Linear air bearing with vacuum stiffener
US6445540B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 3, 1999 |
| Grant date | Sep 3, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 3, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11B25/043
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
One aspect of the invention relates to an apparatus and method for loading and securing a disc drive head disk assembly (HDA) in a servo track writing apparatus. The HDA includes a base, a disc stack coupled to a spindle rotatably attached to the base by a spindle shaft, and an actuator assembly pivotally attached to the base at a pivot shaft. Attached to one end of the actuator assembly proximal the disc stack is at least one transducer for reading/writing information from/to the discs. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a vacuum block having an air bearing and a vacuum stiffener. The vacuum stiffener is selectively used simultaneously with the air bearing to preload the latter. Alternatively, the vacuum stiffener is used independently of the air bearing to vacuum couple the vacuum block to a guide surface. By allowing both vacuum preload and vacuum coupling, the vacuum block of the present invention provides precise HDA placement and retainment with little or no manual operator intervention. Further it reduces the complexity of the STW by eliminating the need to provide a separate preload device.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.