Actuator latch for hard disk drive

Details Actuator latch for hard disk drive Actuator latch for hard disk drive

2001-10-01

2004-04-27

Tupper, Robert S. (Department: 2652)

Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval

Head mounting

For moving head into/out of transducing position

Reexamination Certificate

active

06728075

ABSTRACT:

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 2001-16868 filed on Mar. 30, 2001, in the Korean Industrial Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a hard disk drive, and more particularly, to an actuator latch used with a hard disk drive which fixes an actuator of the hard disk drive in a parking zone when the actuator does not operate.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a hard disk as one of auxiliary memory devices in a computer records data on a hard disk or reproduces data from the hard disk. An actuator having a magnet head functioning as an electromagnet is installed in the hard disk drive.
When the hard disk drive is actuated, the actuator rotates so that the magnetic head moves from the parking zone to a data zone. The magnetic head of the actuator writes data on the hard disk or reads data that is stored magnetically on the hard disk.
When the electric power is turned off to end the use of a computer, a driving voltage to a spindle motor also stops so that the speed of the hard disk rotated by the spindle motor gradually decreases. At this point, the magnetic head in the state of flying above the hard disk by the flow of air descends onto the surface of the hard disk. However, when the magnetic head lands on the surface of the data zone of the hard disk, the magnetic surface of the hard disk or data recorded on the hard disk may be damaged. To prevent the above problem, a parking zone is provided on the surface of the hard disk. Here, the parking zone is a portion of the surface of the hard disk where no data is recorded. The magnetic head is moved to the parking zone by a program before it lands on the surface of the hard disk.
When external impacts or vibrations are applied to the hard disk drive in an operation ready mode, the magnetic head, staying in the parking zone, is forced to be moved to a data zone while contacting the hard disk. The magnetic head intruding on the data zone damages the surface of the hard disk as well as the data stored in the hard disk by contacting the surface of the hard disk.
Thus, to prevent the above problem, an actuator latch for firmly fixing the magnetic head during external impacts or vibrations by supporting the magnetic head in the parking zone with a particular force, is used.
FIG. 1
shows a conventional hard disk drive that is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,636,090. Referring to
FIG. 1
, the conventional hard disk drive
100
includes a hard disk
120
rotatably installed at a housing
110
and having a data zone
121
where data is recorded and a parking zone
122
where no data is recorded, an actuator
130
transferring the magnetic head
131
that reads and writes information with respect to the hard disk
120
to a desired track position of the hard disk
120
, and a latch device
180
preventing the actuator
130
positioned in the parking zone
122
from escaping therefrom.
The magnetic head
131
is installed at one end of the actuator
130
, and a bobbin portion
134
, around which a coil
133
is wound to generate a magnetic field, is installed at the other end of the actuator
130
. The actuator
130
is installed to be capable of pivoting around a pivot shaft
136
installed at the housing
110
. The bobbin portion
134
moves the actuator
130
to a desired track of the hard disk
120
by an electromagnetic force generated between a stator
140
and a yoke
150
installed at the housing
110
.
The latch device
180
is installed to be capable of pivoting around a rotation shaft
161
installed at the housing
110
, and includes a locking member
160
and a spring
170
. In the locking member
160
, a latch hole
163
is provided at one end of the locking member
160
to latch a finger portion
139
that is provided at one side of the bobbin portion
134
and an inertia member
162
is provided at the other end thereof. The spring
170
is connected to the locking member
160
and provides an elastic force.
In the above structure, when the actuator
130
moves above the hard disk
120
and/or there is no external impact, including rotational impact, the finger portion
139
is elastically biased by the spring
170
. Thus, since the actuator
130
is not firmly held by the latch hole
163
, the actuator
130
moves to the data zone
121
from the parking zone
122
and reads or records data with respect to the hard disk
120
.
When the actuator
130
is positioned in the parking zone
122
and the hard disk
120
receives a clockwise rotational impact externally with respect to the drawing, the actuator
130
rotates counterclockwise due to a rotational inertial force. Also, the locking member
160
, reacting more sensitively than the actuator
130
, rotates counterclockwise so that the finger portion
139
is inserted in the latch hold
163
and firmly held therein. Thus, the actuator
130
is prevented from escaping from the parking zone
122
.
However, when a counterclockwise rotational impact with respect to the drawing is applied to the hard disk
120
, the actuator
130
rotates clockwise due to a rotational inertial force, and the locking member
160
also rotates clockwise. Thus, the finger portion
139
is not firmly held by the latch hole
163
.
FIG. 2
shows a conventional load-unload hard disk drive having a ramp. Referring to
FIG. 2
, the hard disk drive
200
includes a hard disk
220
, an actuator
230
, and an actuator latch
280
. The hard disk
220
is divided into a data zone
222
where data is recorded and a parking zone
221
where no data is recorded.
The actuator
230
is installed to be capable of pivoting at a pivot shaft
235
, which is installed at a housing
210
. A magnetic head
231
is provided at one end of the actuator
230
and a bobbin portion
234
, around which a coil
233
is wound, is provided at the other end thereof. The bobbin portion
234
generates an electromagnetic force between the bobbin portion
234
and a stator
250
installed at the housing
210
so that the actuator
230
can be positioned at a desired track of the hard disk
220
. A finger portion
237
, to be caught by a hook portion
261
of a locking member
260
, is provided at one side of the bobbin portion
234
. A magnetic portion
236
, corresponding to a magnet match
240
installed at the stator
250
, is provided at the other side of the bobbin portion
234
.
A ramp
290
is installed at the housing
210
close to the hard disk
220
. The magnetic head
231
is accommodated on the ramp
290
when the actuator
230
is parked.
The actuator latch
280
includes the locking member
260
having the hook portion
261
at one end thereof and a spring
270
connected at the other end thereof and is installed to be capable of pivoting by being inserted in a rotation shaft
263
installed at the housing
210
. The spring
270
provides an elastic force on the locking member
260
, and the finger portion
237
is provided at the bobbin portion
234
to engage with the hook portion
261
.
In the above structure, when there is no external impact, or in a normal operation, the hook portion
263
of the actuator latch
280
does not hold the finger portion
237
. Here, the actuator
230
, overcoming a force between the magnet latch
240
and the magnet portion
236
, moves over the data zone
222
of the hard disk
220
to record data or reproduce recorded data.
When there is a relatively weak external impact with respect to a force acting between the magnet latch
240
and the magnet portion
236
, the actuator
230
is prevented from escaping from the parking zone
221
by the force acting between the magnet latch
240
and the magnet portion
236
. However, when there is a relatively strong clockwise external rotational impact with respect to the force acting between the magnet latch
240
and the magnet portion
236
, a clockwise rotational impact with respect to the drawing applies to the hard disk
220
. Here, th

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