Patent ID: 8223451
Filing Date: 2012-07-17
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
1. A data storage apparatus comprising: a mounting structure; a first motor mechanically attached to said mounting structure; a data storage platter mechanically attached to said first motor, wherein said data storage platter comprises a data storage portion and a spindle portion, wherein said spindle portion is mechanically attached to a spindle of said first motor, wherein said first motor is configured to rotate said data storage platter, wherein said data storage platter comprises a circular shape, wherein said data storage portion is located within a top surface of said data storage platter, wherein said data storage portion comprises data sections, and wherein said spindle portion is located within a center of a rotation portion of said data storage platter; an actuator motor mechanically attached to said mounting structure; a single actuator arm mechanically attached to said actuator motor, wherein said single actuator arm is configured to move axially along an arc and across said top surface of said data storage platter, wherein said single actuator arm comprises a first read/write data head and a second read/write data head, wherein said first read/write data head is located on said single actuator arm such that said first read/write data head has access to a first section and a second section of said data sections, wherein said second section differs from said first section, and wherein said second read/write data head is located on said single actuator arm such that said second read/write data head has access to only said second section; and a control circuit controlling communications to said first read/write data head and said second read/write data head, wherein the control circuit is configured to selectively enable or disable communications to said first read/write data head and said second read/write data head in response to detecting which of said first read/write data head or said second read/write data head is currently configured to read data from said data storage platter or write data to said data storage platter, and wherein the control circuit is further configured to selectively enable or disable communications to said first read/write data head or said second read/write data head in response to calculating a time indicating which of said first read/write data head or said second read/write data head will reach a specified destination on said data storage platter first.