Abstract:
An optical assembly includes a service loop extended from a focus section of an actuator arm. A portion of the service loop bends when a tracking section of the actuator arm rotates around a tracking axis while a portion of the flex circuit twists when the focus section of the actuator arm rotates around a focus axis. A method is provided to predict the shape of a service loop that will not rotate the actuator arm from a resting position. The method uses a number of deflected beam elements to simulate the service loop under simple beam theory. In order for the actuator arm to remain in the resting position, the method assumes that the service loop applies an equivalent force to the actuator arm through the rotation axis of the actuator arm. Another method is provided to calculate the restoring torque exerted by the service loop when the actuator arm is rotated from its resting position. The method again uses deflected beam elements to simulate the service loop but assumes that the service loop applies a force that is offset from the rotation axis of the actuator arm.
Abstract:
The present invention is related to a method and apparatus for limiting movement of an actuator assembly (134) in a data storage/retrieval system (100). In one embodiment of the apparatus, a base (104) is provided on which first (154) and second (220) devices are mounted. The first device (154) is rotatably mounted to the base (104) and reads or writes data to a data storage disk (126). The second device (220) operates between first and second states. In the first state, the first device (154) is capable of movement with respect to the base (104). In the second state, the second device (220) operates to inhibit movement of the first device (154) with respect to the base (104). The second device (220) may operate in the first state when the first device (154) is reading or writing data to the data storage disk (126), and the second device (220) may operate in the second state when the first device (154) is not reading or writing data to the data storage disk (126). In one embodiment, second device (220) is rotatably mounted to the base (104) between first and second positions. The second device (220) operates in the first state when the second device (220) is in the first position, and the second device (220) operates in the second state when the second device (220) is in the second position. The second device (220) engages the first device (154) to inhibit movement thereof when the second device (220) is in the second position.