Magnetic disk drive incorporating a magnetic actuator lock and a very small form factor
AssigneeRodime PLC
InventorBrian Schmitz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention provides a magneticf actuator lock for the head positioning actuator of a disk drive. The magnetic actuator lock comprises a magnet, and first and second stop means, one of which is attached to the head positioning actuator. The stop means constitute a low reluctance pathway for magnetic flux, thus attracting and "latching" the two stop means together. This magnetic actuator lock does not require an additional permanent magnet but may use the magnetic force of the permanent magnet in a voice coil motor.
Claims24
A disk drive apparatus, comprising:
- at least one disk for storage of information;
- a head assembly including at least one head for reading or writing information to the at least one disk;
- a head positioning actuator for positioning the at least one head at a given position with respect to the at least one disk;
- a magnet assembly including at least one magnet and at least one magnet assembly stop surface;
- and
- an actuator coil, operatively connected with the actuator and physically positioned with respect to the at least one magnet for carrying controlled currents for generating magnetic fields for interaction with at least one magnet in the magnet assembly so as to control the actuator's position and at least one head;
- wherein the head positioning actuator includes an actuator stop surface, the actuator stop surface comprising a low reluctance pathway for magnetic flux when contacting or physically close to the at least one magnet assembly stop surface;
- and
- wherein conduction of magnetic flux from the magnet assembly through the low reluctance pathway of the actuator stop surface and back to the magnet assembly causes a magnetic force to be applied to the actuator stop surface in the direction of the magnet assembly stop surface.
An assembly for use in a disk drive apparatus, for applying force to maintain at least one head in a desired position when the head is not otherwise controlled, the assembly compromising:
- a head positioning actuator for positioning the at least one head at a given position with respect to at least one disk:
- a magnet assembly, the magnet assembly including at least one magnet and at least one magnet assembly stop surface;
- and
- an actuator coil, operatively connected with the actuator and physically positioned with respect to the at least one magnet, for carrying controlled currents for generating magnetic fields for interaction with the magnet assembly so as to control the position of the actuator and the at least one head;
- wherein the head positioning actuator includes an actuator stop surface, the actuator stop surface comprising a low reluctance pathway for magnetic flux when contacting or physically close to the at least one magnet assembly stop surface;
- and
- wherein conduction of magnetic flux from the magnet assembly through the low reluctance pathway of the actuator stop surface and back to the magnet assembly causes a magnetic force to be applied to the actuator stop surface in the direction of the magnet assembly stop surface.
A disk drive apparatus, comprising:
- means for storing information;
- means for writing information to, or reading information from, said means for storing;
- an actuator structure for positioning the means for writing or reading, the actuator structure including a first stop means;
- and
- means for latching the actuator structure in one or more predetermined positions, the means for latching including a second stop means and a magnetic means for holding together the first and second stop means, the magnetic means consisting essentially of one or more magnets which are used in affirmatively positioning the actuator structure during operations such as reading or writing.
An assembly for a disk drive apparatus, for applying a magnetic force to maintain at least one head in a desired position when the head is not otherwise controlled, the assembly comprising:
- means for writing information to, or reading information from, a means for storing information, the means for writing or reading including the at least one head;
- an actuator structure for positioning the means for writing or reading, the actuator structure including a first stop means;
- and
- means for latching the actuator structure in one or more predetermined positions, the means for latching including a second stop means and a magnetic means for holding together the first and second stop means, the magnetic means consisting essentially of one or more magnets which are used in affirmatively positioning the actuator structure during operations such as reading or writing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.