Disk drive using an optical sensor to detect a position of an actuator arm
AssigneeWestern Digital Technologies, Inc.
InventorGeorge J. Bennett
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a disk, an actuator arm, a head coupled to the actuator arm, a base, and an optical sensor operable to detect a position of the actuator arm. The optical sensor comprises a light source that is stationary relative to the base, a plurality of light sensitive sensors positioned to receive light from the light source, and a substantially opaque element positioned between the light source and the light sensitive sensors configured to control an amount of light at least one of the plurality of light sensitive sensors detects relative to the position of the actuator arm.
Claims30
A disk drive comprising:
- (a) a disk;
- (b) an actuator arm;
- (c) a head coupled to the actuator arm;
- (d) a base;
- and
- (e) an optical sensor operable to detect an absolute position of the actuator arm over a path of travel from a first radial location near an inner diameter of the disk to a second radial location near an outer diameter of the disk, the optical sensor comprising:
- a light source that is stationary relative to the base;
- a plurality of light sensitive sensors positioned to receive light from the light source;
- and
- a substantially opaque element positioned between the light source and the light sensitive sensors configured to control an amount of light at least one of the plurality of light sensitive sensors detects relative to the absolute position of the actuator arm.
A method of detecting an absolute position of an actuator arm over a path of travel from a first radial location near an inner diameter of a disk to a second radial location near an outer diameter of the disk in a disk drive, the disk drive comprising the disk, the actuator arm, a head coupled to the actuator arm, and a base, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) generating light from a light source that is stationary relative to the base;
- (b) detecting the light using a plurality of light sensitive sensors;
- and
- (c) using an opaque element positioned between the light source and the light sensitive sensors to control an amount of light at least one of the plurality of light sensitive sensors detects relative to the absolute position of the actuator arm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.