Patent ID: 6198604
Filing Date: 2001-03-06
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
A disk storage apparatus comprising:a housing;a disk storage medium rotatably mounted to said housing;an actuator including a transducer head at one end for communicating information with the storage medium;a coil attached to the actuator for controlling the movement of the actuator and the transducer by varying the current to the coil;a magnetic locking apparatus for locking the actuator, said magnetic locking apparatus comprising a permanent magnet and a member attracted by said permanent magnet, wherein one of said permanent magnet and said attracted member is attached to said actuator, and the other of said permanent magnet and said attracted member is attached to said housing, said permanent magnet and attracted member being mounted such that, when said actuator is in a locked position, said attracted member is held by said permanent magnet; andan actuator unlocking apparatus including:means for supplying a first predetermined drive current to said coil generating a force against said magnetic force of said magnetic locking apparatus to unlock said actuator from said magnetic locking apparatus; andmeans for supplying a second predetermined drive current to said coil, said second current in the opposite direction to said first predetermined drive current, wherein said second predetermined drive current is selected to stop motion caused by said first predetermined drive current and stop said actuator within the data zone of said disk storage medium.