Disk drive using an optical sensor to detect a position of an actuator arm

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to disk drives for computer systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to a disk drive using an optical sensor to detect a position of an actuator arm.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of a prior art disk drive comprising a disk 2 rotated by a spindle motor 4, and a head 6 coupled to a distal end of an actuator arm 8 which is rotated about a pivot 10 by a voice coil motor (VCM) in order to actuate the head 6 over the disk 2. The disk 2, spindle motor 4, head 6, actuator arm 8, and VCM are enclosed in a head disk assembly (HDA) comprising a base 9 and a cover 11. The VCM comprises a voice coil 12 coupled to the base of the actuator arm 8 and one or more permanent magnets attached to a yoke 14. When the voice coil 12 is energized with current, the resulting magnetic flux interacts with the magnetic flux of the permanent magnets to generate a torque that rotates the actuator arm 8 about the pivot 10. A tang 16 attached to the actuator arm 8 interacts with a crash stop 18 to limit the stroke of the actuator arm 8, and also provides a latching mechanism (e.g., using a magnet) to maintain the actuator arm 8 in a latched position while the disk drive is powered down. Alternatively, the actuator arm 8 may be parked on a ramp located at the outer periphery of the disk 2 when the disk drive is powered down.

[0005] The disk 2 typically comprises embedded servo sectors recorded at a periodic interval around the disk 2 which provide coarse position information (e.g., a track address) used to seek the head 6 to a target track, and fine positioning information (e.g., servo bursts) used to maintain the head 6 over the target track during read/write operations. Control circuitry within the disk drive processes the position information detected from the servo sectors to implement a position controlled servo system during normal operation. During transition modes, such as unlatch or ramp-load during power on and latch or ramp-unload during a power failure, the position information is unavailable from the servo sectors. For these modes, prior art disk drives typically process the back EMF voltage generated by the VCM to estimate a velocity of the actuator arm 8, and the control circuitry processes the estimated velocity to implement a velocity controlled servo system. However, estimating the velocity of the actuator arm 8 by evaluating the back EMF voltage requires expensive analog circuitry which can typically provide only a crude estimate due to the mechanical variations of the VCM (e.g., the resistance of the voice coil 12). In addition, the back EMF voltage is typically very small at low speed requiring low driving voltages and undesirable inefficiencies, particularly if the driving voltage is generated from the momentum of the spindle motor 4 during a power failure.

[0006] There is, therefore, a need to detect the position (and/or velocity) of an actuator arm in a disk drive more effectively, for example, during transition modes (e.g., power on/off, etc.) when the position information from the embedded servo sectors is unavailable.

[0007] An embodiment of the present invention comprises a disk drive having a disk, an actuator arm, a head coupled to the actuator arm, a base, and an optical sensor operable to detect a position of the actuator arm. The optical sensor comprises a light source that is stationary relative to the base, a plurality of light sensitive sensors positioned to receive light from the light source, and a substantially opaque element positioned between the light source and the light sensitive sensors configured to control an amount of light at least one of the plurality of light sensitive sensors detects relative to the position of the actuator arm.

[0008] In one embodiment, the opaque element is coupled to the actuator, and the light sensitive sensors are stationary relative to the base. In one embodiment, the opaque element comprises a linear element having a sloping angle with respect to the actuator arm.

[0009] In another embodiment, the disk drive further comprises control circuitry for adjusting an intensity of the light in response to the light sensitive sensors. In one embodiment, the plurality of light sensitive sensors comprise a first sensor and a second sensor, and the disk drive further comprises a differential amplifier operable to compute a difference between a first amount of light detected by the first sensor and a second amount of light detected by the second sensor, wherein the difference represents the position of the actuator arm. In another embodiment, the differential amplifier is further operable to compute a sum of the first amount of light detected by the first sensor and the second amount of light detected by the second sensor, wherein an intensity of the light is controlled in response to the sum.

[0010] In still another embodiment, the light sensitive sensors and opaque element are aligned substantially horizontally with respect to the surface of the disk. In an alternative embodiment, the light sensitive sensors and opaque element are aligned substantially vertically with respect to the surface of the disk.

[0011] In another embodiment, the disk, head, and actuator arm are enclosed in a head disk assembly (HDA), wherein the HDA comprises the base, a cover, and a window, wherein the light passes through the window. In one embodiment, the light sensitive sensors are located inside the HDA, and in another embodiment, the light sensitive sensors are located outside the HDA.

[0012] In still another embodiment, the light source comprises a light emitting device and a mirror. In an alternative embodiment, the light source comprises a light pipe.

[0013] Another embodiment of the present invention comprises a method of detecting a position of an actuator arm in a disk drive, the disk drive comprising a disk, an actuator arm, a head coupled to the actuator arm, a voice coil motor operable to rotate the actuator arm about a pivot, and a base. A light source that is stationary relative to the base generates light, and a plurality of light sensitive sensors detect the light. An opaque element positioned between the light source and the light sensitive sensors controls an amount of light at least one of the plurality of light sensitive sensors detects relative to a position of the actuator arm.

