阅读说明：本技术 用于磁存储装置的切向及纵向滑行斜坡 (Tangential and longitudinal sliding ramp for magnetic storage device ) 是由 张迦贸 孙飚 黄维东 于 2020-06-15 设计创作，主要内容包括：本申请涉及用于磁存储装置的切向及纵向滑行斜坡。本文公开一种用于接收硬盘驱动器的提升片的斜坡。所述斜坡包括第一侧及第二侧,其中所述第一侧与所述第二侧间隔开。所述斜坡还包括倾斜表面,所述提升片在第一方向上移动时沿着所述倾斜表面滑动以从所述硬盘驱动器的磁盘去除读/写头。所述倾斜表面在所述第一方向上从所述斜坡的前边缘倾斜到所述斜坡的中间边缘。所述倾斜表面具有大体垂直于所述第一方向且从所述第一侧延伸到所述第二侧的宽度。所述倾斜表面具有大体垂直于所述第一方向且从所述第一侧延伸到所述第二侧的宽度。锥形部分限定相对于所述第一方向的斜角。(The present application relates to tangential and longitudinal sliding ramps for magnetic storage devices. A ramp for receiving a lift tab of a hard disk drive is disclosed. The ramp includes a first side and a second side, wherein the first side is spaced apart from the second side. The ramp also includes an inclined surface along which the lift tab slides when moving in a first direction to remove a read/write head from a magnetic disk of the hard disk drive. The inclined surface is inclined in the first direction from a front edge of the ramp to a middle edge of the ramp. The inclined surface has a width generally perpendicular to the first direction and extending from the first side to the second side. The inclined surface has a width generally perpendicular to the first direction and extending from the first side to the second side. The tapered portion defines an oblique angle relative to the first direction.)

1. A ramp for receiving a lift tab of a hard disk drive, the ramp comprising:

a first side and a second side, the first side spaced apart from the second side; and

an inclined surface along which the lift tab slides when moving in a first direction to remove a read/write head from a magnetic disk of a hard disk drive, wherein:

the inclined surface is inclined in the first direction from a front edge of the ramp to a middle edge of the ramp;

the inclined surface has a width generally perpendicular to the first direction and extending from the first side to the second side;

the leading edge includes a tapered portion extending from the first side toward the second side of the ramp; and is

The tapered portion defines an oblique angle relative to the first direction.

2. The ramp of claim 1, wherein the tapered portion extends continuously from the first side to the second side.

3. The ramp of claim 1, wherein the tapered portion extends continuously from the first side to an intermediate point located between the first side and the second side.

4. The ramp of claim 1, wherein the oblique angle defined by the tapered portion relative to the first direction is less than 90 degrees.

5. The ramp of claim 4, wherein the oblique angle defined by the tapered portion relative to the first direction is in the range of 25 degrees to 65 degrees.

6. The ramp of claim 5, wherein the oblique angle defined by the tapered portion relative to the first direction is 45 degrees.

7. The ramp of claim 1, wherein the inclined surface has an inclination angle in the range of 16 degrees to 20 degrees.

8. The ramp of claim 1, wherein the first side is shorter than the second side by a length in the range of 0.10 millimeters to 0.50 millimeters.

9. The ramp of claim 8, wherein the first side is shorter than the second side by a length of 0.30 millimeters.

10. A hard disk drive, comprising:

a plurality of magnetic disks;

a plurality of lift tabs, each lift tab comprising an elongated member coupled to an actuator arm of a plurality of actuator arms, each actuator arm pivotally connected to a pivot post and comprising a read/write head for reading data from and writing data to a corresponding disk of the plurality of disks when the actuator arm is in a loaded position; and

a ramp structure comprising a plurality of ramps, each ramp corresponding to a disk of the plurality of disks and comprising:

a first side and a second side, the first side spaced apart from the second side; and

a sloped surface along which each lift tab slides while moving in a first direction to remove a read/write head from a disk of the plurality of disks, wherein:

the inclined surface is inclined in the first direction from a front edge of the ramp to a middle edge of the ramp;

the inclined surface has a width generally perpendicular to the first direction and extending from the first side to the second side;

the leading edge includes a tapered portion extending from the first side toward the second side of the ramp; and is

The tapered portion defines an oblique angle relative to the first direction.

11. The hard disk drive of claim 10 wherein:

the lift tab contacting the ramp at a first point on the tapered portion and sliding along an edge of the tapered portion of the leading edge to a second point where the tapered portion intersects the first side when moving in the first direction to remove the read/write head from the disk; and is

The lift tab slides over an edge of the inclined surface along the second side in the first direction toward the middle edge of the ramp.

12. The hard disk drive in accordance with claim 11 wherein the lift tab travels a radial distance in the range of 0.15 millimeters to 0.35 millimeters when sliding along the tapered portion of the ramp.

13. The hard disk drive in accordance with claim 12 wherein the lift tab travels a radial distance of 0.25 millimeters when sliding along the tapered portion of the ramp.

14. The hard disk drive in accordance with claim 11 wherein the lift tab slides along the tapered portion of the ramp a linear distance in a range of 0.75 millimeters to 1.00 millimeters.

