Abstract: An actuator latch cooperating with a magnetic assembly for latching an actuator assembly of a data storage device is provided. The magnetic assembly includes a magnet secured to one of a pair of pole pieces. The actuator latch includes a latch body adjacent the magnet assembly; a forward arm extending in a first direction from the latch body, a first ferromagnetic member supported by the forward arm disposed between the pair of pole pieces interacting with the magnet to maintain the actuator assembly in an un-latched position during operation of the data storage device; a trailing arm extending in a second direction from the latch body; and a pair of ferromagnetic members supported by the trailing arm disposed between the pair of pole pieces interacting with the magnet to secure the actuator assembly in a latched position during non-operation of the data storage device.

Abstract: A latch for a disc drive, the disc drive having an actuator pivotally supported for moving an array of read/write heads radially across a data storage disc between a parking zone and a data storage zone, the parking zone providing a parking surface for the read/write heads when the disc drive is non-operational, the latch preventing the actuator from pivoting so that the read/write heads remain in the parking zone while the disc drive is non-operational. The disc drive has a voice coil motor for moving the actuator, the voice coil motor including a magnet assembly having a pair of opposed magnet members supported by opposing poles. The latch is interposed between the poles, having a supporting member that supports a latch pawl pivotally between a latched position and an unlatched position.

Abstract: A disk drive is disclosed comprising a base, a disk, an actuator arm comprising a tang attached to a base end of the actuator arm, a head attached to a distal end of the actuator arm, a voice coil motor for rotating the actuator arm about a pivot to position the head radially over the disk, and a crash stop comprising injection molded plastic formed into a body piece having a protruding first arm and a protruding second arm. The body piece of the crash stop is attached to the base of the disk drive. The first protruding arm comprises a magnet at least partially embedded into the plastic for latching the tang of the actuator arm to the first protruding arm. The plastic is formed around the magnet such that at least part of the plastic is between the magnet and the tang. The second protruding arm presents a physical barrier to the tang to limit the stroke of the actuator arm.

Abstract: A hard disk drive using an improved magnetic latch system. The hard disk drive includes a magnetic material. The magnetic material is fixedly installed at a prescribed position of a bobbin positioned at a rear end of an actuator and also it is situated around the boundary between magnetic poles of a permanent magnet fixed to a yoke when a head is situated at a parking zone.

Abstract: Disclosed is a non-contact magnetic latch mechanism for holding a disc drive actuator in its park position. The latch includes a magnetically permeable element coupled to the actuator. The magnetically permeable element is positioned so as to be attracted to the magnetic field produced by the actuator voice coil magnets when the actuator is in or near its park position. The size, shape and location of the magnet may be selected so as to vary the latch torque and the range of influence of the latch on the actuator.

Abstract: A method for assembling a mechanical system is disclosed. A magnet is installed into the system. An actuator having a magnetic element is also assembled into the system such that the actuator is movable between two extremes. At one of the extremes, the actuator is latched in place by way of the magnetic element, which forms a magnetic circuit with the magnet.

Abstract: A low height disk drive having an overall height of approximately one inch (1″). The drive includes a head disk assembly, including a base plate, two disks rotatably supported on the base plate, a motor for rotating the disks, at least two heads for reading information from and writing information on respective ones of the disks; an actuator, supported on said base plate and responsive to control signals, for selectively positioning the heads with respect to the disks, and a cover sealably attached to the base plate to enclose the storage means, the head, and the actuator. The disk drive also includes control circuitry for generating control signals, and for providing information signals to and receiving information signals from the heads. The head disk assembly and the control circuitry have a combined height of approximately one inch or less.

Abstract: A disk drive includes a base, an actuator pivotally mounted on the base, a motor and a hub for supporting the disk or disks of the drive. A rotatable member disposed on the base includes a latch that cooperates with a hook on the actuator and a magnet that cooperates with a ferromagnetic segment disposed between the rotatable member and the motor. When the motor does not operate, this rotatable member moves to a predetermined position in which the latch engages a hook portion on the actuator. When the motor does operate, the magnetic field that it generates overcomes the force of the magnet and allows the rotatable member to move out of the locking position.

