Did You Know...
...that in 1800 ether was first used by partyers as a fun diversion? Sniffing the gas led to hilarious and raucous laughter as people watched each other become more and more intoxicated and silly. Several doctors independently realized the value ether would have to anesthetize surgery patients. Of those who claimed rights to the "discovery," none had a happy ending. One had a seizure and died defending his rights. Another spent his life in an asylum because he had been denied acclaim. A third became addicted to chloroform and, in a New York City jail, he soaked a cloth in the drug, severed an artery and bled to death.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8125738 | Actuator latch system of hard disk drive including latch lever having first and second hooks disposed one above the other at a leading end thereof An actuator latch system of a hard disk drive keeps an actuator of the hard disk drive in place in a state in which a read/write head mounted to a swing arm of the actuator is parked. The latch system has first and second protrusions at upper and lower parts of a re... | 02/28/2012 |
| 8116040 | Latch assembly for a head or head assembly A soft or passive latch to control a position of a head relative to a data storage media is disclosed. In illustrated embodiments, the latch provides a dwell point or region along the flex circuit assembly. In illustrated embodiments, the dwell point or region corre... | 02/14/2012 |
| 8035925 | Actuator latch system of hard disk drive including latch lever that absorbs shock An actuator latch system of an HDD retains a swing arm in place when the magnetic head of the HDD is parked and includes a rotatable latch lever having a hook that absorbs shock when engaging the swing arm. A rear end of the swing arm has a corner portion. The hook ... | 10/11/2011 |
| 7957102 | Disk drive including an actuator latch with a torsionally compliant pusher portion A novel actuator latch includes a catch portion interfering with actuator rotation with the latch in a closed position. The latch includes a first stop portion that is in contact with a fixed member with the latch in the closed position. The latch includes a pusher ... | 06/07/2011 |
| 7751151 | Base plate having stepped portion to restrict rotation of shipping comb carrying head stack assembly and hard disk drive with the base plate A base plate and hard disk drive having the base including a head stack assembly installation portion on which a head stack assembly carried by a shipping comb having a middle support portion is rotatably installed; and a step portion formed on a surface of the base... | 07/06/2010 |
| 7684155 | Disk drive with an actuator latch having a biasing ball at least partially within a seating cavity adjoining a retention bore A disk drive comprises a disk drive base, an actuator rotatably coupled to the disk drive base, a magnet disposed adjacent the actuator, and a latch. The latch is coupled to the disk drive base. The latch includes a latch body, a retention bore, a seating cavity, an... | 03/23/2010 |
| 7423844 | Recording disk drive A head actuator supports a head slider and designed to swing around a support shaft over first and second swinging ranges adjacent each other. A restraint member is designed to restrain the swinging movement of the head actuator from separating from the first swingi... | 09/09/2008 |
| 7408734 | Preventing damage to the heads and media in a removable cartridge and disk drive A disk drive uses the integration of the instantaneous velocities of the heads to estimate the distance the heads travel while latched. The disk drive can then determine if the heads are properly parked based solely on the distance traveled, thus avoiding the use of... | 08/05/2008 |
| 7336447 | Disk device with inertia arm retaining portion stepped up from top yoke An inertia latch mechanism has a latch arm, which latches a head actuator in a retreated position, and an inertia arm, which is rockably supported around a second pivot and rotates the latch arm to a latch position by rotating around the second pivot when subjected ... | 02/26/2008 |
| 7293351 | Apparatus for protecting and merging a head stack assembly An apparatus for protecting and merging a head stack assembly with a disc stack of a data storage device. The head stack assembly comprises a cantilevered flexure which supports a transducer at a distal end thereof. A carrier includes a carrier support surface arran... | 11/13/2007 |
| 7286327 | Actuator latch mechanism for hard disk drive An actuator latch mechanism of a hard disk drive locks an actuator when the hard disk drive is not operating, and the actuator includes a swing arm rotatably installed to a base member, a VCM coil coupled to one end portion of the swing arm, and a magnet facing the ... | 10/23/2007 |