15. The hard disk drive in accordance with claim 14 wherein the lift tab slides along the tapered portion of the ramp a linear distance of 0.88 millimeters.

16. The hard disk drive in accordance with claim 11 wherein an amount of radial distance traveled by the lift tab and an amount of linear distance the lift tab slides along the tapered portion is determined as a function of the oblique angle defined by the tapered portion relative to the first direction.

17. The hard disk drive in accordance with claim 10 wherein the tapered portion of each ramp of the plurality of ramps is tangent to an outer edge of a corresponding disk of the plurality of disks, the tapered portion extending from the first side toward the second side of the ramp.

18. The hard disk drive of claim 10 wherein each ramp of the plurality of ramps is offset from a corresponding disk of the plurality of disks by a distance such that the ramp does not overlap the disk.

19. A method of loading and unloading a read/write head from a disk using a ramp, the method comprising:

actuating an actuator arm pivotably connected to a pivot post in a first direction, wherein:

the actuator arm including the read/write head and a lift tab;

the read/write head is configured to read data from and write data to the magnetic disk when the actuator arm is in a loading position;

the lift tab includes an elongated member configured to engage the ramp to remove the read/write head from the magnetic disk when the actuator arm moves in the first direction;

the ramp includes:

a first side and a second side, the first side spaced apart from the second side; and

an inclined surface along which the lift tab slides when moving in the first direction to remove the read/write head from the magnetic disk, the inclined surface being inclined from a front edge of the ramp to a middle edge of the ramp in the first direction, and the inclined surface having a width extending from the first side to the second side generally perpendicular to the first direction; and is

The leading edge includes a tapered portion extending from the first side toward the second side of the ramp, the tapered portion defining an oblique angle relative to the first direction;

contacting a first point of the ramp with the lift tab as the lift tab moves in the first direction, the first point of the ramp comprising a point on the tapered portion of the leading edge, the lift tab sliding along an edge of the tapered portion from the first point toward a second point; and

contacting the second point of the ramp with the lift tab as the lift tab continues to move in the first direction, the second point comprising a point where the tapered portion intersects the first side, the lift tab sliding on an edge of the inclined surface along the first side in the first direction toward the middle edge of the ramp.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

actuating the actuator arm in a second direction opposite the first direction to remove the lift tab from the ramp and load the read/write head onto the magnetic disk;

contacting the second point of the ramp with the lift tab as the lift tab moves in the second direction, the lift tab sliding along the first side in the second direction toward the first point on the edge of the sloped surface; and

contacting the first point of the ramp with the lift tab as the lift tab continues to move in the second direction, the lift tab sliding along the edge of the tapered portion from the second point toward the first point where the lift tab is removed from the ramp.

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates generally to magnetic storage devices, and more particularly to tangential and longitudinal sliding ramps for magnetic storage devices.

Background

Magnetic storage devices, such as hard disk drives ("HDDs"), are widely used to store digital data or electronic information for enterprise data processing systems, computer workstations, portable computing devices, digital audio players, digital video players, and the like. Generally, HDDs include read-write heads that help facilitate the storage of data on magnetic disks. Storage capacity is limited by the available area and areal density capacity of the HDD storage elements.

Disclosure of Invention

There is a need for a magnetic storage device having tangential and longitudinal sliding ramps. The subject matter of the present application has been developed in response to the present state of the art, and in particular, in response to the problems and needs in the art that have not yet been fully solved by currently available magnetic storage devices, such as those discussed above. Accordingly, embodiments of the present disclosure overcome at least some of the disadvantages of the prior art.

A ramp for receiving a lift tab of a hard disk drive is disclosed. The slope includes first side and second side. The first side is spaced apart from the second side. The ramp also includes an inclined surface along which the lift tab slides when moving in a first direction to remove a read/write head from a magnetic disk of the hard disk drive. The inclined surface is inclined in the first direction from a front edge of the ramp to a middle edge of the ramp. The inclined surface has a width generally perpendicular to the first direction and extending from the first side to the second side. The inclined surface has a width generally perpendicular to the first direction and extending from the first side to the second side. The tapered portion defines an oblique angle relative to the first direction. The foregoing subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 1 of the present disclosure.

The tapered portion extends continuously from the first side to the second side. The foregoing subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 2 of the present disclosure, where example 2 also includes the subject matter described in example 1 above.

The tapered portion extends continuously from the first side to an intermediate point located between the first side and the second side. The foregoing subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 3 of the present disclosure, where example 3 further includes subject matter according to any of examples 1-2 above.

The oblique angle defined by the tapered portion relative to the first direction is less than 90 degrees. The foregoing subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 4 of the present disclosure, where example 4 further includes subject matter according to any of examples 1-3 above.

The oblique angle defined by the tapered portion relative to the first direction is in a range of 25 degrees to 65 degrees. The foregoing subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 5 of the present disclosure, where example 5 further includes the subject matter described in example 4 above.

The oblique angle defined by the tapered portion relative to the first direction is 45 degrees. The foregoing subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 6 of the present disclosure, where example 6 further includes the subject matter described in example 5 above.

