Patent ID: 6108174
Filing Date: 2000-08-22
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
An actuator assembly in a disc drive, comprising:an actuator arm having a pair of side portions which extend along opposing edges of the actuator arm, the actuator arm disposed adjacent a rigid disc having a disc surface and a characteristic disc frequency of oscillation comprising a frequency at which the disc surface is displaced in response to the mechanical shock; anda pair of opposing side rails affixed to the respective side portions of the actuator arm and selectively configured to change mechanical displacement characteristics of the actuator arm to reduce damage to the disc drive resulting from contact between the actuator assembly and the disc surface upon encountering a mechanical shock to the disc drive, wherein the side rails are selectively configured to provide the actuator arm with a characteristic arm frequency of oscillation comprising a frequency at which the actuator arm is displaced in response to the mechanical shock, and wherein the arm frequency of oscillation nominally matches the disc frequency of oscillation.