IP Library Granted Patent US 8,116,038
Granted Patent B1
US 8,116,038 · App. 12/779,225 · Granted Feb 14, 2012

Depopulated disk drive head stack assembly having a necked dummy mass with relief alcoves

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,116,038
App. No.
12/779,225
Granted
Feb 14, 2012
Kind
B1
Abstract

A novel disk drive head stack assembly (HSA) includes a first head gimbal assembly attached to a first actuator arm. A dummy mass is attached to a second actuator arm. The dummy mass includes a mounting plate portion defining a mounting plate width. The mounting plate portion includes first and second projections. The dummy mass also includes a neck portion defining a neck width and a neck length. A root portion of the neck portion is disposed between the first and second projections, and defines first and second alcoves between the root portion and the first and second projections, respectively. The dummy mass also includes a distal mass portion defining a distal mass width and a distal mass length. The neck width is less than the mounting plate width, and the neck width is less than the distal mass width.

Claims (35)

1. A disk drive comprising:

a disk drive base;

a spindle rotably coupled to the disk drive base, and a disk attached to the spindle; and

a head stack assembly (HSA) including

first and second actuator arms;

a first head gimbal assembly attached to the first actuator arm, the first head gimbal assembly including a read head;

a dummy mass attached to the second actuator arm, the dummy mass including

a mounting plate portion defining a mounting plate width, the mounting plate portion including first and second projections;

a neck portion defining a neck width and a neck length, a root portion of the neck portion disposed between the first and second projections and defining first and second alcoves between the root portion and the first and second projections, respectively;

a distal mass portion defining a distal mass width and a distal mass length;

wherein the neck width is less than the mounting plate width and the neck width is less than the distal mass width.

2. The disk drive of claim 1 wherein the mounting plate width is in the range 2 mm to 5.5 mm.

3. The disk drive of claim 1 wherein the dummy mass is attached to the second actuator arm via a swage connection.

4. The disk drive of claim 1 wherein the neck length is in the range ⅓ to 2 times the mounting plate width.

5. The disk drive of claim 1 wherein neck width is in the range 1/10 to ⅗ the mounting plate width.

6. The disk drive of claim 1 wherein the distal mass length is in the range 1/10 to 1 times the mounting plate width.

7. The disk drive of claim 1 wherein distal mass width is in the range ⅘ to 1.5 times the mounting plate width.

8. The disk drive of claim 1 wherein the dummy mass comprises stainless steel and defines a dummy mass thickness in the range 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm.

9. The disk drive of claim 1 wherein the first and second projections each defines a projection length in the range 1/10 to 1 times the mounting plate width.

10. A head stack assembly (HSA) comprising:

first and second actuator arms;

a first head gimbal assembly attached to the first actuator arm, the first head gimbal assembly including a read head;

a dummy mass attached to the second actuator arm, the dummy mass including

a mounting plate portion defining a mounting plate width, the mounting plate portion including first and second projections;

a neck portion defining a neck width and a neck length, a root portion of the neck portion disposed between the first and second projections and defining first and second alcoves between the root portion and the first and second projections, respectively;

a distal mass portion defining a distal mass width and a distal mass length;

wherein the neck width is less than the mounting plate width and the neck width is less than the distal mass width.

11. The HSA of claim 10 wherein the mounting plate width is in the range 2 mm to 5.5 mm.

12. The HSA of claim 10 wherein the dummy mass is attached to the second actuator arm via a swage connection.

13. The HSA of claim 10 wherein the neck length is in the range ⅓ to 2 times the mounting plate width.

14. The HSA of claim 10 wherein neck width is in the range 1/10 to ⅗ the mounting plate width.

15. The HSA of claim 10 wherein the distal mass length is in the range 1/10 to 1 times the mounting plate width.

16. The HSA of claim 10 wherein distal mass width is in the range ⅘ to 1.5 times the mounting plate width.

17. The HSA of claim 1 wherein the dummy mass comprises stainless steel and defines a dummy mass thickness in the range 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm.

18. The HSA of claim 1 wherein the first and second projections each defines a projection length in the range 1/10 to 1 times the mounting plate width.

Assignments (6)
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 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 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 17, 2016
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 038744/0481 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 20, 2010
From: ZHANG, QING; LI, HONGQI; MYERS, DAVID K.; MYLABATHULA, ENOCH
To: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 024713/0751 →