Claims
- 1. A disc drive having an information storage disc rotatably mounted on a spin motor, the disc drive comprising:
an actuator assembly for directing a transducer over a surface of the information storage disc; and a load/unload ramp positioned adjacent a peripheral portion of the information storage disc for supporting the transducer when the transducer is off of the information storage disc, wherein the load/unload ramp is coated with a hardened film.
- 2. The disc drive of claim 1 wherein the hardened film material is selected from the group consisting of a carbon based film, a silicon nitride based film, a titanium nitride film and a titanium carbide based film.
- 3. The disc drive of claim 1 wherein the hardened film is between 100 Å and 500 Å thick.
- 4. The disc drive of claim 1 wherein the hardened film is between 100 Å and 250 Å thick.
- 5. The disc drive of claim 1 wherein the hardened film is between 100 Å and 150 Å thick.
- 6. The disc drive of claim 1 wherein the hardened film is covered with a disc drive compatible lubricant.
- 7. The disc drive of claim 6 wherein the lubricant film material is perfluoropolyether.
- 8. The disc drive of claim 6 wherein the lubricant film is between 200 Å and 500 Å thick.
- 9. The disc drive of claim 6 wherein the lubricant film is between 200 Å and 350 Å thick.
- 10. A method of reducing debris formation in a disc drive wherein the disc drive has an information storage disc rotatably mounted on a spin motor, an actuator assembly adjacent the information storage disc for directing a transducer over a surface of the information storage disc, and a load/unload ramp adjacent the information storage disc for supporting a transducer off of the disc, the method comprising steps of:
(a). forming a load/unload ramp; (b). depositing a hardened film on the load/unload ramp; and (c). depositing a lubricating film over the hardened film of the load/unload ramp.
- 11. The method according to claim 10 wherein the hardened film depositing step (b) further comprises the steps of:
(b)(i) ultrasonically vibrating the load/unload ramp while the load/unload ramp is immersed in an acetone bath; (b)(ii) rinsing the load/unload ramp with DI water; and (b)(iii) depositing a hardened film on the load/unload ramp.
- 12. The method according to claim 10 wherein the lubricating film depositing step (b) further comprises the steps of:
(c)(i) ultrasonically vibrating the load/unload ramp while the load/unload ramp is immersed in a lubricant bath; and (c)(ii) removing the load/unload ramp from the lubricant bath.
- 13. The method according to claim 10 wherein the lubricating film depositing step (b) further comprises the steps of:
(c)(i) ultrasonically vibrating the load/unload ramp while the load/unload ramp is immersed in a lubricant bath; (c)(ii) soaking the load/unload ramp in the lubricant bath; and (c)(iii) removing the load/unload ramp from the lubricant bath.
- 14. The method according to claim 10 wherein the hardened film depositing step (b) further comprises the steps of:
(b)(i) ultrasonically vibrating the load/unload ramp while the load/unload ramp is immersed in an acetone bath; (b)(ii) rinsing the load/unload ramp with DI water; and (b)(iii) sputtering a hardened film on the load/unload ramp using a sputtering method selected from the group consisting of direct current (DC) and alternate current (AC) magnetron sputtering, RF diode sputtering, DC diode sputtering, RF magnetron sputtering, DC magnetron sputtering, AC magnetron sputtering, high energy source sputtering, and ion beam sputtering.
- 15. A disc drive load/unload ramp for reducing debris formation in a disc drive, the load/unload ramp comprising:
a load/unload ramp formed from a low friction-low wear polymer; and means over the polymer for reducing debris formation inside the disc drive.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority of PCT application,Attorney Docket No. STL9487PCT/40046.0099WOU1, filed on Feb. 5, 2001 and United States provisional application Serial No. 60/181,178, filed Feb. 5, 2001.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60181178 |
Feb 2000 |
US |