[0028] FIG. 2 shows a disk drive according to an embodiment of the present invention comprising a disk 2, an actuator arm 8, a head 6 coupled to the actuator arm 8, a base 9, and an optical sensor 20 operable to detect a position of the actuator arm 8. The optical sensor 20 comprises a light source that is stationary relative to the base 9, a plurality of light sensitive sensors positioned to receive light from the light source, and a substantially opaque element positioned between the light source and the light sensitive sensors configured to control an amount of light at least one of the plurality of light sensitive sensors detects relative to the position of the actuator arm 8.

[0029] Similar to the prior art disk drive of FIG. 1, the disk drive shown in the embodiment of FIG. 2 comprises a spindle motor 4 for rotating the disk 2, and a VCM for rotating the actuator arm 8 about a pivot 10 to position the head 6 over the disk 2. The VCM comprises a voice coil 12 coupled to the base of the actuator arm 8 and one or more permanent magnets attached to a yoke 14. When the voice coil 12 is energized with current, the resulting magnetic flux interacts with the magnetic flux of the permanent magnets to generate a torque that rotates the actuator arm 8 about the pivot 10. A tang 16 attached to the actuator arm 8 interacts with a crash stop 18 to limit the stroke of the actuator arm 8, and also provides a latching mechanism (e.g., using a magnet) to maintain the actuator arm 8 in a latched position while the disk drive is powered down. Alternatively, the actuator arm 8 may be parked on a ramp mounted at the outer periphery of the disk 2 when the disk drive is powered down. The disk 2, spindle motor 4, head 6, actuator arm 8, crash stop 18, and VCM are enclosed in an HDA comprising a base 9 and a cover 11.

[0030] FIG. 3 shows further details of an actuator arm 8 and optical sensor 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The light source comprises a light emitting device 22, such as a light emitting diode (LED) that is stationary relative to the base 9. The opaque element 24 comprises a linear element, such as a wire, coupled to the actuator arm 8. The light emitting device 22 and light sensitive sensors 26 are aligned substantially horizontally with respect to the surface of the disk 2 (and the planar surface of the actuator arm 8). The light sensitive sensors 26 are stationary relative to the base 9 such that the opaque element 24 moves with the actuator arm 8 relative to the light sensitive sensors 26, thereby changing the amount of light each light sensitive sensor 26 detects.

[0031] In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the light sensitive sensors 26 comprise a top sensor 26A and a bottom sensor 26B as illustrated in FIG. 4A. Any suitable light sensitive sensor 26 may be employed in the embodiments of the present invention, such as a photo resistor, a charge-coupled device (CCD), a CdS/CdSe photo sensor, or a silicon based photovoltaic cell (photodiode). A light sensitive sensor 26 having a high bandwidth (e.g., a photovoltaic cell) may be preferred depending on the application. The light sensitive sensors 26A and 26B are shown adjacent one another in the embodiment of FIG. 4A, and may be integrated into a single component (e.g., separate regions of a CCD or CdS/CdSe photo sensor). In an alternative embodiment, the light sensitive sensors 26A and 26B may be manufactured as separate components and may also be separated by any suitable distance.

[0032] Operation of the optical sensor 20 shown in FIG. 3 is illustrated in FIGS. 4B–4D, which show a side view of the actuator arm 8 from the perspective of the light emitting device 22 looking toward the light sensitive sensors 26A and 26B. In this embodiment, the opaque element 24 (a linear element) has a sloping angle with respect to the actuator arm 8. In FIG. 4B, the actuator arm 8 is positioned near the middle of its stroke such that each light sensitive sensor 26A and 26B receives an equal amount of light. In FIG. 4C, the actuator arm 8 is rotated in one direction (e.g., toward the OD) such that the bottom sensor 26B receives more light than the top sensor 26A, and in FIG. 4D the actuator arm 8 is rotated in the opposite direction (e.g., toward the ID) such that top sensor 26A receives more light than the bottom sensor 26B.

[0033] Although the opaque element 24 is shown in the embodiment of FIG. 3 as comprising a linear element having a sloping angle, the opaque element 24 may comprise any suitable shape, such as a planar shape. In another embodiment, the opaque element 24 may comprise one or more apertures for controlling an amount of light passing through the opaque element 24. In addition, the opaque element 24 may comprise any suitable orientation with respect to the actuator arm 8 and light sensitive sensors 26. For example, the opaque element 24 may be curved rather than linear.

[0034] In one embodiment, the output of the light sensitive sensors 26 is used to adjust the intensity of the light emitted by the light source in an automatic gain controlled (AGC) loop. FIG. 5A shows an embodiment of the present invention wherein a differential amplifier 28 computes a difference between a first amount of light detected by the first sensor 26A and a second amount of light detected by the second sensor 26B, wherein the difference 30 represents the position of the actuator arm 8. Also in the embodiment of FIG. 5A, the differential amplifier 28 computes a sum 32 of the first amount of light detected by the first sensor 26A and the second amount of light detected by the second sensor 26B, wherein an intensity of the light emitted by the light source is controlled in response to the sum 32 in an AGC loop.