The inclined surface has an inclination angle in the range of 16 degrees to 20 degrees. The foregoing subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 7 of the present disclosure, where example 7 further includes subject matter according to any one of examples 1-6 above.

The first side is shorter than the second side by a length in a range of 0.10 millimeters to 0.50 millimeters. The foregoing subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 8 of the present disclosure, where example 8 further includes subject matter according to any one of examples 1-7 above.

The first side is shorter than the second side by a length of 0.30 millimeters. The foregoing subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 9 of the present disclosure, where example 9 further includes the subject matter described in example 8 above.

Further disclosed herein is a hard disk drive. The hard disk drive includes a plurality of magnetic disks. The hard disk drive further includes a plurality of lift tabs. Each lift tab includes an elongated member coupled to an actuator arm of the plurality of actuator arms. Each actuator arm is pivotally connected to the pivot post and includes a read/write head for reading data from and writing data to a corresponding disk of the plurality of disks when the actuator arm is in the load position. The hard disk drive further includes a ramp structure including a plurality of ramps, each ramp corresponding to a disk of the plurality of disks and including a first side and a second side. The first side is spaced apart from the second side and the sloped surface along which each lift tab slides when moving in the first direction to remove the read/write head from a disk of the plurality of disks. The inclined surface is inclined in the first direction from a front edge of the ramp to a middle edge of the ramp. The inclined surface has a width generally perpendicular to the first direction and extending from the first side to the second side. The leading edge includes a tapered portion extending from the first side of the ramp toward the second side. The tapered portion defines an oblique angle relative to the first direction. The foregoing subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 10 of the present disclosure.

The lift tab contacts the ramp at a first point on the tapered portion and slides along an edge of the tapered portion of the leading edge to a second point where the tapered portion intersects the first side when moving in the first direction to remove the read/write head from the disk. The lift tab slides over an edge of the inclined surface along the second side in the first direction toward the middle edge of the ramp. The foregoing subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 11 of the present disclosure, where example 11 further includes the subject matter described in example 10 above.

The lift tab travels a radial distance in the range of 0.15 millimeters to 0.35 millimeters as it slides along the tapered portion of the ramp. The foregoing subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 12 of the present disclosure, where example 12 further includes subject matter according to example 11 above.

The lift tab travels a radial distance of 0.25 millimeters when sliding along the tapered portion of the ramp. The foregoing subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 13 of the present disclosure, where example 13 further includes the subject matter described in example 12 above.

The lift tab slides along the tapered portion of the ramp a linear distance in the range of 0.75 millimeters to 1.00 millimeters. The foregoing subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 14 of the present disclosure, where example 14 further includes subject matter according to any one of examples 11-13 above.

The lift tab slides along the tapered portion of the ramp a linear distance of 0.88 millimeters. The foregoing subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 15 of the present disclosure, where example 15 further includes subject matter according to example 14 above.

The amount of radial distance traveled by the lift tab and the amount of linear distance that the lift tab slides along the tapered portion is determined as a function of the oblique angle defined by the tapered portion relative to the first direction. The foregoing subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 16 of the present disclosure, where example 16 further includes subject matter according to any of examples 11-15 above.

The tapered portion of each ramp of the plurality of ramps is tangent to an outer edge of a corresponding disk of the plurality of disks, the tapered portion extending from the first side of the ramp toward the second side. The foregoing subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 17 of the present disclosure, where example 17 further includes subject matter according to any of examples 10-16 above.

Each ramp of the plurality of ramps is offset from a corresponding disk of the plurality of disks by a distance such that the ramp does not overlap the disk. The foregoing subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 18 of the present disclosure, where example 18 further includes subject matter according to any one of examples 10-17 above.

A method of loading and unloading a read/write head from a disk using a ramp is additionally disclosed herein. The method includes the step of actuating an actuator arm pivotally connected to a pivot post in a first direction. The actuator arm includes the read/write head and a lift tab. The read/write head is configured to read data from and write data to the magnetic disk when the actuator arm is in a loading position. The lift tab includes an elongated member configured to engage the ramp to remove the read/write head from the magnetic disk when the actuator arm is moved in the first direction. The ramp includes a first side and a second side, wherein the first side is spaced apart from the second side. The ramp further includes an inclined surface along which the lift tab slides when moving in the first direction to remove the read/write head from the magnetic disk. The inclined surface is inclined in the first direction from a front edge of the ramp to a middle edge of the ramp, and the inclined surface has a width that is generally perpendicular to the first direction and extends from the first side to the second side. The leading edge includes a tapered portion extending from the first side of the ramp toward the second side. The tapered portion defines an oblique angle relative to the first direction. The method further comprises the step of bringing a first point of the ramp into contact with the lift tab as the lift tab moves in the first direction. The first point of the ramp comprises a point on the tapered portion of the leading edge. The lift tab slides along the edge of the tapered portion from the first point toward the second point. The method additionally includes the step of contacting a second point of the ramp with the lift tab as the lift tab continues to move in the first direction, the second point including a point where the tapered portion intersects the first side. The lift tab slides over an edge of the inclined surface along the first side in the first direction toward the middle edge of the ramp. The foregoing subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 19 of the present disclosure.

