Dual mode independent suspension read/write head assemblies in a hard disk drive
First Claim
1. An actuator assembly for a hard disk drive having a plurality of disks, comprising:
- a pivot pin having a common pivot axis;
a plurality of actuator arms, each rotatable about a common pivot axis independently from another one of the plurality of actuator arms;
a plurality of bearings, each coupled to an associated one of the plurality of actuator arms and disposed about the pivot axis;
a plurality of retaining rings, each coupled to an associated one of the plurality of bearings;
a plurality of read/write heads, each mounted at a distal end of an associated one of the actuator arms, for reading and writing data on surfaces of the plurality of disks; and
a plurality of voice coil motors, each attached to at least one of the plurality of actuator arms, each for controllably rotating its attached actuator arm about the pivot axis.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A disk drive system (70) and an actuator assembly (50; 150) therein are disclosed. The actuator assembly (50) includes multiple actuator arms (52; 152) that are independently rotatable about a pivot pin (26) by the operation of multiple voice coil motors (55; 155). Separate voice coil motor servo controls (94; 194) are provided to control the voice coil motors (55; 155). Voice coil motors (55; 155) may be dedicated to individual actuator arms (52), or alternatively to multiple actuator arms (152) that are connected together. Separate bearings (54; 154) are provided in the actuator assembly (50; 150). The construction of the actuator assembly (50; 150) permits simultaneous read/write access via multiple data channel control circuits (92) associated with individual read/write heads (14). In addition, positioning of an actuator arm (52; 152) during read/write access through a head (14) associated with a different arm (52; 152) is enabled
60 Citations
21 Claims
-
1. An actuator assembly for a hard disk drive having a plurality of disks, comprising:
-
a pivot pin having a common pivot axis; a plurality of actuator arms, each rotatable about a common pivot axis independently from another one of the plurality of actuator arms; a plurality of bearings, each coupled to an associated one of the plurality of actuator arms and disposed about the pivot axis; a plurality of retaining rings, each coupled to an associated one of the plurality of bearings; a plurality of read/write heads, each mounted at a distal end of an associated one of the actuator arms, for reading and writing data on surfaces of the plurality of disks; and a plurality of voice coil motors, each attached to at least one of the plurality of actuator arms, each for controllably rotating its attached actuator arm about the pivot axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A disk drive system for a computer, comprising:
-
a spindle; a plurality of magnetic disks rotatable about the spindle; a spindle motor for rotating the magnetic disks; an actuator assembly, comprising; a plurality of actuator arms, each rotatable about a common pivot axis independently from another one of the plurality of actuator arms; a plurality of bearings, each coupled to an associated one of the plurality of actuator arms and disposed about the pivot axis; a plurality of retaining rings, each coupled to an associated one of the plurality of bearings; a plurality of read/write heads, each mounted at a distal end of an associated one of the actuator arms so as to be proximate a surface of an associated one of the plurality of disks; a plurality of voice coil motors, each attached to at least one of the plurality of actuator arms, each for controllably rotating its associated at least one actuator arm about the pivot axis; and a plurality of magnets, each disposed adjacent one of the voice coil motors, for generating a magnetic field within which its associated voice coil motor is disposed; a plurality of voice coil motor control circuits, each associated with one of the plurality of voice coil motor, for controlling the radial position of the attached actuator arm and its associated at least one of the plurality of read/write heads relative to its associated disk; and data communication circuitry, for communicating read and write signals to and from the read/ write heads. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A method of operating a hard disk drive system in a computer, the hard disk drive including a plurality of disks, and including an actuator assembly having a plurality of actuator arms, each rotatable about a common pivot axis independently from another one of the plurality of actuator arms, which comprises:
-
A. a first mode including the steps of; i. performing a first disk access operation by a first read/write head disposed at a distal end of a first one of the plurality of actuator arms, the first read/write head disposed over a track of a first one of the plurality of disks, and ii. during the step of performing a first disk access operation, performing a second disk access operation by rotating a second one of the plurality of actuator arms about the common pivot axis, the second one of the plurality of actuator arms having a second read/write head at a distal end thereof, the rotating step operating to move the second read/write head from over a first track of one of the plurality of disks to over a second track thereof; B. a second mode comprising the steps of; i. performing a first disk access operation by a first read/write head disposed at a distal end of a first one of the plurality of actuator arms, the first read/write head disposed over a track of a first one of the plurality of disks, and maintaining the others of the plurality of actuator arms inactive, and ii. sequencing through performing a disk access operation for each of the plurality of actuator arms while maintaining the others of the plurality of actuator arms inactive. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
-
Specification