Patent ID: 6496324
Filing Date: 2002-12-17
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
A method of unlatching an actuator arm from a latch restraining the actuator arm in a disk drive, the disk drive including a first node, a second node, and a voice coil motor (VCM) coupled to the actuator arm, the VCM including a coil connected between the first node and the second node, the method comprising the steps of:a. applying a voltage between the first node and the second node to cause current to flow through the coil in order to move the actuator arm away from the latch at an actuator arm velocity; b. temporarily activating a VCM velocity control signal to enable a VCM voltage limiting circuit connected in parallel with the coil between the first node and the second node; and c. clamping the voltage applied across the coil to a predetermined VCM voltage level with the enabled VCM voltage limiting circuit in order to decelerate the actuator arm toward a selected actuator arm velocity.