US 2003/0189795 A1Published application

Proximity latch mechanism using an impact rebound crash stop for an outside disk ramp loading disk drive

AssigneeSamsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

InventorsJoseph Chang, Ron Kirkish, Vinod Sharma, Frank I. Morris, Bipin V. Gami

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Abstract

The invention includes an impact rebound crash stop pivoting about a pivot between the top and bottom yoke of an actuator magnet assembly. The impact rebound crash stop includes a latch bias tab magnetically attracted to the voice coil magnet when it is near. The invention further includes a proximity latch allowing the actuator to stay on the ramp when not in use. The invention includes actuator arms embedding part of the magnetic proximity latch, actuators, and disk drives using the crash stop and proximity latch, as well as methods of making actuator arms, actuators and disk drives.

Claims30

Dependent claims

An actuator for a disk drive, comprising:

a proximity latch;
an impact rebound crash stop;
an actuator magnet assembly with yoke collection comprising a top yoke and a bottom yoke;
and
a voice coil magnet in an actuator arm;
wherein said impact rebound crash stop is comprised of:
a rigid plastic body containing a pivot between said top yoke and said bottom yoke coupling said impact rebound crash stop to said actuator magnet assembly;
a latch bias tab rigidly affixed to said rigid plastic body and magnetically attracted to said voice coil magnet when said actuator arm is near said crash stop;
wherein said rigid plastic body is comprised of a pusher face and a crash stop face;
wherein said actuator arm includes an actuator tail comprising a pusher stop face and a crash stop site;
wherein whenever said actuator arm is near said crash stop, said crash stop pivots, bringing said pusher face into a rotational path of said pusher stop, leading to said pusher engaging said pusher stop;
wherein whenever said pusher face engages said pusher stop, said crash stop pivots, engaging said crash stop face and said crash stop site;
and
wherein whenever said crash stop face engages said crash stop site and a first voltage is applied to said voice coil magnet, said voice coil magnet magnetically acts against said actuator magnet assembly repelling said crash stop site from said crash stop face;
wherein said proximity latch is comprised of:
a magnetically attractive component in said actuator fantail;
and
two small magnets, each small magnet affixed to distinct members of said yoke collection;
and
wherein both of said small magnets are affixed to said yoke collection members so that said small magnets essentially share the same North pole;
wherein whenever said actuator fantail is near said two small magnets, said magnetically attractive component and said small magnets attract each other, moving said actuator fantail near said impact rebound crash stop;
wherein said actuator tail further comprises an overmold containing said pusher stop face, said crash stop site, and said magnetically attractive component;
and
wherein said overmold is rigidly attached to said actuator arm.

21 more elements

A method for parking an actuator with an impact rebound crash stop,

wherein said actuator includes an actuator magnet assembly with yoke collection comprising a top yoke and a bottom yoke, and includes a voice coil magnet in an actuator arm,
wherein said impact rebound crash stop is comprised of:
a rigid plastic body containing a pivot between said top yoke and said bottom yoke coupling said impact rebound crash stop to said actuator magnet assembly;
a latch bias tab rigidly affixed to said rigid plastic body and magnetically attracted to said voice coil magnet when said actuator arm is near said crash stop;
wherein said rigid plastic body is comprised of a pusher face and a crash stop face;
wherein said actuator arm includes an actuator tail comprising a pusher stop face and a crash stop site;
said method, is comprised of the steps of:
whenever said actuator arm is near said crash stop, said crash stop pivots bringing said pusher face into a rotational path of said pusher stop leading to said pusher engaging said pusher stop;
whenever said pusher face engages said pusher stop, said crash stop pivots engaging said crash stop face and said crash stop site;
and
whenever said crash stop face engages said crash stop site and a first voltage is applied to said voice coil magnet, said voice coil magnet magnetically acts against said actuator magnet assembly repelling said crash stop site from said crash stop face.

