US4383283A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dual mini-disk drive
Assignee: Quantum Corp
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Filing: 1980-09-29
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Granted: 1983-05-10
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Expires: 2000-09-29
Abstract
Abstract A disk drive comprising a first rotatable spindle for rotating removable flexible disks having magnetic surfaces for recording and retrieval of information and a motor for driving the spindle has an increased storage capacity by the addition of a second spindle driven by the motor in a direction opposite to the first spindle. The information storage capacity of the drive is further improved by increasing the track density of the disks while minimizing track seeking error of the magnetic read/write head associated with the disk. A stepper motor and lead screw are coupled to the magnetic read/write heads for radially positioning the heads to selected tracks of the received disks. The lead screw has a V-groove comprised of an alternating ramps and transition zones. As the lead screw rotates, a head carriage assembly having attached the first and second magnetic read/write heads is positioned radially by the transition zones while the ramps function to compensate for angular error of the stepper motor. By reducing angular error of the stepper motor, a concomitant increase in track seeking speed is achieved by permitting the stepper motor to operate at a greater angular velocity than would be obtainable without the lead screw of the invention. A further increase in track seeking speed is achieved by maintaining a headload pressure pad in close proximity to the surface of the disk opposite the surface to which the associated magnetic read/write head is closely positioned. Thus, upon command to contact the head with the magnetic surface of the disk, a reduced delay is achieved thus, improving track seeking speed.
Inventors
- 👤 Dan M. Machut
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 21:25
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B17/00; G11B17/02; G11B17/022; G11B17/028; G11B17/032; G11B17/32; G11B5/00; G11B5/012; G11B5/48; G11B5/54; G11B5/55; G11B5/5521
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
A magnetic storage system comprising: a rotatable member having a track with a circular component disposed about an axis and a translational component perpendicular to the circular component to define a pitch, the pitch of the track having alternating rest zones and transition zones, the pitch of the transition zones being continuously variable between the rest zones; means for rotatably driving the member about the axis; a magnetic head support including means for engaging the track such that the head support translates parallel to the translational component as the member rotates; a magnetic transducer head mounted on the head support; and means for transporting a magnetic storage medium past the head transverse to the translational component, the medium having a magnetic surface parallel to the translational component, the magnetic surface having data tracks transverse to the translational component that correspond in position to the rest zones.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
146 words
A magnetic storage system comprising: a rotatable member having a track with a circular component disposed about an axis and a translational component perpendicular to the circular component to define a pitch, the pitch of the track having alternating rest zones and transition zones, the pitch of the transition zones being continuously variable between the rest zones; means for rotatably driving the member about the axis; a magnetic head support including means for engaging the track such that the head support translates parallel to the translational component as the member rotates; a magnetic transducer head mounted on the head support; and means for transporting a magnetic storage medium past the head transverse to the translational component, the medium having a magnetic surface parallel to the translational component, the magnetic surface having data tracks transverse to the translational component that correspond in position to the rest zones.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
57 words
The system of claim 1, in which the driving means is a stepper motor rotating the member incrementally from one rest position to another and the track engaging means engages the ramps when the motor is in the rest positions and engages the transition zones when the motor is rotating from one rest position to the other.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
63 words
The system of claim 1, in which the translational component positions of the rest zones correspond to the positions of the respective data tracks on the magnetic surface, the translational component positions of the transition zones correspond to the spacing between respective data tracks on the magnetic surface, and the pitch of the transition zones is steeper than that of the rest zones.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 3, in which the pitch of the rest zones is approximately zero.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 1, in which the pitch of the transition zones gradually decreases between the middle of the transition zones and the adjacent rest zones.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
110 words
Magnetic disk drive apparatus comprising: a disk receiving spindle supported to rotate about an axis; a lead screw having a generally helical track; means for rotatably driving the lead screw about an axis perpendicular to the spindle axis; a lead screw follower including means for engaging the track such that the follower translates radially of the spindle axis as the lead screw rotates; a magnetic transducer head; and means for mounting the head on the follower; characterized in that the track has alternating ramps and transition zones, the pitch of the transition zones being steeper than that of the ramps and the pitch of the ramps being larger than zero.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
110 words
Magnetic disk drive apparatus comprising: a disk receiving spindle supported to rotate about an axis; a lead screw having a generally helical track; means for rotatably driving the lead screw about an axis perpendicular to the spindle axis; a lead screw follower including means for engaging the track such that the follower translates radially of the spindle axis as the lead screw rotates; a magnetic transducer head; and means for mounting the head on the follower; characterized in that the track has alternating ramps and transition zones, the pitch of the transition zones being steeper than that of the ramps and the pitch of the ramps being larger than zero.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 6, in which the transition zones have a continually changing pitch, steeper in the middle than at the ends.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 6, in which the driving means comprises a motor coupled to the lead screw to rotatably drive same.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus of claim 8, having a specified head alignment error when the motor has a given angular error, the circumferential component of each ramp being equal to approximately twice the motor angular error and the axial component of each ramp being approximately equal to the specified head alignment error.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
58 words
The apparatus of claim 6, in which the driving means comprises a stepper motor rotating the lead screw incrementally from one rest position to another and the track engaging means engages the ramps when the motor is in the rest positions and engages the transition zones when the motor is rotating from one rest position to the other.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
149 words
A magnetic storage system comprising: a rotatable member having a track with a circular component disposed about an axis and a translational component perpendicular to the circular component to define a pitch, the pitch of the track having alternating rest zones and transition zones, the pitch of the transition zones gradually decreasing from the middle to the adjacent rest zones; means for rotatably driving the member about the axis; a magnetic head support including means for engaging the track such that the head support translates parallel to the translational component as the member rotates; a magnetic transducer head mounted on the head support; and means for transporting a magnetic storage medium past the head transverse to the translational component, the medium having a magnetic surface parallel to the translational component, the magnetic surfaces having date tracks transverse to the translational component that correspond in position to the rest zones.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
149 words
A magnetic storage system comprising: a rotatable member having a track with a circular component disposed about an axis and a translational component perpendicular to the circular component to define a pitch, the pitch of the track having alternating rest zones and transition zones, the pitch of the transition zones gradually decreasing from the middle to the adjacent rest zones; means for rotatably driving the member about the axis; a magnetic head support including means for engaging the track such that the head support translates parallel to the translational component as the member rotates; a magnetic transducer head mounted on the head support; and means for transporting a magnetic storage medium past the head transverse to the translational component, the medium having a magnetic surface parallel to the translational component, the magnetic surfaces having date tracks transverse to the translational component that correspond in position to the rest zones.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-05-09 | 1986-11-08 | 1987-05-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-05-09 | 1990-11-08 | 1991-05-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-05-09 | 1994-11-08 | 1995-05-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |