IP Library Granted Patent US 6,958,890
Granted Patent B1
US 6,958,890 · App. 10/306,974 · Granted Oct 25, 2005

Head stack assembly including laminated nut plate with damping layer interposed between metal layers

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,958,890
App. No.
10/306,974
Granted
Oct 25, 2005
Kind
B1
Abstract

A head stack assembly for use in a disk drive. The head stack assembly includes an actuator body. The head stack assembly further includes an actuator arm extending from the actuator body. The actuator arm includes an arm tip portion. The head stack assembly further includes a suspension attached to the arm tip portion. The head stack assembly further includes a laminated nut plate attached to the arm tip portion and the suspension. The nut plate includes first and second metal layers and a damping layer interposed between the first and second metal layers for mitigating vibration of the suspension with respect to the actuator arm.

Claims (50)

1. A head stack assembly for use in a disk drive, the head stack assembly comprising:

an actuator body;

an actuator arm extending from the actuator body, the actuator arm including an arm tip portion;

a suspension attached to the arm tip portion; and

a laminated nut plate attached to the arm tip portion and the suspension, the nut plate including first and second metal layers and a damping layer interposed between the first and second metal layers for mitigating vibration of the suspension with respect to the actuator arm, the first metal layer being attached to the arm tip portion with the first metal layer and the damping layer disposed between the second metal layer and the arm tip portion, the first metal layer including a swage collar attached to the arm tip portion.

2. The head stack assembly of claim 1 wherein the damping layer is formed of a damped adhesive material.

3. The head stack assembly of claim 1 wherein the damping layer is formed of a viscoelastic polymer material.

4. The head stack assembly of claim 1 wherein the damping layer is formed of an electrically conductive material.

5. The head stack assembly of claim 1 wherein the first and second metal layers are formed of steel.

6. The head stack assembly of claim 1 wherein the nut plate is disposed between the suspension and the arm tip portion.

7. The head stack assembly of claim 1 wherein the damping layer is formed of an electrically conductive material.

8. A disk drive comprising:

a base;

a rotatable disk;

a spindle motor attached to the base for rotating the disk;

a head stack assembly disposed adjacent the disk, the head stack assembly comprising:

an actuator body;

an actuator arm extending from the actuator body, the actuator arm including an arm tip portion;

a suspension attached to the arm tip portion; and

a laminated nut plate attached to the arm tip portion and the suspension, the nut plate including first and second metal layers and a damping layer interposed between the first and second metal layers for mitigating vibration of the suspension with respect to the actuator arm, the first metal layer being attached to the arm tip portion with the first metal layer and the damping layer disposed between the second metal layer and the arm tip portion, the first metal layer including a swage collar attached to the arm tip portion.

9. The disk drive of claim 8 wherein the damping layer is formed of a damped adhesive material.

10. The disk drive of claim 8 wherein the damping layer is formed of a viscoelastic polymer material.

11. The disk drive of claim 8 wherein the damping layer is formed of an electrically conductive material.

12. The disk drive of claim 8 wherein the first and second metal layers are formed of steel.

13. The disk drive of claim 8 wherein the nut plate is disposed between the suspension and the arm tip portion.

14. The disk drive of claim 8 wherein the damping layer is formed of an electrically conductive material.

15. A head stack assembly for use in a disk drive, the head stack assembly comprising:

an actuator body;

an actuator arm extending from the actuator body, the actuator arm including an arm tip portion;

a suspension attached to the arm tip portion; and

a laminated nut plate attached to the arm tip portion and the suspension, the nut plate including first and second metal layers and a damping layer interposed between the first and second metal layers for mitigating vibration of the suspension with respect to the actuator arm, the second metal layer being attached to the arm tip portion with the first metal layer and the damping layer disposed between the second metal layer and the arm tip portion, the first metal layer including a first metal layer swage hole, the damping layer including a damping layer swage hole, the second metal layer including a swage collar extending through the damping layer swage hole and the first metal layer swage hole, the swage collar being attached to the arm tip portion.

16. The head stack assembly of claim 15 wherein the damping layer is formed of a damped adhesive material.

17. The head stack assembly of claim 15 wherein the damping layer is formed of a viscoelastic polymer material.

18. The head stack assembly of claim 15 wherein the damping layer is formed of an electrically conductive material.

19. The head stack assembly of claim 15 wherein the first and second metal layers are formed of steel.

20. The head stack assembly of claim 15 wherein the nut plate is disposed between the suspension and the arm tip portion.

21. A disk drive comprising:

a base;

a rotatable disk;

a spindle motor attached to the base for rotating the disk;

a head stack assembly disposed adjacent the disk, the head stack assembly comprising:

an actuator body;

an actuator arm extending from the actuator body, the actuator arm including an arm tip portion;

a suspension attached to the arm tip portion; and

a laminated nut plate attached to the arm tip portion and the suspension, the nut plate including first and second metal layers and a damping layer interposed between the first and second metal layers for mitigating vibration of the suspension with respect to the actuator arm, the second metal layer being attached to the arm tip portion with the first metal layer and the damping layer disposed between the second metal layer and the arm tip portion, the first metal layer including a first metal layer swage hole, the damping layer including a damping layer swage hole, the second metal layer including a swage collar extending through the damping layer swage hole and the first metal layer swage hole, the swage collar being attached to the arm tip portion.

22. The disk drive of claim 21 wherein the damping layer is formed of a damped adhesive material.

23. The disk drive of claim 21 wherein the damping layer is formed of a viscoelastic polymer material.

24. The disk drive of claim 21 wherein the damping layer is formed of an electrically conductive material.

25. The disk drive of claim 21 wherein the first and second metal layers are formed of steel.

26. The disk drive of claim 21 wherein the nut plate is disposed between the suspension and the arm tip portion.

Assignments (10)
PATENT COLLATERAL AGREEMENT - A&R LOAN AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 21, 2023
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 064715/0001 →
PATENT COLLATERAL AGREEMENT - DDTL LOAN AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 21, 2023
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 067045/0156 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL 038744 FRAME 0481 Recorded Feb 8, 2022
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 058982/0556 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 5, 2018
From: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 045501/0714 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 17, 2016
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 038744/0481 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 17, 2016
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 038722/0229 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 17, 2016
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 038744/0281 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 9, 2008
From: GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION, AS AGENT
To: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 021502/0451 →
SEVENTH AMENDMENT TO PATENT TRADEMARK AND COPYRIGHT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 8, 2003
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 014025/0301 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 27, 2002
From: LIN, CHEN-CHI; OVEYSSI, KAMRAN
To: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES INC.
Reel/Frame 013554/0421 →