[0035] FIGS. 5B–5D correspond to FIGS. 4B–4D and illustrate how the position of the opaque element 24 changes to control the amount of light each light sensitive sensor detects relative to the position of the actuator arm 8. FIG. 5B shows that both light sensitive sensors 26A and 26B receive the same amount of light when the actuator arm 8 is near the middle of its stroke, FIG. 5C shows that bottom sensor 26B receives more light as the actuator arm 8 moves toward the OD, and FIG. 5D shows that the top sensor 26A receives more light as the actuator moves toward the ID. The difference between the amount of light each sensor detects therefore represents the position of the actuator arm 8.

[0036] Any suitable configuration for the light source and light sensitive sensors may be employed in the embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 6A shows an alternative embodiment of the present invention wherein the light source (e.g., LED 22) and light sensitive sensors 26A and 26B are aligned substantially vertically with respect to the disk 2 (and planar surface of the actuator arm 8). FIGS. 6B–6D illustrate how the amount of light each light sensitive sensor 26A and 26B detects changes with the changing position of the actuator arm 8. FIGS. 6B–6D also illustrate an alternative shape for the opaque element 24, however, any suitable shape may be employed.

[0037] FIG. 7A illustrates another alternative configuration for the light source and light sensitive sensors. In this embodiment, the light source comprises a light emitting device 22 (e.g., an LED) and a mirror 34 for reflecting the light toward the light sensitive sensors 26A and 26B. FIG. 7B shows yet another configuration wherein the base 9 of the HDA comprises a window 36, and the light emitted by the light emitting device 22 passes through the window 36. This allows the light emitting device 22 to be located outside of the HDA. FIG. 7C shows an embodiment employing the mirror 34 of FIG. 7A and the window 36 of FIG. 7B, wherein the light sensitive sensors 26A and 26B are located inside the HDA. FIG. 7D shows an embodiment wherein both the light emitting device 22 and the light sensitive sensors 26A and 26B are mounted on a printed circuit board 38 located outside the HDA. In this embodiment, the light passes through the window 36, reflects off of the mirror 34, and then passes back through the window 36.

[0038] FIG. 8 shows yet another embodiment of the present invention wherein the light source comprises a light emitting device 22 and a suitable light pipe 40 (e.g., a fiber optic). The light emitted by the light emitting device 22 passes through a first window 42 in the base 9 of the HDA, and is directed from one end of the light pipe 40 to the other end. The light then shines toward the light sensitive sensors 26A and 26B with appropriate shading by the opaque element 24. In this embodiment, the light passes through a second window 44 in the HDA before reaching the light sensitive sensors 26A and 26B located outside of the HDA.

[0039] FIGS. 9A–9C illustrate another embodiment of the present invention wherein the opaque element 24 is configured to control the amount of light received only by the bottom sensor 26B. When the actuator arm 8 is near the middle of its stroke, as shown in FIG. 9A, the opaque element covers a predetermined area of the bottom sensor 26B. As the actuator arm 8 rotates toward the OD as shown in FIG. 9B, more of the opaque element 24 covers the bottom sensor 26B, and as the actuator arm 8 rotates toward the ID as shown in FIG. 9C, less of the opaque element 24 covers the bottom sensor 26B. In this embodiment, the output from both light sensitive sensors 26A and 26B may be used to control the intensity of the light in an AGC loop, for example, using the differential amplifier 28 shown in FIG. 5A.

[0040] In one embodiment, the optical sensor 20 for detecting the position of the actuator arm 8 is calibrated for each disk drive to compensate for manufacturing tolerances. Any suitable technique may be employed to calibrate the optical sensor 20, such as positioning the actuator arm 8 to a known position and measuring the output of the light sensitive sensors 26. In one embodiment, the actuator arm 8 is pressed against a crash stop (e.g., at the OD or ID of its stroke) in order to calibrate the optical sensor 20. In another embodiment, embedded servo sectors are recorded on the surface of the disk 2 to define a number of radially spaced, concentric servo tracks, and the position of the actuator arm 8 is detected relative to the location of the head 6 with respect to the servo tracks. For example, the actuator arm 8 may be rotated by the VCM until the head 6 detects the middle servo track on the surface of the disk 2. The difference between the sensor outputs represents a DC offset that is then subtracted from the detected position of the actuator arm 8.

[0041] The optical sensor 20 may be employed in any suitable manner to facilitate operation of the disk drive. In one embodiment, the optical sensor 20 is used to position the actuator arm 8 during normal operation of the disk drive to position the head 6 over a target location of the disk 2 during write/read operations. In another embodiment, the optical sensor 20 may be used to detect a velocity of the actuator arm 8 to implement a velocity controlled feedback system, for example, while parking the actuator arm 8 during a power failure mode. In yet another embodiment, the optical sensor 20 may be used in a position or velocity controlled feedback system to implement a ramp load/unload operation wherein the actuator arm 8 is parked on a ramp located at an outer periphery of the disk 2.