| 7277253 | Storage device A storage device configured to load and unload a head against a storage medium, includes a latch mechanism configured to latch the unloaded head, a head moving mechanism configured to move the head, a measuring part configured to measure an unlatch force necessary f... | 10/02/2007 |
| 7259938 | Actuator latch for disk drive An actuator latch for a disk drive comprises at least one damping structure disposed at a wall within a recess of a latch body. Such a damping structure absorbs impact force between the latch body and a distal end of the actuator to minimize noise at a transducer on... | 08/21/2007 |
| 7248441 | Disk drive actuator parking method using impact rebound crash stop with bias tab and pusher and crash stop faces 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 in... | 07/24/2007 |
| 7248440 | Single lever type actuator latch system of disk drive An actuator latch system of a disk drive to lock an actuator having a swing arm installed at a base member, a voice coil motor coil joined to an end portion of the swing arm, and a magnet facing the voice coil motor coil, including a first and a second latch portion... | 07/24/2007 |
| 7242555 | Inertial latching mechanism for disk drive actuator The invention prevents the deterioration of the read/write performance of a hard disk drive due to the interference between an inertial latching mechanism and an actuator when a head slider holding a magnetic head is located at a read/write position. A latching arm ... | 07/10/2007 |
| 7206164 | Adhesive sheet shaft support in a data storage device An actuator pivot assembly in a data storage device includes a base, a cover attached to the base, and a shaft mounted on the base and extending upward into a hole defined by the cover. A sheet on top of the cover spans the hole, and an adhesive layer beneath the sh... | 04/17/2007 |
| 7203019 | Latch apparatus for latching an actuator arm assembly in a disk drive A latch apparatus is configured to latch an actuator arm assembly that can position a read/write head relative to a data storage disk in a disk drive. The latch apparatus includes a latch arm, a coil, a permanent magnet, and a latch control circuit. The latch arm is... | 04/10/2007 |
| 7174558 | Memory device A memory device for recording, playback, and erasure of data through the application of an optical head along a memory medium includes a head carriage and a carriage lock. The head carriage moves the optical head along the surface of the memory medium, and the carri... | 02/06/2007 |
| 7142396 | System and method for damage prevention by improving the shock resistance of a hard disk actuator arm A system and method are disclosed for improving the vibration/mechanical shock-resistance of a hard disk actuator arm. A guide block is located behind the actuator arm's angular range of motion, preventing over-flexure/vibration during operation, and/or the drive's ... | 11/28/2006 |
| 7085105 | Actuator latch apparatus for data storage device An actuator latch apparatus for a data storage device includes a latch lever installed on a base plate of the data storage device capable of pivoting and having a first latch portion provided at one end portion of the latch lever, a spring connected to the other end... | 08/01/2006 |
| 7085106 | Actuator latch apparatus for data storage device An actuator latch apparatus for a data storage device includes a latch lever installed on a base plate of the data storage device capable of pivoting and having a first latch portion provided at one end portion of the latch lever, a spring connected to the other end... | 08/01/2006 |
| 7068472 | Hard disk drive actuator latch utilizing a fluid channel to deliver torque to a latch lever An actuator latch apparatus of a hard disk drive for locking a pivoting actuator includes a locking protrusion provided at one side of the actuator, a latch lever pivotably installed on the base and elastically biased such that a hook portion provided at one side of... | 06/27/2006 |
| 7050269 | Assembly for facilitating latch installation A voice coil motor pole assembly for supporting a latch is disclosed. The pole assembly includes a pin serving as an axle for the latch. The pole assembly also includes a protrusion that extends over a portion of the latch when the latch is mounted on the pin to the... | 05/23/2006 |
| 6967822 | Disk drive actuator impact rebound crash stop with bias tab and pusher and crash stop faces 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 in... | 11/22/2005 |
| 6922300 | Actuator latch device of hard disk drive In an actuator latch device of a hard disk drive for locking an actuator to hold a magnetic head parked in a parking area, the actuator latch device includes a locking protrusion provided on an end portion of the actuator, a stopping guard having left and right side... | 07/26/2005 |