Abstract: A disk apparatus has a rotatable actuator adapted to magnetically latch in a predetermined stop position when the disk apparatus is not operating. The actuator rotates about a rotating or swinging shaft and includes a coil arm having a latch magnet. The coil arm is adapted to pass between opposing permanent magnets when the actuator rotates about the rotating or swinging shaft. When the actuator is in the stop position, the latch magnet is outside of the area between the permanent magnets, therefore generating a repulsive force between the latch magnet and permanent magnets, inducing the actuator to magnetically latch. When the disk apparatus is operating, the latch magnet travels between the permanent magnets, resulting in opposing repulsive magnetic forces having equal magnitudes which cancel each other, maintaining the actuator's attitude without rotating it.

Abstract: Disclosed is a magnetic latch for a disc drive. Upper and lower voice coil magnet pole pieces include extensions which bend toward one another, defining a gap therebetween. The gap creates a magnetic field which attracts and holds a disc drive actuator in a park position when the drive is not in use.

Abstract: A latching method and a latch for a voice coil motor in a disc drive. The latch has a hub and a latch surface. The latch surface has a rotational latching range in which the latch surface latches the voice coil motor. A first magnetic detent is coupled to the hub and is active when the latch surface is in a first rotational segment in the latching range. A second magnetic detent couples to the hub and is active when the latch surface is in an offset second rotational segment in the latching range. The offset shapes detent torque over the latching range.

Abstract: A magnetic parking device for retaining an actuator in a disk drive over a landing zone. A magnetically permeable capture member is provided on the drive actuator and a magnetic parking member for capturing and magnetically retaining the capture member to park the transducer is provided adjacent the drive actuator. The magnetic parking member includes a permanent magnet and a magnetic field containing member having a slot (or air gap) formed therein. The magnetic field containing member and permanent magnet form a magnetic circuit with a magnetic flux with the slot in the magnetic field containing member allowing a portion of the magnetic flux to extend beyond the physical confines of the magnetic field containing member to provide a capture region for the capture member.

Abstract: Disclosed is a magnetic latching apparatus for use in a hard disk drive The magnetic latching apparatus for use in a hard disk drive according to the present invention, in which a magnetic head is automatically-positioned at a parking zone of a magnetic disk as an arm returns back at an initial position when an electric current applied to the hard disk drive is interrupted, comprises: permanent magnets disposed on a predetermined portion at an outer end of the arm; and means for locking and unlocking the arm by means of a magnetic force of the permanent magnets the means providing the permanent magnets with a repulsive force as the electric current is applied to the hard disk drive.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for moving a head arm assembly to a landing zone in a disk drive storage device. In disk drive according to the present invention, a control means responds to termination of a read/write operation by applying a drive current for moving an actuator arm toward an actuator lock, and then continuously applies the drive current to the actuating means to maintain an engagement of the actuator arm with the actuator lock stopped at a predetermined position, after the termination of read/write operation, and then stops a rotation of said rotating data recording disk.

Abstract: Embodiments of the instant invention are directed to a head parking assembly for a disc drive assembly. In preferred embodiments, the head parking assembly comprises a voice coil motor and a non-contacting magnetic latch mechanism, wherein the voice coil motor comprises a plurality of backirons, a plurality of permanent magnets, a coil, a conductive standoff and a nonconductive standoff. The permanent magnets are disposed on the backirons and the standoffs reside at opposite ends of the backirons being disposed substantially perpendicularly thereto. The coil is located in the gap between the permanent magnets, such that when an electric field is passed through the coil, the resulting magnetic field in the coil operates in conjunction with the magnetic fields of the permanent magnets to control the movement of the head across the disc.

Abstract: In the present invention, a disk storage apparatus 1 is previously given acceleration current Ia and acceleration time Ta which is supplied to an actuator 6 for releasing the actuator from a permanent magnet 12, and deceleration current Id and deceleration time Td which is supplied to the actuator 6 for stopping the released actuator 6 at a data zone on a disk. When power-on operation, the actuator is driven according to the previously stored acceleration current, acceleration time, deceleration current, and deceleration time to be released from the permanent magnet lock.

Abstract: In a magnetic head transferring device of a hard disk drive, a rotor is rotatably mounted on a base and has a magnetic head for recording/reproducing information on/from the disk. A stator is installed on the base for actuating the rotor to move across a parking area and a recording area formed on the hard disk. First and second magnetic members are respectively installed at one end of the rotor and the stator and are magnetically coupled to one another when the magnetic head is positioned in the parking area of the hard disk so that the rotor is locked to not move. A pushing unit for gradually pushing the rotor by pressing in a direction such that the first and second magnetic members are separated. Thus, because the unlocking mechanism of the rotor is made slowly and smoothly by using the bimetal member, the impact and excessive rotation of the rotor during unlocking thereof can be prevented.