Abstract: A servowriter employs a method of unlatching an actuator arm from a latch restraining the actuator arm in a head disk assembly connected to the servowriter. The servowriter includes a first node and a second node. The head disk assembly includes a voice coil motor (VCM) coupled to the actuator arm. The VCM includes a coil connected between the first node and the second node. The method includes applying a voltage between the first node and the second node to cause current to flow through the coil in order to move the actuator arm away from the latch at an actuator arm velocity. The method further includes temporarily activating a VCM velocity control signal to enable a VCM voltage limiting circuit connected in parallel with the coil between the first node and the second node. The method includes limiting the voltage applied across the coil to a predetermined VCM voltage level with the enabled VCM voltage limiting circuit in order to limit the actuator arm velocity.

Abstract: A disk drive employs a method of unlatching an actuator arm from a latch restraining the actuator arm in a disk drive. The disk drive includes a first node, a second node, and a voice coil motor (VCM) coupled to the actuator arm. The VCM includes a coil connected between the first node and the second node. The method includes applying a voltage between the first node and the second node to cause current to flow through the coil in order to move the actuator arm away from the latch at a variable actuator arm velocity. The method includes temporarily activating a VCM velocity control signal to enable a VCM voltage limiting circuit connected in parallel with the coil between the first node and the second node. The method further includes limiting the voltage applied across the coil to a predetermined VCM voltage level with the enabled VCM voltage limiting circuit in order to limit the actuator arm velocity.