Abstract: A method and apparatus for collocating an interface circuit with a disk drive read/write head is described. In one embodiment the interface circuit is attached to the load arm on one side and the miniflex interconnect on the other. The read/write head is mounted on the miniflex directly below the interface circuit. The interface circuit comprises a read signal preamplifier, a write driver, and head selection circuitry. A common multiplexer circuit is used to perform the other conventional read/write circuit functions. The common multiplexer circuit includes a head selection block to determine which heads are activated, a head driver block, and a read receiver block. The common multiplexer circuit is mounted at the base of the miniflex.

Abstract: The present invention achieves technical advantages as an overshoot circuit (30) for a voltage source/impedance based write coil driver circuit (10) accurately controlling the current (IW)through a coil (LH) that is used to write data to a magnetic medium. The circuit (30) improves the characteristics of the coil.

Abstract: A cascode H-bridge circuit with particular application to magnetic recording write driver circuits. The present invention avoids the process dependent limitations placed on the head voltage swing in the H-bridge circuits of the prior art. Whereas the circuits of the prior art attempt to increase head voltage swing by minimizing device voltage drops in the current path, the present invention inserts cascode transistors in the current path that have less than a one-volt voltage drop when active, yet allow the circuit to operate under a higher voltage supply with roughly twice the head voltage swing available in the same process in the prior art. By implementing a cascode configuration, the present invention is able to support head voltage swings in excess of the switch breakdown voltage (BVCEO) without failure of the switches in the “off” state.

Abstract: A write driver to operate inductive heads for magnetic recording is disclosed. The inductive recording head is coupled between first and second outputs of a first write driver block. The first and second outputs of the first write driver block are coupled to first and second inputs of a second write driver block, respectively. First and second current sources are coupled to third and fourth inputs of the second write driver block, respectively. A first switching block is coupled to the first current source and to the third input of the second write driver block. A second switching block is coupled to the second current source and to the fourth input of the second write driver block. A first input signal is provided to a first input of the first write driver block and to the first switching block. A second input signal is provided to a second input of the first write driver block and to the second switching block.