Flying head positioner having rotational fine positioning and adjustable actuator load
US6125008A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 15, 1997 |
| Grant date | Sep 26, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 15, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11B7/122
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A flying head mechanism includes a flying head, a suspension and an actuator which applies a load force through the suspension. The load force applied by the actuator is adjustable while the head is in operation. The actuator may actively control load force as part of a feedback loop which maintains the flying head at a constant flying height. One embodiment disclosed includes a voice coil actuator. In embodiments using an optical flying head, a conventional focus sensor may provide a signal indicative of flying height, since the focus signal inherently indicates flying height error. The flying head includes a contact sensor which detects head/disk contact. The head further includes means for changing the focus of the optical elements, without changing the flying height of the head. The entire suspension is mounted in a shock and vibration immune configuration. Two heads may be used in some embodiments, in which more than one type of media may be read or written by the disk drive.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.