Extended center stiffener plate for improved structural dynamics of actuators in a multi-actuator hard disk drive
AssigneeWestern Digital Technologies, Inc.
InventorsJung-Seo Park, Siddhesh Vivek Sakhalkar, Arman V. Golgolab, Fred Golinveaux
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A multi-actuator hard disk drive includes a lower actuator with a corresponding voice coil motor assembly (VCMA), a coaxial upper actuator with a corresponding VCMA, and a central extended stiffener plate positioned between the upper and lower VCMAs and extending beyond the pivot area at least to an area adjacent to the disk stack. Use of an extended stiffener plate enables some control over the direct and coupled plant transfer functions, while effectively providing a base support structure for the upper VCMA and cover support structure for the lower VCMA.
Claims20
A data storage device comprising:
- a plurality of disk media rotatably mounted on a spindle;
- a first head slider comprising a read-write head configured to write to and to read from a first disk medium;
- a first rotary actuator configured to move the first head slider about a pivot to access portions of the first disk medium via actuation by a first voice coil motor assembly (VCMA);
- a second head slider comprising a read-write head configured to write to and to read from a second disk medium;
- a second rotary actuator configured to move the second head slider about the pivot to access portions of the second disk medium via actuation by a second voice coil motor assembly (VCMA);
- an enclosure base;
- and
- a stiffener plate fastened to the enclosure base and positioned between the first VCMA and the second VCMA, the stiffener plate extending beyond the pivot at least to an area immediately adjacent to the plurality of disk media.
A method of assembling a multi-actuator assembly in a hard disk drive, the method comprising:
- positioning, within an enclosure base of the hard disk drive and around a pivot, a lower rotary actuator comprising a lower voice coil motor assembly (VCMA);
- positioning a stiffener plate onto the lower VCMA, wherein the stiffener plate extends beyond the pivot at least to an area immediately adjacent to a disk media stack;
- positioning, onto the stiffener plate and around the pivot, an upper rotary actuator comprising an upper voice coil motor assembly (VCMA);
- and
- attaching the stiffener plate to the enclosure base by inserting a respective fastener at each of a plurality locations.
A multi-actuator hard disk drive (HDD) comprising:
- a plurality of disk media rotatably mounted on a spindle;
- a multi-actuator system comprising:
- a first plurality of head sliders each housing a read-write transducer configured to read from and to write to at least one disk medium of the plurality of disk media;
- first means for moving the first plurality of head sliders to access portions of the disk media;
- a second plurality of head sliders each housing a read-write transducer configured to read from and to write to at least one disk medium of the plurality of disk media;
- second means for moving the second plurality of head sliders to access portions of the disk media;
- an enclosure base;
- and
- mechanically attached to the enclosure base at three or more sides of the enclosure base, means for stiffening the multi-actuator system at an interface of the means for moving the first plurality of head sliders and the means for moving the second plurality of head sliders to restrict tilting and/or rocking motion of the means for moving the first and second plurality of head sliders, wherein the means for stiffening extends at least to an area immediately adjacent to the plurality of disk media.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.