The method further includes the step of actuating the actuator arm in a second direction opposite the first direction to remove the lift tab from the ramp and load the read/write head onto the magnetic disk. The method further comprises the step of bringing a second point of the ramp into contact with the lift tab when the lift tab is moved in said second direction. The lift tab slides in the second direction along the first side toward a first point on an edge of an inclined surface. The method additionally includes the step of contacting a first point of the ramp with the lift tab as the lift tab continues to move in the second direction. The lift tab slides along the edge of the tapered portion from the second point toward the first point. The lift tab is removed from the ramp at a first point. The foregoing subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 20 of the present disclosure, where example 20 also includes subject matter according to example 19 above.

The described features, structures, advantages, and/or characteristics of the subject matter of the present disclosure may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments and/or implementations. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided to give a thorough understanding of embodiments of the disclosed subject matter. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that the subject matter of the present disclosure can be practiced without one or more of the specific features, details, components, materials, and/or methods of a particular embodiment or implementation. In other instances, additional features and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments and/or implementations that may not be present in all embodiments or implementations. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the presently disclosed subject matter. Features and advantages of the disclosed subject matter will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the subject matter as set forth hereinafter.

Drawings

In order that the advantages of the disclosure will be readily understood, a more particular description of the disclosure briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the disclosure and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the subject matter of the disclosure will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a magnetic storage device according to one or more examples of the present disclosure;

fig. 2 is a top plan view of components of a magnetic storage device in accordance with one or more examples of the present disclosure;

fig. 3A is a perspective view of a ramp according to one or more examples of the present disclosure;

fig. 3B is a top plan view of the ramp of fig. 3A, in accordance with one or more examples of the present disclosure;

fig. 4A is a perspective view of a ramp according to one or more examples of the present disclosure;

fig. 4B is a side view of the ramp of fig. 4A, in accordance with one or more examples of the present disclosure; and is

Fig. 5 is a schematic flow diagram of a method of loading and unloading a read/write head from a disk using a ramp in accordance with one or more examples of the present disclosure.

Detailed Description

Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment," "an embodiment," or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. The appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment," "in an embodiment," and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment. Similarly, use of the term "embodiment" means an embodiment having a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with one or more examples of the disclosure, but an embodiment may be associated with one or more examples if not explicitly indicated.

Referring to FIG. 1, a magnetic storage device 100 (e.g., a magnetic recording device) is depicted as a hard disk drive ("HDD"), according to one embodiment. However, in other embodiments, the magnetic storage device 100 may be any of a variety of magnetic storage devices without departing from the spirit of the presently disclosed subject matter. In certain embodiments, FIG. 1 shows at least a portion of the internal components of a load/unload type magnetic storage device 100. As used herein, a load-unload type magnetic storage device 100 includes an actuator arm 116 that includes a read/write head for reading data from and/or writing data to the magnetic disk 106 by loading the read/write head onto the magnetic disk 106 to perform read/write operations, and unloading and loading the read/write head from the magnetic disk 106 onto the ramp 108 such that the read/write head is not located on the magnetic disk 106 when not in use.

In one embodiment, magnetic storage device 100 includes a rotary actuator 102 for actuating pivot post 118. The magnetic storage device 100 includes magnetic data storage disks 106 and a load/unload ramp 108. Magnetic disk 106 has a surface capable of storing magnetically stored data that can be read by a read/write head. The load/unload ramp 108 provides for loading and unloading of the read/write head from the disk 106. Details of the ramp 108 will be discussed below with reference to fig. 3A-4B. The rotary actuator 102 rotates the head gimbal assembly 104 about the pivot post 118 along axis C. The head gimbal assemblies 104 are aligned such that the lift tabs 112 contact the ramps 108 when the rotational actuator 102 rotates the head gimbal assemblies 104 to their outermost positions.

In one embodiment, the actuator arm 116 supports and/or is coupled with a suspension assembly 114, the suspension assembly 114 being attached to a distal end of the actuator arm 116 and extending forward from the actuator arm 116. According to some examples, the suspension assembly 114 is made of stainless steel and gimballed springs (not shown) are used to suspend (cantilever) slider/head 110 and lift tab 112 at the distal end of the suspension assembly 114. A magnetic read/write head (not shown) is located on the bottom surface of the slider 110. In one embodiment, at least a portion of actuator arm 116, suspension assembly 114, slider 110, read/write head, and lift tab 112 comprise head gimbal assembly 104. The actuator arm 116 and the suspension assembly 114 may comprise a single, integral unit such that the suspension assembly 114 is not separate from the actuator arm 116.

In one embodiment, the suspension assembly 114 supports a wire portion that is connected to the slider 110 by a lead. The wiring portion is small and omitted in fig. 1. The sense current, the read-in data, and the read-out data are supplied and outputted between the read/write head and the wiring portion through this wiring. The suspension assembly 114 applies a spring force to the slider 110 and lift tab 112 toward the surface of the disk 106.

