Load/Unload technology for disk drives

• Published in: IEEE transactions on magnetics Vol. 35; no. 2; pp. 857 - 862
• Main Authors: Albrecht, T.R., Sai, F.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY IEEE 01.03.1999; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
• Subjects: Actuators; Applied sciences; Cascading style sheets; Density; Design engineering; Disk drives; Disks; Electric shock; Electronics; Energy consumption; Exact sciences and technology; Failure; Flight; Inertia; Latches; Low voltage; Magnetic devices; Magnetic thin film devices: magnetic heads (magnetoresistive, inductive, etc.); domain-motion devices, etc; Power system reliability; Rectifiers; Semiconductor electronics. Microelectronics. Optoelectronics. Solid state devices; Stiction; Surface resistance; Tolerance analysis; Prime mover; Recording density; Recording head; Magnetic head; Magnetic disk; Drive mechanism; Electric motor; Hard disk; Experimental study
• ISSN: 0018-9464; 1941-0069
• DOI: 10.1109/20.753798

Load/Unload (L/UL) is an alternative to contact start-stop (CSS) technology which eliminates stiction and wear failure modes associated with CSS. Other benefits of L/UL include increased areal density due to smooth disk surfaces, thinner overcoats and lower head flying height; improved shock resistance due to elimination of head slap; and reduced power consumption. Several mechanical design options exist for L/UL, and tolerance analysis plays a key role in height budgeting, interdisk spacing, and disk real estate usage. To prevent stiction failures arising from unintended landing of heads on stopped disks, a reliable actuator latch and power-off retract system are employed. A bidirectional inertia latch has better reliability than conventional inertia latch designs. A low voltage drop retract rectifier is required for reliable power-off retract in drives with supply voltages of 5 V or less.