8 more elements

A method for parking an actuator with an impact rebound crash stop,

wherein said actuator includes an actuator magnet assembly with yoke collection comprising a top yoke and a bottom yoke, and includes a voice coil magnet in an actuator arm,
wherein said impact rebound crash stop is comprised of:
a rigid plastic body containing a pivot between said top yoke and said bottom yoke coupling said impact rebound crash stop to said actuator magnet assembly;
a latch bias tab rigidly affixed to said rigid plastic body and magnetically attracted to said voice coil magnet when said actuator arm is near said crash stop;
wherein said rigid plastic body is comprised of a pusher face and a crash stop face;
wherein said actuator arm includes an actuator tail comprising a pusher stop face and a crash stop site;
said method, is comprised of the steps of:
whenever said actuator arm is near said crash stop, said crash stop pivots bringing said pusher face into a rotational path of said pusher stop leading to said pusher engaging said pusher stop;
whenever said pusher face engages said pusher stop, said crash stop pivots engaging said crash stop face and said crash stop site;
and
whenever said crash stop face engages said crash stop site and a first voltage is applied to said voice coil magnet, said voice coil magnet magnetically acts against said actuator magnet assembly repelling said crash stop site from said crash stop face;
wherein said actuator further comprises a proximity latch including two small magnets affixed to distinct members of said yoke collection and a magnetically attractive component in said actuator fantail;
wherein both of said small magnets are affixed to said yoke collection members so that said small magnets essentially share the same North pole;
wherein said method is further comprised of the step of:
whenever said actuator fantail is near said two small magnets, said magnetically attractive component and said small magnets attract each other, moving said actuator fantail near said impact rebound crash stop.

12 more elements

A method of making an actuator,

wherein said actuator includes an actuator magnet assembly with yoke collection comprising a top yoke and a bottom yoke, and an actuator arm further including a voice coil magnet and an actuator tail comprising a pusher stop face and a crash stop site,
wherein said impact rebound crash stop is comprised of:
a rigid plastic body containing a pivot, a latch bias tab, a pusher face, and a crash stop face;
wherein said method is comprised of the steps of:
attaching said rigid plastic body by said pivot between said top yoke and said bottom yoke coupling said impact rebound crash stop to said actuator magnet assembly;
and
attaching said actuator between said yoke collection to enable said actuator to move between said yoke members near said crash stop;
wherein whenever said actuator arm is near said crash stop, said crash stop pivots bringing said pusher face into a rotational path of said pusher stop leading to said pusher engaging said pusher stop;
wherein whenever said pusher face engages said pusher stop, said crash stop pivots engaging said crash stop face and said crash stop site;
and
wherein whenever said crash stop face engages said crash stop site and a first voltage is applied to said voice coil magnet, said voice coil magnet magnetically acts against said actuator magnet assembly repelling said crash stop site from said crash stop face.

8 more elements

A method of making an actuator,

wherein said actuator includes an actuator magnet assembly with yoke collection comprising a top yoke and a bottom yoke, and an actuator arm further including a voice coil magnet and an actuator tail comprising a pusher stop face and a crash stop site;
wherein said impact rebound crash stop is comprised of:
a rigid plastic body containing a pivot, a latch bias tab, a pusher face, and a crash stop face;
wherein said method is comprised of the steps of:
attaching said rigid plastic body by said pivot between said top yoke and said bottom yoke coupling said impact rebound crash stop to said actuator magnet assembly;
and
attaching said actuator between said yoke collection to enable said actuator to move between said yoke members near said crash stop;
creating a proximity latch including two small magnets affixed to distinct members of said yoke collection and a magnetically attractive component in said actuator fantail;
wherein whenever said actuator arm is near said crash stop, said crash stop pivots bringing said pusher face into a rotational path of said pusher stop leading to said pusher engaging said pusher stop;
wherein whenever said pusher face engages said pusher stop, said crash stop pivots engaging said crash stop face and said crash stop site;
and
wherein whenever said crash stop face engages said crash stop site and a first voltage is applied to said voice coil magnet, said voice coil magnet magnetically acts against said actuator magnet assembly repelling said crash stop site from said crash stop face;
wherein whenever said actuator fantail is near said small magnet, said magnetically attractive component and said small magnet attract each other, moving said actuator fantail near said impact rebound crash stop;
wherein the step creating said proximity latch is further comprised of the steps of:
affixing each of said small magnets to distinct members of said yoke collection;
and
using said actuator fantail in said actuator arm;
wherein both of said small magnets are affixed to said yoke collection members so that said small magnets essentially share the same North pole;
wherein whenever said actuator fantail is near said two small magnets, said magnetically attractive component and said small magnets attract each other, moving said actuator fantail near said impact rebound crash stop.

16 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/117,518Filed 4 Apr 2002
Published: 9 Oct 2003
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

G11B 21/22
Supporting the heads; Supporting the sockets for plug-in heads: while the head is out of operative position
G11B 5/54
Disposition or mounting of heads or head supports relative to record carriers ; arrangements of heads, e.g. for scanning the record carrier to…:…
Y10T 29/49025
Magnetic recording reproducing transducer [e.g., tape head, core, etc.]: making disc drive
Y10T 29/49032
Magnetic recording reproducing transducer [e.g., tape head, core, etc.]: fabricating head structure or component thereof