The lift tab 112 is positioned on the actuator arm 116 and/or the suspension assembly 114 such that it engages the ramp 108 on the ramp structure 120. Ramp 108 has a sloped/enclosed surface that applies an upward force to lift tab 112, which lifts slider 110 and the magnetic read/write head away from magnetic disk 106. Thus, when the lift tab 112 is moved onto the ramp 108 (e.g., in an unloaded state, position, or location, the magnetic read/write head is not in contact with the disk 106. for the lift tab 112 to lift the slider 110 from the disk 106, the lift tab 112 rubs or slides against the sloped/enclosed surface of the ramp 108 when the actuator arm 116 is moved to the unloaded position. the ramp structure 120 may include multiple ramps 108 corresponding to multiple different actuator arms 116. for example, each disk 106 may have at least two corresponding actuator arms 116 for positioning the read/write head on both surfaces of the disk 106.

The lift tab 112 extends along the linear axis a to act as a portion that engages the ramp 108. In one embodiment, the lift tab 112 is integral with the actuator arm 116 and/or the suspension assembly 114 and is made of the same material as the actuator arm 116 and/or the suspension assembly 114. The lifting tab 112 slides on the ramp 108 and serves to load and unload the slider 110. In other words, the lift tab 112 loads the slider 110 from the ramp 108 over the magnetic disk 106 after the start of the driving of the magnetic disk 106, and unloads the slider 110 from the magnetic disk 106 to the ramp 108 before the driving of the magnetic disk 106 is stopped, so as to hold the slider 110 on the ramp 108. In certain embodiments, the ramp 108 and ramp structure 120 are made of a low friction polymeric material. The ramp 108 is discussed in more detail below with reference to fig. 3A-4B.

Fig. 2 is a view of a magnetic storage device 200 in accordance with one or more examples of the present disclosure. In one embodiment, the magnetic memory device 200 illustrated in FIG. 2 is substantially similar to the magnetic memory device 100 illustrated in FIG. 1.

In one embodiment, the magnetic storage device 200 includes a head gimbal assembly 104, the head gimbal assembly 104 including an actuator arm 116 coupled to a pivot post 118. Actuator arm 116 includes a read/write head 208 on a side of actuator arm 116 facing magnetic disk 106 for reading data from magnetic disk 106 and/or writing data to magnetic disk 106. The actuator arm 116 includes a lift tab 112, the lift tab 112 configured to engage the ramp 108 when the actuator arm 116 is in the unloaded position. As used herein, an unloaded position is a position where read/write head 208 is not located on magnetic disk 106 and is not used to read data from magnetic disk 106 and/or write data to magnetic disk 106.

The actuator arm 116 is configured to pivot radially about the pivot post 118 by means of the actuator 102 along a radial axis 202 between the loading and unloading positions. As used herein, a loaded position is a position where read/write head 208 is positioned on magnetic disk 106 to read/write data from/to magnetic disk 106. Further, when the actuator arm 116 is in the unloaded position, with the lift tab 112 engaging the ramp 108, the read/write head 208 overlaps at least a portion of the magnetic disk 106 in a direction perpendicular to an axis B along which the actuator arm 116 extends.

Due to the shape and configuration of lift tab 112, ramp 108 is offset from disk 106 by a certain distance so that ramp 108 does not overlap disk 106, which allows read/write head 208 to service closer to the outer dimensions, edges, and perimeter of disk 106 for reading and storing data. In addition, since the ramp 108 does not overlap the magnetic disk 106, the reliability of the magnetic disk 106 is increased because debris and dust that may be generated by the repeated engagement of the lift tab 112 and the ramp 108 do not fall onto the magnetic disk 106. Similarly, the shock reliability of the magnetic storage device 200 may also be improved because shock contact between the magnetic disk 106 and the ramp 108 may be eliminated. In some embodiments, the ramp 108 is offset or set back from the disk 106 by a distance in a range between 0.1 millimeters and 0.5 millimeters, such as 0.3 millimeters. In such embodiments, the length of the elongated member 402 of the lift tab 112 is greater than the distance of the ramp 108 from the disk 106.

The lift tab 112 is an elongated member that extends linearly along an axis a that intersects or crosses a linear axis B along which the actuator arm 116 extends. In such embodiments, the intersection of the axes A, B forms an outer angle 204 between the axes A, B and an inner angle 206 between the lift tab 112 and the actuator arm 116, wherein the lift tab 112 is angled away from the actuator arm 116 such that the elongated member of the lift tab 112 is located between the ramp 108 and the actuator arm 116. The distal end of the elongated member engages ramp 108 to lift read/write head 208 off the disk surface when the head 208 is not being used to read and/or write data.

In one embodiment, the angle 206 defined between the lift tab 112 and the actuator arm 116 is between 90 degrees and 170 degrees. In certain embodiments, the angle 206 defined between the lift tab 112 and the actuator arm 116 is in the range of 120 degrees to 150 degrees. In some embodiments, the angle 206 defined between the lift tab 112 and the actuator arm 116 is 135 degrees. In one embodiment, the outer angle 204 defined between the linear axes A, B is between 10 and 90 degrees, as opposed to the inner angle 206. In other embodiments, the outer angle 204 defined between the linear axes A, B is between 30 and 70 degrees. In some embodiments, the outer angle 204 defined between linear axis a and linear axis B is 45 degrees. As used herein, an angle defined between two features is an angle greater than but not including 0 degrees and less than but not including 360 degrees.

