Bearing structures, spindle motor, and hard disk drive

Abstract

A hydrodynamic gas bearing structure and a hard disk drive (HDD) including a hydrodynamic gas bearing structure are provided in which electrostatic charge built up in the rotatable components is safely discharged to the fixed components. A conductive structure is installed between the rotatable and fixed components at or in the vicinity of the axis of rotation of the rotatable components. The conductive structure provides a safe discharge path for electrostatic charge dissipation. The conductive structure located at or in the vicinity of the axis of the rotation is barely influenced by the relative rotation between the rotatable and fixed components as well as air flow for generating hydrodynamic pressure. The conductive structure can be a magnetic fluid or a conductive, flexible strip. In a HDD a dummy disk and a dummy head are provided to dissipate electrostatic charge.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.