Patent ID: 7082014
Filing Date: 2006-07-25
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
1. An actuator locking apparatus for a hard disk drive having an actuator moving a magnetic head on an arm of the actuator, and a voice coil motor with at least one magnet, an upper yoke and a lower yoke, the actuator locking apparatus locking the actuator using a magnetic force generated by the at least one magnet attached to at least one of the upper yoke and the lower yoke of the voice coil motor to maintain the magnetic head mounted on the actuator of the hard disk drive in a parked state in a parking zone of a disk, the apparatus comprising: a coupling protrusion protruding from an end of the arm of the actuator; a contact part protruding from an edge of either the upper yoke or the lower yoke, contacting a surface of the other of the upper yoke or the lower yoke, and having a slot with a predetermined width at a height corresponding to a center of the coupling protrusion; a damping member having a coupling hole formed therein in which the coupling protrusion is inserted; and a metal piece attached to one side of the damping member and adhering to the contact part due to the magnetic force when the magnetic head is parked in the parking zone.