In one embodiment, the distal end of the elongated member of the lift tab 112 is offset from the linear axis B along the axis a by a predetermined length in a range between 2 millimeters and 4 millimeters. In certain embodiments, the ratio of the overall length of the actuator arm 116 to the overall length of the elongated member of the lift tab 112 is in the range between 0.04 and 0.15. In one embodiment, the ratio of the overall length of the actuator arm 116 to the overall length of the elongated member of the lift tab is 0.06.

In certain embodiments, as shown in FIG. 1, the magnetic storage device 200 includes a plurality of memory disks 106 with a plurality of corresponding gimbaled head assemblies 104. In such embodiments, the disks 106 may be stacked or positioned adjacent to one another. A gimbaled head assembly 104, including an actuator arm 116 with a read/write head 208, may be positioned above and below the magnetic disk 106 to read/write data from/to both surfaces of the magnetic disk 106. Thus, the actuator arm 116 may be positioned back-to-back between the disks 106, with one reading a surface of the first disk 106 and the other reading an opposite surface of the second disk 106.

In such embodiments, the ramp structure 120 may include a plurality of ramps 108 for engaging the lift tab 112 of each actuator arm 116 when the read/write head 208 is not being used to read/write data. Accordingly, when the lift tab 112 of each actuator arm 116 engages the corresponding ramp 108 when the actuator arm 116 is in the unloaded position, the back-to-back positioned actuator arms 116 between the disks 106 may have an amount of clearance therebetween. The gap between actuator arms 116 located between disks 106 may range from 0.05 mm to 1 mm. In one embodiment, the gap between actuator arms 116 between disks 106 is 0.525 millimeters.

Fig. 3A is a perspective view of ramp 108 according to the subject matter disclosed herein. The ramp 108 includes a first side 302 and a second side 304 spaced apart from the first side by a width 309. Ramp 108 includes an inclined surface 308 along which lift tab 112 slides as it moves in first direction 305 to remove the read/write head from magnetic disk 106.

In one embodiment, the sloped surface 308 slopes in the first direction 305 from the front edge 307 of the ramp 108 to the middle edge 310 of the ramp. In some embodiments, the inclined surface 308 extends the full length of the ramp 108 from the front edge 307 to the rear edge (not shown) of the ramp 108 without an intermediate edge 310 therebetween.

The inclined surface 308 has a width 309 that is generally perpendicular to the first direction 305 and extends from the first side 302 to the second side 304. The leading edge 307 includes a tapered portion 306 extending from the first side 302 toward the second side 304 of the ramp 108. The tapered portion 306 defines an oblique angle 311 relative to the first direction 305.

In one embodiment, tapered portion 306 of leading edge 307 extends continuously from first side 302 to second side 304, as shown in fig. 3A and 3B. In an alternative embodiment, as shown in fig. 4A and 4B, the tapered portion 306 extends continuously from the first side 302 to an intermediate point 402 between the first side 302 and the second side 304.

In one embodiment, the oblique angle 311 defined by the tapered portion 306 relative to the first direction 305 is less than 90 degrees. In certain embodiments, the oblique angle 311 defined by the tapered portion 306 relative to the first direction 305 is in a range between 25 degrees and 65 degrees. In various embodiments, the oblique angle 311 defined by the tapered portion 306 relative to the first direction 305 is 45 degrees.

In one embodiment, the angle of inclination 313 of the inclined surface 308 is in a range between 16 degrees and 20 degrees. In certain embodiments, the first side 302 is shorter than the second side 304 by a length in a range between 0.10 millimeters and 0.50 millimeters. In various embodiments, first side 302 is shorter than second side 304 by a length of 0.30 millimeters.

Fig. 3B is a top view of the ramp 108 depicted in fig. 3A. Fig. 3B shows the path of the lift tab 112 as it slides over the sloped surface 308 from the tapered portion 306 of the leading edge 307 of the ramp toward the intermediate edge 310. In one embodiment, the lift tab 112 contacts the tapered portion 306 at a first point 320 along the tapered portion 306. As the lift tab 112 continues to move radially in the first direction 305 toward the ramp 108 and away from the disk 106, the lift tab 112 slides along the tapered portion 306 from a first point 320 to a second point 322 where the tapered portion 306 intersects the first side 302.

As the lift tab 112 continues to move radially in the first direction 305, the lift tab 112 slides on the sloped surface 308 along the edge of the first side 302 and may stop at a third point 324 along the edge of the first side 302. The third point 324 may be located where the ramp surface is no longer inclined and is substantially flat 312.

