Abstract: A new and improved latching method and assembly for positively latching a positioner carrying a read/write head of a hard disk drive in a drive landing zone during non-power conditions. The assembly includes a vertically movable latching pin which is movable along a rectilinear path of travel into and out of the horizontal path of travel of the positioner carrying the drive unit read/write head. A retention spring mounted to a support column in proximity to the landing zone engages one of two grooves disposed in the latching pin to secure the pin in a latched position or in an unlatched position. The positioner impacts the retention spring to disengage it from an associated groove on the latch pin at appropriate times so bias exerted thereon by a thermal spring will move the latch pin in a desired direction. In this regard, as the thermal spring heats, it pulls the latch pin away from the latched position and, as it cools, it urges the pin back towards the latched position.

Abstract: A system for positioning a plurality of heads traversing multiple disks in a disk drive system is disclosed herein. The positioning system includes a servo pattern recorded on at least one of the hard disks, the servo pattern having a sequence of servo locations successively recorded along concentric tracks on the disks. Burst zones are also recorded on the hard disks, each burst zone having multiple transitions recorded at staggered separate radial distances from the center of the disks. The positioning system contains means for computing servo burst signal magnitudes based on head position relative to the transitions in each burst zone, and means for calculating a head offset based on differences between the servo burst signal magnitudes and radial displacement of each head in each track. The positioning system transmits a correction signal based on calculated head position, and the output signal has a linear response for any head position on the disk.