| 6917497 | Disk drive actuator arm latch assembly An actuator arm latch assembly for a disk drive is disclosed which restrains movement of a disk drive actuator arm assembly during exposure of the disk drive to a shock event. In one embodiment, the actuator arm latch assembly is activated by the disk drive being ex... | 07/12/2005 |
| 6906896 | Latch mechanism for hard disk driving device A latch mechanism for a hard disk driving device with an enhanced reliability suitable for portable computer HDDs is provided by improving the latch mechanism as a stopper means for preventing unprepared movement of a magnetic head due to external forces such as vib... | 06/14/2005 |
| 6900961 | Disk drive having a head disk assembly enclosure including insert molded components Disclosed is disk drive having a molded head disk assembly enclosure including insert molded components and methods for manufacturing the same. In one aspect, the invention may be regarded as a disk drive having a molded enclosure including a base, a cover, and a co... | 05/31/2005 |
| 6744604 | Low particulating latch for a disc drive A material compound for a latch for a disc drive to secure an actuator of the disc drive when the disc drive is not in use. The latch is made of a base polymer of polyetherimide with additives of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and arimid fiber. The latch made from t... | 06/01/2004 |
| 6731468 | Pawl latch for ramp loading hard disk drivers A latch for securing an actuator arm of a hard disk drive. The latch has a catch portion that can engage a latch portion of the actuator arm. The latch also has a pusher portion and a crash stop portion that engage the actuator arm during movement into a latched pos... | 05/04/2004 |
| 6704167 | Disk drive including damping member disposed upon latch for damping tang-to-latch impact and mitigating tang-to-latch contact A disk drive includes a disk drive base and a latch attached to the disk drive base. The latch includes a latch impact surface having a latch impact surface perimeter. The latch impact surface perimeter defines a latch impact surface area. The disk drive ... | 03/09/2004 |
| 6704166 | Coated latch mechanism for disk drive A contact type or active latch mechanism for a disk drive has at least one contacting surface coated with a soft metal. The soft metal coating helps to prevent particle generation which might otherwise occur because of repeated contact by contacting surfa... | 03/09/2004 |
| 6473959 | Method for latching a disc driver actuator A method for assembling a mechanical system is disclosed. A magnet is installed into the system. An actuator having a magnetic element is also assembled into the system such that the actuator is movable between two extremes. At one of the extremes, the ac... | 11/05/2002 |
| 6381102 | Head stack assembly rebound latch for a disk drive A latch for retaining a transducer in a landing zone of a disk drive is provided herein. The latch includes a retainer movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position. The retainer retains a head stack assembly near an outer diameter stop in... | 04/30/2002 |
| 6198603 | Device for locking and unlocking a disc drive actuator having locking elements separate from unlocking elements An improved locking system for securing the actuator of a disc drive at a park position. The locking system includes a rotatable lock mechanism that is normally biased to a lock position. When the actuator is moved to the park position, a cooperative lock... | 03/06/2001 |
| 6172855 | Actuator latching device in hard disk drive An actuator latching device in a hard disk drive is provided. In the actuator latching device according to the principles of the present invention, an elastic rubber stopper is mounted to one area of a hard disk body selected from among a base and a cover... | 01/09/2001 |
| 6134086 | Actuator crash stopper for a hard disk drive An actuator crash stopper of the hard disk drive having a base for mounting all the components of the hard disk drive. An actuator stopper is provided on one side of the actuator adjacent to the pivot of the actuator so as to act as an inner and outer cra... | 10/17/2000 |
| 6134077 | Latch for disc drives A latch for a disc drive, wherein the disc drive has an actuator that is pivotally supported for moving an array of read/write heads radially across a data storage disc between a parked location and a data storage location, the parked location providing a... | 10/17/2000 |
| 6125006 | Voice coil motor actuated video data cartridge release The invention provides devices, systems, and methods for storing and archiving digital video and other data. A voice coil motor effects release of a removable hard disk cartridge from a disk drive. The voice coil motor is adapted for positioning a data tr... | 09/26/2000 |