In this manner, where the ramp 108 includes a tapered portion 306 as shown in fig. 3A-4B, as the lift tab 112 moves in the first direction 305, the ramp contact on the lift tab 112 may be displaced from the distal end of the lift tab 112 and toward the proximal end of the lift tab 112 to provide more support and rigidity to the lift tab 112 (particularly the elongated lift tab 112). Furthermore, by offsetting the ramp contact locations on the lift tab 112 as the lift tab 112 moves in the first direction 305, the read/write head 110 may be unloaded from the magnetic disk 106 more quickly than in conventional systems that include a ramp 108 that does not include a tapered portion 306 on the leading edge 307. Moreover, offsetting the ramp contact locations of lift tabs 112 may reduce the lift distance that lift tabs 112 typically travel to remove read/write head 110 from magnetic disk 106, which ultimately reduces the lift space required for each lift tab 112 included in a stack of lift tabs 112 corresponding to a stack of magnetic disks 106 and allows more space for additional magnetic disks 106 to be included in the stack.

In one embodiment, using the ramp 108 as described herein, the lift tab 112 travels a radial distance in the range of 0.15 millimeters to 0.35 millimeters as it slides along the tapered portion 306 of the ramp 108. In certain embodiments, the lift tab 112 travels a radial distance of 0.25 millimeters as it slides along the tapered portion 306 of the ramp 108. In one embodiment, the lift tab 112 slides along the tapered portion 306 of the ramp 108 a linear distance in the range of 0.75 millimeters to 1.00 millimeters. In some embodiments, the lift tab 112 slides along the tapered portion 306 of the ramp 108 a linear distance of 0.88 millimeters.

In one embodiment, the amount of radial distance traveled by the lift tab 112 and the amount of linear distance the lift tab 112 slides along the tapered portion 306 of the ramp 108 is determined as a function of the oblique angle 311 defined by the tapered portion 306 relative to the first direction 305. For example, a larger bevel angle 311 (but less than 90 degrees in some implementations) will result in the lift tab 112 traveling a longer straight distance and a shorter radial distance along the tapered portion 306, while a smaller bevel angle 311 will result in the lift tab 112 traveling a shorter straight distance and a longer radial distance along the tapered portion 306.

In one embodiment, the tapered portion 306 of the ramp 108 is tangent to the outer edge of the corresponding disk 106. In such embodiments, the ramps 108 are offset from the corresponding disks 106 by a distance such that the ramps 108 do not overlap the disks 106. In this manner, the entire magnetic disk may be used for data storage because the read/write head 110 may be lowered onto the magnetic disk 106 at locations generally on the outer edge of the magnetic disk 106, which conventionally would not have been possible with a ramp 108 overlapping the outer portion of the magnetic disk 106.

Fig. 4A is a perspective view of another embodiment of the ramp 108 and lift tab 112 in accordance with one or more examples of the present disclosure. In the depicted embodiment, the ramp 108 has a tapered portion 306 at a front edge 307 of the ramp 108, the tapered portion 306 continuously extending from the first side 302 of the ramp 108 to an intermediate point/edge 402 on the front edge 307 between the first side 302 and the second side 304 of the ramp 108.

In such embodiments, only a portion of the leading edge 307 of the ramp 108 includes the tapered portion 306, rather than the tapered portion 306 extending throughout the length of the leading edge 307, as shown in fig. 3A and 3B. Furthermore, as in fig. 3A and 3B, when lift tab 112 is moved in first direction 305 toward ramp 108, it contacts tapered portion 306 at a first point 320, slides along tapered portion 306 to a second point 322 where tapered portion 306 intersects first side 302, and slides along the edge of first side 302 (along inclined surface 308, through intermediate edge 310, and along substantially flat surface 312 of ramp 108) to a third point 324, on which third point 324 lift tab 112 rests.

Fig. 4B is a perspective view of the ramp 108 of fig. 4A, the ramp 108 including a tapered portion 306 extending from the first side 302 to an intermediate point/edge 402 on the front edge 307 between the first side 302 and the second side 304. Fig. 4B shows the lift tab 112 sliding along the tapered portion 306 toward the inclined surface 308 of the ramp 108.

The lift tab 112 contacts the sloped surface 308 at a first point 320 of the tapered portion 306 of the front edge 307 and slides along the tapered portion 306 to a second point 322 where the tapered portion 306 intersects the first side 302. Notably, the contact locations on the lifting tabs 112 are displaced from a point toward the distal ends of the lifting tabs 112 toward the proximal ends of the lifting tabs 112, which increases the stiffness/support of the lifting tabs 112. The lift tab 112 continues to move along the edge of the first side 302 on which the lift tab 112 rests toward the third point 324. In the event that the read/write head 110 is loaded onto the magnetic disk 106 (e.g., moved from the third point 324 toward the second point 322 and the first point 320 until the lift tab 112 clears the ramp 108), the movement of the lift tab 112 is reversed.

As shown in FIG. 4B, two ramps 108 are depicted, one ramp 108 corresponding to each side of the magnetic disk 106 for loading and unloading the lift tab 112 and read/write head 110 from the corresponding side of the magnetic disk 106. In certain embodiments, a hard disk drive unit may include a plurality of these configurations in a stacked arrangement, as shown in fig. 1.

