions being used to generate back electromotive force when drive current is cut off from the winding structure. This generated electromotive force is used to actuate an actuator motor (120) to unload the read-write heads from the disk surface. As an alternative, each winding structure of the stator (56) is made of a single winding, and the winding structures are used successively to drive the rotor (64) relative to the stator (56), but with at least two winding portions generating back electromotive force when drive current is cut off.
Abstract:
A rotary inertial latch maintains an actuator of a disk drive in its proper position when the disk drive is not in operation. The inertial latch (400) includes at least one inertial body (410, 412) which contacts a pivotable latch member (401), at least when the disk drive is subject to a shock force, to move the pivotable latch member (401) to a closed position.
Abstract:
A run length limited encoding/decoding system (200) of this invention includes a clock swap logic circuit (301), a read reference clock multiplexer circuit (304), a write clock skip logic circuit (310), an encoder start logic circuit (340), an encoder circuit (360), a read clock skip logic circuit (320), a decoder start logic circuit (350), a decoder circuit (370), an input data buffer (381) and a three-state output data buffer (380). Encoder circuit (360) includes a deserializer for receiving serial data from a disk controller and blocking the data into m bit words. Each m bit data word is supplied directly to an encoding combinatorial logic circuit which in turn generates an n bit code word. The n bit code word is loaded in a sterilizer and serially transmitted out of the serializer. Decoder circuit (370) includes a deserializer/serializer and a decoding combinatorial logic circuit.
Abstract:
A silent seek servo controller (400) is used in a low profile miniature disk drive (300) to minimize acoustic noise and the problems associated therewith. Silent seek servo controller (400) of this invention reduces acoustic noise generation at the expense of seek performance. Since the silent seek servo controller (400) of this invention minimizes acoustic noise, the controller (400) helps to eliminate vibration within a computer. The silent seek servo controller (400) that accelerates and decelerates an actuator (415) using a smooth, continuous and completely symmetric acceleration trajectory. The symmetry of each acceleration phase assures that any acoustic noise generated by uneven acceleration is eliminated.