Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Hard disk drive seek-arrival vibration reduction with parametric damped flexible printed circuits

  • Technical Paper
  • Published:
Microsystem Technologies Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Seek-arrival track-mis-registration (TMR) is one of the most critical dynamic design factors for modern hard disk drives to achieve high data transfer-rate performance goal. With its flexible structural nature, the flex cable itself inevitably renders low-frequency natural modes which have been a challenge with respect to balancing design efforts among servo control, mechanical design, and manufacturing process in disk drive industry. In this paper, particular focus will be given to vibration damping approach to reduce flex cable related seek-arrival dynamics in a state of the art magnetic disk storage drive. Experimental parameter studies of a typical constrained-layer damped flex cable vibrations are presented with cable exposed to various damper length and fold in different geometries. Effectiveness of the damper is also demonstrated by frequency responses with random excitation from actuator arm. Several design options toward reducing the flex circuit related arrival TMR will also be discussed in this paper.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Brake M, Wickert JA (2002) Flex cable dynamics and servo implications. In: ASME 13th information storage and processing symposium, Santa Clara

  • Brake M, Wickert JA (2004) Reducing transient arm vibration following track seeks through flex circuit re-design. In: ASME 14th conference on information storage and processing, Santa Clara

  • Brake M, Wickert JA (2005) Optimizing vibration isolation of flex circuits in hard disk drives. ASME J Vib Acoust 127(2):165–172

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen BM, Lee TH, Venkataramanan V (2002) Hard disk drive servo systems. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Huynh D (2004) Vibration damped flexible circuit for use in a hard disk drive. US Patent Appl 10/603,419

  • Kan T (1999) Apparatus and method to dampen flex cable vibration to disk drive actuator. US Patent 5,907,452

  • Rosner W, Motzko A (2005) Flex cable assembly with improved flex cable dynamic loop characteristics. US Patent 6,856,490

  • Stearns TH (1996) Flexible printed circuitry. McGraw-Hill, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Wickert JA (2003) Vibration of flex circuits in hard disk drives. ASME J Vib Acoust 125(3):335–342

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Washington State University, Richland, WA, USA

    Jen-Yuan (James) Chang

Authors
  1. Jen-Yuan (James) Chang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jen-Yuan (James) Chang.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Chang, JY.(. Hard disk drive seek-arrival vibration reduction with parametric damped flexible printed circuits. Microsyst Technol 13, 1103–1106 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00542-006-0311-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00542-006-0311-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation