Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval – Head – Head accessory
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-06
2002-07-09
Nguyen, Hoa T. (Department: 2652)
Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval
Head
Head accessory
C360S097010, C360S098080
Reexamination Certificate
active
06417991
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a recording disk drive comprising a head slider supported at the tip end of a resilient suspension so as to face a recording disk.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A recording disk drive or data storage system such as a hard disk drive (HDD) is often assembled in a portable electronic apparatus such as a notebook-sized personal computer and a personal digital assistant (PDA). A greater demand to a higher shock resistance has arisen in response to an increased opportunity of portability of the recording disk drive.
For example, a so-called contact start stop (CSS) control is usually employed in an HDD. The CSS control allows a magnetic recording disk to receive a flying head slider supported at the tip end of a resilient suspension when the recording disk stands still. The flying head slider is urged against the surface of the magnetic recording disk by a resilience of the suspension. When an impact is applied to the HDD in the aforementioned situation, the suspension sometimes warps to move the flying head slider away from the surface of the magnetic recording disk. Such impact may be caused when the HDD is dropped on the floor. The resilience stored in the suspension in this manner then causes, by reaction, the head slider to forcefully collide with the surface of the magnetic recording disk. The collision may make scars on the surface of the magnetic recording disk and/or induce a damage to a magnetic transducer embedded in the flying head slider.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a recording disk drive preventing to the utmost a recording disk and a head slider from damaging upon an impact.
According to the present invention, there is provided a recording disk drive comprising: a recording disk; a head slider supported at a tip end of a resilient suspension so as to face the recording disk; and an elastic member located behind the head slider at a position spaced from the head slider.
When an impact is applied to the recording disk drive, the resilient suspension may warp to move the tip end away from the recording disk. The elastic member receives the tip end of the warping suspension and/or the head slider at the tip end of the warping suspension. It is possible to restrain the warp of the suspension or the movement of the head slider. Less resilience can be stored in the suspension. Accordingly, even when the stored resilience causes the tip end of the suspension to collide against the surface of the recording disk, a smaller impact of the head slider against the recording disk may allow less damage to the recording disk or the head slider. Shock resistance to the recording disk drive can be improved.
In addition, when the tip end of the suspension and/or the head slider reactively collide against the recording disk in the aforementioned manner, the elastic member may absorb the impact of the suspension and/or the head slider by its elasticity. It is accordingly possible to avoid a powerful rebound of the head slider. The impact of the rebounded head slider upon recording disk, namely, the collision of the head slider against the recording disk can be weakened.
The elastic member may be attached to an enclosure enclosing at least the head slider and the recording disk. The elastic member in this manner serves to improve shock resistance of the head slider corresponding to the recording disk opposed to the inner surface of the enclosure.
A protrusion may be formed on the inner surface of the enclosure so as to receive the elastic member at its top. Such protrusion serves to reduce the thickness of the elastic member. Reduced thickness of the elastic member allows less irregularity in dimensions of the elastic member.
Otherwise, the elastic member may be attached to a cover coupled to an enclosure enclosing at least the head slider and the recording disk. The elastic member in this manner likewise serves to improve shock resistance of the head slider corresponding to the recording disk opposed to the inner surface of the cover. A protrusion may likewise be formed on the inner surface of the cover so as to receive the elastic member at its top.
The recording disk drive may further comprise: a rotation axis receiving the recording disk for rotation; a flange extending from the rotation axis in a centrifugal direction; and a clamp attached at a tip end of the rotation axis so as to urge the recording disk against the flange. The elastic member may be attached to the clamp. The elastic member in this manner serves to improve shock resistance of the head slider corresponding to the recording disk opposed to a cover, for example, coupled to the enclosure. In general, the cover tends to suffer from an accumulated dimensional tolerance when the recording disk drive is assembled. Attachment of the elastic member to the clamp serves to eliminate disadvantages of the accumulated dimensional tolerance as compared with the cover. Moreover, the clamp has a higher rigidity as compared with the cover. The clamp may receive the tip end of the suspension and/or the head slider with high rigidity.
In this case, the elastic member may be attached to an extension extending in a centrifugal direction of the clamp. The extension may be formed into an annular shape so as to entirely surround the clamp.
Furthermore, the recording disk drive may further comprise: a spindle motor receiving at least two of the recording disks for rotation; and a spacer interposed between the adjacent recording disk so as to receive the elastic member. This arrangement may contribute to a facilitated disposition of the elastic member between the recording disks.
In this case, the elastic member may be attached to an extension extending in a centrifugal direction of the spacer. The extension may be formed into an annular shape so as to entirely surround the spacer.
The aforementioned elastic member may be employed in a magnetic disk drive such as a hard disk drive (HDD) and the other types of recording disk drives.
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Altman, III Franklin D.
Fujitsu Limited
Greer Burns & Crain Ltd.
Nguyen Hoa T.
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