# US 11,308,984 B2 · Retractable ramp for data storage devices > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,308,984 B2 - Document ID: US11308984B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/910,593 - Filed: 2020-06-24 - Published: 2021-12-30 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2020-06-24 - Assignees: Seagate Technology LLC - Applicants: Seagate Technology LLC - Inventors: Brett R. Herdendorf; Riyan Alex Mendonsa; Krishnan Subramanian - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11308984B2 ## CPC - G11B 5/54: with provision for moving the head into or out of its operative position or across tracks - G11B 17/021: {Selecting or spacing of record carriers for introducing the heads} - G11B 21/12: Raising and lowering; Back-spacing or forward-spacing along track; Returning to starting position {otherwise than during transducing operation} - G11B 21/22: while the head is out of operative position - G11B 5/4806: {specially adapted for disk drive assemblies, e.g. assembly prior to operation, hard or flexible disk drives (G11B5/488 - G11B5/54 take precedence)} - G11B 5/596: for track following on disks {(G11B5/5526, G11B5/5552, G11B5/5565, G11B5/5582 take precedence)} - G11B 33/125: {the apparatus comprising a plurality of recording/reproducing devices, e.g. modular arrangements, arrays of disc drives} - H05K 5/0221: {Locks; Latches} - G11B: INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER (recording measured values in a way that does not require playback through a transducer G01D9/00; recording or playback apparatus using mechanically marked tape, e.g. punched paper tape, or using unit records, e.g. punched or magnetically marked cards G06K; transferring data from one type of record carrier to another G06K1/18; circuits for coupling output of reproducer to radio receiver H04B1/20; gramophone pick-ups or like acoustic electromechanical transducers or circuits therefor H04R) - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ## Abstract A data storage device includes a ramp that supports at least one head, and a retraction mechanism that moves the ramp from a non-retracted position to a retracted position. The movement of the ramp is enabled by at least one of expansion or contraction of at least a portion of the retraction mechanism. The data storage device further includes a ramp retraction control module operably coupled to the retraction mechanism. The ramp retraction control module provides the retraction mechanism with a first control signal that causes the retraction mechanism to move the ramp from the non-retracted position to the retracted position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A data storage device comprising: a ramp configured to support at least one head in the data storage device; a retraction mechanism coupled to the ramp and configured to move the ramp from a non-retracted position to a retracted position by at least one of expansion or contraction of at least a portion of the retraction mechanism; and a ramp retraction control module operably coupled to the retraction mechanism, the ramp retraction control module configured to provide the retraction mechanism with a first control signal that causes the retraction mechanism to move the ramp from the non-retracted position to the retracted position, wherein the retraction mechanism comprises a first shape memory alloy (SMA) wire. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The data storage device of claim 1 and further comprising: a latch configured to hold the ramp in the retracted position; a latch manipulation mechanism coupled to the latch; and the ramp retraction control module further configured to provide the latch manipulation mechanism with second control signals that cause the latch to engage the ramp in the retracted position, thereby holding the ramp in the retracted position, and cause the latch to release the ramp from being held in the retracted position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The data storage device of claim 2 and wherein the ramp retraction control module is configured to operate the retraction mechanism and the latch manipulation mechanism to provide multiple ramp release speeds, and wherein the multiple ramp release speeds comprise a normal ramp release provided during normal operation of the data storage device and a quick ramp release provided during an emergency shutdown of the data storage device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The data storage device of claim 1 and further comprising a latch configured to hold the ramp. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The data storage device of claim 2 and wherein the first control signal comprises electrical power that energizes the first SMA wire. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The data storage device of claim 2 and wherein the latch manipulation mechanism comprises a second SMA wire. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The data storage device of claim 6 and wherein the second control signals comprise electrical power that energizes the second SMA wire during the latch engagement and during the latch release. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The data storage device of claim 2 and wherein the latch is formed of a flexible material, wherein the latch comprise a first end that is coupled to a base of the data storage device and a second end that is configured to be bent to carry out latch engagement and latch release operations. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The data storage device of claim 1 and further comprising: the at least one head; an actuator arm that supports the at least one head; a plurality of data storage media with which the at least one head is configured to interact, and wherein the ramp is further configured to move in at least one of an upward direction or a downward direction. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The data storage device of claim 9 and further comprising an elevator configured to move the actuator arm and the ramp with the head supported thereon in unison in the at least one of the upward direction or the downward direction. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The data storage device of claim 9 and further comprising an elevator configured to move individual ones of the plurality of data storage media by moving the ramp when a portion of the ramp is positioned adjacent to, and in contact with, the individual data storage medium. ### Claim 12 A method of operating a ramp that is configured to support a head in a data storage device, the method comprising: moving, by a ramp retraction control module, the ramp from a non-retracted position to a retracted position; and selectively releasing, by the ramp retraction control module, the ramp from the retracted position at different speeds corresponding to different operating conditions in the data storage device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12 and wherein the different speeds for releasing the ramp from the retracted position comprise a normal ramp release provided during normal operation of the data storage device and a quick ramp release provided during an emergency shutdown of the data storage device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12 and wherein the moving of the ramp from the non-retracted position to the retracted position comprises energizing a first shape memory alloy (SMA) wire coupled to the ramp. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12 and wherein releasing the ramp from the retracted position comprises energizing a second SMA wire attached to a latch that holds the ramp in the retracted position. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12 and further comprising moving the ramp in at least one of an upward direction or a downward direction. ### Claim 17 A data storage system comprising: a ramp configured to support at least one head in the data storage system, the ramp having a non-retracted position and a retracted position in the data storage system; and a ramp retraction control module coupled to the ramp and configured to selectively release the ramp from the retracted position at different speeds corresponding to different operating conditions in the data storage system. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The data storage system of claim 17 and wherein the different speeds for releasing the ramp from the retracted position comprise a normal ramp release provided during normal operation of the data storage system and a quick ramp release provided during an emergency shutdown of the data storage system. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The data storage system of claim 17 and further comprising a latch configured to hold the ramp in the retracted position, wherein the ramp retraction control module is configured to selectively release the ramp from the retracted position at the different speeds by selectively providing power to shape memory alloy (SMA) wires coupled to the ramp, the latch and the ramp retraction control module. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The data storage system of claim 17 and further comprising an elevator configured to move the ramp in at least one of an upward direction or a downward direction. ### Claim 21 A data storage device comprising: a ramp configured to support at least one head in the data storage device; a retraction mechanism coupled to the ramp and configured to move the ramp from a non-retracted position to a retracted position by at least one of expansion or contraction of at least a portion of the retraction mechanism; a ramp retraction control module operably coupled to the retraction mechanism, the ramp retraction control module configured to provide the retraction mechanism with a first control signal that causes the retraction mechanism to move the ramp from the non-retracted position to the retracted position; a latch configured to hold the ramp in the retracted position; a latch manipulation mechanism coupled to the latch; and the ramp retraction control module further configured to provide the latch manipulation mechanism with second control signals that cause the latch to engage the ramp in the retracted position, thereby holding the ramp in the retracted position, and cause the latch to release the ramp from being held in the retracted position.