Terrence Living Kan

US Patent:

59074523, May 25, 1999

Filed:

Oct 20, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/954569

Inventors:

Terrence Kan - San Jose CA

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G11B 2112
G11B 3308

US Classification:

360 9701

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for damping actuator flex cable vibrations in a disk drive during actuator seek operations to improve disk drive performance. The actuator flex cable loop includes a damping element inserted in the J-block area of the actuator arm. The damping element can be foam, rubber, encapsulated visco-elastic material, spring clip supports or extensions of the cable support brackets. The damping element damps the vibrations of the dynamic loop of the actuator flex cable between the actuator assembly and the arm electronic bracket fixed to the disk drive housing. Decreasing the amplitude of vibrations coupled to the actuator assembly results in improved arrival performance of the disk drive during seek operations.