For example, in some embodiments, magnetic storage device 100 may be a hard disk drive that includes a plurality of magnetic disks 106. Each surface of a single disk 106 may be configured to store data. Accordingly, there may be at least two head gimbal assemblies 104 for each disk 106, one for each surface of the disk 106 for reading/writing data from/to the disk 106. In such embodiments, a ramp 108 as described above with reference to fig. 3A-4B may correspond to each head gimbal assembly 104, and more specifically, a corresponding lift tab 112 of head gimbal assembly 104, to load and unload a read/write head 110 from each disk 106 as head gimbal assembly 104 moves radially toward and away from disk 106.

FIG. 5 is a schematic flow chart diagram illustrating one embodiment of a method 500 for loading and unloading a read/write head 110 from a magnetic disk 106 using a ramp 108. In one embodiment, the method 500 actuates 502 the actuator arm 116 pivotably connected to the pivot post 118 in the first direction 305. In other embodiments, the method 500 brings a first point 320 of the ramp 108 into contact 504 with the lift tab 112 as the lift tab 112 of the actuator arm 116 moves in the first direction 305, the first point 320 of the ramp 108 comprising a point on the tapered portion 306 of the leading edge 307, the lift tab 112 sliding along the edge of the tapered portion 306 from the first point 320 toward the second point 322.

In certain embodiments, the method 500 brings the second point 322 of the ramp 108 into contact 506 with the lift tab 112 as the lift tab 112 continues to move in the first direction 305, the second point 322 comprising the point where the tapered portion 306 intersects the first side 302, the lift tab 112 slides on the edge of the sloped surface 308 along the first side 302 in the first direction 305 toward the middle edge 310 of the ramp 108, and the method 500 ends.

In the above description, certain terms may be used, such as "upward," "downward," "upper," "lower," "horizontal," "vertical," "left," "right," "above," "below," and the like. These terms are used where applicable to provide some clarity of description when dealing with relative relationships. These terms are not intended to imply absolute relationships, positions, and/or orientations. For example, for an object, the "upper" surface may be changed to the "lower" surface by simply turning the object over. Nevertheless, it is still the same object. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," "having," and variations thereof mean "including, but not limited to," unless expressly specified otherwise. The enumerated listing of items does not imply that any or all of the items are mutually exclusive and/or inclusive, unless expressly specified otherwise. The terms "a", "an" and "the" also refer to "one or more" unless expressly specified otherwise. Further, the term "plurality" may be defined as "at least two".

As used herein, a system, device, structure, article, element, component, or hardware that is "configured to" perform a specified function is indeed capable of performing the specified function without any change, and is not merely capable of performing the specified function with further modification. In other words, a system, device, structure, article, element, component, or hardware that is "configured to" perform a specified function is specifically selected, created, implemented, utilized, programmed, and/or designed for the purpose of performing the specified function. As used herein, "configured to" means an existing characteristic of a system, device, structure, article, element, component, or hardware that enables the system, device, structure, article, element, component, or hardware to perform a specified function without further modification. For purposes of this disclosure, a system, device, structure, article, element, component, or hardware described as "configured to" perform a particular function may additionally or alternatively be described as "adapted to" and/or "operable to" perform the recited function.

Additionally, examples in this specification where an element is "coupled" to another element may include direct and indirect couplings. Direct coupling may be defined as one element coupled to and making some contact with another element. Indirect coupling may be defined as coupling between two elements that are not in direct contact with each other, but that have one or more additional elements between the coupled elements. Further, as used herein, securing one element to another element may include direct securement and indirect securement. Further, as used herein, "adjacent" does not necessarily mean contacting. For example, one element may be adjacent to another element without contacting the element.

As used herein, the phrase "at least one of," when used with a list of items, means that different combinations of one or more of the listed items can be used, and only one of each item in the list may be required. An item may be a particular object, thing, or category. In other words, "at least one of" means that any combination of items or number of items in a list can be used, but not all of the items in the list will be required. For example, "at least one of item a, item B, and item C" may represent item a; item A and item B; item B; item A, item B, and item C; or item B and item C. In some cases, "at least one of item a, item B, and item C" may represent, for example, but not limited to, two of item a, one of item B, and ten of item C; four of item B and seven of item C; or other suitable combination.

Unless otherwise indicated, the terms "first," "second," and the like are used herein as labels only and are not intended to impose order, position, or hierarchical requirements on the articles to which they refer. Furthermore, reference to, for example, "a second" item does not require or exclude the presence of, for example, "a first" or lower numbered item and/or, for example, "a third" or higher numbered item.

The schematic flow chart diagrams included herein are generally set forth as logical flow chart diagrams. As such, the depicted order and labeled steps are indicative of one embodiment of the presented method. Other steps and methods may be conceived that are equivalent in function, logic, or effect to one or more steps, or portions thereof, of the illustrated method. Additionally, the format and symbols employed are provided to explain the logical steps of the method and are understood not to limit the scope of the method. Although various arrow types and line types may be employed in the flow chart diagrams, they are understood not to limit the scope of the corresponding method. Indeed, some arrows or other connectors may be used to indicate only the logical flow of the method. For instance, an arrow may indicate a waiting or monitoring period of unspecified duration between enumerated steps of the depicted method. Additionally, the order in which a particular method occurs may or may not absolutely follow the order of the corresponding steps shown.

The inventive subject matter may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.